Clutch Maguire rises for Amorim's finest hour

Lord Harry Maguire of Slabhead

When Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool 12 minutes from time you feared the worst.

For those of us watching at home, and for the 3,000 or so in the away end at Anfield, you could sense what was coming: United would s**t themselves in the face of a full blown onslaught from the wounded but hungry champions. It was an achingly familiar and unpleasant feeling from deep inside. United, as we have done so often, were going to snatch defeat when victory was within reach. 

Clutch Maguire comes up trumps 

Except, this time, it was different: United had their own battering ram in the familiar form of Harry Maguire's forehead. The man for the big occasion who has come in clutch so often rose again to head himself into Old Trafford folklore and end United's near decade-long wait for a win on enemy territory. An entire generation of United-supporting kids have never seen this before. 

Maguire's last six goals have all come in late and dramatic fashion: equaliser vs FC Porto (91 minutes), 93rd-minute winner against Leicester, the winner over Ipswich, THAT extra-time header vs Lyon, 89th-minute at Grimsby to level and now his 84th-minute intervention here. Surely this man deserves a statue...

Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie, Carlos Tevez, John O'Shea, Ryan Giggs and Diego Forlan. The list of United players to score winners here over the past few decades is not extensive but you can now add Maguire to it. 

Reward and vindication for Amorim 

This was United's finest result and performance of the Ruben Amorim era - and what better place to finally pick up the long-awaited second successive Premier League victory. For the first time in a long while, Amorim, the players, us fans and the club as a collective can puff out our chests with pride. 

Amorim's team selection raised eyebrows before kick off. Benjamin Sesko was back on the bench despite two goals in as many games and Leny Yoro, consistently impressive this season, was dropped. Amorim reverted to the same back three as the Brentford debacle and also included the weary Casemiro who played back-to-back 90 minutes for the Selecao, on the other side of the world. 

Yet for a man who has had so much criticism both on these pages and elsewhere (not all of it justified, in fairness), it was difficult to find fault here. He came with a game plan to pin Liverpool back and bypass their press and was rewarded with a superb display of contain and counter-attack. The public backing of his boss, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, may have allowed him a manager who has looked at odds with himself at times this season to breathe a little easier.

Whether Amorin does, indeed, last the three years Ratcliffe wants, or only another three months, both men will always have this to remember fondly. 
The first United manager to win here since 2016, succeeding where Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag failed. 

Granted, the Reds, clad in all white, rode their luck at times. Cody Gakpo struck both posts and the bar, whilst Senne Lammens saved superbly from Alexander Isak. You expect that at Anfield - Liverpool may look poor right now but they are the still the champions and this was Anfield. Sometimes you need a bit of fortune and we got it here. 

But United could, indeed probably should, have been a couple of goals ahead by the break when Bruno Fernandes fired wide from a good position.

But this was no smash and grab. We were well worth our win and responded superbly when Arne Slot's needs-must substitution changed the game and eventually brought the leveller. United kept their heads and Maguire used his at the crucial moment.

It is testament to Maguire's resilience and ability he is still a United player. Lesser beings would have thrown in the towel after losing the captaincy then seeing multiple attempts to sell him. Bullied by trolls and a much malinged figure of fun, But he never lets his head drop, always does his best and - in an age where nearly every metric of a player's game can be measured - Maguire has something that is simply priceless: character. May your apologies be louder than your disrespect. 

Amad, Mbeumo and Cunha lead the charge 

Bryan Mbeumo

United were spearheaded superbly by the magic of Bryan Mbeumo and the fleet-footed finesse of the in form Amad. The two dovetailed perfectly against Sunderland and Amorim deserves credit for keeping faith with the duo when perhaps the more defensive-minded Noussair Mazraoui would have made more sense. Mbeumo struck the quickest ever goal in this fixture and has looked the part since his summer signing from Brentford. 

As for Matheus Cunha: this lad was born to play for us. He may be yet to notch his first goal for United, but his multitude of assets was vital. He covered every blade of grass, knitted everything together, the ball stuck to him like glue, had the most touches of any United player, and he was a constant thorn in Liverpool's side. His ball carrying and physicality is elite and he celebrated the award of a late free-kick like a winning goal. What a player. 

Despite his, and our, critics, there are signs the tide is turning for Amorim's United. Into the top half and only three points off both our vanquished rivals and fourth place. Of course, we have to back this up now with a win against a Brighton side victorious on their last three trips to Old Trafford. But - the Grimsby and Brentford aberrations aside, we've not been nearly as bad as has been made out. 

And so United have thrown down the gauntlet and passed the ultimate test. This team and the manager have proved they can do it, we are capable and have in it us to pull off a result like this one. The challenge now is to do so on a regular basis. 

He won't turn the Reds around... Ruben Amorim

 It's time to be honest and say it like it is: I have lost faith in Ruben Amorim. 

Ruben Amorim

I like the guy - he's articulate, carries himself well, speaks sense, genuinely does seem to care and has strong charisma and charm.
That's all well and good, and would stand you in good stead in most other jobs. But the pressure cooker, goldfish bowl world of professional football management is not 'most other jobs'. Amorim is paid very handsomely to win football matches, and even win some of them well, but - right now - he is failing spectacularly to do so. 

He is clearly an intelligent man and coach, which makes the nature of some of his decisions all the more baffling. There is no evidence of progress, we're not building anything and there are no tangible signs of improvement to point at.  

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko are promising and could prove to be the best trio of signings United have made in years: but even their bright starts to life at Old Trafford are threatening to become swallowed up by the banquet of ineptitude they find themselves at.

It can't be a question of giving Amorim time - time for what, exactly? You can back him on hypotheticals but very little hard evidence. I've used the Mikel Arteta argument (he finished 8th twice before he started to make an imprint on Arsenal) but, as most Gooners will tell you, even then there were the green shoots of a beautiful flower growing in the right direction. There were baby steps towards where they are now. I really wanted it to work, I wanted him to come good and, as the chant from the Stretford End says: 'turn the Reds around'. But I've seen enough: we're only going one way under this manager. 

I don't even mind not winning if, at least, you can see something to get you off your seat: some flair, some artistry, a bit of magic or even good old fashioned 'handbags'. But there is nothing. Absolutely nothing to keep your attention when watching United at the moment. 

We're not going to win every game 6-0; I don't think anyone expects that. But we do expect to have something to back, something to believe in. Something to make us believe what he told us: the good times are coming.Amorim's steadfast refusal to shy away from his contentious 3-4-2-1 formation is only part of the problem. 

Bruno Fernandes flailing as a no.8 in midfield; the continued selections of serial losers Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Manuel Ugarte, the misuse of our best Academy graduate in years, constantly subbing one centre back for another, the omission of Leny Yoro. Amorim's charge sheet is lengthy and continues to grow. It's the same mistakes we've seen for the best part of a year. He is not learning from them or taking any responsibility. Nine wins in the equivalent of virtually a full Premier League 38-game season (and not one of them in succession) is abhorrent for any club let alone this one. 

People in any walk of life have to adapt to the world around them: you put a coat on when its raining, you might get a bus if your train is cancelled. You might be moved from a job in the office to a job on the shop floor, or in a warehouse. Yet you make the best of the situation in front of you; sometimes you have to think on your feet or even maybe take action you'd rather not. 

It's the same for football managers: you have to adapt to the squad you have and take its strength and weaknesses, its limitations and its variables, into account. You have to find the best solution to solve the problems: Amorim either can't or won't and is sacking himself as a result. 

Xabi Alonso took Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double with his thrilling, swashbuckling 3-4-1-2 set up. Only Atalanta prevented Alonso's unfashionable Die Schwarzroten from doing a historic treble. That success earned Alonso a crack at the biggest job in world football at the Bernabeu, and since going there, he has gone from strength to strength. Alonso may have proved that a three-at-the-back formation can, and does, work. But, even in his short time in the Real Madrid hotseat, he has regularly changed and tweaked his tactical set-up playing just about anything from a 3-4-3 to a 4-3-3. You could argue that Real Madrid have such an embarrasment of riches the manager's blueprint shouldn't matter, and you could be right, but the point is Alonso has shown a willingness to adapt to his surroundings. 

The players Amorim has at his disposal have never been asked to play this way.  Too many of them are tasked with jobs they are simply not cut out for. I just cannot see how this is ever going to work and when its obvious something isn't working, and the person primarily responsible isn't going to change it, there can only be one result. 

Quite why INEOS looked at Amorim, a man wedded to a system United have never used, and thought it would work in England with these players, is beyond me. It is another question mark against their reign of terror in the corridor of power. 

He has gone from the most exciting young manager in Europe, a manager with the highest win rate in Sporting's history, to the one with United's lowest. Amongst ever-present Premier League sides since his arrival, United are bottom of the pile. 

Yet you know the craziest thing of all? Amorim doesn't even need to change his formation to improve this. All he has to do is put Fernandes further up as one of the 10s and drop Mainoo in alongside Casemiro and you would see an instant uptick. He could still play his beloved 3-4-2-1 but it would be more mobile, more disciplined and harder to beat. We would have a modicum of control with Mainoo, Fernandes would flourish in his natural position and we'd at least string a few results together. The answer is literally staring him in the face. 

United signed Serge Lammens in January: I understand not throwing him into high profile clashes with City and Chelsea as that's tough for any new players to come into. But surely a game at Brentford, a club known for their set piece prowess, would have been the ideal scenario for a debut? Bayindir is an accident waiting to happen and is worse than Andre Onana - United really did have the worst pair of keepers in the league. A far cry from the days of David de Gea and Sergio Romero. 

The sands of time are surely ticking with Amorim's United hurtling towards another season in the trenches. 

Grimsby Town vs Man United: Amorim to make changes but pick strong side

Ruben Amorim takes his United side to the Lincolnshire coast for a first meeting with Grimsby Town in 77 years. 
The Reds will hope to avoid being all at sea against the fourth tier Mariners in the unchartered waters of the Carabao Cup second round. 
United are still searching for a first win of the campaign and this tie against League Two opposition will provide a perfect opportunity to get our season up and running. 

There are expected to be several changes with many of United's big names given the night off, but Amorim is likely to still select a relatively strong side.

Here is how we think the Reds will line up at Blundell Park. 

Home of Grimsby Town FC, Blundell Park

GK - Tom Heaton

Andre Onana is out of favour and the unconvincing Altay Bayindir has started the first two league games. The 39-year-old veteran has started only three games since returning for his second spell at Old Trafford - two of which came in this competition during United's run to Wembley which ultimately ended in glory. 
Heaton shouldn't expect a busy night against a Grimsby side who will likely defend in numbers, so this is ideal for him to get a run out

RCB - Tyler Fredricson

The young defender caught the eye on the left hand side of the three-man defence when he made a long-awaited debut last term. With United minds on Bilbao, Fredricson impressed against Wolves and Brentford and has stayed at the club despite being linked to a move away. I'd like to see him get another go here.

CB - Harry Maguire

The senior man in United's back three, Maguire will start after two brief substitute appearances. With regular skipper Bruno Fernandes to be given the night off, expect Maguire to be named as stand in skipper for this one. 

LCB - Ayden Heaven

Came on late against Fulham and, with Mathijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro rested, will come into the defence. Like his senior partner Maguire, this will be Heaven's first start of the season and he will lay down his claim to displace the current Yoro/De Ligt/Shaw triumvirate. Heaven impressed in his debut campaign at Old Trafford and this will be a good opportunity for him to get minutes in the legs.

RWB - Noussair Mazraoui

Missed the latter part of pre-season and the first two competitive fixtures with a knock, but Amorim has said the Moroccan full-back is close to a return. This tie could come too soon but, if fit, it's a good platform for Mazraoui to get a run out and up to speed. One of the few players to consistently impress last term, Mazraoui's return provides United will strength in depth in an important area of the team

CM - Kobbie Mainoo

There has been much furore over Mainoo's absence from the side against Arsenal and Fulham. He hasn't even played a minute amidst doubts over his future. But we expect him to get his chance in this one with Casemiro and Fernandes to get the night off. He's better than a rotation option against a League Two side, but  - if he impresses - might he force his way back into Amorim's thinking? Surely this is the game for Mainoo. 

CM - Manuel Ugarte

After chaotic cameos in two sub appearances, let's hope we see a more controlled and composed Ugarte here. He should see plenty of the ball, and his link up with Mainoo will be key with United expected to monopolise possession and break down Grimsby. Largley seen as one of Mainoo's rivals for this position in midfield, with the pair having played alongside each other only ten times last season. This will be the eleventh and the under-pressure Uruguyuan needs a good showing. 

LWB - Diego Leon

The most unheralded of United's four summer signings, Leon is another South American export hoping to impress. Expected to ply his trade in the youth set up with an eventual pathway to senior football, Leon will be eyeing this tie for his Reds bow. Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu will be rested, paving the way for Leon to become United's latest debutant. It will give us a first look at the young Paraguyuan - the first man from that nation to turn out for our first team. 

CAM - Amad

Yet to hit the heights of last season, Amad came on against Arsenal but was hooked early at Fulham. He will operate further forward at Blundell Park charged with sparking United's rotated attack into life. The young Ivorian was one of the very few bright spots in our dismal season last term, and will again look to be tormentor-in-chief. Like some of his colleagues, Amad will hope a strong performance here will help him kick on after a frustrating start to the campaign. 

CAM - Joshua Zirkzee

With big money summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo not needed here, Zirkzee will get his first minutes of the season. The Dutch forward can play through the middle or in a deeper playmaking role. Zirkzee was much malinged during his early months as a United player but enjoyed something of a renaissance in the second half of last season. Although not prolific, Zirkzee will fancy his chances of a profitable night's work against a fourth tier defence. Worked hard to turn around his fortunes with his movement and link up play impressive and will surely get his opportunity here. 

ST - Benjamin Sesko 

Although United have the likes of Chido Obi waiting in the wings, we think Sesko will come in for his first start in Red. The giant Slovenian needs minutes and momentum as he gets up to speed with the English game after two sub appearances in which he we did not see the best of him. Once that first goal goes in an opposition net, Sesko's confidence will rise and he will be an entirely different proposition. This Carabao Cup tie provides an ideal opportunity for that impact to be made and put him in the picture for a first league start against Burnley on Saturday.

A rotated Reds side but still a team with plenty of experience and one that should be strong enough to get the job done. The bench will feature several youngsters - perhaps the likes of Godwill Kukonki, Harry Amass, Obi and the Fletcher brothers Tyler and Jack. There may well be a few first team names there too with Cunha, Fernandes and Casemiro et al. Just in case... 

Prediction: You can never safely predict the outcome of a United match, but surely even we cannot mess this one up. We think it could be tight and scrappy for an hour but then Grimsby will tire and United's superior quality shines through. Amorim's side to win it

Grimsby Town 0-3 Man Utd 

Kobbie Mainoo is a player United should build the team around

There should be a simple solution to Ruben Amorim's midfield malaise at Manchester United. 

For all the talk of a megamoney move for Carlos Baleba, the answer to United's issues is right in front of us - sitting on the bench in 20-year-old Kobbie Mainoo. 

He is a player United should be looking to build our team around for the next 10, 15, 20 years - a fantastic, generational talent and the future of that United midfield. Instead, if the rumours are to be believed, we are looking to cash in on him and let him go. That would be absolutely criminal and the worst decision this club has made for decades. INEOS risk losing the fans for good if they sanction the sale of one of our best academy graduates in the past decade. 

A little more than two years on, 
these four players may have left the club 
by the time the window shuts 

I cannot tell you how angry this has made me - in what world should Mainoo be one of the first out the door. The maelstrom surrounding Mainoo could well turn out to be exactly that - with only a week left of the transfer window, there remains a very good chance of the man who's been at this club since he was six not going anywhere.  But the fact it is even a topic of conversation is worrying. 

Not only would we be dispensing with one of the finest products of Carrington's conveyor belt, but delivering a strike to the heart of Manchester United's ethos - the trust, belief and development in youth. With Mainoo forced to the fringes of the first team with a World Cup looming, the timing could not be worse. 

Mainoo has not played a minute in United's opening two games of the campaign against Arsenal and Fulham with the unconvincing Manuel Ugarte coming on ahead of him. Mainoo played only the closing seconds of the Europa League final in Bilbao. It is not even certain he will get a start on Wednesday when the Reds visit fourth tier Grimsby in the Carabao Cup. Amorim does need appear to rate him and it says a lot about Mainoo's current place in the pecking order. 

Unless Fernandes is moved into one of the no.10 positions currently occupied by summer recruits Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, it is difficult to see Amorim dropping his key man and captain. 

Mainoo's path at United is blocked, with Amorim's comments that he's competing with captain Bruno Fernandes for a spot in midfield suggesting he's not getting near the XI any time soon. Never mind the fact they are completely different types of players in different positions, a Man United midfield with Mainoo in it offers an instant upgrade. Why can't Mainoo and Fernandes play in a double pivot with Casemiro or Ugarte? 

In all honesty, I would rather Fernandes, Amad or any other player leave the club before Mainoo. If it does happen, I would be Amorim out because any project without Mainoo at its centre is one I cannot get behind. If the answer is to sell Mainoo because he doesn't fit the system, then the system and the manager are the problem. 

A player with the quality and ability of Mainoo must be integrated into this team. Of course, no player is ever undroppable but, off the back of his scintillating breakthrough season, he should be one of the first names on the team sheet. Particularly given United's struggles in controlling the midfield and dictating games. Fernandes is not an 8, but Amorim kept him on the pitch and even put Mason Mount alongside him when Benjamin Sesko came on at Fulham. With United only playing one game a week, opportunities to rotate will be minimal.

How did it all come to this for a player who already has quite the CV? Ever since his magnificent full debut at Everton in November 2023 where he bossed the space between defence and midfield, he has been touted as United's next big star. 

That star only continued to shine as he ran the game at Anfield, catching the eye as the ultimate big game player. His highlights reel is impressive: that 98th-minute curling winner at Wolves, another screamer in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford, and dragging United - kicking and screaming - back from the dead on that famous night against Lyon. Then there was his goal and man of the match showing in the FA Cup final and his impressive Euros campaign, culminating in getting the nod against Spain as England finished runners-up. 

Mainoo's future remains uncertain but United must do whatever it takes to keep him. 

Welcome to Manchester United, Benjamin Sesko

Manchester United look set to complete the signing of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko from under the noses of Newcastle, as per BBC. 
Sesko will become Ruben Amorim's fourth summer signing and will slot in as the spearhead of his new-look attacking trident with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo completing the triumvirate. 
Eddie Howe's Magpies seemed to be in pole position to land the lad from Leipzig as a replacement for wantaway star Alexander Isak. But - like a long distance runner in a 5,000m race - United sat in, bided their time and overtook their rivals with a late bid in the home straight.

Benjamin Sesko to Man United 

There can be no doubt 75m is a lot of money for a 22-year-old Bundesliga striker with 39 goals in two season. But there can also be no argument United are in desperate need of reinforcements having scored a record low 44 league goals last term. So whilst Sesko's hefty price tag and, therefore, increased expectations, will carry a lot of weight, he surely cannot be any worse.

As always, the Reds have been linked with a series of strikers all summer long - from the sublime (Viktor Gyokeres) to the ridiculous (Nicolas Jackson), via Ollie Watkins, Hugo Ekitite and Victor Osimhen. 
Sesko has attracted United's admiring glances for a couple of years now, but it was only once Newcastle entered the room that things gathered pace.

You can criticise INEOS for a fair bit of behind-the-scenes chaos at Old Trafford, but Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and Christopher Vivell have played this one to perfection. An official bid was only sent in for Sesko once it became apparent he wanted to sign for us, and from there, it has become a formality. Although Newcastle's initial bid was slightly higher than United's first offer, they have since matched it and Sesko has eyes only for Old Trafford. The stage is set for Manchester United's new centre forward to enter stage left. 

A switch to Newcastle offers Sesko Champions League football and arguably a club on a more stable footing. But despite the lure of the St James Park riches, the pull of Manchester United was too great, as per Sky Sports. The chance to lead the line for one of the world's most iconic and famous club - and the opportunity to bring us out of the doldrums - ultimately came up trumps. Who's that team we call United?! 

It is quite remarkable how a side with the worst attacking output in the league last season now has a front three fit to grace any of Europe's elite. The arrivals of two of the Premier League's best attackers in Cunha and Mbeumo, behind the imminent Slovenian, provides an instant upgrade for Amorim's United. With Amad, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount - who caught the eye in pre-season - also at the manager's disposal, there can be no excuses this time around.

Of course, this feels like a path United have walked down before. A young, emerging striker from Europe coming to Old Trafford for a large price tag as a relative unknown? For Sesko in 2025, read Rasmus Hojlund in 2023. It is with a touch of irony that the former is already seen a replacement for the latter. But there is no reason why the two cannot operate in tandem - indeed, perhaps the arrival of Sesko can spur Hojlund on to greater heights as we approach World Cup year.  

Hojlund of course could still leave, either on loan or permanently, but it's believed he wants to stay and fight for his place. Either way, it feels like Hojlund's United career is already in the 'last chance' saloon: a damning indictment on a player we spent so much on only two years ago. We can only hope Sesko does not go the same way. 

Benjamin Sesko

What is the true value of a striker? Do you invest in an experienced no.9 with a prolific goalscoring record like Haaland, or do you buy in to the future where a player can grow and learn into the role, like we did with Hojlund and like we're doing with Sesko? Delap at Chelsea is another example of an up and coming player tasked with leading the line for a Premier League giant. 

Sesko's signing continues the trend of European strikers making big money moves to the Premier League this summer: Delap to Chelsea, Gyokeres to Arsenal and Hugo Ekitite to Liverpool. Isak could be pending. 

So what are we getting with this lad? A player with 39 goals in 87 games across two seasons at Leipzig, Sesko plied his trade in Austria before his switch to the Bundesliga, and plundered 29 in 79 for Red Bull rivals Salzburg. A tall, rangy striker at 6ft 5, he is good in the air and, unusually for a tall man, his pace and technical ability makes him one of the most highly-rated players in Europe. A player with 41 caps for his country, he would become the first Slovenian to don the red of United. 

Welcome to Manchester United, Benjamin Sesko. It's going to be quite the ride...

Five strikers Man United could sign this summer

Viktor Gyokeres of 
Sporting CP

Manchester United are looking to sign a top quality centre-forward in the summer with Ruben Amorim reportedly losing faith and patience with Rasmus Hojlund.

This side needs a goalscorer but the lack of European football means the Reds face a battle to lure the continent’s top talents to Old Trafford.

With Bruno Fernandes eyeing up a possible move to the riches of the Saudi league, United could have a large chunk of money to spend on a replacement.

Here are five strikers the Reds could sign this summer

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting)

The hottest property in Europe right now, Gyokeres has plundered 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting. He surely will not be with the Portuguese champions much longer, with every major side on the continent queuing for his signature. He will come at a heavy price, though, and surely a player of his quality will want to showcase his talent in the Champions League. His transfer makes the most sense as a player whom has played under Ruben Amorim at Sporting, is proven at the top level and fits this system like a glove.  It’s been a remarkable rise for Gyokeres – from Brighton squad player to one of the best in the business.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli, on loan at Galatasaray)

Another player in high demand, Osimhen has long been linked with a move to United. This move has more leverage than any potential deal for Gyokeres as Napoli want Alejandro Garnacho. United’s wantaway Argentine could be used as a makeweight to bring the Nigerian to Old Trafford, but without European football, United may struggle to compete with several other leading lights in the battle for Osimhen. A more all round attacking threat than his Sporting counterpart, his pace, strength and athleticism would provide some much-needed physicality to United’s attack.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)

Different in style to both Gyokeres and Osimhen, Mateta’s starring role in Palace’s FA Cup win capped his finest season for the Eagles. A typical ‘battering ram’ of a centre-forward, Mateta’s assist for Eberechi Eze showcased everything the powerful Frenchman has to offer – he bullies defenders, runs in behind, can hold the ball up with a decent touch and gets on the end of balls into the box. Basically, everything Hojlund isn’t.

I would take Mateta at United in a heartbeat – proven in the Premier League, a player to have thrived in the 3-4-3 Amorim identikit and an instant upgrade in attack. Having gone down in south London folklore for his part in their FA-Cup exploits, the time has come for Mateta to move on from Palace’s perennial mid-tablers – even as they embark on their debut European campaign next term.

Mika Biereth (AS Monaco)

Biereth never played for the Gunners during his time in London (although he did make the first team bench), but has been a man reborn since moving to the Principality. Having hit 14 in 25 at Sturm Graz, the Dane continued his prolific season at Monaco with 13 goals in 18 games to fire them to a third place finish in Ligue 1. Like all of the other strikers on our list, Biereth is certain of Champions League football next season if he stays at Monaco, and any transfer would be his third in twelve months. Physical and quick, Biereth scored a hat-trick of hat-tricks in February alone and ten goals in as many games for Monaco saw him earn a first Denmark call

up. Hojlund’s compatriot and doppelganger has scored goals for fun on the continent and continues to go from strength to strength. A move back to the Premier League surely beckons on his current trajectory.

Hugo Ekitite (Eintract Frankfurt)

A relative unknown outside of Frankfurt until this season, Ekitite’s impressive numbers have attracted many a suitor. Despite losing star forward Omar Marmoush to City in January, unfashionable Frankfurt finished third in the Bundelisga, their highest position in 13 years, thanks to Ekitite’s 22 goals in 48 games – a decent return for a 22 year old in his first full season.
That form has catapulted him into the spotlight and caught the eye of several Premier League suitors. An intelligent and hard-working forward, Ekitite plies his trade both as a ‘traditional’ number nine but also as a ‘between the lines’ forward.
Like Hojlund, Ekitite is still young and has no Premier League experience so he’s a left field alternative with Amorim ideally looking for a more proven striker. He is expected to leave Frankfurt this summer with Newcastle and Chelsea also showing interest in the Frenchman. But the chance to turn United’s fortunes around and take us back to the top is still an attractive prospect and you can be sure United will be in the conversation when it comes to Ekitite. Given they sold Marmoush for 59m, Ekitite is likely to carry a similar price tag.

Welcome to the new reality of Man Utd in 2025

It is the morning after the night before. Barely 24 hours on from events in Bilbao and I'm struggling to make sense of it all.
What has become of the club I've loved since I first set eyes on it at six years old? It was not supposed to be like this. We were not supposed to go this low. I didn't think it could get any worse last season when we finished eighth. This is not the club I fell in love with attending that first game with my uncle almost three decades ago. I've never felt more dispirited or disconnected. To be honest, I'm at the point where I don't really care any more. 

Of course, as a fan you have to take the thick with the thin and there are, ultimately, bigger things in life than a team losing a game of football.

Bleak days ahead for Man Utd

But this seems and feels like so much more. So much worse than that. A team can lose finals, of course, and Gdansk in 2021 hurt. But at least then there was a fillip - we were unlucky to lose to Villarreal in that final and had a decent domestic season. We had the cushion of European football the next season and were going in the right direction. It stung but we could see a way forward.

Four years on and this defeat to the Hotspurs of Tottenham - a club infamous for its allergy to silverware - hurts like nothing I've ever had before. It will sting for the next few weeks and into the summer. I will still be hurting when next season's European competitions kick off without United. Even if we had stunk the gaff out in the Champions League, the financial benefits alone would have been worthwhile.

Instead, we are left with nothing. No European football, no Viktor Gyokeres or Rayan Cherki. Inflated ticket prices and the prospect of all our rivals strengthening whilst we get weaker. This is bleak, ladies and gents. It's very bleak. I can't see how we improve for next season. I don't expect us to be anywhere near the top half of the Premier League again in 2025-26 either. Who would have thought we'd be here when Erik ten Hag was sacked. Since then, United have collected only 28 points, slipped to 16th in the league with ten wins and lost a make of break European final to Spurs.

These players will go down in infamy

The initial grief and shock has come and gone, and my sadness has turned to rage. I'm absolutely furious this has been allowed to happen. My anger towards the Glazers, bubbling beneath the surface for 20 years, has now reached boiling point. This is all their fault. They got the club into this mess through criminal negligence and financial mismanagement. I'm fuming at the players for binning the league off to focus on this competition then turning in the most apathetic, anodyne and arrythmic showing I've ever seen from any side in a major final. The final criminal act of negligence in a season of infamy. This squad will forever be remembered as the United side that resided over our worst season in living memory and lost to Tottenham in a final. 

A touch over 17,000 Reds spent thousands of pounds in getting to Bilbao - some without tickets or beds - taking the proverbial trains, planes and automobiles for one of the biggest matches in United's history. That performance was an insult, a disgrace, to every single one of those fans who made the journey. at great personal cost and expense. The players on the field never came close to matching the fans passion, energy and dedication. The 'Bilbao or bust' tightrope spun from United's grasp at the final hurdle. As the minutes ticked down and United fought against the dying of the light, I never like we were going to score. 

Reds miss out on continental feast

United will be without European football of any kind in a season for only the second time in my life. The last time was 2014-15 under Louis van Gaal - before then it was 1989/90 in the fledgling early days of Alex Ferguson. Fans, players and coaching staff will have to adapt to the new reality of playing oen game a week. 

The counter argument is no European football might actually help: it's not like we were going to win it and, now, Ruben Amorim can spend more time fine tuning his methods in training. But there are also significant drawbacks - the lack of 'pull' when approaching new potential new signings, far less TV, broadcast and commercial revenue and an escalation of our already dire financial situation. 

There needs to be clarity from the club now. Where do we go from here? What is the INEOS vision for the summer? What does the future look like? There will be sales - Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund will likely leave and don't rule out Bruno Fernandes going either. 

United need a better attack, a better goalkeeper with Andre Onana still not convincing two seasons in, and better options at wing-back. I admire Amorim's brutal honesty, but he is a struggling employee who needs clarification and support from those above and around him. 

It's a Heartache 

United are hurtling headlong towards financial and footballing oblivion and everyone seems powerless to prevent it. It will be tough to take as we step out into the wilderness and many years in the doldrums before the beast stirs again. Often, the only way out of situations like this is to simply plough on through.
This is a harsh lesson: no one is above rebuke, no one is above the fickle hand of complacency and misalignment. What we're seeing and living through is the culmination of two decades worth of treachery, negligence and abhorrent decision making at every turn. 

It is both apt and painfully ironic Amorim is serenaded with our own terrace take of the Bonnie Tyler hit 'It's a Heartache'. Right now, our hearts certainly are breaking at the state of our beloved football club. As for Amorim bringing the glory days again.... that, too, looks a long long way in the future. 

Where on earth do Manchester United go from here?

Well it actually happened. The unthinkable, the unfathomable. Manchester United were beaten in the game they simply could not afford to lose.

After writing off a sinking domestic season in December to go all in for the riches of Europa League glory, with the pot of gold on the other side, United went to Bilbao and blew it. Blew it against a side even worse than us that does not win these types of games. United’s players, staff and fans will wake up this morning not quite knowing how damaging this will be.

United will struggle to get their signings

For one thing, we can forget any notion of Viktor Gyokeres and Rayan Cherki now. United will sign Matheus Cunha, whose goals and physicality will improve our toothless attack. Liam Delap will probably come in to complement Joshua Zirkzee. Rasmus Hojlund’s self inflicted fate remains unclear.

There will be a lower than usual summer spend. Certainly lower than necessary. An inability to move as many players off the books, meaning a reliance on the same squad next season. New ways for INEOS to make us fans feel the pinch – schemes to move them, to raise prices further and monetize things that previously were not. We will only watch as our rivals get stronger and we get weaker.

Ruben Amorim is not wholly to blame for this mess. He inherited a shambles of a squad in the middle of a shambolic season and barely had the funds to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce. He does deserve the summer and the start of next season, but his credit in the bank is fast running out.

Amorim not entirely to blame - but has to do better

Amorim got it wrong, badly wrong, in that final. United struggle against opponents who make a match even remotely physical. Yet Manuel Ugarte, the one player we’ve got who can handle that sort of contest, was nowhere to be seen. He had to start alongside Casemiro, who looked a shadow of the player that has come in clutch so often in this European run. Instead, he did not play a minute. 

Each stride United have taken to get here - from the first game against Twente to the thrill-a-minute classic against Lyon - count for nothing now. 

The Mason Mount selection failed. Alejandro Garnacho should have started. The substitutions came too late and there was no attempt to change anything and gain any modicum of control in a game that was slipping from our grasp. At the very least, we had to neutralise Spurs midfield, but failed to do so. Kobbie Mainoo, man of the match in the FA Cup final, came on with only minutes left. Luke Shaw looked unfit, off the pace and out of his depth at this level. Amorim ultimately shied away from what got him, and us, this far. He will go away and will regret the mistakes made. This will hurt for a long time. 

Managers can make mistakes. Pep Guardiola got it wrong in City’s final loss to Palace. It does not mean he should be sacked or leave immediately. Top level sport doesn’t work like that.

United facing uncertain future - and let the fans down 

From a purely sporting perspective, no one would have been expecting this United to challenge for the top honours. Nobody will expect us to qualify for it next season, either, with INEOS and this abhorrent group having resided over the worst season in the club’s modern history.

This was a match in which United came into at a crossroads: win it, and something beautiful could bloom. Lose it, and United’s road to recovery would be that bit more arduous, that bit more difficult.

This was more than just losing a game of football. This was a manager in desperate need of renewal after overseeing some of the worst performances this club has ever seen. It was a squad of players who have delivered those performances, many of them on massively inflated contracts (to go with their equally inflated egos) that reflect the size of the club they play for and not their contribution to it.

As ever, United’s magnificent band of travelling supports made the pilgrimage to Bilbao by any means possible – boats, trains, planes and automobiles – and were ‘rewarded’ by the worst display I’ve ever seen from any team in a European final.

The players do not deserve the unstinting loyalty and love bestowed upon them by the best fans in the world.

Spurs were not much better but did what they had to do. Their midfield beefed up by the presence and physicality of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Betancur and Pape Sarr, Spurs made this like a Premier League game and United’s feeble follies had no answer. It meant Ange Postecoglou’s fitful side have beaten us four times in the same season. When United needed players to step up and help out workaholic captain Bruno Fernandes, there were none. Losing to the worst Tottenham team in a generation, on the way to their first silverware in a generation. These players will carry that with them forever. For a good few of them, there is no coming back from it. 

All eyes on INEOS as summer looms 

The ownership group have suggested they want a United side capable of challenging for the title by 2028. Strangely, at times we have not looked far away but the chasm between us and Liverpool and Arsenal – even the likes of Newcastle. Forest and Villa – tells a different, sobering story. But yet, United have lost so many games 1-0 in a dire domestic league there is enough evidence to suggest only minor improvements, namely in goal and up front, are needed. It is a bizarre and baffling paradox.

And then there is Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his merry band of men in the corridors of power.

With no Champions League revenue to pay off the debt, Ratcliffe and his committee need to take responsibility instead of foisting it on to others who have done nothing but shown unrelenting loyalty.  He made a choice to partly purchase a football club and reached an agreement to stagger the nature of a full sale; he ultimately took control of decisions which impacted the lives of the human beings devoted to the club – our club.
It is nobody’s responsibility except his.

What needs to be fixed can only be done so by removal of the debt. That is Manchester United’s Apocalypse now… a can which has been kicked down the road until last night’s loss.
The cost must be burdened by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, or he should step aside and allow someone else to do it. Before another manager, another player, another supporter or another employee pays the price. 

Manchester United Basque in the glory… but the job is not done yet

United face Tottenham in an all English 
final on May 21

Follow, follow, follow...

And so it has come to pass. With the Basques of Bilbao conquered in more-convincing-than-expected fashion, Ruben Amorim and his unlikely lads will get their shot at season-saving redemption.

It would be some salvation – not only a third major trophy in three seasons (quite something for the worst United side in my lifetime), but the riches of Champions League football and the financial security it brings.

It wouldn’t, and shouldn’t, excuse the abominable car crash that has been the wreckage of the Reds season. Lowest ever league position, points tally, fewest number of wins in the Premier League era, and most losses (with three games left). But United will be back in the ancient northern coastal city for the final on 21 May. It would allow Amorim to recruit the right player profile for his system and new signings are more likely to want to join us – and for us to be able to afford them – with the Reds dining at the top table. It would also mean we have had a better campaign than Arsenal, yet again. The worst Manchester United in my lifetime has reached a fourth major final in as many seasons, and will bid to win a third major trophy in a row. 

You could argue Amorim would benefit from no European football next term, to go without it would actually help him and us: it would give him more time to instil his methodology and fine-tune his obligatory three-at-the-back system. Fewer matches means Amorim will have longer to work with the players at Carrington.

Unbeaten United's deeds of derring do 

Somehow, we got here. United’s dramatic high-wire act has been quite the ride. From the opening draw with Twente in the last knocking of Erik ten Hag’s tenure, to the brink of European glory. United have been in ‘do or die’ survival mode since Christmas, and have cleared every hurdle from Twente to Bilbao via Porto, Fenerbahce, Lyon and Sociedad - the only unbeaten side left in each of the three European competitions.

But why? Why this contrast between the team’s league woes and our other wordly deeds of derring do? None of us will know for sure, but there are a few potential factors: The fact the players gave up on the league months ago, the fact Europe is less physically demanding and a slower intensity, and Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation is continental in style and seems to suit the rigours of this marathon European voyage.

Not many people gave us a chance against Bilbao with United the rank outsiders against Spain’s fourth-best side. With the final in their home city, there seemed a sense of fate for the Basques to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of playing in a European final on home soil. But United, as we have done so often, tore up the script and wrote a totally new one. United saved their two best performances of the season for a continental semi-final. Make it make sense.

But our job is not done yet, the mission not yet completed. We still have one more big assignment left.

The finishing line of one of United’s greatest ever acts of escapology may be within sight, but we have not crossed it. The last couple of miles are always the most difficult.

Amad Diallo will be fit for the final

Reds to face familiar foes in Bilbao showdown

Standing in our way are struggling divisional rivals Tottenham Hotspur in an-all Premier League dust up. It’s the worst case scenario: A club that does not win trophies under a manager who always wins one in his second season. They are in exactly the same position as us: one of English football’s biggest names languishing in unchartered territory in the lower reaches of the table. Hull City got to an FA Cup final and finished 16^th, Wigan did so and were relegated so it has happened before, but certainly not in a European final and not with both sides having completely stunk the gaff out. It’s a funny old game.

A club without a major trophy since 2008 – one of the longest droughts in football, and, like us, needing victory to save their season and qualify for the Champions League. This will be torture, hell on earth, and I’m going to hate every second of it. Gdansk level of pain x 50. Imagine being THAT club… no, let’s not go there. I don’t want to think about it but can’t stop doing so.
It will feel like a Premier League game and will be played like one against a side whom have doubled us and also knocked out the Carabao Cup…. fourth time lucky, right?

90 minutes to save our season 

And so it all comes down to this. The San Mames stadium in Bilbao in two weeks time and the chance to redeem ourselves. The jeopardy is high, the stakes are higher. A 59-game season decided in a single blink of the eye: 90 nervous and nail biting minutes to determine reap or ruin. A season’s worth of blood, sweat and tears settled by a single match.

The Europa League has grown in importance as United’s season has lurched from one catastrophe to another. It started out as a minor inconvenience but could be the most important silverware United have won in years.

Follow, follow, follow cause’ United are going to Bilbao. Let the piss boiling commence.

 

United's Lyon resurrection an Easter miracle for the ages

When Alexandre Lacazette stroked in ten man Lyon's fourth goal from the penalty spot I was ready to give this all up.
Upset and broken more than ever before, I felt like turning my back and walking out on a club I have loved since I was six. Too much pain, too much heartache, too much angst - it didn't seem worth it any more. I was done. I didn't want to go through this any more. As thousands of United fans headed for the exits, I too stormed out my local pub in a fit of pique to give myself space and to come to terms with one of the most heartbreaking losses I've ever had to suffer. It felt like the end of a lifelong relationship. Thanks for the memories Man Utd, but it's time to say goodbye. I should have known better. Sir Alex Ferguson and the halycon days of yesteryear may be long gone, but sometimes - just sometimes - United conjure those memories. 

Manchester United's Easter miracle

At this time of year Christians throughout the world celebrate the miracle of new life. The miracle of a man rising from the dead to breathe new life into humanity. A saviour sent from above to rid us of sin. 

As this abhorrent collection of wasters stank the place out to snatch defeat from almost certain victory, United needed one such miracle. It seemed not even Jesus could save us. We were, pardon the pun, dead and buried. Yet just when you have seen it all, football finds new ways to make you agape, make you scratch your eyes in wonder - imagine not liking the Beautiful Game. There are people out there who don't like football. From 2-0 up and cruising into the semi finals with 20 minutes to go, to 2-4 down and five minutes away from elimination. There seemed no way back as United were inexplicably pegged back by a Lyon team you would never know were a man down. 

Step forward, Harry Maguire - United's very own Messiah. Just like Jesus, he rose when all seemed lost. Maguire, playing as a makeshift centre-forward, dragged United from the dead to bring us back to life and complete his own personal resurrection. Crucified in the press and the public, Maguire completed one of Manchester United's greatest ever comebacks and his own personal redemption arc. With the purgatory of penalties looming - five weeks on from our FA Cup KO from the spot - Maguire's winner will go down in the annals as one of the most extraordinary ever. Now, Sir Jacob Harry, where would you like the statue? You know the thing? I missed it. I missed the winner. Still in a rage, I had gone home and disconnected. I should have known better really. 

What on earth happened last night...

It's the morning after the night before. I've had four and a half hours sleep, and my head is on three different planets. Even for a club that has 'seen it all and won the lot' this was something just remarkable. Just about every emotion possible - from nerves to joy to anger to heartbreak to renewed hope and absolute hysteria all in the space of 120-odd minutes. Even for a club defined by generational feats of derring do, this was something else. I have never seen, or felt, anything quite like this before. In those eight minutes, United produced something other worldy, a comeback from above. It didn't feel real. Just like Jesus, I feel as though I could walk on water right now. It was a staggering sequence of chaos and carnage from an alternative reality. This club is special. It's nights like this that remind you why you fell in love with it. 

This was only a quarter-final, of course. United's mission is not yet complete. But, dare I say it, is our name on that Europa League trophy? Sometimes as fans you get that feeling. When United beat Liverpool in THAT all timer, and then squeezed out of jail against Coventry in the FA Cup last term, it seemed meant to be. It seemed meant to be we'd go on and beat City in the final. I'm getting the same vibes now. Maybe, just maybe, this is United's year in the Europa League. There is a long way to go and Athletic Bilbao, on the cusp of a final in their home city, will be a difficult challenge. 

He'll turn the Reds around, Ruben Amorim...

Ruben Amorim built a fine body of work at Sporting Lisbon before he was plucked from his homeland to replace Erik ten Hag. But it's no secret he has not been able to do the same at Old Trafford. He speaks and carries himself very well but results have not followed. But this night may prove to be one of those seminal turning points every struggling team and manager needs. If Amorim does go on to scale the heights we saw at Sporting at Old Trafford, we will look back on this victory as the night everything changed. It will be a night the magic started, a night Amorim can look to the spirit and character of his side and start to carve out his chapter in United history. 

In the long and storied annals of European football at our great theatre, Old Trafford has never witnessed a sight and sound like the immediate aftermath of Maguire's winner. 

It was one of our beloved club's greatest ever nights, but it will only matter if we go on to glory in Bilbao...

RIP Old Trafford: you will never be forgotten

Old Trafford, home of United since 1910

There are certain childhood memories you would rather erase and some that stay with you forever.
They say you never forget your first time and, for this humble hack, the day I first laid eyes on her will be etched on my conscience until the day I die.

The day I first fell in love

Clinging to my late uncle's hand as I climbed the steps - which as a six year old seemed to go on forever - I will never forget the sight that greeted me. There, yawning out before me like the Grand Canyon, sat rows upon rows of red seats leading down to the edge of the pristine carpet and the sporting world's most iconic patch of turf. On that very patch of grass were the eleven men I would follow through thick and thin over the next 27 years. It was a cathedral of football fit for greatness. Even to my innocent, six-year-old eyes, you could smell the history and tradition. Honour and glory at every turn. And so, a lifelong love affair began. 

This was Old Trafford. It was a place I would return to a few times a season over the next quarter of a century. The iconic, historic home of Manchester United. Our Manchester United. A place were dreams come true, legends are made, sporting heroes immortalised. A place for us mere mortals to escape surrounded by people with a common cause: to roar on the Reds at a place we called home. For Old Trafford is more than just the bricks-and-mortar dwelling of a football club. It is synonymous with the famous name of our once great club - from the bombs of World War II, to the tragedy of Munich and the triumphs and tribulations of magisterial managers Sirs Matt and Alex. 

Old Trafford 1910 - 2031 (approx)

A place known throughout the world for dramatic, logic-defying last gaps acts of derring do by a collection of some of the greatest exponents of their craft the game has ever seen. 

But now, Old Trafford's epitaph is written. For me and millions of other who have made the pilgrimage to follow our beloved team at our great theatre, it is indeed a sad day. 114 years of history gone in the blink of an eye . It was truly one of those moments where everyone remembers where they were when the news came through. 7/7, 9/11 and the day the Queen died (for the record, I was in a Wetherspoon's in Belfast). Add to that now the 11th March 2025: the day the sands of time ran out for one of the English game's grandest stages. 

There is no doubt the stadium I first set eyes upon all those years ago is no longer fit for purpose. It was once the envy of the world, but now it is an ageing relic pickled in aspic. A leaking roof, the crumbling concrete, the cramped turnstiles and uncomfortable seats. Old Trafford has fallen into disrepair, left to rot as the Glazers have counted their millions in absentia across the pond. 

Yet, strangely, it's shortcomings is why we all love it so much. It may have become a bit of dump, but it was our dump. A dump that meant so much to so many, me included. It's precisely because it was falling apart that made it unique. Nowhere else do you feel that sense of history and prestige. The statues, the homage to Munich, the stadium homing into view as you walk up Sir Matt Busby Way. 

Soon, though, it will be no more: consigned to the annals of history as United set up shop on the same site but with a new 100k-seater stadium, as per BBC Sport. Probably called the Great INEOS Soccer Stage or some other horrible moniker. I hope I'm wrong but it's going to be soulless and the average man of the street simply will not be able to afford a ticket. It feels like the very essence of Manchester United is slowly being stripped away, brick by brick.

A lifetime of memories 

The proposed interior of United's new ground 

I understand nothing lasts forever and the ground was out-dated and in need of either re-development or rebuilding. The cost of the former was probably too great and so INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe opted for the latter. To move on, you have to let go of the past. Everton will soon get a new stadium, Tottenham's White Hart Lance was bulldozed and their new abode built on it. Anfield has been renovated - Old Trafford was existing in a time warp. They wanted a stadium befitting for a club of United's stature, something the north doesn't have, and this is the result. 

I will never forget the memories of our famous old stadium. From that very first game back in 1997 to Amad's winner almost exactly a year ago, it has been a huge part of my life. It is time to leave our home behind and, in truth, it's probably for the best, but it is a wrench letting go of something you hold so dear. It's a time for new history to be made, to move forward into a new era with a ground which will be the envy of the world once again. 

The longer lasting questions (what's the timeframe, who will pay for the ground, what will happen to the Munich clock, tunnel and the statues and where we will play in the meantime) can wait for another day. For now, whilst looking forward is always exciting, there is a sense of loss, of sadness, of the end of something. Part of my life has been taken away. 

Farewell Old Trafford and thanks for the memories. We will miss you and love you forever. 

Struggling Hojlund toils as goal drought goes on

Sunday’s two FA Cup ties proved a tale of two strikers as Danny Welbeck flourished where Rasmus Hojlund floundered.

Welbeck, a man once deemed as not good enough by United, fired his Brighton side into the quarter finals with a stunning breakaway finish deep into extra-time at St James Park. It was his eighth goal of the season, one more than United’s £72m man who has now gone three months without one.

A three-month, eighteen game goal drought amounting to over 1,000 minutes is an extraordinary barren spell for any centre-forward. Let alone a striker leading the line in the Premier League for one of the most famous names in football. But it’s not just the lack of goals as even the very best strikers can have fallow spells – Robin van Persie once went thirteen matches without finding the net.

It’s not as if Hojlund is doing everything right except scoring. It’s not as if he’s peppering the opposition keeper and upright, and only bad luck is keeping him out. He’s not even showing the basics of centre-forward play right now: holding the ball up, making runs, unlocking a defence with a silky piece of skill, or getting in a good position for an assist or goal. He isn’t occupying the centre backs to create space for others. He is so far below what you’d expect from even the most rudimentary of strikers in a lower league side, it is almost like United are playing with ten men.

Rasmus isn’t the only one toiling: Alejandro Garnacho hasn’t scored since Bodo/Glimt in November and Joshua Zirkzee has two goals since December. It’s a sorry state of affairs for United’s soporific strike force and our 33 league goals is the sixth lowest in the league. Only the bottom three clubs, Everton and West Ham have scored fewer. 

But at least Messrs Garnacho and Zirkzee are impacting games, and contributing to the team. Garnacho makes things happen and Zirkzee’s unique skillset is an asset to the side. Even when they’re not scoring, strikers can still influence a game and make a difference. The same cannot be said of Hojlund who has looked bereft of confidence and belief.

Last term was Hojlund’s first at Old Trafford following his move from Atalanta. His 16 goals in 43 games was a decent return for a young striker on his own up front in a system where he was continually starved of service. But the promise of that debut season has gradually eviscerated, to the point where his future at United is already looking uncertain. Hojlund only had one shot – an effort wide of the post from a Christian Eriksen cross – and struggled to make an impact.

Of course, he has time on his side. He has only just turned 22 and most strikers don’t peak until their mid-to-late 20s so his best years are still ahead of him.

No disrespect to Welbeck but the fact a 34-year-old who left United eleven years ago would be our best striker in 2025 is both embarrassing and damning. He is outperforming Hojlund in every metric and would walk back into our team. I would take a 50-something Andy Cole right now.

So is Hojlund the reason for Manchester United’s struggles, or the victim of it?

With United chasing an equaliser against Fulham, Ruben Amorim turned to 17-year-old Chido Obi Martin with Hojlund withdrawn after 68 minutes of next to nothing. Obi offered more in his cameo appearance than Hojlund has for weeks. It it beginning to appear as though Amorim himself is losing faith in a player he inherited, even if the Portuguese manager has publicly backed him. 

There can be sympathy for the Dane: service was again at a premium with United’s depleted ranks missing the cut and thrust of the injured Amad and loaned out Marcus Rashford. Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot, full-backs moonlighting in wing-back roles, provided no attacking threat whatsoever. Any striker in world football would struggle in this United side.

Hojlund has averaged 1.5 shots per game over the season and just 3.5 touches in the opposition penalty area. There is nowhere to hide and no rotation option; Obi Martin isn’t ready to start regularly and has not been registered for Europe.

But too often, Hojlund allowed himself to be bullied by compatriot Joachim Andersen and centre-back partner Calvin Bassey.  There is no denying his effort and work rate but it was far too easy for Fulham to defend against.
United signed Hojlund as a player for the future. The powers-that-be were convinced he would become a world class striker in the mould of Erling Haaland. He has not fulfilled that and has shown only glimpses of his pace and power – his confidence now looks shattered.

Hojlund’s last Premier League goal came against Nottingham Forest on December 7^th. Five days later he stepped off the bench to strike twice in Europe against Plzen and has not found the net since. Five of his seven goals have come in the Europa League with only two on the home front.

He never looked like getting in a position to score against Fulham and is not the type of player to drop deep and get involved as Welbeck does, starting many of Brighton’s attacks from deep.
Hojlund is getting no help from the rest of the squad as they struggle with their own pressures and problems. He needs an experienced arm around the shoulder like he would if he was playing in the side of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes et al.

As his team-mates collectively continue to toil, Hojlund's individual malaise has become a huge worry for Amorim's United. 

INEOS are a disgrace: I'm raging at this club's criminal negligence (RANT)

When news of Amad Diallo's season ending injury broke on early Saturday evening I finally reached boiling point. I had to write this just to get it all off my chest. 

The one Manchester United player to emerge from this car crash season with a modicum of credit - the one man keeping our heads bobbing above the waterline - will play no further part in it. I don't think we will win another game this season now. United's attack for the last three months of the season consists of Alejandro Garnacho and very little else. We're doomed, we're screwed and we're more f****d than Lily Phillips. 

And it's all down to INEOS. All down to United's minority ownership who have somehow become more unpopular than the Glazers. Little more than a year since taking over, how has it come to this? 

I can't take this any more. How many more times do us fans have to suffer Manchester United lurching from one catastrophe to another? When is it gonna end? I don't want to do this anymore. As ABBA once sang: "I was angry and sad at the things that you do."

Defeat at Tottenham tomorrow will be the final straw. Something is getting broken. This club is a social experiment to see how much pain a man can experience. 

Has there ever been a new ownership regime that has turned so toxic so quickly. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his board were meant to usher in an exciting new era in lieu of the leeching, apathetic Glazers, but instead things have gone backwards. I didn't think it would be humanly possible to find a regime worse than what came before. They sold us a dream but instead have us locked in a never-ending nightmare. They took over the club on a wave of goodwill because they aren't the Glazers but that's a distant memory now. 

Amad's injury is a devastating blow to what's left of United's season. Of course it had to be our best player this season, the one man opponents are wary of and the one player who makes things happen every time he goes forward. 

Of course INEOS couldn't have foreseen this. They are not to blame for the injury itself. But they are very much responsible for the resultant mess we now find ourselves in. They got rid of Antony, they shipped out Marcus Rashford, they chose to get no one in. Whatever your thoughts on the respective merits of those two players, surely it's better to have them in the squad than out on loan. Why get rid of them if you know no one is coming in? We're weaker than we were five weeks ago. They thought that was acceptable? They thought having ONE attacker was in the club's best interests. They really felt what we had was up to standards? Very good to know they were 'relaxed' about all this, though. 

Great to know Sir Jim sleeps well at night knowing the chaos he has caused. He and his little minions stand on the brink of causing the collapse of the biggest sporting institution in history. I hope they're proud of themselves. 

It's backfired after two weeks - years of squad building have led to this. It serves every single person involved in the process right for these disastrous decisions time and time again, a self-serving ownership with no plan, no clue and no ambition. No longer able to hide behind the club's financial clout, that well has now run dry and has come back to haunt us. No left sided centre back for the rest of the season, no midfield for tomorrow and now no Amad. End the season now and put us all out of our misery. 

Lisandro Martinez last week, Amad today. Add to that Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer and an already thin squad is threadbare. Sack the medical staff, get all of them gone. But no, ol' Jim is too busy laying off cleaners, receptionists, office workers, shop staff and members of the catering team to worry about the real problem. 

 

It's criminal. It's abhorrent, it is negligent. Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail. No planning, no back up, no intention to even try and strengthen an area in desperate need of reinforcements. They've sold Ruben Amorim down the water. I wouldn't blame him if he said f**k you all and resigns tonight. 

How dare they bring him in mid season with a squad he doesn't want and give him no money to spend. How dare they set him up to fail. Just like we did with David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Amorim's got nothing to work with and has no choice but to throw some of the Academy kids on the fire and hope they don't burn. It's like going in to the site of a forest fire armed with a water pistol. I'm absolutely fuming, in fact I have never been more angry at a regime in my life. 

What have we done to deserve this? What are these wasters doing in training to cause these injuries - we've had nine days off yet are dropping like flies with four players injured in key positions. It never stops pouring with rain at United. Pouring with rain through the gaping hole in the Old Trafford roof. 

United's season is over, we're in the gutter and there's no way out. I am done.