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Ranking Ruben Amorim’s seven games so far

chrissyc posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog

Since Ruben Amorim accepted the responsibility of attempting to restore the fallen Mancunian giants back to their glory days, he has taken charge of seven games so far. Today, we break those seven games down, what went wrong, positive signs, and any other factors worth mentioning. First game: Ipswich Town 1-1 Manchester United (Premier League) 4/10 Amorim’s tenure kicked off with a game against newly promoted Ipswich Town who, at the time, only managed one victory in their last 11 fixtures. On paper United should’ve coasted to a comfortable win. The match proceedings were anything but. Marcus Rashford smashed the Red Devils ahead after just two minutes, but Omari Hutchinson levelled things a few minutes before half time. In truth, the home side had the better chances and should’ve scored a few more, but for Andre Onana’s heroics in the United goal. An ageing midfield pairing of Casemiro and Eriksen proved detrimental against a young Ipswich side who ran through the midfield with relative ease. However, United were playing with panache and a style of play seemed to be forming. A young Ipswich Town team overran United's midfield but struggled to find a way past Andre Onana, who won save of the month in this game Second game: Manchester United 3-2 Bodo/Glimt (Europa League) 5/10 European fixtures are never easy. Just ask Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City side, prior to this game, were trounced 4-1 by Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon side in the Portuguese capital. Chopping and changing his starting XI was to be expected, as the new man sought to figure out his best eleven. Rasmus Hojlund put in a sterling performance: his pressing forced the keeper into an error, which Garnacho duly converted for the opener. A well-taken double followed to hand United all three points. Third game: Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Premier League) 7/10 As of 16 December 2024, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and United’s Andre Onana are joint top for clean sheets (six). Years of mismanagement and debt accumulated under owner Farhad Moshiri have seen the Toffees slide down the table, which nearly cumulated in relegation in the 21/22 season. Under Sean Dyche and with first choice England keeper Pickford in goal, they have built a reputation for having a watertight defence. Against United’s swashbuckling attack, it turned out to be a one-sided affair. Rashford and new summer signing Joshua Zirkzee nabbed a brace each, with Amorim’s usual 3-4-2-1 formation in full flow. Amad Diallo, very much a peripheral figure under the previous manager, was at his scintillating best. Typically a winger but playing as the right wing-back, he was given license to roam and grabbed it with both hands. One minute he’s tracking back and making tackles, the next minute he’s marauding up the pitch, ball at feet, eyes always scanning for the best possible option. What’s even more impressive is that he played the full 90, and not once did his standards drop. Mentality monster. Still only 22-years-old, the future looks very promising for the Ivorian. Joshua Zirkzee does the gunfingers celebration a la Robbie Keane, just without the forward roll Fourth game: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (Premier League) 4/10 This was Amorim’s first real test at United. Runners-up for the past two seasons, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side have a reputation for having one of the meanest defences in the league, and also for set-piece goals. The latter was clearly on show that day, with Arsenal’s two goals coming from set-pieces, headed in by defenders Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for United: promising signs such as players looking sharper and confident, clear on their instructions and roles on the pitch. Set-pieces remain a weakness, as it was under the previous manager Erik Ten Hag, but one mustn’t forget, this is only Amorim’s fourth game in charge. A transitional period is to be expected. Fifth game: Manchester United 2-3 Nottingham Forest (Premier League) 2/10 In fairness, Nottingham Forest have been flying this season. With the impressive Chris Wood leading their attack, and pace and creativity in midfield, and a robust defence with different skillsets, Nuno’s men are proving to be tough opponents. Still, at Old Trafford, one would expect United to get a result at their home ground. Forest scored after just two minutes, another set-piece goal. Hojlund equalised soon after. All square at half time, but the visitors came bursting out of the blocks as the second half kicked off. A long-range effort caught Onana, so promising in recent games, flat-footed. Chris Wood (who else?) added a third, and suddenly United were in danger of letting the game run away from them. Captain Bruno Fernandes pulled one back, but it was not to be. A second consecutive loss for the Red Devils. Cold picture. Results-wise? Absolutely steaming Sixth game: Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Manchester United (Europa League) 6/10 Last year, United goalkeeper Andre Onana endured an error-strewn first season, with many supporters questioning the unceremonious departure of club legend David de Gea by the board and manager. On the night, he did his doubters no favours, with an underhit pass handing the Czech side the lead. Enter Ramus Hojlund. The Danish international was immense in the previous European fixture, and today was no different. A double, including a late winner, handed United all three points in their bid to qualify for the next stage of the competition. Seventh game: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United (Premier League) 11/10 Be real guys, we all knew this was coming. And get ready for a long-ass piece. The best game under Amorim so far. Reigning champions City, winless in their last 10 games in all competitions, were still a force to be reckoned with. A few hours before kickoff, it emerged that Amorim had left Garnacho and Rashford out of the travelling squad completely. Whether it be the rumours of alleged United lineup leaks before the embargoed timing by members of the squad or simply performance-related, United had bigger worries on their minds. Two wounded giants, one led by a serial winner albeit cheating scum (115 charges, we see you) and one led by an up-and-coming manager. No United manager had won their first Manchester derby since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in 1986, so the odds were stacked against Amorim. But, as club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once said, “Mountains are there to be climbed.” A cagey first half, in which United poked and prodded at the City defence without much effect, saw City take the lead, once again from the result of a set-piece. For the most part, the Red Devils sorely missed the runs in behind by Garnacho and Rashford, which would’ve stretched a typically compact City side. Sloppy passing and indecisiveness almost led to more goals for the home side, but Haaland and co found Harry Maguire in scintillating form. Harry Maguire channeling his inner prime Paolo Maldini on Sunday The second half saw United adopt the same style of play: a patient buildup, prodding and testing the City backline, trying to exploit any gaps, not rushing things. The away support increased their volume to try and galvanise their team on, wanting to see some form of attacking intent. Bruno Fernandes missed a golden chance to put his team level, and a collective groan echoed around the Etihad. United had been guilty of squandering chances in the past and not killing off games, and it looked like a recurring theme, until one man decided enough was enough. Enter Amad Diallo. Capitalising on a sloppy back pass by Matheus Nunes, Amad raced towards the City goal with only Ederson to beat. Realising the angle was narrow, he attempted to cut the ball back and was duly hacked down by a recovering Nunes desperate to make up for his mistake. Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. Penalty for United. Bruno Fernandes stepped up, took a deep breath, and sent Ederson the wrong way. A roar of delight reverberated around the stadium. 88 minutes gone, United were finally level. City were wounded and hurting. The home fans knew it. The away fans were baying for blood. United smelt it, and duly went for the jugular. In the first minute of stoppage time, barely two minutes after Fernandes levelled proceedings, Lisandro Martinez picked up the ball, and with no City players immediately pressing him, scanned the vicinity. Amad, now inverted, made a run in between the opposition defence. Martinez picked him out with a lofted ball, and Amad dinked the ball past an onrushing Ederson, before directing the ball into the net from a tight angle. Cue euphoria. Amad Diallo sprinted to the away fans to celebrate. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, two unused substitutes, embraced the Ivorian, wide smiles plastered on the faces of the United players. Ruben Amorim pumped the air with joy, whilst Pep Guardiola collapsed in his seat, head in hands. The City players looked at each other, baffled. The home fans were silenced. For the first time in four years, United had triumphed at the home of their crosstown rivals. Post-match celebrations saw Amorim declare to a reporter, with a wry smile, that “Manchester is Red.” Similar Instagram posts by United players appear to take the mick out of City, all in good fun of course. Banter is a vital part of football rivalry, as long as the line isn’t crossed. My personal favourite? Rasmus Hojlund’s post (shown below) aimed at Kyle Walker, who comically fell to the floor in the hopes of getting the United player sent off, following a confrontation between both men after an unsportsmanlike barge from the latter. Walker is 34 by the way. Kyle Walker is no stranger to cheating, just ask his ex-wife A long way to go Hopefully United will take this as a sign that things are clearly working out, and to push on with the aim to improve instead of resting on their laurels. Amorim is clearly doing something right, but admittedly I said the same thing about Ten Hag in his first season. But the major difference between both men is that Amorim has repeatedly stressed that his tactics and formation will be decided by the players at his disposal, meaning that despite all the talk about his staunch refusal to budge from a 3-4-2-1, it does not mean the Portuguese is not willing to adapt to the game conditions. United currently sit 13th in the table, which sounds bad until you realise only six points separate us from fourth-placed Nottingham Forest (yes, you heard me right). The chase to the top four is on, in a bid to bring back Champions League football to Old Trafford. With a young manager at the helm – Ruben Amorim is only 39 – and a young team brimming with raw talent and massive potential, United have the best springboard to capitalise on, and with actual brains heading the football aspect (instead of the waste of space that are the Glazers), the future looks bright. Also, if it wasn't already blindingly obvious, I am an ardent Manchester United supporter, so expect a dash of biasedness and a splash of unseriousness except about everything that is and will be mentioned about the absolute parasites that are the Glazers, who really should carry a potted plant around to replace the oxygen they waste. - Fremont - Photos from Twitter (@utdscope)