It's been quite the eight games thus far. It's actually very hard to think about how the season has gone now that I sit and write this but it certainly has had it's ups and many downs. So many downs. Some of those downs feel never-ending 😩.
Before we talk about how the first two months have gone, we have to look at what our expectations were before the season and whether we are on track to achieve them even though we're early in Amorim's first full season.
There is no European football. I always found it to be overrated to be honest 🥱.
This ruled out any chance of lifting European silverware or at least going deep in a tournament. It also meant far fewer matches and more time on the training ground. We will discuss whether that extra time has made a difference.
The league was always going to be difficult to get into those European positions which was the main goal domestically.
The other domestic aim was to win a cup or two however...
Then there was also the style of play, whether we've seen this team perform well consistently, and if we haven't made mistakes of the past.
So, with that brief summary of our expectations, as Romano would say
Here we go!
Premier League
And starting off with the bread and butter. The league is where we truly see what a side and manager is made of considering the level of competition and the marathon nature of it.
However, despite all of this tough competition, finishing 15th should be easy enough for Man Utd to improve upon.
I can't believe I said the words '15th', 'Man Utd' and 'should' in that previous sentence.
How the fuck did we come to this? 😔
That is the unfortunate reality though and we need to move on from it.
We are seven games into this Premier League campaign which isn't enough to say that we're definitely going to finish higher than that 15th place last season but nor will it tell us whether we'll finish below it.
Hey, I'm just saying anything is possible when looking at what happened last year 🤷♂️.
But the good news is that we are higher than our embarrassing position of 15th last season as United are slap-bang in the middle of the table: 10th.
We've scored 9 (2 of which were own goals), conceded 11 and as of this latest fixture, we've kept just one clean sheet (thank you Lammens 🙌). We've won three, drawn one and lost three so far which isn't the best record especially after looking at some of the performances.
While 10th is an improvement to last season, it still obviously isn't anywhere near good enough. However, one thing we have going for us is that at least until the Chelsea match, United have had the toughest start to the campaign.
As you can see, we've faced three of last season's top 4. No other side outside of said top 4 had a harder start. This was always going to make things difficult to get off to the flyer we would've wanted but after that defeat to Arsenal on the opening day, there was so much positivity, one would think we won the game.
To be honest, we should've. United were by far the better side and if not for Bayindir continuing on from Onana's cock ups, Amorim could've walked away with at least a point.
But in this match against who many are saying are the favourites for the title this year, the home side put in a performance that indicated that perhaps things have improved and we were on the up.
Amorim has faced a lot of criticism for his system but in these 90 minutes, it showed just how wonderful that system can be when the players do what is required of them.
Everything went well in this match other than the score line. Arsenal had nothing going forward and relied on that error to score from a corner. Of course. David Raya also kept them in it thanks to some good saves particularly one from new boy Cunha.
There was a lot to like about this performance and it's what gave Amorim leeway despite the loss.
What was on many people's minds was not only whether this team can sustain this level of performance but can they do it against sides that we are expected to beat? There has been games against the bigger clubs where we do turn up as there is no pressure on us given that the likes of Arsenal, City and Liverpool should all be beating United.
But what about when the pressure is on?
Fulham away gave us an early example of whether we will prove people right or wrong when it comes to facing a certain quality of opponent.
And unfortunately, it proved to be the former as even with a strong start in which we should've won the game, United reverted to default settings and allowed Fulham back into the game. It finished 1-1 but Amorim should've walked away with all 3 points as his captain blasted a penalty well over the bar to add salt into the wound.
The first victory came in the following match thanks to a narrow 3-2 win over Burnley at Old Trafford. The score line may indicate a close game but much like the first two matches, United missed far too many opportunities which would've made it a much easier afternoon.
This was before the first international break and while we had just 4 points and one win, there was encouragement due to performances and stats.
Then came the Manchester Derby and boy, did we fall.
The frustrating thing is again, we had a good spell in the game but didn't make it count only for us to shoot ourselves in the foot by conceding 3 stupid goals. Skipper Bruno Fernandes said post-match that all 3 were avoidable. He also happened to throw Yoro under the bus during this interview resulting in him being dropped for the next two matches. Not what you want to see from your captain who was more at fault for the opener than the defender.
That 3-0 loss brought us back down to earth after what was a positive first few games.
With Chelsea next, it was ominous signs indeed.
Thankfully, Robert Sanchez felt sorry for us and got sent off in 5 minutes allowing us to beat them although that victory turned out to be tighter than it should've been as Casemiro decided he wanted an early shower as well after picking up two yellows.
Heading to Brentford, there was much optimism after a good win over the Blues.
We ended up putting in our worst performance of the season.
Optimism gone.
I honestly thought that Amorim needed to get at least 7 points from the three matches after the derby in order to remain as manager of United. At this point, he could only get a maximum of 6.
That 3-1 defeat was followed by intense pressure by the fans and media alike on the Portuguese's future as he required one hell of a performance and result over Sunderland.
After what was our worst performance at the Gtech Community Stadium, United did a 180 and put in probably their best. It was a game similar to that of Arsenal with the only difference being that we actually scored goals and got the result we deserved.
Amorim's job was saved (for now) and once more, there is more optimism for the future with fans looking like they've given the manager one more chance.
Carabao Cup
This was already embarrassing enough to begin our tournament a couple rounds earlier than everyone else thanks to finishing so low in the league but hey, the extra games could help us and give some minutes to the wider squad.
Starting off at League Two outfit Grimsby, it gave an opportunity for some new signings to hit the ground running, others to find form, and for some to prove to the manager why they should be selected. It was said to be a pretty routine win.
And it turned out to be,
for GRIMSBY!
Obviously we all haven't forgotten about this game despite trying desperately hard to do so, but I feel it doesn't get spoken about enough in the context of the season. I know we don't actually want to talk about it but it does leave one hell of a blemish to a campaign that is already not the greatest.
Considering they are from League Two, it was thought that regardless of who was picked, this game would be a formality for United.
It turned out to be quite the nightmare.
Before you knew it, half an hour was gone and we were 2-0 down! 2-0 down. In 30 minutes. At Grimsby.
Good Fucking Lord!
These 2 goals were mainly down to the now departed (thank God 🙌) Onana as he let the ball in at his near post and then followed that up by trying to punch a ball that he completely missed with both hands.
United managed to get themselves back on level terms after a late second half comeback but it wasn't enough to get the job done and it went to penalties.
What followed was perhaps the worst shootout I've ever seen 😳.
Not only did it last 6h and 42m, but some of the spot kicks were so saveable anyone of us could've stopped them. Grimsby took 13 penalties missing just one despite Onana getting his hands to five of them.
Mbeumo was the unlucky player to miss his kick which sent us out but it really wasn't down to him. Cunha also took a poor penalty that was easily saved which would've been the one to send us through but when you go 2-0 down in 30 minutes to a League Two side and then take the game to penalties where you still can't beat them after all players of both teams took penalties (some of them twice), then you don't deserve to win.
And we didn't.
Grimsby showed a side that was more together and in cohesion with each other than United. It really did seem like it was just put a team out and we'll win which we probably should've done.
It was embarrassing in more ways than one, we lose out on more matches and ultimately game time for certain players, we lose some money, and we also have one less trophy to win. All at a stage that was before the competition proper even started!
Amorim looked like a man lost in his post-match presser saying things like “The way we started the game, we were not even here … Everything was wrong" and “I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch.”
This was only game three of the season and it seemed like he was a dead man walking.
Verdict on Amorim
It's been quite the first eight games. Feels like it's been eight years rather than eight matches but I suppose we shouldn't have expected anything less.
I'm sure the manager would've wanted more than the 10 points and being 10th in the table even if we had the hardest start compared to anyone else, but is it surprising to see where we are?
One can't help but think that we should've had more points on the board and his situation wouldn't have been as dire as it is.
In terms of him individually, there is much to like about our manager. He does come across as a great guy and more than anything, he speaks a lot of sense. He says many things that we fans say but he does kind of contradict himself with his tactics, team selections and who he decides is a leader.
I also don't think that it is all on him. The manager always appears to be the one who takes full blame whenever things go wrong and while I will agree that some of his selections, tactics and substitutions have been part of the reason for our position, those players have to have a long hard look at themselves because they should be doing so much better.
It ain't Amorim who's out there missing penalties or not saving shots that are straight at him.
On the other hand, he doesn't have to pick those players as we all know that they have been problems in the past. I was hoping that he would've learned from previous managers in terms of who he relies upon because these are some of the same players who've let down those managers.
I spoke about his choice of leaders here so I won't go into too much detail but he really was asking for trouble with that lot.
Has the extra time on the training ground actually made a difference?
I feel like we've been far too inconsistent to say that we are making the most of that time. I think it would've been better had we been playing during the week instead of having all this time off and not seeing major improvements.
I don't think it's been of benefit to us at all and what's worse is having to see everyone and I mean everyone playing during the week in so many compeititons.
We really have to get back into Europe. I CAN'T DEAL WITH ONE WEEK BREAKS! It's so boring.
There's also been some questions asked about him on the touchline. Amorim doesn't actually watch his team as much as you might want from your manager. We can often see him staring at the ground, with his heads in his hands or looking to the heavens (probably for some help) instead of what's going on on the pitch.
He didn't watch the entire shootout in that humiliating loss to Grimsby even though it lasted half a day. Even Bruno's spot kicks in the league, Amorim was seen with his feet up and looking at the sky for that late penalty that got us the win over Burnley.
People find this to be a bit cowardice as they would prefer their manager to watch that shit that we do. He is part of the blame for why there is shit in the first place.
Huh, maybe this is why we're so bad and he keeps picking the same team: bro doesn't actually watch us!
😂😂.
I would also question his regular comments about his future. This isn't something I've seen with many managers in the past as Amorim mentions leaving the club after every difficult defeat, which is every other game.
If you're going to go, just go. Don't keep saying it only to remain, give us false hope with a decent win, lose the next match, and then say you sometimes want to quit. He should stop with that.
I mentioned how there were some stats that suggested we were better than we are. However, there are an even larger some of numbers that would show just how awful we actually are.
The worst for me has to be not winning back-to-back league games. In almost a year, United under Amorim have not won two games in a row!
That is diabolical!
I don't think it's a system problem either, as some make it seem. Amorim is right on this but the issue he has is that he plays the wrong players in the wrong positions which makes it look like a system problem. This latest win didn't get too many complaints about his 3-4-3 because there were more square pegs in square holes.
Some of his team's performances will improve should he do this more often.
Something else that I find that leaves me thinking why I support this team is that when we are bad, we are absolutely shit. Like not even just a little terrible but with a team full of players who look like they couldn't care less. That isn't a good thing. Brentford was one such game.
And why this is a problem for Amorim is because we are bad most of the time and when you play awful football, the only way you get out of that is if you win games. This is something I mentioned last season in that Amorim's teams don't win or even draw when they are awful.
Win when you're playing badly is a mark of champions and while we're obviously not at that level (yet hopefully 🤞), we are still Man Utd and he desperately needs to give us something. So if your side isn't going to play well, you at least need to pick up points which will give him some leeway.
This used to happen in the past where we played terribly but still managed to walk away with all 3 points.
Amorim needs to develop a steel in his players in order for them to be able to win such games.
There is much work to be done but at least we ended this international break on a positive and we go into that Liverpool game with some sense of hope. And we didn't have to face another manager sacking.
Final Thoughts
I like Amorim. I want him to succeed but after these eight games, I feel a sense of dread in that the inevitable will happen and he will get sacked.
He just does too many things that make me question him as a manager. Because of this, I believe he won't turn it around. Hopefully I'm wrong and Amorim does start proving why he deserves to be MUFC manager but he really is testing me.
There have been positives as I don't think we've been as bad as some might think but nor have we been anywhere near the level we hoped for going into this season even more so with the extra time on the training ground which the manager said could benefit them.
The new signings have been more of a hit than miss but it's only a few games and we know that at some point the shit will infect them and we'll start to see their performances fall off a cliff. Hopefully that doesn't happen but I do believe that there is still a major culture problem at the club and until we sort that out, we will always be in this position.
There have also been encouraging signs from the play style but those have been one-off games or moments in matches rather than anything consistent. Should the manager want proper improvement and for the fans to be truly behind him, then he needs regular good performances. If we play well, I don't see any reason as to why we don't win most of our games.
10th in the table is probably perfect for who we are: we're not completely hopeless but nor are we where we want to be. We're somewhere in the middle.
That loss to Grimsby was disappointing in more ways than one but let's just focus on the future instead of looking behind. We HAVE to learn from them of course, but we shouldn't let it beat us up.
Season rating so far - 5/10. Slap-bang in the middle.
Ruben Amorim first eight games in first full season has been quite a ride | Ruben Amorim: Creator: Gareth Copley | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2025 Getty Images via Goal