A week is a long time in Football

How much can change in a week? Just seven days ago, my article was taking a completely different direction. My focus was on the failing tenure of Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. I was at my wits' end with his lethargic and disjointed brand of football. Grimsby Town in the League Cup was, for me, the final straw. A world-famous team looked like a bunch of amateurs, a complete disgrace to everything Manchester United stands for.

The performance against Grimsby Town was a haunting echo of the past, specifically the humiliating League Cup defeat to MK Dons under Louis van Gaal. In my mind, this was the right time to pull the plug on Amorim's reign. The team was in a state of chaos, and the future looked bleak.

Then came the match against Burnley at Old Trafford. For some, the victory was a sign of redemption, a glimmer of hope. But to me, it's a temporary reprieve. Amorim and his squad of misfits don't look like they're about to turn a corner. Every match seems to be filled with unnecessary drama and, frankly, some of the worst football on the planet.

A Fortuitous International Break Despite my usual dislike for international breaks, this one has come at a perfect time. It offers a much-needed opportunity to hit the reset button, or for some, to press the panic button. Just a week ago, managers across the league—from Amorim to West Ham's Graham Potter, who is also under immense pressure—seemed like dead men walking. Now, they've all found a silver lining.

The Premier League table no longer makes for grim reading for United fans. We're currently above Manchester City and just two points behind Arsenal. The difficulties we were so sure would crush us don't seem as exaggerated as they did last week.

The Looming Question: Who Next? While the Burnley win provides a temporary pause, I still don't see Manchester United coming out of this rot with Ruben Amorim at the helm. The signs are not good, and the timing for a potential change is now. The club's hierarchy has a history of poorly managing such opportunities, and they can't afford to make that mistake again.

The question of a replacement is a critical one. A few viable options exist, including Luciano Spalletti, Joachim Löw, and even the current England manager, Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel, who appears bored in his national team role, could be a great fit. Any of these three options would bring stability, organization, and discipline—qualities the team has been desperately lacking for years.

City's Unfamiliar Territory Meanwhile, across town, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City is also facing an unusual period of turmoil, having succumbed to back-to-back defeats. This is uncharted territory for Guardiola, and as one of the guys In the Calcio Square WHATSAPP Group put it, Pep might be heading towards the "finished" category.

In a sport where a week can change everything, the current narrative for Manchester's two biggest clubs is a testament to football's unpredictable nature.