More than half a century has passed but Manchester United supporters of a certain vintage will remember an infamous five-goal thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park that proved to be Frank O’Farrell’s last match as manager.
They were finding it impossible to move on from the Sir Matt Busby era and little seemed about to change under O’Farrell so they sacked him and installed Tommy Docherty. Last night, back in Selhurst, Erik ten Hag watched his depleted team torn apart in similar fashion as a similar mood of inevitably settled over his tenure.
Ten Hag stood on the touchline, no club branding on his clothing, rumours of interest from Bayern Munich in the air as Oliver Glasner’s re-energised Palace romped to a 4-0 victory and the home crowd taunted him about getting sacked in the morning.
Michael Olise led the destruction with two goals. Jean-Phillippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell were also on target. Casemiro had two goals ruled out but this could quite easily have been more embarrassing for United.
They have won just two of their last 10 in the Premier League, and finish with home fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle, and an FA Cup final at Wembley.
Ten Hag’s team falling apart around him and his grip on the job is fading.
Ten Hag was without his captain Bruno Fernandes, who has an ankle problem. It was, according to various statistical wizards, the first time Fernandes had missed a senior game through injury in his entire career. Although he has missed a couple through illness, including one for United.
Harry Maguire, who might have led the team out in his absence is also injured. The full extent of the casualty list was perhaps best illustrated by the two goalkeepers and four teenagers named among nine substitutes.
Casemiro took the armband and partnered Jonny Evans in the centre of defence. If it gave the back-four a patched-up look at kick-off it looked even worse when Olise sliced the experienced pair open to score the opening goal inside 13 minutes.
He collected the ball in midfield, eased away from Christian Eriksen on the turn, jinked past a reckless Casemiro tackle and advanced towards the United goal. All the other white shirts in the vicinity went into retreat.
Olise took it as an invitation to shoot and fired low past Andre Onana, his eight of the season in only 17 appearances, and he continued to create problems as he drifted inside from the right and found spaces between United’s full backs and Kobbie Mainoo, deepest in a midfield trio of little resistance with Eriksen and Mason Mount.
The Palace wing-backs sped forward with relish to link up with Olise and Eberechi Eze. An exchange of passes featuring Daniel Munoz on the right ended with an Olise shot crashing his teammate Mateta. Another effort by Olise was fired crisply, straight at Onana after a pass cut back by Tyrick Mitchell.
United’s keeper saved but they struggled to escape the pressure from the home team during this opening phase of the game. They did find the net from a corner, in the 27th minute, but referee Jarred Gillett ruled it out for a foul by Rasmus Hojlund, who barged into goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he jumped to take Casemiro’s header out of the sky.
It was the correct decision although Gillett seemed strangely reluctant to make it. Perhaps he needed time to digest all the information from all the sound and vision gadgetry about his body, including his body camera. At least the right decision was reached.
Palace scored the second, five minutes before half time, winning the ball with pressure on half way before central defender Chris Richards picked out Mateta, who left Evans standing with a change of pace and direction and crashed a rising shot past Onana at his near post.
For Mateta, it was the 10th goal of a wonderful purple patch of 14 games since the start of February.
For Ten Hag, a neat summary of the state of his team at half time. Two stalwarts in central defence, struggling with the speed and power of Palace’s attacking trio and exposed by a flimsy midfield, two of whom were woefully low on match action and the other still in his rookie season, offering no protection.
The frontline appeared incapable of holding up the ball for long enough to offer any respite and the wide players were of little help to the full backs behind them. Ten Hag sent on Sofyan Amrabat in an attempt to add some steel but nothing much changed.
Onana saved from Eze, the first of a series in the second half as he stopped Palace romping clear. There was another to deny Mitchell at the near post and one flying to his left to deny Hughes. Eze also slid a shot wide after a delightful flick by Olise.
Casemiro had a second goal ruled out. This time, just offside as he attacked a free-kick delivered by Eriksen. The Brazilian’s header hit the post and he tapped in the rebound but the flag went up.
Events might have turned had that goal been good, but Glasner’s team scored their third in the 58th minute from a short corner and a cross by Wharton, knocked back across his own goal by Diogo Dalot under pressure from Joachim Andersen and finished from close range by Mitchell.
Another United flurry saw Henderson save from Casemiro but Palace scored again, Olise’s second of the night, lashed past Onana after Casemiro lost the ball to Munoz deep.
Odsonne Edouard replaced Mateta and struck a post in stoppage time. It wasn’t five. The smallest of small mercies for Ten Hag.
Pass2Pogba
0
continue with the injury excuses till ten hag continue to sink united more and more
it's sad to see a united fan . a fake one blabbing about the club and no support. better go support Chelsea if they're better
Pass2Pogba
0
not losing 4-0 to palace
you make no sense .
Pass2Pogba
0
Chelsea Newcastle and Aston villa all has injuries but are much better than this united team
that's true.. but Newcastle were way better without injuries you know that too.. look where they are now. villa has full squad most of the season. u flid
Tihbcdeir
0
things fall apart 💔"by achinua chembe"
secbcdlmrs
0
Ten Hag must leave united now he is an academic coach he can't manage Manchester United
Shut up with your nonsense. Rubbish talk,what do you know about soccer. You shld stick to Netball.
lbcrna
0
your comment and photo isn't matching.. who's this a bot talking?
sickness
pomboy11
0
Newcastle have half of their team bro
same situation, the only difference is that it seems to everyone that Man utd is having the worst season compared to clubs like Chelsea and Newcastle...
pomboy11
0
Playing Casemiro as CB has been a disaster and I wonder why he’s not seeing it. I just ask, why do you have under 23 team? Why bring these boys to sit on the sub bench when you won’t trust them enough to play them? And why do you bring some of them to senior team training though. It would’ve been the best choice to ask your under 23 team coach to give you his two best centre backs and blood them in with Casemiro seating in front as DM. And stop playing AWB on the left. He’s pathetic there. Why do I have the feeling that ETH is a mud.
I always back ten Hag, but you make sense here...
pomboy11
0
and so the cycle continues.......
exactly..
pomboy11
0
Tell me now. using the squared that played this game today, which players is bigger between the two opponents. starting from our strikers to our keeper. which team have the bigger players plus the price they were all bought to Man. calculate the amount of players that played this game to for Man U. and compare them to that Palace players. and tell me who to blame. Man U board or the coach
and also tell us for how long these squads started together, and how well whud they be able to understand their teammates' game
pomboy11
0
Arsenal just can't wait to play them.
don't be fooled, it won't be an easy win (I believe)
pomboy11
0
We had enough.. bring Mou back please!!!
Even if Mou comes, some senseless fans will still blame him if he tries to deal with some of these toxic and unprofessional players in the squad
pomboy11
0
Ten Hag must leave united now he is an academic coach he can't manage Manchester United
and yet Tuchel might go trophy less this season, with a Bayern squad for that matter..
pomboy11
0
I don’t think this is thesame ManUTD team to face ManCity in FA cup final. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣A sorry case already
i don't think City will have an easy game, let's wait and see
Blaqpablo
0
but how many, compared to united?
Newcastle have half of their team bro
pomboy11
0
Chelsea Newcastle and Aston villa all has injuries but are much better than this united team
but how many, compared to united?
Blaqpablo
0
he can't buy injury list.. youbare a nice joker.
continue with the injury excuses till ten hag continue to sink united more and more
Blaqpablo
0
nobody can cope with the injury list club. not even on manager game . I hope you are joking.
not losing 4-0 to palace
Blaqpablo
0
well that's what it is.. injury isn't a joke. lucky your team has few out for them to be where they are now.
Chelsea Newcastle and Aston villa all has injuries but are much better than this united team
Pass2Pogba
0
why did he play Eriksen instead of Amrabat? for me our 5&6 against palace should've been Evans and wan bisaka, then Antony at left back, Dialo at right wing
[image]
your comment and photo isn't matching.. who's this a bot talking?
Pass2Pogba
0
Bought many players yet the result speaks otherwise
he can't buy injury list.. youbare a nice joker.
Pass2Pogba
0
Ten Hag must leave united now he is an academic coach he can't manage Manchester United
nobody can cope with the injury list club. not even on manager game . I hope you are joking.
Pass2Pogba
0
I don’t think this is thesame ManUTD team to face ManCity in FA cup final. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣A sorry case already
well that's what it is.. injury isn't a joke. lucky your team has few out for them to be where they are now.
lbcrna
0
we could easily beat crystal palace with this line up
lbcrna
0
Give ETH some slack. How much could one expect from him with the squad he had available. 2 CB's in their 30s, one a makeshift and the other 1st game back from injury. Erickson at 10 looks way past his prime. Not even his set pieces had any effect. The bench had 1 senìor player,backup keepers and academy players no one ever heard of.
why did he play Eriksen instead of Amrabat? for me our 5&6 against palace should've been Evans and wan bisaka, then Antony at left back, Dialo at right wing
lbcrna
1
that's what happen to you when you disrespect the best and greatest player of all time
Lipceostu
0
Please what are you waiting to sack TEN HAG this coach is enought at man u please let him go go go gooooooooooooo rubish coach
and so the cycle continues.......
aroakinsola
0
I don’t think this is thesame ManUTD team to face ManCity in FA cup final. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣A sorry case already
Yotbikotuy
0
Mu need special one
Bokabcktuz
1
Ten Hag must leave united now he is an academic coach he can't manage Manchester United
BhutanSonamD
0
Bought many players yet the result speaks otherwise
BhutanSonamD
0
The result of selling or dumping CR 7.
thinkbig
1
Tell me now. using the squared that played this game today, which players is bigger between the two opponents. starting from our strikers to our keeper. which team have the bigger players plus the price they were all bought to Man. calculate the amount of players that played this game to for Man U. and compare them to that Palace players. and tell me who to blame. Man U board or the coach
yes no excuses
GodFather88
6
We had enough.. bring Mou back please!!!
JohnDuggan92
0
Lmao, he has a grip on the job ? More like slight contact
dougiefresh
1
Give ETH some slack. How much could one expect from him with the squad he had available. 2 CB's in their 30s, one a makeshift and the other 1st game back from injury. Erickson at 10 looks way past his prime. Not even his set pieces had any effect. The bench had 1 senìor player,backup keepers and academy players no one ever heard of.
jipceiloyz
0
Arsenal just can't wait to play them.
Soubdnosz
0
Eric and his Eleven Hags stripped of their Man-U-hood.
Zobcdeiko
2
Tell me now. using the squared that played this game today, which players is bigger between the two opponents. starting from our strikers to our keeper. which team have the bigger players plus the price they were all bought to Man. calculate the amount of players that played this game to for Man U. and compare them to that Palace players. and tell me who to blame. Man U board or the coach
Buwbemopyz
0
ten hug can't coach in epl. he is useless as such
Latdkopsuy
0
ona mumu never do okay continue
Tupceiptu
0
Please what are you waiting to sack TEN HAG this coach is enought at man u please let him go go go gooooooooooooo rubish coach
cactusjack1990
0
I feel like clownchester united is nothing but a broken toy. They can bring in any manager and coaching staff but it still will crumble afterwards
AustinEvergreen1
2
If he had any integrity at all he would announce he's stepping down at end of the season.
Veuceiortz
1
let him go back to where he come from
yutcklpstu
0
What are Ineos waiting for to sack this rubbish of a coach?
ToniCJ
1
Playing Casemiro as CB has been a disaster and I wonder why he’s not seeing it. I just ask, why do you have under 23 team? Why bring these boys to sit on the sub bench when you won’t trust them enough to play them? And why do you bring some of them to senior team training though. It would’ve been the best choice to ask your under 23 team coach to give you his two best centre backs and blood them in with Casemiro seating in front as DM. And stop playing AWB on the left. He’s pathetic there. Why do I have the feeling that ETH is a mud.
Ciuelnopuy
1
Breaking News: Ten hag is leaving Manchester United at end of the season.
Bouaeiosuy
1
I hope he will be sacked early tomorrow morning
MukisaGerald
0
let ten hag leave