Manchester United

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This is the final part of our Q&A with BBC Sport's Manchester United reporter Simon Stone - scroll down for parts one and two, which were published earlier on Thursday.

Dave asked: After a year in charge, what have you seen so far from Ruben Amorim that differs from any other managers post-Sir Alex Ferguson?

Stone answered: David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in particular, will wish they had been given the patience and time Amorim has benefited from. Amorim knows he is fortunate Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stuck with him, but he also knows he needs to deliver, and for all the improvement - it has happened, but they did spend massively again in the summer - it all feels very delicate.

It wouldn't take much for five games without defeat to turn into five without a win, and United will be in the bottom half of the table. We were told after the eighth-place finish under Erik ten Hag it was not good enough. That standard should still apply.

United now have a run of 10 league games against opposition from outside the established 'big six'. Of those teams, only Aston Villa are currently above them.

I said at the start of the season that United should finish somewhere between fifth and seventh. I would expect them to be solidly in those positions - or maybe even fourth, given they have harder matches after that - by the end of that run.

If they are not, Amorim will be underachieving.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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One of potentially the biggest moments in English football is coming on Friday, but precious few people understand how important it could be or even know about it.

The Premier League is considering 'anchoring' wages, which would cap the amount any club could spend on their squad at five times the smallest central Premier League broadcasting and prize money payout.

It is a complex argument. The league and some clubs are considering it because they want to ensure wage inflation does not continue to rise endangering their long-term financial security. From the other side - the players and their union, the PFA - this unnaturally limits the amount they can earn in what has until now been a free and open market.

Any changes to that position foisted upon the players without their prior consultation and agreement will not go down well. Remember, the players are the people that the paying public, the TV companies and the advertisers want to see, not a bunch of chairmen, executives and directors arguing over accounts, dividends and profit margins.

The game has increased the number of games played per season without consulting those who are physically doing it. No studies on how that will affect their health in the short and long term were considered, and so the PFA in England looks like it is finally ready to take a strong stand for its members.

Strike ballots are not unknown, I should know, as chairman of the PFA my name was on the bottom of every ballot paper when we last considered strike action over changes in working conditions. The modern owners may have forgotten, but we had 99% backing from our members.

Owners may think of footballers as ultra wealthy, mercenary, thickos who can easily be controlled - well they thought that last time and they lost.

It is time for serious and meaningful negotiation between equals and not a master and serf attitude from one side towards the other.

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

One of the biggest stories of the Premier League season so far is the decline of goals scored in open play and how teams have been scoring more from set-pieces instead.

When we compare how goals have been scored to the first 11 games last season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open play and 26 more from team set-pieces and penalties, giving us 13 fewer overall.

If we look at the bigger picture and the number of shots teams are taking, there have been an incredible 370 fewer in open play than at this stage last time out.

So which teams are most responsible for this change in how goals are scored this season?

The above graph compares how teams have gone up or down in numbers of set-piece and goals from open play compared with the same stage last season.

In terms of goals scored from open play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest decline, scoring just four in 11 games and that is 10 fewer than at this stage last season.

Outside of Wolves, the Premier League's decline in open play goals is very much a London thing, with five of the capital's seven sides scoring at least five goals fewer from open play than last season.

In fairness, that is largely down to them scoring lots of goals at the start of last season rather than them really struggling to score in open play this campaign.

Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 goals scored this season coming in open play.

When it comes to goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), Arsenal and Chelsea have seen the biggest increase, with both sides replacing the five fewer goals that they have scored in open play with the same number from dead-ball situation.

Manchester United have scored twice as many goals from set-pieces as they did in the 11 games before Ruben Amorim took charge last season.

On the flipside, Manchester City do not seem to have got the memo about scoring more from set-pieces because they've scored three fewer than last season, as have Nottingham Forest, although that might be down to the change in style they have tried to implement.

Read more about this season's scoring trends here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says his players need to change their mindset if they are to make progress.

The 40-year-old revealed he was frustrated following his side's 2-2 draw with Tottenham immediately before the international break because it underlined that he still has so much work ahead of him.

At the time, Amorim said he felt the game was won at 1-0, deep into the second half, but a chaotic ending meant United needed an injury-time equaliser from Matthijs de Ligt just to escape from north London with one point.

"When I left Tottenham to return to Carrington, I was really frustrated because it is so clear to me we are doing good things but we have so much to do," he said in an interview with the Premier League.

"We are so far from perfection. We should have more points in this moment."

Amorim said he was "shocked" by his side's performance in their defeats by Grimsby and Brentford, but he also admitted he expected the other negative issues he has endured this season.

One of those is the 13 goals Manchester United have conceded in the second half of matches, seven of which have come in their past three games.

"We lost Casemiro twice with some pain and Harry Maguire the same thing," said Amorim. "They are key players, not just in terms of the way they play and the experience they have, but also in terms of the set-pieces.

"But we lose intensity [without them]. When we have an advantage, we lose that thing where we continue to press in the same way.

"We think 'let's not suffer a goal' when the mindset should be 'we have one goal, we just need another opportunity to kill the game'.

"It is mental, but it is also physical. We need to also improve in that aspect."

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In the second part of our Q&A with BBC Sport's Manchester United reporter Simon Stone, we take a look at Kobbie Mainoo's future and whether Ruben Amorim's philosophy impacts potential signings.

Alex asked: From having the world at his feet to being the forgotten man at Old Trafford - what is happening with Kobbie Mainoo? Does Amorim have him in his future plans at all?

Stone answered: This is a real headscratcher, Alex. My personal view is that Mainoo excelled in a poor team two seasons ago, and it was enough to get him into an England squad where he had Declan Rice to guide him around the pitch. The brutal reality is that Mainoo has weaknesses in his game positionally that he needs to work on. That is not unusual - he is only 20, don't forget.

One of the midfield positions is taken up by a player who has won everything at club level in Casemiro, the other by captain Bruno Fernandes. Then Amorim spent big on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. I think Mainoo has a future under Amorim but it might not be this season.

I can also understand why he wants to go out on loan so he can play regularly and compete with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Alex Scott for an England place. I think it would be good to let him go out on loan - but I would like to see it accompanied by a contract extension.

Keith asked: Do you think we could miss out on signing good players that may become available because of Amorim's system and lack of flexibility?

Stone answered: Manchester United remains a fabulous proposition. I accept they might not be competing to sign the very best players at the moment, but Cunha and Mbeumo had a lot of options in the summer and chose Old Trafford.

I don't see United missing out on players because of Amorim's system - mainly because I don't see them trying to sign players who don't fit it. There are weaknesses in the current squad that are clear for all to see. But I don't envisage a shortage of agents pushing players in United's direction. The key, as always, is buying the right ones.

Come back later on Thursday for part three of Simon's Q&A.

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In the first part of our Q&A with BBC Sport's Manchester United reporter Simon Stone, we look at the Red Devils' ability to do business in this January transfer window.

Lee asked: How much money is likely to be available for the January transfer window? Will it depend on selling players like Joshua Zirkzee and others who are not playing regularly?

Simon answered: To an extent, Lee, yes. But I get the very strong impression United will not go for someone just for the sake of it. The Zirkzee issue - and that of Kobbie Mainoo for that matter - needs resolving in January, but I would be staggered if United were willing to let either player go before the Africa Cup of Nations is finished - or at least until Cameroon and the Ivory Coast are out.

The futures of people like Harry Maguire and Casemiro, who are out of contract at the end of the season, are uncertain - as is whether United qualify for Europe, and what competition they are in. If Zirkzee or Mainoo go, they will need replacing, but which top players will be available in January - and how much would they cost?

I have seen Conor Gallagher's name mentioned a few times and can see the attraction with that. But he would not really be replacing Zirkzee. That would be a backup for Casemiro, I would have thought.

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Ashley asked: Do you think Manchester United have a chance of signing Marc Guehi? Also, is the club interested in Antoine Semenyo?

Simon answered: The Guehi one feels like a good idea, but he was so close to signing for Liverpool in the summer that if he stays in the Premier League, Anfield is where I expect him to go.

The central defensive situation is an interesting one because Matthijs de Ligt has been outstanding this season, Lisandro Martinez is close to full fitness, and while he may be eased back into the first-team picture, the competition with Luke Shaw for the left-sided slot in the three-man defence is strong, while United spent a lot of money on Leny Yoro and Amorim clearly rates him. I can see defensive reinforcements, but that area is a bit uncertain just now.

As for Semenyo, having spent £200m on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha - and with Mason Mount, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes also capable of playing in the number 10 roles, I just cannot see that happening. The priority will be in other areas, I think.

Come back later on Thursday for part two of Simon's Q&A.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off earlier than usual this year, with up to 17 Premier League clubs set to be affected by players jetting off to host country Morocco.

The tournament runs from 21 December until 18 January.

There has been no official announcement about which date clubs will have to release their players by - and it could vary depending on agreements.

Players could miss up to six, or in some cases seven, Premier League matches - plus FA Cup and Carabao Cup games - if they reach the final.

The group stages end on 31 December, so quickly eliminated players may only miss half that amount.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds do not have any players due to play in the 2025 Afcon - with Sunderland and Wolves losing the most players.

• Aston Villa - 1

• Bournemouth - 1

• Brentford - 2

• Brighton - 1

• Burnley - 3

• Crystal Palace - 1 to 4

• Everton - 2 to 3

• Fulham - 3

• Liverpool - 1

• Manchester City - 2

• Manchester United - 3

• Newcastle United - 0 to 1

• Nottingham Forest - 1 to 4

• Sunderland - 7

• Tottenham - 1 to 2

• West Ham United - 2

• Wolves - 5

Read the full article here to know which players will feature at Afcon

Manchester United will continue to pursue Real Madrid and France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, 25, despite the Spanish club rejecting an offer worth 90m euros (£79.4m). (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

United and Inter Milan are in talks with Karim Adeyemi's agent, with the 23-year-old Germany forward ready to leave Borussia Dortmund. (Bild - in German), external

Finally, Napoli have identified January alternatives to England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, but the 20-year-old remains their first-choice option. (La Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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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

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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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

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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

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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