The final months of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United could be seen coming from a mile off but Mo Salah and Mikel Arteta’s 2024s were less predictable.

The full predictions for the year are worth a look. Here is how they panned out.

10) Mauricio Pochettino ends his English trophy drought x
“To win the FA Cup or the League Cup – it will be fantastic for the fans but it is not going to move the club to a different level,” Pochettino once suggested to howls of derision and mockery. He had a point when speaking as the manager of a Spurs side at their peak of challenging for the Premier and Champions League, but how the Argentinean would have snapped any number of hands off for even the most tinpot pieces of silverware at typical trophy hoarders Chelsea.

He came close. It feels like an age since the “blue billion-pound bottlejobs” reached a nadir in a Carabao final against Liverpool, and that overshadowed the absurd nature of their defeat when they visited Wembley again in an FA Cup semi-final two months later.

Pochettino was even foolish enough to get pie-faced before the eyes-closed stroll to a Conference League trophy. Not sure a CONCACAF Nations League title will really scratch the itch.

9) Aston Villa or West Ham will qualify for the Champions League ✓
Ignore that weird West Ham bit. Shut up. It was a different time. They were sixth and had just won three in a row all with clean sheets, including away at Arsenal. David Moyes had done it again. Everyone was saying they were destined for a pint(?) of Gazprom.

The Hammers tailed off, winning four games from January to the end of the season. Aston Villa maintained a strong enough pace to reach the Champions League holy grail and with it the thrill of having to work out new format permutations while figuring out whether it was worth celebrating beating Bayern Munich.

8) Liverpool sell Mo Salah x
Not quite. It is unknown whether there was a repeat of the £150m September 2023 bid which Liverpool felt compelled to reject but it has long been apparent that the only way Salah’s historic reign will end is upon the expiration of his current or next contract; the Reds have zero intention to ever sell.

How fortunate that the Egyptian is providing updates on that situation as frequently as he is scoring goals. You could offer Liverpool a record fee now for a player they stand to lose for nothing in six months and the answer would be the same. To be fair, it’s difficult to put a price on the Quadruple that Last Stand Salah seems determined to deliver.

7) Brentford get relegated x
Nope. They were sliding at one point and winless in nine games but pulled through in the end, sold their underperforming marquee striker and only improved because nothing Brentford do actually makes sense.

6) The three promoted Championship teams will make history x
Leicester and Southampton held up their end of the bargain when it came to the three relegated clubs bouncing straight back into the Premier League together at the first time of asking. Guess who had to go and f**k it all up?

‘Leeds have a proud and famously flawless record in the play-offs so will complete the set.’

There it is.

5) Eddie Howe to leave Newcastle x
‘…in a far better place at the end of 2024 in comparison to where they started it.’ There. Perfect.

From the outside it seemed to be touch and go at times, particularly when losing four in a row through the winter, dropping four points to Luton, systematically weakening the squad in the summer and winning two of 11 games at the start of this season. But there Howe remains, in as strong a position as ever and perennially fulfilling Jason Tindall’s wish that this isn’t his last Christmas.

4) (Sir) Gareth Southgate wastes his last chance with England ✓
Frustratingly close to absolute perfection here with: ‘Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia will be handled adequately enough – two wins and a draw with handbrake and clamour discourse littered in between – before England’s eventual avoidable stumble.’

A win and two draws, definite handbrake and clamour discourse, while the eventual avoidable stumble came much later than it should have done or was anticipated.

England looked in no way even vaguely competent at any point through the entire summer. Southgate lost the final by following the precise same blueprint of defeat established across all his last games of a tournament.

3) Erik ten Hag to remain Manchester United manager ✓
The caveat was that Ten Hag would ‘cling like it’s an Eredivisie signing’ to his precarious position through the infamous impending summer job review. What no-one knew was how farcical that entire process would turn out to be in coming to completely the wrong conclusion in the worst possible way.

‘With so much upheaval already unavoidably necessary, the manager sacking solution can be kept in the back pocket for future use,’ it was added. It turned out ‘future use’ only covered a few more months before the most poisoned of all chalices was handed over to the next victim.

2) Manchester City to win the Premier League ✓
They started 2024 in third, five points off the summit and behind both Liverpool and Aston Villa, but there remained a sense of inevitability over their recovery.

‘It will require a lower champion points total than usual,’ we wrote, ‘but Manchester City will nevertheless make it an unprecedented four in a row before reverting back to self-destructive type in Europe, defending one crown but not another.’ Tick, tick and tick.

They will enter 2025 in sixth with no sign whatsoever of a meaningful resurgence. Cue Pep Guardiola booking Rodri in for an appointment with Dr Cugat to help secure title number five in a row.

1) Mikel Arteta to leave Arsenal x
It seemed very much on at one stage in January when reports emerged suggesting Arteta planned to quit at the end of the season and replace Xavi at Barcelona. That speculation calmed long before a three-year contract extension in September killed it for good.

All cards on the table: at the time this was a straight pick between one of Arteta, Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp leaving their posts at some stage in 2024. We were that close to greatness and made the worst possible choice.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put a ‘mediocrity culture’ in place at Manchester United which could humble Ruben Amorim if his system ‘fetishisation’ doesn’t stop.

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

A pint of Sir Alex’s finest
Forgot Southgate, but there is a former England manager who Man Utd may well be calling in around March/April…hello Big Sam, we’ve missed you!
JC, a very happy Abu Dhabi Geordie

To all the smart arses saying Sir Gareth Southgate will be next United manager to save them from relegation: knob off.

Gareth Southgate has an abysmal relegation record having relegated Middlesbrough in his only club job. He also got England relegated from the top tier of the Nations League.

He wasn’t suited for the United job two months ago and he isn’t now.

We need someone who knows how to keep struggling clubs in the league. David Moyes has just ruled himself out of taking over a club in a relegation battle. It means only one thing.

Big Sam, your time is now.
Ashmundo

Time to speak in the only language Sir Jim understands
Beginning with a caveat, I’m a Man Utd fan. I ended up turning off the game at about 40 minutes, not with the usual anger but just a dull disappointment, which is arguably worse as a fan.

I have a couple of kids and am fortunate to live near a zoo. I don’t mind paying the entry for the zoo as it is entertaining. There are some zebras there. As this is a football site, let’s imagine they are “Newcastle United”. They move as a coordinated unit and have a semblance of knowing what they’re doing about them. They aren’t the most exotic animal in the zoo, but they are worthy of the cost of admission.

At the arse end of the zoo is the decrepit, sh*tty red panda enclosure. To keep this football related, let’s refer to them as “Manchester United”. The red panda basically hides up a tree and sh*ts contemptuously down on everyone and everything, while stuffing its face. 4 times out of 5 you don’t even see the little sh*tbag as it hides from all attention. I would argue this doesn’t justify paying the entry. Also, non of that money now goes to conservation efforts.

What I’m saying here is, all we as MUFC fans can do now is stop putting money into the club in any way. Not only is it a clown car, the wheels have fallen off and it’s on fire. Support the club emotionally, but not financially. They understand nothing else.
Richard (£40,000 from charity – another win for marginal gains. Good job guys.)

MORE ON THE MANCHESTER UNITED MESS FROM F365
👉 Manchester United player has already ‘dropped tools’ under unprofessional Amorim
👉 Carragher slams Amorim as Man Utd trio ‘can’t run’; one star branded ‘horrific’ and ‘awful’
👉 Zirkzee nightmare proved Man Utd fans are not actually a uniquely tolerant, civilised breed

Fan service
Decent, balanced article on Zirkzee and Man Utd I thought by Dave Tickner, but I think there is a nugget of truth in the opinion Man Utd fans are particularly loyal to players and managers.

As a more casual barstool supporter I find the match-going fans, who quite reasonably consider themselves ‘proper fans’, a self-conscious bunch.

Years of success (admittedly ever distant years) and prawn sandwich brigade accusations have made them, I think, pretty sensitive to being mistaken for glory supporters.

Hence overtly sticking with players/managers is a chance to show how loyal they are. The Glazers are the lightning rod for anger, partly because they probably should be, partly because it’s seen as a free hit to get annoyed without being disloyal.

What I don’t get with F365 is immediately nailing your colours so firmly to the Ruben Amiron mast (although this has decreased a little currently). Normally your agendas are quite see through, was this one some sort of pre-emptive ‘he won’t know our league’ anti-PFM strike?

At this stage it’s too early to judge if he’ll be good long term, especially without having brought in any players. But he has made the worst Untied side in 30+ years, according to league finish, inarguable poorer so far. Lower than the standards that got Ten Haag sacked. By comparison, Wolves’s new manager took over a worse position, ie in the relegation zone not 13th, and has overseen an immediate improvement.

On a different note, commiserations to Fulham fans over Bournemouth’s late equaliser not being disallowed the other day. Lovely finish but a clear foul immediately before in which an attacking player studded a Fulham, defender halfway up his shin.

VAR did not intervene, commentary told us, on the basis that it was just the attacker’s ‘momentum’ that had caused the contact. Aren’t most fouls caused by a player not getting the ball then their momentum taking them into a player? Utterly ludicrous even by VAR’s dreadful standards.
Ronnie Buzzard, Manchester

Solskjaer’s treason
I still think Ole’s disastrous reign was one of the most horrific things that has happened in the history of Man UTD. It will take years to recover from the mediocrity culture he established.

He lived in a fantasy, illusionary world and you could see that on how he went about managing. And then he was in charge of the transfers! the transfers for pete sake!

Of course he was far from the main culprit. Lord knows there are plenty of blame to go around but the way he insisted on some players, like a child on certain toys, still brings tear to my eyes.

We spent an entire summer trying to lure Bissaka and Maguire with our world-class negotiating technics. I’m not saying they are bad players; they’re good but no other team does that. They just move on and find other players.

He also insisted on Sancho and refused to buy anybody else [Jota was right f**king there]; next summer he got Sancho but he didn’t know how he works so he put it on the shelf.

Then he nurtured a culture of mediocrity and made average players think they’re stars. Just look at contract extensions for Shaw, Martial [FFS] and Phil Jones, among others.

That’s why I’m dead against extending any contract at this club; newest exhibits Rashford & Fernandes and now Amad.

In fact whenever they talk of extending contracts we should all scream THIS IS MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB WE’RE TALKING ABOUT!

Anyway, Ole always remains a legend but they guy was clueless AF and back then I predicted his chickens will come to roost eventually but hey we were playing United way; whatever the f**k that means now.

So what I prescribe? Sell every last one of em [okay maybe not Mainoo; poor chap]. I know that’s not possible but these players are representing a subpar culture that was allowed to grow so… a new contract for Maguire you say? Buddy in what world do you live in? Liverpool hasn’t extended Van Dijk’s yet but lo and behold; Mr. Maguire’s to the rescue! again he’s a good player but he can be a good player elsewhere.
Karen Asad

Generation game
A generation is defined by the length of time where people pass it over, so to speak, to the next group. It is relatively easy to quantify, but length differs upon culture, sex, and eras. However, it is safe to say that it is in the ballpark of 25 years; kids grow up, and have their own kids twenty-five years later, and so on. But what of football clubs?

Obviously the age begins later for players at around 18 or so, but more often than not a couple of years later at 20. Now whilst many are still highly adept footballers at 30, the drop off does start not long after (and that drop off varies greatly the further back in position they play in).

Whilst not scientific, a period of 12 years is a somewhat acceptable length of time, or generation (this could be extended to 15 – again, this is a generalisation).

At the end of this season, it will be 12 years since Manchester United last won the PL, but in that time they have picked up 2 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, and a Europa Cup. Five cups in 12 years (1 every 2.4 years), which isn’t too bad (nope, not including the Shield).

But that is a generation done and gone. United were THE team – a generational team – but it is over. It’s done. It is time that the media at large, including F365 (and a fair few fans), acknowledged this. No more This Is United We’re Talking About, that club doesn’t exist anymore. It is dead.

Whilst some of you may be sniggering away at all of this, that is not what this mail is trying to make you do. It is simply to point out that the goliath is dead, so leave it be. To many are living in the past, as though it is still relevant today. It isn’t.

Their time may yet come again in the future, they may once again be the behemoth the media still believe they are, but it won’t be for a very long time; they will win the odd trophy, hell! may even pick up a title along the way, but to be generational again? Not happening for a very long time.

Media, all of you, get it into your heads that it is over; it is akin to ‘back in my day’. Yeah, it might well have been, but your day is done, just like it has been for all generational teams of the past.
Mike D 

Formations
I was chatting to my brother in law last week about players from what I would say was the PL heyday of United, Arsenal, Chelsea and the occasional Liverpool or Newcastle. What we meant by heyday is possibly just whimsical thoughts of a ‘better time’ but it was also the time of an almost ubiquitous 4-4-2 formation; Shearer and Ferdinand, Cantona and Hughes, Sheringham and Klinsmann, Quinn and Philips, and so on.

We concluded that players back then were really players in that position. Rarely would you ask a full back to play in midfield, or expect them to do so competently. Wingers were wingers and strikers were strikers, none of this “can play across the front three” that is now so often required. You had midfielders who could, you know, tackle, track, pass and move, and score. Some were more adventurous than others but ultimately you had two players in the middle who sat and patrolled with the other being a greater attacking threat. Now we have “true number 8’s” – what in the juddering f**k is a True 8 when it’s at home?

So why, now, are fans like United’s (only saying them due to a mail this morning but others too) saying the squad isn’t suited to 3-4-3? It’s a football pitch, with players who really have no excuse not to be able to play in a formation that they’re being coached to do, unless, that is, they are a) really sh*t at something which is ultimately quite a simple thing, playing football or b) the coach is useless.

Unless it’s c) both of the above.

Either way, I don’t buy that 25 players are only capable of playing in one system, or that this one particular system is impossible to play in. I suspect it’s just that the United squad is genuinely, and laughably, awful.

P.S – Ange, wake up boyo; we have all these injuries because of you…no other club has six players out with hamstring injuries.
Dan

Is my geriatric millennial memory failing me, or is the phenomenon of managers only being able to competently set up teams in one formation, using only players specifically bought for them and their special formation, a very modern development?

When did it become acceptable for incoming managers to simply write off inherited players rather than being expected to try to actually improve them? You know, do a bit of the coaching they’re paid so handsomely to undertake – instead of simply crying that they need to spend at least half a billion pounds buying new players to suit their one formation.

I’m thinking specifically of Amorim and Ange this season, and Kompany’s shamelessly negligent 2023/2024 campaign, which saw Burnley relegated in service to his arrogance and vanity.

Thinking of the managers – good and bad – that I grew up with, while some certainly had a default formation and playing style, I don’t remember any being so completely obsessed with one as many modern managers seem to be.

Putting aside the ‘generational’ managers of that era (’90s/’00s) like Ferguson, Wenger, and Mourinho, the example of Martin O’Neill provides a very stark comparison to the problems with Amorim and Ange.

In the late ’90s, O’Neill was one of the top young managers, having made Leicester a very solid mid-table team while also leading them into Europe after winning the League Cup a couple of times. By that point – due to his clearly outstanding man management, overachievement with a small club, and general persona – he was frequently mentioned as one of the potential contenders to succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he eventually retired.

In 2000, he took the job at Celtic, who were in a poor state with just one token championship over the last 12 years with the previous season a disaster under John Barnes. Rangers were so dominant – and stacked with top-class internationals under a top manager in Dick Advocaat – that I remember Chick Young saying, “It’ll take a generation for Celtic to catch up to Rangers.”

O’Neill signed a few journeymen and no-names, the exception being Chris Sutton – unfairly considered a joke due to just one bad season at Chelsea in an otherwise excellent career. He then coached a team and squad consisting overwhelmingly of previously underperforming players he’d inherited to Celtic’s first treble since the Lisbon Lions over 30 years earlier.

He took players like Bobby Petta, who had been regarded as a punchline in his debut season the year before, and improved him so much that the guy tore up Rangers down the left wing in the first Old Firm derby of the season, forcing his opponent at right-back to be subbed off after just 20 minutes in a game Celtic won 6-2. Another standout was Stilyan Petrov, signed by John Barnes the previous season, who had shown very little quality until then. Larsson, of course, was already established as a top talent, but under O’Neill – and returning from a near career-ending leg break – he hit ridiculous new heights, scoring over 50 goals that season.

The impact of O’Neill’s coaching is summed up by one of the GOAT chants celebrating winger Petta’s transformation from joke to form so good it earned him a call-up to the Dutch national team: “Bobby Petta, Bobby Petta, he was shite, but now he’s better!”

That was a proper manager doing what he’s paid to do – managing a squad so that it can (at minimum) produce a competent team and coaching players so that they perform at least to their abilities, and sometimes beyond them. No fetishization of a specific formation. No whining that “these aren’t my players, I need other players just for my special system.”

There was no question about the value added to Celtic by bringing in someone like O’Neill as manager. But if many modern managers have only one system they can work with, which only functions with players they’ve specifically bought (and whom they can’t be expected to improve through coaching anyway), what is the point of them? You may as well return to the early 20th-century model of teams selected by club boards and committees.
Calum, Scotland

PS Had Sir Alex retired in 2002 as planned – or at any point in the early-mid ’00s – I’m quite certain Martin O’Neill would have been chosen as his successor and regardless of what Sir Alex achieved in his later years, I don’t doubt Man Utd would today be in a far stronger position had that happened.

Better than therapy
Wow, I had to explain to my son why I was giggling so much after the first 20 minutes of the game – my childhood and then early adult years were filled with smug, entitled (plastic) Man Utd fans, who gloated over Newcastle’s demise and decline and I had to endure them after every one-sided, easy victory for their team and after every shellacking that was doled out.

So to watch this demon of my youth completely bossed in a way I have not seen, even if just for 20-30 minutes, AT OLD TRAFFORD, healed a lot of past hurt.

I’ve written in before defending Eddie Howe. A few weeks ago this site described him as a mid-table manager who had reached his ceiling. If Howe is a mid-table manager what does that make Amorim, who has been touted around for the past year as one of the next elite level coaches of his generation?

Howe (and his team to be fair) have coached players like Joelinton, Almiron (the version of nearly 2 seasons ago), Longstaff, Schaer, Burn and Murphy to play way above their natural level. Howe has taken what on paper is a few very good players, supplemented with a lot of dross, and turned it in to a team which, most of the time, can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the league.

Even if you look at the signings made with new money there were no ready-made superstars there. Bruno wasn’t the first name on any of the elite European club’s shortlist when signed. Neither was Isak. Both are now worth more than double what they were signed for. Tonali was a shame for the first year but he now looks a class above. Livramento and Hall are showing signs of reaching their potential (I thought Hall was MOTM front to back).

And let’s take this season which hasn’t been smooth sailing. Howe identified a critical problem – his system as it was couldn’t work with both Bruno and Tonali. Howe made changes to improve the performance of the team, moving Tonali to a 6 and Bruno further forward.

Also it appears he’s made the backroom change to bring in someone to oversee a reduction in injuries work – it was rocky in the first months of the season with players below peak fitness, but we have a drastically reduced injury list and a consistent starting XI.

Howe isn’t perfect by any means, but if you made a list of what characteristics you thought defined an elite level football coach he has them. He can coach and motivate players to be better than they normally are, he can take new and promising talents and make them better (and more valuable), and he can identify where things are not working tactically and do something different.

There’s still a long way to go and competition for the European places will be fierce right to the wire. If we get there, Howe has to prove he can manage the burden of extra competitions better than last time, but look at Villa this year – they are managing the CL a lot better than Newcastle did but their league form has suffered, so this is a massive conundrum for teams/coaches that cannot be downplayed.

And lastly, the PSR/FFP problem is something there has to be an answer for, beyond there being a pattern for teams like Newcastle, Villa and maybe now Forest, of having one great season to get there, but European football being an anchor for the following season instead of an opportunity to keep progressing.
James, Leeds

READ MORE: Eddie Howe makes our list of the top ten Premier League managers in 2024

Trust the process
Such a rough run for us Spurs fans lately, and potentially a grueling January to follow.

Yes, I believe on their day (and with enough healthy bodies) Ange’s Spurs can beat anyone, so we could be looking forward to some big wins, but even if we don’t, I just want to share the following thoughts:

1. I still firmly, firmly believe that Ange is the best possible manager for this Spurs team. After Nuno, Mourinho, Conte and (God help us) Stellini, Spurs were absolutely devoid of any identity or strategy outside of having Kane up front. In comes Ange, who breathed new life and confidence into Spurs and gave us the kind of excitement fans had been crying out for. In the time since, he’s had brilliant highs and some terribly frustrating lows but a) he’s been absolutely rocked by devastating injuries and a thin squad (not his fault) and b) he’s up against a crazy competitive premier league. Giving Ange time and backing him is absolutely our best chance to succeed, compared with replacing him with Potter or Terzic or whoever.

2. Even if you do think we’re better off without Ange, the time to replace him is not now – it would be end of season. We’re still healthy in 3 cups, and the league is still quite bunched. He’s got a paper thin squad now. If Ange goes, what will Ryan Mason or Graham Potter do with a back 5 of Forster, Gray, Dragusin, Reguilon and Spence? Back Ange in January, let him ride through the cups, and let’s assess in May.

3. Make no mistake, Ange will succeed. Here or elsewhere. If we sack Ange, have no doubt: Spurs will be sacking Graham Potter or Terzic by October 2026 and talking up Kieran McKenna or Thomas Tuchel. Meanwhile Ange will be a revelation at Man City or Barcelona. If you think that sounds ridiculous that Ange would cash in a ‘bad’ spell at Spurs to a premier gig in Europe, go ask last year’s bottom-of-the-Premier-League Burnley Manager how’s life at Bayern!

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to give credit to John Nicholson. I’ve often criticized some of his contributions in this forum, but I loved reading his recent Commentary on Ange at Spurs. JN is able to look past the feverish media and talking heads who just love the drama and the sackings, and instead is able to see the bigger picture and the enjoyable football at the heart of it.

Trust the process. Ange in.
Andy, THFC, Eire

Gary Neville has been “shocked” at how “poor” four Man Utd summer arrivals have looked this season after their 2-0 loss to Newcastle.

The Red Devils were awful as the Magpies dominated them at Old Trafford with Alexander Isak and Joelinton grabbing the goals and Sandro Tonali coming close to making it three by hitting the post.

The defeat to Newcastle sees Man Utd remain in 14th position in the Premier League table but Ipswich Town’s 2-0 win over Chelsea sees them pull the Red Devils within seven points of the relegation zone.

Amorim is struggling to find consistency of performances or results since moving to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in November with that their fourth loss in a row in all competitions.

On Amorim making too many changes, Man Utd legend Neville said on Sky Sports commentary: “He hasn’t settled on a team yet. Is it time to create some stability? The players haven’t picked up on his idea, but how much more difficult is it if the players haven’t got the pattern of playing together?”

When asked if there had been any positives under Amorim, Neville added: “They have gone backwards but hopefully that is backwards to go forwards.

“There are very slim pickings in terms of positives in the first few weeks.

“Maybe the most positive thing is that he has seen what these players really are and we are not getting the bounce which may have made him think they are better than they are.

“I think he thought it was a big job but it’s a massive job and he is finding that out early when his a position of power and strength.”

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
👉 Carragher slams Amorim as Man Utd trio ‘can’t run’; one star branded ‘horrific’ and ‘awful’
👉 Amorim leeway gone as ‘horrific’ Man Utd star spares him the entire blame vs Newcastle
👉 ‘Of course, I like’ – La Liga star reacts to Man Utd links and makes phone call claim

On the summer signings struggling at Man Utd, Neville continued: “What am l surprised about is that when in the summer Manchester United signed those three or four players, I didn’t hear anyone say ‘Manchester United have had a terrible transfer market’.

“I am shocked about how poor those players have been in their early months.

“I have said it before that this club has been a graveyard for players who have come with decent reputations. And it is happening again.

“I didn’t hear anyone say in the summer when Yoro, De Ligt, Ugarte, Zirkzee joined that United hadn’t signed half-decent players. The problem is that when you have seen them out here in a red shirt then Manchester United look a worse team. That’s the odd thing.”

The January transfer window has rather crept up on us amid all the festive football. But rest assured the hearsay and nonsense will begin in earnest between sips of Berocca and the plundering of wrapper-filled selection boxes for a missed Galaxy Caramel or Purple One on New Year’s Day.

In preparation we’ve come up with five Premier League moves we can see happening in the winter window.

Liverpool – Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
A report claims Arne Slot is happy not to make any signings in January in a perfectly reasonable shrug of the shoulders given that policy in the summer has worked wonders so far this season. We now fully expect them to cruise to the Premier League title and few would be surprised if this squad is deep and talented enough for them to win the Champions League as well.

But then again it’s pretty clear which positions are in need of strengthening. Joe Gomez has done very well in the absence of Ibrahima Konate, but another centre-back injury could be a problem. And if there’s a weak link in the starting XI it’s at left-back, with Andy Robertson not what he once was and Kostas Tsimikas never quite reaching the required level.

If Liverpool don’t sign a left-back in January they definitely will do in the summer and it’s hard to imagine a player staking their claim as the ideal addition in that role to a greater degree than Robinson in the intervening time. The sticking point will be Fulham’s willingness to part with the American given their own European ambitions, but if Liverpool can negotiate a fee it feels like a no-brainer to get the perfect left-back through the door at a point when he can help them battle on multiple fronts this season.

Tottenham – Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach)
No Spurs player would welcome the signing of a new defender more than Archie Gray. The 18-year-old had never played a game at centre-back before joining Tottenham for £30m in the summer but has played nearly as much football in that alien role as anywhere else under Ange Postecoglou, with just 29 of his minutes coming in the spot we all assumed he was being bought to play in. We genuinely believe he has the quality to become Tottenham’s Declan Rice.

Conceding goals at a rate of one every 30 minutes in his last four starts at centre-back casts doubt over the validity of claims that Any Experience Is Good Experience for young players finding their way in the Premier League.

The problem Ange and Spurs have when sourcing a new centre-back is finding one that’s good enough to be a backup but also willing to play that bit-part role. They will struggle to improve upon either Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero even if they had the wherewithal to sign someone that good, and we can’t see someone like Milan Skriniar – whom they’re also linked with – settling for a spot on the bench when everyone’s fit.

We’re guessing Itakura would jump at the chance to move to Tottenham, even on the proviso of limited game time. He’s very, very quick, meaning Spurs’ high line may not be quite so fraught with danger when Van de Ven’s not around, and also plays a bit like Jan Vertonghen apparently, which will be nice for the nostalgic Spurs fans reminiscing over that time they Nearly Won something or other.

Manchester City – Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
The combination of Manchester City being sh*te and Pep Guardiola insisting they won’t make short-term signings means gossipmonger eyes will be trained on the Etihad in January; there may well be a significant chunk of change spent on new players this winter.

“Holding midfield and central defenders [is where] we need help,” Guardiola said this week. “The market is the market, it’s not easy. It’s expensive so we will see what the club can do.”

Fabrizio Romano says they’re keen on Zubimendi, along with Arsenal, which makes a lot of sense and must have Liverpool laughing as having been embarrassed by the Spaniard snubbing them in the summer the Reds can now sit back and watch a bidding war between their Premier League rivals while Ryan Gravenberch cruises through games as their answer to a previous problem.

Zubimendi would be wise to question what will happen to him when Rodri – whom he’s watched play ahead of him for Spain – returns from injury. Then again, it’s Manchester City and it’s Pep Guardiola, for a short time at least.

Manchester United – Andreas Christensen (Barcelona)
Probably not the Barcelona player that Manchester United fans would hope to sign in January. Whatabout Dani Olmo? Raphinha? At least another attempt to sign Frenkie de Jong?!

Belief that any footballer of repute is going to be tempted by a mid-season move to a club currently a helluva lot closer to the relegation zone than a Champions League qualification spot, in the midst of a new manager splat rather than a bounce, joining a squad full of mediocre players who have dragged decent ones down to their level, is fanciful in the extreme.

They need a left-back more than a centre-back, but we couldn’t, in good conscience, get Red Devil hopes up by claiming they’re in with any chance of signing Nuno Mendes from PSG or Fulham’s Robinson from under Liverpool’s nose. Even Milos Kerkez must look at United and wonder whether he wants to be the canary down that particular mine.

Christensen may well have similar doubts, but has less to lose and possibly believes he has something to prove having never quite earned the respect his displays for Chelsea deserved, particularly under Thomas Tuchel as part of his back three at Stamford Bridge.

That makes him an attractive signing for Amorim of course, as does his ability to move into a defensive midfield role. He also won’t cost United a lot (possibly nothing at all as Barcelona want players out so they don’t lose Olmo), has lots of experience, both in the Premier League and in Europe, but has enough left in the tank as a 28-year-old.

Arsenal – Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Manchester United also want Cunha, and without other clubs also in the mix to sign him, if (and it looks like a big if right now) United were able to find a buyer for Rashford to raise sufficient funds, we could see it happening. Unfortunately for Amorim – who supposedly sees Cunha ‘as the key piece to reinforce his side’ – Arsenal are interested in the Brazilian too.

Unless United are ready to offer him a significantly higher salary – and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is dead set against that these days – there is no earthly way that Cunha snubs Arsenal for the Red Devils. Champions League football, the opportunity to play with top players under a proven Premier League manager and although there would be no doubt whatsoever of a starting spot under Amorim, we also can’t see Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus keeping him out of the team at the Emirates.

He’s been so, so good in a terrible Wolves team this season, with his dynamism, versatility and tactical adaptability making him a hugely attractive mid-season buy; he’s the sort of player that won’t need time to bed in and can hit the ground running for the Gunners in their bid to keep pace with Liverpool and go deep in the Champions League.

Ruben Amorim says he feels ’embarrassed’ to be Manchester United head coach and admitted that a relegation battle “is a possibility”.

Man Utd were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Newcastle on Monday evening. Read all about that nonsense here.

The visitors raced into an early lead as goals in the opening 19 minutes from Alexander Isak and Joelinton condemned Amorim’s side to a third home defeat in a row – the first time in 45 years that has happened.

It was the Red Devils’ fifth Premier League loss in December. They have not suffered five defeats in the same month since September 1962.

Man Utd end 2024 in 14th place in the Premier League and have the small matter of a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool in their first match of 2025.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365
👉 Amorim leeway gone as ‘horrific’ Man Utd star spares him the entire blame vs Newcastle
👉 ‘Of course, I like’ – La Liga star reacts to Man Utd links and makes phone call claim
👉 Liverpool and the Man Utd ‘sh*tshow’: The key differences revealed

With nine defeats and only six wins in the first half of the season, the Red Devils are performing like and getting the results of a team destined for the drop. Relegation couldn’t happen, though…right?

Well, Man Utd head coach Amorim has said it could happen.

“I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans,” Amorim replied when asked if his side will find themselves in a battle to avoid relegation.

The Portuguese later added: “It is also my fault. The team is not improving.

“It is a little bit lost in this moment and it is a bit embarrassing to be Manchester United coach and lose a lot of games.

“I think people are tired of excuses at this club. This club needs a shock.”

Amorim also told reporters: “It is really hard. It is one of the worst moments in the history of our club, and we have to accept that. Another loss in front of our own supporters.

“In this moment it is really tough to turn around results because we don’t have a lot of time to train the base of the way we want to play. In the bad situations you need that base to hold on to. In the second half they really tried, it was more like the value of the team.

“We were close to scoring once but they were better.

“Yes we are [too easy to score against] but also in some moments we had some chances to score and didn’t and that also makes a difference.”

👉 MORE: Man Utd news | Premier League five-year net spend table | Ruben Amorim archives

Ruben Amorim has been dealt a poor hand at Manchester United but is playing it appallingly. Gareth Southgate and Dan Ashworth must be loving all this.

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

Pain
Supporting Utd at the moment is akin to being a masochist I imagine. Willingly choosing to watch is just like begging for a big old kick in the b@lls over and over again. And boy do they deliver in style.

That first half was ludicrous. We couldn’t pass, mark, press, shoot, track runners and seemingly struggled with Newcastle being able to run around a bit. It could have been 4  No joke, we would struggle in the Championship playing like that. Although how the hell was their second not given as handball? Clearly hit the arm and VAR should have disallowed.

Second half was better, although that wouldn’t have been hard, yet we still didn’t offer enough going forward. I find myself sitting there watching and begging for something positive to cling to, decent patterns of play, anything. But no, pain pain and more pain. I literally had to take a couple of post-match headache tablets.

Ruben Amorim needs to work through this and find a way to get them firing. Primarily we need legs in mf, so no more Eriksen and Casemiro starting together. We accept that it will take time to bed the system in but let’s get the basics right in the meantime.

At least it’s only Liverpool away up next. No pain no gain eh.
Garey Vance, MUFC

MORE ON THE MANCHESTER UNITED MESS FROM F365
👉 Amorim commits sackable offence as ‘horrific’ Man Utd star spares him the entire blame vs Newcastle
👉 ‘Shocked’ Neville slams four ‘poor’ Man Utd stars as Red Devils go ‘backwards’ under Amorim
👉 Carragher slams Amorim as Man Utd trio ‘can’t run’; one star branded ‘horrific’ and ‘awful’
👉 Ruben Amorim snubbed by INEOS for one reason in Man Utd summer ‘beauty parade’

Scenes at Old Trafford
I can picture it now. The full time whistle blows and the crowd at Old Trafford erupts with unrestrained joy. It’s absolutely pouring rain and water is cascading through the countless cracks and crevasses of Old Trafford, drenching the fans and rats below. The fans bound down the terrace stairs, eager to reach the pitch, to celebrate this monumental achievement that they couldn’t have even dreamed of months ago. They wade through an absolute flood of water, bilge, dead rats and carcasses of cats that Jim Ratcliffe has slaughtered to cut costs at the club.

They reach the utterly waterlogged pitch without any resistance as all the stewards were laid off months ago to cut more crucial costs as part of Ratcliffe’s purge. The fans slip and slide with glee all over the pitch of Old Trafford like overstimulated children on Christmas morning. Against all odds, Manchester United have avoided relegation and the circus will continue for another season.
Vish (AFC), Nantes 

Apologies to Erik
I wrote in a fair bit regarding ETH and the likes of Calvino and Mr Vance constant defence of him, despite his obvious flaws.

Respectfully, I withdraw my evaluation, Almorin is doing a far worse job, and like Ange, should be criticised for his inability to change his set-up.

Surely, tactical fluidity has to be a must for managers these days?

This is a far far worse Utd team then I have seen in my lifetime.

Watching whilst Utd are 2.0 down and Chelsea losing, could actually be LFS year.

Hot dog!

Regards,
David (This is turning into my favourite season of all time) Molby, Shrewsbury

Justice for Sir Gareth
I’m sat here at half time and we are already 2-0 down, it could quite easily be more.

This lad Ruben is clueless. He seems like a great lad but this job has come too soon in his coaching career and we are sleepwalking into a relegation battle at this rate. None of the players are comfortable in his 3-4-3, the majority of them are also just not suited to it.

I’m just going to say it – get on the phone to Southgate.

He united a fragmented England camp and would be able to do the same to this group of Man Utd players. He already has a working relationship with Maguire, Mainoo, Rashford and a few others. I bet Dan Ashworth is sat at home, laughing his head off.

Anyways, back to the second half. I’m expecting the worst.
Ibrahim Khalid.  

I just finished watching Man Utd Vs Newcastle match and I don’t know if/when Man Utd will score their next goal or their next point. They are that bad. Worse than they were under ETH and they were quite bad under ETH. It is still a mystery to me how Amorim has taken a bad team and made it very bad in the space of 8 weeks. ETH must be very satisfied so far.

But I believe Man Utd’s main problem is not the Glazers or Radcliffe or Amorim or 3-4-3 but Man Utd’s fans. Please hear me out.

1. They are easily swayed. Radcliffe came in and he is the Messiah. He is going to bring success. How? No one can tell. Same thing applies to Amorim. He is the best coach and he is going to fix Utd. The players are bad. He needs his own set of players, just as ETH needed his players.

2. Every season, it is always the players are not good enough. They are bad. They are not committed. We need new players to be able to compete.

No one is blaming Ratcliffe and his team for bringing in a coach that can only play 3-4-3 to a team that is suited for that formation and bring him in during the season. That was a big mistake. No wonder Ashworth didn’t support his appointment. A good football director knows this won’t work. It is simply a square peg in a round hole.

I pity Amorim cos he is a good coach, just as ETH was. He is just at the wrong place at the wrong time. He will be sacked in February and Southgate will be appointed and the cycle continues.

P.S: Please don’t ask me for solution cos I DON’T know.
Azeez, Abuja 

Too big to go down?
April 10th marks the anniversary of Titanic beginning its journey, The Great Gatsby being published for the first time and Paul McCartney announcing to the press he was quitting The Beatles.

It also marks the last time that the two Manchester clubs played against each other in the second division of English football, in 1903 from what I could find. The way things are going at United and if even some of the 115 charges stick and send City down, the 120 year wait may be soon be over.

The 2025/26 Championship could be very interesting indeed. Fingers crossed.
Eoin (will City receive parachute payments? The irony) Ireland 

Man United are pants (sent in before they turned out to be even more pants)
Morning,

I’ve been a Liverpool fan for 30 years, 20 years of those I spent  hating United, knowing that they would always come good in some sort of way under Ferguson, even when they had sh*t seasons, under him the next season he’d spend stupid money, bring in some amazing talent and then sh*t on everyone.

After he left it became funny for five years, pointing at a fallen giant and how inept they were at appointing a manager (Moyes HA) or making decent signings (Fellaini is always funny) but now its just sad. In this mailbox I have said that united were one brilliant manager away from winning the league again because the players they had were close too, if not, world class, now they are nothing, Pep and Klopps love child couldn’t get this team to play well, they are just utter sh*te, Ten Haigs legacy is leaving Ajax United in the premier league, they were maybe good in Holland but they are terrible in the premier league.

Actually look at this team, 5 years ago it would of been relegated, United should thank their lucky stars that championship teams like yo yo payments more than staying up.

GK – Onana – What the actual hell is this? Van Der Sar, Schmeichel, De Gea are greats that Onana is wiping his ar*e with that shirt, even Fabien Barthez was better than this, he doesn’t even make it into the top 20 keepers in the league, the amount of mistakes he has made, the stupid goals he has let in and he doesn’t look like he’s getting any better, sod it, lets get Scott Carson in, he’s done sod all for 6 season he could do with a run about

DF – De Ligt, Evans, Maguire, Martinez and Lindelof –  3 of these names should be playing for Leicester, god knows how they are still on uniteds books, Martinez is a dwarf who gets bullied a lot, he can’t handle the premier league, De Ligt is an average defender who is injury prone, that is just sad

RB – Mazraoui/Dalot – a kind of competent right back in Mazaoui but the stats are hard reading (18 appearances, 2 clean sheets, 1 assist) and Dalot who plays/tries both sides

LB – Luke Shaw/Dalot – Feel a bit sad for Luke Shaw, promising career cut short by joining United and being called fat by Mourinho and Dalot who plays/tries both sides

MF – Fernandes, Eriksen, Mount, Mainoo, Ugarte and Casemiro – This is the point where most united fans try to defend their team but come on, Eriksen literally died on the pitch four years ago, he is lovely but not a world class player, Mount is just a sh*te and injured Declan Rice, Mainoo is an over rated youth player that United think will save them, Ugarte is just a foul machine and Casemiro is just waiting for god. Fernandes is the only player that would get into a top 4 squad but he acts like a child a lot of the time which is understandable when everyone else is playing rubbish next to him

FW – Antony, Zirkzee, Diallo, Hojland, Rasford and Garnacho – Now before I started writing this I thought the defence was the worst part of united but look at that forward line, just look, Antony has made 5 appearances and had 4 shots, thats terrible, Hojland has 13 appearances, 9 shots and 2 goals, Rashford 15 appearances, 16 shots, 4 goals and 1 assists, Zirkzee 18 appearances, 16 shots, 3 goals and 1 assist, Garnacho 17 appearances, 38 shots, 3 goals and one assist. Then we come to the young saviour, the next coming of Cantona, Van Persie and Van Nistelrooy all rolled into one, Diallo has 16 appearances, 28 shots, 6 assists and 2 goals.

The saddest part of this attack is that none of them have scored 5 goals, one of them has 18 appearances, DANNY WELBECK HAS 6 GOALS, go the whole hog and buy him back, get Scholes, Giggs and Beckham back because they are a hell of a lot better than this shower of poo and at least you’d have some recognisable names.

I have been scared of a resurgence from United every season till the last 2, I thought that they would be a manager and two signings away from beating the snot out of everyone but looking at this squad they are close to relegation fodder and also have the highest wage bill, they are a more expensive Everton, I hope they do get relegated, not just for the bantz but also for a wake up call and hopefully their owners f**k off, easily the worst run club and are lucky to have such a loyal fan base.
Rich Jennings (Might be a bit biased but that forward line is shocking), Hull

Spurs in microcosm
Decimated squad? Check.

Concede early goal but nonetheless proceed to dominate? Check.

Finally win a penalty, in the 19th game of season? Hooray!

Proceed to miss said penalty? Oh but of course.

Create further chances to kill game? Check.

Proceed to scupper said chances? Check.

Little known opponent scores absolute belter out of nowhere to deny Spurs points? Check.

It was Strand Larsen for Wolves but might as well have been Simon Cox for West Brom in 2014. Ze istory of ze Tottenham is doomed to repeat itself.

TTTKM.
Oliver Clark 

Boring
I read Johnny’s letter with interest. There is an argument to be made there. In case you didn’t read it his argument boils down to – the Premier League is quite dull most of the time and other ‘lesser’ leagues are often more exciting.

Like Jonny I too watch a lot of football, mostly serie A, la liga, bundesliga and premier league with the occasional serie B game depending on who’s playing.

There are indeed some quite exciting games on in other leagues. However what Johnny got wrong is when the premier league has a draw it’s generally (though not always) quite an exciting competitive game. In la liga and serie a specifically when it’s a draw…its usually quite dull affair of two teams trying not to lose and keeping a lot of possession. There are exceptions largely in the form of the top two teams in each league but that’s mostly true.

Bundesliga is more similar to the premier league in that draws are quite fun affairs of two teams trying to win. But the standard of defending is so poor in bundesliga that I must have been one of the few who expected de ligt to struggle here.

It’s not all marketing as Jonny suggests I do believe the premier league is generally a better product than competitors and not just because city have collapsed, cities collapse hasn’t made forest good. They are good regardless. Its a better product because the bottom teams always have a chance against the top teams and they believe they have a chance. Yes city have dominated but that doesn’t make it a farmers league because even at their best city still lost to pretty much any version of spurs or Norwich or everton or wolves. There is the belief in the premier league that the bottom team can win against the top.

That just isn’t there in other leagues. They believe they will get beat and trying to scrap a draw is usually the aim
Lee 

Best wishes for 2025
United fan here. First attended game…a 5-2 loss at home to Burnley in 1962 so I have a lot of football memories…not all United ones. Just wanted to write in to wish you and your staff and all football fans an enjoyable 2025. We Manchester Reds (though I’ve lived in the USA since 1986) have ‘enjoyed’ anni horibiles since Darth Ferg hung up his light sabre BUT we’ve had many memories since to still bring smiles to our faces…PSG, Zlatan, unexpected wins over City and the Scousers. Stretching back in time the Holy Trinity, “Big Jim Holton’s after you”. I was always fond of John Fitzpatrick. Tommy Doc’s second division season…so many.

However, like most footie fans other teams’ deeds have remained fresh. Now there is no way I want Liverpool to do anything but lose every game 5-0 but I was thrilled when they beat Barca 4-0 and how heartless do you have to be to not to warm to Allison’s header. We play Newcastle this afternoon and what memories they have of SuperMac, SuperKev, Albert and SHEARRRERRR!

Villa’s 40 yard Exocet missile goal from Chris Nicholl v Everton in the 1977 League Cup final. West Brom’s 3 Degrees. Don Rogers dancing through the Wembley mud for Swindon against Arsenal. Mavericks like Tony Currie, Rodney Marsh, Robin Friday. Hard men (Dirty bastards actually) Norman “Bitesyerlegs” Hunter, Chopper Harris in the Chelsea-Leeds Cup final. Everton’s Ball-Harvey-Kendall midfield with a MASSIVE Joe Royle up front. Bobby Robson’s magnificent Ipswich side.etc etc etc. And so many more good feeling memories.

The point is no matter how miserable an overall season might be in 2025 we are all going to have at least one nugget of joy to treasure from watching the footie in the coming year whether it be from our own team or begrudgingly from one of our rivals.

Happy New Year everyone and if this letter is published I would dearly like to read other peoples treasured football memories. It would make a change from too much sniping criticism which is unfortunately becoming the norm these days.
Gary(Ex Pat United fan in Pennsylvania)B

Fair shout
Probably not the most glaring bit of nonsense in Garey’s email, but I can’t let it slide. Why would Elon Musk own a Prius
Chris Stockdale, NUFC

Gary Neville has predicted another “huge overhaul” at Manchester United at the end of the season after they finished 2024 with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.

The Red Devils’ fifth Premier League defeat of the month means they go into 2025 in 14th place.

It was their third home defeat in a row and the result was never in doubt after Alexander Isak’s fourth-minute header set Newcastle on their way to a fourth consecutive league victory.

Joelinton doubled the visitors’ lead in the 19th minute and Ruben Amorim’s side couldn’t get close to them in the first half.

Amorim has admitted that a relegation battle “is a possibility” and Man Utd legend Neville has hinted that it would take something drastic – like dropping down to the Championship – for the new head coach to lose his job.

MORE ON MAN UTD SHAMBLES FROM F365
👉 Neville claims ‘absolutely awful’ Man Utd are ‘worst pound-for-pound team in the country’
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👉 Five Premier League moves we can see happening in the January transfer window

The Portuguese left Sporting for Man Utd earlier this season but has been unable to turn things around after the club’s miserable start to 2024/25 under Erik ten Hag.

Club legend Neville was asked on Sky Sports if the Man Utd hierarchy will stick with Amorim. He replied: “I mean, whatever happened? Probably not.”

He continued: “They’re going to support him, aren’t they? Their mindset is such now that they’re going to dig in, support the manager, get him through maybe a transfer window in January.

“I’m not sure there’s that much money to spend in January because they’re on the edge of FFP, but they’ll obviously get to the summer and there’s going to have to be a huge overhaul again.”

Neville did point some blame at Amorim over his team selection against the Magpies and says he was not surprised to see Newcastle dominate the midfield.

“I think we knew a lot of what we actually saw on the pitch was going to happen,” said Neville.

“I mean, Casemiro and [Christian] Eriksen in midfield. Jamie Carragher had done a piece in the studio about [Noussair] Mazraoui and [Diogo] Dalot playing wing-backs and being more defensive. And that wouldn’t lead to goals, which is exactly what happened.

“I didn’t see any balance in the team selection. So I think that whilst I was a little nervous about Manchester United doing well in this game tonight before I saw the team sheet, once I saw the team sheet I was pretty sure that it would be a struggle.

“I think a lot of what we saw we expected, it was a grim night.”

👉 READ NOW: Liverpool rout sees Lopetegui leapfrog Postecoglou in tight Sack Race tussle

Pundit Rio Ferdinand has picked out one “brutal” reason why Ruben Amorim has struggled since replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

Amorim took over at Man Utd last month and he’s endured a miserable start at Old Trafford while attempting to implement a new system.

Since their 2-1 comeback win against Man City, the Red Devils have lost four straight games across all competitions. Overall, they have lost six of Amorim’s eleven matches in charge.

On Monday night, Man Utd were dominated in a 2-0 loss against Newcastle United at Old Trafford and it’s fair to say that this scoreline flattered the host.

Ferdinand has subsequently explained why one “brutal issue” has perhaps impacted Amorim the most, while another factor has been a “huge disappointment”.

READ: Zirkzee nightmare proved Man Utd fans are not actually a uniquely tolerant, civilised breed

On his podcast, Ferdinand said: “He (Amorim) did stress in his comments after the game that he has had four training sessions with the team in six weeks.

“And when you’re looking for what are the reasons why there have been issues with the team and with the results in the time he has been there, I think that has to be a huge part.”

“Any manager will tell you that you need time on the training pitch, if they want to put their philosophy into play, they want to create the confidence in the team, they want to make sure the triggers are done at the right time, then they need time on the pitch. He hasn’t had that, so there is a combination of problems.

“I think the inability to coach a team on the training pitch is contributing to the bad results, I think the profile of the players there do not fit what he wants to do, and he is finding that out in a brutal way. One of the reasons why is because he hasn’t been able train with these guys.”

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
👉 Man Utd: £60m Ten Hag signing ‘agrees to leave’ as ‘no obstacles’ stand in way of Ronaldo reunion
👉 Man Utd: ‘Overpriced and overpromoted’ Red Devils star ‘berated’ by Amorim vs Newcastle
👉 Neville tells Man Utd to sign two players as a ‘starting point’ to kick start Amorim’s reign

He added: “We have seen with other teams and players with new managers come in with new ideas, some players become adaptable and can adapt to it.

“We are not seeing enough players in this team, if any, become adaptable to what he wants right now which is a huge disappointment.”

Following United’s 2-0 loss to Newcastle, they are 14th in the Premier League and only seven points clear of the bottom three. Amorim admitted post-match that they could be in a relegation battle.

“I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans,” Amorim replied when asked if Man Utd could find themselves in a battle to avoid relegation.

He later added: “It is also my fault. The team is not improving.

“It is a little bit lost in this moment and it is a bit embarrassing to be Manchester United coach and lose a lot of games.

“I think people are tired of excuses at this club. This club needs a shock.”

A new report has picked out one ‘unexpected move’ for Manchester United supporters to ‘keep an eye on’ during the winter transfer window.

New head coach Ruben Amorim has inherited a mess at Old Trafford and he’s had a miserable start since replacing Erik ten Hag.

Under Amorim, Man Utd have lost six of their eleven matches in all competitions and they sit 14th in the Premier League after 19 matches. Alarmingly, they are only seven points clear of the relegation places.

Man Utd’s recent performances have made it abundantly clear that a huge rebuild is required in 2025 and this could start in January as several players are at risk of being axed.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho has been linked with an exit after he and Marcus Rashford were omitted from Man Utd’s squad to face Man City at the Etihad on December 15.

A few days later, Rashford announced he’s “ready” to leave United, while Garnacho seemingly got his head down as he was straight back in Amorim’s squad.

READ: Zirkzee nightmare proved Man Utd fans are not actually a uniquely tolerant, civilised breed

However, Amorim clearly does not fully trust Garnacho as the Argentina international has been restricted to cameo appearances off the bench in United’s last three Premier League games.

A new report from The Daily Mail claims a potential exit for Garnacho is one ‘unexpected move’ to ‘keep an eye on’ heading into January.

‘Despite all the noise around Rashford, Garnacho’s value is actually greater based on his higher transfer fee and lower wages. United could sell him for more and not have the problem of paying off a huge contract that still has three and a half years to run.

‘Having previously been seen as untouchable under Ten Hag, the Argentina winger is less of a natural fit for Amorim’s 3-4-3. United are still unlikely to sell him but a combination of factors would at the very least make United give any offers some consideration.’

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
👉 Amorim slammed as unprofessional and blasted over lack of ‘common sense’ with training comments
👉 Ferdinand pinpoints Amorim’s ‘brutal’ main ‘issue’ at Man Utd amid one ‘huge disappointment’
👉 Man Utd: £60m Ten Hag signing ‘agrees to leave’ as ‘no obstacles’ stand in way of Ronaldo reunion

While ‘practically everyone is for sale’, the report has also named six specific players who could be on the move in January.

‘The growing crisis at United means practically everyone is for sale at the right price with just a few exceptions.

‘Homegrown players like Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo count as 100 per cent profit on the PSR balance sheet and thus are worth approximately four times as much as their team-mates.

‘United would listen to offers for Rashford, one of their highest earners on £315,000 a week who was left out of four games before returning on the bench against Newcastle. It may have to be a loan move with an obligation to buy at the end of the season, as was the case with Jadon Sancho’s switch to Chelsea in the summer.

‘United have been keen to offload top earner Casemiro for some time, as well as £82m flop Antony, while Zirkzee has also been linked with a swift exit following his difficult start at Old Trafford.

‘Other players like Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof could go but are out of contract in the summer and unlikely to command a fee.’