With his talent and proven success at Sporting Lisbon, Ruben Amorim deserves more time to establish himself at Old Trafford. However, in the current difficult situation, sticking to the 3-4-3 formation seems like a risky decision.
In a big team like Man United with a lot of pressure to succeed, a coach needs to be flexible to adapt to the resources he has, especially when taking over the team in the middle of the season.
Man United have longed for a new identity and Amorim is trying to bring that. However, the tactical diagram is not in line with the quality of the squad, continuing to deploy it only sinks the team deeper into crisis. The loss to Newcastle was clear evidence that the Red Devils squad is not capable of implementing the current strategy.
In the 0-2 defeat to Newcastle, Man United played completely at a disadvantage even though they were allowed to play at home. This was the first time the Magpies have won at Old Trafford in 11 years and only the second time in 52 years. In contrast, the Red Devils have lost six of their last eight games their worst record in December history.
The team's problems became clear when Ruben Amorim decided to pair 32-year-old central midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. The pair are all not physically outstanding players and face Newcastle's muscular midfield, including Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali. The result was no surprise as Man United's midfield was completely overwhelmed.
The 3-man defense with Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez further aggravated the problem. Although Newcastle only played with one striker, Alexander Isak, Amorim's central defenders did not dare to push forward to control the ball and support the midfield, leading to the formation being divided and easily broken.
The system applied by the 39-year-old coach not only makes the "Red Devils" defense dilapidated but also completely eliminates creativity in attack. Joshua Zirkzee, who was assigned to play as a number 10, was substituted after just over 30 minutes because he could not adapt to the role. Similarly, Amad Diallo also failed to show anything when he had to play with his back to goal, a task that did not suit his abilities.
Meanwhile, attacks from both wings have been almost non-existent as Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot - players who are defensive - have been unable to support effective attacks. This made it easy for Newcastle to exploit the gaps and create 2 goals with simple headers.
No one denies Ruben Amorim's talent, but his rigidity in his football philosophy is making Man United pay the price. The current crisis is not only about tactics but also about team spirit. Players like Marcus Rashford, who was once a hope, are now considering leaving for a new challenge.
To avoid the worst-case scenario of relegation, the Portuguese captain needs to be more flexible in his approach to the match. Players need to be used in positions that best suit their abilities. A pragmatic change may not fit the identity he wants to build, but it is necessary to at least keep Man United in the Premier League.
