4 talking points from Ruben Amorim's underwhelming Man Utd debut | OneFootball

After 80 seconds Manchester United were in front. It only took three minutes for the travelling fans to boisterously belt out the name of their new manager. However, by the end of Ruben Amorim's first 90 minutes in charge, his debut had fallen well and truly flat.

Omari Hutchinson arced an elegant equaliser over Andre Onana for Ipswich Town before the first half's conclusion, deservedly restoring parity for the newly promoted hosts. Kieran McKenna's side routinely found a way around or straight through their highly vaunted visitors and were left to rue a wayward performance in front of goal from Liam Delap.

Amorim concluded that his players were "thinking too much". It will be the Portuguese coach's turn to rack his brains when reflecting upon a desperately underwhelming 1-1 draw before an onslaught of festive fixtures.

Chance creation remains an issue

Bruno Fernandes couldn't point his team to a second goal on Sunday / Richard Pelham/GettyImages

Outside the opening 80 seconds, United had just ten shots worth a total xG of 0.63 - their lowest in all but one Premier League fixture this season, per FotMob. The one-two between Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes, which led to Rashford's rapid opener, was United's only moment of ingenuity in settled possession.

This reliance upon transitions not only precedes Amorim, but stretches back to the days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former Norway super sub crafted United into a very expensive counter-attacking machine, ripping through opponents willing to have the ball. Erik ten Hag's public aim was to make United "the best transition team in the world".

After an even first-half share, Ipswich gave United the ball. Amorim's side boasted 70% possession after the break but did little with it. If anything, the visitors were more vulnerable when they had the ball, skittishly gifting possession to the hosts who were more than willing to spring forward on a counter of their own.

"You have to control the ball and the tempo of the game," Amorim fretted post-game. "They didn't do it but they really tried." Well, as long as they tried.

Back to the back three

Diogo Dalot (right) didn't have a convincing afternoon / Stephen Pond/GettyImages

"It's not revolution," Amorim insisted in his first press conference. "The football is not so different with five at the back, four at the back, three at the back." Managers are often quick to dispel the importance of formations, but if they make no difference then why change them?

United's new-look wing-back system created the framework for the opening goal, but it also offered an avenue for Ipswich to attack. McKenna's side clearly targeted that uncertain half-space between the wing-back and widest centre-back. Delap had two glaring sights of goal, both of which came from balls down the flanks.

Amorim had highlighted pre-game that his side "have to be better on running back", yet both wing-backs struggled in this regard throughout Sunday's clash.

A pressing concern

Ruben Amorim didn't hide his disdain on the touchline / Stephen Pond/GettyImages

Above the buzz of a Portman Road crowd watching their side outplay the mighty Manchester United, Amorim could be heard scolding his players for failing to execute a pressing sequence. Erik ten Hag can attest that these frustrations can become worryingly familiar.

United only ran 102km - six less than Ipswich and their second-lowest tally of the Premier League season - but where they ran (or didn't) was more important.

Jonny Evans was particularly perplexed by the positioning of Omari Hutchinson, who cleverly hovered between the lines of midfield and defence. Amorim revealed post-game that he wanted his centre-back to step forward - a common trope for a team with two defenders to act as cover - but there was uncertainty laced throughout the starting lineup.

Amorim lamented that his side "needed more physicality", but he opted to start his defensive enforcer from Sporting CP, Manuel Ugarte, on the bench in place of a wizened duo. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have a combined age of 64. The central Ipswich trio of Jens-Lys Cajuste, Hutchinson and Delap are only 67.

Ipswich recorded their highest pass completion rate of the entire season, unflustered by the size of United's two warhorses creaking towards them. Amorim's Sporting side boasted the most intense and effective press in Portugal, if not not Europe. He may have inherited one of the worst.

Amorim ready to gamble

Rasmus Hojlund (left) and Joshua Zirkzee were both tossed on to the pitch for the game's conclusion / Visionhaus/GettyImages

It wasn't all bad news for United. At least Amorim didn't follow in the footsteps of Ten Hag, Louis van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson by losing his first Premier League game.

Beyond the consolation of a solitary point - which nudged United into the heady heights of 12th place - Amorim showed an encouraging level of proactivity. The 39-year-old chucked both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund on with more than 20 minutes remaining at a time when Ipswich were in the ascendency.

It didn't work - the pair mustered one shot between them - but at least it showed a willingness to experiment.

Amorim, at least, was positive. "We can do much better," the young coach insisted, "but we have to improve physically, technically and tactically." Oh.