David Moyes v Ruben Amorim: the pragmatist meets the ideologue

Everton’s decision to change managers midway through the season is working out a lot better than Manchester United’s. By Ben McAleer for WhoScored. They say never go back to an old love, but look at David Moyes. Everton have picked up 13 points in his six games in charge. Only Liverpool, with 14, have more. Considering Everton’s form when Moyes was given the job – they were 16th in the Premier League, a point above the relegation zone – it’s a reunion that has gone according to plan.

Everton are now looking up rather than down the table. They have won 2.17 points per game under Moyes, up from a pitiful 0.89. Sean Dyche won three of his 19 games in charge this season, a total Moyes has already surpassed in six matches, having watched his team beat Tottenham, Brighton, Leicester and Crystal Palace.

Everton want to leave Goodison Park on a high and they welcome another old rival to the ground this weekend. Given their recent form, they should feel confident of claiming three more points when Manchester United make the short trip to Merseyside on Saturday lunchtime. How Moyes would love to secure a victory over his former employers.

After contrasting results last weekend – Everton won at Palace while United lost at Tottenham – Moyes’s side have climbed one point and one place above Ruben Amorim’s team in the table. Both managers have won four games in the league this season, this despite Amorim having a two-month head start.

Saturday is not exactly make-or-break for Amorim but it has quickly become clear that taking over one of the world’s most illustrious clubs is easier said than done. Moyes knows all about it. He succeeded Alex Ferguson in 2013 and was sacked after just 10 months in charge. Moyes never got going at Old Trafford but even he did not make as poor a start as Amorim. In fact, none of the managers who have followed Ferguson have started as badly. Amorim has won just 14 points in his first 14 games. Ole Gunnar Solskjær had 35 points at this stage, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag had 26, Louis van Gaal 25, Moyes 22 and José Mourinho 21.

The problem for Amorim is that he is trying to completely overhaul the team’s style of play midway through a busy season. For years, United have played a four-man defence with full-backs. That was the case with Ferguson and, for the most part, the managers who have followed him. Ten Hag used a 4-2-3-1 formation at Ajax and continued with that system at United. He did not use a back three in any of his games at the club. Amorim, though, favours a three-man defence with wing-backs. The board’s decision to stick with Ten Hag and back him heavily in the summer before sacking him in October looks worse and worse with each passing performance.

Fans are witnessing a complete overhaul in the team’s tactics with players who have been versed in the demands of a four-man defence. Beginning such a task in mid-November is ambitious, perhaps even foolhardy. Such a dramatic shift in approach requires time and patience, but these are precious commodities for a club of United’s stature, as Moyes discovered in April 2014 when he was relieved of his duties.

While United are struggling to adapt to a dramatic change in style, Moyes has found success by making minor alterations to his Everton side. He has continued with the 4-2-3-1 system used by Dyche and the team is not seeing much more of the ball – their possession share has risen marginally from 39.8% to 40.3%. There has been one important change though; Moyes is demanding quicker transitions to hurt opponents. They are taking nearly twice as many shots after counterattacks as they were under Dyche. Whereas Dyche wanted his players to get the ball away from danger by hook or by crook, Moyes is willing to commit more men to the attack.

Sign up to Football Daily. Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football. after newsletter promotion. In addition, underperforming players have found a new lease of life, with the likes of Jesper Lindstrøm and Beto both upping their game. United fans wish their manager was proving as good a motivator. The good news for United is that they have a great record against Everton, having won their last six meetings and kept clean sheets in the last four. This is perhaps the sole modicum of hope for fans, because, as things stand, only one team is moving in the right direction, and it is not theirs.

Amorim needs time to fully integrate his style. Ideally he would be given a full season to bring in new players, explain his ideas to the squad and shape the team to his desire. Time, though, is never on a manager’s side when the going gets tough at Old Trafford. He can ask his opposite number about it when they meet at Goodison.