After Manchester United’s 2-1 home defeat to West Ham United on November 25, 2024, at London Stadium, a firestorm erupted—not from the stands, but from a YouTube video. Just 24 hours later, football commentator Mark Goldbridge, host of The United Stand, dropped a blistering 5-minute, 12-second critique demanding that Ruben Amorim, the 39-year-old Portuguese manager appointed just two weeks prior, bench two of his most experienced players: Luke Shaw and Casemiro. The stakes? A critical Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on November 30. And the message was clear: if Amorim doesn’t shake things up, fans won’t just be disappointed—they’ll be done.
‘He’s Living on a Prayer’
Goldbridge didn’t hold back. At the 281-second mark of his video, he turned directly to the camera and said, “Don’t play bloody Luke Shaw. He’s living on a prayer.” The criticism wasn’t abstract. Shaw, 33, had been a shadow of his former self in the West Ham loss—slow to recover, hesitant in one-on-ones, and visibly out of sync with the defensive structure. His substitution in the 68th minute didn’t spark a turnaround; it merely confirmed what many fans had been whispering since September: he’s no longer fit for a top-four side. The suggestion? If André Onana is to be protected, then either Mazawi—the young Senegalese fullback who’s trained with the first team since August—or Diogo Dalot should start. Goldbridge even floated the idea of Aaron Wan-Bissaka as a right wing-back, a role he’s played before with startling efficiency. “Give them a bloody chance,” Goldbridge urged. “They’ve been sitting for 20 minutes at a time. That’s not development. That’s neglect.”Casemiro: Past His Prime, Still Playing
Then came Casemiro. The Brazilian, 32, once the defensive anchor of Real Madrid’s Champions League runs, now looks like a player clinging to legacy. Goldbridge didn’t mince words: “We’ve had enough of Bruno and Casemiro. They’ve let us down a lot this season.” The stats back him up. In the last three Premier League matches, Casemiro averaged just 68% pass accuracy and made zero tackles in the final third. His positional discipline has eroded, leaving gaps between midfield and defense that opponents like West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen exploited relentlessly. Goldbridge pointed out the irony: “If you pick them and we win, it’s back to Bruno and Casemiro again.” But this isn’t a win-or-bust situation. It’s a win-or-implode one. Manchester United sit 13th in the 2024-2025 Premier League table with 14 points from 12 games—a 1.17 points-per-game rate, down from 1.53 last season. That’s not a blip. That’s a collapse.Ownership Is Watching
Goldbridge didn’t just speak to fans. He spoke to the boardroom. “INEOS Group Holdings S.A. and the Glazer family,” he said at timestamp 346, “if you’re watching this and you see him picking Bruno and Casemiro again, you’re going to go, ‘Well, he doesn’t need a midfielder, does he?’” The implication? If Amorim keeps relying on aging stars instead of building for the future, INEOS—led by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe—and the Glazers might start questioning whether he’s the right man to execute their long-term vision. Joel Glazer, 59, and Avram Glazer, 68, have already invested heavily in youth recruitment this summer. But if the first-team selections ignore that pipeline, the entire strategy collapses.The Alternatives Are There
Goldbridge didn’t just tear down—he offered solutions. He pointed to Alejandro Garnacho, the 20-year-old Argentine winger who’s played just 90 total minutes in the league this season, and Mason Mount, the 26-year-old English midfielder signed from Chelsea in the summer, who’s been sidelined by injury but is now fit. “Why should Agate not be given an opportunity? Why should Mayu not be given an opportunity?” Goldbridge asked, referencing Garnacho and Mount by their nicknames. “They’ve come on for 20 minutes, half an hour. They’ve not been given an opportunity to.” That’s the core issue: opportunity hoarding. Amorim, for all his tactical brilliance at Sporting CP, appears to be defaulting to familiarity over progression. And in a club with as much pressure as Manchester United, that’s dangerous.
What Happens If He Doesn’t Change?
Goldbridge’s warning was chilling: “If Amorim goes with pretty much the same team, even if we win, I think deep down fans will think this guy is just stubborn.” And he’s right. The club’s social media feeds are already flooded with #AmorimOut and #DropShaw. The 2024-25 season was supposed to be a reset. Instead, it’s becoming a referendum. If United lose to Crystal Palace, the calls for change won’t just come from YouTube pundits. They’ll come from the stands. From the boardroom. From the dressing room.What’s Next?
Amorim has until Friday afternoon to make his final decisions. The team’s training session on November 28 will be watched like a spy thriller. Will Mount start? Will Garnacho get his first league start? Will Shaw be benched for the first time since August? One thing is certain: if Amorim sticks with the same XI, he won’t just be losing a game—he’ll be losing the belief of a fanbase that’s been waiting for change since 2021.Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Luke Shaw being targeted when he’s a former England international?
Despite his past accolades, Shaw’s pace, decision-making, and defensive positioning have declined sharply this season. In the last five Premier League games, he’s been dribbled past 14 times and made only two successful tackles. At 33, his physical decline is undeniable, and with younger, fitter options like Mazawi and Dalot available, keeping him in the starting lineup looks more like nostalgia than strategy.
Is Casemiro really that bad, or is he being unfairly blamed?
Casemiro’s stats don’t lie: his average distance covered per game has dropped by 18% since last season, and his tackles won in the final third are at a career low. While he still brings leadership, his inability to win aerial duels or cover space effectively has exposed United’s midfield. He’s not the problem alone—but his continued selection prevents younger players like Mount or Fernandes from playing in more natural roles.
What’s the impact of Amorim’s selection policy on young players like Garnacho and Mount?
Garnacho has played just 90 league minutes all season, despite being one of the club’s most dynamic attackers in pre-season. Mount, signed for £50 million, has been hampered by injury but is now fit and has yet to start a Premier League game. If Amorim continues to favor veterans over talent, it signals to academy prospects that merit doesn’t matter—seniority does. That’s toxic for long-term development.
How does this situation compare to previous managerial crises at Manchester United?
It echoes the 2018 season under José Mourinho, when fans demanded the benching of Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera despite their reputations. United were 10th in the table then, too. The difference? Mourinho was sacked after 18 months. Amorim has a contract until 2027, but if results don’t improve, the Glazers and INEOS may not wait that long—especially if ownership sees no clear plan beyond relying on aging stars.
Could Amorim survive a loss to Crystal Palace?
A single loss might be forgiven if he showed signs of tactical evolution—like rotating key players or giving youth a chance. But if he names the same XI again, especially with Shaw and Casemiro starting, it will be seen as defiance, not conviction. The board may not act immediately, but whispers about his future will turn into shouts by December.
What’s the broader implication for Manchester United’s transfer strategy?
If the club’s leadership continues to prioritize experience over potential, it undermines the entire 2024 summer recruitment strategy. Signing Mount and investing in youth development becomes meaningless if those players never get a fair shot. It suggests the club isn’t building for the future—it’s just delaying the inevitable.
Cheryl Jonah
December 2, 2025 AT 09:46ok but what if this is all a distraction? what if INEOS is secretly pushing Amorim to fail so they can bring in their own guy and sell the club to a Saudi fund? i’ve seen this script before. Shaw and Casemiro are just pawns. the real target is the Glazers’ equity stake.