Good Fits:
Lindelöf – While his contract is up in the summer, I genuinely think he’d be an excellent choice for the right centre-back role if Amorim sticks to his favoured 3-4-2-1 setup. Lindelöf is underrated both defensively and in possession. His passing range is strong, and he’s capable of carrying the ball through midfield effectively, adding composure and progression from the back.
Amad – If we’re leaning toward inside forwards rather than touchline-hugging wingers, we’ll need players comfortable in tight spaces. Amad is skilled in this area, with close control and an ability to beat defenders, similar to Trincão. His technical ability would be invaluable in creating space and maintaining fluidity in the final third.
Højlund – There’s a lot of talk around Gyökeres, but from watching Amorim’s style, Højlund seems the ideal striker for the role. He combines the energy to run channels with the physicality to battle centre-backs, offering an outlet for longer balls and the dynamism to exploit defensive gaps.
Mount – His effectiveness in the inside forward role under Tuchel was notable. Like Amad, Mount excels in tight spaces and is always looking to receive on the half-turn. He also makes intelligent runs in behind and, although we haven’t seen it consistently yet, brings a goal threat we saw frequently at Chelsea.
Ugarte – Researching Amorim’s system, it’s clear that centre backs are the primary ball-dictators. This suits Ugarte’s game perfectly, allowing him to focus more on facilitating play rather than directing it, emphasising his defensive capabilities while letting others manage distribution.
Mainoo – With his technical skill set, Mainoo seems like he’d thrive under almost any manager. His composure and technique allow him to adapt seamlessly, making him a versatile and reliable option.
Bruno – Similar to Mount, Bruno could fit well as an inside forward. As our most creative player, his presence in the final third would cause consistent danger. Against West Ham, he created multiple scoring opportunities and could be even more effective in this system, where he'd be given the licence to play higher up.
Bad Fits:
Zirkzee – While he’s good at dropping back to link play, Amorim seems to favour strikers who stretch the field vertically, with inside forwards exploiting pockets of space. Zirkzee’s style doesn’t align perfectly with that approach.
Mazraoui – He doesn’t naturally suit the wing-back role, in my opinion. Time would tell, but he might struggle to fit Amorim’s system.
Uncertain Fits:
Rashford – This could go either way. Rashford has always thrived when partnered with an overlapping player, like Shaw in the past, which allowed him to cut inside. If he plays as an inside forward, he might benefit similarly. However, Amorim’s system would require consistent close control and quick, sharp play in central areas. Rashford’s decision-making and first touch can sometimes falter in these situations, which could affect his fit here. However, if we're going back to the striker role, like Højlund, Rashford brings strong channel-running ability and can effectively stretch defences with his pace. My concern, however, lies with his physicality and hold-up play. When tasked with the demands of a target man role, Rashford might struggle to consistently win duels and maintain possession under pressure. While he excels in space, leading the line in a physical capacity could limit his effectiveness in Amorim's system.
Antony – I struggle to see him securing a spot in any of the front three positions, but he could potentially be effective as a left wing-back. He has the stamina and work rate to cover the full length of the pitch, and although we haven’t seen much of him on the left, he likely has the technique to deliver quality crosses from that side.
On reflection, it looks like we already have a solid foundation to transition into a 3-4-2-1 system. Moving forward, Amorim would likely aim to upgrade at wing-back, as well as strengthen the midfield and centre-back positions, but the core setup is promising.
Hojlund/Rashford
Bruno/Mount Amad/Garnacho
Antony/Shaw Mainoo/Eriksen Ugarte/Casemiro Dalot/Mazaroui
Martinez/Shaw De Ligt/Maguire Yoro/Lindelof
Onana/Balyindir
