I would say just enjoy the game. Amorim will know what players (if any) he might be interested in from Sporting, but he needs to see what he has got in the Utd squad that he is happy with. We aren't, and I wouldn't want us to, raid a whole load of their players.

I have seen various posts with people saying we need this and that, before Amorim has even got here and can assess what he has.

And basing who you like on one game? I mean if you watched City v Bournemouth, you wouldn't have been interested in any of the City players.

So I will just enjoy the game, and whatever the performance and result, people will over-react and take something from it.

What I like is the fact that Amorim has acknowledged this already with his if we win / lose scenario.

14 years since city lost 3 competitive matches in a row

Rather than focussing on individual players, I'd encourage people to watch (in order of importance):

- How he uses his wingbacks (how wide they stay, how they're used as decoys)

- Where they like to concentrate their play in the opposition half (if they get a chance to do any ) and how, and how narrow, the two inside forwards/false tens (likely Gonçalves and Trincão) play

- The intensity of the counterpress

- Just how much work the double pivot does

- The role of the central CB

I want Sporting to perform well without playing the match of their lives, because that would send expectation through the roof. But I already know that people will use this one game to make crazy predictions about how Amorim will do at Utd, when it won't make one iota of difference what happens tonight.

comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 29 minutes ago
I want Sporting to perform well without playing the match of their lives, because that would send expectation through the roof. But I already know that people will use this one game to make crazy predictions about how Amorim will do at Utd, when it won't make one iota of difference what happens tonight.
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Even if they perform spectacularly, they’ll do well to get a draw.

They might be top of the Primeira Liga, but it’s worth remembering that they have the wage budget of a mid- to top-end Championship side.

comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, R... (U17054)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 29 minutes ago
I want Sporting to perform well without playing the match of their lives, because that would send expectation through the roof. But I already know that people will use this one game to make crazy predictions about how Amorim will do at Utd, when it won't make one iota of difference what happens tonight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Even if they perform spectacularly, they’ll do well to get a draw.

They might be top of the Primeira Liga, but it’s worth remembering that they have the wage budget of a mid- to top-end Championship side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

or put another way, a wage budget less that the combined wages of Rashford and Casemiro

Hopefully for your sakes the scoreline isn't a repeat of the 2022 match.

Looking forward to that game tonight. City not in a great place with injuries and form and Sporting will obviously want to go out with a bang under Amorim. Should be a cracker.

2-2 draw is my prediction.

This game will tell us everything we need to know about how Amorim will get on at United. If he can't beat a depleted City team, in poor form then what chance does he have when he moves to a worse team with worse players?

If Sporting win it doesn't mean he'll be a success at United. If Sporting lose it doesn't mean he'll be a disaster.

Also he won't be playing City every week here. There are 18 other teams.

I agree we should watch for how he sets up and deploys his defence, wingbacks and midfield in particular just to get an idea of his approach, for those of us who don't know enough about him.

comment by TheresOnlyOne7-0Reds (U1721)
posted 10 minutes ago
This game will tell us everything we need to know about how Amorim will get on at United. If he can't beat a depleted City team, in poor form then what chance does he have when he moves to a worse team with worse players?
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A simplistic viewpoint from a simpleton.

Arne Slot couldn't beat Nuno at Klanfield despite having a far more talented squad to choose from. Maybe he's not as good either then? As you know.... football doesn't work that way.

Football is full of results where teams are inspired on the night and can pull off a shock result..............so City might get a draw

Seriously, tonight has no bearing on anything, but the media will have their story ready simply based on the result

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 4 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, R... (U17054)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 29 minutes ago
I want Sporting to perform well without playing the match of their lives, because that would send expectation through the roof. But I already know that people will use this one game to make crazy predictions about how Amorim will do at Utd, when it won't make one iota of difference what happens tonight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Even if they perform spectacularly, they’ll do well to get a draw.

They might be top of the Primeira Liga, but it’s worth remembering that they have the wage budget of a mid- to top-end Championship side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

or put another way, a wage budget less that the combined wages of Rashford and Casemiro
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sporting’s entire wage budget is not that far off De Bruyne’s wage on its own.

comment by Calafiori knows how to Partey (U21076)
posted 3 hours, 51 minutes ago
Hopefully for your sakes the scoreline isn't a repeat of the 2022 match.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why, what will that mean for our sakes?

comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Calafiori knows how to Partey (U21076)
posted 3 hours, 51 minutes ago
Hopefully for your sakes the scoreline isn't a repeat of the 2022 match.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why, what will that mean for our sakes?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you not know that tonight's result dictates how Amorim will do for the next 5 years of his career, wherever he may be? Come on, get with it

comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Calafiori knows how to Partey (U21076)
posted 3 hours, 51 minutes ago
Hopefully for your sakes the scoreline isn't a repeat of the 2022 match.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why, what will that mean for our sakes?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you not know that tonight's result dictates how Amorim will do for the next 5 years of his career, wherever he may be? Come on, get with it
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know, silly me, what was I thinking

Both my guys in the OP scored. I am Nostradamus

They've certainly rode their luck, so one sided in the first half but fair play to them