Eamon Dunphy column: Manchester United getting rid of Ten Hag won't stop their slide
Manchester United have United have Porto away in the Europa League and then a tough trip away to Aston Villa before the international break. They mightn't get anything out of either of those games. Ten Hag could be out of the door before November.
Gary Neville must have the memory of a goldfish.
Again and again during Sky's coverage of today's game at Old Trafford, he said that it was hard to believe that Manchester United were so poor.
Yes, he's right. They were desperately poor, but that's their level. Has Neville forgotten all the other abject performances of recent times?
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At half-time, there was the unmistakable sound of booing at Old Trafford. United fans are a loyal bunch, but this latest humbling was too much for some of them to take.
The red card shown to Bruno Fernandes was harsh, and that had a bearing on the final scoreline, but not the result.
Tottenham were often beaten at Old Trafford before they got off the bus. Again and again, that old yarn about Alex Ferguson saying to his players 'lads, it's Spurs' was repeated over the years.
Beating Spurs at home was always a gimme for United. Not anymore.
Tottenham did play well today but they are a fragile bunch who are never going to win any silverware.
They play good football but have zero resilience. They still had far too much for an abject United.
Who makes the decisions at the club? You'd have to wonder at the signings that have come in.
Manuel Ugarte made his Premier League debut after joining from Paris Saint-Germain. I don't think Ugarte will have been heartbroken at losing him.
Joshua Zirkzee started up front for United. Why? He doesn't even look good enough to play for a team in the drop zone.
United, again and again and again, buy poor to average players. Who is making these decisions?
At one stage yesterday, the Sky cameras showed us some of the decision-makers.
There must have been three rows of consultants, advisers or whatever kind of fancy titles they have.
I think ten Hag might well not be good enough, anyway, but he's been totally undermined by the club ownership.
United have Porto away in the Europa League and then a tough trip away to Aston Villa before the international break.
They mightn't get anything out of either of those games. Ten Hag could be out of the door before November.
But does anyone seriously think that a new man would transform United's fortunes?
There will still be a bloated squad of ordinary players on massive wages.
There will still be rows and rows of consultants talking about marginal gains or some other nonsense.
I've watched United since the 1950s. Even when they were relegated, I thought the club was in better shape.
Mickey van de ven cost Spurs €50m. United have signed five defenders that cost more than that.
But the Dutchman is at a level above, and it's hard to remember when United last made smart signings like him.
There was a time when the assumption was that many centre-halves were slow and lumbering, but the modern trend is for speedsters in the heart of the defence.
Still, it's remarkable that a centre-half in van de Ven has the highest speed ever recorded in the Premier League.
United certainly aren't surprised now as his blistering run from deep cut them to ribbons, and the Dutchman put the ball on the plate for Brennan Johnson to put Spurs in front.
There was only ever going to be one winner after that.
There was a leak out of Manchester United at the end of April that was particularly startling.
It's fair to say that, as with many leaks, key figures at United wanted the information to be made public.
The leak concerned United's squad, and planned changes. According to reports, United were prepared to listen to offers for the vast majority of their first team squad.
Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho were definitely going to be kept, and it was reported that United would only let Bruno Fernandes, Andre Onana and Diogo Dalot go if they got mega-money offers.
It didn't happen during the summer but it sums up what a chaotic mess the club has become.
Last season, Arsenal fans took videos of rain pouring in on top of them from holes in the Old Trafford roof.
Rain also flooded the Arsenal dressingroom that day.
Everything about United now is wrong. Jim Radcliffe has come in as part owner, making all sorts of boasts and promises.
He is a typical rich guy who listens to no-one and thinks he has all the answers. Radcliffe doesn't even know the question.
His big move has been to bring in supposed guru Dave Brailsford. Google Brailsford. Is he the man you'd want making big calls?
The FA Cup win last season was just a sticking plaster on a gaping wound.
Ten Hag won't last much longer. Some other unfortunate will come in, inheriting a woeful squad, and a broken club.
This is a club that had the most expensive squad in the world at the start of last season.
This is a club that was prepared to off-load most of that squad but couldn't even keep rain out of the dressing-rooms.
This is a club that, despite spending an astronomical amount of money on transfer fees and wages, finished last season with a minus goal difference.
This is a club with a team that everyone wants to play. What does that tell you?
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