Rashford’s future, Maguire's Comeback and Zirkzee's Future: Paul Parker's Take on Amorim's Path Forward at Man Utd

If reports are to be believed, Marcus Rashford could be set for a move to Barcelona, AC Milan, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund or Monaco with all clubs said to be interested in securing the services of the 27 year old forward who has found himself frozen out at Old Trafford under new manager Ruben Amorim. 

The 27-year-old has not played for United in the Premier League since their 3-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest on December 7 and whilst he did make the bench for United’s 2- loss to Newcastle, he went on to miss out on United’s draw with Liverpool at Anfield which was followed by the penalty shoot out win against Arsenal at The Emirates. 

With Tottenham supposedly joining the list of clubs vying to sign Rashford it would be interesting to see if United were that eager to offload Rashford that they would let him go to a Premier League rival. Parker isn’t worried about Rashford coming back to bite United following what has been an up down few years for the England international.

“Given Amorim has only been here ten minutes I don’t think he’ll be worried about losing Rashford to another Premier League side. He’ll have seen that Rashford wasn’t showing enough effort or delivering.

“Does he fit in what I want to do? Not really because he wants to play out wide left. Does he fit into one of the two number ten roles? I don’t think he does. He wants to sit on the touchline on the left, cut inside and shoot, quite basic really. It’s like park football with him. Players just want to play one position.” 

“If he did it at another club, people that love and see the game would be disappointed with him because it’s him being selfish and disrespectful to his town, to the fans, to the team he played for.” 

If Rashford were to leave United, it would be a sad ending to what has been a United career that promised so much, offered glimmers of a brighter future yet it seems to be petering out. 

It appears as though the academy graduate has played his final game at Old Trafford and is unlikely to get a goodbye to the faithful. Parker remains critical of the way Rashford has conducted himself as a boyhood fan of the club. 

“Rashford hasn’t been honest with itself and the club he’s supposed to love. People want to act like he’s been treated badly but if your kid is continually behaving badly you’ve got to tell them off.” 

“Manchester United have decided to let him go because they got hoodwinked into giving him a lot of money. They paid well over the going rate with him. Eric Cantona didn’t get the sort of money Rashford has earned.” 

“The club have tried their best to get the best out of him. It’s okay to have a bad game but be honest to the club and fans and he hasn’t done that.” 

Maguire is Back! But is He Here to Stay?

The ongoing debate surrounding Harry Maguire’s role at Manchester United raises critical questions about his suitability as a regular starter. 

“We’ve seen Maguire be an issue against teams that are quicker and more direct like in the Newcastle game because he was being asked to squeeze up. The three at the back need to be closer to the midfield players in the manager’s new system.” 

Parker highlights a fundamental flaw in how Maguire fits into the team’s defensive structure, particularly under pressure from faster opponents. The tactical demands of a three-at-the-back system require defenders to maintain closer proximity to midfielders, which can expose Maguire’s limitations in pace and agility.

“No one has talked about the issue of what the manager really wants.” 

“Amorim knows how he wants to play and the players he needs and you can’t question him until he’s got his players in. There’s massive improvements to be made in the squad.”

Whether Maguire is truly compatible with the envisioned style of play or if he is merely a placeholder until a more suitable option is secured remains to be seen. Manchester United may need to reassess its defensive personnel to align with Amorim’s strategic framework.

Zirkzee’s Decisive Penalty: A Step Towards Redemption at United

United’s deciding penalty in the FA 3rd round clash with Arsenal was tucked home by Joshua Zirkzee who has endured a difficult start to his United career. Zirkzee’s impact on the game may not have been monumental, his ability to take a decisive penalty could signify a crucial moment in his development. 

“He’s impressed when he’s come on as a sub and the Arsenal game was his best performance. He showed some foresight and he had a little bit of drive about him. He got into areas, driving forward and lets be honest his impact was better than anything Hojlund did throughout his time on the pitch.”

Parker praises Zirkzee’s capacity to seize opportunities and demonstrate his potential, especially when he exhibits foresight and drive forward into dangerous areas like he did against Arsenal. His performance in contrast to Rasmus Hojlund, suggests that Zirkzee may be emerging as a more reliable option in attack.

“He took the penalty as well which might come off the back of the fans singing his name in the Liverpool game. I wasn’t fazed when he took the pen because of what he did in the game.” 

Prior performances have laid a foundation for trust in his abilities. This psychological boost could be pivotal as he navigates the pressures of playing for a club with high expectations. Nevertheless, Paul questions whether this moment can serve as a true turning point in his United career.

“I don’t know if it’’s a turning point because things change in football quickly but I wouldn’t be surprised if he started the next game. I don’t think anyone wants to see Hojlund start either. United have to look at someone to come in to play the number nine role.” 

The volatility of player form means that while Zirkzee’s recent success is promising, consistency will be key to securing his place in the starting lineup. Parker ends by saying:

“United have winnable games in name at least coming up so it’s an opportunity to get a European spot. United must be in Europe every season.”

The need to win might put additional pressure on Ruben Amorim and his men. But this is what he has signed up for, so he can’t waste this opportunity and get some valuable points on board. 

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