How Sofyan Amrabat Will Fit In To Erik Ten Hag's Man Utd

With Manchester United agreeing a deal to sign Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, Statman Dave takes a look at how the Moroccan international could fit into the starting eleven, what it could mean for the future of Casemiro and how he will transform Ten Hag’s tactics.
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[@RoyHodgsonBurner]

I think people are sleeping on his ball progression abilities. I believe he can play along side Casemiro and help progress play or cover D. He could also play along Mount or Mainoo & do the same thing in a midfield 3, or Diamond 4. Inshallah he’s gonna be a legend, give them time ❤️👹🔰

[@TheSportsOven]

He should 100% play beside Case. He will be the perfect foil, simialar to Eriksen but more energy, aggression, dribbling etc.

[@iftikhar2222]

Factsss

[@martinswift536]

@@iftikhar2222 Another panic buy, or should I say panic loan.

[@iftikhar2222]

@@martinswift536 not really. Weve wanted him since june. Reguilon is more of a panic buy

[@Easy_Now_Star]

Oh he will play alongside Cas, watch this space!

[@Libaxaqaranka]

I think amrabat signing will be like casemiro signing which massively improved untd

[@netsanetasayehegn6594]

i think so😊

[@pemtax557]

You are spot on ... just the idea of Casemiro and Amrabat side by side has to put so many EPL forwards on edge. It will become the one defense that will put a dent in their offensive stats.

[@tropicalpizza9580]

I think it will be more like Marcel Sabitzer, and may return once the loan period is over.

[@ajthenumber10]

Whatever happens, his desire to pay for Manchester United is unmatched. United are lucky to have someone as committed to paying for the club like him!

[@len8140]

This signing makes me feel more secure than the Mount signing. All the good teams play with at least 2 midfielders who have some sort of presence. Mount will be better higher up the pitch

[@1nternallyy]

Definitely, the guy got a lot of stick when we just aren't the finished product Mount is a good player he needs some time and we just aren't there fully with our tactics

[@kwabenajunior4709]

Mount was sign purposely to play as number 10 role.

[@yusufwadkar6011]

Mount is Pussio and he stays on bench like maguire

[@thurloramirez273]

Another gem of a analysis 👏👏👏 Hopefully Amrabat proves to be a transformational signing.. unlocking Casemiro offensive potential and allowing him to press higher up the pitch with his cerebral ability to anticipate dangerous channels to cover and his tenacious tackling setting the tone earlier in matches.. we live in hope🙏🙏🙌🙌

[@Desmondmayanna]

I am just happy to see Amrabat in Manchester United jersey. I love his style of play❤❤

[@NomadJoe0323]

Yeah, looking forward to seeing him play alongside Casemiro, whose passing/offensive ability has been a revelation.

[@aidanmagill6769]

Bruno's pass completion will improve too, because he won't have the burden of too often being the only creative player.

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Bruno wants to be a one man team though. It's what he thrives off at the detriment to the team.

[@00Y-07]

This signing gives Manchester United such flexibility with their approach to games. We could see a double pivot of Casemiro and Amrabat with Mount centrally and Bruno pushed out to the right where he can whip crosses in to Hojlund or play one-two quick touches - equally Mounts ability to play off the left hand side (notibly his best area for Chelsea) gives us a different option tactically to a Garnacho or Sancho, should Rashford need a rest Its opened so many doors for us. We can have that double pivot in big games and allow us to have a technical CAM out wide to give us something a little different Look forward to seeing how it all unfolds! Banger vid again, Dave 🎉

[@jameswoolford2698]

Good video. Seems well researched. Good narrative pace. Knowledgeable

[@tshegoseopela]

Keep up the good work 🎉

[@StatmanDaveClips]

❤

[@pemtax557]

Hey Dave ... Once again, a wonderful observation and illustration of just how our new DM is going to allow EtH's vision take an even more lethal form. I have enjoyed, for years, your insight into the nuts and bolts of this beautiful game as played by the best league on the planet. Thanks for sharing your time and technical prowess so that so many more MUFC diehards come to grips with the complexity necessary to be competitive in the EPL. Cheers my friend, Dave

[@sibusiso.kmashazi5713]

I just love the way you analyze please do it more often

[@orphachepkwony1477]

Statman Dave back with another peak analysis. Legend👏

[@mujeebahmed7940]

Top signing for united!

[@-Old-School-Gamer]

In my humble opinion, Safyan Amrabat is literally a game changer as far as this new look United midfield is concerned; He is the perfect profile of player to allow Eric ten Hag to play the team in 2 different ways, depending upon the opposition. 1). Firstly; Against the top 6 to 8 sides domestically, along with the bigger teams in Europe, we should now be able to comfortably play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where we play both Amrabat and Casimero together as complimentary DM’s in a double pivot, with either Bruno Fernandez or Mason Mount playing as a single CAM in front of them; and therefore making it much more difficult for teams to bypass our midfield and break us down; a problem which has been abundantly obvious during our opening couple of games. 2). Secondly; Then against the rest of the teams which we clearly have better players than, whether that’s in the Premier League or the domestic cup competitions, we should now be able to competently play in a 4-3-3 formation too, using Amrabat as a DM on his own, therefore allowing us to then play with both Bruno Fernandez and Mason Mount together as dual CAM’s, thus overloading the opposition within their own half of the pitch. We desperately needed Amrabat, because unfortunately as good as Casemiro is, he no longer has the athleticism needed to play that role alone, not for 50-60 games a season he doesn’t, especially considering he’s 31 years old. Plus Amrabat also allows both Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen to just be used as tactical substitutes, who are bought in to cover when and where needed, rather than being relied on week in week out; and it also takes any unnecessary pressure off of Kobbie Mainoo, therefore allowing him to be integrated into the first team gradually over the season, similar to what happened with Alejandro Garnacho last season. Personally; I’m buzzing over the signing of Sofyan Amrabat, because In my humble opinion he was literally the missing piece needed to take our midfield forward and I see both him and Mason Mount as massive upgrades over Fred, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny Van de Beek.

[@phatbi971]

The signing I really wanted, I feel we will be class for us

[@donaldhausenfluck2200]

This guy fits in great things are looking good

[@100bmusic]

Really nice analysis

[@Eric-yp7ho]

United's blindness to their midfield woes has always baffled me. This should've been their first signing of the summer.

[@bbouabid]

Interesting to see that Amrabat can fit pretty much any tactical form💪

[@kachakstore3262]

Amrabst,He is the key...pure defensive midfield...casemiro is not young anymore but he also important..

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Lets not overhype and see what he can do. I remember Veron coming to United in his prime from Italy and not doing very well. Not saying he will flop but lets just see and give him time.

[@nickraoyj]

Just came here from the Pythagoras in Boots analysis, he was a lot more critical of Amrabat and pointed out a few clear weaknesses in his game, especially his aerial/heading abilities which will be an issue in the EPL.

[@anda2736]

He gave a balanced view to br fair, hope his strengths can improve our side considerably

[@Zamunda-]

Whats with people fascination with "heading in the epl". Kante is one of the best to have done it for cdms is 5'5. That was not an issue for club and country. Gary neville is 5'9.

[@erskinekenny3651]

Casemiro does not have the engine to play box to box. He’s 31.

[@gamingarmani2006]

What app do u use dave for the statistics

[@tatendakusena3560]

New haircut and neck chain. Stuntman Dave more like Stun man Dave. 😮😂

[@tyroneknezovich3751]

Love the Chav cut

[@mohammadrahman6115]

Dave looking officially like the Don of stats 😂😂😂💪🏼💪🏼👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Northshoreboy135]

After seeing Hojlund play for 20 mins and know what we hav coming with Amarabat, I’m excited for our next match!

[@emmanuelonyono4517]

Well done bro, now the front lines are settled next the defense need to clear out too much injury prone players Shaw,Raphael and Maguire.....

[@andruspham5507]

There’s always a need to reinforce the foundation of every infrastructure, and signing Amrabat is the kind of reinforcement that our “infrastructure” has been craving!🙌

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Let's see

[@FarooqueBhai]

Off topic but Statman went from looking like masters student at top university to i’ll fight you at a pub if you talk sh*t about my football team

[@eugeneassinor7280]

If only united can utilize those chance creation we'd be getting from him we'll be just okay

[@tomjackson6490]

Dave with the Salford trim 😂😂😂

[@markshirley01]

Cant wait to see Mainoo back

[@Rowsk0518]

Well... He may not be a Rodri or a Nunes but he is a significant improvement on Mctominay and Fred. Everything in perspective. A future double pivot of Mainoo and Amrabat is seriously dynamic. And the one thing we've lacked in midfield, arguably since Fergie left, is dynamism.

[@richardnjoku9418]

He's a better player than Rodri was while at Atletico. Sofyan will improve United and improve himself even further under ETH.

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Here we go about him being a better player than Rodri at Atletico. United fans have no calm 😅

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Why Mainoo. What has he done to convince you he will make it at United? He hasn't even played back to back prem games yet 😂

[@richardnjoku9418]

@zinedinezidane4771 not sure you watched Rodri at Atletico. He never ventured forward, always on the defensive, sideways/horizontal passer and hardly scored goals from midfield. He improved massively under Pep...just like John Stones did. If Harry Maguire had gone to City instead of United, he'd be world class by now.

[@zinedinezidane4771]

@@richardnjoku9418 Rodri was still class at Atletico. My point is this whole weirdness of oh this player was better than that player at this point in their career. When players play in different leagues and have different roles etc. Maguire would never be world class no matter where he played. Guardiola wasn't able to make Mendy and few other players that he sold world class lol

[@YagaLaughZone]

AM VERY MUCH RELIEF ALL DAY LONG❤

[@sanjaydhirwan791]

should had made this signing ahead of mount, with a stable core we could have then looked for those big name signings

[@joebuckley2866]

Now we have amrabate an casimero regulon an dalot can attack at wing backs more ?

[@andymanser1]

How comes never in Stretford paddock anymore curious to that used be on all time

[@shaneheffernan]

Hoping amrabat signing will be like malacia signing when he pushed shaw to been a much better player and created immense competition but with mount out I'd say he starts with case 2 units but lack of creativity is a worry but my god are they destroyers

[@adamfanning9412]

Dave do you think Johnny evans can win the golden boot this year?

[@deejaymillions7933]

😂😂😂😂Jonny Evans?

[@andrewvictor5216]

Dummy ass question

[@supra4lif3]

hopefully he will use casemiro and amrabat together

[@kudasibanda4553]

I am hopefully about this signing Not like the Mount signing which i still believe is a wrong signing

[@docgraal485]

With Amrabat in the team (when Mount is back) he will replace Casemiro and we will continue to play the 433 you have over analysed tbh. The reason we’ve brought him him is because he is much more mobile and intense than Casemiro. It was lack of intensity that made us look average against spurs

[@user-pr5oq6xm4t]

We don't keep the ball well enough to play single pivot. Mount will become an impact sub.

[@II-hx9tw]

Rashie Hosjlund Garnacho Bruno Sancho Casemiro Amrabat Evans Martinez AWB Onana Subs: Ericksen, Mount, Dalot

[@jonasloic4194]

4-4-2 FORMATION DNA OF MANCHESTER UNITED

[@celestinempiri5238]

Who can believe now Man U have completely came out of MacFred engine room😅

[@redmc3614]

In your lineup Dave there is no mount ! He ain’t dropping him for that price we paid

[@alsius9162]

He's awful

[@doriangray1935]

He is injured

[@Rowsk0518]

​​@@alsius9162course he is. Highest pressing, tackling, most turnovers, highest progressive passing AND highest xG of any English midfielder in Europe 2019-2022... Just awful.

[@alsius9162]

@@Rowsk0518 pulling stats out of thin air means nothing, he's absolutely awful. He's offered nothing for united, and didnt for chelsea for the last two years either, hence why they sold him. He's also not what we need, he's not a cm , he's a budget bruno

[@Rowsk0518]

@@alsius9162 And your argument without any empirical evidence or data means even less

[@Chidds]

My confidence in Man U to come up with the goods is rock bottom. They bring in player after player every season who is supposed to put them back in the race. Yet season after season they continue to disappoint and fall embarrassingly short of Man City and the other team/teams challenging for the Premier League. The squad has a lack of intensity and has for years. Now and then, we see glimpses of hunger from individuals. There needs to be a mind shift throughout the team. Until that happens, we shouldn't be surprised by the results.

[@capturedbymelu]

No one cares bro. Let ETH cook

[@Chidds]

@@capturedbymelu You care enough to comment.

[@II-hx9tw]

Sorry mate but you should start Rashie and Sancho for Antony and remove Dalot for a 2 - 4 - 1 - 3

[@jamlemon]

So tonight KZbin suggested Dave’s analysis and some highlights video with terrible music, know which one I’d choose.

[@Coolboyandcoolthings]

Amrabat 🇲🇦❤💯

[@normanstewartah-shung4219]

The only problem now is the team needs game time to gel

[@hamii2474]

I reckon some days we could see Bruno on the right wing - allowing ten hag to play casemiro amrabat and mount as a midfield 3.

[@willm7994]

Good signing still would have preferred Sangare if I Had an option

[@belloabayomi8931]

Lack of a proper DOF. Should have signed sangare fr

[@caniz80]

Gat man Dave Trap Man Dave Dat Mon Dave Stat da man dave

[@beukenphom3680]

Johnny Evans Signing of the season 🎉🎉🎉😂😂😂

[@merki101]

Please ten hag dont make amrabat just cover for casemiro, we would be unbreakable with both of them on

[@katlehotrey212]

Counter attacks about to be brazy

[@ronanfitzpatrick1261]

Could've done with him against Arsenal

[@jk1993000]

Amrabat is class but I hope he doesn’t face the same problem that all the creatives we get do. Lack of movement. Can see Onana has range but no one is moving for passes.

[@appearoffline]

I think Ten Hag originally wanted Ameobat as a backup for Casemiro, but now the injury to Mount will get him into the first team more easily. 😕

[@marcusaurelius49]

United have essentially been playing 4-1-5 this season. Casemiro never had a chance. Amrabat should offer so much needed support and solidity in the centre. Not sure how ETH fits Mount into his preferred lineup though.

[@daisyybert]

Exactly, Mount now seems like a luxury signing, yet we splurged 60 odd mil at the start of the window. It's baffling.

[@FootballSupremacy]

Antony needs to show more physicality.He is aggressive but lacks that strenght.

[@stoicsavage509]

It's his body type bro.. If he bangs the weights he'll lose his pace... It's like someone saying a player needs to show more height.... He is what he is

[@donaldgayheart3739]

@@stoicsavage509you’re so so wrong. You can improve strength with loosing pace. Bulking up and improving your strength are two different things

[@stoicsavage509]

@@donaldgayheart3739 Im fully aware of this.. You only read half my comment it seems... Some people have different body types and metabolisms.. There is only so much "strength" without bulk some skinny people can add... Trust me bro I'm a fighter I'm cutting weight half my life and am fully aware of what it takes to add strength and physicality... He hasn't got the frame or body type... He'd have to bulk snd thereby lose explosivity and pace... Also endurance.... Crazy thing about this is I actually do think Antony is strong as he is now... With physicality there's give and take... You pay a price for everything

[@parag803]

Ten hag signings are more confusing. Our problem is right side of attack. Need to ditch Anthony and play sancho there. It will change our whole rhythm.

[@onose10000]

Is he our first Moroccan player?

[@alecc4006]

Wasn’t mount also a perfect fit! 😂

[@winoo3610]

Don’t be too excited though remember serie A and premier league r two totally different monsters… and pressure for playing for man utd is unlike any other teams in the world 😅 Let’s hope he’s a successful signing

[@EE-kt8sh]

Had an excellent World Cup. Dominated declan Rice in their final as well.

[@winoo3610]

@@EE-kt8sh they r just a few games though and people underestimated Morocco. We should talk again after he play one full season in epl . If he can performs then yes he will have been proven to be a success

[@ducewildin]

First Much Love 🙏🏽❤

[@yusufwadkar6011]

Casemiro as CB to accomodate Mount when casemiro gives GA from midfield while mount output is Zero Dont smoke weed

[@samukelomfeka740]

Sofyane Amrabat will be more progressiv cause he is more creative and also has alot of energy to run up and down. Casemiro will sit back because he has good defensively and he is not much of a runner.

[@zanauthman2793]

Antony 172 cm is a short player and can be bullied easly by tall defenders.

[@winstonajah5644]

What about mo salah

[@Cricketer8936]

​@@winstonajah5644owner of man utd😢

[@zanauthman2793]

@@winstonajah5644 he is 175, minimum requirement.

[@user-fs8nm1xf1e]

I've seen Antony go toe to toe with Dan Burn

[@winstonajah5644]

Anthony is 174 and salah is 175 no much difference.He just need to work more on the gym and his physicality

[@yester9037]

He is going to miss the first two big away games,why not bring him ealier

[@bunmeng007]

60m pound Mount to sit on the bench???

[@shwetabhsameer7068]

This is great. But tell me - why did Utd buy Mason Mount for £55mil when he's not as good as any one of Utd midfielders except McTominay !

[@xedoa7116]

with Amrabat in Manchester United, players like de bruyne and odegaard won't touch the ball

[@user-zo5ly5sh3i]

He will replace casemiro not mount

[@alsius9162]

😂😂

[@johnnyofficial3765]

Obviously u joking 😂😂

[@StatmanDaveClips]

He could definitely be a rotation option at number 6 but I expect the starting midfield to be Amrabat + Casemiro

[@munyaradzimadhangi5626]

Mount is injured right now he can rotate with bruno or the wingers

[@123healthylife]

They should have signed Amrabat first not Mount, The team needed someone like him at the mid...

[@sandersp5713]

"casemiro is not young anymore" then why the f**k spend 70m on a player at that age. The smart money would have brought a younger player for that role

[@belloabayomi8931]

We needed an experienced player at the time because the season already started before we realized it. That’s a problem with our DOF. Forget his age, he would still be in this team for a few more years and we will win with him

[@munyaradzimadhangi5626]

If you know what you are doing removed dalot we have signed reguilon

[@Gannicus506]

Amrabat #66??

[@brightmulenga1134]

I would rather put garnacho on the right wing

[@eltk1785]

Put it simple Dave, Bruno and Mount cant defend. We have seen many successful teams playing 4-3-3 with a 6 in front of defense and two creative high pressing midfielders on both sides of that midfield.

[@lawrencebolt3540]

Casemiro = 8 Bruno = 10 Amrabat = 6

[@ezyboy19901]

Any team with Antony starting init isn't doing anything.

[@user-pr5oq6xm4t]

His not good but maybe he will link up well with new striker

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Any team with Bruno and Rashford and Antony starting isn't doing anything 😅

[@freshbrinks8182]

@@zinedinezidane4771well said

[@AK-ck1rk]

I don’t me to knock you mate but I hate when people like you don’t know much about football but position yourself like you do. We’ve not been playing 4-3-3, we’ve been playing 4-3-2-1 and Casemiro is not a box-to-box midfielder.

[@Traveltheworld1818.]

But he is slow for the premier league

[@belloabayomi8931]

He is not slow. Did you see the clips where he chased mbappe?

[@trevg9450]

Last time I check , football is about winning and winning requires SCORING GOALS. How does any of this put the ball in the net with any degree of regularity? Who cares about progressive passes if those progressive passes end up with Antony hitting post or missing the net or Rashford missing headers and losing the ball or Fernandes missing headers or giving away the ball. How does any of this get the ball in the net. United had the 3rd most shots in the league last year, tied with City and the 2nd most shots on target, 1 more than CIty........and they scored 36 less goals than City. Progressive passes didn't help then....and it ain't gonna help now with the frontline they have. It's all BS unless the ball goes in the net.

[@TheDreamchaser2016]

I think thats why we got Hojlund

[@aezon003]

What's that haircut 😂

[@PoisonDwarf28]

Foden trim

[@deveshmore3106]

Bro your looks are horrifying 😅😅

[@joachimfigga5995]

So bad

[@mohdkamal549]

So many strategy from various youtubers but performance still ýo-yo & unstable...

[@MrNigeriaboy]

Get Bruno out and play Sancho as the advanced free roaming 10

[@okechukwuchinedu]

You must be mental...drop Bruno my ass!!!

[@zinedinezidane4771]

In what world do you think Sancho is the answer 😂 he barely scores or creates. Bruno is not the answer either but he is much more influential and impactful than Sancho 😅