MANCHESTER UNITED look like a team who have only recently been introduced to playing football.
Little wonder, really, given that they seem to have different people telling them how to do it every week.
The word is that Erik ten Hag’s methods were so complicated that the players genuinely did not know what he wanted them to do.
In comes a new backroom team to work with the former boss and more new ideas are loaded into the players.
Then Ten Hag goes and one of those coaches, Ruud van Nistelrooy, tries to get a tune out of an off-key outfit.
Now Ruben Amorim talks about the side like he is talking about how to teach a toddler to walk. All this stuff about “little details”.
Cut through all this and we come to the analysis from a mate of mine during a Saturday-night debrief in a bar in south Manchester . . . “It’s just s**t.” Hard to argue.
In contrast, high-flying Nottingham Forest — 3-2 winners at Old Trafford — are looking to nab a shock European place.
Scorer Morgan Gibbs-White said: “The ambition is to keep progressing and you want to play at the highest level possible.
“All we can do is keep ticking off boxes and hopefully it will come.”
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United’s back three often aimlessly passed the ball between each other or just kicked it back to Andre Onana under any pressure.
A risky move in itself given it could easily end up in the net.
Of all the stats, the most laughable came with the top four passing combinations in the United team. They were all between centre-backs!
Goodness knows what the new set-piece coach is telling them as well.
It took less than two minutes before Forest scored from a corner courtesy of a header from Nikola Milenkovic.
Rasmus Hojlund did level but two minutes after the break Gibbs-White had a shot on goal.
Now even he did not expect it to go in. But a slight swerve on the ball of no more than a foot had Onana flummoxed.
He still looked bewildered when Chris Wood sent a looping header over him before Bruno Fernandes got one back.
Yet hope is in short supply at Old Trafford right now. This is their worst team since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Until they get a decent striker it is not going to change either. Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been terrible buys.
They are not good enough for United. They are not good enough for most teams in the Prem.
Hojlund is on Ten Hag, Zirkzee on the Ineos team who thought he was a good value-for-money buy at £36.5million.
If that was on Dan Ashworth it is little wonder he has walked.
It is not good and it does not look like getting better any time soon.
Man Utd ratings vs Nottingham Forest
MANCHESTER UNTED slipped to another defeat under Ruben Amorim after being shocked 3-2 at Old Trafford by Nottingham Forest.
Here’s how Neil Custis rated the players…
ANDRE ONANA – 3
Had an absolute shocker. For the second Forest goal Morgan Gibbs-White shot is straight down the middle along the floor.
It maybe swerves a foot at most and he somehow couldn’t stop it. For the third he just let it loop over his head. He cannot command his area.
LENY YORO – 6
The 19-year-old was making his first start for United and immediately looked unphased. Ruben Amorim has high hopes for someone he calls ‘a special talent’.
He is easing him into the team after his summer injury and subbed him just past the hour.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 5
Amorim has tasked him with bringing the ball out from the back to set United moves going.
Looked good in the first balf but what was he doing for Forest’s third as he let Chris Wood’s header go thinking it was going wide.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 4
It was said his lack of height would not be a problem but it was after 80 seconds here as Nikola Milenkovic headed home on 80 seconds.
Then for Forest’s third he didn’t known what to do as the ball went over him at the far post.
AMAD DIALLO – 7
Looking more and more like a United star with his positive forward runs from his new wing-back role.
Had a couple of good chances himself but shots were weak, then made a great run and cut back before setting up Fernandes for United’s second.
MANUEL UGARTE – 7
Looked constantly concerned with his defensive duties and understandably.
Is a solid presence on the pitch though and a decent buy compared to plenty of others.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 6
Ugarte was having a good game in front of the back three allowing Mainoo to get further forward in the second-half when he became more of a threat.
DIOGO DALOT – 6
Compared to Amad on the opposite flank did not have much of an influence. Got forward a lot more in the second-half.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7
Was always involved. But does the captain really have to contest every single decision the referee makes against his team.
Made up for his loose pass that gave away possession for Forest’s second by scoring a fine goal himself.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
That’s three goals in three games after his pair against Bodo Glimt but there is still not enough movement from the front man.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 5
Not his best game and looked far from happy when he was hauled off early in the second-half for Marcus Rashford.
SUBSTITUTIONS…
MARCUS RASHFORD (for Garnacho, 58) – 6
These are the games he should be starting and starring in but that’s just not the case.
MAZRAOUI (for Yoro 66) – 6
One of those the recruitment team did at least get right.
HARRY MAGUIRE (for De Ligt 65) – 6
When Amorim decides on his best starting eleven Maguire should be in it.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (for Ugarte 76) – 5
Not surprisingly failed to have an impact.
MASON MOUNT (for Fernandes 76) – 6
Amorim has high hopes for him but he is still to convince the United faithful. Needs a long injury free run.
