Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Roy Keane issues worrying verdict on Man United following Amorim's opening match

talksport.com, 24 November 2024, 20:30
Manchester United fans may be full of optimism regarding new boss Ruben Amorim - but Roy Keane is adamant the players will continue to disappoint.

The Red Devils kicked off the Amorim-era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich to leave them 12th in the Premier League table.

United got off to a dream start after taking the lead just 81 seconds into the clash at Portman Road through Marcus Rashford.

The strike meant that Amorim became just the second permanent manager in Premier League history to see his side score in the opening two minutes of their first game.

But the visitors struggled to create anything of note after that, with Ipswich, who sit 18th in the table, taking control of the match.

And they got their duly deserved equaliser in the 43rd minute thanks to Omari Hutchinson's curler from distance.

READ MORE ON MAN UNITED

'I love that kid' - Amorim reveals forgotten Man United star is huge part of his plan

Keane offers Ipswich fan out in car park in heated confrontation

The Tractor Boys could have walked away with all three points had it not been for Andre Onana's heroics, with the goalkeeper twice denying Liam Delap form point-blank range.

United, who have won just four matches from their 12 top-flight matches this term, now sit eight points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

And United icon Keane believes there is no chance his former employers will challenge for a Champions League spot this season - despite a change in management.

Giving his analysis on Sky Sports following the match, Keane was asked whether United have players that can consistently show their class, as opposed to moment of quality.

Most read in Football

Keane offers Ipswich fan out in car park in heated confrontation

Ruben Amorim equals stunning 22-year PL record - but joins unwanted Manchester United list

Leicester City sack Steve Cooper after defeat to Chelsea

Southampton hit unwanted Premier League record as they concede 'ridiculous' goal

To which he said: "No, and that's the big problem.

"This team, for the last year or two, has been all about moments.

"We saw with the first goal after the first minute, you think, 'A great start, a bit of quality, a bit of pace, a nice finish from Marcus getting into the areas you want him to be.'

"And then United just sat back and you're thinking, 'What are you waiting for?'

"Ipswich are a team near the bottom, obviously on the back of a good result from Spurs, but with their home record not great, go after them!

"It was if United almost were fearful of going on to win the game.

"The manager obviously made a lot of changes in the second half, and to be fair, you're thinking, 'He's obviously trying to win the game.'

"He's still trying to get to know these players, but United, the position in the league, their results, they probably lacked that confidence and belief.

"But do I believe this group of players have the quality to start getting Manchester United back up towards the top four/top five?

"I've been saying it for ages, absolutely not. The evidence isn't there.

"And again today, we've come down here thinking, 'A new manager, a new bounce,' and it's all very positive.

"But then when the game starts. It's the same old stuff. Predictable and a real lack of quality."

Next up for Amorim is a Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt, before United welcome Everton to Old Trafford in the Premier League next Sunday.

Top News

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. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Djed Spence has been named in the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their Premier League clash with Liverpool, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo get the nod up front for the visitors. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in a defeat that saw Ruben Amorim's side achieve an unwanted record. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim will allow Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United for the sake of 'himself and the club'. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola isn't immune from the sack at Manchester City having continued their unprecedented and dismal run of form. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window.