Alongside those pretty damning statistics and his comments to the press recently which suggest a big falling out with the powers that be, I think what has prompted United to act so quickly is the weird season we’re seeing in the Premier League. United have been rubbish but then so has almost everyone else so there is still a genuine chance of Champions League qualification. They’ll be hoping that a new manager gives them the bump they need to claim a top 5 finish and that sets them up for the summer and beyond.