Manchester United’s desperate Premier League campaign looks like reaching a lame and toothless conclusion as Ruben Amorim’s Europa League finalists were deservedly beaten by West Ham at Old Trafford.
Tomas Soucek and skipper Jarrod Bowen scored the goals for a team that had not won in its past eight league games.
It was a straightforward away win for the Hammers against a Manchester side that started with five players who are expected to feature against Totteham in Bilbao on 21 May.
However, the loss of defender Leny Yoro to a foot injury severe enough to lead the Frenchman to cover his face with his shirt and head straight for the dressing room, suggests Amorim may have to revise his plans. The United head coach immediately took off Luke Shaw, who would be an alternative to feature in his three-man defence in Spain.
United have now equalled their worst Premier League run of seven games without a win, back in 1992. However, that sequence included five draws, compared to the current one, which has five defeats.
The only teams Amorim’s side have collected three points against since 26 January are relegated duo Ipswich and Leicester.
The nearest they came to dragging themselves back into this contest were two Rasmus Hojlund efforts and Harry Maguire header, all of which were superbly saved by West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola.
Problems piling up for Amorim
Amorim admitted in the build-up to this game that his side could gain nothing from the Premier League this season.
This latest defeat means they can finish no higher than 13th and other than the £3m-a-place prize money there is only embarrassment and criticism to be taken from their worst league campaign since they were relegated from the top flight in the 1973-74 season.
Evidently, there is a £100m get out of jail free card on offer in Bilbao.
Yet the poor performances have been going on so long, it is not easy to see how United will be in significantly better shape when the new season begins in August.
There is legitimate weight behind the strong rumours of a £60m move for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and, like everyone else, United are keen on Ipswich forward Liam Delap, who is available for £30m.
Bringing in a reliable goal threat is the number one priority for Amorim if questions being asked about him are not to become far louder in the opening months of next season.
Hojlund will wonder how he didn’t score – the second chance needed a sensational bit of recovery work from Areola – but the Dane just doesn’t look up to the right standard.
If that was the only issue it would be bad enough. But so many players look off the pace.
Kobbie Mainoo, so good last season he was catapulted into England’s Euro 2024 squad, and Mason Mount, two-goal hero against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, did little to justify starting this game.
Despite his excellent injury-time save to deny James Ward-Prowse following Victor Lindelof’s shocking mistake on the edge of his own area, goalkeeper Altay Bayindir will surely leave at the end of the season, meaning United need a solid back up to Andre Onana.
United have two more games before this wretched league campaign reaches its conclusion. But the work on addressing the wreckage has surely already started.
Change on the way for West Ham
Confirmation earlier this week that Aaron Cresswell would be part of a veteran quartet who will leave the London Stadium when their contracts expire at the end of the season is a strong indication big change is on the way at West Ham.
Together with Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski, Cresswell has been part of 23 years’ service at the east London outfit. Danny Ings has not had the same longevity or done as well but he is one of the club’s high earners.
The combined release creates space, both financially and in numbers terms, to allow Graham Potter to make the impact that has been beyond him since he was appointed as Julen Lopetegui’s replacement in January.
This season was the second attempt to transition out of the squad that famously won the Uefa Conference League in 2023.
West Ham’s opener was an example of it.
Cresswell was involved, exchanging passes with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who then fed another relatively new arrival in Mohammed Kudus, and his cross was tapped home at the far post by the reliable Soucek.
The problem for Potter is Kudus might have to be sacrificed to generate funds for a transfer budget beyond mere wages, particularly as Lucas Paqueta’s FA betting case may not be resolved until this summer – and the Ghanaian is evidently one of West Ham’s most creative sparks.
Kudus was also involved in West Ham’s second as he took advantage of Manuel Ugarte’s mistake. His shot was deflected to Wan-Bissaka, whose cross was turned home by Bowen.
The West Ham skipper looked less than impressed to be taken off 17 minutes from time.
However Potter wishes to reshape his team, he needs Bowen to be committed to it.
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[BBC]