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Formations are a funny old thing.

A series of numbers more reminiscent of a Fibonacci sequence than a description of eleven footballers on a pitch, the term has dominated the conversation around Manchester United since Ruben Amorim‘s arrival from Sporting CP fourteen months ago.

However, INEOS sent shockwaves through the club on Monday morning by deciding to dismiss the Portuguese coach, along with his 3-4-2-1 formation, bringing an end to his tumultuous tenure. In Amorim’s place, Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has been given stewardship of the senior side, leading United to a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor last night.

The 41-year-old is only a temporary measure, however, with the club set to appoint a permanent caretaker until the end of the season. A long-term replacement for Amorim will then be selected over the summer, when the pool of candidates grows.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, formerly an interim manager before being handed the reins full time by Ed Woodward, is the favourite for the caretaker role. Michael Carrick is also in the running — another ex-player who temporarily managed United, ironically, following Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021.

There is also a faint possibility Fletcher remains in...