United may turn to former England man | OneFootball

Pressure Mounts on Amorim as Manchester United Struggle to Find Direction

Manchester United’s managerial conundrum deepens by the week, and Rúben Amorim finds himself at the heart of it. TalkSport have reported extensively on the Portuguese coach’s difficulties, and the numbers paint an unforgiving picture. For a club of United’s history and stature, 33 points from 34 Premier League games is far below expectation. The situation has sparked whispers of potential replacements and an increasing sense that the hierarchy may act sooner rather than later.

Grim Record Leaves United Stagnant

United’s decision-makers remain reluctant to dismiss Amorim despite the dismal record. Since his first match in charge last November, no team has conceded the first goal in more Premier League games. His men have shipped 21 opening goals, leaving the club playing catch-up week after week.

Amorim’s struggles are compounded by his failure to deliver consecutive league victories. In 33 top-flight fixtures, United have not managed to win back-to-back. In total, he has only secured nine wins, losing 17 and drawing seven. The scale of the problem is captured by another alarming detail: “with a loss in his 200th game as a manager, he has now lost three more of his 33 Premier League clashes (17) than he did in 167 Primeira Liga matches (14).”

Photo IMAGO

Brentford’s 3-1 victory at the weekend exposed more of the same failings. Igor Thiago struck twice, Benjamin Sesko halved the deficit, and Bruno Fernandes squandered a penalty before Mathias Jensen sealed the contest. The result left United languishing in 13th, their inconsistency now a defining feature.

Financial Stakes in Managerial Future

While Amorim has publicly said he would walk away without a payoff, reports suggest sacking him could still cost Manchester United around £12 million. The club are thought to be waiting until after 1 November before making any decision to reduce compensation.

TalkSport confirm that Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola are among the names being considered. United’s leadership must weigh the risks of persisting with a failing project against the financial and reputational cost of another managerial reset.

Amorim’s contract, which runs until 2027, was originally seen as a long-term investment. However, the notion that he will remain in place until the end of that deal already feels implausible.

Murphy Raises Concerns Over Progression

TalkSport’s Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder, has voiced doubts over Amorim’s ability to meet United’s lofty standards. He told White & Jordan: “They haven’t shown any signs that they’re going to when they’ve had good performances or good wins before to then go on a run. They haven’t done it.”

Murphy continued, “So no, I wouldn’t say you can trust them but there will be a lot of hope there especially now they’ve got players back fit like (Matheus) Cunha. I find myself saying this bizarrely, knowing that there will be criticism of it, there’s actually been some positives for United to begin this season.”

Highlighting certain encouraging moments, Murphy added: “I’ve seen every game and that system has become less of a problem. It’s been more about the personnel within the system. I thought the first game against Arsenal, they should have won and lost. They battered Burnley for the majority of it, ended up throwing a goal or two away to make it hard work but he still won the first half at Fulham and they should have been a couple of goals up. There’s been some good bits. There’s been some progression.”

Despite these flashes, Murphy concluded with a stark admission: “I’d be surprised because I think the level of progression that we will see won’t match (the) expectation.”

Replacements Loom While Patience Runs Thin

United’s supporters are watching events unfold with frustration, aware that the club has become stuck in a cycle of short-term managers and disappointing results. The potential appointment of Glasner or Iraola would represent another pivot, but questions remain about whether any coach can thrive in a structure that has lacked direction since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

Amorim, at 40, remains regarded as a bright coach, but Premier League reality has proven punishing. If the decision to part ways does come, it will underline once again how far United are from the consistency their fans demand.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Manchester United fans are increasingly concerned by the continued decline under Rúben Amorim. While there have been glimpses of attacking promise, the hard numbers are brutal. Nine wins from 33 matches is nowhere near good enough for a club that measures itself against title winners, and the statistic of 21 opening goals conceded speaks volumes about United’s fragility.

The financial angle only deepens the frustration. Supporters know £12 million could be invested in transfers or infrastructure, yet that sum now hangs over the club as potential severance. The idea of waiting until November simply to save money risks further damaging results and morale, potentially pushing the club into the lower half of the table.

Fans will also be sceptical about the rumoured replacements. Glasner has done a steady job at Palace, and Iraola has injected energy into Bournemouth, but neither is a proven fit for a club of United’s scale. Many will argue that unless the structure above the manager improves, changing the coach again will do little more than repeat the same mistakes.

Overall, this report underlines a club trapped between ambition and reality. Supporters feel both expectant of a turnaround and disappointed by yet another cycle of mediocrity. Unless United move decisively, this season risks slipping further away before it has even begun.