Welcome to Manchester United in 2022.
It was said after last week's defeat to Brighton that things couldn't get much worse for the club, but their first half performance against Brentford is one of the worst you will ever see in any top flight game.
Possessing a team that on paper should be far superior to their opponent's.
Yeah, not so much.
Their showing in the first half at the Community Stadium was nothing short of a disgrace. They were completely outplayed in every facet of the game, with the home side carrying a 4-0 advantage into the interval after a horror show from their opponents.
The first goal was a mistake from the goalkeeper, with David De Gea failing to stop a rather tame effort from Josh Dasilva.
"𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗘 𝗚𝗘𝗔!" 🙈
The #MUFC goalkeeper with a horror spill as Josh Dasilva's shot creeps through 😬 pic.twitter.com/Gqzo9XqF2c— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2022
READ HERE: Manchester United Players Reportedly Involved In Major Bust-Up Before Brentford Hammering
The second goal wasn't much better from the Spaniard.
He went short form the back to Christian Eriksen, despite the fact that pass clearly wasn't on. Possession was inevitably overturned, with Mathias Jensen finishing from close range.
BRENTFORD HAVE A SECOND! ⚡⚡
It's gone from bad to worse for Man Utd, another error at the back, another goal conceded. Jensen gets this one... 🐝 pic.twitter.com/ENgmAsnO0G— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2022
Brutal stuff.
For the third goal, they failed to deal with a fairly routine ball into the penalty area to allow Ben Mee to head home.
BEN MEE MAKES IT THREE! 🚨 🤯
Brentford "pile the misery" on Man Utd. 3-0, half an hour gone. pic.twitter.com/oSjoZgU3ux— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2022
Things would get even worse.
The fourth goal came off the back of an excellent Brentford counterattack, with Bryan Mbuemo finishing off the move.
⭕ "BRENTFORD ARE DEMOLISHING MAN UTD!" ⭕
Bryan Mbeumo adds a fourth, this is simply unbelievable! 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/wcIKWHqnY9— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2022
The first half performance was nothing short of disgraceful from Manchester United, completely sapping away any optimism that may have been remaining about the club's Erik ten Hag era.
Speaking on Sky Sports at halftime, both Jamie Redknapp and Karen Carney were scathing in their assessment of their showing up to that point.
I don't think I've ever seen a 45 minutes in the Premier League quite like this, a team like Manchester United with this performance. They've not got after them, they've not won any second balls. Brentford have been magnificent.
That a Massimo Taibi moment (from De Gea for first goal), it's such poor goalkeeping...
[Christian Eriksen] should not be marking Ivan Toney (for the third goal), should he? Someone has got to take responsibility...
I cannot believe what I'm watching from this Manchester United team. It's like they've got the Manchester United badge on but are just throwing them out there. They don't look like they are showing any responsibility or care.
I think the manager is making mistakes.
Christian Eriksen is not a defensive midfielder in any lifetime and he is playing him there today, he's got to accept that. Martinez is not strong enough as a central defender, he's getting bullied. That has just summed up Manchester United.
They are two decisions that the manager has made...
He could have taken every single one of them off (at halftime). You could have taken any of them off, they didn't show enough guts or character.
I can't imagine what the fans at home and the fans that have paid all that money to come here today are thinking watching that team.
Damning.
You would be tempted to say that things can only get better for Manchester United from here, but knowing that club in recent years, you couldn't have any confidence that that will actually be the case.
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