What's one thing no-one is talking about?published at 17:13 25 February
17:13 25 February
Manchester United continue to hit the headlines on and off the pitch as further financial cuts mean more job losses, as well as the closure of the staff canteen.
But you know the club best, so we want to know the one thing - good or bad - flying under the radar at Old Trafford right now.
Amorim's 'heavy burden'published at 14:17 25 February
14:17 25 February
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
I assume Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has a lot on his plate trying to get a winning team on the pitch just now.
But the weight of responsibility as the face of his football club means Amorim has to answer questions about any subject even loosely affecting Old Trafford.
Clearly, today, that includes up to 200 staff members losing their jobs, some of whom he will have daily interaction with.
Amorim can empathise. But he also understands his squad is ring-fenced from the cuts.
As he rightly pointed out, they are the engine of the club. Even reducing the standard of hotels United stay in is off limits because it could have a negative effect on performance.
Amorim on United's 'difficult period inside the club and on the pitch'published at 14:12 25 February
14:12 25 February
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
There are no new injury concerns but there are also no sidelined players who can recover in time.
Amorim said the latest staff redundancies "have a lot to do with the lack of success of the football team" because it has resulted in a loss of earnings.
He described it as "a difficult period inside the club and on the pitch" but, as "the engine" of the club, the responsibility lies with them - the team.
On how hard it has been for him to manage: "It's always hard for everybody. They see their friends and team-mates losing their jobs but, again, I have to focus on what I can do to help the club in this moment. We as a club have to understand what we did wrong to get in this situation."
He said "it's hard enough to win football matches" without the current external noise around the club and went on to call the last year "very hard" for everyone involved at Manchester United.
On the pressure to win home games: "Every time you go to Old Trafford you feel the support until the end. I don't feel the pressure and we have to stop and think about the last game. It's a new game and it can be a new story."
'One of the worst United performances I've ever seen'published at 08:59 25 February
08:59 25 February
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater says Ruben Amorim has turned United from an "average football team" into "relegation candidates".
The Red Devils were 13th before the Portuguese's arrival as head coach in November, but have slipped to 15th after taking just 15 points from his 15 Premier League games in charge.
Only a late fightback and controversial VAR decision helped salvage a 2-2 draw at Everton on Saturday after another lacklustre display.
"That was one of the worst United performances I've ever seen," Drinkwater told The Devils' Advocate podcast.
"That was absolutely desolate in terms of any sort of quality. The players couldn't string three passes together. There were instances when they couldn't even trap or control a ball. They couldn't turn with the ball on the halfway line. The defending was utterly embarrassing and the goalkeeper didn't cover himself in glory either.
"We've got a defence, at the moment, who can't defend. That first goal - what is going on? They're just not very good.
"You've got to point blame at the players when they're professional footballers who can't adapt to a new manager's system. However, the fact still stands that Ruben Amorim has come in and taken over what was an average football team and turned them into relegation candidates. We're lucky the three promoted teams are awful.
"We aren't finishing higher than 15th - so by that metric you're going into next season thinking anything can happen.
"Amorim is lucky this system isn't going to get us relegated because they can't play it. He needs to change something, it's a travesty."
Do rival fans revel in declines?published at 08:16 25 February
08:16 25 February
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Many football fans enjoy watching their rivals stagger as much as watching their own favourites stride on to victory. I have never really felt this but I am told it is "a thing". Now where is that winking emoji when you need it?
Take the pleasure many have had in watching Manchester United's ignominious slide over the years since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down. I stuck to my guns back then and felt like a lone voice shouting in the distance: "You are making a mistake sacking David Moyes - give him time!"
I still feel that is their worst error of many, whatever the prevailing feeling is. I am sure Moysie didn't feel any special warm glow inside as his Everton went 2-0 up against his old club at the weekend, he is much bigger than that... possibly.
Manchester City have their detractors too and you don't have to look far to find hordes of anti-Chelsea fans wallowing in their New Year implosion. Nine points from the past 30 is relegation form, not Champions League form.
My old team seem to get more stick than most, probably because they were the original 'new money' club. They were seen as brash and un-British under Roman Abramovich and then the new owners throw their wads around.
Spending well over a £1bn in no time at all, is something the true English football fan shies away from like a startled mustang. So, yes, I do understand why they are loving the Blues' current slide.
🎧 'Glimpses of positivity'published at 18:07 24 February
18:07 24 February
A new episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast is available to download and listen to on BBC Sounds.
Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath discuss Manchester United's 2-2 draw at Everton and debate whether there were "glimpses of positivity" at the football Ruben Amorim wants to play or whether it was simply a "desolate" performance.
Man Utd to close staff canteenpublished at 12:48 24 February
12:48 24 February
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United is to close its staff canteen and instead offer employees a free piece of fruit as part of more cost-cutting measures at the club.
A staff meeting is due to take place this afternoon when it is anticipated a fresh round of redundancies will be confirmed.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been determined to drive down costs at United, believing huge amounts of money are being wasted at a time when he is trying to stem losses in excess of £300m over the past three years.
Head Coach Ruben Amorim has already admitted the first-team squad must take responsibility for that as it is by far the most expensive part of the business.
United are currently facing the possibility of a £20m reduction in Premier League prizemoney this season after dropping to 15th from last season's eighth-place finish, which many inside the club said was unacceptable. Each place in the table is worth approximately £3m as part of the domestic and overseas TV distribution.
The club also confirmed last week that it had spent in excess of £12m on additional payments related to the January window arrivals of Patrick Dorgu, a £25m arrival from Italian club Lecce, and youngster Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, plus Amad Diallo's long-term contract extension.
Staff have traditionally benefitted from free hot meals but that practice is to stop.
Everton 2-2 Man Utd - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:14 24 February
Dave: Everton absolutely bossed the first half and then went into that strange unsure mode that they seem to reserve when they are two or more goals up. An otherwise poor United side took advantage of the gift. But the real talking point is how VAR saw a 'clear and obvious mistake' for the penalty, and why didn't the referee get shown the angle that showed two clear pulls on Ashley Young's shirt? Ruined the game and an apology should be issued.
Gary: Feels like two points lost but that just shows how far we have come since David Moyes returned to Everton. Feel we should have got Carlos Alcaraz on sooner as opposed to Young, but Jordan Pickford will be kicking himself to concede the goal from Bruno Fernandes as he was out of position.
Graham: How can you dominate a game so much and then come out for the second half and just naively sit back and let the opposition come on to you? Moyes had a liking for this strategy in his first tenure and so often paid the price. This is not what Everton fans want to see, especially at Goodison Park, and hopefully the two points thrown away will be a wake-up call.
Samuel: Another great performance for the majority of the game but we gave United an opening and they took it. However, I don't think you're likely to see a clearer penalty this season both with the shirt pull from Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire's arm round Young. No clue why it was overturned. Complete robbery!
United fans
Stephen: Ruben Amorim is asking his players, who are devoid of any confidence or self-belief, to play with bravery on the ball and dominate possession. They are currently frightened before they even step foot on the pitch and the last thing they want is the ball at their feet. The wiping out of the penalty right at the end of the game gives the manager and the players a scraped draw that could just give us a foothold to keep going.
Martyn: United were far inferior and seemed incapable of matching Everton in all aspects in the first half. Totally different in second half, especially after Alejandro Garnacho's introduction. Casemiro also did well further forward when Fernandes moved back. A little fortunate with Andre Onana making one or two important saves, along with the VAR decision. Two great strikes from Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.
Steve: Just same old, same old. I don't understand how Amorim can continue with his tactics when they clearly aren't working. Let's play football in a way that the players can show their ability, not something that worked in the Portuguese league. Don't be stubborn at Manchester United's expense.
Mark: Very poor first half but recovered nicely, showed some spirit and should have won. I'm afraid Amorin's negative comments are not doing the team or supporters any favours. He needs to learn and stop immediately.
Man Utd braced for more redundanciespublished at 08:41 24 February
08:41 24 February
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It was another difficult day for Manchester United on the pitch on Saturday. On Monday, the focus will be off the field.
A staff meeting is due to be held later at which it is anticipated an extra round of redundancies, possibly as many as 170, will be confirmed.
Despite an initial round of 250 redundancies last year, which club officials said were likely to result in an overall saving of between £40m-£45m over time, Ratcliffe feels further cuts are needed.
Yet many question whether Ratcliffe is choosing the right targets given the first team are 15th in the Premier League and were awful for 70 minutes at Everton on Saturday, before eventually fighting back to claim a 2-2 draw.
This came after confirmation they spent £37.7m after 31 December on deals involving new arrivals Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven, plus Amad Diallo's contract extension.
In addition, United's financial chiefs will have to grapple with the potential loss of £10m from United's sponsorship deal with Adidas, which is triggered by the club missing out on Champions League qualification, plus the increasing likelihood of a big drop in Premier League merit payments.
Last season, each club received £2.9m per place in the table. That meant United received £36.7m after an eight-placed finish - a significant drop from the 2022-23 figure, when they finished third.
However, if United remain 15th, the equivalent 'merit' payment last season would have been £16.9m, a reduction of almost £20m.
That is likely to put further pressure on United's chances of bolstering Ruben Amorim's squad in the summer and will bring greater scrutiny on many of the club's recent transfer dealings.
Gossip: Amorim wants Quenda at Old Traffordpublished at 06:54 24 February
06:54 24 February
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has urged the Old Trafford hierarchy to sign 17-year-old Portuguese winger Geovany Quenda from his former club Sporting for £35m. (Star), external