Rio Ferdinand names four Man Utd stars worth £236MILLION who do not fit Ruben Amorim’s system
RIO Ferdinand has named four Manchester United stars worth a staggering £236MILLION who do not fit in Ruben Amorim’s system.
The former Old Trafford defender has warned progress under the Portuguese’s 3-4-3 set-up has been much slower then expected.
Arriving on the back of a wave of optimism following the departure of Erik ten Hag, armed with his own style of play, few United fans would have predicted their current plight.
The Red Devils just about beat relegation strugglers Ipswich 3-2 on Wednesday night, after more unforgivable howlers from Andre Onana and a straight red for Patrick Dorgu.
Harry Maguire’s header rescued United in their time of need after Sam Morsy’s own-goal and Matthijs de Ligt’s tap-in were cancelled out by two Jaden Philogene-Bidace goals.
Amorim’s project is only in its infancy, but fans want results and Ferdinand believes at least four players are unsuited to the 3-4-3.
Ferdinand thinks Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and this week’s goalscorers Maguire and De Ligt lack the physicality to thrive in Amorim’s new era at Old Trafford.
The 46-year-old pundit told TNT Sports: “I think if we’re being brutally honest, there hasn’t been the progress that we all anticipated.
“This team aren’t a mobile, dynamic team. If you look through the heartbeat of this team they have other qualities.
“But being physical, having the ability to overrun teams physically – they don’t have that capacity.
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Asked whether Zirkzee was one of those who fits the bill, Ferdinand responded: “No… De Ligt, Maguire, Hojlund, it’s not their game.
“So I think he needs to find those type of players with the capabilities of carrying out not only tactically what he wants, but the physicality is equally important.”
Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signing
MANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.
The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.
A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.
Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.
Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.
But who was United’s best player on the night?
Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings…
Amorim’s first 16 Premier League games have yielded just 18 points despite initial optimism.
The four players mentioned by Ferdinand were signed by United at a cost of £236million, although none by Amorim himself.
Maguire joined for a record-shattering £85m from Leicester in 2019, while United splashed out £43m for De Ligt in the summer.
Fans are growing frustrated with £72m flop Hojlund and Zirkzee came for around £36m in the summer.
Part of Amorim’s expected overhaul of the squad will involve determining which players possess the required attributes to play his system.
But whether United can afford a reset is a totally different story as the Red Devils will need to sell several players in order to buy given their financial concerns.
United sit 14th in Prem and know their best route into Europe lies elsewhere.
As FA Cup holders, they still have a chance to reach the Europa League with another Wembley win, while triumphing in Europe‘s second tier competition would see them return to the Champions League.
The first steps on both of those paths will come against Fulham and Real Sociedad respectively in a huge week for Amorim’s United.
And fans are fearing that Amorim could start feuding with Alejandro Garnacho, after he stormed down the tunnel following his substitution when United were down to 10 men.