Much has been made about Ruben Amorim’s formation in recent days.
The incoming Manchester United manager has been wedded to a 3-4-3 for much of his managerial career, deploying that shape to great effect while in charge of Sporting Lisbon. The 39-year-old is expected to deploy that system at Old Trafford having officially taken over this week.
It means there is plenty of speculation surrounding who will fit where and whether some of the existing squad will have a natural home. Amorim is intelligent enough to work with what he has rather than shoehorn square pegs into round holes, but the likelihood is United will, sooner or later, line up in a 3-4-3 or a variation of.
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Amorim’s set-up is built on a defensive foundation but with a ball-playing and progressive back three. He values possession, something that perhaps comes easier in Portugal where Sporting were often heavy favourites, while he has flexibility in attack with two number 10s and a striker willing to run and work hard.
His Sporting side often attacked centrally and in numbers while relying on the wing-backs to provide an alternative outlet, with numbers in the box a mainstay of their offensive strategy.
And it is those wing-backs that is perhaps prompting the biggest selection debate at Old Trafford. United do have players to slot into a back three, even if it not a set-up many will be used to, while the attacking spots and central midfield options have plenty of options available.
But at wing back, it is a different story. Diogo Dalot has been short of form this season and struggled on the left. He could do a job on the right but perhaps Noussair Mazraoui is the better fit. Amad Diallo could even be reinvented to play in that position with Sporting often playing attack-minded players as wing backs.
It’s on the left where the biggest issue is given United are often short of senior options. Tyrell Malacia is now back having played for the Under-21s in midweek but questions remain over his fitness record given an 18 month absence, while it’s not certain how he would adapt to a wing back role. Luke Shaw can point to experience in the position having played there for England but his ongoing fitness issues raise concerns while he may also be needed to cover one of the back three positions.
Youngster Harry Amass is highly rated and could conceivably be promoted into the picture by Amorim, who is no stranger to giving youngsters he feels are good enough chances, but that would represent something of a gamble.
And so to the transfer market. With January just around the corner, Amorim’s first priority will surely be a left sided player moulded in the style wants to play at Old Trafford. There are cases for improvements elsewhere, but if Amorim goes with his history as United’s future, then getting the left side right, should be the prime concern.
