Football fans love a joke at the expense of a rival. They have a wicked sense of humour for the most part, and one bookmaker that often taps into this thirst for a bit of a micky take is Paddy Power.
They are well known for their publicity stunts, such as installing a fake Emergency Alex Ferguson in a glass case outside Old Trafford when David Moyes was failing to live up to expectations.
In September 2025, they were at it again, and targeting Manchester United once more. This time though, it was Ruben Amorim who was the target of their jibe, and more specifically, his commitment to his 3-4-3 system.
What was Going On at the Time?
Manchester United’s drop in form after Sir Alex Ferguson is no secret to anyone.
Every time the club sack a manager they replace him with someone who seems to do less well again, to the point where Ruben Amorim, who took over from Erik Ten Hag, saw the Red Devils to their worst Premier League finish ever in 2025. They came in 15th place.
Amorim had been brought in to completely revitalise the team, and his 3-4-3 system that had been so effective at Sporting CP was a big part of that. The club backed him heavily and spent big on signings over the summer too, despite the club being in financial trouble.
So when Amorim’s first full season in charge began with a 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal, followed by a poor 1-1 draw against Fulham, and a shocking display in the Carabao Cup which saw them knocked out on penalties to League 2’s Grimsby Town, the press went for him.
He won 3-2 at home to newly promoted Burnley, but that was hardly a shining indictment of his system, and the 3-0 drubbing that followed – in a derby match against Manchester City no less – was all the encouragement Paddy Power needed.
They came up with a plan for their stunt and set it in motion.
The 343 Bus
The cheeky Irish bookie got hold of a 343 Bus that usually goes between Oldham and Hyde, and wrapped it in their brand colours along with some white writing which read:
The Only 343 That Works in Manchester
They then had the bus driven through Manchester, through the city centre, and on to Old Trafford, where it obviously slowed down so everyone had a good chance to see it, have a laugh, and take some photographs.
Neither the club nor Ruben Amorim made any comment on the stunt, and it’s unclear whether or not they even saw it, but a Paddy Power Spokesperson said:
‘Times are tough up in Manchester. Some things clearly aren’t working, but we think it’s only fair to credit those who are getting the job done. Sadly, for United fans, it looks like they’ll have to ride it out when it comes to the 343 situation.’
Amorim might not have responded to the jibe directly, but answered back in another way by defeating Chelsea 2-1 at home the following day, but still, it was a solid burn by Paddy Power.
Muted Reaction
Obviously, Paddy Power themselves promoted their stunt via their own channels, and there was a bit of a buzz about it online, but not much really.
A few media outlets covered it, but mostly the stunt came and went unnoticed.
Paddy Power won’t have minded all that much. They got a few headlines out of it and it won’t have cost them much. But it does show that this sort of stunt doesn’t have the same impact it used to. There was a time when this would have been talked about and laughed at in pubs up and down the country, but these days, it’s come and gone as quickly as a funny comment on the terraces. Enjoyed but quickly forgotten.
The pedant in me wishes to point out that the 343 bus goes nowhere near Old Trafford. https://t.co/j8EALZopmx
— Adam Sykes (@iamadamsykes) September 20, 2025
Manchester United are an eternal easy target for stuff like this too, and perhaps the joke just wore a bit thin by this point. What’s more, it oversimplified the situation. Anyone who follows football and isn’t a moron understands that Amorim has a monumental task on his hands, and it’s not something any manager in the world could rectify in a single year.
Nevertheless, the joke raised a smile, and couldn’t we all do with more of that?