Ruben Amorim finds himself under immense pressure as Manchester United's manager, with the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, having secured just two wins from their first six league matches. This poor run of form has led to growing doubts over the Portuguese boss, who has recorded only nine league victories in his 11-month tenure at Old Trafford.

Amidst the turmoil, former football manager Neil Warnock has jokingly offered to take over the managerial reins for free. Warnock's humorous proposal came after he poked fun at Amorim's use of a tactics board during United's Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town. Further adding to the jest, a social media post by Men in Blazers, which replaced club names with puns, renamed Manchester United as 'Paging Neil Warnock,' to which Warnock cheekily responded, 'Give me a call in January,' and suggested a 4-3-3 formation.

Amorim acknowledges the precariousness of his position, admitting it would be 'naive' to think he could continue without an improvement in results. He stated that the club, with its significant sponsors and two owners, will reach a point where his continuation becomes 'impossible.' Despite the pressure, United sources insist Amorim retains their backing, though they are reportedly monitoring potential successors, including former United star Michael Carrick and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

A significant point of contention revolves around Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation. The manager staunchly defends his system, asserting that the team's struggles are not due to the formation but rather 'small details' and 'the way we play the game.' He has expressed frustration, stating, 'My biggest problem is for my players to believe you guys [the media] when you say our problem is the system. I get crazy about that.' Amorim claims that they do not always play a back three and points out that the team previously played in different systems for many years without gaining a clear identity.

However, many observers suggest that United's squad is inherently better suited for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 setup, aligning with the club's historical emphasis on wingers. The current system often sees wingers deployed as full-backs. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had previously indicated that the club hierarchy would dictate the style of play. Despite the criticisms, Amorim has made personnel decisions such as promoting Altay Bayindir as No 1 keeper, extending Harry Maguire's contract, and signing key players like Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Benjamin Sesko, suggesting he has the players to fit his vision.

Amorim also drew a comparison regarding the intensity of criticism, noting that the abuse he receives in his native Portugal is 'much worse' than in England, where people are 'so polite' when the team is losing. He and his family are happy living in England, despite his personal aversion to losing and failing.

Oliver Glasner, a potential successor, has found significant success at Crystal Palace, achieving a top-ten finish, silverware, and European qualification. Ironically, Glasner has also employed a 3-4-2-1 system at Palace, though he is considered more 'flexible' than Amorim, having used a back four at Eintracht Frankfurt. Glasner's contract at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the season, making him a potentially more affordable option than Amorim was. United's upcoming home match against newly-promoted Sunderland is deemed crucial, with Amorim under immense pressure to secure a much-needed win before the October international break.