Amorim's 'idea' will 'take time' at Man Utd - Ornsteinpublished at 17:01
17:01
Image source, PA Media
David Ornstein, football correspondent for The Athletic, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the formation implemented by Ruben Amorim in the early weeks of his reign at Manchester United:
"His idea, as he calls it, is something he doesn't appear willing to waver from. That's why Manchester United have employed him, to implement what we saw at Sporting Lisbon very successfully. But he had the personnel there, and he doesn't at Manchester United.
"It is going to take time to get rid of some players, recruit others and also work on something that will take a little while to seep into the familiarity and consciousness of those he's working with."
Former Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert added: "I think it's great he's sticking with it. He'll get it right - I just think the current group at the minute are finding it tough to play that type of football."
'Every corner nowadays is an opportunity' - Amorimpublished at 15:20
15:20
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Manchester United's vulnerability from defensive set-pieces has been evident in each of their past three games; Bournemouth scored with a header from a free-kick at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Tottenham and Wolves have both scored directly from corners.
Following Thursday's 2-0 loss at Molineux, boss Ruben Amorim was asked whether referees needed to protect players more or if his side simply needed to be stronger in those situations.
"After a defeat, I don't want to talk about that, but you can see that every corner nowadays is an opportunity," he said. "Sometimes you forget the small guys and the talented guys. You put 11 guys to corners or free-kicks if you can do everything inside the box.
"But those are the rules and we must not cry about it but do the same thing.
"So we have to focus on doing the same thing to the opponent. That is my goal at the moment."
Asked if his side needed "bigger players", Amorim replied: "No, what I'm saying is that if set-pieces are becoming so important, you can do everything, so we have to learn it and do the same thing, even with the small guys.
"We just have to copy and do the same thing and not try to change the rules - just use the rules to also score goals at set-pieces."
Alan Shearer spoke on Match of the Day about the problems Ruben Amorim has at Manchester United as the club were defeated again on Boxing Day at Wolves: "Everything - results, issues off the field, Marcus Rashford...
"He (Amorim) said that they're going to have to suffer for a while and they are, because clearly a lot of the players in the football club are not good enough.
"He has to be able to get rid of players and be allowed to bring players in that can suit his system.
Tony: A bit of an improvement but defensively culpable for Everton's goal - Illiman Ndiaye was given so much time before he scored. He was standing in the same position for two to three minutes before he scored and nobody was picking him up. I hope we can improve at Leicester but, honestly, a draw would have been nice and a win exceptional at this moment in time!
John: The slow, methodical build-up play does not work anymore. Having the bulk of possession is pointless if you can't make it count. Playing the ball square or back allows the opposition to regroup defensively. Be more direct and have a go. Pushing the ball out to the wings isn't working either when you have nobody able to convert in the box. City have a lot to thank Erling Haaland for in recent years but he has been shocking this season. He wanders about the pitch aimlessly, hardly touches the ball, gives up too easily and his workrate is poor.
Peter: Another inept performance. Too slow in the build-up and lacking defensive stability. Rico Lewis was again at fault for the visitors goal, but Pep Guardiola still keeps selecting him. He needs to go out on loan to develop. The future looks bleak. Why is Kevin de Bruyne not playing from the start?
Sam: I'm happy with the way we played and I'm confident we'll do well or better in subsequent matches. With the way Everton played, any team would have struggled to score - they had all their players in defence! We were just unlucky, but overall we played well. Also, we cannot expect City to win the league every season.
Everton fans
Anthony: If Everton can get a 10-league-goals-a-season forward in January, they're safer than one of those boxes in a bank. They're trending upwards - a testament to courage and application. Well done.
Chris: We had our chances. I just wish Sean Dyche would use some imagination. Jordan Pickford to the rescue again. That's 17 points from 17 games - and if that ends up being 38 points from 38 games we should be playing Premier League football in our new stadium. Overall, a satisfactory performance.
Steve: In footballing terms - happy with a point away from home against City and very happy with the festive results... but we are so poor in the final third of the pitch. We just don't know what to do. Clearly all the coaching and all the tactics are based on robust defending and being set up not to lose.
Richard: We look capable of competing again and Ndiaye looked as good as anyone out there. Three great draws against quality teams so Dyche deserves a lot of credit. And us Toffees need to stop moaning!
Wolves 2-0 Man Utd - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:42
Rich: A well-deserved win and Molineux was absolutely rocking again. Matheus Cunha was head and shoulders above everyone else for the full game. We were defensively strong without giving away any clearcut chances and holding onto possession. We look a different team and what a Christmas for the Wolves pack.
Jackson: What a lovely Christmas present for my boys in gold. Only way is up. We were more in control, never panicked and worked for each other. Solid performance and the new manager seems to have installed something in us! And two clean sheets to boot. Tottenham away next. Happy Boxing Day boys, proud of you all.
Steve: The improvement is very obvious. The manager is installing confidence and a new lease of life into the team and they are responding. A good game and they took their chances. If they are boring, so what? It's about winning games at the moment. Well done to all.
Derek: Great to see the workrate and desire return. Good win overall against a shambolic Man Utd. Still need to improve accuracy of passing and ability to maintain possession. Go Wolves.
Man Utd fans
Christine: This is NOT about Amorim. It's the players. They are simply not good enough and there is no mentality or passion to even try. Absolutely disgraceful. Amorim needs to continue what he is doing and get those gutless players out of the club. Hard times to come.
Bob: Calling this 'woeful mediocrity' would be to heap praise on United's performance. Take the captaincy from Bruno Fernandes permanently, and in January sign a striker and a keeper - any keeper! - or we're sunk.
Steven: Abysmal really. Errors after errors costing the team. Players not good enough. No money available. Amorin says he knew it would be hard but even he must be wondering what he should do with the team. And then, is sticking to this 3-4-3 really helping? Something has to give because if this continues we will be looking for another manager again.
Anthony: We were too hasty in appointing a new manager to replace Ten Hag. This is going to end up in tears. Managing a team in the Portuguese league and in the Premier League is completely different.
'Quite some statistic' - Amorim's poor start at Man Utdpublished at 08:38
08:38
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, PA Media
For Ruben Amorim, the struggle goes on.
Five defeats in his first 10 matches in all competitions is the worst performance by any new United manager since Walter Crickmer in 1932. He lost six out of 10.
That is quite some statistic.
Some may argue it is also completely meaningless. Crickmer was part of a bygone age when there was no such thing as a manager - twice he stepped up from his day job as club secretary to "take charge of team affairs", according to United's own website.
Amorim is not a manager either. His title as coach was a change from the past, part of the collective responsibility the new structure instigated by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that has been put in place.
But Amorim is the man who must find answers, starting with his side's continual inability to defend set-pieces.
On Monday, in-form Newcastle visit Old Trafford before a visit to Anfield and a meeting with old rivals Liverpool. Two years ago, United lost 7-0 there. They have already been beaten 3-0 at home by Arne Slot's side this season.
The worry about what is to come from a period that also includes a trip to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round is palpable.
"It's a tough moment and we are far from the end of this moment," said Amorim, who left Marcus Rashford out of his matchday squad for the fourth game running.
"I manage but I haven't trained. They [players] need time to train because they are changing completely their way of playing. It is hard on them.
"In this moment we just have to survive and win sometimes. Like I said on the first day, we have to fight these bad moments."
Asked how long this might take, Amorim offer no cause for optimism: "I have no idea. No idea."
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 08:28
08:28
Highlights and analysis from Boxing Day's eight Premier League fixtures.
Gossip: City to discuss targets this weekpublished at 08:19
08:19
This week, manager Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City board will discuss which signings they will try to make in the January transfer window. (Guardian), external
Monaco's 22-year-old French winger Maghnes Akliouche is one of City's targets, but Atletico Madrid, Paris St-Germain, Inter Milan and Newcastle United are among the clubs also interested. (Caughtoffside), external
Dani Olmo's agent has arrived in Manchester with Premier League clubs, including City and Manchester United, potentially looking to take advantage of Barcelona's struggle to register the Spain midfielder, 26, ahead of the 1 January deadline. Agent Andy Bara said he is in Manchester on holiday rather than on business. (Mail), external
Gossip: United set Rashford price and target Daviespublished at 08:12
08:12
Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, 24, is open to a Premier League move this summer, with Manchester United and Liverpool among the clubs interested in the Canadian. (TBR Football), external
Meanwhile, United have set an initial asking price of about £50m for 27-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford. (Caughtoffside), external
Brazilian winger Antony has had offers to leave Old Trafford in January but the club do not want the 24-year-old to depart, according to his agent. (Givemesport), external
Dani Olmo's agent has arrived in Manchester with Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Manchester City, potentially looking to take advantage of Barcelona's struggle to register the Spain midfielder, 26, ahead of the 1 January deadline. Agent Andy Bara said he is in Manchester on holiday rather than on business. (Mail), external
Man Utd form no laughing matterpublished at 21:47 26 December
21:47 26 December
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
How Ruben Amorim must wish he had got his way when he asked United chief executive Omar Berrada if he could delay his arrival from Sporting until the summer.
At least the 39-year-old has not already been dismissed like his successor in Lisbon, Joao Pereira, but by the time he gets to the start of next season, Amorim will already be under scrutiny if this carries on.
For, while most would accept this current United squad is deficient in many areas when it comes to competing at the levels co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe demands, repeated failure at the most basic of English traditions is almost inexcusable.
Andre Onana has been one of his club's better performers but the Cameroon international's lapses are costly. His inability to command his penalty area at set-piece situations is reminiscent of David de Gea's early days. At Tottenham, Onana's understudy Altay Bayindir showed he was no better.
Amorim has also stuck with fellow Portuguese Bruno Fernandes as his captain but, with his team in a difficult moment and knowing he was on a booking, maybe he should have tempered his competitive instincts when he stuck out his boot and sent Nelson Semedo tumbling.
What was expected to be a season of progress under co-owner Ratcliffe at Old Trafford is in danger of spiralling rapidly out of control.
Dark humour about a relegation fight remains a joke for now but United are only eight points above the drop zone - and their next two games are against Newcastle at home and Liverpool at Anfield. The joke might be all too real after that.
'When we don't win, it's a step back'published at 19:54 26 December
19:54 26 December
Image source, Getty Images
Ruben Amorim speaking after Manchester United's loss to Wolves: "Of course, when you lose, when we don't win, it's a step back. It was really hard with the sending off. The goal was similar against Tottenham. Then, we tried. Even with one less guy we tried to and I think we were near something but then Wolves scored the second one. Then, in the end, we tried everything and the transition was 2-0. For us, let's continue.
On Bruno Fernandes' red card: "I think he cannot go to the ball. He's trying to reach the ball and some guys are not even looking at the ball but I don't want to focus on that. I think the good thing is we were near the goal, even with 10 men. That is a good thing, but we lost. It's so tough to win games in this league with 11 men. With 10 men, it's more difficult. We have to focus on that."
On if United had enough in attack before the red card: "We have to improve the relationships, but we have some moments. We lack a little bit of aggression, but we don't train. We just play and try to find a better way to win games and that's it. We can't control the games like the other ones that we lost. I think we were always in control of the game, not always dominating, but in control of some things, some set-pieces. The sending off was really hard for us."
On Marcus Rashford's absence: "It's always the same reason it's going to be. We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end."
On whether Rashford has shown anything different since being left out?: "If he's not here, you can make your mind up."
Image source, PA Media
