The debate is raging: How much credit does Ruben Amorim truly deserve for Manchester United's recent success, especially after his departure?
It's been about a month since Ruben Amorim was relieved of his duties as Manchester United's head coach in early January. This decision has undeniably sparked a significant amount of discussion and differing opinions among the club's passionate fanbase.
But here's where it gets interesting... The interim period under Michael Carrick has seen an immediate upturn in fortunes. Carrick, who took the helm following Amorim's dismissal, has guided the team to an impressive three wins in three Premier League matches. This winning streak kicked off with a memorable 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City, followed by further triumphs against Arsenal and Fulham.
And this is the part most people miss... Carrick's immediate success has inevitably led many to re-evaluate Amorim's 14-month tenure. It's a stark comparison: Carrick has already matched Amorim's longest winning run as head coach, a feat that took Amorim a considerable 47 matches to achieve. This statistic alone is quite telling for the former Sporting CP manager.
Through our dedicated TalkingPoints platform, Manchester United fans have been sharing their candid thoughts on Amorim's time at Old Trafford. Looking purely at the results during his leadership, it's difficult to find many positives. Manchester United finished a disappointing 15th in the Premier League last season and suffered a loss in the Europa League final against Tottenham. These outcomes certainly don't paint Amorim in the most favorable light.
However, a segment of the fanbase remains appreciative of the 40-year-old's efforts and contributions. Some fans are even attempting to quantify Amorim's impact on Carrick's current success. One fan suggested, "80% praise for what he put together at Man United," implying that Amorim laid some crucial groundwork.
But here's where it gets controversial... Other fans are far more critical. One expressed frustration, questioning, "How on earth can Amorim get any credit at all since his dropped points have cost us hugely. Not only cost us Europe and cups and a chance to challenge this year, but nearly Mainoo and others." This sentiment highlights concerns about missed opportunities and the development of key young players like Kobbie Mainoo.
Our own reporter, Sean Fisher, offered a more nuanced perspective. He stated, "It’s easy to jump and criticise Amorim now we are winning matches, but I truly believe his legacy will be remembered more off-the-pitch… the ‘bomb squad’ tactic in the summer was controversial and financially costly, but it did help to complete a much-needed clear out! The players never gave up on him, and that is a credit to the atmosphere he created."
Indeed, some fans pointed to Amorim's decision-making regarding player personnel as a positive. One supporter boldly claimed, "90%, Removed the dead wood and negative stuff like Rashford and co." This suggests a belief that Amorim was instrumental in clearing out underperforming or disruptive elements from the squad.
Conversely, there's a strong feeling among some that Amorim should have been removed much earlier. One TalkingPoints user lamented, "He should have been sacked when we lost to Grimsby or to 10 men Everton…."
Finally, a significant point of contention appears to be Amorim's tactical inflexibility. It's argued that he was too rigid in his approach, failing to adapt his system despite having the necessary players to achieve better results. The observation was made that, "He had the players at his disposal and only needed a tweak to change his system, but Amorim was too stubborn to do so. Carrick is now getting the rewards by changing that system and playing Marino alongside Casemiro with Fernandes further forward. Amorim could have done this, but his stubbornness got him the sack."
What do you think? Was Ruben Amorim too stubborn, or did he lay the essential groundwork for Michael Carrick's success? Did he deserve more credit, or should he have been sacked much sooner? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your agreement or disagreement!
