United Pivot

Manchester United, through a tactical lens. 🔴

Tactics • Player breakdowns • Matchday opinions

No recycled takes. Just football.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

What I do here:

I break down Manchester United through a tactical lens.

• What United are actually doing
• Why it works
• Why it fails
• What individual players change

No recycled takes. Just football.

If you want United news, there are thousands of accounts.

If you want to understand what the news means on the pitch — welcome. 🔴

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Henry’s made the same point I did after Fabrizio’s post.

You can’t expect managers to fix this without proper support from above.

Too many goals conceded from basic individual errors. Both of Roma’s goals were like that. Up front Bryan’s hit the woodwork repeatedly and Bruno’s confidence looks low.

The manager and players both have to take responsibility. But Sir Alex faced calls to go early on too. Arsenal stuck with Arteta. That doesn’t mean unlimited time. It means giving someone a clear plan and the conditions to succeed instead of constantly starting again.

This keeps the key points while cutting it down further.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Thierry Henry has basically made the same point I made after Fabrizio’s post about United sticking with Carrick for now.

You can’t expect managers to perform miracles when the people above them aren’t giving them the support or structure to succeed.

On the pitch, it’s clear too. Too many goals conceded through basic individual mistakes — poor passes, players failing to close down opponents and leaving spaces in behind. Both of Roma’s goals last night came from exactly these kinds of errors.

Up front, it’s not much better. Bryan’s hit the woodwork repeatedly this season. Bruno’s confidence looks low, and it shows.

The manager has to take responsibility. So do the players. But Sir Alex faced calls to go in his early years too. Arsenal stuck with Arteta through difficult spells.

That doesn't mean every manager deserves unlimited time. It means there has to be a clear plan and proper backing instead of constantly starting again.

United don’t just need another managerial reset. They need to give someone the conditions to actually succeed.

[The Touchline | �� @TouchlineX]

🚨🗣️ 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Thierry Henry believes Manchester United's problems are partly down to the club's failure to give managers enough TIME to succeed!

“At the end of Wenger's era, under Emery and at the beginning of Arteta's reign, the club was toxic. Fans were fighting among themselves. It's a bit like what's happening at Manchester United.

“Of all the managers you've had, surely one of them could have been the solution. But was he given enough time?

“Arteta went through bad runs. Arsenal weren't finishing where they were expected to. But we kept him.

“Now everyone says he's a good manager. If we hadn't given him time to prove himself, nobody would be saying that.

“The problems run much deeper than people think.”

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Martínez dropped, Heaven starts. Clearer defensive structure and a more physical midfield screen with Mainoo + Baleba.

Same attacking setup though: Mbeumo as the fixed reference point, Cunha and Amad carrying from wide, Fernandes floating. Still missing a consistent centre-forward profile to occupy the centre-backs.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Martínez starts on the bench. Heaven and Yoro partner Maguire in a back line that prioritises height and structure over the Argentine’s aggression. Mainoo and Baleba form a physical double pivot — a clear attempt to control the midfield against Roma’s 3-4-2-1.

The attacking setup remains the same issue. Mbeumo is again asked to act as the fixed reference point while Cunha carries from the left and Amad operates from the right. Fernandes is free to float, but United still lack a consistent centre-forward profile to occupy the centre-backs and create separation. Chance volume will depend heavily on individual carries and second-phase movements rather than a clear attacking structure.

Roma’s wing-backs (Rensch and Wesley) and Malen will look to exploit the spaces behind Dalot and Heaven on the flanks. United have addressed some defensive balance on paper by dropping Martínez and going with a taller unit. Whether this midfield screen and the same front line can produce coherent attacking patterns is the bigger test. Another makeshift selection that prioritises control over identity.

[Manchester United @ManUtd]

Your United team for tonight's #UCL clash 👊

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

@Casemiro in the stands tonight watching this midfield.

He used to control games on his own — dictated the tempo, screened the back four, and won the ball so the rest of the team could stay higher. @ManUtd haven’t had anyone do that properly since he left.

@carras16 can press @OfficialASRoma higher. The problem is what happens once that press gets broken. Baleba and Santos cover ground, but they still don’t control the tempo or protect the defence. @B_Fernandes8 drops deeper, the shape stretches, and @ManUtd become reactive.

Roma will expose that if the midfield can’t hold its shape.

[Stretford Central @StretfordCentrl]

[🟢] NEW: Casemiro will be in attendance tonight to watch Manchester United take on Roma.

(@ESPNBrasil)

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

@Ballopedia That link was different. Not just two good strikers — they actually read each other. One moved, the other already knew.

United haven’t had a partnership like that in a long time.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Bringing in people who helped build Manchester City’s structure was never the problem.

The question is what they’ve actually built at United.

Because experience means very little if there’s still no clear footballing identity, no consistency in recruitment and no long-term direction.

We didn’t need six people with City connections. We needed a football operation that knew what it was doing.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Six people with Manchester City backgrounds now hold key positions across United’s leadership, football department, performance and academy.

This wasn't accidental. INEOS clearly wanted to bring City's expertise to Old Trafford.

Fair enough. Learn from the best.

But if we've brought the people in, where is the improvement?

United still don't have a clear idea of what they want to be. Recruitment is all over the place. Managers keep getting changed.

You can't build Manchester City by hiring people who used to work there.

You need the structure, the vision and the decision-making that made it successful.

That's what United are still missing.

[☈ッ @TheFergusonWay]

Personnel with Previous Manchester City Experience alongside Jason Wilcox and/or Omar Berrada appointed to Key Positions at Manchester United under INEOS:

1. Omar Berrada
City: Chief Operating Officer, Manchester City; Chief Football Operations Officer, City Football Group.
United: Chief Executive Officer.

2. Jason Wilcox
City: Academy Director.
United: Director of Football.

3. Sam Erith
City: Head of Sports Science, later Head of Human Performance.
United: Head of Performance.

4. Toby Craig
City: Director of Corporate and Commercial Communications.
United: Chief Communications Officer.

5. Stephen Torpey
City: Head of Academy Coaching (U15–U23).
United: Academy Director.

6. Alan Wright
City: Coach/manager within Manchester City's youth setup, working with the U16 age group.
United: Under-21s Assistant Head Coach.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

@AliceTalksFooty Somehow, the managers keep getting sacked, but the architect keeps his job.

Make it make sense.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Manchester United is being run like a mates’ club. Personal connections over proven credentials. Familiarity over merit. Wilcox wanted Russell Martin — a manager with a 6% Premier League win rate — because they worked together at Southampton. And we’re trusting him with the next appointment?

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Jason Wilcox wanted Russell Martin.

A manager with a 6% Premier League win rate, now managing in League One.

Why? Because they worked together at Southampton.

And this is the man trusted to shape Manchester United’s footballing future.

Let that sink in.

[UF @UtdFaithfuls]

Wait a minute, so Jason Wilcox wanted Man Utd to appoint Russell Martin as Erik ten Hag's replacement because they worked together at Southampton the previous year?

Hiring this guy and making him Sporting Director is INEOS' biggest mistake.

He sees Man Utd as Southampton. He's too inexperienced for a club the size of United, and MUST be sacked if we'll ever get out of this mess.

He's seriously sabotaging the club. He's the brain behind most of the terrible decisions at the club which was why Licha called him out.

GET HIM GONE!!!

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Why would a top player — or even a top manager — choose United right now?

Yes, it’s a historic club. You can write your name into the history books by winning the league here. But that’s a long shot when the club has no stability, no clear direction and isn’t consistently competing for trophies.

You can’t expect Mbappé or Haaland to walk through the door and magically start delivering trophies. The club has to give them a reason to believe first.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

@OginiSolomon We've been saying this for years, but the anger fades, Old Trafford fills up again, and nothing changes.

The Glazers and INEOS need to feel a sustained financial protest.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

We've been saying this for years. Boycott the owners. Stop giving them money. Demand accountability.

But every time, the anger fades, the stadium fills up again and the people running this club carry on as if nothing happened.

At some point, words have to become action.

The Glazers and INEOS won't take another angry hashtag seriously. They will take a sustained financial protest seriously.

All thunder and no rain. That's been our problem for far too long.

[Soloball🇵🇹 @OginiSolomon]

Lazio supporters have reduced season-ticket sales from nearly 30,000 to fewer than 4,500. That is how serious their protest against Claudio Lotito is.

Yet they still support the players, travelling to away matches and filling away sections. They are boycotting the ownership, not abandoning the team.

Manchester United fans should take note. Boycott home matches, support the players away from home and send the owners a clear message: we love Manchester United, but we are tired of those running the club. Stop giving them money while demanding change.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Amorim received players who addressed specific positions in his squad.

Cunha gave him a natural left-sided attacker who could carry inside. Mbeumo offered directness and goals from the right. Sesko gave him a different profile up front. Lammens addressed the goalkeeping position.

Carrick lost Casemiro and was handed Baleba, Santos and Tielemans. But signing three midfielders isn't the same as building a functioning midfield. Who controls the tempo? Who protects the defence? Who dictates play under pressure?

That is the difference. Amorim received clear additions in key positions. Carrick inherited a midfield that still needs to be assembled.

Neither excuses poor performances, but pretending both managers were given the same platform is dishonest.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

The PSG comparison misses the most important part.

Enrique didn’t just “overhaul the squad.” PSG had a clear footballing identity and recruited specifically for it.

United can replace 10 players tomorrow and still fail if INEOS, the manager and recruitment team don’t agree on what the team is supposed to become.

The problem isn’t simply the players.

It’s the lack of a coherent footballing project.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

The problem isn’t that Amad lacks one elite winger attribute. It’s that too many of his attacking actions have regressed at the same time.

Less threat 1v1. Poorer finishing. Safer or naive passing in the final third. Less penetration.

If Amad isn’t creating or scoring consistently from the wing, his defensive work rate cannot justify giving him an attacking slot ahead of someone who actually threatens the opposition.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

The “no Champions League” excuse is becoming a convenient shield for recruitment failure.

If clubs finishing 10th and 17th are recruiting better players than United, then Europe clearly isn’t the whole problem.

Every time recruitment fails, the same briefing appears: no Champions League, budget constraints, and the need to be “more sensible” in the market. At what point do INEOS, Wilcox and Berrada take responsibility for the decisions?

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

Dear @INEOS , Jason Wilcox and @OmarBerrada ,

Please leave our club before it’s too late.

You spent months chasing a sporting director, paid to bring him in, then sacked him when he disagreed with you.

You backed a manager in the transfer market, then sacked him months later. You hired a manager who openly said he wouldn’t change his style of play, only to sack him because he called you out and refused to change that style.

You kept @carras16 despite knowing he wasn’t your long-term man. He delivered a strong finish and Champions League football, yet your failure to build the squad properly is now putting his job and reputation at risk.

@ManUtd cannot be your trial-and-error project.

Stop treating the club like a learning exercise. The Glazers created enough chaos already. INEOS cannot become another chapter of the same story.

Take responsibility. Fix it — or get out.

[United Pivot @TheUtdPivot]

@LeeOReillyy @AliceTalksFooty Signings with ineos ?? Haven't hou being watching what these people have being doing ? Did they back Carrick? Brought in mediocre player for ruben. If any sacking is required it is the top level!