To claim the man with the worst win ratio of any Manchester United manager in the Premier League era was on to something is a bold start. But hear me out.
Ruben Amorim quickly worked Manchester United out. After his very first match as manager, the rookie coach – in a sign of things to come – told supporters some home truths and, inadvertently, gave fans a glimpse into their dark future.
“We must not forget about the new idea,” Amorim said. “That’s why I was brought here and we try to cope with the things they are used to doing. Next year, in the same stage, we will be here with the same problems, or we start now, we risk a little bit, we suffer a little bit and in the next year we will be better.”
The suffering part of Amorim’s eloquent media bow was certainly a prophetic vision as United finished in their lowest top-flight position since being relegated in 1974. As promised, however, things were starting to head in the right direction again before he was sacked last January for telling Jason Wilcox and the rest of the United hierarchy some of those trademark truisms.
The state of paralysis supporters find themselves in now, as Ineos and the club’s senior figures continue to make a mess of their United revival, is something Amorim saw coming, called out and paid the price for.
In recent times, just before the first snow falls, United often slump into a familiar nadir. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got closer than anyone to bringing back the glory years, but after a woeful start to the 2021-22 campaign, he became the latest to have tried and failed to restore his beloved club to its former glories.
Erik ten Hag won trophies but suffered the same fate as his predecessor, at roughly the same time of year. Amorim lasted a little longer before he was relieved of his duties, with his team just three points off fourth spot.
What separates Amorim from the others? He had an idea. It may not have paid off straight away, but he was trying something – instilling an identity at a football club who has forgotten what its own reflection looks like in the mirror.
Yes, he was too wedded to his system, but he was attempting to bring lasting change, behind the scenes and on the pitch. The style of play was about more than a back three; it centred on energy, intensity and, something skipper Bruno Fernandes rued the lack of in Wednesday’s Como disaster, a high press.
And who was most on board? The players. Other than those members of the “bomb squad” or the unfancied Kobbie Mainoo, there was never anyone speaking out of turn regarding their manager. Carrick has had two senior players publicly criticise him this week alone.
When sitting down with Harry Maguire on an England assignment a few months after Amorim’s acrimonious exit, under pressure to speak openly about a manager who had, on paper, flopped beyond all recognition, the stalwart defender had nothing but kind words.
“I really like Ruben,” he said “I think he’s got great ideas. The ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United. I do believe he’ll go on and have an amazing career.”
The sight of players lining up to warmly embrace their former manager as United faced Amorim’s AC Milan in a pre-season friendly this summer spoke of a group who feel an opportunity may have been missed.
Just as he said days into his United tenure, we are at the same stage of another year and the same problems have reared their ugly heads once more. United remain directionless, having sacked the only manager in recent times willing to guide them on the straight and narrow.
Last term was a free hit for Carrick. Moving players back into their best positions, restoring Mainoo to the side and ridding the club of that pesky three-at-the-back system enabled the quality of their players to pull them through until the end of the season.
Read more
Kevin Garside: Piers Morgan cannot handle the truth about Cristiano Ronaldo
Sean Walsh: Jadon Sancho’s next move is the fair shot he never got at Man Utd
This is the microcosm of modern-day United. Solskjaer relied on individual brilliance to succeed. Once teams had worked out how to stop United, there was little other tactical idea. The same is happening now.
Amorim was raw and too honest. Yet, he was onto something. And he certainly had United’s card.
Replacing Carrick with another like-minded coach will see us here again next winter or the following one. United need to go for another Amorim, one willing to bring bright and bold ideas to the table. And, most pertinently, is given time to see them through.