Ineos messed up first major Manchester United decision - now they face impossible Erik ten Hag choice

This was supposed to be the summer of change at Manchester United, a chance to reshape the future of this once-great club.

But there was a very familiar feeling to Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Far from a fresh start, this felt like normal service resuming.

United don’t capitulate every week, but they’re more predisposed to it than any other side in the league. Home losses to Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Fulham showed that last season. No-one quite surrenders like Erik ten Hag’s side.

This was another humiliation for the Dutchman and further proof why he should have lost his job last summer. That might feel like a harsh assessment, but football rarely has time for underachievers - Ten Hag might discover that in the next few weeks.

Sunday’s game had all the hallmarks of last season’s failings. A porous midfield, defensive mistakes, ill-discipline and a complete lack of tempo. Not for the first time, this felt like a game where the players first met in the car park beforehand. ‘Hi, I’m Marcus and I play up front. Prefer on the left to no.9, but whatever.’.

Again, fans can be forgiven for wondering what the plan is, what the style of play is supposed to look like and how the team are expected to fashion chances. Too often, it seems that United rely on moments of magic from individuals to win games. Alejandro Garnacho gave it his best and is perhaps the only player to emerge with some credit from the latest debacle. Bruno Fernandes certainly doesn’t.

The midfielder’s red card was undoubtedly harsh, but it’s emblematic of the direction his United career is heading. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he regularly was the difference and could single-handedly transform games. Less so these days, and United will have to manage without him for the next three matches.

It means Fernandes won’t play in the league again until November - whether Ten Hag is still in charge by then is another matter.

Some will claim Ineos now face their biggest decision yet, but in reality that time has gone. The new United hierarchy made their choice in the summer when they opted against replacing the former Ajax boss. It felt unwise at time and the new regime may have to make an embarrassing back-pedal in the coming weeks.

It’s a situation made even more complex by CEO Omar Berrada giving Ten Hag his ‘full backing’ earlier month.

“Do we still believe in Erik? Absolutely. We think Erik is the right coach for us and we're fully backing him,” the ex-Manchester City employee said prior to the 3-0 loss against Liverpool. Not ideal timing.

It felt short-sighted to give a manager who had endured such recent hardship his complete seal of approval, especially at such an early stage of the season. Then again, Sir Jim Ratcliffe was criticised for doing the exact opposite last season as the United manager worked under an ever-darkening cloud of uncertainty.

Ineos may feel they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t, but the situation has been badly mishandled. To interview so many possible managerial replacements and then ultimately stick with the guy who clearly doesn’t have the club’s full support is a recipe for disaster.

Now Ratcliffe, Berrada et al have backed themselves into a corner. Do they stick with a man who is evidently ill-suited to the role but has been publicly backed, or make the prudent decision to move him on, only to come across as disingenuous?

Either way, for an organisation who promised ‘best in class’ results at Old Trafford, this all feels very amateur.