Ruben Amorim and Man United: Is This the Long-Term Vision for Jason Wilcox’s Game Model? | OneFootball

When Ruben Amorim was appointed Manchester United manager in late 2024, the decision felt like a bold statement. Amorim, fresh off a successful spell at Sporting CP, was hailed as a progressive coach with a clear tactical identity. But in a club like United, where long-term vision has often clashed with short-term desperation, the big question remains: Is Amorim the right fit for Jason Wilcox’s game model and Manchester United’s long-term vision?

Or is he just another name in a revolving door of managers destined to be cast aside when the results inevitably falter? With Ruben Amorim declaring this as the “worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United” right now it seems like we are a long way away from the long term vision of Jason Wilcox’s Game Model.

For a club that has spent over a decade lurching between conflicting philosophies and signing players for systems that quickly change, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Amorim’s appointment could be another chapter in United’s cycle of chaos.

The Promise of Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation for tactical flexibility, player development, and high-energy football. At Sporting CP, he implemented a successful 3-4-3 system that prioritised quick transitions, attacking width, and positional discipline. Under Amorim’s guidance, Sporting punched above their weight in Europe and ended a nearly two-decade wait for a Portuguese league title.

In his first few weeks at United, Amorim promised fans they would “see an idea” on the pitch. Early signs of a structured, high-intensity approach were visible, with the team showing flashes of cohesive football in tough matches against Manchester City and Liverpool. But for all the optimism, the elephant in the room remains: Is Amorim’s system aligned with Jason Wilcox’s game model?

What Is a “Game Model”?

A game model is a football club’s blueprint for its playing style, tactical principles, and overall footballing identity. Unlike short-term tactical adjustments, a game model governs long-term decision-making, aligning the way a club recruits players and coaches with a consistent philosophy. It covers key elements such as:

For Manchester United, the game model is not just a tactical plan but a mission to transform the club’s culture and bring an end to years of incoherence.

Jason Wilcox’s Vision vs Amorim’s Philosophy

Jason Wilcox’s appointment as technical director was supposed to bring stability and consistency to Manchester United. His game model, inspired by his time at Manchester City, is built on key principles:

At first glance, Amorim seems like a logical fit. His philosophy aligns with Wilcox’s desire for high-energy, attacking football. His history of promoting youth talent at Sporting also fits the narrative of a manager who can utilise United’s academy graduates, like Toby Collyer and Kobbie Mainoo, in meaningful roles.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Jason Wilcox, Technical Director of Manchester United, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Minority Shareholder of Manchester United, are seen in attendance prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at Etihad Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

But here’s the problem: Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system is highly specific and requires particular player profiles. Wing-backs, ball-playing centre-backs, and versatile forwards are essential to its success. While this system can work within Wilcox’s vision, it requires significant squad adaptation—a task that has often proven fatal for managers at Old Trafford. When looking at the squad, it clearly lacks the players to suit the system.

Man United lack the physical celling to be able to play the expansive football that Amorim wants, and while a great coach, Amorim and the fans will suffer due to his lack of pragmatism.

Is Amorim’s Style the Opposite of “The United Way”?

For decades, “The United Way” has represented an identity rooted in free-flowing, attacking football—built on pace, flair, and a refusal to compromise on entertainment. From Sir Matt Busby to Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s teams have thrived on instinctive attacking play, dramatic moments, and individual brilliance, often underpinned by wide players who could terrorise defences and a core of homegrown talent.

However, Ruben Amorim’s system-driven philosophy raises questions about how closely it aligns with this heritage. Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation emphasises structure, discipline, and tactical precision over the raw attacking chaos that once defined United’s most iconic sides. While his system incorporates width and quick transitions, it is more methodical, relying on predefined roles and patterns of play that leave little room for the improvisation and freedom United fans have come to expect.

Jason Wilcox’s game model, designed to deliver long-term stability and a consistent identity, adds another layer of complexity to this debate. Wilcox’s vision is to create a cohesive, modern footballing identity that blends attacking football with tactical sophistication, but it is a style influenced by his experience at Manchester City—a club with a very different cultural DNA to United.

While Wilcox’s principles of high-energy, attacking football appear to align with Amorim’s methodology on the surface, the heavy emphasis on rigid tactical systems and positional play under Amorim risks straying too far from “The United Way.” Fans may begin to feel disconnected from a style that prioritises pragmatism and control over the unpredictability and dynamism that made Old Trafford the theatre of dreams.

For a club so proud of its traditions, the shift towards this modern, systematic approach may be necessary to compete at the top level, but it risks alienating a fanbase that still yearns for the magic and romance of the past.

A History of Short-Termism

Manchester United’s post-Ferguson era has been defined by inconsistent recruitment and conflicting managerial philosophies. The club’s squad is a patchwork of players signed for different systems under different managers:

Every time a new manager has been appointed, the club has had to navigate a squad overhaul, often selling players ill-suited to the incoming manager’s demands. The result is a squad that lacks cohesion and identity—a problem Wilcox has explicitly been tasked to fix through his game model.

Now, with Amorim in charge, questions arise: Are United signing players for a system that could be discarded within two years? And if so, does this undermine Wilcox’s efforts to build a long-term game model?

Recruitment Under Amorim: A Double-Edged Sword

Ruben Amorim’s arrival has already started to reshape Manchester United’s recruitment strategy, with the club reportedly targeting players tailored to his 3-4-3 system—ball-playing centre-backs, dynamic wing-backs, and attacking midfielders who thrive between the lines. Profiles like Patrick Dorgu, a versatile player with impressive physicality but still raw and unpolished, seem to fit the mould of what Amorim wants.

However, now the club is now actively seeking buyers for Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford—two players who have been pivotal in recent years. These decisions highlight the potential pitfalls of a system-driven approach: while it may prioritise tactical cohesion, it risks alienating fan favourites and disrupting the team’s emotional core. It also raises concerns about whether the new direction is a long-term vision or another gamble in the name of short-term results.

But then you look back at the summer window, and it raises even more questions. Noussair Mazraoui was brought in, but he doesn’t look suited to play as a right wing-back in Amorim’s system. Matthijs de Ligt is a top defender, but pairing him with Harry Maguire has exposed issues in mobility, it seems clear another centre back with pace such as Ousmane Diomande or Micky Van de Ven is required to play this style in the Premier League.

Manuel Ugarte has been a standout performer, admittedly, but Joshua Zirkzee seems like an awkward fit—he’s a technically gifted footballer, yet he doesn’t work as one of the 10s in Amorim’s 3-4-3 and lacks the clinical edge to lead the line. These signings feel mismatched to the current manager’s tactical demands, which only strengthens the suspicion that these players weren’t brought in with a cohesive game model in mind. Instead, it feels like another example of the club’s recurring issue: a lack of alignment between recruitment and the manager’s vision.

History suggests caution. Under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United spent over £200 million in one summer, bringing in players like Antony and Lisandro Martinez to suit his specific Ajax-inspired system. Yet, less than 18 months later, Ten Hag was gone, leaving behind a squad that was tailored to a vision which no longer existed. This is exactly why a game model is so crucial—a long-term framework that ensures the club’s recruitment and playing style remain consistent, even if the manager changes. Without it, United risk repeating the same cycle: backing a manager heavily, only to start over when results falter.

Could Amorim’s tenure follow a similar trajectory? It’s a troubling possibility. If United continue signing players specifically tailored to his 3-4-3 system but fail to achieve results, the next manager will inevitably inherit the same issues of mismatched recruitment that have plagued the club for years. The willingness to sell players like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho—two of United’s most influential and exciting talents in recent seasons—only adds an extra layer of worry.

How can players so integral to the previous system suddenly find themselves expendable? This casual disregard for their contributions highlights the danger of focusing too heavily on rigid tactical profiles, rather than building a squad with adaptable players who can fit a broader game model. It begs the question: is this truly a long-term vision, or another instance of short-term thinking disguised as progress?

Wilcox’s game model was supposed to prevent exactly this type of short-term thinking. By prioritising players who fit a broader footballing philosophy, the club could avoid the constant churn of signings and sales. Amorim’s success—or failure—could determine whether this vision is achievable. And whether this vision of a game model is only an idea rather than a reality.

The Risk of Sacking Another Manager

Manchester United’s managerial instability has become a running joke in the Premier League. Ruben Amorim is the eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Each sacking has been accompanied by a squad rebuild, a tactical shift, and a new “project.”

INEOS’ ownership, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has already demonstrated a ruthless approach. Erik ten Hag was sacked just 13 games into the 2024/25 season, despite being given significant backing in the summer. Dan Ashworth, the sporting director brought in to reshape the club, lasted just five months before being dismissed.

Dan Ashworth’s sacking as Manchester United’s sporting director after just five months in the role stemmed from a breakdown in alignment with INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for the club. One of the key flashpoints was Ashworth’s reluctance to back Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag’s successor. Instead of endorsing the dynamic Portuguese coach, Ashworth reportedly favoured safer, Premier League-proven options like Eddie Howe, Marco Silva, and Graham Potter.

This approach clashed with Ratcliffe’s desire for a bold, charismatic appointment to energise the club’s project. Not only this, but, Ashworth’s suggestion to involve external data firms in managerial decisions frustrated United’s hierarchy, who expected decisiveness and expertise from their sporting director. His perceived passivity during the pivotal managerial search—compounded by a lack of influence in the appointment of Amorim—ultimately sealed his fate, as Ratcliffe moved to act decisively to enforce his vision.

If results under Amorim falter, what guarantees are there that he will be given time to implement his vision? And if he’s sacked, will United once again tear up the blueprint and start over?

The Fear of Another “Zombie Squad”

One of Jason Wilcox’s primary goals is to end the era of “zombie squads” at Manchester United—teams composed of players signed by multiple managers with conflicting styles. But without a stable managerial plan, this cycle could easily repeat.

For Wilcox’s game model to succeed, it requires alignment at every level of the club, including the managerial appointment. Amorim must either be given the time and resources to align with the long-term vision or the club risks creating another squad that lacks identity.

A Test for Wilcox and INEOS

Ruben Amorim’s appointment represents a pivotal moment for Manchester United. On one hand, his philosophy and tactical style could bring the excitement and cohesion fans have been craving. On the other, his specific system and the club’s history of managerial churn create a dangerous cocktail of risk and instability if this isn’t what the game model was originally thought of.

The success of Amorim’s tenure will depend on whether Jason Wilcox and INEOS are willing to prioritise long-term stability over short-term results. If they fail to back their manager, Manchester United could find themselves right back where they started—signing and selling players for systems that change with every new managerial appointment. On the surface, right now Amorim looks like the wrong fit. Amorim’s style will not change, the club does not have the budget to spend, and the players to suit the system. He has been set up to fail by INEOS.

At this stage, it’s difficult to say whether Ruben Amorim truly embodies the long-term game model Jason Wilcox envisioned, or if his appointment was a reactionary move to replace Erik ten Hag amidst mounting pressure. Just months earlier, Amorim wasn’t even considered a top target, with the club passing on him during the summer. Now, with Ashworth dismissed and a sense of urgency driving decisions, it’s hard to know if this is a cohesive vision driven by football experts or simply firefighting. The club’s direction feels unclear, and while there’s hope that Amorim’s tactical acumen can bring success, the lack of alignment and the general uncertainty around Old Trafford leave plenty of room for doubt.

With every loss, the pressure will only grow. Manchester United’s fanbase is notoriously impatient, fickle, and vocal, and they won’t continue tolerating defeats or poor form under the pretext of “suffering for the long-term vision.” The reality is that performances have worsened, and the fans are losing faith quickly. At a club where expectations are sky-high, patience is always in short supply, and if results don’t improve soon, the noise around Amorim’s appointment—and the club’s overall direction—will only get louder.

For a club desperate to rediscover its identity, the stakes couldn’t be higher.