HAVE A LOOK at this picture and what are your first thoughts?
What would be your assumption if you did not know what preceded it?
That Rasmus Hojlund had just missed the decisive penalty in a shoot-out and was about to be consoled by a team-mate, in this case the distant Christian Eriksen?
The player himself has his shoulders hunched, looking downcast and in need of a hug.
Yet this was supposedly a moment of celebration.
What it is, in fact, is a still shot that sums up the current state of Manchester United – embarrassing.
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All players will look forward to that moment when their intervention proves the last and most crucial in a contest.
When all their team-mates charge towards them. No matter what has gone before you are the hero for that final decisive kick or save.
Remember Edwin van der Sar when he stopped Nicolas Anelka’s penalty in the 2008 Champions League final and a 100m sprint ensued in the teeming rain to reach him in joyous celebration?
Not on this occasion.
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Hojlund had slammed the ball home to complete a 4-2 FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out win after the game had finished 3-3.
United had surrendered a 3-0 lead and only the tip of a toenail had denied Championship side Coventry ultimate victory.
So while Hojlund ran to the United fans shouting and punching the air, his team-mates’ response was lukewarm.
It was like that cringeworthy moment at the same venue last season when Wout Weghorst, the bloke who won a raffle to play for United, ran the length of the pitch and slid in front of the Red Devils fans after a run-of-the-mill win over Newcastle.
Hojlund turned to see that nobody was coming, bar Eriksen with Antony trailing along.
Yes that big money Brazilian flop who had already added a distasteful footnote to the final act by goading the brave Coventry players in the moment of victory, cupping his ears to them.
Thankfully United had players of class like Harry Maguire who turned straight to those in Sky Blue to offer his hand.
So where does it all leave this hapless bunch and a club in reverse.
TEN HAG’S FUTURE?
That is the immediate question and for many United fans who had stuck behind him, this was the final straw.
The Dutchman had an admirable first season, finishing third and winning the Carabao Cup while reaching the FA Cup Final.
This was when they were supposed to push on and they have gone into reverse.
It is on his watch that United fans have witnessed a calamitous Champions League campaign.
Pundits verdict on Ten Hag’s future
Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future
Jamie Carragher – Sacked
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
“To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
Louis Saha – On the fence
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Alan Shearer – Sacked
“I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”
A title bid has turned into a scramble to get in the UEFA conference.
Increasingly his words and excuses seem desperate.
His declaration that Sunday was a great achievement as they reached a second successive FA Cup Final just added to the feeling of embarrassment.
His days are numbered, the clock is ticking.
ARE INJURIES A VALID EXCUSE?
Every team seems to be struggling and a stronger look behind the scenes as to why so many are in the treatment room at United might help.
As it was, only the lack of a recognised central defender to partner Maguire on Sunday should have been seen as a weakness in this line-up.
This was a good enough team to get 3-0 up, so it should have been good enough to see the job out with ease.
Injuries are not the reason this team capitulates so often.
They don’t have the ability to concentrate for 90 minutes.
Whatever the manager is saying, they are not listening.
FANS TURNING ON PLAYERS
This is not a regular thing at United, but it is starting to creep in more and more.
It may not have been heard on TV, but when Marcus Rashford was subbed off in the 89th minute, he was booed by many United fans.
They have grown sick of his lacklustre performances with no end product.
If United get a bid, they need to take it.
He is not alone with Antony another who the faithful have long since lost patience with.
If he thinks cupping his ears to the Coventry players in celebration will have endeared himself to those who filled one end of the ground then he can think again.
He might just find out how far it went when his name is read out on Wednesday night for the visit of Sheffield United to Old Trafford.
RECRUITMENT
Erik ten Hag has been backed to the tune of £400million and what is the result?
Antony at £85million tops the list of the most expensive flops in United’s history, surely he is not Brazilian.
Pundit and former Aston Villa star Gabriel Agbonlahor, used the words “shamelss” and “prat” to describe him on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes should be embarrassed by this… United fans were, says Neil Custis
By Neil Custis
BRUNO FERNANDES ended the FA Cup semi-final a man bemused as to what he had been a part of.
No doubt knowing it would be he would have to try and explain it all again.
Rarely have a team slunk away from this stadium with a feeling of embarrassment having just reach an FA Cup Final.
The next time Fernandes turns up at the home of football he wants to be heading up those metal steps and picking up silverware.
Nothing less will do for the captain of Manchester United.
But he knows they have not got a hope of gaining revenge on this cross town rivals Manchester City if this is what they are going to deliver.
This was an embarrassment, plain and simple, for Ten Hag, for Fernandes, for every player in red.
After the skipper finished his TV interview he turned around to the end that had housed the United fans to clap them in thanks.
There was barely anyone left.
Read Neil Custis’ opinion in full here.
Or click here to read all of Neil’s article.
Look elsewhere and what has goalkeeper Andre Onana brought that David De Gea didn’t have. He has been a downgrade if anything.
Hojlund? Unless you had been watching closely you could have been forgiven for wondering If his penalty kick was indeed his first touch on Sunday.
Casemiro was described by pundit and former Arsenal player Lee Dixon yesterday as looking like someone who was toeing a caravan.
As for Mason Mount? Why did they buy him again?
WHAT IS UNITED’S STYLE UNDER TEN HAG?
It is a question that has been asked from the start and met with curious answers.
When you bring a man in from Ajax you expect the beautiful game to follow.
Yet Ten Hag claims he can’t play it because he hasn’t got the right men.
So why didn’t he buy the right ones?
United’s style is based on “rope-a-dope” as they take punishment with shot after shot heading their way before hoping for joy on the break.
Victories come by chance, or through a piece of individual brilliance. There is no plan.
DOES THE FUTURE LOOK BRIGHT?
Not right now it doesn’t.
But there is undoubted young talent in this squad in the form of Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and most notably Alejandro Garnacho. Hojlund… we remain to be convinced.
On Garnacho, what on earth is Ten Hag doing constantly subbing a 19-year-old when the teenager’s speed and trickery can unlock a door when everyone else is tiring and he isn’t?
Man Utd are LUCKY to be seventh in the table… one particular stat is terrible, say Dave Kidd
By Dave Kidd
THE frightening thing about Manchester United’s season is that they should really be LOWER than seventh in the Premier League.
Even during their current run of one win in seven league matches, United’s results have been better than their performances.
Erik ten Hag’s team deserved to lose each of their last three drawn games against Brentford, Liverpool and Bournemouth.
On goal difference, United are ninth in the league, while only seven teams have scored fewer than their 47 goals.
And if we give any credence to ‘expected points’, then that stat would have them 15th in the table.
If Ten Hag’s men lose Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final to Championship side Coventry, it should not come as a major surprise.
Click here to read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
To read more from Dave Kidd, click here.
He is someone who can take the ball upfield and relieve the pressure on his defence if the tide is turning.
Subbed in the 86th minute at Chelsea with United 3-2 up and they lose 4-3.
Subbed in the 80th minute at home to Liverpool with United 2-1 up and they draw 2-2.
Subbed in the 66th minute at Wembley against Coventry, for the hapless Antony, with United 3-0 up and they draw 3-3 before penalties.
IS SIR JIM RATCLIFFE THE SAVIOUR?
Well, the new part owner put the idea of a swift change in fortunes under his watch to bed after finishing the London marathon ahead of this semi-final marathon.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “The fans are impatient. It’s a journey, they have to be patient. It’s not a light switch. We will turn it around.”
Patience has long since run out.
As for complaining about Newcastle putting incoming CEO Dan Ashworth on gardening leave, well, sorry the Magpies didn’t bow down to your every whim, and why should they?
There was a moment during yesterday’s game as United imploded when Ratcliffe turned round to new technical director Jason Wilcox sat alongside former chief executive David Gill.
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You can only guess what he might have been saying but a speech bubble with the words “what on earth is going on, this is embarrassing” might have been one version.
Embarrassing it was, just have another look at that picture for proof.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
