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Shameful greens: on the great humiliation of Manchester United against Brentford | Israel today

2022-08-14T04:45:49.156Z


The unflattering statistics that were broken • The low breaking point • The doubts about the brotherhood that suddenly arise and is there a glimmer of hope for the future? • Nadav Jacobi sums up another loss for Manchester United, who currently looks like one of the weakest teams in the Premier League


I doubt if there is a Manchester United fan who until last night (Saturday) knew the name John Chapman, who was the manager of the team in 1921. But after the incredible 4:0 defeat against Brentford in the second round of the Premier League, The name of that unknown Chapman was mentioned again and again.

For he was the last manager of Manchester United to start his team with two consecutive losses.

until yesterday

101 years after Chapman lost twice in a row against Middlesbrough, 5:3 and 2:0, it was the turn of Erik Ten Haag to enter history.

And unfortunately for the Dutch manager, no one will fall from the throne if in eight days (22.8, time 22:00) they count three consecutive losses - because in the next round United host Liverpool, who beat them last season 0:5 at Old Trafford and 0:4 at Anfield.

United fans only hope that the comparisons with the team from 101 years ago will end.

Because it finished the 1921/22 season in last place and was relegated to the second division.

At Old Trafford, they were sure that the arrival of Erik ten Haag, the man who built the great Ajax of the last few years, would improve both the ability and the results, after the nightmarish season the team had.

Erik ten Hag becomes the first Man United manager in over 100 years to lose their first two league games 😳 pic.twitter.com/Dz99IMq6Xm

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 13, 2022

So it's true, it's only two cycles and the season is still long.

But the losses were not against the greats of the Premier League, but against Brighton and Brentford.

And the fans are nervous about the meetings against Liverpool next week, against Manchester City (on October 2), Chelsea (on October 23) and even the improving Arsenal (on September 4).

What was amazing yesterday was the collapse.

United scored the first goal after 10 minutes and in the 35th minute the score was already 4:0.

When a team concedes four goals in 25 minutes, it is clear that it is about much more than individual or team mistakes.

It's a mental thing.

Maguire doesn't know what to do with himself, yesterday, photo: IPA

Ten Haah of course took responsibility for the difficult defeat and said: "We are in a difficult process. We were expecting a different start. Obviously we need new players, quality players. But the good players in the team must take responsibility, and that didn't happen."

The commentators in England are already asking whether the United management did not make a mistake when they appointed a coach who has never coached in a stronger league than the Dutch league.

Again, it's too early to draw conclusions after two games, but it's no longer possible to ignore this question.

The one who still took responsibility is goalkeeper David de Gea, whose first goal was his direct fault.

"I think I'm responsible for losing the 3 points today. If I had stopped that ball, the result would have been different," said the Spaniard.

It's really noble of De Gea to say those things, but no team should fall apart like that after conceding a goal, no matter how silly.

There is no doubt that United has professional problems, but also mental ones.

A low breaking point is nothing new at Manchester United.

Last season she scored 4 goals (or more) in no less than 6 games!

Brentford's players knew they were playing against an insecure team and knew how to embarrass them.

"We knew the high pressure would affect them," said Ivan Toney, who scored two of the goals.

Coach Thomas Frank added: "We saw what Brighton did against them and we knew this was the weapon we would use against them."

Starting XI costs for Man United vs Brentford 😳💰 pic.twitter.com/eNyfOx9wth

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) August 13, 2022

If you take into account the end of last season, United counts 4 consecutive league losses - and 7 consecutive away losses, something that has not happened to them since 1936, that is, before the Second World War!

So Ten Haah wants more reinforcement players, and there are two more weeks until the end of the transfer window.

But Frankie de Jong, the midfielder he cultivated at Ajax, does not want to join him and prefers Chelsea who play in the Champions League.

When Marko Arnautovic's name came up last week as a candidate to strengthen the attack, United fans were outraged.

For them, the Austrian striker is too small a name for their luxury club.

They just forgot that the big names in the team, players bought for huge sums, disappoint one after another.

The 11 players of the team that started against Brentford were purchased for 424 million pounds. What may perhaps give hope to the fans who suffer these are the memories from 30 years ago. United also started the 1992/3 season with two embarrassing consecutive losses, 2:1 against Sheffield United and -3:0 at home against Everton.

And how did that season end?

With a magnificent championship, with a gap of 10 points from second place - the first of the 13 championships in the Alex Ferguson era.

So there is, perhaps, reason to be optimistic.

were we wrong

We will fix it!

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Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2022-08-14

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