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Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim needs two or three transfer windows to build a team in Manchester United who can play his system.
United is 15th in the Premier League table after their defeat against colleague thrusters Tottenham, with the early goal of James Maddison the difference on Sunday.
The result marked Amorim's ninth defeat in all competitions since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November, with his playing style that has not been in Old Trafford so far.
Indeed, United has lost 12 of their 25 Premier League matches this season (W8 D5), their most defeats of their first 25 games of a competition campaign since 1973-74 (13)-they were last relegated from the top flight.
They are also defeated in eight of their last 12 top matches (W3 D1). Since the date of the first game in this spell (December 4 against Arsenal), the only party that loses more matches in the competition are the current Better two, Leicester City (nine) and Southampton (10).
The recent struggles of United have not been helped by a seasonal injury to Lisandro Martinez, while Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo also have to deal with long spells on the sidelines.
Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro also missed the defeat on the side of Ange Postecoglou, with all players on the bank of United, except the 30-year-old Victor Lindelof, were teenagers who had not appeared for the club.
The struggles of the Red Devils were at the start of the matches, with only Leicester (seven) this season scored less first half in the Premier League than United (nine).
Amorim's side has only scored once in the first half of their last 10 league matches, with that goal a fine from Bruno Fernandes against Brighton in January.
United welcomed an addition in January, with left back Patrick Dorgu who signed Lecce, but they also let a number of players loan the club last month.
Marcus Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia all left Old Trafford on temporary deals, demonstrable players who could have helped unite the mid -recent struggles.
Antony in particular has shown his talents in Laliga with real betis. The Brazilian has three targets (two goals, one assist) in his first three games in Spain.
About a revision at United was talked about, and former United Full-back Neville admitted that it could take a while before Amorim gets the team he wants for the future.
“How fast can Amorim, not only get good players, but get players who fit into this system?” The Sky Sports Pundit said on the podcast of Gary Neville.
“It is a special system, 3-4-3. It is a system where you have to find two midfield players who are good enough to play together and cover a lot of land.
“You have to find three center backs-with two of the outside that are able to play wide in the full-back areas when the wingbacks move forward.
“So you ask for specialists in the entire team. It is not like other systems that are a bit forgiving.
“How quickly can Amorim and the United recruitment team come to a point where they can adjust this team to a 3-4-3 team?
“It will be at least two to three transfer windows because of the investment that has been made, and we know clubs on the outskirts of PSR.
“They have lost £ 300 million in the last three years, so there is a real struggle and a real fight to be able to spend the money they need on the transfer market.
“There has been a lot of waste in recent years”.
12-manchester United has lost 12 of their 25 Premier League matches this season (W8 D5), their most defeats of their first 25 games of a competition campaign since 1973-74 (13)-they were last relegated from the top From the top. Critical. pic.twitter.com/cWhnyfbxkl
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) February 16, 2025
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