He is still not ready for a move like that but he is a very talented coach. Sporting pod 10M to Braga to secure the services of Amorim so you can imagine the pressure he must of felt. Sporting were not asking to win a title but to build a foundation to prosper and grow with a project based on home grown players and talents in our league we can develop and sell for more money. As well as keeping a core of players who understand our values and used to lead the younger players. Guys like Coates, Adan etc. Safe to say the money payed was worth every penny.
Amorim in a year and a half as a coach has won 2 league cups 1 super taça and a league title for Sporting.
Our first League title in 19 years might I add which is a huge achievement especially given how young of a coach he is. Another positive is he does not care about names and is very capable of promoting playing and trusting in young academy prospects and developing them.
One problem with Amorim is winning losing or tied he does not change his tactical set up. At times I wish he would go to a 4 at the back and 3 man midfield as that is important in gaining control of the middle of the park when the opposing team has capable midfielders who can stack the middle of the pitch where then our 2 midfielders are out numbered.
This was very evident in the game vs Ajax. Amorim himself has said he is still learning and these games against better opposition he used to learn and possibly change his system when need be.
Amorim plays a 5-2-3 system at Sporting just as he did in Braga. The most important players in his set up is both the RWB and the LWB as they must cover the full length of the pitch. Last season he had Nuno Mendes as Pedro Porro in those positions as they are both very high work rate players who can play the full length of the pitch.
At the back it is imperative that their is ball playing center backs as they are the start of the attack when we recover the ball. All 3 of our center backs are capable of playing out the back.
In midfield he goes with one box to box player and another more traditional CDM.
In attack is where it gets a little interesting. 1 striker and a right forward and left forward. Both of these players play both inside and outside and the striker he prefers one who can hold the ball up lay it off or pass it out. Pretty much If the striker has the ball the other forwards will go up and form a triangle with the front 3. Depending on who the forwards are it is imperative that they drop back when we don’t have the ball or during the build up. If it’s Pedro Gonçalves he will usually drop to the center and form a 3 in midfield and if it’s Nuno Santos o Jovane they will assist the wing backs.
Defending it is a 5-2-3 but attacking it’s more of a 3-4-3. High pressing is imperative when off the ball for this to work and that’s where those 2 midfielders are crucial in this set up.
When the two wingbacks push forward the two outside center backs tend to overlap left and right respectively to cover the open space out wide.
Amorim likes to keep the pitch as narrow as possible and force the play from the opposing team out wide. This allows us then to naturally gain control of the middle of the pitch. The high pressing is used to force the opposition to make a mistake where then we can counter.
Defensively Sporting is very compact and had the best defense last season in the league as well as this season so far.
Amorim is also a very great speaker and motivator. He really is a leader and someone players love to play for. Sporting under Amorim have had a never say die attitude which allowed them to score many goals last season from the 80 minute onward as well as deep into stoppage time ala Fergie time.
Under Amorim Sporting have lost 1 game in the league from all of last season and this season as well so far.
His league win with Sporting broke many records all while having a young team full of academy prospects!
Amorim is still very young and it’s best to continue the project he is doing with Sporting and his stock will continue to rise. He for sure though is a coach to keep on the radar in my opinion but speaking of a move now is very premature.
This video below shows a nice analysis as well with video footage.