Rodrigo Mora. You have caught my eye tonight. First start for Porto and he performed magnificently, just 17 years old.
The psychological strength of United’s squad is an area which hasn’t been improved upon for some time.
I think you can clearly see a team that lacks psychological strength, some cues are:
- can the team protect leads?
- how does the team react to setbacks?
- how does the team react in chaos?
You need players on the pitch that can react to situations quicker than your opponents do.
This can be in the form of getting to the ball first, understanding where the space is first, or simply making that on ball decision before the opponent has time to react.
Whilst Amorim builds at United, I feel like Twitter is going to be a worse and worse place to be.
Already read today that he should give up the 3-4-3 and switch to a 4-2-3-1 on paper.
Don’t think a lot of Utd’s fanbase has the patience to wait for big changes that will take lots of time, tbh.
Overall, wasn’t a good half. Nothing on Amorim tho, can’t be expected to change all that much overnight.
Important to know this isn’t his preferred XI as well, some key players to return, maybe even in the 2nd half + beyond this game.
Patience.
Overall, this team clearly lacks the physical prowess, whether this be covering ground, being able to press with intensity throughout, win duels and/or know how to manage them.
+ the same decision making problems up top from the same personnel…
United’s temperament as a team has been poor.
Tempo setting isn’t there, players unable to receive on the turn in central areas and hold possession under pressure.
Forward players without the necessary duel power to give United an outlet (vs what Gyökeres usually does).
Ahhh, the left footed RWB.
How many times will we see this move tried today?
I believe the way I’m feeling right now ahead of Amorim’s first game is “hyped”.
Thank you so much for reading this thread. If you got this far, then thanks so much for staying until the end. I had to miss out some details I wanted to include, but I will touch on these in due course (character, academy).
Hopefully this is the beginning of something special.
Amorim has used a more direct CF with ball to feet # 10s and a more ball to feet CF with direct # 10s, United has a mixture that can be used.
Amorim has also used Pedro G as a pivot player when expected to hold the majority of possession, which means Bruno could play deeper.
Demands Per Position - #9
Many parallels drawn between Gyökeres and Højlund -> the latter does run the channels well -> this is important for Amorim, as mentioned previously.
Rashford also seems a possible fit for left-leaning #9 under Amorim.
+ Zirkzee w/more direct runners.
Knowing when to make a +1 in build-up
Back to goal play when drop in deep + pressed -> turn under pressure?
Play in tight spaces when facing deeper block
Underlaps when WBs in possession wide
Carrying out pressing duties + reading triggers (e.g. when ball goes wide to FB)
Demands Per Position - # 10s
Amorim has showed flexibility in these positions -> generally uses an #8/10 and inverted winger, hence Bruno, Mount, Amad good fits.
He has also used a more explosive winger here, Rashford/Garnacho could also play here depending on #9.
Demands Per Position - CMs
Part of front press, thus intensity
Building stay-go relationship (staggered CMs)
Deeper CM 3-1 rest defence vs certain opp -> screening qualities
Higher CM push up in 4-2-2-2, runs on last line
Holding ball under press, wall passes
Short term (until Shaw/Malacia back to full match sharpness), expect Dalot and Mazraoui as WBs- build foundations.
Manage the “load” of Shaw -> LCB better option to reduce physical demands compared to LWB?
Garnacho/Antony most suited to WB roles from United’s wingers.
Demands Per Position - WBs
Engine, intensity -> press forwards and run back
Flexibility (comfort in FB, WB, winger areas of the pitch)
Use of inside foot -> see chance creation method 1
1 vs 1 separation techniques
Final product -> cutbacks, crosses
Neither Maguire nor De Ligt can go into pivot.
Hence Amorim will have to compromise in one particular area, and I think he’ll opt for the increased physical presence and perhaps adapt the build-up slightly.
LCB -> pivot and move CCB across?
3-4-3 transitions into 4-2-2-2.
Demands Per Position - CCB
For goal kicks, the CCB often goes into the pivot, which suits Martinez + then less channel defending.
However, being the CCB demands a strong aerial presence -> Amorim has opted for Coates, Diomande in the past.
Martinez possibly better fit at LCB?
Demands Per Position- Wide CBs
- Ball progression -> finding forward passes into # 10s in pockets
- Channel Defending -> adaptation to be comfortable defending channels when WB pushes up
Overall, investment needed in CBs to sign more players who meet both demands.
Adaptation to United:
Various possibilities for Amorim’s Utd lineup in the short-run, and some areas where he’ll have to adapt dynamics or simply buy the profiles he needs.
He has already mentioned it’s “I choose always 100% my way.”
Possible lineup in short-run:
Typically, Amorim will set up in a mid-block in settled defence, but isn’t frightened to switch between high/mid/low block when necessary.
Usually 5-2-3 / 5-4-1 shape.
When using an 8/10 as one of the 3 forward players (Pedro G/Bruno) easy to transition to 5-3-2 (vs city).
The spaces which the pivot players have to cover depend a lot on whether the CBs go man to man on the #10/CF of the opponent.
From what I’ve seen, this is situation-dependent. Here, both Ignacio and Diomande follow the #10 and CF to regain possession.
Getting back into defensive positions quickly is something which Amorim worked on in training this week + talked about in his press conference.
Very high demands on the pivot players and WBs.
“We have to be better running back.”
UTD will need to improve A LOT physically.
Press - Example 2
However, the press isn’t always cohesive.
There’s occasions when Sporting have gone to press high, with the defensive line dropping off and the opp. #10/CF with space between the lines.
They do however get back very quickly.
Phases 3 and 4:
A tidier pass from Sporting’s left #10 and they could have capitalised in transition - nevertheless, possession regained.
Press- Example 1
Let's break this press down into different phases.
Phases 1 and 2 -> inviting the ball into the centre.
Unlike ETH’s Utd, where the FB would very often not back up the press onto the opposition’s FB, we’ve seen this less often at Sporting.
I've noticed Sporting's press has been stronger out wide, but slightly weak centrally at times, with some holes between attack-defence.
Amorim’s Sporting tend to press with a front 5, composed of the CF, 10s and pivot players -> sometimes joined by a wing-back.
The front 5 tend to press the ball side, with the back 5 often going strictly man to man.
Aim -> Prevent Central Progression
Press
Overall, Amorim’s Sporting aren’t the most intense pressing side in Portugal (PPDA= Passes allowed per defensive action), but that doesn’t mean they do or can not press well overall.
Let’s look at the theory and evidence behind their press:
