After so many false starts since Alex Ferguson left, the new man has the CV and optics to reshape this sclerotic club

Live, die, repeat. There is a familiar feeling of pathos in watching the latest Manchester United manager loom into view, carpetbag in hand, squaring those fragile shoulders, another face, another four-year plan, all these brave hopeful souls, like men in hats and coats heading off to Flanders.

It should be said United have been impressively efficient in reaching this point. Unsticking a premium European manager from a Champions League club in mid-season is no simple task. The announcement of Rúben Amorim as head-coach-in-waiting comes four days on from the sacking of Erik ten Hag. After the Weekend at Bernie’s absurdity of Ten Hag’s new contract, after the four-month zombie-stumble into the current season that has made Amorim’s own task so much harder, this has at least been surgical and decisive.