Premier League: Can Amorim crack United conundrum?

Even though Erik ten Hag’s sacking was probably the most predictable managerial departure at the start of the season, it still is a bad look that a club of the stature of Manchester United would be the first side in the Premier League to show their boss the door.

As we discussed on this page, earlier in the season, it seemed a peculiar process for the club to have informed their manager that during the summer they looked at alternatives to him, deciding only to stick with him when nothing better could be found.

What this did for the Dutchman’s ego is unknowable, but no one could feel confident of success in their role with a sword of Damocles like that perpetually hanging over them. Not to mind what it did to the players' attitude towards their manager, when in all intents and purposes he was a ‘dead man walking’ in his role, metaphorically.

What was maybe even more peculiar was that the gave Ten Hag a contract extension until 2026 when it was obvious that there was little commitment in keeping him at Old Trafford. In probably the only good news for Ten Hag being the fact that at least he collects a hefty cheque from United for breaking his contract.

Who is Amorim?

The FA Cup win for United against their neighbours in Manchester was enough to allow him have another go, and the club apparently put in new sporting structures over the summer for Ten Hag to build some success, but results so far put an end to that hope, and so we had the events of Monday play out.

So, it now looks like the elusive Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim is the next man to try and bring the glory back to Old Trafford. Presuming the deal is finalised soon, Amorim will become the sixth full-time manager seeking to bring United back to the levels of success Alex Ferguson left them with, 13 years ago.

Amorim is regarded as elusive, as it seems up to six Premier League clubs sought his signature in the last few seasons, including Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham and even Liverpool. But he has made his decision, for United, which does give a boost to the Old Trafford club’s prestige.

The Portuguese manager, not long retired from a rather successful playing career, mostly with Benfica, is well regarded as a young manager at just 39 years of age, for already steering Sporting to two Portuguese Primeira Liga titles, including last season. But the task ahead of him now dwarfs anything he has attempted before.

Expectations

Will he be expected to sculpt the existing team at United into a winning formation or will more money have to be spent to get what he desires? Remember, over £600m was spent in the last two-and-half years to create a winning team under Ten Hag, and recent cuts across the United payroll indicates finances are not all that flush at the moment. It looks like Amorim will be expected to do an Arne Slot at Liverpool and make the most of the talent already present in the club. Mind you it can be argued that the side Slot inherited at Anfield were a far more settled and proven team than what’s at Old Trafford.

With the arrival of yet another manager the focus is understandably on what Ruben Amorim brings to the table. But once again it should be pointed out that as another once successful manager exits and another one tries his luck, the one common denominator across the lot is the players. It’s hard to imagine that Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Ten Hag were all so inept to mismanage teams, with combined values of billions of pounds, to no discernible league success. Is the changing room so toxic all this time that managers can’t get a foothold in the club? Or is it what Gary Neville and other club legends, in the know, indicate that the club is rotten from the head down?

Interim

Ruud van Nistelrooy has taken charge in the interim which may run into the new year as issues of Amorim's notice at Sporting may delay the Portuguese  man's arrival. Van Nistelrooy  collected the new manager bounce on Wednesday when United comfortably saw off Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. One wonders what Ten hag must have thought when he saw his former misfiring players bag five goals against the Foxes? 

Don't be surprised if the goodwill form in the presence of a new manager continues against an unfortunate Chelsea side who are unlucky to be the first side to meet them in league action. Whether the turnaround will be a long term return to glory or Amorim’s tenure just another blip in the post-Ferguson era? We will see in the coming months and years.