Maybe United's squad isn't that bad?

Ruben Amorim's side proved Roy Keane and other critics wrong against Liverpool

As is often the case, it was difficult to tell if Roy Keane’s comments were made for effect, or if they came from the heart. The Super Sunday studio tends to illicit the worse side of Keane, who reverts to shock tactics and headline baiting, a contrast to the laidback and likeable character on Stick to Football.

Still, anything he says tends to hold sway with Manchester United fans even if the two versions of Keane can contradict each other.

“I still worry about the spine of that Manchester United team,” said Keane.

If the Irishman was referring solely to the positions of goalkeeper and centre forward, then he might have a point. Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund both have redeemable qualities but neither have fully convinced in almost 18 months at United. Both were costly additions in the Erik ten Hag era but neither are world class in their their position.

Yet the ‘spine’ of a football team, also encompasses the central defence and midfield and in that regard, United are better served than their critics claim. They proved as much against Liverpool; the Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte axis showed what an exciting future it can have; the back three were strong and aggressive; Bruno Fernandes picked the right time for a virtuoso display between the lines.

Keane has also argued that United “don’t have any world class players” and while that’d be true of any team sitting 14th in any table – the class of your players is defined by their results – this squad is still far better than they’ve shown. They can become world class with the right coaching.

In a short time, Ruben Amorim, despite mixed results, has exposed the truth that all fans knew: United’s squad doesn’t lack for quality. It has simply lacked direction, confidence and the right conditions to thrive for a long time. That the team performed so admirably in the cauldron atmosphere of Anfield last Sunday against the best team in the league shows the levels they can reach.

It has been Amorim’s task to give United the requisite shake-up, with the Portuguese himself talking of the squad needing a “shock”, to go through a “storm”. Talk of possible relegation ought to do it.

Because United’s squad isn’t worthy of relegation and their players aren’t all duds. That midfield, in particular, has an extraordinarily high ceiling, with the effervescent Ugarte hitting his straps after signing in the summer, Mainoo back to his best after injury and Fernandes relishing the prospect of proving his (many) critics wrong.

Is that midfield trio (with Fernandes often dropping deeper against Liverpool) really worse than, say, Nottingham Forest’s? Aston Villa’s? Fulham’s? It depends on your definition. The form guide would say so but Amorim and his coaches have the chance to set the record straight. A near-constant issue at United over the past decade has been seemingly good players underperforming compared to their ability.

Predictably, Amorim’s system has already gained some detractors. Some claim he’s too dogmatic, too wedded to his favoured 3-4-3. But the system is nothing more than a framework for players to succeed. Coaches have been successful playing all kinds of formations: from Herbert Chapman and the W-M to Big Sam and 4-4-2.

It is very clear the 3-4-3 is here to stay and so too is the bulk of United’s squad, despite some reports to the contrary. United would be foolish to offload Mainoo (to pick a completely random example), while Fernandes has just signed a new contract and Ugarte is just getting his feet under the table.

With the likes of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro having all just recently signed too, and all showing promise, that’s a fair chunk of a spine to build around.

Amorim needs new additions, especially up front and at wing-back, but he doesn’t need a whole new squad, especially not in the engine room once inhabited by Keane. Things are not always as bad as some people say.

Dominic Booth