Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Man United are a team full of prima donnas - they should be more like Brentford

talksport.com, 12 December 2024, 12:21
Manchester United should ditch their team of prima donnas and consider a Brentford-style squad rebuild.

That's the view of singer-songwriter and lifelong United fan Olly Murs, who joined the panel of talkSPORT's designated Manchester United show, Inside Devils.

The honeymoon period for new head coach Ruben Amorim proved to be nothing more than a flash in the pan after he drew away at Ipswich and then beat Bodo/Glimt and Everton in his first three matches.

But back-to-back Premier League defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest has left the club sitting 13th in the table.

Up next for United is Thursday's Europa League trip to Viktoria Plzen before Sunday's mammoth Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.

And Murs left nothing on the table when discussing United's current plight.

READ MORE ON MAN UNITED

Dan Ashworth could make instant Premier League return following Manchester United exit

Troy Deeney fumes at 'baby' Marcus Rashford as he suggests Premier League transfer

He even suggested the 20-time Premier League champions should aspire to build a workmanlike squad like what Thomas Frank has done at Brentford.

The 2009 X Factor runner-up says he hopes Amorim adopts an approach similar to that of his time at Sporting Lisbon with a preference for a collective rather than individual stars.

He said: "I'm at the stage where I'm thinking, would I prefer a Brentford squad over this squad?

"Would I prefer a squad that works hard as a team?"

Most read in Football

Dan Ashworth could make instant Premier League return following Manchester United exit

Troy Deeney fumes at 'baby' Marcus Rashford as he suggests Premier League transfer

Why Chelsea vs Astana has been given a bizarre kick-off time in Europa Conference League

Guardiola bemused by Gundogan's remark as Man City boss on worst ever Champions League run

Murs added: "Sporting worked as a team, there's no real big stars.

"I just think we've got too many individuals and too many prima donnas. Fingers crossed he [Amorim] stops buying names - buy squad players.

"We're not what we used to be. We need to build a squad that runs and works for the team. We just don't have that at the moment."

A glowing start to Amorim's reign let to hope from fans that United are finally on the right track.

However, the Red Devils quickly slipped back into bad habits by showing their frailties particularly from set-pieces against Arsenal and Forest.

"We just don't do the basics right," Murs states. "We don't work hard enough. We're always waiting for individual moments.

"Again at the weekend we're all saying, 'Come on Amad [Diallo], do something.'

"[Marcus] Rashford, let's not even go there with him, but can someone do something?"

United's busy schedule sees them play eight games across four competitions over the busy Christmas and New Year period.

The games come thick and fast for Amorim with trips to Tottenham and Liverpool before an intriguing FA Cup third-round clash at Arsenal on January 12.

United are the current holders, however Murs believes Amorim should prioritise League duties and Champions League qualification through the Europa League rather than defending the FA Cup.

"I hope in the FA Cup and maybe a few Manchester United fans think I'm stupid here," he added.

"We're playing against Arsenal in the third round.

"I'd much prefer him just to have two weeks with the boys and instead, rotate the squad (against Arsenal) and concentrate on getting a decent league position and the Europa League.

Read More on talkSPORT

Floyd Mayweather releases statement after being attacked and chased by mob in London

Man United in talks to make Ruben Amorim's first signing but he can't join right away

Simon Jordan and Danny Murphy on whether Manchester United should sell Marcus Rashford

"If he can get time on the training field with these guys, rest them.

"Get the recovery and get the right players back, that would be better for us and better for him."

Top News

23 December 2024 talksport.com Big things were expected of Marko Mitrovic when he joined Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2008. 23 December 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT has today announced that is has won radio rights to the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 coverage. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Boxing Day football is beloved by fans and one of the highlights of the Christmas schedule - but it can prove tricky for the players. 23 December 2024 talksport.com A handful of Premier League stars will be able to spend Christmas at home this year after receiving a Boxing Day ban. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea return to action on Boxing Day when they play host to local rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lisandro Martinez has claimed that Manchester United were "playing so well" before losing 3-0 to Bournemouth on Sunday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has allegedly made a further two senior players available for transfer. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal have reportedly scouted Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui as an alternative transfer target to Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly discovered the asking price of Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Denis Suarez wasn't the player Arsenal fans wanted to sign - but he's the footballer supporters have a hard time in forgetting. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be aiming to avoid four straight defeats across all competitions when they welcome Everton to the Etihad in the Premier League on Boxing Day. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After spending Christmas Day in the bottom half of the Premier League table, Tottenham Hotspur endeavour to atone for recent failings when they travel to Nottingham Forest for a Boxing Day battle. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After celebrating Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool get back to business on Boxing Day, when they welcome Leicester City to Anfield. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hatayspor vs. Adana Demirspor (Monday, 5.00pm) The battle of the bottom feeders in the Turkish Super Lig unfolds on Monday as Hatayspor host Adana Demirspor at the Mersin Stadyumu. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica vs. Estoril (Monday, 6.45pm) Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fiorentina vs. Udinese (Monday, 5.30pm) After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk First place in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be at stake on Wednesday as Bahrain and Iraq celebrate Christmas Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window.