Manchester United’s so-called new era, under Ruben Amorim, began tentatively with a tepid 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, which admittedly has done little to ease the mounting anxieties among supporters.
Gary Neville, a club legend and prominent pundit, has been quick in identifying “red flags” in United’s display, suggesting the issues run much deeper than the arrival of a new manager.
The match had started off in familiar fashion for United when Marcus Rashford’s interception of Amad Diallo’s cross gave the visitors an early lead in a moment of quality that hinted at better things to come.
However, that precursor of hope was short-lived as Omari Hutchinson’s deflected strike levelled the game before half-time. Ipswich, struggling at the foot of the table, often looked the better-organized side, while United were obviously over-reliant on Andre Onana’s timely heroics in goal to leave Suffolk with a point.
The 39-year-old Amorim, in his post-match comments, admitted his players looked “confused” at times as they adjusted to his preferred 3-4-3 system and was forthright in warning that his side would “suffer” as they adapted to his methods. The early signs were not encouraging with even Roy Keane, another former United captain, dismissing the current team as an “average Premier League side.”
Neville, via Sky Sports, was clinically scathing in his measured analysis of the problems. “The red flags that were there yesterday would have been there probably for the last few months and the last season and a half of a team that are very difficult to actually like watching,” he remarked.
“You look at Ipswich, very near the bottom of the league, and they looked more organized, better coached. They looked like they had more appetite for the game, more enthusiasm,” he added.
Neville’s concerns are not new, nor are they limited to Amorim’s tenure. United have failed to form an identity for over two years, let alone deliver consistent performances. According to the pundit, this inconsistency is now an intrinsic part of the squad’s DNA.
“This is a pattern that these players have created for themselves,” Neville explained. “The same things we’ve seen over the last six, eight, ten months, we saw yesterday. Ruben Amorim saw it too.”
Neville’s comments underline the enormity of the challenge facing Amorim as, despite the squad’s potential remains undeniable, the lack of cohesion and intensity has become a recurring drawback impeding progress.
Manchester United’s schedule offers little respite as they host Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday – a competition they may now be forced to prioritize. Everton, another team battling inconsistency, visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
The path forward for Amorim will invariably be a test of his managerial prowess and his ability to instil discipline and belief in a squad that seems to lack both. As Neville’s words suggest, turning things around at Old Trafford will take more than new systems or fresh ideas – it requires nothing less than an entire cultural reset.