Ruben Amorim missed the point with controversial comment about his Manchester United system

"It is always the same. When we win, it is not the system, when we lose, it is the system."

After just nine wins from 33 Premier League matches, Ruben Amorim must soon realise that the system has to be a problem if it is the root cause of all their issues. Manchester United weren't just beaten by Brentford yesterday, they were brushed aside in the first-half by yet another side that already has a stronger sense of identity under a head coach they only appointed in the summer.

Amorim would have some sympathy if United had won more games, but also if they had done so convincingly. Of their nine league wins, only two were truly comfortable and down to the fact they had totally outplayed their opponents. Everton at home and Leicester away.

Even when they have won, it has felt they have done so despite their formation. Bruno Fernandes can produce moments of magic regardless of where he is played on the pitch, while United have relied on penalties and late drama for plenty of their league victories under the Portuguese head coach.

It is true that Amorim proportionally gets harsher criticism than head coaches at any other club, with Chelsea just a point ahead of them after another dreadful display under Enzo Maresca and even Man City just three points in front after their recent rejuvenation under Pep Guardiola. The reason the criticism of Amorim is so harsh is that he has been in charge for almost a year, and the situation is getting even worse.

Amorim had a few convenient excuses last season in that he had inherited a team that wasn't suited to his style of play midway through a packed fixture campaign, when there was little time for them to work on their precise tactics in training. The deal was that he needed heavy backing in the transfer window and a full pre-season to truly influence his side. He had both of those this summer.

The only thing his United players have in common is that they would all be better if they played in a different formation. It would be foolish to invest so heavily into a new squad that is geared towards his precise style, when any replacement might then want to rip it up and go in another direction.

There was a period when Amorim earned praise for his stubborn tactical approach and the huge vindication that would come if they managed to make it a success. However, there comes a point of no return for any leader, when they must admit they were wrong for whatever reason and accept responsibility. The key to successful leadership is adaptability, not adamancy.

With United at risk of fluttering away another season in record time, Amorim risks losing the support of the fanbase entirely if he does not take ownership of their issues and, at the very least, is seen to be doing something different. Even then, it might be a lose-lose situation. If United were to switch to a new formation, results could remain the same, or even get worse, thus justifying Amorim's initial approach. If they were to turn a corner suddenly, it would undermine everything he has stood for during his time in the role.

The latter is clearly the favoured solution, and if Amorim starts to win matches, then the pressure on his position will be lifted and the players might become confident enough to make other systems work. Amorim is adamant he will not change; if that is the case, it feels inevitable that United will change him instead.

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