Yes it was a game of disappointments when taking into account how many goals were conceded, how they were conceded and that we lost and are out of the Carabao Cup, but I feel as though that was a necessary sacrifice for the bigger picture: the football.
Even still, there were more concerns for Amorim despite his side's overall decent performance.
1. Starting to see identity
This was one of the positives from the game. In fact, it was BIG positive in my opinion.
For so long, we’ve cried for an identity at United as under Erik ten Hag, for his two and a bit seasons, we had none.
In a short space of time with Amorim, we’re starting to see his style and an identity with this team. It’s obviously not where it needs to be but we can still see it which is a step in the right direction.
What made this better was that it was a rotated lineup against an almost full-strength Spurs team. To be able to still play with a lot of possession, control the game for large portions and eventually create some chances all while not letting our hosts have many of their own, is something that Amorim will be mightily pleased with.
His style is starting to move through the squad rather than just first team regulars. Having some of the regulars in there did help out others such as Yoro, Lindelof (while he was on the field), Eriksen and even Zirkzee when he came on.
We’re starting to see a clear identity under the boss and that is a first major step in the process of trying to get MUFC back to where they belong.
2. Second team not been good enough
However, in saying that it was a decent performance by the second-ish team, we can see that there are some that are just bench players or simply not good enough.
The likes of Antony, Eriksen - who started the game well but faded in the second half and of course Bayindir were not at the level required that would cause those ahead of them any concerns.
While the general play was good, we still needed more and the auditions for these bench options were failures. Amorim needs a squad that he can trust that when he does rotate, can go out there and do a good job which in this case, they didn’t.
This goes back to a point I made a couple of games ago in that the manager will have to select the same players a lot of the time in order to not only play good football but win matches.
As much as he wants to (and to an extent needs to) rotate, we’re not in the position where we can afford to drop points and lose so we need to play the same players on the regular just so we don’t suffer defeats like this in the future.
3. Martinez?!
Is he becoming a problem?
Understandably after the injury-hit season he had last year, it would be something tough to overcome.
However, the butcher has been back long enough now for him to be showing consistently better performances.
This was another match where labeling his display as below par would be a major understatement. He was as responsible for some of the Spurs' goals as Bayindir.
How poorly Martinez tried to get rid of the cross that came in for the second goal was simply not good enough, for Southampton let alone United. Even if it’s on your weaker foot, just boot it out. That would’ve been much better than what he did which ended up being a layoff for Dejan Kulusevski who made it 2-0.
He somehow managed to be worse for their third goal as not only did he allow the ball over the top to bounce, he hardly laid a hand on Dominic Solanke not once but twice in what was the weakest attempt at a centre-back trying to get physical with a striker as you’re ever going to see.
But this was but one example of a season that has been average at best. Martinez was also very poor in the loss to Forest.
This is coming from a player whom we all know has a lot of quality and is a huge fan-favorite. After a great performance in the derby, I thought that things would start to turn for the better but I was wrong.
He’s come under a lot of criticism this season and rightly so because of how below his standard he’s been. With the rumors that Real Madrid are keeping a watchful eye on the butcher, I think that should a good offer come in the club and perhaps even Ruben Amorim would be open to letting him go.
Maybe even some fans would be as well.
I thought that he would be better in this system but it appears that it’s gone in the other direction. He even gets caught in behind much too easily which wasn’t something that he was struggling with in his first season.
Martinez maintains that ability on the ball but that is not enough. I do also think that he’s playing a little too much which could be causing his quality to drop a little.
How you feeling about our Argentine World Cup winner?
4. Fine margins. Lack of concentration
This isn’t a new issue. It’s actually been around for a long time and now Amorim is beginning to see it as well.
There’s something about this team that just lacks that concentration throughout the game. Even in a match like this where we are the better team, that one (or four in this case) lapses of concentration can be the difference.
The first goal was a silly free kick to give away in the first place. Then no one closing Pedro Porro down for the shot was even worse; Bayindir's parry into danger was foolish; and then to have nobody react to the second was just asking for trouble.
Solanke scored at a time when United were beginning to control the game.
Going into the first half a goal down after a decent performance isn’t ideal but nor is it the worst thing ever. It gives the manager a chance to get his ideas to the players and hope that they can go out in the second period and put things right.
For them to go and concede a second just a minute into the half all but throws whatever the manager just said out the window. Not 10 minutes later, it was then 3-0 and that is where the game was lost. Those two early goals in the half is why we were knocked out even though the score ended at 4-3. Amorim said as much post-match:
"The second and the third goal of Tottenham and that made the difference. I think we disconnect for 8 minutes, was really hard to recover from that."
When looking at how we conceded those goals it will add salt into the wounds as again, poor goalkeeping and defending were the reasons for Spurs going 3 up as much as it was that concentration.
The 4th was slightly controversial but I believe Bayindir should’ve been stronger. That goal was the sucker punch at a time when we could’ve got a third ourselves.
It’s these small errors at the wrong times that cost us a lot. Fine margins as Ole used to say.
5. Manager in catch 22
I think he’s in a bit of a sticky wicket with his team selections.
From the previous points, you can see that I believe the best way for us to get the wins and points we need is to play the same players all the time. But that is nigh on impossible given the amount of games being played as well as the quick turnaround between matches.
This means that the manager has to rotate but at the expense of results. The loss yesterday shows this quite clearly that while there is progress in the play, the overall quality is lacking.
We are not in a position where we can be risking things but nor can we overplay players.
The likes of Mazraoui, Martinez, Bruno, Dalot and Hojlund in particular looked very fatigued with the Moroccan taking the cake as this was probably his worst performance which still wasn’t bad but after his amazing performances this season, was nowhere near the quality we’ve seen. I think fatigue has a lot to do with this.
These players are starting most games for Amorim as he looks to be trusting them more than others but it really is beginning to take its toll. They were even regulars under ten Hag.
What does Amorim do? Risk the results for the betterment of the squad? Or does he need to play his best team all the team in order to ensure positive results?
Background Image: Ruben Amorim watches on as his team are defeated 4-3 at Tottenham | Creator: Shaun Botterill | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Goal