Manchester United’s defeat by Newcastle was in many ways worse than some of the hidings they’ve taken this season.
It wasn’t only the implications for the top-four race, with Erik ten Hag‘s men dropping out of the Champions League places following Tottenham’s point at Everton on Monday night.
There was a complete lack of desire in United’s performance at St James’ Park as Newcastle out-fought them in every department to claim a small measure of revenge for the Carabao Cup final.
For all the visible strides forward taken under Ten Hag, the brutal reality is that they are currently only three points better off than they were at the same stage of last season – a campaign regarded as their worst in the Premier League era.
It wasn’t surprising to hear Luke Shaw ripping into his team-mates for an ‘unacceptable’ lack of ‘passion, hunger, desire, attitude and motivation’ afterwards and the players held a dressing room inquest even before Ten Hag could have his say.
Erik ten Hag has some big decision to make this summer to keep Man United moving forwards
United suffered another chastening afternoon as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle
The Newcastle defeat and Tottenham’s draw on Monday saw United drop out of the top four
If they’d matched such sharp words after the event with a passionate performance during it, the post-mortem might not have been necessary.
It was also unsurprising to hear reports on Monday that Ten Hag is planning a ‘ruthless’ summer clear-out of his squad.
The likes of Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial are apparently among a clutch of players set to be put on the transfer list, while the manager has reportedly ‘become increasingly impatient’ with Jadon Sancho.
The England international came off the bench on Tyneside but made little impact as his struggles this season continue.
It’s glaringly obvious that Ten Hag’s squad is being stretched to the limit by what could be a 60-match season and United lack quality in a number of positions, especially at centre forward.
That will be addressed when the summer transfer window opens, but who should make way from the current squad?
Jadon Sancho
It’s been a season of struggle for Sancho, who spent time away from United because Ten Hag had concerns for his physical and mental wellbeing before being reintegrated.
We still haven’t seen the best of the £73million winger in United colours but it would be harsh in the extreme to cut losses on him this summer.
Ten Hag remains…