Just when you thought Manchester United's struggles can't get any worse, they show you they are capable of reaching an even further low. The Red Devils suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, prompting club legend Gary Neville to demand wholesale changes at the club.
The loss keeps United fighting at the bottom half of the Premier League table as Christmas approaches, marking their worst seasonal position since 1989.
Squad Quality Under Scrutiny
Ruben Amorim's appointment had initially brought hope, but performances like these begin to beg some questions. The defeat to Bournemouth is quite shocking, especially when you remember United's dramatic victory over Manchester City the previous weekend. The Portuguese manager faces one big task—rebuilding a squad that appears increasingly inadequate for the club's aspirations.
Neville, analyzing the state of his former club, believes there's a distance between United's ambitions and current state. "They are all very mediocre, and I don't know how it's happened - they are better than what they are showing, let's be clear. But it's a pattern," Neville stated on his podcast.
Amorim's Tactical Challenges
Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation has come under scrutiny as one of the reasons the team is struggling. According to Neville, there should be some tactical adjustments if he wants to improve: "Playing the way Amorim wants to play, with the 3-4-3, he's going to have to change it."
After the disappointing loss, Amorim himself acknowledged the mounting pressure: "In this moment, everything is so hard. For a club like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at home, it's really tough for everybody." The manager also noted how the fans and players had some anxiety, describing how they were nervous "since the first minute" of the match.
Looking at United's rivals, the distance becomes really glaring and more embarrassing. While United grapple with their identity crisis, Liverpool's tactical displays show a team thriving under Arne Slot's leadership. They sit on top of the Premier League table following an impressive 6-3 victory over Tottenham.
For Neville, the next six months will be crucial for Amorim's evaluation of the squad, describing it as "more of an ugly parade" than a beauty parade. The former United defender believes this period will expose what Manchester United fans have endured for a decade, as he called for a "cultural overhaul" at the club.
What Now?
The Bournemouth defeat, executed by Andoni Iraola's well-drilled side, sent a reminder that there's still a lot of work to be done at United. Goals from Dean Huijsen and Antoine Semenyo, along with Justin Kluivert's penalty, secured a comfortable victory for the visitors, as United were tied tighter to the Premier League bottom half.
Ruben Amorim's Manchester United tenure seems like it would require a lot of patience from the fans. However he wants to do it, the results will need to change for the better and be more consistent at that. For Neville, the players are also a big part of the problem: "They are all lads trying their best, it's not a personal assault, but they are not good enough to play for Manchester United, because this club aims to be at the top.”