Manchester United have made a key change that could cost Erik ten Hag his job

If a goalless draw away at Aston Villa is now being heralded as a positive result, it is only further evidence of how far standards have slipped at Manchester United.

Though they are a different beast under the guidance of Unai Emery, United should look back at Sunday's dire draw as another example of their tactical limitations and lack of progress under Erik ten Hag. United were certainly a lot more robust and well-drilled defensively. Still, even then, they never troubled an adrenaline-deprived Villa side who were emotionally drained from their midweek heroics and could still have lost the game late on.

This was not a performance from which any solid foundations could be built and was a desperate attempt to kill the contest as a spectacle, rather than look to win it themselves. To be in damage limitation mode in early October sets the stall for another season of stagnation, even if it is misleading to analyse the Premier League table this early on.

What is alarming though, is the manner of the performances across all competitions. United have scored just five goals in the Premier League this season and have now gone three league matches without scoring a goal. They are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League, only behind Southampton, who three of their five goals came against. Bryan Mbuemo has more Premier League goals than United this season. United have only won three of their 10 games in all competitions so far, against Fulham on the opening day, Southampton last month, and their misleading maul of League One opposition in the League Cup.

Ten Hag has not had the convenient excuse of an injury crisis this season and was backed handsomely in the summer. There was £436 million of talent on the bench on Sunday afternoon and more of his signings were named as substitutes than starters at Villa Park. To think things will suddenly just click after the international break is unsubstantiated for a United side who are now in their third season under the same manager with little sign of progress being made.

With changes to the club's leadership group in the summer, there is also more accountability on the Dutchman for their performances on the pitch. While in the past he could point to the dysfunctional environment as a contributing factor for failure, to do so now would be to bite the hands that feed him.

United's loyal army of matchgoing fans have stuck behind Ten Hag throughout his tenure, willing him to succeed, while beginning to confess that they probably won't. Yet there have been instances of annoyance. The odd tactical approaches, his bizarre team selections, the decision to take off Marcus Rashford in midweek. Even at Villa Park, there was minor conflict. 'Attack, attack, attack' echoed from an away end who were disappointed to see their beloved side happy to take a point, and Andre Onana was jeered by his supporters over the time he wasted restarting play.

With the United hierarchy, due to meet in London on Tuesday, the future of Ten Hag has to be the main topic of conversation amid an opportunity to finally turn a corner rather than go around in circles once again. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co made 250 redundances in the summer and hired a new chief executive, a technical director, and a sporting director. Yet they stuck with Ten Hag, though it is telling that Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada have both been distanced from the decision with their delayed start dates.

Ratcliffe stated in the summer 'The coach isn’t the central issue at Manchester United,' but with a revamped sporting structure, refreshed coaching staff and further backing in the transfer window, he certainly is now.