THE best candidate for the Manchester United manager’s job has been identified.
But top options Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter would both be WORSE than current boss Erik ten Hag.
Dutchman Ten Hag is clinging on to his position as Old Trafford chief after going five matches without a win.
And now data gurus Carteret Analytics have crunched the numbers and worked out who would be the ideal fit to take the reins at United.
And it is Ruben Amorim who comes out at the top of the pile.
Ironically, the Sporting Lisbon boss was a target for arch rivals Liverpool when they replaced Jurgen Klopp before settling on Arne Slot.
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But now, if United’s chiefs look at the numbers, he could be approached for the potential vacancy at Old Trafford.
Amorim was handed a top score when the numbers were crunched.
The data analysts show Amorim scoring extremely highly for ‘Strategic Intelligence’, a measure that looks at a manager’s ability to set their team up for victory. He also scored incredibly high for his ability to transform matches during games.
Those attributes put him clear of Zinedine Zidane in second with the ex-Real Madrid boss pipping Simone Inzaghi on the podium.
Thomas Tuchel has already been linked with replacing Ten Hag and the German comes up as the fourth best candidate for Manchester United in the data.
Kieran McKenna – the Ipswich boss who was previously a coach at United – is fifth, just narrowly edging out Ten Hag’s current No2 Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Erik ten Hag really did not help himself with what he said after Man Utd’s draw with Aston Villa, slams BBC pundit
Interestingly, Ten Hag is said to be the seventh-best fit for the Red Devils.
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That places him directly above free agent Southgate, who is admired by the Ineos bosses and is available after quitting from his role as England gaffer following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Southgate scored particularly poorly in the ‘Tactical Command’ measure. This looks at a manager’s ability to transform a match during the game – something many England fans who felt he was too often tactically outwitted will concur with.
Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick, Roberto De Zerbi of Marseille and finally Brentford boss Thomas Frank complete the list of the 12 managers who were looked at.
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Carteret Analytics, quantitative analysis experts who have built a series of algorithms that utilise a huge amount of raw data, looked at a number of areas.
Objective achievement, strategic intelligence, tactical command, attacking coefficient, shot creation and conversion, possession and formations over the past six seasons were all taken into consideration.
When Ten Hag was first employed by Manchester United, their analysis correctly warned fans of the Red Devils not to expect all out attacking play, and that rather than have a specific style, he adapted his tactics match-by-match.
Their latest number crunching now indicates where Manchester United should turn next.
And although Inzaghi is third on the list and largely beats Ten Hag in most areas, he does play a far more defensive style of football that may not be popular with the United hierarchy and fans.
Amorin’s preferred 3-4-3 formation would be a shake-up from the 4-2-3-1 under Ten Hag.
With the Manchester United hierarchy meeting this week to discuss their options, the data suggests they could improve on Ten Hag, but they must be careful because things could get even worse.
Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man Utd
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SunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.
THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.
And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.
If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.
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The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.
He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.
None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.
Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.
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Emery may well deliver the coup de grace to Ten Hag on Sunday — especially with Bruno Fernandes suspended and Kobbie Mainoo an injury doubt.
And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.
Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.
Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.
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Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.
Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.
Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.
Thomas Tuchel would be a popular and gettable option but, despite being a fine coach and a very engaging man, he is considered something of a loose cannon.
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Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.
Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.
Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.
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Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.
Havertz, 25, played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 Prem win over Southampton on Saturday, scoring at the Emirates for the seventh game in a row in all competitions.
But SunSport understands the German star has been managing a minor knee issue since the end of last season – something that he carried over into the Euros.
Havertz has not been immune to knee knocks in his career, but they have seen him miss just two club games – one apiece at Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea – since August 2017.
In order to avoid any further damage or stress on the area, Havertz will remain at London Colney during this break for some much-needed rest and recovery before facing Bournemouth on October 19.
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Yet the Arsenal are not losing sleep over the player’s fitness, in the knowledge it is simply the wear and tear of an intense few months of football.
Havertz played the full 90 minutes in 11 of Arsenal’s remaining 16 Prem games last season before doing the same in three of Germany’s five Euros outings in the summer.
This term, he has started and finished all but one of the club’s 12 games in all competitions, such has been his influence with six goals already – including four in his last four.
As such, this 12-day break before travelling to the Cherries has come at the perfect time with Mikel Arteta’s first-choice striker playing with a slight discomfort.
Not that it is showing on the pitch, currently in the form of his life and one of Arteta’s most important figures in Arsenal’s title push having also netted 14 in 51 games last term.
And Arteta needs Havertz at his best for a gruelling upcoming fixture slog that includes taking on title rivals Liverpool at home on October 27.
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After that, three tough trips on the bounce to Newcastle, Inter Milan and then Chelsea.
Arsenal will be hoping to have several other big names back for that run, including skipper Martin Odegaard and defensive trio Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber and Ben White.
Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) proved to be a more than worthy opponent for light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event in Salt Lake City, but he was ultimately overwhelmed and finished in Round 4.
Rountree was able to land on Pereira early, winning the first two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards. However, as the fight went on, Pereira found his groove and unleashed brutal combinations on Rountree, who showed incredible heart and resilience to hang in the fight.
Silva predicted that Rountree would become a champion back in 2015, and couldn’t be more proud of his former training partner’s valiant effort against Pereira.
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“I could say countless things about this incredible battle between these two giants. In my opinion, the perfect world would be not seeing my brother and my friend fighting. But on the other hand, that’s how the sport is.
Alex, you were impeccable, on an incredible rise. Congratulations, my friend.
As for my little brother Khalil, I am so proud of you, my brother. Thank you so much for being part of my life. Those who know your story know who you truly are: you are a giant. You walk away from this battle as a winner because you showed that fighting at a high level is not for just anyone.
Congratulations to both of you. May GOD bless you both.
Khalil, don’t forget that only a few like us have the courage to fight the good fight. Strength and honor today and always!
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And I couldn’t forget to mention our great (José Aldo). You are our champion! 👑 king @khalilrountree @alexpoatanpereira @josealdojunioroficial 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾.”
Reading have entered into a new period of exclusivity with an unnamed buyer – on the same day the club has been handed a fresh transfer embargo by the English Football League.
The stricken League One club has suffered from fines, points deductions and fan protests during Dai Yongge’s tumultuous reign as owner and had a previous transfer ban lifted in August 2023.
In a statement on the club’s website,, external Reading said the new embargo was due to “the late filing of financial accounts to Companies House, and relates to the 2022-23 accounting period”.
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Reading added they believed the embargo would be lifted once the overdue accounts are finalised, which they hoped would happen “at the earliest opportunity”.
The Royals were relegated to League One in 2022-23 and have been deducted 18 points overall during Chinese businessman Dai’s tenure as owner.
A deal for former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig to buy the club fell through last month after an agreement could not be reached.
“The club can confirm it has agreed to a period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser,” the statement added.
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“Both parties are working hard to finalise terms with the intention to complete a sale at the earliest opportunity.
“This exclusivity period also includes further provision to fund the club until the transaction’s intended completion.
“The proposed sale will include Mr Dai’s shareholding in Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.”
Ireland beat South Africa for just a second time in a one-day international as Paul Stirling’s 88 helped his side to a 69-run win in the last of their meetings in Abu Dhabi.
Ireland’s only previous victory over South Africa in the format came at Malahide in Dublin back in July 2021.
Ireland had been bowled out for fewer than 168 runs in both those defeats but, having won the toss, set their opposition a target of 285.
Captain Stirling top-scored with 88, notching his 30th ODI half-century in an innings which included eight fours and three sixes.
He and fellow opener Andrew Balbirnie put on a century partnership before Lizaad Williams removed the latter on 45 for the first of his four wickets.
With Ireland steadily building a score, Harry Tector added 60 before he was run out in the final over of the innings.
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South Africa’s response began in calamitous fashion as a pair of Mark Adair wickets with the new ball contributed to a 10-3 start.
Kyle Verreynne and Tristan Stubbs brought a measure of stability but, when Craig Young took the prized wicket of the latter for 20, they had fallen to 79-5.
After a duck on his ODI debut against Afghanistan last month, Jason Smith got into a groove to offer sustained resistance, but fell for 91 off 93 balls when caught by Adair on the boundary off the bowling of Graham Hume.
Down to their last wicket, South Africa’s challenge ended when Hume got Lungi Ngidi to edge into the hands of Lorcan Tucker.
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This was Ireland final fixture of a year in which they also secured Test wins over Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
And Monday’s triumph – coupled with a first T20 win over South Africa – ensured they were victorious in two of their five matches on the trip.
Page and Condit have been booked for a grappling match to main event Polaris 30 on Nov. 2 in London. The news was announced by promotion official through Ariel Helwani on Monday.
Page, currently an active UFC welterweight, is known for his flashy kicks and dangerous striking, but he will put his less-admired skill set to the test next month. Out of 25 career MMA fights, Page has only three submission wins and has never been submitted. He last competed in June at UFC 303, losing a close decision to Ian Machado Garry.
Condit retired from MMA in 2021 after a storied career. The former WEC champion and former UFC interim champion has yet to compete in combat sports since his retirement from MMA. “The Natural Born Killer” had 13 submission victories in MMA and six submission losses.
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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
She is said to have visited Andy in France, where he is currently playing for fourth division side Bordeaux.
He bagged both goals in his side’s 2-1 win away at Olympique Saumur on Saturday.
And he was then pictured with Lou, 650 miles away from Bordeaux in London yesterday.
An onlooker said: “They seemed happy together and Andy had a smile on his face.”
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Geordie Andy and Towie star Billi — who have three kids — secretly split in July after a turbulent two-year marriage.
She is reported to have felt “blindsided” by him dating Lou so soon after their separation.
Andy, who has two more kids from a previous relationship, and Billi were together for 11 years — but their 2022 wedding was nearly called off after a picture emerged of him drunkenly passed out in bed with two women in Dubai on his stag do.
Andy Carroll and Billi Mucklow split two years after glam wedding where superstar singer Teddy Swims performed
Billi forgave him when one of the women said nothing sexual happened.
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The veteran, who once earned a rumoured £80,000-a-week, is on less than £3,000 at Bordeaux and says it costs him money to play there.
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