The Devil's DNA

[NEW ARTICLE] Amorim’s Manchester United Blueprint In this in-depth analysis, I break down Amorim's tactical philosophy, detail each role in his system & assess Man Utd’s squad fit for each position. I also predict potential ins & outs. RTs appreciated! thedevilsdna.com/?p=274244

The build-up to Bruno’s record-tying assist was brilliant. Changes of tempo from direct vertical passes into one-touch small-space play. Mainoo’s detail within that combo is great. Extra touch, draws defenders in for more space, then dinks it through.

@JeffriesOliver @_tsimulatinplay If we stuck with Amorim where would we be? I don't think how we finished justifies transfer strategy. We currently need 3 mids and even LB, CB and attack need help. That's not a good place to be in after multiple mega spend window. Obv we haven't bought in a need-basis way.

@TheDevilsDNA @_tsimulatinplay Sorry we’ve gone from 15th to 3rd in one season. There’s virtually no evidence that they didn’t buy exactly the right players last summer? You can’t do that everything in one window.

I'm sorry but every top team buy based on availability. Players that have the ideal profile and are performing well in one league could look incapable of doing anything in a tougher league

@GJB77DBAD I think we've missed a lot of good available players over the years that others have bought. This is a bad excuse. We haven't bought well.

@TheDevilsDNA It’s usually quite difficult to buy players that aren’t available

This is why I don't like our team building. We rarely address needs & just buy based on availability. We actually need LW & CF but should probably ignore both for now coz we need 2-3 mids & probably LB & even CB more. We don't build teams well. Keep running into needs soon again.

@KarthikMallavar CL qualification and appearances were two conditions. And the waive off was for the extension based on appearances. That's different from the add-on conditions. Even assuming half were met its 65m.

@TheDevilsDNA They were not! PL or CL success were some of the conditions. Appearance related clause was about automatic trigger of the +1 from player side which Casemiro agreed to waive

1st: B 2nd: D 3rd: C- 4th: B+ Personally feel his valuable goals & direct balls have overshadowed a constant struggle defensively (due to age decline) making the 70m fee a poor investment. We should have bought better. And still need to. Love his personality & leadership tho.

@kat_honeydew Not sure. It might be free or heavily discounted on some sites. I'm using the one I bought when it came out.

@TheDevilsDNA Where can I download FM24?

Every few months I try some iteration of Cruyff's diamond. Been enjoying this version on #FM24 recently. The Carrileros really solve the wide build up & wide defending issues of the formation. Also enjoying Ramdeuter as a role. This is 26/27 post Casemiro if anyone is wondering.

@MerryGuido @SteinkelssonFM @pontadelanca10 @CrusaderTsar I think that's impossible. I have experimented with half back and IFBs and IWBs but gave up all that for a normal back 3 and DLP role. Even in attack it's tough beyond CF-AM switching.

@TheDevilsDNA @SteinkelssonFM @pontadelanca10 @CrusaderTsar Yep. Good fun, even if I can never get the fluid rotations just right

@SteinkelssonFM @pontadelanca10 @CrusaderTsar @MerryGuido Oh I forgot that you used Carrileros too. Nice. Yes and I do push up WCB to support in easy games and am constantly tinkering with the wide roles between W, IF, RAM. Striker DLF suits Zirkzee and he brings the 3 behind into well.

@TheDevilsDNA @pontadelanca10 @CrusaderTsar @MerryGuido My Iron Tulip (van Gaal) replication with Ajax in FM24 - was pretty enjoyable.

My idea to solve the midfield crisis post Casemiro was to buy P Barrios, M Perrone, E Mastorach & Shea Charles. Sesko as a Ramdeuter has been amazing. Didn't buy attackers since Rashford Hojlund returned from loan & aren't getting offers. Might buy a LCB to replace Shaw soon.

@HalfSpace_Genie I might have ages for sure. Basically the Brazilian magic box. I've tried it on an old FM and pretty sure @CrusaderTsar tried it in one of his saves over the years.

@TheDevilsDNA Have you ever tried playing a 4-2-2-2 with two narrow AM’s behind the strikers?

@KarthikMallavar Easy add ons

@TheDevilsDNA Where is the 70m coming from? 60m is the base fee

Mbeumo running in behind while on the same vertical line as the passer is so poor— borderline impossible pass to play. This is why he’s not a striker— so much better when runs come from out > in. Rashford was the same.

@_tsimulatinplay Yeah I'm clubbing FBs too. I think we need width holders who can dribble. LB or RB can do the trick. In fact think we should buy FBs that can make narrow forwards like Cunha Mbeumo work better. Or buy the 1v1 winger which is tougher but those are there too.

@TheDevilsDNA Last time I checked, Palestra and Munoz are fullbacks

@Zanagala @_tsimulatinplay It could work temporarily and still be bad thinking. Things working doesn't mean things were thought out. I'm only talking about better thinking esp for future buys.

@TheDevilsDNA @_tsimulatinplay Ik but they are effective atleast we saw how ten hag ruined rashford prop for a shitty attack he signed ... This year we went all in on pnp and that was honestly needed more than anything

@Zanagala @_tsimulatinplay Didn't say that did I? Talking about balance, priority and profile. Never said shouldn't have bought any attacker. But 1 of 3 we bought isn't ready to start, another clashes with an existing profile & a 3rd can't play wide.

@TheDevilsDNA @_tsimulatinplay Sorry but if you think midfielders are more important than getting good attackers then idk how would i have watched another year of shit ineffective attackers ruining another bruno year

@_tsimulatinplay I would need to research and think but likes of Nusa, Palestra, Munoz, Gboho, Diomande come to mind.

@TheDevilsDNA I know. Mention one that you'd like

@_tsimulatinplay I think that's a really bad way to sign players. Just wanting one, trying at window end and not signing anyone coz evaluation was off. It wasn't a priority it's that simple. We did, it's the type of forwards and thinking behind it I'm talking about. There are lots of 1v1 wide men

@TheDevilsDNA - United wanted to sign Baleba but they didn't like Brighton's valuation - You guys needed forwards as much as you needed midfielders. Amad is a squad player at best - Wonder what wide forward you'd like..

@_tsimulatinplay Yeah i don't think it was well thought out. If Sesko wasn't ready to start much and the club expected Mbeumo to play more CF, that's a problem in itself. It's the thinking I'm questioning. For now I don't think we should buy CF and make do with what we have coz midfield imp.

I also liked that you replied a tweet that also stated United need a starting calibre ST. 22yr old Benjamin Sesko was bought for ~£65m, imagine how much you'd have to spend on a striker in his prime