With his talent and proven success at Sporting Lisbon, Ruben Amorim deserves more time to establish himself at Old Trafford. However, in the current predicament, sticking with a 3-4-3 formation seems a risky decision.
At a big club like Man United where the pressure to succeed is huge, a coach needs to be flexible to adapt to the resources he has, especially when taking over the team mid-season.
Man United have been desperate for a new identity and Amorim is trying to bring that. However, the tactical system does not suit the quality of the squad, continuing to deploy it will only sink the team deeper into crisis. The defeat to Newcastle was a clear proof that The Red Devils squad is not capable of executing the current strategy.
In the 0-2 defeat to Newcastle, Man United were completely outclassed despite playing at home. This was the first time the "Magpies" had won at Old Trafford in 11 years and the second time in the last 52 years. In contrast, the "Red Devils" have lost 6 of their last 8 matches - 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 were not particularly physically fit and were up against Newcastle's muscular midfield of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali. The result was no surprise as United's midfield was completely overwhelmed.
The three-man defence of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez further exacerbated the problem. Despite Newcastle only playing with one striker in Alexander Isak, Amorim’s centre-backs did not dare to push forward to control the ball and support the midfield, leading to the team being split and easily broken down.
The 39-year-old coach's system not only made the "Red Devils" defense weak but also completely eliminated creativity in attack. Joshua Zirkzee, who was assigned to play as a number 10, was replaced after just over 30 minutes because he could not adapt to the role. Similarly, Amad Diallo also failed to show anything when having to play with his back to goal, a task that did not suit his ability.
Meanwhile, attacks from the wings were almost non-existent as both Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot – defensive-minded players – were unable to support the attack effectively. This allowed Newcastle to easily exploit the gaps and create 2 goals with simple headers.
No one can deny Ruben Amorim's talent but his rigidity in his football philosophy is costing Man United. The current crisis is not just about tactics but also about team spirit. Players like Marcus Rashford, who was once the hope, are now considering leaving for a new challenge.
To avoid the worst-case scenario of relegation, the Portuguese needs to be more flexible in his approach. Players need to be deployed 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.
