Ex-Burnley boss floated as a “structure first” fix while Tiger Woods ownership talk rumbles on.
Date: Sat, 13 Sept 2025
The short of it
- Heat on Amorim: A 15th-place finish last season and a stuttering start has scrutiny rising again at Old Trafford.
- Left-field shout: Ex-Clarets striker Charlie Austin says if Zinedine Zidane isn’t feasible, Sean Dyche could steady United and “put structure” back in the team.
- Keeper shake-up: Andre Onana is out on loan at Trabzonspor; deadline-day arrival Senne Lammens is set to take the No.1 shirt.
- Derby context: United beat City 2-1 at the Etihad last season, but Pep’s side – already with two defeats in three – won’t want another wobble.
- Boardroom noise: Tiger Woods links resurface; Brad Friedel jokes he should buy Liverpool instead, but says Woods in the Prem would be “brilliant.”
What’s actually new
United rode into the international break on a 3–2 win over Burnley, but with City up next at the Etihad, Amorim’s margin for error is thin. Austin’s Dyche pitch isn’t romance—it’s pragmatism: stabilise first, then build. If United do pull the trigger down the line, expect the usual carousel of big names (yes, Zidane again) alongside more functional fixes.
Between the posts, the reset is immediate. Onana’s Turkish loan – minus fee or obligation – ends a bruising chapter after high-profile mistakes. Lammens now gets a huge audition… in a Manchester derby.
Quote of the day
“Zidane is the top of the tree… but United need structure. Sean Dyche would come in and make the team a lot better than what we’re seeing.” — Charlie Austin
Why it matters
United don’t just need a ‘name’; they need an identity. Dyche would bring a clear defensive framework and non-negotiables—useful if the brief is to stop the bleeding before any grand rebuild. If Amorim turns City over again, the noise cools. If not, the shortlist chatter gets loud, fast.
What to watch next
- Derby XI calls: Does Amorim back youth (Mainoo/Sesko) or lean senior?
- Lammens’ temperament: First impressions in a cauldron.
- Ownership ripples: Any real movement behind the Tiger Woods talk or just more celebrity-splash smoke?
