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RUBEN AMORIM probably thought he had made progress after Manchester United’s exhilarating derby win just two weeks ago.
Their dynamic display at the Etihad served as a substantial morale boost, and a string of seemingly manageable matches lay ahead during the festive period.
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A match against an inconsistent Tottenham in the Carabao Cup was succeeded by a home game versus Bournemouth and a Boxing Day meeting with Wolves.
Nevertheless, after suffering three straight defeats, Amorim now faces an unenviable record.
The last time a United manager had such a rocky start at Old Trafford was in 1931.
Walter Crickmer lost six of his first ten matches in charge — nearly a century later, Amorim has “only” been defeated in five of his initial ten.
The concerning aspect is that this troubling record could deteriorate in the coming weeks.
Tonight, United will host a Newcastle lineup that is currently in outstanding form, having won their last three Premier League games — netting 11 goals and conceding none.
Following that, they will confront league leaders Liverpool on Sunday — who will show no mercy at Anfield.
Their challenging schedule wraps up with a daunting FA Cup third-round clash against another historic rival, Arsenal.
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As fellow Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo noted over the weekend, the “storm will continue” for a while before “the sun shines again.”
Amorim will be hoping the day the clouds begin to clear comes soon.
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Who was Walter Crickmer?
WALTER CRICKMER served as Manchester United’s club secretary for several years and was twice asked to take over as interim manager.
His first tenure occurred in 1931, stepping in after Herbert Bamlett’s exit when the club was in grave relegation trouble.
Despite a challenging beginning, he managed to lead the team to 12th place — avoiding the drop — before resigning the following June.
In 1937, the man known as ‘Mr Manchester United’ was called upon again.
He remained for eight years, although the war interrupted the number of games played.
Crickmer began his journey with United in 1919 as a clerk and stayed with the club in various roles for 39 years before tragically perishing in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.
Arriving in Manchester just seven weeks ago — on the typically rainy day in the North West — he recognized the daunting challenge ahead.
Yet, events have not unfolded as he would have hoped. Perhaps the former Sporting Lisbon coach deserves some understanding as he faces teams at inconvenient times.
Bournemouth arrived in Manchester having secured three victories and one draw in their last four matches.
Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola’s team had the luxury of an entire week to prepare, looking fresher and more confident in their 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
Days later, they encountered Wolves, rejuvenated under new manager Vitor Pereira.
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The hosts entered the match buoyed by their impressive win over Leicester just days prior, carrying that newfound confidence into the game against United.
Now Amorim’s squad, sitting uncomfortably in 14th place in the league, is facing a strong Newcastle side, which is currently in great form.
Three weeks ago, the Magpies endured a 4-2 defeat at Brentford, marking a fourth consecutive league match without a win. However, since then, they’ve been exceptional.
They now enjoy four straight wins across all competitions and have been scoring effortlessly.
With Alexander Isak, one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers, netting seven times in his last six games, the challenge is significant.
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Amorim needs to devise a plan to counter the Geordies without captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte, both of whom are suspended.
However, empathy is limited given the harsh environment at the club he has joined.
New minority owner Jim Ratcliffe has shown that he is willing to make quick changes if necessary.
While Amorim needs time to instill his vision at United, they are currently grappling with fundamental issues with their performance.
Twice within a week, they conceded goals directly from corners, with Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth also taking advantage of set-pieces in recent matches.
It’s evident that other teams are exploiting this weakness, and Eddie Howe will certainly look to use it to his advantage in tonight’s match.
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Former United captain Harry Maguire recognizes the team’s current challenges, which overshadow the positive changes being implemented by Amorim and his staff.
The England defender stated: “Since the manager’s arrival, our performances have improved, but the results have not reflected that progress.
“We’ve made headway, but we continue to concede from set-pieces and often find ourselves trailing after conceding the first goal, which proves difficult.
“In those tight situations, being down a goal from a set-piece can be a major blow. We need to address that issue.
“Winning is crucial for morale, and at present, we’re not achieving that. We haven’t been getting the outcomes we want.
“Each match is critical, and failing to win leads to dissatisfaction. The outside noise will only intensify.
“We must remain focused, cocoon ourselves in our environment, and look ahead to the next match when success might return.”
“It’s a tremendous privilege to represent this club, which comes with a significant responsibility. Losing games is never enjoyable.”
Amorim’s Support from Maguire
By Martin Blackburn
HARRY MAGUIRE is firmly convinced that Ruben Amorim will successfully “reverse” the ongoing troubles at Manchester United.
Amorim’s start marks the most challenging beginning for any Red Devils manager in 93 YEARS.
He acknowledged that they are currently in a “survival” struggle following Boxing Day’s 2-0 loss at Wolves, with United positioned 14th ahead of tonight’s home clash with Newcastle.
Yet Maguire reassured: “I am confident that things will improve. He knows exactly what needs to be done to revive this club.
“He has come in and implemented everything necessary. He has high expectations.”
Contrasting Amorim to his dismissed predecessor Erik ten Hag, Maguire noted: “Their approaches are entirely different — they request opposing things from the team.
“The transition phase will be tough, but we have immense faith in the manager and his staff.”
United seemed to be on a positive track when they triumphed over Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad just two weeks ago.
However, they have since endured three consecutive losses.
Defender Maguire, 31, concluded: “He is a competitive spirit, so I’m sure he feels quite frustrated. He cannot stand losing — as do we all as players.
“It’s disheartening because we want to win matches, but unfortunately, this season has not met expectations.
“During difficult times, it’s vital for senior players to guide the younger ones through these experiences. Change will come, and we must continue to battle.”
Skipper Bruno Fernandes, 30, will miss the upcoming match against Newcastle due to a red card received against Wolves — alongside fellow midfielder Manuel Ugarte, 23.
In his match program notes for tonight’s game, Amorim stated: “What I can guarantee is that time is essential — but our progress is inevitable, of that I’m sure.
“We are working to implement a new style of play — especially during this busy time of the year.
“Thus, we face short-term setbacks as we pursue our long-term goals.”
