内容摘要：The Christmas Day finale of Gavin and Stacey was watched by more than 19 million people, making it one of the largest TV audiences of the century.

The Christmas Day finale of Gavin and Stacey was watched by more than 19 million people, making it one of the largest TV audiences of the century.

But what of established highly-paid stars such as Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw? Or more recent recruits such as Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount? Or players who have been forgotten about, such as Tyrell Malacia or Antony, who has enjoyed a successful loan at Real Betis? And that is without mentioning the underperforming, expensive striking duo Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Returns to Italy have been suggested for them. But both are earning more than they did when they were at Atalanta and Bologna respectively.Logic says only a minority of these players will leave, much as United might wish otherwise.

The speed with which United issued support for Amorim in the wake of his post-match declaration was telling but the former Sporting coach knows the spotlight on him is fierce now.He has said he feels his players are getting to grips with what he wants from them and there are definite signs of a structure and tactical patterns that were not evident in his first few weeks at the club.In one first-half move on Wednesday, United manipulated a situation that allowed Casemiro to deliver a 60-yard crossfield pass, from right to left, over to Patrick Dorgu, who was in space by the touchline. Nothing came of the attack but it was an example of what Amorim is looking for.

But he knows, as does everyone else, that clubs of United's size cannot lose consistently without consequence. A tally of six league wins in 26 games is simply not good enough.There is no league with the strength in depth of the Premier League, underlined by what has happened to United this season.

However, if Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or any of the big Italian clubs had a comparable campaign, it is pretty certain that, not only would the guy who started the season get axed, in all probability, the person who followed him would as well.

Amorim seems safe from that fate. But unsubstantiated rumours hang around of players not being happy with his methods. A couple of thoughtful trophy-winning former United players wonder how effective it can be having a coaching staff that, in some cases, is both younger and less experienced than the players they are attempting to work with.But her father, a government employee, wanted more for her and at the age of eight, enrolled her in a convent school where the medium of instruction was the state's official language - Kannada.

Mushtaq worked hard to become fluent in Kannada, but this alien tongue would become the language she chose for her literary expression.She began writing while still in school and chose to go to college even as her peers were getting married and raising children.

It would take several years before Mushtaq was published and it happened during a particularly challenging phase in her life.Her short story appeared in a local magazine a year after she had married a man of her choosing at the age of 26, but her early marital years were also marked by conflict and strife - something she openly spoke of, in several interviews.