Man Utd news: Bruno Fernandes sent off as sorry Red Devils beaten by Wolves
It was a Boxing Day to forget as Ruben Amorim’s struggling Manchester United side lost 2-0 at Wolves, thanks in no small part to captain Bruno Fernandes seeing red.
‘Twas the night after Christmas and all through the house, nothing was stirring, not even a mouse. That is because the mouse had already stirred — he had been sh*tting all over the Old Trafford pantry and ruining the food hygiene rating!
And while the prospect of an overpriced three-course meal with a side order of Mickey's droppings is not anybody’s idea of fine dining, it is still more palatable than the crock of sh*t being served up by the Red Devils on the pitch if the disastrous performance against Wolves is anything to go by.
Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reports on yet another damaging defeat.
Red card caps poor showing by visitors
It was a 50-50 game until Fernandes took a risky lunge while on a yellow just a few minutes into the second half and suddenly found himself running a bath in the changing rooms.
By the time the captain’s bathwater was cold, United were flat out on the canvas having been comprehensively out-punched by their hosts on Boxing Day.
The memory of that exhilarating late victory over Manchester City at the Etihad two weeks ago is nothing more than a distant memory at this point.
Picking through the bones of Thursday’s Molineux mauling would be about as appetising as a leftover Turkey wing, so I will not bother.
Instead, we have the prospect of Ruben Amorim's men languishing down in 14th place on the Premier League table, an embarrassing eight points off the drop zone.
And with Newcastle (H), Liverpool (A), and an FA Cup trip to Arsenal their next three fixtures, the outlook is decidedly gloomy for the Red Devils.
READ MORE: Man Utd news: Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho face uncertain future under Ruben Amorim
Squad overhaul on the cards
Difficult questions are now being asked at United, both regarding the players on the pitch and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's actions off it.
One wonders what the January transfer window might offer for Amorim and company, if anything.
Marcus Rashford is seemingly persona non grata but continues to earn a king's ransom, meaning that a loan is likely the only solution for the time being.
Brazilian flop Antony is hardly going to have a queue of suitors looking to snatch him up — United would be lucky to get even a third of their initial £80 million outlay.
Amorim also has numerous gaps to fill across the squad.
Diogo Dalot has been little more than a stop-gap on the left in light of Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw being made of tissue paper.
Elsewhere, Christian Eriksen, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, and Tom Heaton are amongst the stars out of contract this summer.
Former captain Maguire may warrant new terms after impressing in Amorim's back three formation, but that could be a stretch considering the Old Trafford side’s need to stay financially compliant.
Perhaps there is a shrewd loan deal or two out there, although the prospect of another Wout Weghorst or Odion Ighalo will not fill fans with optimism.
For now, the focus must be on the Geordies, who will roll into town on Monday night relishing the opportunity to pour more misery on their calamitous hosts.
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