Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is facing more scrutiny than ever after an embarrassing Carabao Cup second-round exit to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park
Amie is a football writer covering clubs across the country, she has been a football fan all of her life and supports Leicester City. She graduated with a degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2015. Amie has previous experience in local radio in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Ruben Amorim hit a new nadir as Manchester United head coach after their Carabao Cup second-round exit to Grimsby Town earlier this week, and according to reports, he is set for showdown talks with club chiefs during the international break next month.
Burnley visit Old Trafford first this weekend. Then, following the upcoming pause in fixtures, there is the Manchester derby next up, after which United host Chelsea.
Manchester Evening News readers already feel Amorim may not stick around for much longer, with 57% of respondents to our latest reader poll claiming he will not last the season. MEN Sport writers have had their own say...
Matthew Abbott
The comparisons between this season's start and how Louis van Gaal began his stint in charge are striking. Unbeaten pre-seasons led to opening weekend defeats at Old Trafford by the odd goal.
Drawing their first away game 1-1 after taking the lead was followed by League Cup second round exits in embarrassing fashion to lower league opposition. Then, next up, Burnley.
Van Gaal's United drew 0-0 at Turf Moor heading into the September international break 11 years ago. It remains unclear whether Amorim would be able to remain in charge after a fourth winless match to start this campaign.
That season, however, shows that such a situation can still be salvagable. United did not hit their stride until after the November international break, winning just four of their first 11 in the Premier League.
From then on, though, they won five straight matches, starting away against Arsenal. United lost only twice more until a run of three defeats beginning in mid-April.
Amorim should be afforded similar grace despite much of last season already counting against him. The next five games, taking United through to the next international break, should provide a better gauge of whether to persist with the Portuguese
Tom Doyle
United cannot keep sacking managers and expect things to change. And Amorim cannot last much longer unless things change. Both these things are true as the club lurches towards a familiar crossroads.
Amorim's post-match interviews at Grimsby were telling: his English is impressive, but had they been conducted in his native Portuguese, you'd expect the coach would have edged even closer to the point of no return.
I think Amorim deserves more time to work with his new signings, but if he does really believe he has lost the dressing room, then you have to ask whether he can lead a turnaround - or whether he even wants to, for that matter.
His loyalty to his system is one part admirable, one part naive: if your players are found out by League Two teams within 20 minutes, that says it all.
As a United fan, I want Amorim to succeed, but the coach and the players must show passion, bravery and some joy against Burnley: if it's more of the same, I think Ratcliffe will have to act.
The saving grace for United is that while Amorim is wedded to his system, the new signings - Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha - are all capable of quickly adapting to a new style. And Ruud van Nistelrooy may have tanked at Leicester, but United could do worse than bringing him back for another interim spell.
Kieran Horn
Another huge managerial decision awaits at Manchester United, but this should really be the most straightforward one for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club's hierarchy.
Amorim's words and tactics should be a real concern, alongside his reluctance to adapt with that further evidenced by still using a back five when his side were 2-0 down to Grimsby. Mikel Arteta is often the reference point for allowing struggling managers to be given time.
However, it must be remembered that Arsenal squad from a number of years ago was very made while there are several good players at United, but they are certainly not a team. A significant amount of money has been spent to sign three attackers and given the quality now in the team, United will be better off going elsewhere.
Amie Wilson
It feels like United are stuck in somewhat of a vicious circle at the minute, and I don't know if continually chopping an changing managers is the way to get out of it.
Amorim was quickly identified as the number one target when Erik ten Hag was sacked last season, and they moved quickly for him. Last season he could use the excuse of not having his own squad, but that won't really stand this time around given how much he has been backed in the transfer window.
Spending so much money only to sack a manager again feels like too much of a repeat of last year, so I think United will be best to stick with Amorim for now. It does feel like the head coach needs to adapt himself a bit more, but if he can do that and help bed in the new arrivals then he could turn things around at Old Trafford.
It still feels like Amorim has the backing of the majority of fans, so, for now I think it's best to stick rather than twist.