Ruben Amorim already has first Man United trap set ahead of Premier League debut vs Ipswich

There has been little to get excited about when it comes to Manchester United so far this season as the Erik ten Hag era ended with a whimper.

However, it is hard to argue against the buzz that has surrounded Ruben Amorim's arrival at Old Trafford. There is certainly warmth emanating from the United camp after the Portuguese head coach's limited media duties and there is a sense that this is rubbing off on the players who seem happy in training.

Inside perceptions of Amorim are all-important, especially with a squad of players who have just ended one manager's career at the club. However, the outside perception is likely to be crucial too.

READ MORE: Why Amorim sources believe he will succeed at United

READ MORE: What Amorim told Neville in first meeting

Jamie Carragher admitted as much in his recent column which rather surprisingly lifted the lid on a private conversation he had with Gary Neville after meeting Ten Hag for the first time. The former Liverpool man insisted the Dutchman did not have the 'x-factor' to lead the club and, in a way, that opinion in 2022 stuck with him throughout his tenure.

In the Telegraph, Carragher wrote: "Obviously, he [Amorim] will be judged on Manchester United’s results, but managing a club of such stature demands more than top-class coaching ability.

"The most successful have an aura and personality. Only those working in the same environment can offer a first-hand account of how the manager operates behind the scenes, but for those of us on the outside looking in, perceptions matter.

"Without dwelling too much on United’s recent past, this was a red flag against Ten Hag from day one. Two games into his reign, Gary Neville and I had the pleasure of interviewing Ten Hag at United’s training ground. He was a polite guy but there was no sense of an x-factor.

"Driving away from the meeting that day, I turned to Gary and said: 'He must be a supercoach because there isn’t much charisma.'"

Ten Hag was never able to shake off this sour verdict with many press conferences deemed to be uninspiring when United as a club needed a lift. At the moment, the consensus is that Amorim is a breath of fresh air who is going to implement a radical new approach at Old Trafford.

But let's not forget, the same consensus was reached in Ten Hag's early days. The truth is that it is quite easy to deem a new manager charismatic when he has yet to face a match in the dugout.

The real quiz will be when United inevitably hit a tough spot and Amorim needs to rally his troops. That is when he can be judged on having the x-factor which United desperately need.

This trap that has been set for Amorim is one he will be looking to navigate expertly when it arrives and any pre-conceived verdict at the moment is useless. Should he fail in the future, there is a distinct possibility that this new era turns drastically into nothing more than a continuation of the last decade of disappointment - but Amorim must now prove he's better than that.