October was a month of sweet vindication to a certain extent for Ruben Amorim, and November could trend the same way if the latest developments in the Premier League are any indication.
If Ruben Amorim is able to truly turn the ship around at Man Utd and succeed where everyone before him has failed, it would be a tale for the ages.
The number of people who will end up looking stupid would be insane, because barely a month ago, there was talk about whether he would survive the international break.
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A manager who had publicly pointed out his weakness was being linked as his potential successor, but football moves quickly. While Amorim is the flavour of the month, that manager is on thin ice now.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty ImagesRuben Amorim haunted by Marco Silva’s spectre
The spectre of Marco Silva has hovered over Manchester United ever since he arrived at Hull City to begin his Premier League career.
His career has taken him to Fulham, Everton, and Watford, but somehow, his name always seems to crop up when Man Utd have a managerial vacancy.
Last summer, when Erik ten Hag survived at Old Trafford by the skin of his teeth, Silva was among the potential replacements.
Again, when Amorim’s United lost to Brentford and the pressure on him reached fever pitch, Silva’s name was among potential replacements.
The hurt was exacerbated due to Silva’s comments after Fulham’s 1-1 draw against United earlier this season.
It was a game that was entirely in United’s hands in the first half where they missed at least 2-3 big chances, but a poor second half allowed Silva’s team back into the game.
Silva, however, spoke after the game like someone who had completely outclassed his opposite counterpart, publicly breaking down United’s weakness like it was the easiest thing in the world.
That game was on August 24. Not even three months later, their fortunes have taken a complete U-turn.
Silva and Amorim’s fortunes take a U-turn
At that time, United had lost at home to Arsenal, and they would follow the draw at Fulham with a shock loss to Grimsby, after which Amorim spoke like a dead man walking.
Fast forward to today, and not only is Amorim the current Manager of the Month after a five-game unbeaten streak, but Silva is on thin ice at Fulham.
Fulham are 15th in the table, having won just three league games out of 11, losing six. Four losses and a single win in their last five games make them one of the worst-performing teams in the division.
Since both West Ham and Nottingham Forest have found life, Fulham find themselves just two points away from the relegation zone.
United, meanwhile, missed the chance to go second on consecutive weekends due to late draws.
Football moves quickly, and fortunes can flip in an instant. A little humility goes a long way sometimes.