Match report: Manchester City 6-3 Man United

Phil Foden and Erling Haaland bagged hat-tricks apiece as Pep Guardiola's rampant City ended United's winning run with a devastating display.

Foden's double and Haaland's brace put City out of sight by the interval before Antony's screamer preceded the completion of Haaland's treble and then Foden's. Substitute Anthony Martial headed a consolation and then converted a late penalty to give the scoreline an air of respectability. But, in truth, this was a largely one sided contest although United's improved second half rally at least saw us emerge with some positives. 

For all the Reds recent revival of fortunes, City served up a reminder of just how far ahead they are of everyone else - and of how far United have still to go. 
There was no surprise with Erik ten Hag's team selection as the Dutch boss kept faith with the side that beat Arsenal 3-1 in their last Premier League outing back in September. 

In our first game for 17 days, City were dominant from the off and instantly laid siege to David de Gea's goal. The Spanish stopped saved well from Kevin de Bruyne and Scott McTominay then threw himself in the way of Bernardo Silva's follow up.
United's gameplan of keeping it tight early on went out the window five minutes further on when City took the lead through Foden, his first Manchester derby goal. Bernardo Silva was involved once again when he picked out the onrushing local lad to sweep the ball beyond the stranded de Gea and into the top corner.

Ilkay Gundogan rattled the post from a set piece and Joao Cancelo then fizzed an effort narrowly over the bar from a corner. 
United managed to escape from further damage until eleven minutes before half-time when Haaland - who else - rose to power home de Bruyne's header despite Tyrell Malacia's ultimately futile attempts to clear off the line.

The Reds were simply unable to stem the flow as City's lightning start showed no signs of abating. On 37 minutes, City's no.9 struck his second of the game, and his side's third, when he combined again with de Bruyne. For my money the two best players in the world, the latter controlled and picked out the former to finish off a fine, five-man move in style at the back post.

Things were to get even uglier for the outplayed and outclassed Reds as Haaland turned provider for Foden a minute before the break. The Blues fourth goal was a mirror image of their third as a superb move, which involved Silva, Gundogan and de Bruyne, culminated in Foden's drilled finish having been picked out by City's all-conquering no.9.

To quite literally add insult to injury, United's in-form centre-back Raphael Varane limped off with an ankle injury in the midst of the chaos. Victor Lindelof came on for his first league appearance of the season and Luke Shaw then replaced the struggling Malacia at the interval.

Bruno Fernandes stung the palms of Ederson before new signing Antony pulled one back in spectacular style with a 25-yard curler for his second Premier League goal in as many games.
That only proved the catalyst for another City onslaught as the relentless Haaland thumped home his third having been picked out by substitute Sergio Gomez - the unplayable Norwegian's third successive home hat-trick and 17th of the season. 

But still City were not done as they threatened to outdo their record league win against United - the 6-1 win at Old Trafford in 2011/12 when they went on to win the league. 
They duly equalled that tally on 72 minutes when Foden beat the offside trap to hammer home from close range despite a VAR check to see if the ball had gone out of play after more excellent play from the Norwegian striker.

Three goals and two assists - the man is not human and comes from a different planet. It is hard to see anyone stopping City with him and his side on this form. 

Martial, who had earlier come on for the anonymous Rashford, scored twice late on to at least provide United with a semblance of pride. He nodded in after fellow substitute Fred had an effort saved by Ederson, and then smashed home an 89th-minute penalty having been scythed down by Cancelo. The goal was greeted by near silence from the away end but proved little by way of consolation and gave the scoreline a slightly misleading look.

Overall team performance: 5/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Anthony Martial. Only played half an hour but did well in his cameo. 

United Faithful are back!

Wow, well what a last six weeks it has been. The blog has been unusually quiet, mainly due to my flitting off here, there and everywhere. My feet have barely touched terra firma over the last month but now we're back, refreshed and ready to get back 'into the swing of things' here at United Faithful. 

Our absence co-incided with United's upturn in form and you must have been wondering where I've been, so I'll tell you. 

I've been away across the water in Northern Ireland for a two week hiking trip, two stag dos (indeed, even a HEN do) and then my friend's wedding last weekend. All in all, not much time at all to focus on penning these pages whilst United have been pilfering points left, right and centre (until today). 

That's not to say we haven't been keeping up to speed with our club's fortunes. I watched the second half of the Saints game in a bar at Euston, glimpsed the highlights of the win at Leicester in a pub in Newcastle (the one in Northern Ireland, not the one in the North East) and then watched bits of the Arsenal game on a friend's phone. 

The Queen has died, the UK has yet another PM and Watford have been through 5,000 managers! (No, not really, but they have appointed Slaven Bilic). It's safe to say a lot has happened whilst I've been gone but now I'm back and ready to bring you all the very latest from Manchester United. 

We just wanted to update you as we've been quiet and thought you might want to know why that is. 

COYR!

United ignite the Erik ten Hag era on an electric night at OT

Three games in and winless, the team looking lacklustre and an inquest into what is going wrong. 
Few would have been shocked at the outcome of events at Old Trafford in the 210th meeting between the Reds of Manchester and Merseyside. 

Not many would have picked that team to be Liverpool.

Manchester United outran and outworked them, superb to a man, playing with a level of energy, intensity and endeavour which has become a Jurgen Klopp side's trademark. The same qualities conspicuous by absentia in the early day of Erik ten Hag's tenure.

But right from the start, this was a different United. A new United. ten Hag's United.

Perhaps the game was won even before it began. ten Hag gambled with his reputation when he dropped much-maligned captain Harry Maguire and, even more seismically, his talismanic striker Cristiano Ronaldo. He knew it was a selection to be criticised and scrutinised if it backfired.

Lisandro Martinez had usurped Maguire as United's scapegoat. An easy target as a diminutive debutant in the Premier League. He was hooked at half-time in the Brentford debacle, hooked by the man who had just bought him. Raphael Varane, benched in his captain's stead, came in here with the two England internationals either side of the Argentine international gone. Martinez? Magnificent. Colossal. A night where he came of age.

Tyrell Malacia had been our only bright spot of a desperate day in west London and got his chance here. He did not disappoint. Malacia looked like he'd been there all his life and caught the eye with his tenacity and temerity.

There was a theory this game would actually prove easier for some of these players. Fewer long balls, less pressure, not as much of a physical battle and the mere presence of the old enemy in front of a crowd baying for blood to give them that extra 5%. 

There may have been derision and division towards the owners, but the fans were united in every sense for the players. As the old adage says, derbies like this are almost anomalies. One offs. A big leveller.

United went at Liverpool with gusto. We showed more fight, passion and commitment in the first ten minutes than in the entirety of last season.
Anthony Elanga was only involved in the first half, but his influence in setting the tone and tempo should not be underestimated. He set up one and came within inches of scoring another. He cast the dye with his infectious energy and stomach for the fight.

Trent Alexander - Arnold holds a reputation as being defensively suspect and that was in evidence again here. Not for the first time, he struggled hugely at Old Trafford. If Elanga lit the touchpaper, then Sancho lit up the room. The calmest man in Manchester sent James Milner down Sir Matt Busby Way and sold Alisson a delicious dummy for the opening goal as Virgil van Dijk simply stood and watched with his hands behind his back.

The fact it was Marcus Rashford who scored what proved to be the winner was fitting as he capped a performance for the ages. This was the Rashford of old, I'm delighted for him, he deserved it and is running himself into form.

His decision to pack the team with pace and trickery and add a sprinkling of youth fully vindicated ten Hag's decision to leave out Ronaldo. ten Hag stressed there is a squad at his disposal and different matches will need different skills and qualities, denying the idea Ronaldo won't be a part of that. He may well be. But this is surely the template now, the blueprint, the raison d'etre. He may regret he ever deviated away from it in the first place. 

When Anthony Martial was injured in pre-season, his response was to shoehorn Christian Eriksen as a false nine against Brighton then draft in Ronaldo at Brentford. The inclusion of Elanga here surely indicated this is closer to what the manager wants.

There was a frantic finish when Salah bundled in at the back stick with nine minutes left but what was striking was the togetherness and temperament of the team. Heads didn't drop and the seemingly inevitable siege did not ensue. United did not buckle and managed the game with maturity and intelligence. This needs to be the rule and not the exception, merely more than just a reaction to the visit of the enemy or a gathering crisis. So many stood tall when it mattered most.

Bruno Fernandes had his best game for months. Captain for the night but perhaps for longer, he roared at the crowd to raise the decibel levels as he scrapped and battled when closing down near the touchline in the first half. In the final moments as United held their nerve, he was darting back to shut down Alexander - Arnold at the near post.

There was the sight of Malacia receiving a standing ovation for a tackle in the corner. Varane geeing up the crowd behind the goal as the clock ticked down. Martinez blocking everything and even Ronaldo giving his all for the cause. This was more like it. This is all we ask for. A team that tries.

But it was David de Gea who seemed to sum it all up. Here he was, the familiar sight of United's Spaniard, always in the spotlight, fists pumping as he was carried down the tunnel by a wall of noise from the Stretford End. Nine days after the debacle at Brentford, the mood was transformed.

The Erik ten Hag era roared into life and United have lift off. 

Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool player ratings: Martinez, Varane and Malacia shine

 Manchester United's season roared into life with an improbable victory over Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool at a raucous Old Trafford.

It was a result no-one saw coming on a night which could prove seminal, despite being only three games into the new Premier League season. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford put United 2-0 ahead and despite a late Mo Salah goal to set up a nervous finale, there can be little argument over the result.

Here is how each Red rated on a memorable night at Old Trafford.

David de Gea - 7

Could have sat in with the fans for the first hour but made good saves from Fabinho and Roberto Firmino after half-time. Nothing he could have done to prevent Salah scoring. Good hands and a good command of his area were notable assets to his game.

Diogo Dalot - 8

Tenacious, brave and not far from faultless in his duel with Luis Diaz. Dalot limited the Colombian's attacking output and showed a willingness to get forward. Did well defensively too and showed maturity to keep his head whilst on a booking.

Raphael Varane - 9

Simply colossal at the back. Perverse he was left out in the first two games when he is United's best centre back by a distance. Won everything in the air and into feet, he was strong, vocal and organised a young defence imperiously. A Rolls Royce of a player. Magnificent.

Lisandro Martinez - 9

Has had his critics but silenced them superbly in a brilliant, no nonsense showing from minute one to 90. Let Salah know he was there with a crunching challenge after 30 seconds and never let up. Saved a certain own goal, won every duel and turned in probably the best defensive display you will see all season. He has arrived in the Premier League. Sensational. 

Tyrell Malacia - 8

What a game for the young full-back to be thrown into for his full debut, but he did not disappoint. Tough and brave in the tackle, quick, strong, and pocketed Salah throughout. United's only bright spot in the debacle at Brentford and even showed he can take a set piece. Luke Shaw isn't getting his place back any time soon on this evidence. Brilliant.

Scott McTominay - 6

In front of the watching Casemiro, the Scot was by no means unerring but put in a vastly improved performance. Played a defence-splitting through ball to tee up Fernandes in the move from which Elanga struck the post. Helped United to get hold of the midfield although he was a little loose in possession at times and seemed to tire late on.

Christian Eriksen - 7

Good again. Calm and composed on the ball as always, nearly scored from a set piece and set the tone with his energy and driving runs. Played a part in the opening goal when he found Elanga to set up Sancho and had worked tirelessly when he was taken off late on.

Jadon Sancho - 8

His best performance at United so far? Sancho popped up everywhere in the United attack, he was brimming with menace and held Liverpool at his sway. A wonderful opener sent the Reds on their way  and Liverpool's uncharacteristically shaky back line couldn't deal with him. Got to keep this level up now.

Bruno Fernandes - 7

Linked the play well and unlucky not to score himself. Regressed slightly but his best performance for ages. The Portuguese playmaker was United's midfield metronome and did everything right in the first half. Almost scored an unfortunate own goal and picked up a poor booking for diving but a real captain's performance and showed leadership to help United see the game through.

Anthony Elanga - 6

Unlucky to be subbed at half time as he hit the post when he perhaps should have scored, and set up Sancho for the opener. Gave Alexander - Arnold problems in the first half and played his part with good energy and industry in United's impressive showing. 

Marcus Rashford - 8

This was Rashford at his brilliant best in a vintage performance for the ages. Barged Alexander - Arnold out the way early on, ran in behind tirelessly and looked fit and firing from start to finish. Led the line impressively and capped off an effervescent performance with a superbly taken goal. This was Rashford's best performance in a long, long time. A late mazy run in the second half showed the level of confidence and morale is the highest it has been for a while. 

Subs

Anthony Martial (for Elanga ht) - 7

The mercurial Frenchman's link up play with Rashford and Sancho caught the eye in pre-season and it was in evidence again here. Held the ball up superbly, put a shift in and set up Rashford for the game clinching second goal. Martial did brilliantly when he came on and his return gives United, and ten Hag, options up top. 

Fred (for Sancho 71) - 6

Brought on to shore up the midfield but Liverpool got a foothold in the game. Erred in his passing although did provide tenacity. It looks as though the Brazilian will suffer in terms of game time when his compatriot Casemiro gets up to speed.

Cristiano Ronaldo (for Rashford 86) - N/A

Came on late and skied a volley. A big call dropping him to the bench but it worked. Had no impact and is his role now as an impact sub?

Donny van de Beek (for Eriksen 86) - N/A

Helped run the clock down and could have had an assist for Martial but failed to make an impact in his few minutes on the field.

Aaron Wan - Bissaka (for Dalot 86) - N/A

First minutes of the season as ten Hag put the right-back on to offer late solidity and reliability down the right. 

Manager - Erik ten Hag - 9

This is what he was appointed for. Showed bravery in his team selection which paid off and got everything right. On a night when his United tenure truly had lift off, the Dutchman will be delighted with his team. 

Match report: Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool

Manchester United ignited the Erik ten Hag era with a stunning victory over old rivals Liverpool on a memorable night of sound and fury at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman had endured a difficult start to life in the United hotseat with chastening defeats to Brighton and Brentford but lifted the mood with a surprise victory over Jurgen Klopp's out of sorts Merseysiders.

Liverpool remain winless and can have few arguments with the result on a night when ten Hag's side finally showed what they are capable of.
Jadon Sancho's stunning opener lifted the roof off Old Trafford and substitute Anthony Martial set up Marcus Rashford to run through and fire in the second.

Mo Salah's late finish set up a frantic finale but, in truth, the visitors never looked like salvaging an undeserved point. 

ten Hag took an almighty gamble in his team selection as he left star forward Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench along with much-maligned captain Harry Maguire. Raphael Varane partnered Lisandro Martinez at the back with the returning Martial also among the substitutes. Another summer signing, Tyrell Malacia, usurped Luke Shaw at left-back. 
New signing Casemiro was unveiled before kick off and how he must have relished the blood-and-thunder of a magnificent atmosphere at Old Trafford.

United showed a statement of intent early on as Rashford set the tone for the night when he burst in behind and almost got a shot away, but Virgil van Dijk intervened and cleared to safety.

The Reds came even closer in the ninth minute when Scott McTominay picked out stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes, who moved the ball on to Anthony Elanga on the stretch. The young winger struck his shot well and looked poised to score, only to be denied by the post.

The breakthrough was not long in coming, though. Slick and fluid football from the Reds saw us cut a swathe through Liverpool's backline as Elanga found Sancho. Despite being faced with a posse of players in pursuit, Sancho left them with twisted blood to sit down James Milner and finish superbly in the corner as Old Trafford erupted.

Luis Diaz shot wide and the again impressive Christian Eriksen went close at the other end when Alisson saved superbly from the Dane's inswinging free-kick.

Liverpool began to exert their authority with their trademark pressing and intensity but United's defence - marshalled expertly by Varane and Martinez - combined well to keep them at bay. Martinez got a slice of luck his colossal performance deserved when he cleared an inadvertent deflection from Fernandes off the line at a corner on the stroke of half-time.

Martial replaced Elanga to give United more pace up top and switched Rashford to the left where he was given licence to torment and terrorise an out of sorts Trent Alexander - Arnold.

Eight minutes after the interval, United moved further ahead and put clear daylight between themselves and the old enemy. Superb link play from substitute Martial released Rashford who beat the offside trap and rolled in beyond the advancing Alisson. 

Rashford flashed a shot over the bar after a superb solo run, and Martinez then blocked superbly to thwart Salah as the talismanic Egyptian looked to poke in.

De Gea saved from substitute Fabinho before the Liverpool man's compatriot Alisson kept his side in the game with a stunning save to keep out Rashford low down.

Strong hands from United's Spanish stopper saw him tip wide from Firmino, but there was little he could do to prevent Salah's close range finish, setting up a nervous finale with nine minutes to go.

Ronaldo screwed a volley wide and Martial almost found fellow sub Donny van de Beek, but the cutback was intercepted. Five nerve-shredding minutes were added on but United stood strong to hold out for an extraordinary victory and kick start the ten Hag era.

Overall team performance: 9/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Lisandro Martinez. Colossal. 

The day Manchester United finally broke me

How can something that seems so shocking become so expected at the same time? How many times can you be proved wrong when you joke things cannot get any worse? 
What else is there to say when you get so used to disappointment you become detached and distant towards such a huge part of your life? 

I cannot answer any of this, but I'll certainly try. I will do so with more effort and energy than our players. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm an amiable sort of person - I rarely rant, or get riled. I don't go looking for controversy or toxic negativity. 
I always try and look for the positives in any given situation, no matter how bleak that situation may seem. But so dark are the times at our beloved Manchester United, there is nothing to be positive about.

Yet, just a few short weeks ago, there was positivity flowing from every pore. Flowing with the promise of pre-season, with the promise of a new era with a new manager and a new squad to take us forward into said era. 

We looked good and enjoyable to watch but, once again, this team have crumbled when results matter, when the pressure is on. It has been yet another false dawn.

From all walks of life, from all over the world, those in Red come in their droves to support their beloved club - our beloved club. For some, it may be a rite of passage passed down from one generation to the next. For some, it may be a once in a lifetime experience whilst for others merely a backdrop to the bigger picture - the backdrop to the biggest fight of our lives. The fight for our club's future in protests against the parasitic leeches in the corridors of power. 

Where's the same pride in these players? That same fight, that never say die, never give up attitude which used to be synonymous with this once great club? Apologies and excuses simply do not cut it any more.

The ignominy of a home defeat in the season opener surely should have sparked something somewhere inside as we headed to Brentford. Yet just when we thought we could sink no lower, these players proved us wrong again. Another example of how to go from bad to worse. United are no strangers to breaking records by the week, only this time they are ones no-one wants to break.

A 4-0 defeat with inexplicable, schoolboy errors from a team of professional footballers as all the while new manager Erik ten Hag looked on with the same expression of all who came before him.

The last time we were in this position, I was one. 30 years ago. Three whole decades. Speaking of which, it is now ten years since we last won the Premier League. 

You don't need me to tell you what the problems are on the pitch. I don't have all year and there are too many to mention. The same areas need improvement. But now the problem goes further than that. It's more than simply spending money on players we need as you can only wonder who on earth would want to join us anyway? Which player in his right mind would actively wish to become embroiled in this almighty mess.

So where does all of this leave us? In despair. Broken. With dejected players, fans divided, still in an ever increasing mountain of debt the Glazers lumbered us with on that fateful day they took hold of the reigns. Taking money out the club whilst our once proud, iconic, best-in-class stadium crumbles before our very eyes. Of course, there are the promises to renovate and improve, but I trust these leeches as much as I trust Rishi Sunak as PM. Whatever happens, they will do so in a way which benefits them and not us.

A fish rots from the head down. From top to bottom, the club I fell in love with as a young, impressionable, wide-eyed six year old is in disarray. Manchester United have finally broken me, finally brought me to my knees.

To all those celebrating our downfall, remember: nothing is permanent. Football is cyclical, all things come to an end. Nothing will ever change the fact I've seen my team achieve what most others can only dream of. Even now, in our darkest hour, we are spoken about obsessively. I'm not sure how long it will be, or when it will happen, but Manchester United will rise again. Of that I'm certain. 

Of course, we have no divine right to win anything. We're not even asking for that. We don't demand a team that wins. We demand a team that tries. To give it our all and try to do it all again. I don't think that's too much to ask. If I hadn't seen such riches....

Players, managers and - yes- eventually the owners will come and go. But the fans? We are the one constant, the lifeblood, the unstinting presence to rise above adversity and never stop singing. Never stop believing. How we stand tall. How we fight. How our away support remains the greatest in the land. How we laugh through the pain. And how, even in the predicament we find ourselves in, somewhere deep inside, in the depths of our being, there is that element of hope. Our loyalty and passion knows no bounds. 

Manchester United. For the good and the bad. Until the end of time. Always and forever. 

We want our club back. 

Erik ten Hag has been sold a fallacy - I wouldn't blame him for walking out

 You can't help but feel sorry for Erik ten Hag. If he had hair, he would already be balder than he already is now.
What on earth he must be thinking as he muses the mess before him is anyone's guess - two games into life under immense scrutiny as Manchester United manager and the knives are already out. Please, please, do not blame this on him. We knew it would take time and we knew how difficult his job would be, but I don't think any of us could have anticipated just how bleak it would be. 

It wouldn't matter who the manager is. You could have Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex as joint managers and they couldn't get a tune out of this side. It is a dreadful, League Two quality side with a disgusting mentality and attitude. Bar the wantaway, 50-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, there is not one single player here who would get in any other Premier League or Championship team.

You can't polish a turd: these players have been shit for years and won't magically improve now. ten Hag is working with one hand behind his back and has been hung out to dry. He should get on the phone to his parasitic paymasters, tell them he cannot work in these conditions and walk out the door. He has been lied to, shat on and betrayed. It certainly feels like the club are setting him up to fail. He would have my eternal gratitude if he admitted he's been let down by his bosses and walks out into the sunset before his reputation precedes him. For the first time ever, we may have a manager too good for the club. It is like going up Everest blindfolded whilst wearing a dressing gown and slippers. 

Ralf Rangnick's press conference - the one in which he said United needed ten new players - is probably the most accurate thing any football manager has ever said. His infamous words have re-surfaced after out cataclysmic start to the season. He certainly wasn't wrong but got sacked from the consultancy role for speaking the truth. 

 The blame lies squarely at the feet of these players, many of whom are on their third manager in a year (four if you count Michael Carrick's brief stint as caretaker). Yes, the squad has had money spent on it but if I spent 2bn on a car with no engine, it won't get me very far. Money has been spent but completely in the wrong areas and on the wrong players. Ten Hag wanted Jurrien Timber, Frenkie de Jong and Antony. Instead he got a back-up left-back, a centre back he didn't need and a freebie midfielder. It screams of the infamous second summer under Jose Mourinho when he went to then CEO Ed Woodward with a list of players he wanted but ended up with a veteran keeper, an unknown full-back from Portugal and Fred. In stark contrast, his counterpart across the City, Guardiola, spent just shy of 300m. It just shows the chasm between the clubs, the difference in ambition, vision and forward planning. 

David de Gea had probably his worst ever game for United between the posts. It's common knowledge he is some way behind his goalkeeping contemporaries when it comes to the modern day pre-requisites every top keeper needs - handling, distribution, communication and command of his area, to name but four. His one staple, the one skillset he has always had to fall back on was his status as probably the best shot-stopper in the game. Yet on Saturday, even that deserted him. 

Josh Dasilva's daisy cutter from distance should have been bread and butter for De Gea. Indeed, for any goalkeeper at any level of the game. I would expect the keeper for my Sunday league side to deal with it. There was no power on it at all, it was straight at de Gea and looked a gimme. You cannot legislate for mistakes like that. 

The second and the third goals can both be pinned on him, too. His loose throw out lacked power and accuracy and was seized upon by Mathias Jensen to score and de Gea flapped helplessly as Ben Mee's header travelled beyond him and in. There was little he could to prevent Bryan Mbeumo's close range finish for four, but of the six goals we have conceded in our first two games, de Gea can legitimately be blamed for five of them. In fairness to the veteran Spaniard, he did at least have the guts to front up and take public responsibility for the side's defeat. 

It makes the decision to dispense Dean Henderson - a far from unflappable but certainly capable deputy - out on loan to Nottingham Forest all the more head-scratching. A baffling indictment of United's muddled thinking when it comes to transfer strategy. Now de Gea has no competition save for the 36-year-old Tom Heaton and is undroppable by default.

ten Hag may have dropped Scott McTominay to the bench after his disasterclass against Brighton, but it did little to restore the equilibrium in midfield. Christian Eriksen returned to Brentford as a six but it was a mismatch in his battle with Jensen and Dasilva. Fred was anonymous and McTominay was somehow even worse than he was last week when he came on for the second half. Frenkie de Jong and, indeed Adrien Rabiot, would be upgrades but you would not blame either man for not wanting to sign for the club. ten Hag has wanted de Jong since day one but has been let down by John Murtough and his merry band of men who have faffed and dallied all summer over the Barcelona player to such an extent the deal for a man who should have been here weeks ago is now dead in the water. 

ten Hag hasn't got any of the players he wanted, he's having to make do with last season's shit and so it figures we will see the same dreadful results, no matter who is in the dugout. The fans continued to sing loud, proud and unstintingly despite another horror show in a long trip to the capital, battling a train strike in the process. They don't deserve this. None of us do.