Another game at Old Trafford, another limp performance, more dropped points, and more platitudes from Ruben Amorim about intensity, suffering, and aggression.
Man Utd’s 1-1 draw against West Ham continues to send Ruben Amorim and his team on a path of mediocrity, which just seems to be their new normal.
The shoots of growth early in the season have disappeared, and while some injuries and poor form have been a factor, it’s impossible to shake off the feeling that the Man Utd manager is holding the team back.
What is your MESSAGE to Ruben Amorim after the 1-1 draw vs West Ham?
“We had good moments and we lost a little bit of control after the goal. We should have closed the game when we scored the first one.”
Ruben Amorim
It was especially true against West Ham, where Amorim sent the wrong message to his team and essentially sealed the draw when it should have been a win.
Ruben Amorim set the tone vs West Ham
There was a lot of talk after the game about winning second balls, transitions, and set-pieces, which could make people believe that this was a game between two conference league sides.
However, the reality is that this was United’s game against a side that hasn’t won away from home all season, and despite a small resurgence, is still finding its feet under a new manager.
United led the game at the hour-mark via Diogo Dalot’s strike, and any manager at Old Trafford senses that as a moment where the floodgates can open.
Not Amorim, though, as instead of opening the floodgates, he asked his team to batten down the hatches because it’s probably important to “suffer”.
Diogo Dalot scored his first goal for Man Utd since 2024 – Was Amorim wrong to take him off?
“It’s an instant kill on his first touch. He still has a lot to do. A brilliant moment for him and a great finish.”
Gary Neville on Diogo Dalot’s goal
On came Patrick Dorgu for the goalscorer Dalot, and less than ten minutes after, Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount came on for Matheus Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee.
That clearly sent a message that the team needed to protect their 1-0 advantage instead of going for the kill against a frail team.
West Ham took confidence from it, and soon scored via the same set-piece (corner) which Amorim concentrated all his energies into avoiding.
Amorim is betraying Man Utd’s ethos
Losses and dropped points are a part of football, and even a lacklustre performance or two is excusable because the players are not robots.
What’s not excusable is actively trying to make things harder for yourself out of sheer stubbornness and betraying the ethos of the club.
One out of three words that United flaunt as their motto has already been betrayed.
“Youth. Courage. Success” has not seen much success these days, but “Youth” and “Courage” were protected by Erik ten Hag.
He gave youngsters a chance and threw the kitchen sink at games when he was losing. Amorim does neither because he’d rather lose and flaunt his trust in a system instead of trying to win.
There’s no success to speak of, the youngsters are not shown any trust, and the courage has disappeared from his tactical choices.
This only looks like ending one way.
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