Manchester

A new episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast has landed on BBC Sounds.

The team pick over another 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth and ask who in the current squad could play in Ruben Amorim's system next season.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will be allowed to deal with the Marcus Rashford situation as he sees fit, with no pressure being applied from the club's hierarchy.

Amorim left Rashford out of his matchday squad for the third game in a row on Sunday.

Although Rashford said he is ready for a "new challenge", the Portuguese insists he wants the 27-year-old to remain at Old Trafford but has spoken about intensity in training and communication with team-mates as a couple of the reasons why Rashford has been exiled.

The England forward was at Old Trafford for the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. It remains to be seen whether he will return to the fold for the Boxing Day trip to Wolves.

Rashford is one of United's highest earners, with a salary of about £350,000 a week. This limits the number of options available should a decision be taken for the player to leave the club when the transfer window opens next month.

Paris St-Germain have already distanced themselves from speculation they are interested in Rashford, while the player is thought to be dubious about the merit of a move to the Saudi Pro League as he still has England ambitions.

As with Jadon Sancho following his fallout with Erik ten Hag 12 months ago, it is possible a loan deal could be arranged, although given the finances involved, United might have to make a contribution, which would squeeze an already tight Profit and Sustainability situation.

Nevertheless, Amorim will be allowed to deal with the matter, with chief executive Omar Berrada and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen to stay away from a subject they regard as within the remit of the head coach.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Clive: A solid performance and a structure that worked well. We were patient in defence and fast in attack. Excellent all-round throughout the game. We deserved a clean sheet and only a stumble on the ball gave them the goal.

Kit: Villa were outstanding in possession. Their ability to hold off tackles and run with the ball is what undid Manchester City. Rogers was the prime example of going past players to keep attacks in midfield and around City's box. It was like watching a class Real Madrid team. A fantastic game in which City had no answer and were second-class from start to finish.

Tony: Brilliant display. Kamara is so important for us. Onana gave us a rock-solid platform in central midfield. Tielemans pulled the strings in a more advanced number 10 role.

Mark: The best Villa performance of the season. Rogers and Duran are a formidable pairing up front.

Colin: We have seen Villa play like this before. As Emery says, consistency counts. If we maintain this, top four is guaranteed. City weren't so poor but they were simply outplayed by a team of underrated players. City will recover, but Villa can finish above them this season. A good feeling!

City fans

Anton: After nine years, teams have worked out a simple way to beat Manchester City's press and high line. After five defeats, Guardiola said it was up to him to find a solution - which he hasn't done. More plan A isn't working. In the past five years, City's build-up play has got slower and slower. The signs were there last season when Haaland had a goal drought.

Tony: Erling Haaland contributes almost nothing to City. He only scores when the opportunity is given to him on a plate. He does nothing to help the team defend, even in midfield. City may as well play most of their games with nine outfield players.

Steve: Sadly, age has caught up with the bulk of this team and it is a constant cycle of recurring injuries. We definitely need some fresh legs in the January transfer window. The only thing that really disappoints me are so-called City fans questioning Pep. There is nobody I would rather have looking to get us through this tough patch than him.

John: Disgusting from the players, no fight or passion. The club and Pep are to blame for this situation. It is bad management from Pep, allowing players to leave and not replacing them with quality. This is a dead season now and I can't wait for it to be over.

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

United fans

Jessica: Manchester United didn't play well as a whole. The player who stood out for me was definitely Bruno Fernandes. I think United are going through one of those fazes where they aren't winning games at the minute, but I still value them and think they can do good things in the future.

Wilbert: I feel sorry for Amorin. He has inherited an average squad unfortunately. They can't string three passes together without giving it away, defending crosses is a nightmare, and they can't even hit the target when they get a chance. Good luck to him, he is going to need it!

Peter: Amorim is lost trying to put a team together for the Premier League. He keeps playing players who cannot compete for 90 minutes and he has no striker that can hold on to a ball in the team. Amad Diallo has been lucky to score, but his defending is poor. Malacia is not Premier League quality. Hojlund can't win a tackle.

John: I have said to others that we as Manchester United supporters don't deserve these performances. We need to steady the ship and play a formation that the players understand. This is possibly going against the manager's style at moment, but we get caught too easily and we need to play to our strength, which is long ball and pace with the midfield supporting.

Bournemouth fans

Charl: Excellent from the start to the finish. Kepa was outstanding. Zabarnyi was everywhere - he marshalled the defence along with Huijsen and broke up the Manchester United attack with confidence. Ouattara is not good enough at this level, and why is Brooks not starting?

Jackie: A well deserved win. Bournemouth have had their ups and downs, but now they are the best they have ever been. Amazing manager.

Ian: Excellent performance from all the Bournemouth team. They all gave 110%. Please stop piling all the blame on the Manchester United team and instead praise the Bournemouth team for a brilliant show. Thanks to all the wonderful supporters who always make up the 12th man!

Mark: Passports for Europe? More like for Champions League at this rate! Wow! Having supported Bournemouth for nearly 40 years, I still pinch myself. Soon I should start realising that, with Andoni in charge and the players we have, anything is possible. We must be strong when someone soon comes after Iraola! We love him, the players love him, and let's honest most clubs in Europe do now too.

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Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray spoke to Match of the Day 2 about Marcus Rashford: "It's important to highlight that we don't know what is going on behind from the outside, and this is very much an opinion from the outside - but I think it's the right time for him to leave the football club.

"I think he has carried the weight of Manchester United and the supporters' expectations for too long now. I would like a new break for Rashford and see him enjoy his football elsewhere."

Watch the full episode here

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-0 Chelsea

• Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth

• Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool