Fans and Former Stars Share the Same Feelings
“Frustrated, angry, that is it,” Ruben Amorim said in his first words after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham on Thursday. His statement captured the mood of the fans, many of whom booed the team off Old Trafford. Former captain Roy Keane used similar words to describe the current United side. “The word everyone will be using is frustration,” Keane told Sky Sports after another match where United led but conceded late to end with a point. He added, “I wouldn’t trust or believe in this team. There are more goals in them, but defensively and in midfield, there are still huge question marks.”
Amorim Keeps His Cool Amid Agitation
Amorim sounded unusually agitated, though he insisted he remained calm. He avoided repeating his January tirade after the Brighton defeat, when he cut his hand and broke a TV in the dressing room. He said he would address the situation at Carrington on Friday, believing it unhelpful to speak to players while emotions ran high.
Understanding What Went Wrong
Amorim analyzed the match carefully. He understood why his side failed to hold the second-half lead created by Diogo Dalot. He also knew why Soungoutou Magassa scored his first English football goal in the 83rd minute, capitalizing on Noussair Mazraoui’s goal-line clearance from Jarrod Bowen’s flicked header. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo called the equaliser “deserved,” noting their team had only won once away since August. Amorim added, “It happened with a long ball. They win the second ball against three guys. In the final minutes, the ball was far from the opponent. We cannot let a team that is taller than us take a corner.”
A Pattern of Late Concessions
The bigger issue is repetition. Keane highlighted the pattern, saying, “One minute, you think they are making progress, they could move fifth, but they don’t get the job done. They look frightened to get the job done.” United faced Nottingham Forest on November 1, leading before conceding and needing an equaliser. The same scenario repeated at Tottenham a week later, with the equaliser coming in stoppage time. After the international break, a Champions League spot was within reach against Everton, yet United lost at home to ten men.
Progress or Plateau?
Currently, United sits eighth, seven points from fifth, amid 11 clubs separated by four points. Analysts debate if the team is good, average, or poor. Many acknowledge progress compared to last season’s 15th place, even after spending more than £200 million. In October, United won three consecutive matches, and Amorim earned manager of the month. Now, they have just one win in five matches, raising concerns they might regress. Amorim disagrees: “It’s not going backwards. We had some moments. That can happen. We are inconsistent. If you look at the goal after 83 minutes, there is a long ball, and we have everything under control. We must do better.”
Looking Ahead
United face bottom club Wolves on Monday. They will again play the final game of the Premier League match round, aiming for a crucial win. After repeated late collapses, the target keeps shrinking. Fans and analysts hope United will avoid another failure against a team that has beaten no one this season.
