Players not up to it, poor recruitment, fans fighting and even Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United’s new era may take a while to begin

A startled-looking Erik ten Hag stated he has a ‘hell of a job’ at Manchester United when actuality set in after a gap day loss to Brighton.

A promising pre-season for the Dutchman raised hopes {that a} new period was dawning, however all it took was two simple goals from Pascal Gross to point out little has modified.

Ten Hag gave the impression to be a reset button of types for a membership wandering within the wilderness since Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2013 departure, providing an identification, imaginative and prescient and perception that understandably introduced some comparisons to rivals managers Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

However simply 39 minutes into the brand new season, hopes of a fast transformation have immediately come crashing down, with Ten Hag now effectively conscious of what’s forward.

“It’s a hell of a job,” he stated post-match. “Now we have to work actually onerous, analyse after which transfer ahead,” he stated. “At this time was a very good begin after which after that we dropped down a stage in perception and we made errors that the opponent punished.

“I knew it may occur however I feel we should always have achieved higher – that’s clear, however I do know additionally it won’t come in a single day.”

Ten Hag will undoubtedly get time, however as talkSPORT’s new host Graeme Souness defined, that isn’t at all times a optimistic factor.

“The supervisor had a very good profession at Ajax however managing Ajax and managing Man U are worlds aside,” the previous Liverpool captain stated.

“Ajax have at all times been a high workforce in Holland, at all times shall be, in the event that they don’t win they end second, coming to Man United at a really tough interval of their historical past, the phrase endurance, give him time, however whenever you’re a supervisor time isn’t your buddy, you’re seeking to make a direct influence.”

Souness additionally criticised the membership’s switch coverage and cited high gamers losing their undoubted expertise.

“In United’s case, they’ve probably not recruited any recreation changers,” he added.

“When you’re speaking about ‘we’re going to miss [Anthony] Martial’, what number of alternatives is that younger man going to get to be a Manchester United participant?

“He’s confirmed already to me he’s not for Man United. He can’t take care of the stress of enjoying at Man United.”

A 4-0 pre-season demolition of rivals Liverpool was encouraging, however Ten Hag has had little to work with outdoors of his personal coaching strategies, only landing three players in the summer within the form of Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez.

Rivals for the Champions League have seen way more substantial incomings, and talkSPORT’s Alex Criminal thinks United’s new supervisor has already been let down.

He stated: “The one membership that hasn’t actually backed their supervisor are Manchester United, and till that occurs, till there’s at the least three, perhaps 4 new signings coming by way of the door Ten Hag is mainly at a loss.”

Criminal says the empire at Outdated Trafford is crumbling and except the Glazers make investments important cash, United have gotten no likelihood of entering into the highest 4.

“Erik ten Hag is an effective coach, he’s acquired no likelihood of being a hit. It’s not on Ten Hag, it’s not on [Cristiano] Ronaldo, it’s not even on Fred and [Scott] McTominay, it’s not Fred’s fault he’s garbage, it’s the house owners.”

Followers have been even seen preventing at Outdated Trafford as issues acquired off to a torrid begin, and membership legend Gary Neville agreed with Criminal, however went even additional, telling the Glazers it’s time to go.

“It would have been a shock to him [Ten Hag] after a promising pre-season,” the previous defender stated.

“However anybody who has watched these Manchester United gamers he has been handed will recognise that could be a acquainted efficiency and the folks above him ought to have recognized that was an unacceptable scenario at hand Erik ten Hag that squad.

“I don’t assume any Manchester United fan or pundit that has watched this workforce during the last 12 months, with the identical gamers enjoying in the identical positions, anticipated something completely different that what we noticed.

“Ten Hag shall be disenchanted as a result of he noticed optimistic indicators in pre-season however the actuality has hit house.

“I’m involved about each factor of the recruitment. The reliance on shopping for Dutch gamers means the recruitment division aren’t being trusted because the supervisor goes to Holland to get gamers he is aware of. A market which isn’t at all times probably the most exact marketplace for the Premier League – there have been some good gamers but it surely doesn’t have a fantastic hit price. I’m involved about that.

“The coach wants time so I received’t have a go at him. And there comes a time the place I received’t also have a go on the gamers anymore. In case you have a enterprise and the folks in that enterprise can’t do the job for you you then take away them from the enterprise.

“It’s abuse to maintain them within the job for longer as they don’t get pleasure from it both. The fact is these gamers want changing or supported extra by higher gamers.

“There’s a little little bit of despair that the coach, an impressive coach, has not been given the instruments he wants so he can begin the season with a revitalised squad.

“There’s a feeling that in the event that they get Frenkie de Jong it is going to be a profitable window. It received’t be. They wanted much more than De Jong.

“The time has come for the Glazer household to promote the soccer membership. It’s now.”

Neville’s former teammate Paul Scholes was just as shocked, and defined precisely what went incorrect within the 2-1 defeat.

“It was a stunning begin for Man United and the primary half was shambolic actually,” he stated. “The indicators have been there proper from the primary couple of minutes that this was going to be dangerous.

“Scott McTominay was at all times attempting to run with the ball, ridiculous. The standard in the course of the pitch was actually poor,” including the midfielder was fortunate to not be despatched off.

“The standard in the course of the pitch was nowhere close to ok however we’ve seen that for the previous few years with these two gamers.

“With Fred and McTominay, he [Ten Hag] goes to must go along with simply one in every of them however even one in every of them might be too many.

“Fred provides the ball away on a regular basis and McTominay is attempting to run with the ball continually after which provides it away. Cross it to your finest gamers! It’s not that tough. It’s legal on a day like as we speak.”

Nonetheless reeling from the efficiency, Scholes later took to Instagram to once more hit out on the shows in midfield.

He wrote: “Ideas for the week ‘MDF’ [midfield] it’s all about physique form when receiving the ball, too many occasions dealing with their very own objective and may solely play a method…

“Get on the ‘half flip’ for f*** sake and convey your extra gifted gamers into the sport…

Sadly the end result has taken any credit score away from Brighton, a well-run, affected person and wise reminder for United simply how far off the usual they presently are.

However with a equally spectacular membership up subsequent within the form of Brentford, it may develop into even clearer that all the things United are clearly missing is only a pre-requisite for a profitable fashionable facet.