Heavy criticism rained down mercilessly on Manchester United from former players after they woefully crashed to a chastening 4-0 defeat by Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, this being their second loss in as many league games under new boss Erik ten Hag. On top of that, this was the first time the Red Devils had lost to the Bees in 84 years.
The result left United spread-eagled at the bottom of the table as Dutchman Ten Hag became the first manager since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his opening two games in charge of the club.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton was unequivocal in commenting that United had “hit rock bottom” while his former legendary strike partner Alan Shearer attributed the debacle to years of mismanagement and lack of leadership at Old Trafford.
“It is an absolute mess. Years of failure… there is a lack of leadership and the recruitment has been terrible,” Shearer said on BBC’s Match of the Day.
“It will take time and an unbelievable amount of money to get things right, and a lot of patience from the Manchester United fans. They are miles away from where there want to be.”
Brentford scored four goals within 35 minutes in the first half against a totally sloppy United side, who have now lost seven straight games on the road stretching back to last season.
Former United defender Gary Neville, who has all this while been critical of the owners, the Glazer family, said we are all witnessing the “annihilation of the club”.
“I thought United would do better but they have been mauled, bullied, messed about with like you wouldn’t believe, and there’s nowhere to hide,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I have been watching United for 42 years and I can’t think of a moment when I have thought things have been as bad as that in the first half.”
The Sunday Times splashed the headline “Rock bottom” while The Sun described it as “Ten Green Bottle Jobs”, referring to the color of the new third kit that United were sporting.
United finished sixth last season to miss out on the Champions League and will host Liverpool next Monday. An encounter that will no doubt be much dreaded by the Red Devils and their supporters.