Yeah, had they settled on RvN it would have felt like they fell into a plan rather than actually having one. I have no idea if Amorim will succeed but it's clear they had a plan and executed it in quick fashion which is in itself a positive. Low bar? Probably but that's where we are at the moment.

Malacia is playing for U21s tonight. Might we have a recognized left fullback in the squad before the end of the year?

If anyone read about or listened to Amorim's first press conference, it's pretty clear he has no intention of wavering from his preferred 3-4-2-1. "There is no second option". He might change his tune if United get tonked in his first 2-3 games but he sounds convincing for the moment.

Going to be really interesting to see if/how he fits Rashford, Garnacho, Dalot, Malacia, Mazraoui, and Antony into a team that will only use wingbacks going forward. I didn't list Shaw as he'll likely be a LCB at least until the next injury. And Amad has experience as a number 10. My guess is he's more likely to be used there rather than added to the wingback logjam. If I had to guess, I'd say this coaching change could be what ultimately forces Rashford out of United. No chance he's going to play as a wingback. He's not a 10 (even if he literally is). Is timeshare as a forward really in the best interest of Rashford and United?

Thought this was a good article giving a peak into Amorim, where others before him have failed, and the fact that United really need to stop looking and insisting for a "messiah".

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/ruben-amorim-manchester-united-debut-ipswich-b2651428.html

Anyone have this predicted 11?

Are you ready, Reds? 🙌

Presenting Ruben Amorim's first United starting XI 👇#MUFC || #IPSMUN

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 24, 2024

Worth noting that the bench seems deeper than it's been in a while. Shaw AND Malacia? Is this 2022?

Well, that at least was an enthusiastic, bright pre match interview. Let's see how long it lasts.

Well Marcus is happy.

Yoooo

Wow Rashford at 1:30!

Such a good run and assist by Amad. Chefs kiss.

Nice try from Eriksen. So far, so good.

Twitter feed is blowing up over Onana's save; not sure how the shot from there wasn't a goal.

Welp.

You could feel that coming

That goal had been coming for 40 minutes.

Obvious yellow card not given

So. A half in and the spacing is all off. Both CDM are deep and tucked in with the wingbacks wide and disconnected and the next line of Amad and Garnacho are comparatively too high. We basically have lost all control of the ball. Either the CDM need to be higher or Rashford needs to come back in to fill that space.

So. How many minutes before Luke Shaw breaks down?

Anthony Taylor allergic to pulling out his cards or what?

Draws kill my soul. We didn't deserve to win, though, so can't really complain I guess.

That was ugly. It looked like nobody had any idea where to be or who to look for. Which is what you would expect when the entire shape and scheme changed.

10 more games between now and the end of the calendar year. Think it's best to just assess after New Year's and hope to see signs of improvement. I doubt Amorim will get this luxury but I'm expecting nothing out of this season other than a team to be playing at a top 6 level by late Feb.

Mathguy64 said:

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That was ugly. It looked like nobody had any idea where to be or who to look for. Which is what you would expect when the entire shape and scheme changed.

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It's almost like we hired a new manager in the middle of the season who has his own ideas on formation.

Quote:

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"We have two options," he added. "We try to just win games and don't risk anything and I guarantee at this stage next year we would have the same problems.

"We will have problems, the players will be confused sometimes but we have to address the new idea and try to be better for this stage next year."

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Really hope they let him stick with this. If you think you have the right guy, let him cook even if it takes a long time to stew.

Ruud is the new Head Fox:

🚨🦊 Ruud van Nistelrooy set to be appointed as new Leicester City head coach!

Agreement done and documents being signed with his camp, as @TeleFootball reports. pic.twitter.com/X5nugcHjAq

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 27, 2024

Good for him.

Playing with Casemiro in the middle of your back 3 for the final 25 minutes is a choice. No literally, it was the choice made I guess in anticipation of Everton on Sunday. Ugly defending at times, lots of good attacking play with poor finishing (Hojlund being the exception). An ugly 3 points but ugly it to be expected and the 3 points often aren't so I'll take it.

I swear Ratcliffe could have had United fans' good graces for 3 years just by not being the Glazers and instead he did the one thing that would ensure that the good graces evaporated in an instant and increased ticket prices to an unconscionable level.

Wow. We scored on a corner. I can't remember the last time we did that. It was an OG but it's still a goal.

On the downside this is a defensive hot mess. I can see what they want to do offensively (Zirkzee isn't the player Rasmus is right now) but defensively the spacing is wrong

In fairness, ticket prices may be in the Glazer's area.

And the moment I hit post, Zirkzee makes me look like an idiot.

Two great strikes from Rashford and Zirkzee!

Is Neil Warnock the commentator? I can't stand that scouse POS. And I can't stand this commentator, so I may just be ad hominem blaming.

It's not. lol. (If anyone is curious, it's Leon Osman, former Everton player, so there you go. I didn't think it sounded like Warnock except for the unbridled bias)

I think a big reason given was to help with FFP which has gotten a bit precarious now that an extra 10m was paid out to fire EtH and staff. Story seems to be that the footballing decision makers suggested it for that reason and once that happened the Glazers certainly weren't going to veto the idea.

Edit: replied to myself…SMH.