Everton v Man Utd: Did you know?published at 15:04 19 February
15:04 19 February
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Everton have lost their last five Premier League games against Manchester United, failing to score in the last four. They last lost five consecutive league games without reply against an opponent against Wolves between 1957 and 1960.
United have failed to score in 10 different Premier League games this season, with only Everton (12) doing so more often - the joint-most games the Red Devils have failed to score in during a single season, alongside 2004-05 and 2015-16.
Rashford close to first Villa startpublished at 14:44 19 February
14:44 19 February
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
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Marcus Rashford could be handed his first Aston Villa start against Liverpool laater on Wednesday.
The Manchester United loanee has impressed in his two substitute appearances since joining earlier this month.
Forward Rashford has not started since United's 2-1 Europa League win at Viktoria Plzen in December and completed just four games this season.
Real Madrid loanee Marco Asensio is also pushing to start with Villa, ninth in the Premier League, looking to close the six-point gap to the top four when they host the leaders.
When asked if the pair were getting closer to starting, boss Unai Emery said: "Yes, because they are in their individual process to get fit and understand, tactically, our idea.
"Tactically, we are changing a little bit with those players and we have to try to practise a little bit in the training sessions as well to practise playing in matches.
"We were working every day here, trying to get the idea of them understanding where we are as well- having some meetings, trying to show it.
"Now they are getting better, understanding more and closer to playing in the starting XI."
Gossip: Man Utd consider Delap movepublished at 07:41 19 February
07:41 19 February
Manchester United are weighing up a move for Ipswich Town's £40m-rated striker Liam Delap. The 22-year-old, who came through Manchester City's academy, has 10 Premier League goals this season and is also interesting Chelsea. (i Paper), external
'It's not about effort'published at 17:51 18 February
17:51 18 February
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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater says no member of Manchester United's squad is good enough to win the Premier League.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast, he said: "If you want to win a Premier League, then every single player in the squad goes. Not a single player in this squad is capable of ever winning a Premier League.
"I would be staggered if even the young lads go on and be that talented because I'm not seeing it at the minute - I love seeing Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo, but I'm not seeing consistent performances that suggest they will ever win the Premier League.
"Bruno Fernandes has been United's best signing since [Sir Alex] Ferguson. The numbers he's put up have been incredible but his performances are nowhere near consistent enough to win the Premier League. He was woeful against Tottenham and there's too many of those woeful performances.
"It's not about effort. It's not that they aren't trying and playing for the badge."
'No-one has improved at Man Utd in past decade'published at 11:35 18 February
11:35 18 February
On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed the start of Ruben Amorim's tenure at Manchester United.
Presenter Mark Chapman acknowledged that the Portuguese coach hasn't improved any players, but neither has any manager at Old Trafford in the past decade.
"I don't think any player, coach or manager over the last decade has been improved by being at Manchester United," said Chapman.
"When they leave, they appear to succeed. You only have to look at Antony at Real Betis who has three goals and an assist in four matches."
Gossip: Man Utd struggle to meet Osimhen demandspublished at 06:52 18 February
06:52 18 February
Manchester United are keen on signing Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, but the 26-year-old Nigeria striker's Champions League aspirations and wage demands might make any deal tough to complete. (Teamtalk), external
Casemiro wants to see out the remaining 16 months of his £300,000-per-week contract, dealing a blow to United's plans to sell the midfielder to raise transfer funds. (Mirror), external
United could face competition from neighbours Manchester City for 23-year-old Atalanta and Belgium midfielder Charles de Ketelaere. (Teamtalk), external
Meanwhile, Manchester United will earn £31m if Marseille sell Mason Greenwood to Paris St-Germain this summer, as they hold a 50% sell-on clause and PSG have already offered 75m euros (£62m) for the forward. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Man Utd must put 'Youth, Courage, Success' motto into actionpublished at 16:43 17 February
16:43 17 February
Alex Turk Fan writer
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The sight of Manchester United's youthful substitutes making their way from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tunnel on to the bench on Sunday was a timely reminder of the current situation.
United are in disarray - and a week from hell, as far as injuries are concerned, has only pushed the light at the end of this dark tunnel further away.
Ruben Amorim inherited a squad unsuited to his style of play in the first place. The last thing he needed was to lose Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo until next season in the same two weeks.
United visited Tottenham without 12 senior squad members, before losing for the eighth time in 14 league games under Amorim.
The Portuguese head coach's bench boasted just 183 Premier League appearances, all of which belonged to Victor Lindelof.
Seven academy players and January arrival Ayden Heaven - who accumulated just 10 minutes of senior football at Arsenal - made up a bench with an average age of 19.3 years old.
"Youth, Courage, Success" is one of many mottos Manchester United have proudly shouted from the rooftops throughout their history, but the time has come to put it into action again.
Chido Obi became the latest youth player to get a taste of first-team football with his two-minute cameo, and I suspect there will be plenty more minutes for him between now and May.
He will not be the only one. Midfield summer signing midfielder Sekou Kone and left-back Harry Amass, who impressed in pre-season, were among the substitutes also knocking on the door.
United's injury situation should improve in the coming weeks, but they are still in three competitions and will need more than 12 senior options at the weekend.
In what has been a miserable campaign at Old Trafford, Carrington could once again produce something worth getting optimistic, if not excited, about in its final few months.
'The season with the present players is over... time to experiment'published at 15:05 17 February
15:05 17 February
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As well as sending us your thoughts on Sunday's performance against Tottenham, a lot of you voiced your more general frustrations about the current situation at the club.
Here are some of your comments:
Paul: Bruno Fernandes was very poor and I'm just not convinced that he should be captain.
Steven: I don't get all the injuries in a short space of time - are we training correctly? Playing two games a week most weeks, how much heavy training do we need on top of this?
Christine: Casemiro cannot continue. I would rather have the kids play - at least they can run and, most importantly, give a better account of themselves. Bruno with his misplaced Hollywood passes because he cannot run. That centre of midfield was terrible and nothing is going to change. Bring on the class of 25.
John: For United to avoid relegation, Ruben Amorim must ditch his system immediately and adopt 4-3-3.
Christopher: Gary Neville got it right when he said that of all the United players on the pitch only Bruno would make it into the Spurs team. They are just not good enough. That said, they created plenty of chances - they just don't have the quality to score.
Oliver: For supposedly the best young coach in the game, he only has one way of playing. It is obvious he doesn't have the players to play the system he wants but, instead of adapting, he keeps playing the same system with the wrong players. If we keep this up we won't win another game all season. If we get relegated, is that OK because Amorim has stuck to his idea of playing to his system?
George: United should realise the season with the present players is over. It is time to experiment with their highest-rated academy players and look towards the summer transfer window.
'We cannot make definite judgement on Amorim until next season'published at 15:03 17 February
15:03 17 February
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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.
Eddie asked: Ruben Amorim complaining his job is hard is laughable when everyone can see the problems. Does that comment show the start of him giving up?
Phil answered: It was a hard job to start with and injuries have made it worse. It also looks like he will have to sell to buy, which is a sign of things to come for him.
There is no denying, though, that Amorim has had a dreadful start with eight defeats in 12 games, and Manchester United are now in the bottom six.
There is no sign of any structure, while his preferred three-man central defensive system is clearly totally unsuited to the players he has at his disposal. Despite this, he shows no sign of adapting.
It may well be that the rest of this season is damage limitation for United - although let's not forget they still have the FA Cup and Europa League to go for - and we cannot make any sort of definite judgement on Amorim until next season.
Which academy players could Amorim turn to?published at 15:01 17 February
15:01 17 February
Josh Lobley BBC Sport journalist
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One thing that was certainly more interesting than anything Manchester United did on the pitch against Tottenham was having a look at the players in the Red Devils' dugout.
Victor Lindelof was joined by academy players Ayden Heaven, Harry Amass, Sekou Kone, Elyh Harrison, Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse and Chido Obi to make up the substitutes' bench.
To some fans, the fact only forward Obi got to make his United debut is perhaps equally as frustrating as the sub-par display in north London.
Some might make the case that this isn't a good time to throw a group of young players into the spotlight. If a team of senior professionals - a lot of whom are fully fledged internationals - cannot find their feet in Ruben Amorim's new-look system, then how can the young players be expected to cope?
On the other hand, the phrase "if you're good enough, you're old enough" comes to mind.
It could be also be argued that United's miserable Premier League campaign means there is less pressure. Could this make it the ideal time to trial some of the young players?
It seems Amorim knows what side of the coin he falls on, telling Sky Sports: "They [the academy players] will play during this season. We will have games in the cup and Europe and they will play. I feel it, I think everybody can feel it."
Looking at the selection of players who made the bench against Spurs, it seems there is at least one for most positions on the pitch, giving Amorim plenty of opportunity to test the quality of Carrington's finest.
Is it the right environment for youngsters?published at 11:39 17 February
11:39 17 February
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BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray, speaking about Manchester United's loss to Tottenham on Sunday: "Manchester United are not in a great place, although the thing you have to point out is it was a novel experience for Tottenham to play against a team that has got a longer list of injuries than they had.
"That has bitten Manchester United heavily - you only have to look at the substitutes' bench.
"Ruben Amorim brought on 17-year-old Chido Obi, who has been much talked about. Clinton Morrison, who was with me, said: 'Why doesn't he throw them on, give them a go and see what they can do?'
"Before the match, Amorim said the youngsters have got less responsibility and they are good players.
"But that's what the manager has got to decide - is it the best environment for him to bring them on to play for the first time? Clearly, he felt not."
Obi makes debut from Man Utd's youthful benchpublished at 11:39 17 February
11:39 17 February
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Injuries and illness decimated Manchester United's squad for Sunday's game at Tottenham, meaning defender Victor Lindelof was the only senior player named in an otherwise youthful group of substitutes.
Lindelof - with 268 - was the only player on the bench to have made a competitive first-team appearance for United before the game.
Highly rated striker Chido Obi, 17, made his Premier League debut in the closing moments but he was the only player sent on by Ruben Amorim during the 1-0 defeat.
It was the first time since a 0-0 draw against Newcastle in October 2022, when Erik ten Hag was in charge, that United had made fewer than two substitutions in a Premier League match.
In his first 13 league matches as United boss, Amorim had made 58 of the 65 substitutions available to him, using all five in a game on eight occasions.
'I question whether it's players who can't see Amorim's vision'published at 11:38 17 February
11:38 17 February
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Manchester United supporter Kim Burdett, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Sunday's 1-0 loss at Tottenham: "Ruben Amorim has got his ways he wants to implement and I'm sure, with the right personnel, it could be very successful.
"It's abundantly clear to everybody watching that the team doesn't have the footballing intelligence to implement what he wants.
"Injuries have had a big impact, particularly on Sunday, although I thought we may have been able to get something out of the game.
"We're back to the same issues where we just cannot score goals.
"We've been saying for a quite a long time, collectively as fans, that we're in desperate need of a decent striker. Even getting someone in on loan in January for a few months, a half-decent striker who could put the ball in the net would have helped.
"But we're so short of attacking options and it's not going to get any better until May when we can start getting more players in.
"Sunday was really frustrating because Patrick Dorgu was making a lot of overlapping runs. He seemed to be doing what Amorim wanted him to do, and the players were just ignoring him. If nobody sees you or passes the ball to you, it's all pretty worthless.
"I do question whether it's the players who just can't see his vision and can't seem to grasp what he wants."
Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:07 17 February
09:07 17 February
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Manchester United.
Here are some of your comments:
Tottenham fans:
Stephen: Nervy, but we played quite well. United will always come forward against us; we play an open game so other teams get chances. Not great but better than it has been for a while and three points are precious these days.
Atty: The clean sheet and the three points will help for the players, Ange Postecoglou and the fans. Some 105 days without a home win was not good enough from a Spurs point of view, but to get this one will definitely help. Scrappy win, but it was always not going to be the best match of the season because both of these teams haven't been good.
Peter: Rode our luck against a weak United. However, plenty of positives - Guglielmo Vicario was outstanding on his return and kept our lead on three separate occasions. Djed Spence is increasingly showing why we signed him. Mathys Tel is eager to impress. Hoping we can now kick on. COYS.
Noah: I saw lots of positives in that game. Kevin Danso looked solid, Tel was unlucky not to score and when Wilson Oderbert came on there was a glimpse of the damage he and Spence could do. With a few players back, suddenly we have a squad.
Man Utd fans:
Pete: When will the new owners wake up and smell the coffee? Ruben Amorim is not the manager they expected. Surely the players they have are better than the league position they are in? They have to swallow their pride and admit they were wrong to appoint him, but I'm not holding my breath.
Paul: Totally disjointed performance with no real pattern of play. Rasmus Hojland is out of his depth and we should be giving the youngsters a chance. Joshua Zirkzee has improved and did some good link-up play but, once again, Bruno Fernandes was very poor and I'm just not convinced that he should be captain. Amorim has shown very little in the way of tactics and he might be right about relegation with lacklustre performances like this.
Sam: These players are not, as some people say, 'rubbish' and yet they often look like they have never met before. I don't know if it is the current coach, the system or team selection, but something is and has been deeply wrong within the club for a very long time. I do not like to single out individuals, but we have a centre-forward who is currently unable to score. Why is he chosen week in, week out? And why are our players injured in training?
Peter: No vision, no ambition, no effort. United thoroughly deserve their 15th place, and should be getting worried about the next few months. Their performances are so poor, they would look very vulnerable in a relegation battle. The manager has brought nothing to the team whatsoever. They are far worse under his tenure than they were already, which is saying something. Embarrassing display.
'United seems like a stepping-stone club now'published at 09:00 17 February
09:00 17 February
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Former Premier League striker Glen Murray says Manchester United "probably" look a worse team under Ruben Amorim than they did under Erik ten Hag.
United were 14th and six points of fifth place - which is likely to be the final Champions League qualification spot - when Ten Hag was sacked in October, but now sit in 15th, 14 points behind Bournemouth in fifth.
"It's hard to believe, but I think they probably do [look worse than they did under Ten Hag]," Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"There's definitely a lack of belief. It might be the case that the players aren't top players - but make them top players, coach them into being top players.
"We've seen it at lesser clubs - your Bournemouths and Brightons. Why can't Manchester United and Amorim do it?
"He's not been in the job long and he's set his stall out - they're going to play his way whether it suits the players or not. But, when I look at the group, they're all international footballers, they should be able to play in different positions. They should be capable.
"United are playing as a bunch of individuals. It seems almost like a stepping-stone club now - I'll come, do my bit then get out.
"The most damning thing wasn't even the players on the pitch, it was the players who have left the club doing better at other clubs under different structures. Is it a cultural thing?"
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