MANCHESTER UNITED PLUMMETED to new depths after a 4-0 capitulation at Brentford sent Erik ten Hag’s side into full-blown crisis mode after just two games of the season.
Through a mixture of catastrophic defensive ineptitude and Brentford opportunism, the Red Devils found themselves four down at half-time.
Goalkeeper David De Gea gifted the first two to Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee helped himself to a third and Bryan Mbeumo hit a slick fourth on a chastening afternoon for the visitors.
New boss Ten Hag had insisted beforehand that he was not panicking despite United’s lack of new signings.
But the Dutchman will surely be scrambling for the button marked ‘P’ after this debacle.
Make no mistake, Brentford are a decent team. Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all struggled to contain them at the Gtech Community Stadium last season.
But this was a humbling, embarrassing defeat almost entirely of United’s own making.
Ten Hag had turned to Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the attack, having started the wantaway Portugal star on the bench for last weekend’s defeat by Brighton.
But the problems are all at the other end, as United imploded after only 10 minutes thanks to the first mistake from De Gea.
The Spaniard allowed Dasilva’s weak long-range shot to squirm through his hands and roll into the net.
De Gea was at fault again eight minutes later, selling Christian Eriksen short as United attempted to play out from the back.
Jensen was alive to the unravelling situation in the United defence and nipped in to rob Eriksen and double the lead.
It was a sweet moment for the Bees fans, with Eriksen having spent the second half of last season with Brentford following his recovery from a cardiac arrest, only to opt for bigger and better things at United.
It certainly does not look like panning out that way for the Denmark international just yet.
With the temperature touching 35C in west London, the drinks break gave Ten Hag the chance to try to sort out the mess unfolding in front of him, while Bees boss Thomas Frank whipped out a tactics board.
Neither should have bothered, as United continued to shoot themselves in the foot and Brentford took full advantage.
On the half hour Mee, the summer signing from Burnley, bundled in a header at the far post after United failed to deal with a corner.
Five minutes later Ivan Toney was given the freedom of the pitch to race forward and tee up strike partner Mbeumo, who beat Luke Shaw before firing home.
With the heat undoubtedly a factor, United got some respite in the second half and Eriksen even managed a couple of attempts on goal, a header held by keeper David Raya and a volley skewed wide, both to loud cheers from the partying Brentford fans as United’s began filtering away.
Ten Hag could maybe take some consolation from the fact that the last United manager to lose his first away game in charge was Sir Alex Ferguson, a 2-0 defeat at Oxford, and he went on to do pretty well.
But even those dark days of the 1980s did not look as grim as things do for this current United side.
Christmas has just come way too early… rolling all over the floor laughing at this result(s). Put the club into liquidation – be done with it.
@David A Roberts: bit like Liverpool waiting 30 years for a breakthrough
@Eugene McDonough: Even in their worst days, Liverpool weren’t this deplorable
@Gregson from the Block: they were fairly bad I mean it took them 30 years to win premiership
@Gregson from the Block: they were fairly bad I mean it took them 30 years to win premiership
@Eugene McDonough: irrelevant reply to be fair
@David A Roberts: No laughing Faces,what a pity…and now they are talking about bringing back the poison that’s responsible for this muck…christ all the money and they can’t spot the absolute obvious…oh sorry forgot we’re dealing with yanks here….
@Gregson from the Block: Gerard last game against Stoke. They were!!
@Eugene McDonough: Yes but from 94 onwards were rarely outside top 6. Our worst period was Woy.
@Gregson from the Block: Dunno about that, things were fairly bleak under Gillett and Hicks. Had won a Champions league a few years before tho. “Roy” was the lowest low for Liverpool but it was sorted pretty quickly when FSG came in.
@Eugene McDonough: living in the past I see… when’s the last time ye won the premieship…hmmmmm? When’s the last time ye won anything?!
@Eugene McDonough: again..
The past lad…and while we’re on the past…seem to remember a 26 year period ye didn’t win the league and if I’m not mistaken ye got relegated…wasnt it Denis Law’s goal for MAN CITY that played a big part in that…Anyway I digress…
Take a look at the table…Ye’re are BOTTOM Of the league…. Liverpool never sunk so low as your lot…remind me…last season..
Was it 9 goals in 2 games…no goals scored for ye.5-0 at the theatre of nightmares…Yes…good times indeed .. Ye’re absolute garbage!
@Damien Leen: you prove your ignorance with every comment. Denis laws goal had no bearing on united going down.
@Damien Leen: ah damien lad you are making a t00l of yourself. Have you forgotten 2012/13 season? “Liverpool never sunk so low as your lot”
2 points from first 5 games of I remember rightly.
We are 2 games into the season lad. Let that sink in.
Yes UTD are shambolic at the moment but get your facts right instead of making yourself look like a child in a playground.
Comment section should be locked on this article
@Kieran O’Riordan: As a United fan this feels like a murder trial. We were slaughtered…. Again!
@Kieran O’Riordan: Man U fans are probably locked after watching that match. In fairness, though, it’s kinda shit watching what was, for two decades, a world-class club now sinking to these unfathomable depths. It’s not good for the game all in all; the Premier League needs them; the other big clubs need them – and want to beat them again, but not this team, though. Such a shame, but they will come back eventually, because they’re way too big to be this small.
@Buzz Killington: They dominated the PL for 20 years with the greatest manager of all time. I’m sure they can take a bit more punishment
Oh ffs. I absolutely love this man utd team. They are hilarious. Thomas Frank totally done Ten Haag tactically aswell. Frank knew exactly how to trouble united, Ten haag was like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Hail hail the glazers, moyes, van gall, solskjear, pogba etc and all who have made huge contributions to get Manchester United to this level. From a Liverpool fan and all opposition fans we thank ye greatly.
@James horgan: next game is against Liverpool we’ll see how good Liverpool are then and how smart you are on the journal then
@Eugene McDonough: we don’t need to b good to beat that team
@James horgan: Who knows James maybe even a LOI team could beat United on current form
@James horgan: you really believe Liverpool are not hated by all the other teams fans as well? lol. typical delusional narcissistic Liverpool fan. You even think you can speak for fans of all other clubs. Hail oh mighty one!
@James horgan: your correct in all you say there mate. Been a United fan for 40+ years. It’s an all time low in fairness. I suppose on the law of averages they may rebound in 4-5 years but I wouldn’t bet on it. Can’t blame new manager either. Players are the problem
@Eugene McDonough: u have to be the du mbest MF alive…or have the biggest set of metal balls in the world…either way I salute you…brave brave words l?
@Alan Clarke: eh what…teams are hated…rain falls from the sky and Utd are $hite! TTFN!
@Eugene Hubbard: Board and players
@Eugene Hubbard: sorry kid, meant to reply to Alan Clarke…you’re comment was fair and balanced
@James horgan: waffle
@Eugene McDonough: I’d say liverpool are shaking. They have to play this man utd team next week. They must be bricking it. Not like they walloped without of getting out of 2nd gear last season. Ffs Eugene
@Gerard Browne: Ha ha ha ha. True that Gerard. The rebel army maybe.
Relegation candidates for sure
@Tom kenny: put money on it?
425m that starting 11 cost…..wow
@Dave Ryan: 55m on the Brentford side…but still a much better team.
@Dave Ryan: hard to argue that the owners are not backing the managers and investing when you see that stat.
Consistent start anyway!
Easy to go in on players who are just not good enough but this is 2 games now that Ten Hag has made huge mistakes in selection. Playing Martinez as centre back today was criminal. Special mention for Sancho who is arguably bang for buck our worst ever signing.
@Ray Taff: Harry maguire is yer worst ever signing with Paul pogba running him close. 170 for those two wasters
@James horgan: €170 is too much for those wasters or the rest of the team included.
@Ray Taff: How can Ten Hag be to blame when he has barely got enough time to learn these players surnames! Club needs gutting from top to bottom, how you could trust any of those players next week is beyond me, yet it’s Liverpool so the pressure is on regardless of whether you play or drop them. Drop as many of that team as possible in favour of a few of the young lads who impressed in pre season, who would actually care about playing for United rather than those who couldn’t even be arsed to go over to the travelling fans after the game. Give James Garner a run, Charlie Savage, Iqbal. How could it get any lower! Ten Hag can’t be fooled into thinking that these players will play for him when they couldn’t for the big name managers that have gone before. Rant over!
@Stephen Lyons: Playing Martinez against a team like Brentford when 6ft 4 Varane is on the bench is beyond lunacy. 3rd goal was schoolboy stuff and all down to the lack of physique of Martinez. I made my mind up on him last week when on his debut at 2-0 down he took out the Brighton forward from behind who was going g nowhere. Stonewall peno. Looks like a Daley Blind with a tan.
@Ray Taff: Yeah fair enough but you never know what’s going on in the background. For all we know Varane could have a niggle and probably can’t commit to starting when Ten Hag asks the question, but might have enough to come off the bench. Varane is not a permanent solution with his injury record anyway and hasn’t had a sustained period in the team. I do get what you’re saying but still it can’t be down to any of Ten Hag’s decisions in my mind.
@Ray Taff: I think the players are just not good enough, they have forgotten that hard work comes first. Rashford, Fernandez were absolutely appalling today. Shaw is finished, Fred was never good enough. And to round it off the manager played Erriksen in a defensive midfield role, I mean wtf.
@Stephen Lyons: do we put our same team that beat Liverpool 4-0 in pre season I say go for it
@Stephen Lyons: Things need to get worse before they get better. Some big names have to go and the owners need to back the manager. At the moment, no Top Tier player will go to them so it will take time to build back up to that. No CL this year and almost certainly no CL next year either… it will take a few years
@Stephen Lyons: in every sport if you’re not fit to start you’re not fit to play
@Eugene McDonough: ha ha ha. Champions of pre season. Go for it. See what happens. Liverpool won’t play 3 different teams next week like pre season. What was it, changed all the outfield players every half hour. Only allowed make 5 subs in the Premier league so I’d say united are goosed
@Eugene McDonough: did you get 3 points for the win because at this rate that’s as close as Utd look likely to come.
First and last outing for the green kit..will be banished like the grey one from years ago against Southampton! They say they couldn’t see each other against the grass.
@Barry Evans: More like from smoking the grass by the looks of it. Rolling on my floor,laughing right now
@Larry Betts: You’re on a roll this evening!
@Sean Murnin: “Pass the dutchman on the left hand side,
pass the dutchie on the left hand side”
Man Utd squad £424 million Brentford squad £55 million. Such a laugh
This is what happens when you are dog muck last season and let 10 players go and sign 3 with a net spend of 50 million. Well done Glazer family.
@Brian Dunne: They maybe glazers but they don’t understand transfer windows
@Larry Betts: ha! Indeed Mr Betts!
@Larry Betts: Comment of the day!
@Larry Betts: beat comment yet.
@Larry Betts: more like donuts.
delighted for them.. superleeds.
They really have gone to peices
To be honest. I thought looking at the odds of Brentford. I thought they are a decent bet. No not promoting gambling. But i said to the man behind the counter i fancied Brentford because of the way they played. Man utd are a mess. Not because of the management but the owners. People who are interested in their pockets not the club. It proves a small club can be as good because of passion and dedication to the fans. So fair play Brentford. Look forward to seeing the highlights later
@Simon Dwyer: Ronaldo will be looking at the highlights too. To check how his hair colouring looked on live tv.
@Larry Betts: I bet they be put in a locked room and watch the game in whole.
@Simon Dwyer: Can’t see that happening. Club would be sanctioned for subjecting players to torture. Human Rights Act has that clause in it,never yet implemented but in the rulebook nonetheless
@Larry Betts: true. What about watching the Liverpool 6-2 home defeat in the pouring rain. At least the room won’t have a locked door
Always a good Utd match when Neville goes on one of his 10 minute rants
United owe mourinho an apology
Should of backed him
@Shane Lad: could have a point there…..there was a serious job to be done and it had to get ugly first
United fans everywhere searching the internet for new sports to get into and follow
@Shane Lad: it’s shows the mentality of you so if you think that.. Iv seen the bad and the very best too. You stick by your team NO matter what!
@Shane Lad: Nope… You wish! Supporters stick by there team even when they are abjectly sh!t like today!
@Shane Lad: Nah I’ve just been enjoying the Premier League Years on Sky Sport.
Gonna be 3 weeks before we start going downhill there.
@Pauly Kel: feathers ruffled. Poor you!
Great to see wonder boy Ronaldo left on his ass in the build up to the first goal. Utd are pathetic and it’s great to see. Fantastic by Brentford
Is big sam available?(just missed out on davy fitz too).
MUTD the gift that just keeps giving.
2 disgraceful performances for us so far. Every team is strengthening and even with what we have already, we’ve been awful. If we fix that midfield then maybe we’ll see a big improvement. We also need a new #1 GK. I love DDG but he just doesn’t have the distribution.
@Wooden Spoon: all true,ten hag should try the young lads,savage and Zidane won’t be much worse that what’s there,hopefully ten hag can turn it around in next few games.
@Joe Gorham: fairplay from a city fan you are one the opposition lads here that does talk sense about utd at times instead of been bias like a few I couldn’t bother mention. From a honest opinion and a supporter since 86 utd are in dire straits on and off the feild it’s sickening to see a terrible decline of such a great club. Utd are sinking and unless developments are made from above(cutting the head off the snake) things will only get worse.. Its absolutely shocking to see what’s happening to this great historical club.
@Pauly Kel: If they’re in dire straits they need to get rid of The Sulk on the Wing
@Joe Gorham: Those lads need a bit more time to develop but like you said it can’t be much worse. I’d love to see Garnacho get some real minutes as he’s a real gem. The only consolation I can think of is the rocky starts of Klopp and Pep but the difference was that they were backed by the board. If we can finally get a proper DM, striker and a CM then it should in theory be the difference between night and day. Not looking forward to our next fixture though.
@Larry Betts: yeah sure that will sort out the glazers won’t it.. Good man keep up….
@Pauly Kel: fair comment. The mismanagement of the club is obvious but the greed and hubris of making it a plc is the start of its decline. Eamonn dunphy called it years ago and how prescient he was.
@Terry O Sullivan: ya know what I alway remember him predicting that and always thought it was nonsense at the time, but fairplay he was bang on..
@Pauly Kel: Name of Dire Straits biggest hit?
@Wooden Spoon: DDG saved the team in half the matches last year, suddenly he’s the fall guy!!!! One of the best keepers in the world!!!! Any manager at any level should know that if a team isn’t working the first place to start is to make the defence solid. None of the six or seven current backs and centre halves would hold a candle to the likes of Irwin, Ferdinand, Vidic, Nevilles, Bruce etc etc…. And as for central defence partnerships!!!!!!! Non existent since Fergie went. Bruce and Pallister were good individuals, not great, as Eamo used to say, but as a partnership…among the best. And passion????? Gary Neville or Keano on their own would have more than the entire 1st team. Sadly its going to take a long time to sort this mess.
@Pauly Kel: I’m a United fan Paul,but might put the jerseys in wash with a blue loo if this form continues lol.
@Joe Gorham: apologies Joe ha
@Larry Betts: Money for nothing?? That’s been United’s biggest problem the last few seasons
@Pauly Kel: it’s glorious how salty u are and don’t even reakise it…Bless!
United are now officially toxic. It’s an act of self sabotage to join them now for both players and managers alike.
Ten Hag isn’t blameless either, only going after players he’s worked with before and tactical naivety putting a small centre back up against big physical forwards. This result may be unrecoverable for him.
Bloated, antiquated and living off their ever more distant past glories. Man United in their current iteration are not sustainable. Next fixture – Liverpool.
@Eric Chubb: oops duplicate
Not all bad if ye turn the league table up side down!
Is it only now people realise its a full-blown crisis. Club in crisis for years. Isn’t it great.
Martinez at £55 million looks a snip???
Saying “I feel sorry for Utd fans” is so 2014
Pauly, hello. Viva Ronaldo etc , you know the drill at this stage.
@Darren Fitzpatrick:don’t worry I’m here lad as much as you are on utd articles… Yeah Ronaldo is the fault alright that de gea had a mare..
@Pauly Kel: I didn’t see it at all tbf but Ronnie obviously played out of his skin too did he? If he scores and you beat us next well I’ll delete my 42 app lol
@Darren Fitzpatrick: basic rule of thumb is that when the team are 4 down at half time its not really the strikers fault. But hey Ronaldo bla bla bla.
@Pauly Kel: remember you told me bruno was world class lol
@Brian Dunne: my point is that his signing destabilised your progress at the time and they changed style to accommodate him. And that’s been proved.
@Darren Fitzpatrick: I did indeed Darren and I will admit he’s gone to pot since utd renewed he’s contract. He’s stats had been absolutely world class before that.. Bruno or Ronaldo wasn’t in goals tonight but then again you said you weren’t watching.. For once…
@Pauly Kel: it’s better to watch football than read stats
@Pauly Kel: Defence starts from the front.
@Darren Fitzpatrick: I love the way you come across as a expert while your own team has won 1 lge in 32 years ffs get a grip man.
@Pauly Kel: Pauly, you seem to forget that United went 26 years without a title. That 32 figure is arbitrary, it can be flipped to 7 titles in the last 40 years 1983 to 2022. Ten years Pauly, tick tock.
@Pauly Kel: I’m no expert mate. Just like the verbal sparring with the football. And I also very aware these things go in cycles and Liverpool will be in the Doldrums before my life is over again.. so I’m
Getting the jabs in while I can
@Denis Ryan: you must have a abacus with you.
@Pauly Kel: when the last time ur mob win the lge eh when’s the last time ur mob won anything? Whist now, there’s a good lad!
@Pauly Kel: yea because football only started 32 years ago, if I remember before Utd won their first premiership title there was almost as many years since they won their last title at the top level . For the majority of Utd fans football only began with the inception of the premiership. Its called history, every club has it.
In my day the majority of united fans were Leeds United fans till things went bad for Leeds. I’d say they wished they stayed loyal to Leeds United.
Giggs and utd to go down …paddy power giving good odds
No, the problems aren’t all at the other end. They haven’t scored in either of the first two matches.
United are now officially toxic. It’s an act of self sabotage to join them now for both players and managers alike. What’s amazing is that David De Gea manned up and faced the post match interview while “captain” Harry Maguire hid in the dressing room. Shows that the only character in the team is the goalkeeper.
Ten Hag isn’t blameless either, only going after players he’s worked with before and tactical naivety putting a small centre back up against big physical forwards. This result may be unrecoverable for him. He could either walk or be sacked.
Bloated, antiquated and living off their ever more distant past glories. Man United in their current iteration are not sustainable. Next fixture – Liverpool.
The Perch! Ha Ha. It’s only a distant memory now.
@Emmet Corrigan: not really. It was 18 7 to liverpool when fergie took over. Its 20 19 to united now.
@Emmet Corrigan: do your research good man.
@Brian Dunne: 6-3 in the top competition, Bob Paisley won as many European cups in his nine years in charge than United in their whole history.
@Denis Ryan: still tho, 18 7 to 19 20 .
@Brian Dunne: And your point being? In 1965 we both had 6 each. Based on the display today it will be years before ye win again. Who do you reckon will hit 21 first based on current form and squad. The game has moved on, fergie’s record points was 92. Now that wins you nothing.
@Denis Ryan: 19 20 lad.
@Brian Dunne: living in the past, where did I hear that from before ;)
@Denis Ryan: i grew up watching the pool win the league every year. I got almighty stick for years and years. I never ever imagined united would overtake liverpool. Not in a million years. Your bloody sure im going to milk it for however longer it lasts!
@Brian Dunne: Now that I can respect, 1991 to 2020 was no picnic for me. Liverpool since 1984.
A lifelong United fan and will be till the day I die but god dammit I need a break from this club, it’s an abusive relationship
@Jake Kelly: agreed. Once someone who cares about the club takes it over, a proper rebuild can be attempted. Current owners are not fit to run the club
Was a bit upset after Leeds threw away a 2-0 advantage, then i saw utd… Christmas came early.. MOT
The buck stops with the manager. Always has and always will. That squad of players is still good enough to finish top four. When you see body language like that of the United players today you know there’s a serious lack of leadership and direction there. Can you imagine top class managers like Pep and Klopp ever presiding over a sh—-ow like that.
@Mark Reville: mark he’s had 2 games. Two. Give him at least until the end of august eh?
@Mark Reville: I think your a bit deluded, United have been on the decline for years and it’s as a result of poor purchasing and what looks like very bad coaching. They are way off the pace and honestly are looking at mid table with this current squad.
They will throw a load of money at them now and if Haag can buy the right players they have a chance at top 6 but with this current side they are very mediocre and no team in the league will be afraid to play them.
@Brian Dunne:I second that…perhaps 5 more yearsool
What was the atmosphere like among you United supporters at the game?
Love it!!!!!
The gift that keeps on giving .luv it
Some good signings in fairness
Sack them all with immediate effect
Play the entire under 23 side next week and dock the wages of the main squad
Bloody ridiculous and embarrassing
Ten Weeks.
Said it before the season started and will say it again. They need to put the entire squad up for sale. Only Fernandes is the required quality of a United player, and maybe a fit Ericsson. There isn’t another player in that squad who would make any of the top 5 teams in the premiership.
Who’d a thought the bingo bus driver was a clever little chap after all
I’d be pretty certain that Klopp, Guardiola or Conte would not put Fernandez in any of their teams, he might be technically good but his work rate and attitude is awful
Waffllers are out early.
Best thing that could have happened for Utd. For fans players and management. 1 all draw would have been a disaster.