Ratcliffe's gamble on Ruben Amorim has yielded its first dividends, but for how long?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's appointment of Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim as the new manager of Manchester United was a bold move last year. The part-owner had to navigate uncharted waters, having never run a football club before. However, with technical director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada by his side, he felt that Amorim was the right man to turn around the struggling team.
Amorim's impressive track record in Spain, particularly at Sporting Lisbon, where he won the league title, had attracted attention from other top clubs like Tottenham and Liverpool. Despite initial scepticism from some quarters, United felt they had snatched a deal that would bring youthful energy and optimism back to Old Trafford.
A year on, Amorim has finally started to live up to his promise. The three successive wins, including a crucial 3-2 victory at Anfield against Liverpool for the first time in nearly a decade, have lifted the gloom around the club. His team's performances have shown signs of improvement, with more cohesion and strategy emerging on the pitch.
However, there are still those who doubt whether United's faith in Amorim is justified. Some argue that he has been too rigid in his approach, sticking to a 3-4-3 system despite criticism from rivals. His direct approach was a tactical triumph at Liverpool, but will it prove effective against sterner opponents?
There are also questions about the extent of Ratcliffe's backing for Amorim. The part-owner has promised him three years to turn United around, which is no easy task given the club's history of mid-table mediocrity. While there is hope that Anfield could be Amorim's Mark Robins moment, saving his job in a dramatic FA Cup third-round victory, it remains to be seen whether this analogy will hold true.
Ratcliffe's vision for United has been shaped by Amorim, but he also brought in some new faces. Dan Ashworth, the former sporting director, left on December 8 last year and was replaced by Wilcox. Some insiders suggest that there were tensions between Ratcliffe and Ashworth before his departure.
It is clear that the club's approach has changed under Amorim's management. The emphasis is now on pragmatism and flexibility, rather than dogmatic adherence to a system. However, whether this shift in approach will prove successful remains to be seen.
Ultimately, United's fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in their team's journey. Will Amorim continue to build momentum or will the doubts about his tactics resurface? One thing is certain – United can't afford to return to the "rinse and repeat" of the past 10 years, when the club stuck with the same old approaches despite clear evidence that they were not working.
For now, there is a renewed sense of hope around Old Trafford. The players are more cohesive, the fans are more enthusiastic, and the board seems more united behind Amorim's vision. While the road ahead will be long and difficult, United have finally found a manager who shares their ambition to rebuild and restore the club to its former glory.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's appointment of Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim as the new manager of Manchester United was a bold move last year. The part-owner had to navigate uncharted waters, having never run a football club before. However, with technical director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada by his side, he felt that Amorim was the right man to turn around the struggling team.
Amorim's impressive track record in Spain, particularly at Sporting Lisbon, where he won the league title, had attracted attention from other top clubs like Tottenham and Liverpool. Despite initial scepticism from some quarters, United felt they had snatched a deal that would bring youthful energy and optimism back to Old Trafford.
A year on, Amorim has finally started to live up to his promise. The three successive wins, including a crucial 3-2 victory at Anfield against Liverpool for the first time in nearly a decade, have lifted the gloom around the club. His team's performances have shown signs of improvement, with more cohesion and strategy emerging on the pitch.
However, there are still those who doubt whether United's faith in Amorim is justified. Some argue that he has been too rigid in his approach, sticking to a 3-4-3 system despite criticism from rivals. His direct approach was a tactical triumph at Liverpool, but will it prove effective against sterner opponents?
There are also questions about the extent of Ratcliffe's backing for Amorim. The part-owner has promised him three years to turn United around, which is no easy task given the club's history of mid-table mediocrity. While there is hope that Anfield could be Amorim's Mark Robins moment, saving his job in a dramatic FA Cup third-round victory, it remains to be seen whether this analogy will hold true.
Ratcliffe's vision for United has been shaped by Amorim, but he also brought in some new faces. Dan Ashworth, the former sporting director, left on December 8 last year and was replaced by Wilcox. Some insiders suggest that there were tensions between Ratcliffe and Ashworth before his departure.
It is clear that the club's approach has changed under Amorim's management. The emphasis is now on pragmatism and flexibility, rather than dogmatic adherence to a system. However, whether this shift in approach will prove successful remains to be seen.
Ultimately, United's fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in their team's journey. Will Amorim continue to build momentum or will the doubts about his tactics resurface? One thing is certain – United can't afford to return to the "rinse and repeat" of the past 10 years, when the club stuck with the same old approaches despite clear evidence that they were not working.
For now, there is a renewed sense of hope around Old Trafford. The players are more cohesive, the fans are more enthusiastic, and the board seems more united behind Amorim's vision. While the road ahead will be long and difficult, United have finally found a manager who shares their ambition to rebuild and restore the club to its former glory.
I'm still not sure about this 3-4-3 system thing, it seems too rigid for my taste. And what's with the emphasis on pragmatism now? Is that just code for "we're giving up on our attacking style"? 
I want to see more creativity from United, you know? But hey, if it works, who cares? 
The fans are loving it, and that's all that matters, right? But what about the players? Are they buying into Amorim's vision? And what about Ratcliffe's role in all of this? Is he just a benevolent dictator or does he have some real input on the team's strategy? 
I'm loving the vibe around Old Trafford right now! It feels like United are finally back on track after years of mediocrity 
. Amorim's tactical shifts are paying off, and it's amazing to see the team come together under his guidance 
. The 3-4-3 system might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if it works for them, who cares? 
What I'm excited about is how the club's approach has evolved – more pragmatism and flexibility = more wins 
! United can't afford to stick with the same old formula, so kudos to Ratcliffe and Amorim for making the necessary changes 
. Now, let's see if they can build on this momentum and restore Old Trafford to its former glory 
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. The pragmatism and flexibility under Amorim's management is definitely an improvement 
.
. Nonetheless, with the fans and board united behind Amorim, I think there's still hope for this team to turn things around 
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. The question is, can they sustain this momentum? 
It feels like Ratcliffe finally made the right call with Amorim 
. Who knew he'd have some magic up his sleeve? 
The 3-4-3 system might just be the key 
. But what about when the big teams come knocking? Can they adapt? 
. And I'm curious to see how he's going to navigate those expectations without losing his job. The board seems united behind him now, which is great for the team, but we've seen that before and it didn't end well 
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but on the other hand, it's like throwing darts at a board - you're bound to hit some bulls eye (wins) and some blanks (losses). what if amorim can't live up to the hype? will ratcliffe be able to let him go without losing face 
I gotta say, Man U's season is looking up! 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want a part-owner with deep pockets 
? It's all about the investment and the will to win now 
. I mean, it's not like they've got 10 years of mediocrity to show for 
. The doubts are normal, but I'm feeling the hype 
! Bring it on! 
.
, and I love the emphasis on pragmatism and flexibility now 
!
the 3yr plan is a big ask tho, what happens if they dont turn it around in that time? 
. The fact that they've finally started to see some signs of improvement, like those three wins in a row, suggests that their approach is starting to pay off 
. The fact that they're winning games now is a huge confidence booster for the fans 
The players are coming together, the fans are stoked, and it feels like there's a renewed sense of hope around Old Trafford. Let's hope Amorim can keep the momentum going and actually deliver on that promised rebuild 
. Fingers crossed for the Red Devils!