Ruben Amorim: ‘More dynamic’ – what was different about Portuguese manager’s Man Utd?
Every system has its pros and cons, and even if this Manchester United team is used to a 3-4-3 formation, there are still problems with using this formation.
Although having Ganaccio and Fernandez play an attacking role inside, it means that Ipswich’s full-backs can easily push forward and double-team their wingers, giving them a pass out wide. overload.
Another problem with this formation is that it requires two midfielders to cover a lot of ground, especially in a demanding league like the Premier League.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen still have a lot of work to do, and you could argue that the required athleticism isn’t their strongest attribute. Ipswich played well and made things difficult for them, dragging them everywhere.
To perform this role well, United’s midfielders need to be more than just mobile. They both have to love the defense of the game and be able to spot danger and then be quick enough to stop it.
In the long run, I think Manuel Ugarte will be one of them. He’ll need a run of games to get back to sharpness, but we’ve already seen him perform well, such as against Fenerbahce in the Europa League last month, and he’s also previously been at Sporting Lisbon under Amorim. Excellent performance.
As for who Ugarte will play alongside, it’s likely to be someone who’s not currently at the club – there will have to be activity over the next few transfer windows to get the type of player Amorim needs.
Until then, United will always struggle without the ball, but this team will continue to evolve, as will Amorim’s tactics.
As I said on MOTD2, I would be surprised if Manchester United still play the same 3-4-3 system in a year’s time, because the Premier League is very different to the continental leagues.
If United want to progress and become more competitive, I think Amorim’s formation will evolve into something else, but in the meantime, at least their fans have seen some progress.
Danny Murphy is speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
