THE SHARPE END: Can Ruben Amorim reignite the back-three boom?

Haven't you heard? New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim likes to play with three at the back.

How exciting. Well, he is part of a rarer breed of elite managers, as fewer and fewer top teams these days choose to start with three centre-backs.

Through the first eleven weeks of the season, just 14 percent of Premier League starting XIs featured in a back three, the lowest since Antonio Conte took the side to Chelsea in 2016/17 and won the title, leading to a couple of years back three. bonanza.

Thomas Tuchel, the new England boss, is also in favor of it.

Many top teams move the ball into a back three while full-backs settle into midfield, but this is rare outside of possession.

It can leave space in midfield for opponents to dominate and leave your bulky centre-backs wide and exposed.

If Amorim can make it work at United, maybe it will come back into fashion…

That back threes are now rare is especially true of the 'Big Six' clubs who, apart from Man City, have all stayed away – even Chelsea and Spurs who started 51 and 62 games in that way in the two seasons from 2021 to 2023.

How will Amorim fit them in?

Amorim has said he will not play wingers at full-back for the time being.

That means EIGHT stars will battle for the top three spots in his favored 3-4-2-1 formation.

He will also have to buy some centre-backs soon.

He has six, will play three, and half of them expire this summer!