The biggest questions for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United

Manchester United has a new leading manand Ruben Amorim faces some big questions as he takes the hot seat at Old Trafford.

INEOS acted decisively in identifying Amorim and releasing Erik ten Hag, who had won two trophies for the Red Devils but struggled badly at the start of the season.

( MORE: Who is Ruben Amorim? )

Or is it? Man United created attacking chances but failed to finish, and therein lies the problem for Amorim, who is embarking on a long-term project with a host of short-term problems.

Will Amorim, 39, continue with what he knows or slowly develop United towards his vision? That is the first of many big questions facing the Portuguese coach, who gives up a picture-perfect start to the season at Sporting Lisbon for a difficult place in Manchester.

Will Ruben Amorim immediately choose his preferred formation?

That is The biggest question for Amorim, who could definitely take over an improved Red Devils team. Man United beat Leicester City 5-2 in the League Cup under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and the Dutchman will remain at home at Old Trafford for successive games against Chelsea, PAOK and Leicester.

But Amorim arrives for the international break, and so there is plenty of time for him to drop into his preferred 3-4-3 (or 3-4-2-1) if he believes it can be set for a fairly soft landing, game-wise .

United's first six games after the international break include Ipswich Town, Bodo/Glimt, Everton, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Viktoria Pilsen. The Arsenal game stands out, of course, but the other five give him an incredible amount of time to assess his skill level (assuming they involve some notable players). United's injury list be healthy again by then).

Since making his Casa Pia debut on 8 September 2018, Amorim has played three centre-backs in all but three of his games as senior manager. He played two of those three at Casa Pia in 2018, while he was the only four-back at Sporting to start a 2023 Portuguese League Cup game against relative minnows Olivais e Moscavide.

What would Amorim's back three look like at Manchester United?

Erik ten Hag only played a back four at United (in fact, his last back three came at Ajax in 2018).

Given that Amorim has a greater defensive preference, United fans should probably prepare for growing pains in the back three.

After all, Lisandro Martinez spent most of his career in Europe with Ten Hag as a left-back or center-back. The still injured and young Leny Yoro comes from a Lille team that played in the back four.

But Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire all have experience in the back three and Casemiro and Luke Shaw could also fit there.

De Ligt appears to be the favorite to operate in the middle of the back three, while Lisandro Martinez makes sense at left centre-back with familiar faces Noussair Mazraoui or Luke Shaw in front of him.

How about the right center back? De Ligt is right-footed, should Amorim see his best option as Maguire or Casemiro. Jonny Evans is also two-footed.

We could suggest Lindelof as a wildcard, even if his contract expires this summer. At the age of 30, the right-back is at the best level of central defender and is a good ball carrier for the right side.

What are you missing before January?

Amorim has a wide range of options for his lineup and three centre-backs whose contracts expire this summer: Lindelof, Maguire and Evans.

So the easiest 2+2 scenario ever is to project Amorim in January pursuit of Goncalo Inacio, one of the lesser-known star CBs in the world. Ignacio was a big part of Amorim's success. and the left-footed center back has experience playing under Manuel Ugarte.

Amad Diallo, Tom Heaton and Christian Eriksen are the only other United contracts expiring in the summer, while Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia are in sight for 2025.

It stands to reason that over the next two months we will explore his current centre-backs and find out whether Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee can be his new Viktor Gyokeres center forward.

The Bruno Fernandes mystery

Fernandes is a Portuguese hero, United captain and Sporting export, and his freelance work often results in stunning goals and assists for the Red Devils.

This also put a serious strain on that midfield for much of his United career, asking the likes of Fred, Scott McTominay, Casemiro and Mainoo to keep an eye on a big hole in front of them.

But Amorim's 3-4-3 can resemble a 3-4-2-1, and Fernandes as one of the two inverted wingers/attacking midfielders can theoretically be absolutely a treat.

While Fernandes has played as a centre-forward, given the way Gyokeres thrived for him at Sporting, his future is unlikely to remain under Amorim. But Fernandes as an inverted winger would really challenge Amorim to get minutes for Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount, Amad Diallo or (in an unlikely new love story) Antony.

Garnacho wouldn't necessarily be as cheerful looking outwards, but the 3-4-2-1 would support his tendency to play with the ball all over the pitch.

Is Andre Onana the man?

At 28 years old, Andre Onana could be Amorim's long-term answer as a goalkeeper.

Or he could leave Old Trafford soon.

Amorim has split time between goalkeepers in recent seasons, as Antonio Adan has moved from experienced full-time goalkeeper to injury-plagued goalkeeper and now perhaps to retired goalkeeper.

Onana has been an excellent goalkeeper this season and appears to have settled in in Manchester and is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

With the Africa Cup of Nations coming up for Onana in December, Altay Bayindir will theoretically also have time to impress Amorim. Goalkeeping isn't a big problem for Man United at the moment, but it's worth keeping an eye on in Amorim's first few games.