Manchester United’s poor start to the Premier League season continued in their second game against Brentford FC on Saturday, August 13. The home side registered a memorable 4-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Goals from Josh Dasilva, Ben Mee, Mathias Jensen and Bryan Mbeumo helped Brentford take all three points. Meanwhile, Manchester United registered their second Premier League defeat in succession after losing 2-1 in their opening match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Here are five talking points from Manchester United's hapless defeat to Brentford:
#1. Manchester United's pre-season form has failed to translate to the Premier League
Manchester United looked like a team that was on the mend under Erik ten Hag in pre-season. The players looked to be buying into the Dutchman’s tactics and the camp was filled with happy faces. Players who failed to deliver over the years (like Anthony Martial) suddenly looked to have revived their careers.
The team began their preparations with a resounding 4-0 win against Liverpool, which only added more to the expectations from fans and pundits alike. They won three of their six pre-season matches, losing one.
However, the Red Devils have gone back to their disappointing roots once the Premier League season started. While Brighton showed some flaws in Manchester United's game, Thomas Frank’s Brentford laid bare the issues in the team.
The laughter on the players’ faces from pre-season has been wiped out and replaced with dejection, with little signs of that changing anytime soon.
With Liverpool visiting Old Trafford next week, ten Hag’s side might not have hit rock bottom just yet.
#2. Lack of competition for David de Gea
The last time David de Gea let his guard down and was conceding howlers, Dean Henderson started in the Premier League on loan at Sheffield United.
Henderson returned to the club last summer, signed a new contract and looked set to replace the Spaniard in goal. However, De Gea got his act together and found his form once again.
After playing second fiddle in the last few months, Henderson is out on another loan, this time to Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, De Gea, 31, has begun showing rust in his game once again.
He was at fault for the two opening goals against Brentford. He let Dasilva's shot go through him while his pass to an under pressure Christian Eriksen led to the second goal.
Will the Red Devils regret the lack of goalkeeping competition for the Spanish ’keeper?
#3. Harry Maguire leads by the wrong example
When Ten Hag was announced as the new Manchester United manager, all eyes were on how ruthless he’d be in building the team around his ideas. One big call he was expected to strip Harry Maguire of the captaincy after his error-ridden performances last season.
The Dutchman, however, surprised many by deciding to stick with the Englishman as his team’s leader.
The new season hasn’t brought about any changes in Maguire’s game. He’s sloppy in possession, regularly fumbles with his passes and fails to organize his defense when on the backfoot.
Tyrell Malacia, 22, in his second game for the club, had to scramble back to cover the ball and prevent the team from conceding a fifth goal. He then turned around and remonstrated with his senior teammate, which certainly paints a somber picture.
#4. Lack of cohesion in attack
Anthony Martial looked unstoppable in pre-season, scoring three goals, but is now on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Marcus Rashford looked reborn during Manchester United’s Asia tour but has gone missing once the season has started. Jadon Sancho’s pace and purpose has been easy to nullify as well.
Cristiano Rolando has spent the summer trying to engineer a move away from the club (via The Times). He missed most of Manchester United's pre-season and has now returned but looks to be leading a disjointed attack.
If Ten Hag has huge defensive issues to solve, he’ll have similar problems when looking at the other end of the pitch. There doesn’t seem to be a clear leader in attack and teams are finding it easy to suffocate the Red Devils and not show them any sight of goal.
The transfer window will shut at the end of the month and there is arguably lack of decent options in the market. So who will solve the team’s dilemma in the attacking third?
#5. Unwanted records galore
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United broke and set several Premier League records. They were unbeatable at their peak and had the ability to register wins even when they were not playing at their best.
Since the Scot retired in 2013, however, things have looked bleak and are heading to new depths with each passing season.
This was Manchester United’s biggest ever defeat to Brentford, equalling a 4-0 defeat they registered back in 1936. It was also Brentford’s first win against the Red Devils since 1938.
Brentford have become the third side to score four goals against United in the first half of a Premier League match. The other two games took place in the last two years, with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool doing so in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
The Red Devils find themselves at the bottom of the league table for the first time since 1992. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag became the first manager to lose his debut away game since Sir Alex Ferguson. He is also the first Manchester United manager in over 100 years to lose his first two league games.
Paul Merson has predicted the results for Chelsea vs Tottenham and other GW 2 fixtures! Click here
ciyamnpty
0
the team played better when Ronaldo are not around
alex_124
0
Man Utd we go for relegation this season..they are just playing around doing none sense
alex_124
0
so shameful
Leftwinger
1
Man u played well during pre-season because the king was not playing
Kowakopsy
0
The Blue side of Manchester is on top of the table while the Red side of Manchester at the bottom of the table. end - end of the table "Manchester," wow! interesting.
Rusaeimnz
0
Unbelievable!!!! This team can’t play proper football with such players on the field. Rubbish absolutely Rubbish 🤬
Dizmpsuz
0
the corruption in the team's management is killing the club's performance,history and it's identity..the glazers must sell that beautiful club and let the lovers of football enjoy the fantasy of the game.
Sumcmotz
0
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂goin down goin down goin down😜😂😂😂😂😂
PrinceAsmara
0
RONALDO MUST STAY ,,,,ALWAYS HE ESCAPE THE PROBLEMS OF THE TEAM ....MESSI STAND FOR DAMAGED BARCA FOR A LONGTIME 8-2 VS BAYERN ITS PAINFUL MR. ESCAPER PANADO MUST STAY AND TASTE THE BITTER FAKE
Gauzy
0
This Man U is the worst shape possible. They didn't have the physicality, team cohesion, build up play. The team looked lack of ideas. There was no urgency or an intent to score or come back. All of their players got absolutely ripped apart by Brentford.
zebcdilm
0
we are rebuilding the team .....but I preferred Olé
Wozadeikoy
1
Jose mou is best after sir Alex
zeeikmopz
1
Seriously if we will continue to use Maguire we will be destroyed again and again bcos you can never pair him with any player and get result he is a lazy player including Fred and Shaw
sir_fafiey93
2
What a good morning to you all fans who wears a Teamviewer jersey lots of love to you all.. Ndomashoko angu andinawo mashoma chete muzuva ranhasi
vayadeimno
2
United won trophy🏆 in pre season match... expectations vs reality
zebaelmy
0
Kopp was evil and cunning in letting MU to win 4 nil giving them false hope...MU players were so naive to fall for it thinking they are back...🤣🤣🤣 Preseason against weak teams counts for nothing as I mentioned the true litmus test starts on their first EPL game and they had already failed badly. Whole team mentality and attitude is the problem, it will always be the same as long as the whole squad is still there. All need to be cleared out and a fresh squad need to be in place. You can never teach old dogs with new tricks, it will never work and this team will never win any trophies. Nada!!!
Tunbdlmuy
0
Some of supporters of Manchester United lost hope from United players which is wrong, let me tell you United will come up with strong energy, their problems now is for coach to change the lineup and players he started with, like Fred and others,
Your a simple mind that all will be ok . Crazy
chitundukauzi
1
When did the Red devils turn to Green devils? Brentford gave them a 4:0 whipping... so that they can turn back to Red devils
yatbekmrs
4
Man U Technical team in search for a possible way out.
skychilee
1
An old sinking ship that cannot be sailed again even have a new experience captain but keeping the old useless crews.
Hafiz3011
0
Immediate fire Erik Ten Hak. Get Special one back
lol.. no former manager of united would ever make the u-turn knowing full well situation has not changed at the top, thats career suicide
Poolsince1989
0
Worst defeat of Manchester United............ YET
Viuclotz
1
Brentford is not your match.
Vaabkmost
0
A downfall of of Man utd is not the end of their season.
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haha good one
asiwome
5
A downfall of of Man utd is not the end of their season.
Fiyckmnoy
2
What is it with people posting dicks?
EmileeSevunKolor
4
Even if Man U buy Microsoft, they won't still Excel😂
Shockdee1
1
I will blame Ten Hag for todays game, wrong selection, you can’t start Martinez in an opponent team that believes on set piece.. keeping Rashford through out the game when you have Garnashore
XxKingCR7xX
2
No wonder why Ronaldo wants out. Man U needs new owners.
archive
1
Erik Ten Hag become the first manager to lose the first two league games in history. Wow! so pity him
Youtd4eva
1
Building play from the Defense has clearly cost them this game. They don't have the right individuals to do that. This is exactly where they failed last seasons. Going forward, Ten Hag Has to Refrain from that approach.
Yaubcimprz
2
if man u win a match now they will all say man u is back nonsense fans
vuccepsuyz
2
Am confident United will do the best who knows maybe they will beat Liverpool next week, coach to change the lineup
vuccepsuyz
0
Some of supporters of Manchester United lost hope from United players which is wrong, let me tell you United will come up with strong energy, their problems now is for coach to change the lineup and players he started with, like Fred and others,
Dundinho
3
Hipbcdmrt
1
Next game to Liverpool please I don't want any complain again just remember 9-0 home and away against Liverpool
Sssmansy
2
Don't go back to your x .... that's lesson of the season
muhbilosu
2
that's how they confirm if they are leading or not bt the truth is they can't see anything 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 please tell them it's over....and it's only ⚽⚽⚽⚽
neoacdkopr
1
The bees United and stung Manchester
Zicbclmnop
0
Liverpool will score 10 -0
Kunkunmaster
0
Rashford 🤦
rezlmnrty
1
Let this useless ad ert be removed now.
Jiuamopsu
0
Ten Hag Is just a bald Gary Neville
nesbcmst
0
Immediate fire Erik Ten Hak. Get Special one back
hiudmstuz
1
It's a very good score for a team like Brentford
Endlessly88
5
dollars22
0
good
rheyddian
0
Worst defeat for us