“Theatre of Dreams turned into the Theatre of Nothing”

And the fans thought that losing at home against rivals City 3-0 is the lowest point… An injury crippled Newcastle United, with a decade losing streak at Old Trafford was a perfect way for Erik ten Hag to redeem himself and his players in front of the packed stadium. Instead, they were down 2-0 after only 36 minutes from a team which fielded five full back and no striker and showed that they are in deeper crisis than expected. Now, for the first time, the word ‘sack’ has been mentioned, and the British media already found out that the Red Devils will have to pay 15 million pounds to Ten Hag if they want to get rid of him.

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

Former players have all been very critical of the club, coach and the players, and Gary Neville, who often has a ‘soft spot’ for them was harsh.

"Last night we saw the Theatre of Dreams turn into the Theatre of Nothing. Every single United fan bored and flat. On the pitch the players in shock, the performances woeful and a manager struggling in front of our eyes. We've seen it before, we know how it ends and we've had enough” said Neville.

Former United’s full back also used Newcastle as an example of how things have turned out to be.

“On my way up to the gantry last night I bumped into Dan Ashworth. He's competent, highly qualified and knows what he's doing. Will work with his coach, recruitment team and other departments coherently and calmly. In the last two matches Manchester United have played two clubs that have installed proper football departments to support the team on the pitch and off it. The complete opposite of United. We haven't got a sporting director! I used to travel up to Newcastle and feel sorry for their great fans when the energy and enthusiasm had been sapped from them under Mike Ashley. It was painful to see” admitted Neville.

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

Former Arsenal ace Paul Merson thinks that the worst thing happened – the coach has lost the dressing room.

“I don’t see how much further this goes on, I really don’t, I read in the paper it could cost 15 million pounds It just cost them 80 million in Sancho, they chased a kid for how long and he says one thing and is completely out and will probably be out on loan in January and they’ll probably be paying half his wages. This needs to get sorted out but personally I think it is toxic, I don’t take too much notice of behind the scenes, but it is toxic on the pitch and that is where it counts. At the moment they are all over the place and if it wasn’t for a last minute penalty save against Copenhagen, they would have drawn at home to Copenhagen. He is under serious pressure and they have to have a meeting and see what they are going to do. There are ways of losing football matches and, for me, he has lost the players. You do not started getting beaten the way they are getting beaten, there are ways of losing and this is not good in my opinion” said Merson.

As for the individual performances of the players, former Red Devils Andy Cole and Garry Neville had a lot to say about Anthony Martial. The forward has been in the club for nine years, and even thou he had problems with injuries, only scored 89 goals in his 310 appearances since 2015.

“It is a tough, one he has been here for nine years now and hasn’t done it, so there is little chance of him doing it now” said Cole for Sky Sports.

Gary Neville was much tougher.

“When you hear the stats there and think he is a goalscorer that cost 50/60 million pounds and has scored 89 goals in nine years and we still can’t get him out of the club. I don’t think we are being hard enough. The failing of the football and recruitment department is absolutely incredible” said former United back.

Cole also talked about Antony and his displays and admitted he would be very frustrated if he would have to play alongside him.

“He would drive me absolutely mad. He is an individual, we all know he is really left footed and will not go to the right hand side. So if you are a centre forward making a run to the near post, you know you will never get it. I look at things like that, he doesn’t score enough goals for me or create enough chances for his team-mates. You look at him and think what are you giving. They spent a hell of a lot of money on him and the manager has backed him. He has found it really tough” said Cole.