Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The BBC Sport Ask Me Anything team have been answering the question of why Ruben Amorim's side are not playing on a Saturday for two months, with Manchester United reporter Simon Stone explaining how the club feel about it...

Manchester United have acknowledged they agreed to more Monday and Friday fixtures in a new broadcast contract, but also said they recognise the increased difficulties for fans to attend non-Saturday games.

They suggested there needs to be a balance between the importance of the money brought in by broadcasting matches, and the matchday experience for fans who attend them.

United also wrote to their Fans Forum to outline their position and confirmed chief executive Omar Berrada had spoken to Premier League counterpart Richard Masters to outline the club's concerns.

The club pointed out in a 12-week period between 5 October and 25 December they have just one match at Old Trafford on a weekend and have a trip to Crystal Palace at 12 noon on a Sunday and another to Wolves at 20:00 on a Monday.

United said while they agreed to the new TV deal, which increases the number of Monday and Friday night games, they also recognise one of the attractions of the Premier League for broadcasters around the world is the 'unique atmosphere' inside stadiums and the league cannot lose sight of that when they are deciding fixtures.

Read more about the reasons for the lack of Saturday fixtures here and submit your own questions via our 'Ask about Man Utd' form

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

New Manchester United academy chief Stephen Torpey wants to avoid a situation where young players are being put on the bench as a "token gesture" to continue the club's proud record dating back to 1937.

United head coach Ruben Amorim has already said he would not break the 88-year tradition of always having a player from the club's academy in the matchday squad.

For the draw at Tottenham earlier this month, it meant England Under-19 midfielder Jack Fletcher being named on the bench with Kobbie Mainoo ruled out by a minor injury.

With Mainoo's immediate future uncertain, the fear is young players will be put on the bench with no real likelihood of them playing a meaningful role.

It is a situation Torpey, speaking to United's in-house media for the first time since he joined the club from Brentford in August, wants to avoid.

"We don't want it to be a token gesture that we have players in our first team to keep a tradition going," he said.

"We want players who are ready, can make an impact and make our first team better, and who our fans can be proud of.

"There is no greater feeling than one of your own stepping out."

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Which player is flying?: Matthijs de Ligt has played every single minute of the Premier League campaign and with good reason. Still only 26, De Ligt boasts all the right credentials to become Manchester United's next captain.

Which player is floundering?: Diogo Dalot. Ruben Amorim is a big fan of his work ethic and leadership, as were his predecessors. However, he is at the heart of United's problems far too often and there is not an obvious spot for him in this system.

Tactically I think we... are unquestionably growing into Amorim's vision, helped by a positive summer transfer window. A 3-4-3 on the face of it actually becomes multiple formations during games, which is an encouraging sign. Better-suited midfielders are desperately needed to increase United's level further.

I want my manager to give me more of... Kobbie Mainoo. It's a difficult one. He's behind Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in a one-game-a-week schedule. But there are no reasons why Manuel Ugarte should have received more than double the minutes. Mainoo is objectively a more talented player and United currently risk losing him.

Our fans seem obsessed with... overreacting to every result. United win a match? Title challenge! A loss, or even a draw? Crisis! This fanbase is emotional, which tends to add to the turbulent environment.

But they should be thinking about... the magnitude of the mission. It has been a tough 12 years so you cannot blame some impatience. However, it is easy to appreciate the signs of improvement when you process how bad things were previously.

My expectations for the season were... to finish around sixth to eighth, and that is where we are. So... inconsistent, yet improved, as expected?

Score for the season so far: 6/10. The Grimsby defeat was United's worst of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but the win at Liverpool was one of the better memories. Amorim's signings have settled well, particularly Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens, and there are signs of progress.

One sentence on how you're feeling right now: Cautiously optimistic for the winter period... until Afcon in mid-December.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu has scored three goals for Denmark since his debut in September 2024, with only Rasmus Hojlund (six), Gustav Isaksen and Christian Eriksen (both four) ahead of him.

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BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast discusses Benjamin Sesko's knee injury, which will keep the Manchester United forward out of action for a month.

The 22-year-old completed his £73.7m move to Old Trafford in August and has scored two goals in 12 matches since joining the Red Devils.

"Sesko will be a big loss," said The Stretford Paddock's Joe Smith, who feels some of the criticism of the striker during his first few months at the club has been "over the top".

"I really like him and I think he is a good player.

"It would be really nice for his goalscoring record to look more like one goal in two games as time goes on, that's sort of your benchmark for a good striker."

Smith continued: "The injury situation with him is unfortunate and it also exposes the fact that you can shuffle Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee into that role, but we do only really have one striker.

"That was always one of my concerns when we loaned Rasmus Hojlund with the option to buy because, if there ever was a longer return from injury for Sesko, it would be difficult [to cope without him].

"Now we are looking at a potential overlap depending on how quickly he comes back, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations coming up. He should be back before that starts but there's still a chance that he doesn't.

"Then we have an instance where Mbeumo and Sesko are both out and we will be trying to plug round pegs in square holes."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim admires Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, but meeting his £65m release clause with Bournemouth would be difficult for the club to do in January. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, United have been joined by Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign 16-year-old Swedish forward Kevin Filling from AIK Stockholm. (Florian Plettenberg), external

West Ham, Everton and Roma are keen on signing United striker Joshua Zirkzee, with the Netherlands international, 24, on the periphery at Old Trafford. (The I - subscription required), external

Talks between Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo over a new contract have been put on hold as the 20-year-old England midfielder eyes a loan move to Napoli in January in search of more playing time. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Finally, United turned down Chelsea's offer to include Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia, 21, or France forward Christopher Nkunku, 28, as part of the deal that saw 21-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho join the Blues in the summer. (ESPN), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Benjamin Sesko's knee injury comes just at the time when Manchester United's fixture schedule starts to become congested - and also as fellow attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo prepare to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations.

If Sesko is ruled out for a month, he will miss five Premier League games and, in theory, be back just in time for the Christmas programme.

It also would mean the Slovenian would be available again just as Mbeumo and Amad head to Morocco to link up with the Cameroon and Ivory Coast squads at AFCON.

But with United facing their first 'midweek' game - the glut of Monday fixtures coming up are part of weekend Premier League programmes - since August when they play West Ham on 4 December and further matches against Wolves on 30 December and Burnley on 7 January to come, head coach Ruben Amorim will have to decide whether to rotate his squad and to what extent.

Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo have both been waiting for a chance, while youngster Chido Obi has not been given the opportunity to build on his first-team experience this season.

It is this period that is going to tell us so much about Amorim's thought process and whether Zirkzee and Mainoo will really get the amount of time on the pitch that might ease their desire for a move away from Old Trafford in January.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Under-21 coach Travis Binnion says Manchester United are delighted with how the majority of their loan deals have worked out over the first half of the season, as they assess how to approach the second.

Goalkeeper Radek Vitek and defender Harry Amass are both excelling in the Championship at Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday respectively and look capable of making the step into United's first-team squad.

Toby Collyer's appearances at West Bromwich Albion have mostly come off the bench.

Midfielders Ethan Ennis and Dan Gore, plus England Under-20 striker Ethan Wheatley and defender Habeeb Ogunneye, have started a lot of games at Fleetwood, Rotherham, Northampton and Newport respectively, while Jack Moorhouse has made 15 appearances for League One Leyton Orient, eight of which have come from the bench.

England youth international goalkeeper Elyh Harrison started the season well at Shrewsbury but he has not played since September. The same is also true of defender Sonny Aljofree at Notts County.

Injury has kept striker Joe Hugill out for more than three months but the forward is hoping to be given the green light to resume contact training by United, which would offer the opportunity to push his claims back at Barnet.

Of the players who stayed at United for the first half of the season, Sam Mather, who came close to making a move to United Arab Emirates, is most likely to leave, while Gibraltar international James Scanlon and Victor Musa, who has been used sparingly by Binnion this season, could also go out.

Musa is presently sidelined after picking up an injury in training.

"Conversations are taking place," said Binnion. "It's been a really successful first half of the season and it's never going to be perfect with everyone playing every game, but we're all really happy with how the loans have done.

"We've got to reassess what's right for them in January and also, for the lads that are in the building, how do we get the next stage of their development right?"

United have National League Cup games at Solihull and Tamworth, plus Premier League International Cup fixtures against Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund, before the season breaks before Christmas.

Binnion also said matches would be played behind closed doors against South African side Kaizer Chiefs and Arsenal.

Over the past week, we have been asking you to send in the best Premier League XI your club could have put together.

We know football existed before 1992 but as a Leeds United fan asked our experts on the club to name theirs - using the Ask Me Anything form on the Whites - we stuck with their parameters.

Here is BBC Sport's Manchester United fan writer Alex's effort.

And you can ask us about the Red Devils using the Manchester United Ask Me Anything form at the top of this page or here

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

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We asked you to tell us your memories from 18 November, 2005 - when Roy Keane unexpectedly left Manchester United, ending a stay of more than 12 years at the club.

Where were you when the news broke? How did you feel about the former captain's exit? Let's find out.

Here are some of your replies:

Joe: I was in my university library, a fellow supporter came over to tell me and we were trying to keep our voices down. How did we feel? Being honest, it was a shock but also a relief. He was a club legend but, at 34 years old, he was past his best and because of his status he couldn't be dropped. We had slipped behind Chelsea and Arsenal and needed a boost of quality in the squad. So, while we were sad, we were also excited about the new midfielders we could get in.

Martin: I was absolutely gutted when I heard the news. As a fellow Irishman, I was always so proud of the role both Keane and Denis Irwin played in United's success during this time. Even now, 20 years on, I feel really bitter about how Keane was treated. I feel that his contribution to United during his time there deserved more. We never saw the video of what he said but, no matter what he said, he didn't deserve that. While I will be forever grateful to Sir Alex for what he did for the club, I will always feel he let himself and the club down in this instance.

Linda: We desperately need a Roy Keane in the Manchester United team now! He was a real leader.

Mark: I remember it well. The internet wasn't what it is now, but what news did leak were bits like this. To be fair, Keane had been injured since September that season and there were players who deserved calling out, but also needed mentoring too. Keane wasn't ready to do that and Sir Alex, being the disciplinarian he was, felt Keane was a bad influence on Ronaldo, Rooney, O'Shea, etc. He was never properly replaced, despite the titles won from 2007 onwards up until Sir Alex's retirement, but it was the right call and there was no room for sentiment.

Image source, Getty Images

Former captain Roy Keane left Manchester United 20 years ago today.

At the time, the words said around the departure were amicable - as you can see reflected in our other posts on this page marking the anniversary.

However, as is often the way with these things, questions are asked in later years and those involved open up about what happened.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast last year about the situation, Keane said: "The worst anger you can have is the justified anger. Again, where I feel I did nothing wrong.

"No, I was 34, I had a broken foot and my contract was coming up. It was an easy fix for United to go 'you know mate, your days are numbered'. All right, cheers, thanks a lot.

"And I've seen players leave. I could have left in the summer. I had no hang-ups about leaving in the summer or going 'am I getting another sneaky deal here?'. Listen, I am a big boy, I can deal with it. It was all the way it was done, it wasn't nice. That's the bit. Not that I had to leave Manchester United, that's life.

"My solicitor Michael who had done my deal - the most relaxed, placid man you will ever meet - he nearly fell off his chair. Because [Sir Alex] Ferguson and [David] Gill went: 'I think we have come to an end and here is a statement'. He went 'what?' and I said 'leave it Mike', they left and I said 'yeah, I'm out of here'. He couldn't believe it.

"You're on about principles and when something like that is in front of me, I'm like disgusted in people, I wouldn't even want to see you again. I was home by half nine and my wife asked what happened, and I said 'it's over'.

"I then found out that day I couldn't go to another team so I then couldn't play until January. If I had known that, I would have just said I will train with the reserves and get myself fit. So I leave United having not played for for two or three months with a broken foot and I can't go to anyone else until January! I was in no-man's land."

In an episode earlier this year, Keane also revealed his emotions on that day when he said: "I cried when I left Manchester United that morning. I cried in my car."

After the release of his autobiography in 2013, Ferguson said that Keane "overstepped his mark" and there was "no other thing we could do" in the situation.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

November 18, 2005 will go down as one of the most amazing days in the 25 years I have spent covering the fortunes of Manchester United.

Just under three weeks earlier, United had been beaten 4-1 at Middlesbrough.

At the time, MUTV broadcast a 'plays the pundit' feature where a first-team player analysed the team's performance.

As it turned out, it was Roy Keane's turn even though he didn't actually play in the game.

No-one ever saw the footage because his assessment was so scathing, manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill were notified and decided to shelve it.

Keane was unrepentant about his verdict and the fall-out was so extensive, Ferguson concluded he had to get rid of his captain.

I was at Carrington on the morning of 18 November and heard, via a media colleague who had been told from a source in Ireland, that Keane had been sacked.

We didn't think that much about it but we saw a United official who we spoke to frequently, scurrying around Carrington, and asked whether it was true, expecting to be told no.

Instead, they said they didn't have time to talk and would get back to us – in other words, it was right.

Sure enough, about half an hour later, the same person came back with the printed press release – no social media in those days – confirming Keane was out.

I kept the press release, which you can see pictured above.

It was definitely a 'remember where you were when you heard this' moment.

Do you remember the day? Where were you? How did you feel? Tell us here

Image source, Getty Images

Roy Keane didn't have the most picture-perfect Old Trafford farewell.

Despite a loyal 12-year stay at Manchester United, which included eight years of captaincy, the 34-year-old was forced through the exit doors sooner than many expected.

The fact that the midfielder trained with the team just hours before his departure was confirmed, coupled with the decision being announced soon after his meeting with club figures, meant the news came with the ultimate shock-factor.

His comments after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough, which he didn't even feature in due to a broken foot, played a crucial role in the deterioration of his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Despite the abrupt nature of his departure, Keane still wrote a heartfelt farewell message to the club's supporters. "It has been a great honour and privilege for me to play for Manchester United for over 12 years," Keane said.

"During my time at the club I have been fortunate to play alongside some of the best players in the game and in front of the best supporters in the world. At all times I have endeavoured to do my best for the management and the team.

"While it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager, I believe that the time has now come for me to move on. After so many years, I will miss everyone at the club.

"I send my best wishes for the future to the management, players, staff and supporters of the club."

Sir Alex Ferguson also paid homage to the captain, without referencing what had happened behind the scenes, writing: "Roy has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United.

"The best midfield player in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history.

"He has been central to the success of the club in the last 12-and-a-half years and everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond."

David Beckham, who played alongside Keane in Manchester United's midfield for several seasons, also reacted to the announcement.

"The fans will be upset because they loved him down there - and so did I when I played there," Beckham said. "He was a great leader and you always knew where you stood with him.

"If you did something wrong, he would tell you. But if you did it right, then he would also tell you - in his own way. Every player looks up to him for leadership."

Image source, Getty Images

It is 20 years to the day since Roy Keane unexpectedly left Manchester United after more than 12 years of service for the club.

It is well documented that the Irishman did not leave Old Trafford on the greatest of terms, but that takes nothing away from the stellar career he had in a red shirt.

Here is a timeline of the number 16's most memorable moments as a United player:

• 1993: Keane signs for Manchester United for a British record fee of £3.75m.

• 1993: The midfielder scores twice on his home debut against Sheffield United.

• 1994: Keane wins a Premier League and FA Cup double.

• 1996: Keane scoops up a second Premier League and FA Cup double.

• 1997: The Irishman is appointed club captain following Eric Cantona's departure.

• 1999: Keane has one of his finest performances against Juventus in the Champions League, scoring Manchester United's first goal in a 3-2 comeback victory.

• 1999: Although suspended for the final, Keane lifts the Champions League to complete a Treble - the first by an English club.

• 2000: Keane wins the PFA Player's Player of the Year, the FWA Player of the Year and Manchester United's Player of the Year trophies after a sublime season.

• 2003: He wins his eighth and final Premier League title.

• 2004: Keane lifts a fourth FA Cup, his final trophy as a Manchester United player.

• 2005: The 34-year-old leaves Old Trafford in a shock exit.

Nottingham Forest will not consider selling England midfielder Elliot Anderson in the forthcoming transfer window and value the 23-year-old in excess of £100m amid strong interest from Manchester United and his former club Newcastle. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes is open to joining United with a fee of £44m enough to prise the 24-year-old Brazilian away from Molineux in January. (Record - in Portuguese), external

But, United are not expected not strengthen their midfield in January regardless, and will hold out until next summer when they follow up on interest in Brighton's Cameroon international Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace's England international Adam Wharton, both 21, as well as Stuttgart's 24-year-old Germany international Angelo Stiller. (ESPN), external

Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher has ruled out leaving the La Liga club in the near future and said he is "very happy" in the Spanish capital amid links with Manchester United. (AS - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We have, roughly, run the numbers and here is the XI your submissions have produced.

With so many legends to choose from, this was extremely tight and led to David Beckham being edged out by Cristiano Ronaldo.

While none of the players from the past decade made the cut, there was a decent swell of votes for Bruno Fernandes, showing the current Manchester United captain's value to this side, even during a fallow period at Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, when it comes to Premier League history, this side would take some beating.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The statistics might say playing at home is an advantage - but what happens when it is not?

So far this season, 53% of Premier League matches have been won by the home team - the highest ever rate in a single campaign.

On the flip side, just 26% have been won by the away team - the lowest rate since 2010-11.

However, this has not been the case for all teams.

For some, being on the road has been more favourable. Tottenham are perhaps the most contrasting example having the joint-most points away from home with 13, but the second-worst in front of their own fans with just five points.

In the second part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "With crowds when playing away from home, there is a reduced scrutiny as a whole for away teams in that those crowds expect the home team to be the ones in charge. The players feel less judged. The pressure is on the other side.

"Another reason could come down to something in psychology I like to call simplification of the task. The team has a better collective identity when they are away.

"The human brain still goes back to the cavemen days. We have to, as a collective, fight for something. We have to protect our name. It goes back to that hunter-gatherer-against-danger mentality.

"When players are in front of a home crowd, there can be a bit of playing up to the individuality.

"I really do believe that collective identity has a strong enough influence because it amplifies the purpose and the belonging - let's belong together, let's be stronger together."

The focus might be on the players' performances being impacted by being home or away, but what about the managers?

Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest make up three of the bottom four for their home records so far this term, and all have changed their manager in recent weeks.

"100% managers and coaches can be affected, and sometimes even more so because there is so much riding on that one person," Cartwright said.

"The decision-making is the main thing. The crowd is chanting - 'take this player off, do this' - and it can lead to rushed decisions, particularly when the noise becomes relentless.

"Then there is the emotional regulation and touchline behaviour. A manager is pacing up and down, mirroring the stress state, and players see that. It can lead to mimicking and players feeling that stress too."

The impact on teams psychologically playing home or away is apparent, so how can they make the most from these different conditions?

"Our brains are wired to think negatively - it's a protection mechanism," Cartwright said.

"So when it comes to performing home and away, those players and managers who deal with it best are those who know how to use the noise and scrutiny and move on quickly from it - an ability to have a reset routine and regulate their emotions in these pressurised situations."

Read more from Marie in part one of her chat around the impact of playing at home here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We have got used to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's policy of squeezing as much revenue as he can out of Manchester United.

Now the club has come up with a new plan – a guided tour of United's Carrington training ground.

Fans routinely hang about outside the training ground hoping players and coaching staff will stop to sign autographs or pose for pictures.

Now they will have a chance to actually go into the complex, which has recently been subject to a £50m upgrade.

There will be no chance of seeing players. The tours are only available during the close season in June and July and are added to the stadium tours at an overall cost of £100.

Fans will get to see the dressing rooms, gym, swimming pool, recovery area, players' lounge and press conference room. I somehow doubt there will be an opportunity for a kickabout on one of the pitches.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Twin brothers Jack and Tyler Fletcher are set to face each other in Lithuania on Tuesday when England face Scotland in the European Under-19 qualifiers.

The pair, sons of former Manchester United midfielder and current Under-18 coach Darren, have elected to play for different international teams, with Jack choosing the country of his birth and Tyler playing for his dad's.

Jack, who was on the bench for United's Premier League draw at Tottenham immediately before the international break, already knows England are through to the next stage after victories over Lithuanian and Latvia.

By contrast, Tyler knows Scotland must win to stand any chance of advancing after drawing with Latvia, then getting beaten by Lithuania.

Though they both play in midfield for United's Under-21 side, Jack featured at left-back in England's 7-0 defeat of Latvia. Tyler is Scotland skipper for this tournament and scored in their 2-2 draw with Latvia last week.