Ten Hag says he's a fighter. Too bad his players aren't

Every match is a chance to improve on your previous displays and fix any problems that have been spotted. But for Manchester United, it seems they get worse every day! Two heavy home defeats in a matter of days put the spotlight firmly on the underperforming players, the coach - and just about everything that's wrong at Old Trafford.

On Sunday, they lost 3-0 to Manchester City, which was expected because City is a powerful team. Then, they played against Newcastle, a team with many inexperienced players fielded out of their preferred positions, and still lost 3-0. Again! Newcastle were much better for most of the game.

Newcastle humiliate Manchester 3-0 with five full backs and no striker!

The first question that comes to mind after a nightmare week and a disastrous start to the season is whether Erik Ten Hag will be the manager for much longer. Of course - it was the first question he got after the final whistle.

"I'm a fighter, and I know it's not always going up and we have a lot of setbacks this season so far, but you also have to deal with it, and it's never an excuse. We have to do things right, at a certain level. I understand the scrutiny. When the results are not there, then there is a logical process questioning that. I am confident I can do it. I have done it at all my clubs, and also last year, I did it here as well. But at this moment, we are also in a bad place. I take responsibility for it. I see it as a challenge. I'm a fighter, I am in the fight, and I have to make sure I share the responsibility with the players that we stick together, fight together and get better results."

The issue is not just about the players or the tactics; it's about a lack of enthusiasm and responsibility throughout the team. There were moments in the game that showed how bad things were. Hannibal Mejbri almost got sent off for making silly fouls, and several others argued with the referee, allowed nerves to overwhelm them and the home fans at Old Trafford - and allowed the Magpies to tear them apart while exposing all their shortcomings.

Ten Hag has done well in the past, but this season, things are falling apart. The team is going in the wrong direction very quickly. If things don't change soon, he might not keep his job - even if he says he's a fighter. The former Ajax head coach has looked like a lost man on Wednesday night. The camera often cut to the Dutchman's face as Newcastle humiliated his team. One of the reasons the Red Devils are so poor this year is that Ten Hag's preferred recruits haven't been performing well. The first name that comes to mind is Antony, the oh-so-expensive Brazilian winger. After the match, the Dutchman tried to defend the troubled star.

"That is also team, first, and the team is not playing well when we don't bring him the balls, and I am also responsible for that. But obviously, there was also a lot of noise, and that dropped his levels. Antony can do better, but all the players can do better. Antony is also a fighter. He has the confidence, he is brave, and I am confident he will bring the performance that he is the right player for us."

Manchester United's fans have been through a lot, with the club facing ownership issues and a team not performing well. Still, the fans keep supporting their team, which is impressive. However, Manchester United as a club and as a team, seem to be taking their supporters for granted. Compare them to what the other top clubs are doing to make their fans happy, and it becomes clear that a run of poor results is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

On the other hand, Newcastle played remarkably well. They were missing some key players, but they played with a lot of energy and freedom. They scored two goals in the first half and another in the second half. Eddie Howe and his players got their revenge after Manchester United had beaten them in last season's final of the same competition. The black-and-whites looked like a well-organised unit, a team in the real sense of the word - which makes Ten Hag's gang seem even more deplorable by comparison.

We're just in the beginning of November, but it seems like Manchester United's season is done - at least in terms of trophies. They had a slim chance of winning the Carabao Cup, but it was never going to be the key to their season. Their chances of finishing in the top four in the Premier League are looking very slim, and they've already faced two defeats in the Champions League group stage, making it tough to qualify.

Even winning the FA Cup seems like a distant dream, and even if they did, history has shown that it's not always enough to rescue a season or a manager's job, as Louis van Gaal's case demonstrates. After two 3-0 home losses in just four days, the knives are being sharpened in the red half of Manchester.