Many thanks for your message WJ

So far it's our text of the day.

To all of our readers

"Keep up the texting!" plead us.

As we always enjoy what you say.

Wetherby John: Cristiano Ronaldo called Ruben Amorim the poet. With this in mind:

I do hope our new coach from Iberia

Can end all this hype and hysteria

Bring joy to the fans

With well thought out plans

And a solid defence in our area.

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

Last night, James Bree scored an 88th-minute winner as Southampton edged past Championship side Stoke City to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Bree struck a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner after latching on to Kamaldeen Sulemana's pass.

The Saints had opened up a two-goal lead in the first half when Taylor Harwood-Bellis rose highest in the box to head home from Matheus Fernandes' corner and Adam Armstrong converted a penalty after Jaden Dixon caught Yukinari Sugawara in the box.

Stoke pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when left-back Eric Bocat's free-kick bounced off Sugawara into the path of Ashley Phillips who scored his first senior goal with a brilliant backheel finish.

Junior Tchamadeu's cross was deflected into the path of Tom Cannon who fired into the top corner with a first-time finish at the far post to level the scoring nine minutes after the break.

Substitute Million Manhoef was close to bundling the ball across the line to give Stoke a late lead but Sugawara slid in on the line to produce a vital interception.

Minutes later, Bree was the hero for Russell Martin's Saints as they avoided a penalty shootout and progressed to the next round.

Read the full report.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has delivered some bleak news around playmaker Kevin de Bruyne.

De Bruyne has been out of action since suffering a thigh injury in the Champions League draw with Inter Milan on 18 September.

Guardiola initially thought De Bruyne would be back after the October international break but has now extended that until the middle of November after admitting the recovery has been more complicated than City thought.

Asked when the Belgian star would be back, Guardiola said: "I would like to tell you, I especially would like to know, but I don't know.

"He feels better to train but to go to the level we need for competition he still has pain.

"If he doesn't come back as quick as possible we will struggle. Hopefully that can happen after the international break."

All the latest Manchester City news and views

Right now, mainly Manchester United and Ruben Amorim.

But we'll also soon be building up to tonight's EFL Cup ties and recapping last night's action involving Premier League clubs Brentford and Southampton.

Thanks for getting in touch Dave. I get your point that Manchester United's team aren't title challenging ready, but they've got one of the highest wage bills in the division.

For the amount they're paying, Europe is a minimum.

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorimmay have learnt his trade under Jose Mourinho - and is still close friends with the former Manchester United boss - but his footballing principles could not be more different.

European football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport: "Amorim would admit he is still adding layers of knowledge to his methods but he still believes football only makes sense if those watching are thrilled by it.

"As well as those lessons from his former coach Jorge Jesus, Amorim looked closely at those who show a special quality as leaders, including Mourinho.

"He is, though, an enthusiast of spectacular, offensive football, with lots of goals, domination and control. He is a crowd pleaser."

Amorim's management style will be familiar to several players in the Premier League - United's Manuel Ugarte, Manchester City's Matheus Nunes, Tottenham's Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha of Bayern Munich were all part of his 2020-21 title-winning side.

At Sporting, the 39-year-old has often favoured a 3-4-3 formation, playing in a low block with attacking wing-backs pushing high up the pitch.

Off the ball they press aggressively and counter-attack quickly when in possession.

Mariana Fernandes
Portuguese football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

Ruben Amorim is the most amazing thing to happen in Portuguese football in the last couple of years.

He did an amazing job winning the League Cup with Braga in a couple of months.

He became in the last couple of years, the most important manager in Sporting history.

Image source, Reuters

Plus there was that period under the Ten Hag where United had just won the League Cup, knocked La Liga leaders Barcelona out of the Europa League, and were even talking up a late title charge.

Then Liverpool thrashed them, and it's been downhill ever since.

Basically, I think there were periods when it looked like it was about to click. It just never fully did.

Since 2011, Erik ten Hag has been in more Champions League semi-finals than Manchester United.

I spoke to a Dutch journalist the other week and he said he was stunned it hasn't worked out between Erik and United.

Ten Hag's Ajax were on another level he said, and a few years ago most of the Dutch media were raving about him and tipping him to be the next elite manager.

All this talk, but Ruben Amorim could still turn Manchester United down.

Imagine...

Sporting boss Ruben Amorim says "it’s my decision" when asked about his future after Manchester United expressed an interest in appointing him as manager, following the sacking of Erik ten Hag.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

England have two more friendlies this year against Olympic gold medallists the United States - managed by former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes - and Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland on 30 November and 3 December respectively.

Wiegman insists she wants to use these matches to "gain information" that will help them at Euro 2025, and has been pleased with what she has gathered so far.

"I think we still have more questions, but that was what we said to each other before this camp. We don't need to have all the answers now," said Wiegman.

"We have two more games [this year] and we're just trying to get as much information as possible. We want to see more players.

"Some players have to be a little more patient than others but we are moving forward and we need these games to try out different things to be better later on."

Read the full article.

Hard agree.

But the rewards must be appealing to some.

Win the league with Manchester United and you'll go down in history as a legend at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales all winning on Tuesday night.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

Lauren Wade scored a superb extra-time winner as a below-par Northern Ireland defeated Croatia 2-1 on aggregate in the first round of Euro 2025 play-offs.

After a 1-1 draw in Croatia and a drab goalless 90 minutes on the night at Windsor Park, Wade fired into the top corner with six minutes remaining after a clearance fell to her on the edge of the area.

The Belfast stadium erupted with euphoria, in relief as much as celebration, on what had been a frustrating night.

Manager Tanya Oxtoby hugged her coaching staff as the players celebrated in the corner, as Northern Ireland's hopes of making back-to-back Euros stay alive.

Despite the ecstasy of the late win, Northern Ireland know they will be massive underdogs and will need to improve against Norway in the final play-off round.

Read the full article.

Image source, PA Media