Ruben Amorim | 2025-26

[MCDC]

So much is wrong - if what we read in the press is true.

We have a manager, and presumably a technical director, and director of football or whatever this week's job titles are, who think Andre Onana is sufficiently good to play another season in the Premier League for Manchester United. I think public opinion would be that we need 2 new goalkeepers. It's quite an important position.

We have a manager who is stubborn beyond belief in this style of play, despite in his own words, having made us the worst Manchester United side in Premier League history - and we have an ownership who seem to be happy for him to continue. If you look at his comments, his behaviour, his attitude and the performance of the team, the only justification for keeping him is you don't know what else to do. All the doubling over backwards by some people to justify his performance is just looking for hope, and not accepting the reality.

We have a manager who seems to not understand that in declaring players to be not fit for purpose and banning them from training sessions, he has probably reduced their combined value by £100,000,000. That is not smart. Would he advertise his car as having, awful knocking noise, as if it is going to fall apart, if you drive it for 30 miles or more? No commercial sense being applied to the man management of players. We have a quartet, is it, of once very expensive players, who absolutely everybody knows we don't want and that they don't want to be at United. What a way to make a mess of your finances.

We have a transfer team who don't seem able to get vital transfers done. We desperately need 2 centre forwards, along with the goalkeepers. No news on the former and apparently no interest in doing the latter. Even when we have declared an interest in a player, Mbeumo, we don't seem capable of closing the deal or finding an alternative. We do seem to have bought a few younger players, but not ones that are going to influence the team next season.

It just seems that everywhere you look we are making a right mess of the situation.

I feel like doom and gloom. I do hope that I am wrong.

I don't think we are leaking anywhere near as much information as we used to the press, even the amount of players we are linked to has dramatically dropped since INEOS took over.

I think both Amorim & Wilcox want to replace Onana but we do not have the cash to replace him or anyone wanting to take him of our hands to cover his outstanding installment, I think the links with Sammens and the Botafogo keeper are real, cheaper back ups who can challenge to be the number 1.

I think us being the worst PL United site is a combination of sh1te signings over years, replacing better players with worse players, Amorim definitely deserves criticism for majority of the games we played last year, but he didn't put together the worst forward line I have seen in my 30 years of watching this team.

If you have somebody at work who has handed there notice in they do not pull maximum effort in, when you are trying to reset the culture of hard work and attitude would you reintegrate these, Maresca said Madueke training consistency is not good enough and still got 55m, it isn't a reduction in value nobody is signing them, look at the amount of money being splashed on forwards, even with the high wages United would take a hit on the fee to get rid of them, most clubs are probably waiting till the end of the window for a cut price deal or a loan with ourselves paying majority of the wages.

We are trying to get them done, but we are now paying the price for no CL money and sh1te Glazer finances, hopefully with these sell on fees we can get Mbuemo done and move onto some more, hopefully offloading some to bring in more reinforcements.

I feel your pain mate, If I didn't have faith I would go insane.

We’ve got Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth, Everton, Fiorentina friendlies before the season starts. What do you predict will be our record? Fiorentina seems like the only one of the 5 we stand a chance against because they are continental. I get it, these are fitness exercises more than anything, but if we get embarrassed in them, surely that’s an omen.

Do you think if these 5 friendlies go tits up that the board will act? I can see us getting 3L and 2D, or 4L 1D: would that not be the alarm bells ringing that we are going to get manhandled in the league?

Then we face Arsenal, Fulham, and Burnley in games that matter. Counting friendlies we could post 6L and 2D in the start of this season.

If he wins all those does that mean he should get the whole season?

You do realise teams not only use pre season for fitness, they focus on specific things in games, such as playing out from the back, doing a full fitness session beforehand to see how the players react under fatigue.

 

[Bubz27]

You're making it sound as if he inherited one of the worst squads in the PL.

In important positions, he has two of the worst starting players in the league. GK and ST are massive positions. Conte said you can make a mistake choosing a wife, but not with your ST or GK.

Whatever else happens, if those two players aren't with it, you're struggling. I'd genuinely argue Hojlund last season was the 2nd or 3rd worst starting striker in the league.

Im not suggesting there aren't other issues, or the squad is absolutely terrible, but its incredibly disjointed and lacking in physical and technical aspects. It is bad. Even the season before, we finished 8th but many metrics had us finishing bottom half iirc. It was overperformance of xG and that saved us. Whatever you think of that stat, the best teams in Europe win the xG because its a good indicator of scoring goals which is what wins matches.

 

[tomaldinho1]

We’ve got Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth, Everton, Fiorentina friendlies before the season starts. What do you predict will be our record? Fiorentina seems like the only one of the 5 we stand a chance against because they are continental. I get it, these are fitness exercises more than anything, but if we get embarrassed in them, surely that’s an omen.

Do you think if these 5 friendlies go tits up that the board will act? I can see us getting 3L and 2D, or 4L 1D: would that not be the alarm bells ringing that we are going to get manhandled in the league?

Then we face Arsenal, Fulham, and Burnley in games that matter. Counting friendlies we could post 6L and 2D in the start of this season.

Surely by now we all know that pre season means absolutely sweet F all?
Our best pre season we went unbeaten, beat Pool, Real, Roma, Valencia and drew with Inter....then lost 2-1 to Swansea first game

If we win them all 10-0 or lose them all 0-10 it means absolutely nothing for Amorim until the season starts.

 

[John XII]

It's safe to say that we're getting relegated so the question is, do we stick with him in the Championship and allow him to rebuild the club from the ground up?

 

[Shark]

Surely by now we all know that pre season means absolutely sweet F all?
Our best pre season we went unbeaten, beat Pool, Real, Roma, Valencia and drew with Inter....then lost 2-1 to Swansea first game

If we win them all 10-0 or lose them all 0-10 it means absolutely nothing for Amorim until the season starts.

Truer words were never spoken. Means absolutely bugger all. Only element which holds any significance is building up some fitness.

 

[Glorio]

Surely by now we all know that pre season means absolutely sweet F all?
Our best pre season we went unbeaten, beat Pool, Real, Roma, Valencia and drew with Inter....then lost 2-1 to Swansea first game

If we win them all 10-0 or lose them all 0-10 it means absolutely nothing for Amorim until the season starts.

I think for a club with so little to fall back on in the way of confidence, this season is probably different.

The confidence the players and even the fans will have in Ruben's strategy will be massively helped if his main team does very well against main teams of other clubs. Of course if we get completely turned over on the first actual game of the season, it will all evaporate very quickly

Similarly, if we struggle badly in pre-season, we'll start the season with a lot of pressure which this fragile team could do without.

 

[romufc]

I think for a club with so little to fall back on in the way of confidence, this season is probably different.

The confidence the players and even the fans will have in Ruben's strategy will be massively helped if his main team does very well against main teams of other clubs. Of course if we get completely turned over on the first actual game of the season, it will all evaporate very quickly

Similarly, if we struggle badly in pre-season, we'll start the season with a lot of pressure which this fragile team could do without.

I think there is 2 aspects to this.. Pre season performances V results.

I dont care about pre season results but performances matter.

We dont dominate the ball and create chances, its something we need to see this pre season given the teams we are facing.

Using 1 pre season under LVG when there is data in other seasons, it matters.

Last season, in pre season, we struggled for goals, in the season we struggled for goals.

Alot of fans will watch pre season highlights and results, where really pre season is about everything but the goals and results.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I think for a club with so little to fall back on in the way of confidence, this season is probably different.

The confidence the players and even the fans will have in Ruben's strategy will be massively helped if his main team does very well against main teams of other clubs. Of course if we get completely turned over on the first actual game of the season, it will all evaporate very quickly

Similarly, if we struggle badly in pre-season, we'll start the season with a lot of pressure which this fragile team could do without.

I think you have to remember the messaging to the players is going to be different - they won't really care about the result and will be trying to stay injury free/try out new ideas, new players. The whole mood will be more chilled in the dressing room and it's basically all just fitness work. Naturally in pressers Amorin is going to say, we want to see good things, we want to win etc. etc. but he won't give a flying feck, his whole focus will be on getting hammered by Arsenal first game.

 

[Oranges038]

Read the first page. Not a ball kicked and already the misery circle has started again.

Really hope he somehow manages to get these ideas of his to work, there were small glimpses last season of how it can. Unfortunately there were too many moments in games where individual errors and poor decision making cost the team more so than how they were being setup to play.

 

[Amsterdam Devil]

I think there is 2 aspects to this.. Pre season performances V results.

I dont care about pre season results but performances matter.

We dont dominate the ball and create chances, its something we need to see this pre season given the teams we are facing.

Using 1 pre season under LVG when there is data in other seasons, it matters.

Last season, in pre season, we struggled for goals, in the season we struggled for goals.

Alot of fans will watch pre season highlights and results, where really pre season is about everything but the goals and results.

And a good pre season could give some feelgood factor to the squad where there was only gloom and doom last season.

Pre season doesn’t saying everything but it can maybe help a little bit, although fitness is the most important part.

 

[SoCross]

Didn't Hjolund score a super goal in pre-season before he got injured? Think it was against Arsenal too. Got me all wet in my knickers that, imagining of things to come. Alas. Anyway, an indication that pre-season results and performances cannot always be trusted to give an accurate enough prediction of how the season will go.

P.S. Please don't put me in the posts that feel sexual but aren't thread.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

we’re going to be calling for a manager to get sacked based on pre-season results, are we?

You read that correctly. If those opponents in friendlies - having the same fitness issues as we are - thrash us lifeless, I'd say that's a very worrying sign. It shows that Amorim hasn't learned a single goddamn fecking thing since he arrived, and that we are in for a world of hurt.

And it’s not simply getting our asses handed to us in friendlies, as I said it’s them continuing to get destroyed when the season starts, so that we have a 5 or 6 game losing streak — something that would have been unthinkable before Amorim.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

Surely by now we all know that pre season means absolutely sweet F all?
Our best pre season we went unbeaten, beat Pool, Real, Roma, Valencia and drew with Inter....then lost 2-1 to Swansea first game

If we win them all 10-0 or lose them all 0-10 it means absolutely nothing for Amorim until the season starts.

I disagree. We came off the worst season we've had since relegation, with a head coach who has failed spectacularly in his time here. The word this whole time was that he needed time to work with his players and have a preseason. Literally the last two excuses left in the bottom of the barrel. Going into these friendlies expecting to be able to write off results is a loser mentality.

 

[worldinmotion66]

People saying we’ve got the worst squad of players in many years are, I think, falling for the manager’s media statements during a difficult season. Performance wise, that might be true. But ability wise I think it’s wide of the mark.

I think it’s managerial failings to get the best out of players that have clearly performed elsewhere. Of course the players have to shoulder their fair share of the blame too, but I think tactical naivety and poor man management has led to us devaluing many of our players.

Both Ten Hag and Amorim have a specific tactical identity that they’ve tried to mould players around, which is fine if you’re well backed and know what you’re doing. Clearly Ten Hag was naive enough to think that he could play out from the back with the players we had, and bring in players that weren’t cut out for the intensity of the premier league. The transfers during his tenure were truly awful, but to overlook a talent like Amad when we were so bad last season was unforgivable.

Amorim is making the same mistakes and will likely die on his sword, but I’m optimistic that he has learned from last season and will adapt. He will also have more time with his players both before and during the season, so he’ll have no excuses. I’m expecting a lot of improvement from the likes of Zirkzee, Mount, Mainoo, Dalot, Ugarte and others because they are clearly better players than they showed last season. And I think he’ll do a lot better with what he has. He’s clearly a good manager capable of turning this around. We might as well back him because he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Varane around town]

My big worry is that Amorim has used all his credit already. Let's say our start of the season looks this..

Arsenal (H)- Loss
Fulham (A)- Draw
Burnley (H)- Win
City (A)- Loss
Chelsea- (H)- Draw.

I think that's very possible and I think Amorim would really be in a mess if that's the start. Then what? We're back at he beginning. New manager, new system, new players..

 

[John XII]

We might as well back him because he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

That's the only useful way to think at the moment.

 

[Shark]

That's the only useful way to think at the moment.

How do you back a manager as a fan that's losing nearly every game, though. Managers need to earn backing through performances and results. That's the only useful reality.

 

[John XII]

How do you back a manager as a fan that's losing nearly every game, though. Managers need to earn backing through performances and results. That's the only useful reality.

It's easy, I hope he turns it around, there done.

 

[worldinmotion66]

If we’d have won the Europa League and signed an extra player or two already, the optimism would be far greater than it is now. Supporters are fickle and a few good results will change the entire rhetoric. All we can hope for is a dialled in fully focused squad that work hard and have a good preseason so they can hit the ground running.

 

[Boring]

Face facts Ineos are no smarter or well informed than a bunch of forumites.

 

[hellhunter]

It's easy, I hope he turns it around, there done.

The Baghdad Bob approach

 

[USREDEVIL]

My big worry is that Amorim has used all his credit already. Let's say our start of the season looks this..

Arsenal (H)- Loss
Fulham (A)- Draw
Burnley (H)- Win
City (A)- Loss
Chelsea- (H)- Draw.

I think that's very possible and I think Amorim would really be in a mess if that's the start. Then what? We're back at he beginning. New manager, new system, new players..

Chelsea are probs gonna win.

So probably 4 points from these 5 games.

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

Chelsea are probs gonna win.

So probably 4 points from these 5 games.

Yup, and it is also in line with Amorim's PL return. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[erikcred]

My big worry is that Amorim has used all his credit already. Let's say our start of the season looks this..

Arsenal (H)- Loss
Fulham (A)- Draw
Burnley (H)- Win
City (A)- Loss
Chelsea- (H)- Draw.

I think that's very possible and I think Amorim would really be in a mess if that's the start. Then what? We're back at he beginning. New manager, new system, new players..

Would need to be worse than that for him to be sacked. Plus the performances matter too. Maybe we hit the post fifteen times in each game and lose 1-0.

 

[Von Mistelroum]

I think it's safe to say that when he's inevitably sacked this coming season, Amorim will be well placed to go back into a top position and start winning things elsewhere.

It shouldn't really reflect too badly on him that he's come into an absolute shambles of a club and found himself contending with incompetent owners and management, player power, and an expensive but technically very poor squad with very little quality.

It should definitely not reflect badly on him that this poorly run club was incapable of giving him the players he needed to make his formation and tactics (the ones he explicitly told them he'd be using) work.

However, whichever poor chump agrees to take over from him after he's gone will find himself right in the exact same position. I can't even imagine which manager out there would want to take over though, knowing that he'll have to contend with these players, these owners and no money to improve.

 

[USREDEVIL]

Yup, and it is also in line with Amorim's PL return. Makes a lot of sense.

Before prognosticating wins or losses I actually used to see if we are home or away. Those days are gone.

 

[Crimson King]

Chelsea are probs gonna win.

So probably 4 points from these 5 games.

You don't know that at all. With this team it's just as likely we beat 2 of Arsenal, City and Chelsea, then lose to Burnley at home!

 

[USREDEVIL]

You don't know that at all. With this team it's just as likely we beat 2 of Arsenal, City and Chelsea, then lose to Burnley at home!

Nah, that was like 2 years ago under ETH. We're more consistent at losing these days.

 

[Dave Smith]

Amorim is in a bit of a tight spot with the start imo.

Arsenal (H)
Fulham (A)
Burnley (H)
City (A)
Chelsea (H)
Brentford (A)
Sunderland (H)
Dippers (A)

Let's be real, the other teams in the league know they is blood in the water with Utd and half of those teams are better than Utd (Arsenal, City and Chelsea, Dippers.)

On top of that Fulham are one of those teams that can turn up with one or two performances in a season where they beat a better team than them and look decent whilst doing so.

For me, the Arsenal game is absolutely key. That can't be a loss, if it is Fulham will be right at it in the second game, draw or lose (maybe even win unconvincingly) and could quickly spiral to 2-6 points out if 15 in the first five games. If that happens all bets will be off as going off to beat Brentford and Sunderland isn't going to provide much rest bite as all eyes will be on the upcoming Dipper match.

 

[romufc]

My big worry is that Amorim has used all his credit already. Let's say our start of the season looks this..

Arsenal (H)- Loss
Fulham (A)- Draw
Burnley (H)- Win
City (A)- Loss
Chelsea- (H)- Draw.

I think that's very possible and I think Amorim would really be in a mess if that's the start. Then what? We're back at he beginning. New manager, new system, new players..

Funny thing is there is a very high probability we start with those results or worse. It puts so much pressure on games v Fulham and Burnley that i fear we lose one of them.

 

[roseguy64]

Yes he is the one responsible for outing those players, however if memory serves me right didn't Maresca do something similar at Chelsea last pre season. Admittedly the players he was outing were not on the same level of importance which made it easier.

There is no doubt he has to get off to a good start which looks a huge ask with those fixtures. Right now I still back him, however if he has us in the bottom half by October international break he will rightfully be under severe pressure.

Chelsea were in a different position to Man Utd. Even then, they only managed to sell Lukaku and Gallagher from that list. Everyone else was loaned or ended up staying at the club that summer.

Not counting guys like Maatsen, Hutchinson and Hall, only the players made to train away.

 

[MF1138]

Let's be honest, if we are unable get the correct deals over the line to suit what he wants to build, then he is just not the right manager for our current predicament.
If we can't back him in the market to build his team then we need someone who can get the best from what we do have, something he has so far shown himself incapable of doing.
There is still plenty of time in the transfer market, and hopefully we're just getting better at keeping things quiet and the right deals get made. But things do seem quite bleak right now and I'd have hoped we'd have seen more movement already considering how negative things were at the end of the season.

 

[roseguy64]

I dont write here up normally as I like to read different opinions as you gain lot of info(both good and bad). From what I saw last year the issues are

1. We didn't score enough
2. We created enough chances - we did a lot and our forward line was worse than hilariously bad in finishing them
3. Defence was ok'ish - Remember they were mostly kids(yoro - heaven)
4. GoalKeeping was bad - plain and simple no explanation needed.
5. Every time I saw the game, it always felt that we were playing with 9 men and not 11 and that made it feel like the opponent was playing with 13 men against our 9. Because the opponents defense has nothing to fear and even they can let our front 3 roam around freely with the ball at their feet as they didn't do much.
6. Midfiled was ok'ish.

To address the glaring issue we wanted quality forwards, which is what we needed before the start of the previous season as well and now we are addressing that. Garnacho was bad really really bad and Cunha from last season and before is 5 times the player Garnacho is with just the decision making and Strength. Attitude wise iam not sold on either of them. Hopefully we will wrap up Mbeumo. Just with these 2 signings the defenders and to an extent midfield has to take a step back unlike when they played against Garnacho + Rasmus + Bruno on the right wing(this is atrocious).

Above point means we should not the same amount of pressure in our MF and Defense, that means less shots for the keeper to tackle(pun intended). Yes MF and WingBacks are needed, but with our financial positions its not going to happen. But what iam worried is we aren't linked with any players in that posistion, if we think only proven players were to be signed then even Bruno was a gamble when we bought him. There are players out there who can clearly improve us and not sure why we aren't looking at them for club of size with the scouting network we have.

But i do feel we are going in the right direction, but very slowly I would like us to be more precise and faster in our approach.

No we did not create enough chances.

 

[Irwin99]

Not optimistic after that cup final defeat but let’s see how it goes.

 

[Amsterdam Devil]

Funny thing is there is a very high probability we start with those results or worse. It puts so much pressure on games v Fulham and Burnley that i fear we lose one of them.

Trying to be optimistic here……

If we somehow manage to beat Arsenal and win the ‘easier’ games against Fulham and Burnley, we could also be top of the league after three games with three wins.

After that City and Chelsea who had a hard summer with the CWC so maybe good to get them early in the season.

It’s the hope that kills you……..

 

[Martinez4midfield]

I kinda do think these preseason friendlies are important. Not that I think if you win them all it's going to translate into league success but only because last year's finish was so bad.

If they lose all the friendlies, struggling to score, or get completely outclassed think that will just wear on people's patience just little bit more if results don't go well early doors. I think everyone could use a bit of confidence frankly.

 

[Unam333]

We won’t get relegated next season, but we’re not making the top six either. I think the board is setting him up to fail. The transfer activity this summer has been horrendous — both the players coming in and those going out — and everything is moving at a snail’s pace. How is Amorim supposed to prepare his team properly when 99% of the squad is still the same as last season?

 

[Ronaldo's Love Child]

Didn't Hjolund score a super goal in pre-season before he got injured? Think it was against Arsenal too. Got me all wet in my knickers that, imagining of things to come. Alas. Anyway, an indication that pre-season results and performances cannot always be trusted to give an accurate enough prediction of how the season will go.

P.S. Please don't put me in the posts that feel sexual but aren't thread.

Fellas....take him away

 

[Rozay]

I have little confidence. I was sceptical as soon as the links broke, and everything I’ve seen so far has underlined my view that he was a terrible appointment.

For me, even if his ‘way of seeing football’ is successful, I’d still want him to go. From the day he joined us, it was always an inevitability that we will return to playing 4 at the back at some point. Irrespective of any success he may enjoy here, what he will not achieve is to permanently rewrite Manchester United traditions to where we become a 5 at the back club. So I don’t get the appointment and the required investment, we all know we’re going back, whether in 3 months or 3 years. This is not us, and will serve to be no more than a footnote on our journey. We will not play without wingers in 10 years, and I think there’s every chance that we won’t be playing without them in 10 months. We’ve set off down a weird road that I struggle to see any justification for. We’ve set off on it for Ruben Amorim, not even Guardiola or Ancelotti or someone.

As a guy, he seems great. As a manager/coach - he couldn’t be a worse fit for Manchester United based on what I’ve seen. I miss Solskjaer. He never really stood a chance here because the world decided he was out of his depth from the beginning, to the point where he almost wasn’t even a real football manager to most. He was winning games and scoring goals and people just made jokes of him simply telling everyone to smile. If HE had been Portuguese and come from Sporting and did what he did, he’d have been held in far higher regard.

At least we almost certainly will be better than last season. I hope he can surprise everyone and have a great season. But my disposition towards him is not based solely on my lack of confidence of him securing success, I am just against how he sets the team up, irrespective of result. The terrible results just compound it. I’ve seen many football teams win football matches and even trophies with 5 at the back. I’ve never looked at them and wanted us to model ourselves on them though.

 

[Ace Krampus]

I kinda do think these preseason friendlies are important. Not that I think if you win them all it's going to translate into league success but only because last year's finish was so bad.

If they lose all the friendlies, struggling to score, or get completely outclassed think that will just wear on people's patience just little bit more if results don't go well early doors. I think everyone could use a bit of confidence frankly.

The only way these preseason games will matter is if any number of people's knees explode during them.