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Amorim's time at the Red Devils is considered by many to have been a notable letdown. Looking at the numbers, his record is notable for all the wrong factors. In the Premier League era, not a single Man Utd boss has recorded fewer points per game, nor managed a final position as low as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a Red Devils' gaffer who was defeated in a greater proportion of matches. Furthermore, he famously etched his name in club lore by enduring a cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, particularly the current version of Tottenham.

Football, though, is seldom that simple. Regardless of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, he leaves behind a team in a far better condition than the one he took over. In a prior match this term, following a defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, the striker Welbeck relayed that fellow players were lauding their opponents as the most impressive team they had encountered in a while. Their play in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and exhilarating.

Although it is tough to dispute the dismissal—especially given it was reportedly triggered by his criticism of executives with more miserable track records—Amorim's downfall was in the end stymied by awful luck. If fitness issues for key personnel not coincided with the loss of other pivotal figures, he may remain in the job—perhaps succeeding.

A New Era Begins

Therefore, Darren Fletcher takes over a reasonably solid scenario. Star players like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the Afcon. Merely prudent management of this gifted group is expected to be enough to ensure a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for the following term—most likely in the prestigious Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Test

The home side, but, won't make things easy. Despite boasting only a dozen points and suffering defeats in 3 of their previous five games, their displays have at times been stronger than the scorelines suggest. Head coach Scott Parker will certainly have his team pumped up to attack the visitors who are set to field an starting eleven that has never played together, set up in a formation they have not used for over a year.

Kick-off: 8.15pm GMT.