Dire displays mean United face a big decision over boss

When Jim Ratcliffe announced a fresh round of redundancies yesterday, there were facetious suggestions that he ought to have included the head coach, his assistants and Manchester United's players.

- RICHARD JOLLY

They departed Goodison Park doubly reprieved on Saturday, by a comeback in a match when Everton were vastly superior, and by the injury-time rethink by Andy Madley to overturn his own decision to give the hosts a penalty. United were dire nonetheless.

A couple of hours later, West Ham clinched victory at Arsenal to mean United only held on to 15th place on goal difference. The number has a further significance: they have played 15 league games under Ruben Amorim, taking 15 points. It isn’t quite relegation form, much as the Evertonians enjoyed chanting “going down” when they boasted a 2-0 lead, but over Amorim’s reign, only the three promoted clubs have collected fewer points.

The watching Alex Ferguson is always used as proof that managers need time – some do, albeit with the caveat that Ferguson is the exception to every rule. A criticism of Amorim is that, with more time, his United have got worse.

They have taken eight points from their last 10 matches. They were flattered by a draw against Everton, just as they were by victory at Fulham. They were the inferior team for 75 minutes when they beat Southampton. It leaves a 2-2 at Anfield as a lone deserved and impressive result.