Ipswich 'a nightmare first game' for Amorimpublished at 11:29 13 November
11:29 13 November
Ruben Amorim has all the characteristics to succeed as Manchester United manager but Ipswich away is "a nightmare first game" for him.
That's the view of The New York Times' soccer correspondent Rory Smith who told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the new United boss "needs a good start".
"The one game most Ipswich fans will have looked at when the fixtures came out was United at home," Smith said. "No matter how bad Manchester United are, that is the Premier League fixture.
"Portman Road will be up for that game and Amorim has two weeks with a third of a squad to get some of his ideas across - he needs a good start."
Gossip: Man Utd target wants £5m-a-year contractpublished at 07:16 13 November
07:16 13 November
The agent of Canada striker Jonathan David has told potential suitors - including Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Inter Milan - that the 24-year-old wants a contract worth £5m a year if he is to join on a free transfer when his deal at Lille expires next summer. (Tuttosport - in Italian), external
Juventus want to take 23-year-old Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee on loan from Manchester United in January. (Tuttosport - in Italian), external
United have also been exploring the buy-back option they have for 21-year-old Spanish left-back Alvaro Carreras, who they sold to Benfica in the summer. (Marca - in Spanish), external
Finally, Liverpool have been impressed by 22-year-old Sweden international Daniel Svensson, with United and Arsenal also among the clubs interested in the FC Nordsjælland left-back. (Teamtalk), external
Gossip: Guardiola eyes Dutch defensive duopublished at 07:12 13 November
07:12 13 November
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is weighing up for a move for 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Netherlands defender Jeremie Frimpong and his fellow Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, 22, who joined Brentford from Liverpool last summer. (Football Transfers), external
A game of numbers - Premier League weekend in picturespublished at 18:48 12 November
18:48 12 November
Henry Brownsey BBC Sport journalist
There were plenty of memorable numbers across the weekend's Premier League football...
1 - How many games it took Brighton's Matt O'Riley to open his account in the top flight.
Image source, Getty Images
250 - How many appearances Bruno Fernandes has now made for Manchester United, registering a combined 155 goals and assists in this time.
Image source, Getty Images
4 - Consecutive defeats for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side, and the first time he has had such a losing run in his managerial career.
Image source, Getty Images
28 - Points Liverpool boss Arne Slot has earned in the Premier League in his first 11 games in charge - the joint-most of any new manager.
Image source, Getty Images
80 - Seconds between Bournemouth going 2-1 up and Mikkel Damsgaard equalising for Brentford.
Image source, Getty Images
1:48 - How long into the game Pablo Sarabia put Wolves ahead against Southampton - becoming the club's earliest Premier League goalscorer.
Image source, Getty Images
22 years, six months, two weeks and three days - The amount of time Ipswich Town had gone without a Premier League victory before Sunday's win at Tottenham.
'He's brought a smile to people's faces'published at 17:03 12 November
17:03 12 November
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Leicester defender Conor Coady speaks about the positive impact made by Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim boss of Manchester United.
United won three and drew one of their four games under Van Nistelrooy, who has now left the club following the arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim.
Man City 'would like a four-week break'published at 14:15 12 November
14:15 12 November
Freddie Pye Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
The November international break could not have come at a better time.
International action is often dreaded. But, this time around, we would like a four-week break as opposed to just two. The past four matches have been nothing short of exhausting and hugely frustrating.
Manchester City's showing at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup was deserving of better, but the best team ultimately won. Bournemouth was by far and away a deserved win for the Cherries. The first half against Sporting in the Champions League and, most recently, against Brighton in the Premier League was a reflection of the dire fitness situation that City find themselves in.
Pep Guardiola's makeshift line-ups, particularly in defence, have meant they could only compete for 45 minutes in their past two matches, following up an encouraging first half with a calamitous second.
Kyle Walker, who is badly out of form, followed up last week's criticism in this column with multiple lapses of concentration once again, while Rico Lewis appears overworked and heavily fatigued given his responsibilities across several positions.
Teenager Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has emerged as a strong future talent. Excellent on the ball, composed in finding passes, but unfortunately has found himself exposed by a lack of a competent defensive midfield.
There is very little in the way of the necessary legs in City's more advanced midfield roles too, and Guardiola is likely to have been left wondering how he can solve such an issue given the age of his solutions to Rodri's absence in Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan.
The attack certainly cannot hide from criticism either and, particularly in the past two matches, City should have been ahead by a clear margin come the interval had chances been taken.
To keep everyone optimistic, City do remain in a strong position in Europe and the league, while some of their most senior and key names are on the verge of returns, namely Ruben Dias.
In the absence of a true leader at the heart of defence, the Portugal international could prove to be the ultimate difference upon his return, and Guardiola will be hoping for the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish to step up their own responsibilities almost immediately having been afforded extended recovery periods.
Why a three-man defence can be 'great formation for centre-backs'published at 12:47 12 November
12:47 12 November
Leicester City defender Conor Coady speaks to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about the differences between playing in a three-man defence or as a back four.
Coady began his career as a midfielder, but was pivotal to Wolves' rise into the Premier League by playing in the middle of a back three and eventually earned England honours as a centre-back.
Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim preferred to operate with a three-man defence during his time in charge of Sporting, although it is unknown how he plans to initially set up his United team.
What do you make of players pulling out of international duty injured?published at 11:41 12 November
11:41 12 November
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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been tackling your questions as Premier League players head off to international duty
Harry asked: How do you feel about players dropping out of the England squad through 'injury' but then suddenly being fully fit to play as soon as club football returns. Was this happening five, 10, 15 years ago?
Phil answered: Players dropping out of England squads has been happening for as long as I can remember and there has always been a lot of noise around whether injuries were genuine or not, usually from fans of rival clubs who feel others are putting club allegiances ahead of the national side's interests.
I certainly believe most of the injuries have been genuine and this weekend I do not think there can be any question these players were injured.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off after 25 minutes of Liverpool's win over Aston Villa with a hamstring injury, while there is no way Arsenal duo Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka would have departed the game against Chelsea prematurely unless there was absolutely no way they could continue. Rice was already playing with a broken toe, while the Gunners are waiting to discover the extent of Saka's injury.
Jack Grealish's situation was interesting. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola clearly did not believe he was fit enough to be with England after missing club games through injury, but Lee Carsley selected him.
Are Man City in a crisis?published at 09:46 12 November
09:46 12 November
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about Manchester City's run of four straight defeats:
"By City's standards, yes, it is a crisis. But blimey... it's a bad two weeks. And that hasn't happened very much when Pep Guardiola has been in charge. It's about finding a way back.
"The backline has, in the past 14 games, been chopped and changed in every one. You think: 'It's Manchester City, they're all top-quality players and they should be able to connect and have that understanding, and they're all great readers of the game.'
"But maybe there is something in that where it looks like they're not controlling games as they previously have done.
"A big part of that would be Rodri's absence, but I think the chopping and changing may be a reason why they're struggling at this moment in time."
The three most important subjects in Amorim's in-traypublished at 08:43 12 November
08:43 12 November
Alex Turk Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
Ruben Amorim touched down in England on Monday and as the new Manchester United boss stares at a daunting in-tray, I have pinpointed what I believe to be his three most important assignments.
Committing to his vision
If United travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town on 24 November and Amorim's team is not in a three-at-the-back system, I would be concerned.
The 39-year-old cannot afford to fall into the same trap as predecessor Erik ten Hag, who lost his first two games and abandoned his vision for short-term success. He never rediscovered it and now he is out of a job.
Amorim must retain faith in the only philosophy he has ever abided by until it clicks, or he can justify an adaptation.
More unpopular decisions
United supporters' love for Ruud van Nistelrooy grew during his short-lived Old Trafford return. But Amorim was correct in wishing him the best and parting ways. There was no room.
For too long, the Red Devils have been stifled by their own nostalgia and chasing a repeat of past successes. A new dawn has to be a new dawn.
The Ineos era has given birth to a more ruthless environment, and that must continue. More unpopular decisions by Amorim may not be welcomed, but they will be required.
Reigniting Rashford's flame
Marcus Rashford's display in the 3-0 win over Leicester City was worrying and left fans praying that Amorim's arrival has the same impact on him as Ten Hag's did.
Rashford has four months until the March international break to impress Amorim and a new England manager in Thomas Tuchel.
If he cannot be reinvigorated with a 2026 World Cup spot on the line, Rashford could be left behind by club and country.
'The whole thing has a weird vibe'published at 08:32 12 November
08:32 12 November
Media caption,
The New York Times' chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith says he is not surprised by Ruud van Nistelrooy not continuing at Manchester United but thinks it was a "weird" situation.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club he said: "He came in as an assistant in the summer, with this sense that if it all went wrong for Ten Hag - which we all thought it would - then he would take the job for a while.
"He did, and then he immediately leaves. The whole thing just has a weird vibe about it."
Players have to take responsibility - Gundoganpublished at 08:17 12 November
08:17 12 November
Mike Minay BBC Radio Manchester reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Last week, I wrote a piece about what is going on at Manchester City. They were just my opinions. So what's the take of a player - and who better to ask than Ilkay Gundogan?
"When things are going like this there is always talk and always things that come out - people try to look for reasons," he told BBC Radio Manchester.
"As players, we have to take responsibility. We have to look at ourselves individually and collectively."
Manchester City have not been at the levels we associate with them, the form tells us that and there is probably a multitude of reasons behind it.
And they have been here before. There have been numerous times when they have been a long way off the leaders in their four-in-a-row title grip. Gundogan acknowledged that all the chat around City has happened before.
"We have to stay calm. Take that frustration, that anger and produce it into work and dedication for your job and change things," he said. "This competition is tough. The majority of teams got better. Not just the first five, six, seven, eight teams - everyone now can play really good football and punish you."
The Blues now have two weeks off for the international break - although for many of their players there will be no time off. In a stretched and not fully fit side, the next fortnight could be worrying for fans.
"We have to stay fit during the international break - maybe that's the most important for our players right now," Gundogan said. "Get back in the best possible shape and attack fully. That's something we've done in the past.
"We need to put a big effort to turn things around the way we want them to."
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