Manchester United have to ignore the reaction and make a different decision after Tottenham defeat
Manchester United players arrived at Old Trafford in tribute tracksuits to George Best. Then they were at their worst.
This was United's fourth 3-0 defeat in the Premier League at Old Trafford within a year and already their second of the season. Erik ten Hag can carp on about a debatable red card for Bruno Fernandes until it stops raining in Manchester yet that cannot mask the parallels between the United of this season and last.
Ten Hag's tenuous excuses have long since expired. United were two players shy of arguably their strongest XI and one was among the substitutes. They have won three out of nine games and lost three.
With Old Trafford pockmarked by empty seats in the 84th minute, Tottenham's followers revelled in United's plight. "Can we play you every week?" they requested.
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Many United supporters sang relentlessly. The bigger picture is tens of thousands trudged down the gangway long before full-time. The final shrill was soundtracked to boos.
If Heung-min Son was fit and Harry Kane had remained a one-club man, Tottenham might have inflicted a second 6-1 on United at Old Trafford four years on. They racked up 17 attempts at goal, with ten on target. On the 23rd anniversary of United's 5-3 comeback at White Hart Lane, the only similarity was Spurs went 3-0 up.
In an effort to douse the flames, Ten Hag introduced Casemiro at the interval. He poured his own fuel onto the fire, losing the duel Tottenham countered from to finally change the scoreboard to 0-2.
A combination of Tottenham's mercifulness in front of goal and Andre Onana standing up to James Maddison and Timo Werner had kept the scoreline down until half-time. It does Spurs a disservice to suggest they are in United's slipstream.
That should unnerve the Ineos-led brains trust that watched on stoically from the directors' box. Ange Postecoglou was appointed more recently than Ten Hag and Tottenham mastered his style long ago.
Spurs's 'Spursy' reputation precedes them. Even at 2-0 and a man down, Old Trafford rocked to the Stretford End's acoustics. On a day where they threatened to turn, several remained supportive. "Twenty times, twenty times, Man United," the Stretford End roared. A little like the Best regalia, too many are stuck in the past.
That vociferous support offers Ten Hag a modicum of hope. The harmony at Selhurst Park in May did United no harm as they prepared for a season-salvaging FA Cup final and the incumbent manager is regularly highlighting the perceived approval from matchgoers.
Yet United regressed to that night at Selhurst nearly five months ago and a different decision is warranted now. It was replete with opponents dancing past Casemiro as if he were no more of an obstacle than a training cone. Casemiro did at least rally and respond to the din in the Stretford End.
Like last season, Ten Hag is a walking contradiction. Less than five minutes after Ten Hag substituted a striker he ordered United's other striker to warm up, a reactive change to Tottenham's second goal.
Rasmus Hojlund was eventually summoned along with Christian Eriksen. The latter's first two kicks were from set pieces that each found the first man. Tottenham, vulnerable at dead-ball kicks, scored against United from a corner here.
Manuel Ugarte, on his maiden Premier League start, was overwhelmed by Tottenham's commanding midfield of Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur. Ten Hag undeniably erred in delaying Ugarte's integration into the starting league XI.
Ten Hag favours right-footed and left-footed pairings in the back four yet persists with Diogo Dalot, United's best right back, at left back. Dalot was inside the Tottenham half when Micky van de Ven ran onto the loose ball yet was still closer to the United goal.
Then, extraordinarily, Dalot slowed down on his retreat. Unforgivably, he conceded defeat in the race with Brennan Johnson by apologetically holding his hands aloft before the Welshman had connected with Van de Ven's cross.
Van de Ven exposed chinks in United's armour other teams have probed. Ugarte underestimated Van de Ven's speed as the Dutchman charged through the midfield mirage.
Ten Hag is not even adept at identifying the optimum Dutch defender. Van de Ven is quicker, more agile and influential than De Ligt, bought on the basis of what he did five years ago rather than his form in the past five years.
Fernandes offered Garnacho some pointers in the 14th minute when the United captain required a talking-to. Fernandes audibly irked United matchgoers with alarming regularity before his expulsion for a needlessly high tackle on Maddison.
It was a foul that acknowledged Fernandes's frustration at his own flagging form. The sight of the red card was a jolt and, though the replays were tame, the Video Assistant Referee was never going to downgrade the card.
United coach Darren Fletcher stormed through the press box effing and blinding. The booing at half-time from United supporters seemed to be aimed more at referee Chris Kavanagh for having the temerity to dismiss Fernandes than their own team's hopelessness. Some United staff also vented about the decision.
If United want to follow that route of seeking external scapegoats, they will continue to go backwards. "Sacked in the morning," yelled the Tottenham fans as they celebrated Dejan Kulusevski's elegant flick.
Rashford's approval ratings started to dip again. One fan in the front row of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand was eager to remonstrate with him. Tottenham fans were merciless, belting out, "You're just a s**t Brennan Johnson."
Postecoglou's head was in his hands on more than one occasion in the first half. Tottenham's mercurial forwards let United off the hook time and again while United were lively whenever they seldom ventured into Spurs territory. Joshua Zirkzee was impotent when presented with another enviable opening by Kobbie Mainoo while Alejandro Garnacho smacked the woodwork.
But United were nearer their worst rather than their best.