Amorim on the Brink: Five Man United Stars Praying for a Reset

Well, that escalated quickly. After last season’s nadir, the expectation was that a full pre-season and a few handpicked signings would let Ruben Amorim steady Manchester United’s listing ship. Instead, United look miles off it: already eight points behind leaders Liverpool and humiliated by fourth-tier Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round. The talk around Old Trafford now? How long the manager lasts.

For those keeping an eye on where the wind’s blowing, our best betting sites hub has the latest odds and angles — but the only line that matters in M16 right now is whether Amorim survives to Christmas. If he doesn’t, a handful of players stand to benefit immediately. Here are the five who’ll be cheering the loudest for a reset.

5) Marcus Rashford

He may be dazzling La Liga on loan at Barcelona, but Marcus Rashford remains United’s player and, as it stands, is due back in the summer. Under Amorim, the relationship looks frosty at best; the manager simply hasn’t fancied him. A change in the dugout would reopen the door for a homegrown talisman who, with trust and clarity, could still be the difference-maker at Old Trafford. If there’s a new voice on the touchline come June, Rashford’s United future suddenly looks a whole lot brighter.

4) Bruno Fernandes

Bruno’s been a square peg in Amorim’s system, pushed deeper and wider than his natural habitat. The result? A dulled edge from a player who used to run United’s attacking rhythm. A new manager would almost certainly shove him back into the No 10 slot and tell him to get on the half-turn and hurt teams. Given that Bruno and Rashford are costing the club a combined £600,000 a week, it’s madness not to build the platform that gets their best football.

3) Luke Shaw

At 30, Luke Shaw needs a manager who plays him where he’s elite: left-back. Instead, he’s ping-ponged between wing-back and left-sided centre-back to service a shape that doesn’t maximise his gifts. Shaw’s delivery, timing on the overlap and one-v-one defending are far more valuable in a back four. A new gaffer who bins the tactical contortions could restore a dependable cornerstone on the flank.

2) Kobbie Mainoo

From breakout star under Erik ten Hag to bit-part under Amorim — it’s been a jarring swing for Kobbie Mainoo. The kid’s press resistance, awareness and calm in a storm are exactly what United’s midfield has lacked during this messy start, yet his minutes have dwindled and whispers of a move have crept in. A manager who trusts youth and gives him a defined role would put him straight back at the heart of the project.

1) Amad Diallo

Amad’s a winger by trade, all quick feet and sharp angles out wide. Under Amorim he’s been shunted into central attacking midfield or a conservative right-mid role — and his spark’s been smothered. Play him on the wing, let him isolate full-backs, and you’ll see the version that once had the fanbase buzzing. A post-Amorim reset could be the making of him.

United’s recruitment — Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo among the headline additions — hasn’t shifted the needle, the performances are trending south, and the pressure is dialled up to eleven. If the axe falls, don’t be shocked if this quintet are the first to catch fire under a new voice and a simpler brief. The talent’s there; the fit isn’t. Change that, and the season might yet be salvageable.