Amorim's long to-do list...visa, Rashford, injuries, pundits...

Ten thoughts from the weekend.

1. Ruben Monday. Amorim starts work today and, even with many Manchester United players away on international duty, he has plenty to be cracking on with, starting with sorting his visa so he can taken. training properly. Re-energise Marcus Rashford. Get into his head, get him back in love with football – and United again. Talk to the medical staff about the number of injuries; is it training, workload?

Ruben Amorim. Photo: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images.

Tell Antony he’s going out on loan. Commence Operation Gyokeres 2025. Get to know staff at Carrington, most of them passionate United fans; poor results along with cutbacks elsewhere have damaged morale and they need lifting. Talk to representatives of fans’ groups, make them feel listened to. Talk to Ruud van Niselrooy, thank him for restoring belief, pick his brains about players and then encourage him to pursue a No 1 job elsewhere. Chat to Luke Shaw, a good player constantly frustrated by his body letting him down, and fill a slightly sensitive individual with more belief.

And more on the to-do list. Take a bottle of Quinta do Pego, Vinhas Velhas 2016 to Sir Alex Ferguson, listen to the great man and find out more about the club’s identity. Even a picture of Amorim celebrating United’s great past would set a positive tone. Consider how 3-4-2-1 fits in with United’s long love affair with wingers. Discuss with Mason Mount his obvious suitability for one of those two No 10 positions with Bruno Fernandes. Talk to players-turned-pundits like Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand about what they think has gone wrong. It’s diplomatic at the very least. Enjoy. The pressure will come soon enough.

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2. Vorspung durch Gtechnik. All aboard a bus-stop in Hounslow for goals. Brentford’s winner against Bournemouth was superb from back to front: Collins to Pinnock, Janelt’s dummy down the line, Lewis-Potter pass inside, Janelt pass behind defence, Wissa finish. Brentford have 16 points from a possible 18 at home, and have scored 18 goals, making their band B season ticket prices (57% of all season tix) particularly good value: £495 adults (basically £26 per game), £135 juniors and children (£7), £375 for fans 65+ (£20) and £330 for fans 18-24 (£17). “Outrageous value,” texts a goal-sated Brentford friend.

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3. The case for Rodri. Now that “France Football” magazine has published the Ballon d’Or votes in Saturday’s edition, judges can discuss our choices. I voted: 1 Rodri; 2 Vinicius Jr; 3 Jude Bellingham; 4 Dani Carvajal; 5 Lamine Yamal; 6 Lautaro Martinez; 7 Phil Foden; 8 Emi Martinez; 9 Erling Haaland; 10 Florian Wirtz. The vote takes into account performances August to August and Rodri edged Vinicius by 1,170 points to 1,129. 100 journalists from the top 100 Fifa-ranked nations are tasked with judging on three main criteria: “Individual performances, decisive and impressive contributions; Collective performances and honours; Class and fair play.”

Rodri was outstanding for Manchester City but what edged it for me was his contribution to Spain’s Euro 2024 glory (he was named player of the tournament). Vinicius Jr, who had a terrific season for Real Madrid, had a less successful time at the Copa. There’s no agenda against Real Madrid, the greatest club in the world. And judges don’t talk to each other or anyone else about their thought process (in my experience). There were three Real players in the top four (and reflected in my choices). Carlo Ancelotti was voted Coach of the Year. Many times down the years we’ve voted for Real players from Luka Modric to Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid’s reaction was simply them supporting their player, Vinicius, showing him how much they love him, and that’s totally understandable. It also showed how important the Ballon d’Or remains.

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4. Defender of the realm. There are few better centre-halves in the world at the moment than Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool’s 25-year-old blossoming alongside Virgil van Dijk. Konate put in one challenge on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins that embodied his class. He’s physically and psychologically strong, quick and mobile. But what also stands out is Konate’s reading of the game. He anticipates danger and is another reason why Liverpool are top and now favourites for the Premier League.

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5. Smart Martin. Arsenal’s Odegaard had played only seven minutes since injuring his ankle in August and yet he completed 100 minutes against Chelsea without noticeably tiring. Arsenal painfully still lack a serial finisher but at least Odegaard’s return creates more chances. Arsenal’s captain and catalyst dominated Chelsea concerns, and was often surrounded by blue shirts at the Bridge. Odegaard still found room to manoeuvre and deliver a cross with minimal back-lift for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal. Arsenal are probably out of the title race but with Odegaard back they have a slim chance.

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6. Delap of the Gods. One assist, one goal and one more performance to confirm Liam Delap belongs in the top league. First that flick on to Sammie Szmodics showed the Ipswich Town centre-forward’s awareness and strength. Delap then demonstrated his determination and poacher’s instinct to get in the six-yard box for what eventually proved the winner. He embodied Ipswich hunger with his pressing of Vicario. Delap also another timely riposte to those penning obituaries to No 9s. The England Under-21 striker will surely step up to senior level at some point.

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7. Andersen’s fairy-tale. Why on earth did Crystal Palace sell Joachim Andersen to Fulham? He was undoubtedly made a very good financial offer by Fulham and may have been difficult to hold on to. But he’s been a huge loss. The Danish centre-back has been outstanding for Fulham and Palace have looked vulnerable without him as Saturday’s meeting showed. Maxence Lacroix was recruited for £15.m by Palace as his replacement by Palace when they sold Andersen for £30m, superficially good business. But many Palace fans were concerned. Andersen’s a leader who knows the Premier League. He got warmly applauded on his return, and subsequently posted, “Special feeling for me to be back at Selhurst, I appreciate the reception”. They appreciated his service to them – and what Palace have lost.

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8. Inter of Discontent. It’s only been a couple of weeks since Fifa’s vainglorious president Gianni Infantino declared Inter Miami “officially one of the 32 best clubs in the world, already after a few years since their existence” in parachuting them into next summer’s pointless Fifa Club World Cup. Even with Lionel Messi playing and scoring, Miami this weekend went out in the first round of the MLS Cup play-offs to Atlanta United, who reached the play-offs after finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference and beating Montreal in a shootout in a wildcard game. It’s hardly elite level. Miami’s presence at the Club World Cup discredits it further. It’s about one player, one reason. PR. It’s a team too average in a tournament too far.

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9. Derby demolition man. Kwame Poku was already a popular figure at Peterborough United, scoring freely and already League One Player of the Month for September and October. He’s even more popular now. The Croydon-born Ghanaian international signed from Colchester hit a hat-trick in the 6-1 Derby win over Cambridge United. He’s flourishing under Darren Ferguson in League One and now has 10 goals and five assists in 15 matches. Peterborough may struggle to hold on to him but will doubtless get a very good price – and some very good memories.

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10. Like all clubs, Chelsea did Remembrance Day proud with their banners, tributes and perfectly observed silence wrapped around the Last Post. The sight of Chelsea Pensioners, army veterans, walking slowly on to the pitch added to the poignancy. Lest We Forget.