A number of players missed the chance to impress the new manager at Portman Road, and may lose their spots in the starting XI as a result
"I know it's frustrating for the fans, but we are changing so much in this moment with a lot of games," Ruben Amorim said after opening his reign as Manchester United head coach with a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town. "We are going to suffer for a long period and we will try to win games, but this will take time."
It was an obvious point to make after such a disappointing performance, but surely he didn't expect to suffer much on day one of the job. Aside from the first 80 seconds, which saw Marcus Rashford put United in front after a pulsating move that showcased the strength of Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 system, the visitors lacked penetration and purpose.
Ipswich looked far more dangerous going forward, and had it not been for Andre Onana's heroic goalkeeping, United would have left Portman Road empty-handed. Amorim is well within his rights to ask for patience, but some lessons must be learned.
It would certainly make no sense for Amorim to stick with the same line-up when United host Everton next weekend, as the former Sporting CP boss is going to have to be ruthless right from the off to spark an improvement. Ipswich exposed the true size of the task ahead, and Amorim cannot afford to carry any passengers as he bids to make his mark at Old Trafford…
Getty Images SportRashford can't lead the line
Rashford has played up front for United in the past, and scored goals, so it wasn't a surprise to see him poke home the opening goal at Portman Road, after busting a gut to get on the end of a searching Amad Diallo cross. But the position doesn't come naturally to him; that much was evident again for the remaining 66 minutes he was on the pitch.
Rashford didn't have another meaningful moment in the game, touching the ball just 13 times overall. He didn't really show for the ball in United's build-up play and rarely looked to run in behind the Ipswich defence again.
Amorim cannot overlook all of that just because Rashford scored the goal. That was only his second in the Premier League this season, and there is no evidence to suggest a prolific run of form is on the horizon. Rashford is as useless as a No.9 as he has been on the left wing for United over the past 17 months, that's the harsh truth.
Granted, Rasmus Hojlund didn't impress after replacing him either, but the Dane should be starting through the middle, if for no other reason than he will at least compete. On current form, Rashford is not offering anything to this United team. He belongs on the bench, and in an ideal world, the INEOS recruitment team will already be exploring the possibility of getting the fallen academy star off the club's books in 2025.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportShaw is essential
On the plus side, United did look quite solid – for the most part. Matthijs de Ligt was a figure of strength and calm, while Noussair Mazraoui's technical quality shone through once again.
But there was a weak link in Amorim's back three, as Jonny Evans struggled with the pace and intensity of the game. Omari Hutchinson was United's chief tormentor in the first half, which was purely because Evans neglected his pressing duties.
At 36, Evans really shouldn't be starting games regularly anymore. It was no surprise when Amorim took him off early in the second half, and Luke Shaw immediately firmed up that left-hand side after his introduction.
Despite his injury problems, Shaw is still a quick, robust defender who reads the game brilliantly, and United are a much better team when he's available. Mazraoui, De Ligt and Shaw certainly have all the makings of a formidable defensive triumvirate; the latter just has to stay fit now.
History suggests that's unlikely, but Amorim and the United medical team have to make Shaw's conditioning a priority concern, at least until the January transfer window opens and they can sign a decent back-up.
Getty Images SportTime's up for Casemiro
Casemiro's 100th game in a United shirt was not one to remember. The Real Madrid legend seemed to have his mojo back under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, but he didn't put in nearly as much effort for Amorim on Sunday.
Christian Eriksen didn't cover himself in glory in the double pivot either, but at least he worked hard. Casemiro trudged around like his selection for the game was an inconvenience, perhaps in response to Amorim breaking up the partnership he'd been developing with Manuel Ugarte. He lost possession seven times and made only one tackle before being hauled off in the 56th minute.
This was the same version of Casemiro that let United down so often last season, and in the 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool on September 1. Some sort of physical decline is to be expected for a 32-year-old, but there is no excuse for his disinterested body language, or failure to do the basics.
Casemiro legs are long gone, and if Ugarte isn't there to cover for him, he's completely ineffective. Amorim shouldn't hesitate to drop the Brazilian after such a dire display, especially now that Kobbie Mainoo is back from an injury layoff.
AFPBruno's best position remains unknown
Bruno Fernandes has been United's best player in the last four years. He's also club captain, and signed a new three-year deal in August, which means Amorim has to fit him into his team somehow.
But that may not be on the right of United's attack. Fernandes played the full 90 minutes against Ipswich, but wasn't able to exert his usual influence on proceedings. As always with Fernandes, there was plenty of endeavour, but very little end product, especially in the first half.
His passing was more polished, though, as he posted a 92 percent completion rate, which is what Amorim focused on after the game. "He improved his game by playing near the ball," the United head coach told "so he can give us the long pass, but you cannot put him there all the time because he wants the long pass all the time."
In other words, Amorim doesn't want Fernandes to take as many risks. They didn't come off enough under Erik ten Hag, that's true enough, but it seems counter-productive to completely restrict his natural instincts. The freedom of expression that comes with being a false nine might suit Fernandes better, and give him the opportunity to really flex his underrated goal-scoring muscles.
Alternatively, Fernandes could also operate as a traditional No.8, which is deep enough for him to scratch his playmaker itch, but not so deep that Amorim's fears over his impulsivity are realised. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that Fernandes settles into the position Amorim chose for him on Sunday either, but some experimentation may be needed on the training pitch in the coming weeks to work out how to bring out his maximum.
