Liverpool show ‘it’s not hard’ to make Ruben Amorim and his 3-5-2 work for Man United

 A short but wide-rangingly sweet Sunday Mailbox manages to solve all Ruben Amorim’s problems at Manchester United through the – on the face of it unlikely – prism of 1990s Liverpool, before a pondering of just why some quite big teams have produced such a low number of prolific England goalscorers.

Then we get a Reddit AITA query that could if anything split Mailbox opinion even more than flags, on which subject there is some deserved praise for an effort from the last box of mails.

Send your mails on any subject from goalscorers to AITA posers and, if you absolutely must, flags to theeditor@football365.com…

Fixing Amorim’s 3-5-2

Thanks George for asking in the last mailbox. It’s been stressing me out a lot hearing how 3-5-2 doesn’t work for various reasons and Amorim and the players have no chance.

I remember in the 90s when Roy Evans took over the Liverpool side and adopted a 3-5-2. Liverpool bought Mark Wright for £2.2m who was England’s centre back (Harry Maguire with pace and class). John Scales (De Ligt with fewer mistakes) and Phil Babb (Lenny Yoro) were the other centre backs.

Left back was Stig Inge Bjornabye and Steve Harkness. Nothing world class but could tirelessly get up and down the whole game. Right back was Rob Jones who was superb and again could run and run. Dorgu seems like he knows what he is doing but neither Dalot or Amad are a good fit for that position which messes up the formation and attacking lines.

Midfield we had John Barnes (Bruno Fernandes) but he was fat and old so he just sat at the back reading the game, intercepting, spraying lovely passes and getting a few goals. He was definitely not all over the pitch trying to do everything but falling on all counts and ruining the formation. Barnes also took a decent penalty without getting into a strop. His partner was a young Jamie Redknapp whose best achievement was marrying Louise (If you know you know). He was a decent player and put a shift in. The 2 of them screened the back 3 so we were pretty solid.

Biggest difference in Utd and Liverpool was the front 3. Liverpool had Steve McManaman who was all over the pitch (where Bruno should play) and had the license to roam and create. Up front was Stanley Victor Collymore and Robbie Fowler. They got 55 goals between them one season and played as orthodox strikers. The team was built to get chances to the front 2.

In my opinion (Geoff) with Cunha roaming and Mbeumo wide it only leaves Sesko in there who can be easily marshalled by the opposition defence. So the answer is simple. Bruno needs to be further forward with Cunha and Mbeumo as 2 orthodox strikers. Put De Ligt as defensive midfield with Mason Mount sitting in front of the back 3. Buy a right wing back. It’s not hard, we can all see it, which is why it’s strange that Amorim cannot.

AITA?

A genuine question about etiquette when watching football in a pub re. keeping seats.

In the following situation, am I the asshole?

– went to busy pub with wife for Liverpool v Chelsea 90 mins before kickoff to secure 3 seats for us and mate.

– had food with wife who leaves to do some shopping so I’m alone and keeping 2 extra seats.

– guy offers his table to others and goes for smoke.

– guy comes back and insists on taking one of my seats saying it’s a public bar, I’ve been keeping the seats for ages, he can sit where he wants, and offers the 3rd seat to others.

– I told him he was welcome to the seat until my wife and friend got there.

– he said they’d have to drag him off it.

– he left and stood with mates after half time.

It was a busy bar, but always thought keeping a couple of seats was acceptable bar etiquette.

But maybe I’m wrong.

Am I the asshole?