Latest News

THE wait is over.

Ruben Amorim is set to take charge of his first game as Manchester United head coach this Sunday when he leads his troops to face Ipswich at Portman Road.

Fans of the Red Devils and neutrals alike will be intrigued to see how the Portuguese tactician fares in his first managerial outing on English shores but what should Dream Team managers expect going forward?

Dream Team

It’s all eyes on Amorim in Gameweek 12[/caption]

Erik ten Hag’s version of this Man United side was flawed in many ways but several players have thrived in Dream Team across the first eleven Gameweeks of the season.

Andre Onana (£4m), Noussair Mazraoui (£3.8m), Diogo Dalot (£4.2m), Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m) and Alejandro Garnacho (£4.1m) are all among the top seven assets in their respective positions at the time of writing.

But which players will flourish under Amorim’s watch?

The former Sporting CP coach is likely to employ his preferred 3-4-3 formation, making use of wing-backs.

If Mazraoui is deployed as the right wing-back then there’s every chance that will lead to increased attacking returns for the 27-year-old.

Getty

The Morocco international has racked up a whopping 91 points already this season via five clean sheets and an unmatched tally (in his position) of 55 tackles, not to mention 13 bonus points.

Add in more time in the final third with greater attacking responsibilities and he could go to another level.

Mazraoui is seemingly a lock at right wing-back but it will be interesting to see who fulfils the role on the opposite flank in the long run.

Dalot will be hopeful of a spot in his compatriot’s starting XI but it will be interesting to see whether Amorim eventually opts to convert one of the squad’s wingers into a wing-back.

It’s not unthinkable, for example, that Garnacho might get some minutes in the role in the near future.

Alamy

Such a move would mean more defensive duties for the Argentine youngster and perhaps a reduced goal threat, which would negatively impact his Dream Team viability.

However, if Amorim considers Garnacho worthy of a regular starting spot in his front three there could be plenty of points on offer.

Only superstar forwards Erling Haaland (£8.6m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) have registered more shots on target than Garnacho so far this season; Amorim will surely want to maintain that level of threat in the final third throughout his first few weeks as Old Trafford boss at the very least.

Club captain Fernandes is currently Dream Team’s most in-form player having plundered 61 points across the last three Gameweeks!

The Portugal international generally operates best as a central advanced playmaker but such a role doesn’t really exist in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.

With the wing-backs encouraged to offer width high up the pitch, the two central midfielders are generally more combative types, tasked with recovering the ball and playing through the middle third.

The long-term vision probably features Kobbie Mainoo (£3.1m) and Manuel Ugarte (£2.8m) as partners in the middle of the park.

This would result in Fernandes being deployed in the front three but in what capacity remains to be seen.

It may be that he’s given a partial free role to create in more familiar areas, with a slight preference for the half-space closer to the right flank.

Broadly speaking, the 30-year-old should be one of the main beneficiaries if Amorim is able to spark improvements across the board – his individual creative output is up there with the best players in Europe in recent years.

Reuters

Dream Team’s form player[/caption]

One player Man United fans will desperately be hoping ascends to another level under the new regime is Rasmus Hojlund (£3.9m).

Viktor Gyokeres’ widely-heralded form up front was the defining aspect of Amorim’s successful Sporting side.

The former Coventry striker has scored 66 goals in 68 games since his transfer to the Portuguese giants, including a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City a few days before the international break.

Nobody is expecting Hojlund to suddenly morph into one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers but if Amorim is able to mould United into a dynamic attacking force then more and more Dream Team bosses will surely be tempted by the Danish focal point leading the line.

Injury problems may scupper some plans in Gameweek 12 but Amorin’s hand will be revealed to some extent and gaffers should pay careful attention.

---

AN URGENT “get prepared” warning has been issued to Irish homeowners ahead of the forecasted ice and snow.

As winter sets in, Uisce Éireann is reminding everyone to take five simple steps to protect their water pipes from the cold.

Getty Images - Getty

With temperatures expected to dip well below freezing across the country this week, preventing burst pipes can save both hassle and money.

When water freezes it expands by nearly 10 per cent, which can cause pipes to split – even if they’re new.

To help you avoid the headaches of a burst pipe this winter, Uisce Éireann has shared a few practical tips.

First, make sure your water tanks and pipes are insulated as exposed pipes are especially vulnerable to the cold, and lagging can help prevent them from freezing.

Another important tip is to service your boiler.

A well-maintained boiler keeps your heating efficient and can even help lower energy bills throughout winter.

Uisce Éireann is also reminding homeowners not to remember fixing their dripping taps.

While it’s always a good idea, it’s especially crucial in winter as dripping water can freeze and create dangerous slippery patches.

It’s also worth checking your inside stop valve as knowing where it is and how to turn it off can be a lifesaver if a leak does happen.

Sealing gaps around windows and doors can also help keep the cold out, and it will reduce the chance of pipes freezing from draughts in winter.

Margaret Attridge from Uisce Éireann said that taking these simple steps now can prevent stress and unexpected costs later on.

She said: “There is no time like the present to get prepared, and following our five simple steps can help homeowners avoid stress and expense.

“It’s not only about saving money and preventing damages at home, but also about ensuring a sustainable water supply for everyone in our community.

“We know that the demand for water tends to increase significantly at this time of year so by following these simple steps homeowners and businesses can really make a difference and help ensure the taps keep flowing for all.”

Keep an eye on water usage

Along with preparing your own home for winter, Uisce Éireann encourages everyone to keep an eye on their water usage.

Simple actions like checking for leaks or reporting them can make a big difference in maintaining a sustainable water supply for everyone.

If you’re going away for a few days, consider getting someone to check your home regularly to make sure everything’s running smoothly.

And if you haven’t already, you can sign up for Uisce Éireann’s free text alerts to stay updated on any supply issues or outages in your area.

For more tips on winterproofing your home, visit Uisce Éireann’s website at https://www.water.ie/help/supply/winterproofing.

“There was little about our wedding day that was romantic. There would be no honeymoon," she recalled.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk fired off an optimistic post Tuesday about attorney general pick and former Rep. Matt Gaetz, declaring that he will bring the “hammer of justice” against President-elect Donald Trump’s foes — even as sex trafficking allegations against the ex-Florida Republican have clouded the confirmation fight. “Matt Gaetz has 3 critical assets that...

Olivia Dunne gave Paul Skenes the meme treatment over his stoic reaction to being named the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year.

President-elect Donald Trump will name Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of his transition team, to the post of commerce secretary, a source familiar with the matter told The Post Tuesday. Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, had been widely rumored as a contender for the more prestigious post of treasury secretary, but appeared to have lost...

Shemar Moore has proven once again that his daughter Frankie is one of the most stylish little cuties out there. The Criminal Minds star shared a carousel of photos of his toddler on Instagram and we’re swooning over the beyond-adorable tot who he shares with girlfriend Jesiree Dizon. “SWAGGY FRANKIE!!!! 🥰❤️🤩,” the proud girl dad […]

Did you know that all of Denzel Washington‘s kids are in the entertainment industry? One of them is a director and writer, while another is a producer, and two others are actors. It’s quite intriguing to see all of them thriving in the same industry as their legendary dad. However, before the two of them […]

  Бувало таке, що вас називали нестерпною, зі скалкою в дупі? Значить, вам є чим пишатися. Вважайте, що вам зробили комплімент. Відповідно до дослідження австралійських учених, жінки з нестерпним характером часто розумніші, причому не тільки раціонально, але й емоційно. За словами фахівців, у жінок з гарячим характером хороша пам’ять, у них менше забобонів, вони дуже […]

A SCOTS university has launched an appeal to find relatives of two women murdered 90 years ago after their skulls were found in storage.

The deaths of Isabella Ruxton and Mary Rogerson were dubbed the Jigsaw Murders in 1935 when their bodies were discovered in Moffat, Dumfries-shire.

Human remains were spotted beneath a bridge and the body parts were sent to Edinburgh University to help build evidence against Dr Buck Ruxton, who was hanged for his wife’s murder.

The university is now searching for family members of the victims after rediscovering the skulls and other bones in its archive.

Professor of anatomy Tom Gillingwater said: “We want to do the right thing by Isabella and Mary.

“And, if appropriate, return them to their families so they can be laid to rest.”

Dr Buck Ruxton had given various explanations for the disappearance of his wife Isabella and their nursemaid Mary Rogerson in Lancaster.

The GP had been accused of domestic abuse by his wife.

And both women were reported missing by Mary’s family, not by Ruxton.

Groundbreaking forensic techniques such as analysing fingerprints and studying insects found on the bodies to establish the date of their deaths were used for the first time.

He was convicted of murdering his wife.

But the charge relating to Mary was dropped, and he was hanged outside Manchester’s Strangeways Prison.

It’s not known whether Isabella and Buck Ruxton’s three orphaned children were ever told that their father had been hanged for murdering their mother.

The university is handling the discovery sensitively to protect relatives.

Prof Gillingwater said: “If there are any relatives of Isabella or Mary who believe that they would like to have the remains returned to them, we would be delighted to talk to them about what the next steps might be.”