'I have doubts' - Ruben Amorim facing big tactical choice at Manchester United

Questions remain on how Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will make his preferred tactical system work at his new team, but Manchester Evening News readers believe that the team should try to make it work - win or lose.

For Sunday's draw with Ipswich Town, Amorim set up his team in his preferred 3-4-3 formation, which had been used to great success at his old club Sporting CP. An early goal showed the potential of the new head coach's ideas, but the team struggled to show more than flashes of Amorim's ideal approach over the 90 minutes.

Danny Murphy has said on Match of the Day that Amorim should be more pragmatic, and give up trying to impose the 3-4-3 on his team. He said: “I’d be amazed if they were still playing a 3-4-3 in a year’s time. This league’s very, very different from continental leagues. We’ve only had Chelsea, in recent years, win playing that system and let’s be honest, they had [N’Golo] Kante and [Nemanja] Matic.

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“Two wonderful defensive midfielders in the middle of the pitch and [Diego] Costa up top with [Eden] Hazard supporting him and helping him as well. They don’t have those players yet and how do you find them? It costs hundreds of millions to get the best players in the world. I think when you play three at the back against the majority of good teams in our league, who play three high, you end up being a five and that’s really difficult. If United are going to get much better and competitive, I think that 3-4-3 will evolve into something else.”

However, majority of readers think that it's much too soon to make Murphy's call. Commenter Noronny said: “It's way too early to shelve the system. The players need time. But it was obvious on Sunday the team was second best. Ipswich had acres of space in midfield.

"Casemiro must go. His legs are gone. Bruno must go. Sell him to fund a player better suited for the system. In the interim, rotate Eriksen, Mainoo, Mount and Ugarte. Sell Martinez as well. With three at back in the EPL, United need big strong players. Maguire will come back into picture. He's the best CB in the team right now. De Ligt has been poor. Martinez has been poor. Evans has been ok but can't play every day. Yoro will be good but he's two years away from being an impact player. Good luck to new manager. He has tough decisions to make as he cleans up mess left by his predecessor.”

Reader Jungle Jerry wrote: “Too soon to say that Amorim's formation and style of play won't work. He's had only 2 days to train the available players. More are coming back from injuries and if necessary, he'll dig deeper, maybe into the academy hopefuls as well. Amorim will need them all back, and whoever plays best to his instructions will be in the first 11. We will probably see a more settled first 11 after a couple of months. Give him time. At least he is honest. He spoke the best he could about the weaknesses without condemning the players. I respect that.”

While Utd20T remarked: “I must confess I have my doubts about the 3 at the back formation. I'm not sure it makes us more dynamic in attack for a start, and I'm not sure we have good enough full backs to play this system. Time will tell and Amorim seems confident in his desire to implement this formation.

"The biggest issue is the fact we cant play out from the back - we simply recycle the ball sideways and backwards amongst the defence and keeper and invite pressure. Playing out from the back should be about passing out from defence to midfield rather than the keeper hoofing the ball upfield. I'm pondering why Ashworth and co. decided to opt for a manager who has a completely different playing style that doesn't align with the players we have, and that nobody else seems to play in the PL.”

Izzydmj added: “There are positives to be taken from from the game. Yes, the team struggled with the new system. Yes, the team lack some energy which can be attributed to international duty. However, the tactical ingenuity displayed to arrest the situation and take dominance of proceedings in the second half, the manager's touchline vibrancy and youthfulness are stuff the team have lacked for some years. The next 3 or 4 games will present a more refined team and I can bet you see seamless transitions.”

Hipster73 remarked: “We have lots of young players who are returning from injury, or are nearly ready to push on from the youth teams. They have the will and desire to listen and buy into the new manager's plans and system. This time next year there won't be many from that team yet playing regularly for United, bar Amad, Garnacho, Onana and maybe Mazraoui. Even Bruno's not safe, I think.”

And Redevil1050 said: “Give the guy a chance, he hasn't even had a full week with the full team. Let's face it, the squad isn't the best out there. Many will fail to adjust and will be traded away. If he can get rid of the bad blood that some say are in the squad at the moment, and replace them with players with good attitude, we should start to see positive results. Just look how quickly City's results have soured, things can change quickly with the right or wrong attitudes."

Have your say! Is Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 worth persisting with? Or will it fade away, as Danny Murphy suggests? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.