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Touchline fashion watch: Ruben Amorim has the puffer parka zipped up. Let’s go!
Before we get going, here’s Rick Harris: “It takes time to turn around the fortunes of any large underachieving business, so Ineos should be cut some slack surely? They couldn’t very well sack Ten Hag having not only won the FA Cup but having outplayed the PL Champions to boot, but they have acted decisively after giving him a reasonable number of games to demonstrate he was progressing.
“Amorim will need time to get his style of play across and it remains to be seen if it will suit the players United have more than the whatever it was Ten Hag was trying to implement.”
Managerial news from elsewhere:
Alex Kamilewicz writes: “My heart believed it would turn around with each managerial appointment, but starting with the transfer botchings under Moyes my head believed we were in for a long run in the wilderness with no adequate replacement for Gill.
“I now believe the choice of manager won’t necessarily make the whole difference as much as the organizational changes being made by INEOS (i.e. putting people who understand football in charge) will. Hopefully.”
Tom F’s Gladiator II review is in: “I reckon Denzel Washington could get a tune out of this United squad.”
Ruben Amorim has spoken to Sky Sports, and he’s honest: “I’m a little bit anxious because as a coach when you don’t know the league or you don’t know very well the team, you don’t know what to expect.
“It’s a new life, let’s start with the small details. That’s what I want and I want my players to win the game, and they’re capable to do that.”
Regular contributor krishnamoorthy v is ready for chaos: “While Amorim could not have asked for a better first match, I am wondering what would be the state of Man U fans should United manage to blow this.”
“Yeah I’ve got hope, first impressions have gone down well with me,” writes Neil Carter.
“Performs well in front of the press, looks very much at ease and smiles, this is a huge part of football these days. Along with keeping the talent engaged and happy.
“The style of play seems set in stone and I’m interested to see how it goes, but the premier league being what it is (the hardest) I fear he may need a plan B or C if he’s gonna succeed.
“For now I’ll be watching and won’t be getting carried away one way or another.”
Ipswich make one change from the team that beat Spurs, Wes Burns replacing Ben Johnson. Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Alejandro Garnacho are in for United – I presume Marcus Rashford will play centrally as Rasmus Højlund is on the bench. Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, all making their way back from injuries, could be called upon too.
The teams
Here’s how we’re looking:
Ipswich: Muric, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap
Subs: Walton, Harry Clarke, Woolfenden, Chaplin, Taylor, Al Hamadi, Townsend, Luongo, Jack Clarke
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Evans, de Ligt, Diallo, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mazraoui, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford
Subs: Bayindir, Mount, Højlund, Zirkzee, Malacia, Antony, Shaw, Ugarte, Mainoo
Which was the one where you thought it was all going to be OK again? I thought it with Louis van Gaal, just after he’d taken the Netherlands to bronze at the World Cup. I guess I thought it with Mourinho, too. And then Solskjær when he had his honeymoon phase. Oh well.
Desperate for that sweet, sweet ‘Rise of Ruben Amorim’ content? Here you go:
Preamble
Right then, United fans, are you feeling it again? You know it, that dangerous thing that pops up every couple of years with the appointment of a new manager. Hope. This guy’s the real deal, you say and genuinely believe. Before you know it you’re 3-0 down at Brighton, the camera pans to Ferguson in the stands and the veterans are raging once again on The Overlap, inviting one of their old mates back to talk about the good times.
Will Ruben Amorim change the story and somehow avoid all his hair growing grey by January? The answer begins at Portman Road against an Ipswich side that finally has a win on the board after beating Spurs before the international break. Kieran McKenna, linked with the United job in the summer, could well play the villain.
Feel free to share your thoughts, queries, wisdom, reviews of Gladiator II, whatever you fancy.
