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I deliberately took my time to study the razzmatazz surrounding the appointment of yet another substantive head coach (not manager) to sit in the hot seat that is the Old Trafford dugout. This appointment has brought with it the usual excitement that greets such appointments, but in light of how things have transpired in the last decade, the skeptics cannot be blamed for asking, "What's the difference?"
I took a decision not to watch any Manchester United game until a new head coach was appointed. I did not watch any of Rudd Van Nistelrooy's four interim games, except for a few minutes of the first half of their 5-2 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. I must admit I was bitterly disappointed with Erik ten Hag's sacking, though it felt increasingly inevitable at that point. I was further incensed to see the same players who missed open goals against West Ham go on to put five past Leicester, two past PAOK with a clean sheet, a spirited draw with Chelsea, and a dominant 3-0 send-off win over Leicester for RVN. We have seen this pattern before. Thankfully, INEOS's decisiveness around the managerial position at that point has saved us from OGS 2.0.
My anger was simply based on the premise that all the managers, including David Moyes, who have been at United since Sir Alex Ferguson had a befitting record to have had a go at the job. Yet, with the money spent, United have constantly drifted backwards, and the metrics from the last 18-24 months have highlighted how far they have plummeted to mid-table fodder.
Ruben Amorim assumes the role at a time when the club is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring. Unlike his predecessors, Amorim will have the benefit of a well-established football structure and leadership. He made it clear in an interview with Gary Neville that Manchester United as a club must set the standards for the players to follow. For the first time, players will be expected to fully commit to and align themselves with the club's vision, or face consequences. The establishment of these standards addresses a longstanding deficiency in leadership and direction within the club's football operations.
There is no guarantee that United will become a world power overnight, but the newly established structure at the club provides a solid foundation for potential long-term redemption and a return to prominence. The upcoming three transfer windows will be pivotal in transforming the squad, a necessary step in the club's revitalization efforts. While Amorim is willing to work with the current squad and potentially turn their performance around, the long-term success of the project will depend on the club's ability to make strategic investments in the summer transfer window.
Ultimately, time will tell if Ruben Amorim is the right leader to guide the club forward or if he will become another casualty of Manchester United's struggles. Early indications suggest that he is confident in his abilities and considers himself well-suited for the role. He has made it clear that he is not the new Mourinho, and nothing strikingly suggests that he is. However, he is confident that he will make his mark. The only hope fans will have now is that there is a marked improvement in the club's fortunes and that the Red Devils are back competing for the biggest prizes again. Welcome, Amorim; all the best.
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