Amorim, Glasner and a lesson in alchemy
Palace v United on Sunday makes for compare and contrast
We need to talk about Ruben Amorim and Oliver Glasner. Even by the high standards of Manager of the Month curses, Amorim is enduring a frustrating November. Having won all three games in October, including at Anfield, Amorim was rightly garlanded. He then saw United throw away leads at Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur but fight back to draw, and now there is last night’s embarrassing home defeat to 10-man Everton. November finishes with a trip to Glasner’s inspired Crystal Palace at noon on Sunday. The Glasner comparison is always a difficult one for Amorim.
The Austrian alchemist, who won at Old Trafford in February, deploys a similar system to Amorim, 3-4-2-1, but Glasner’s side are more attractive, organised and successful. Glasner loses players like Michael Olise (£60m to Bayern Munich) and Eberechi Eze (£60m to Arsenal) and keeps Palace rolling along. They have a more intense schedule, having European football, and an away trip to Strasbourg on Thursday while United rest up.
But Palace will be favourites on Sunday. They could be third by 2pm, assuming Manchester City don’t lose to Leeds United at home on Saturday and before Aston Villa and Chelsea kick off against Wolves and Arsenal respectively. In the unlikely event of City losing, Palace could go second.
In fairness to Amorim, 10th-placed United could actually leapfrog Palace with a win. So this is not an “Amorim Out” piece. Social media froths with enough of those. There have been signs of progress at United, primarily because of the signing of Bryan Mbeumo (£65m from Brentford) and Matheus Cunha (£62m from Wolves). Amorim deserved his Manager of the Month accolade. United fans seemed more hopeful for the future. They want stability not more churn.
But understandable criticism flowed towards Amorim for his failure to exploit Idrissa Gueye’s early red card for Everton. I enquired on X, slightly flippantly, for people to remind me which team was playing with 10 and which with 11. So full credit to Everton and David Moyes. The former United manager must have loved this result at a scene of so much anguish. He was helped by Amorim’s lack of assertive action. United didn’t stretch Everton. Amorim didn’t go for the jugular. He took time with his changes. He didn’t switch from a very defensive back-five until late on.
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Amorim tried to instil greater urgency in his side. He grabbed loose balls, catching one in the air, and trapping another with his left foot. He want to generate some pressure. His players deserve criticism for their individual failure to take responsibility. Joshua Zirkzee doesn’t look like a player deemed good enough to be sent on in a vainful attempt to rescue the Netherlands against England in the semi-final of Euro 2024. Zirkzee was presented with a rare chance to start in the absence of Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, was denied by a save from the outstanding Jordan Pickford but was otherwise dominated by James Tarkowski. More wasted money (£36m).
Amorim inherited an imbalanced squad with some overpaid under-achievers. But he could still have influenced the game whether through word or tactical tweak. Amorim doesn’t exude authority. Glasner does. He has presence. He has a sense of humour but he’s got tough look in his eye. He’s determined, knows what’s best for the team and makes sure he gets it.