MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ruben Amorim should change his three-at-the-back system, claims Alan Shearer.
The Portuguese boss, 39, has had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford.
Following Monday night's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle, Amorim admitted that relegation is "a possibility".
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest is Football, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker called the defeat embarrassing - while he also questioned Amorim's decision to play veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen together in a midfield duo within his 3-4-3.
Responding, Shearer asked: "How long does he go on persisting with his system?
"Because clearly his players, the players he has got in that squad, can't play the way he wants them to play. How long does he persist with it?"
Fellow pundit Micah Richards responded: "As long as he can? I don't think he changes his ways whatsoever, because then he's admitted defeat."
Shearer hit back: "Really? When you say 'admit defeat', is it not to say 'Well okay, I've tried that way, my players can't play that way so I have to change for the benefit of the team'?"
Richards responded: "It's not like Man Utd were great three years ago and then Ten Hag came in and they were really bad, and he's trying to... they've not played well for years and they've tried every formation possible.
"So if you're a manager, you're not going to then doubt yourself and go into a different system, a system that you don't know.
"I think this is just one that is going to take a lot of time. Obviously the players are not good enough to fit into his ideas at this moment in time. But if he starts changing now..."
After Shearer cut in saying "they're getting worse Micah", Richards went on: "I think sometimes you have to get worse before you go forward, they've tried everything else."
Shearer went on to add of Amorim: "I bet he thinks 'What on Earth have I walked into?' Both on and off the pitch."
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher broadly agrees with Richards' assessment.
He wrote on social media: "Ruben Amorim needs to get results, as we have seen big jobs getaway from young managers in the past, eg Graham Potter at Chelsea.
"But he can’t change his whole idea of 3/4/3 otherwise what was the point in bringing him in?"
'A BIT EMBARRASSING'
Quizzed if talk of a relegation battle is "embarrassing", Amorim said on Monday: "It is also my fault.
"The team is not improving. It is a little bit lost in this moment and it is a bit embarrassing to be Manchester United coach and lose a lot of games.
"I think people are tired of excuses at this club. This club needs a shock."
Marcus Rashford returned to the matchday squad for the Newcastle match, after being frozen out for four games.
But even with United needing a goal, Amorim elected not to bring on the forward.
The Red Devils, who sit 14th in the Prem table, are next in action on Sunday when they face a daunting trip to leaders Liverpool.