BREAKING NEWS: A pundit has voiced his “concern” about the possibility of Manchester United dismissing Ruben Amorim, suggesting that the upcoming match against Newcastle could determine his future. “It would be utterly foolish for the board to sack such a talented manager,” he stated. He added, “If we could show patience with Erik ten Hag during his tenure, why not now? Considering the quality of players Amorim has at his disposal, it would take a miracle to secure a win against Newcastle.”

Chris Sutton has weighed in on Ruben Amorim’s challenging start as Manchester United’s manager, asserting that the Portuguese coach is not in immediate danger of losing his job. However, Sutton emphasized the urgent need for the players to eradicate what he called “under-12s” level mistakes, which are hindering Amorim’s ability to turn the team’s fortunes around.

Appointed on November 11th to replace Erik ten Hag after a move from Sporting CP, Amorim has faced a rough initiation at Old Trafford. In his ten games at the helm, Manchester United have suffered five losses, been eliminated from the EFL Cup, and dropped to a troubling 14th position in the Premier League. The struggles reached a low point with a demoralizing 2-0 defeat to Wolves, leaving the club alarmingly closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

Despite these troubling results, Sutton is confident that Amorim’s job is secure for now. Still, he hasn’t held back in criticizing the team, particularly highlighting repeated errors by goalkeepers Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. Sutton pointed to their mistakes in recent matches against Wolves and Tottenham as examples of how such lapses have disrupted Amorim’s attempts to steady the team.

In his BBC Sport predictions column, Sutton did not mince words, stating, “I’m not worried about Amorim being sacked, but it’s almost impossible for a manager to succeed when his goalkeeper concedes directly from a corner. That’s schoolboy football—things you’d expect in under-12s matches, not the Premier League. Yet, Manchester United have made this mistake twice in two weeks. It’s unacceptable at this level.”

Reflecting on his past evaluations, Sutton admitted he had been overly optimistic about the team. “Last week, I predicted a draw at Wolves because I didn’t want to upset United fans who already give me stick on social media. But I was far too kind. The way they’re playing now, they deserve every bit of criticism they’re getting,” he acknowledged.

Sutton also stressed that Manchester United’s struggles cannot solely be attributed to Amorim. The new manager has had limited time to instill his philosophy or make substantial changes to the squad. Nevertheless, Sutton offered a harsh appraisal of the team’s current state, declaring, “Right now, this Manchester United side is simply a poor team. Amorim needs time and the chance to bring in his own players, but for now, they’re miles away from where they need to be.”

The former striker’s comments highlight the steep challenges Amorim faces as he navigates a turbulent start to his Manchester United career. While the club appears to be standing by its new manager for the moment, it is clear that significant on-field improvements are needed to ease the mounting pressure.

Amorim’s position may not yet be under immediate threat, but the ongoing struggles underline the urgency for change. The coming weeks will be crucial as Manchester United seeks to recover from their poor form and move closer to the expectations that come with the club’s stature.