“Actually worse…” Alan Shearer’s scathing comparison between Rúben Amorim and Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United squads

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has issued a scathing comparison between Rúben Amorim and Erik ten Hag’s respective Manchester United squads.

Rúben Amorim’s first few months as head coach of Manchester United has not been an easy ride for fans.

Despite some good results against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, there have been a series of poor performances against the likes of Bournemouth and Southampton that have left United languishing 13th in the Premier League table.

Amorim has been clear in his message that the rest of United’s season will consist of roller-coaster results that will leave his squad and the club’s fans suffering, but he is confident he knows the long-term solution.

United’s main respite is that they still have the chance to grab silverware this season, witting 7th in the Europa League table and through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Shearer’s scathing assessment of Amorim’s United

Amorim joined United in mid-November after Erik ten Hag was sacked as the club’s manager at the end of October, with United producing a series of shocking results.

The last straw was a 2-1 loss against West Ham United that saw the Dutchman booted from his office the following day, with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking over in the interim before Amorim’s arrival.

Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has compared Amorim’s team to Ten Hag’s explaining that the side are now worse under the 39-eyar-old than under the Dutch boss.

“They’re actually worse now than they were under Ten Hag because of what this manager wants to do with his system,” Shearer said.

“They can’t play the way he wants to play. The players just can’t do it.”

United’s new system is taking a lot of getting used to

A controversial decision that Amorim made right at the beginning of his tenure is he chose to implement his 3-4-3 system from minute one at Old Trafford, with many feeling that it would have been better if the head coach had adapted to suit his players.

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Podcast co-host Gary Lineker then put to Shearer and ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards that Amorim should instead be playing to his player’s strengths, the latter said:  “Let’s flip it on it’s head. Back in your [Lineker and Shearer’s] day, it was 4-4-2.

“If you changed the formation to a 3-4-3, how difficult would you find it to adapt? Imagine saying to you, Alan, ‘Go and play on the right of a three upfront where you’ve got to press.’

“I think [Amorim] is so hell-bent on playing this certain style, but the players don’t fit the style.”

Amorim has stated many times that he feels if he changes the way he wants his side to play, the club will lose out on long-term success as he would be compromising the very idea that secured him his position at United.

The Portuguese coach has not been able to sign a single player he believes would benefit United, but the club look set to secure left-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce in the coming days.

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