We’re attempting to shift away from Liverpool, Newcastle, and Alexander Isak, but there’s still much to discuss regarding them. First up, let’s talk about Man Utd…
Hammer Time
It’s time to bring out the cracked badge, lads.
Phil The Hammer, Norway
Amorim’s Impact on Talent
I have spent considerable time reflecting on what’s unfolding at United, and I still can’t comprehend Amorim’s choices in team selection and tactics, particularly his detrimental connections with players. We have lost several gifted athletes as a result of his actions, despite his brief tenure.
We lost Rashford, then Garnacho, and now Mainoo might be the next to go. These are exceptional talents and their potential loss is significant for United, especially if the composed Kobbie Mainoo departs.
Instead of utilizing Fernandes in his preferred No. 10 position and featuring Mainoo in the midfield, he keeps playing Fernandes in that central role while Mainoo remains on the bench—it’s absurd. This doesn’t just affect United; it’s also hampering Bruno Fernandes’s performance.
Additionally, Chico Obi is wasting his talent as he barely gets playing time. He signed a natural striker, Sesko, yet allows him to sit on the bench. It’s completely illogical and frankly irresponsible for a team to sign a crucial striker and not utilize him, especially considering only a few clubs scored fewer goals than United last season. A competent coach wouldn’t act this way.
We must not overlook how his statements are also straining relationships within the squad. His staunch refusal to adapt only worsens the situation. All things considered, Amorim is a problem for United rather than a solution. I implore him to be versatile enough to recognize and implement necessary changes.
Amorim’s greatest flaw is his rigidity, leading to a stubborn unwillingness to adapt. No change means no progress—it’s an adage that applies across all human endeavors. Remaining stagnant is steering the club closer to relegation rather than contending for a top-six finish.
Professor (Dr) David Achanfuo Yeboah
Can a 3-4-3 Formation Succeed in the Premier League?
To paraphrase a famous quote, “I have neither come to praise Amorim, nor to bury him,” for that serves no purpose. Firstly, no pivotal figures are likely to read my critiques (I can hardly get you all to read them!), and secondly, I lack all the information. Instead, I wish to shift the discourse away from club-specific grievances and inquire from the collective wisdom here, especially from former players or coaches: Can a 3-4-3 formation realistically function in the EPL?
I’ve studied various teams using this system and identified three key flaws:
- It heavily depends on outstanding wing-backs. Forcing unsuitable players into those roles (like Dalot) not only hampers their performance but can also dismantle the entire formation.
- The high press is effective until you face elite teams adept at bypassing it or exploiting gaps. A prime example is the current Barcelona women’s team, which overwhelmed the press, even though they ultimately lost to Arsenal in the Champions League Final.
- Without two defensive midfielders, either vast openings appear in the center, or one of the three defenders must step up, and currently, none of MUFC’s back three can effectively occupy that space.
While Amorim achieved success in the Portuguese League, can you name a team outside the top three there? The mid-table teams lack the depth that EPL sides like Brighton and Fulham have. This trend mirrors Conte’s experiences in Italy.
Perhaps it is simply Amorim himself. Apart from a few key players (i.e. Dalot, Fernandes, Maguire), everyone is new, and he has had nearly six months to instill his philosophy. Surely, they can’t be that lacking in understanding… can they?
Adidasmufc (Watch Amorim drop Fernandes and we beat Grimsby 5-0!)
Slot’s Errors
Slot has not been great in terms of selecting his starting eleven this season.
I had concerns even before the season commenced about forcing Kerkez into the lineup against Bournemouth (his former team, first home game, emotional context, etc.). This week’s decision to play Wirtz against Newcastle away is a repeat of that misstep. It’s one of the most physical matches in the calendar. Playing there is tough, even without all the Isak drama. It feels rather tone-deaf.
The whole point of having quality depth is to manage injuries and make minor adjustments for a competitive edge. Robertson is still a top-tier left-back and should have been the go-to choice since matchday one.
I can’t determine if he’s eager to stamp his identity on this team or if another reason exists, but so far, I haven’t felt inspired. It’s still early, but adjustments are needed. Perhaps a three-at-the-back formation could provide more support for Konate, who seems out of shape and unfocused. MacAllister’s return will bolster the midfield, but they won’t triumph against Arsenal (another emotionally charged game against a title rival) without making some changes, big or small. What I wouldn’t give for a straightforward 2-0 win.
Isak’s Sole Blame
I’m astonished by the coverage surrounding the Isak situation, and how people are actually blaming Liverpool or Newcastle. As I see it, neither club has done anything improper, and as others have pointed out, this is part of a negotiation process that may lead to Newcastle selling to Liverpool.
All the blame belongs firmly with Isak (and/or his representative). By all means, he can privately indicate his desire for a transfer (maybe even submit a transfer request as was customary?), but he should still show up for training and play for the club that pays his wages. Going public with vague complaints and opting out of training isn’t professional behavior! Eze was able to perform right until the end and still secured his transfer without issues.
Bulbisar
BadWolf’s Poor Suggestions
I am an everyday person with a standard job. If I wish to change my job, I can A) apply online, B) consult a recruitment agent, or C) be headhunted. I am under no obligation to inform my current employer of this process.
Moreover, my contract provides for a notice period, typically four weeks or three months, depending on my role within the company.
Now, back to football and BadWolf. BadWolf, your suggestion is downright terrible. Truly terrible.
Why expend the effort and resources trying to negotiate a deal for a player, with no knowledge of whether he has any interest in joining the club? Clubs maintain contact with players throughout the year, exploring relationships with individuals at various stages of their careers. Building relationships is a crucial part of the transfer game.
Take Newcastle as an example; they could have settled arrangements (subject to contracts) with multiple clubs this year only to face rejection from the player. This results in a colossal waste of resources for directors, lawyers, and negotiators. The effort invested here is immense and costly.
In this manner, a player truly grasps how a club values them, what prospects lie ahead, and whether they would mesh well together. Only then is a bid made.
Returning to my earlier analogy—players can essentially be seen as job seekers, and agents serve as recruiters, fulfilling the role of career facilitators.
In fact, your suggestion doesn’t even accommodate options A, B, or C. Your entire premise is convoluted. But instead of substantiating your point, you then shift to accusations of shirt-pulling.
If memory serves, you’re a United supporter. Tapping up and shirt-pulling have been tactics employed by United for as far back as I can remember—certainly under Fergie’s era, they were not discouraged.
Your proposal wasn’t extremes; it was downright nonsensical.
Barry (Perth)
P.S. On Lee Ryan
Badwolf is proposing drastic measures to complicate the process of tapping players. I would ask, why? What issue do you believe you’re addressing with these recommendations? Is it the concern of someone securing a better-paying job with more opportunities?
Which other professionals should be restricted in pursuit of their career interests? Or is it solely footballers?
I don’t think Alexander Isak has behaved commendably throughout this entire saga, but morally, why shouldn’t he seek a better opportunity at a more successful and seemingly more professional organization?
Dara O’Reilly, London
Liverpool’s Historical Precedent
I haven’t been obsessively monitoring the mailbox lately, so I may have overlooked this, but one thing that hasn’t been discussed is how the Isak situation mirrors the Van Dijk transfer saga closely.
While Liverpool eventually claimed their target six months later, it emphasizes that the club shows little respect for others, more so than the other top six clubs (with exceptions like Spurs & Gibbs-White). Many Liverpool fans adopt a moral high ground stance, criticizing other clubs’ transfer tactics (for instance, Real Madrid & TAA), yet Liverpool has demonstrated similar strategies to undermine other teams, particularly compared to the other big six clubs.
Additionally, Monday’s match highlighted another instance of Newcastle crossing the line with excessive physicality, but for once, VAR intervened to ensure they were penalized. It’s astonishing that a spineless referee appeared indifferent to player safety and would have allowed Gordon to remain on the pitch—typical PGMOL under Howard Webb’s leadership, where referees seek the limelight instead of letting the football shine.
In light of Newcastle’s tactics, Liverpool deserved to win for wanting to play football rather than just kicking lumps out of their opponents.
James Jones, STFC
Response to Agitated Liverpool Fans
Many Liverpool fans seem profoundly distressed about a football match that Liverpool won. Imagine how unbearable the last few mailboxes would have been if they’d lost!
Chris, NUFC
…Liverpool….the most whiny group in football.
Thanks for attending my TED talk.
Rob
…What a lovely mailbox this fine Wednesday morning. I relish when ‘This Means More FC’ enthusiasts bemoan their unpopularity and then launch into the same self-aggrandizing complaints they seem to excel at. Gentlemen, you’ve won two Premier League titles in 35 years, just two! Perhaps tone it down a bit? I found Harold’s verbose response to be quite amusing, especially where I noted “based on this round of fixtures.” Always read the fine print, Harry.
RHT/TS x
Mailbox Curation
I’m not certain if the mailbox curator intentionally includes submissions like Lee Ryan’s to provoke Liverpool’s supporters or if such drivel is indicative of what you regularly receive. But wow.
Addressing it point by point would be straightforward, but life’s too short. Notable highlights include:
- Newcastle playing “verbally aggressive” football? Really?
- “Snarling aggression” sounds an awful lot like what you might expect at Anfield when a stronger team visits. If excess physicality exists, referees intervene—just as Anthony Gordon received his punishment.
- City as “sleeping giants”? After one lackluster season, along with one current disappointing result? As you observed, Lee, it’s August; perhaps take your own advice.
- Criticizing others for having a victim mindset, only to then characterize snatching a late win against ten men as “poetic justice”? Seriously? How many advantages does one side require before they step back from their pedestal?
In summary, fostering a hostile environment renders a ground intolerable—unless it’s Anfield. You can’t fluster Liverpool players through fair means or foul. The league isn’t resolved based on a single poor result in August.
Kudos to Liverpool fans for acknowledging their narrow escape on Monday, while also crediting Newcastle’s efforts on the pitch. However, blanket ridicule for those producing nonsensical arguments is deserved, as they embarrass the rest.
Keith Reilly
We Don’t Discuss Bruno…
Confession time: whenever I played Football Manager a decade ago, I occasionally resorted to using the editor for some advantages. It feels liberating to admit.
I would discover wonderkids in various online forums and ensure I secured bargains with lower league teams at the start—this gave me a head start. I would surely rage-quit at times, but taking a lower league team to the Champions League with a mix of wonderkids, developed youth, and legends I managed was fulfilling beyond belief.
Yet, I struggle to comprehend how Pafos FC, established just 11 years ago, became only the third Cypriot club to ever qualify for the group stages of the Champions League! Congratulations to them; I genuinely anticipate them either achieving a result or causing an upset in the group stage—even if their coefficient is against them already.
Annabelle
(P.S. Their striker named Bruno squandered a critical opportunity, hence the title of this message.)
Fairweather Champions League Fan: An Update
Several weeks ago, I shared my experience of selecting a random club in the Champions League qualifiers; let’s be honest, unless your team is participating (which mine is), you’re unlikely to pay much attention to the competition.
Now that it’s concluded, we can discuss the draws and the perceived biases within them. At that time, I had picked Finnish side KuPS, who were performing well domestically (and currently sit second at the time of writing). They were doing fantastically, having defeated Kairat Almaty 2-0 in the home leg and seemed poised for advancement.
Sadly, the away match ended 3-0 in favor of Almaty, with all their goals scored in the first half. They exited the break needing just one goal, yet their performance faltered, managing only one shot on target compared to five in the home match.
Perhaps the travel to the vast reaches of… checks map… Kazakhstan—200km from China, with an outdated Wiki page—contributed to their downfall. This illustrates why I seize on such opportunities every year.
In other news, did that distance play a role in Kairat’s elimination of Celtic last night? They managed a 0-0 draw in Scotland, followed by another at home, leading to penalties. Remarkably, their keeper, who filled in as an emergency option at just 21, proved pivotal in securing Champions League football for the club—making them the second Kazakh team to achieve this feat.
We all love football, even if debates can get heated, so I encourage everyone to follow a club next year—any club—and if they falter, switch allegiance to their victors.
Mike D (relieved I didn’t have to support Celtic)
Arsenal Wankathon: An Update
I appreciate that you published that. I can relate to logistical difficulties. This marks the second time I’ve sent in unattractive emails, and you have printed them. I genuinely have affection for you.
ATB
