COULD Manchester United actually be relegated?
It is a question which was previously unthinkable throughout the Premier League era.
But it’s a prospect first raised by manager Ruben Amorim after last week’s defeat at Wolves.
And one which suddenly looks alarmingly real after the first-half horror show which brought a fourth straight loss, against Newcastle United.
Could Old Trafford really be hosting Wycombe Wanderers in league football next season? Might United really be contesting derbies with Stockport County?
Perhaps a cross-border tussle with Wrexham, who arguably possess more Hollywood quality than the boys from the crumbling Theatre of Dreams?
The fact that the bookies are still quoting odds as long as 28-1 on United plunging into the Championship – and super-computers make it a one in 500 chance – should tell us all we need to know.
Even during a disastrous first half of the season, United have mustered 22 points.
Last season, Nottingham Forest stayed up with 32, although a more typical safety figure is somewhere between 34 and 36.
Luckily for United, talk of needing 40 points, or even 38, is old hat.
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Four more wins would secure United’s Premier League status. But have you actually watched them recently? Would you fancy them to beat anyone?
United don’t score many goals – just 21 this league season, fewer than Leicester. They have lost their last three games by a 7-0 aggregate.
KOBBIE MAINOO’S performance was the only silver lining as Manchester United suffered a fourth consecutive defeat.
Newcastle struck twice in the opening 19 minutes as they threatened to tally up a cricket score at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee was ruthlessly subbed after half an hour after struggling in a No10 role – but there was no recovering for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Here is how SunSport’s Kealan Hughes rated the United display…
Andre Onana – 5
Little he could do about both goals and was barely tested other than that.
Noussair Mazraouri – 4
The first two goals came down his side as he failed to close down the crosses that were turned in by Isak and Joelinton.
But he was positive in possession and put in a few dangerous crosses.
Matthijs de Ligt – 5
Did not do much wrong for Newcastle goals but can be criticised for his failure to organise his defensive team-mates.
Harry Maguire – 4
Lost Isak for the opener as he was caught ball watching.
Almost made amends but his diving header cannoned back off the post.
Lisandro Martinez – 3
A complete mismatch as he attempted to battle Joelinton for a cross the Brazilian turned in.
Also lost Isak for the opener and even faced the wrong way as the cross came in.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Offered some much needed stability on the left flank and produced a good cross for Maguire’s headed chance.
Casemiro – 3
Dismal throughout. So far off the pace and barely made a pass.
Missed a guilt-edge chance to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.
Christian Eriksen – 4
Similarly inept in protecting his defence as Casemiro, as he was overran time and time again.
He did at least put a few passes together and improved after Mainoo came on.
Amad Diallo – 4
A tricky evening up against the hardworking Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall so was largely ineffective.
Joshua Zirkzee – 2
Nothing went his way and the fans quickly got on his back. He was hauled off in the 33rd minute and his substitution was greeted with cheers by the Old Trafford faithful.
Rasmus Hojlund – 5
Fed off scraps but did not stop running and was a rare bright spark – came very close with a low shot that whistled past the post in the first half.
Subs
Kobbie Mainoo (for Zirkzee) – 6
Turned things around after his introduction and made things happen with his accurate passing.
Set up Casemiro for a chance the Brazilian should have buried.
Leny Yoro (for Martinez, 64mins) – 6
Had a good chance from a corner but sent his free header wide.
Alejandro Garnacho (for Casemiro, 64mins) – 4
Struggled to make an impact as he failed to beat a man.
Antony (for De Ligt, 83 mins) – 5
Not enough time to influence the match.
By Amorim’s own admission, his team lack fitness and hunger and give away possession far too easily.
And the dogmatic Portuguese is wedded to a 3-4-3 system which doesn’t suit a squad bereft of dynamism in central midfield.
The sight of a tearful Joshua Zirkzee being dragged off after just 33 minutes of the Newcastle debacle, to cheers from his own club’s supporters, was genuinely haunting on a human level.
The £36.5m Dutch forward may be one of United’s worst-ever signings – and there were a fair few candidates for that dubious accolade during Ten Hag’s dismal reign – but he was thrown under the bus by his Portuguese manager.
A spell out of the firing line, or ideally a January move away, may be best for player and club.
It is not as if United are waiting on a host of star names to return from injury and it is not as if they are going to be busy during this transfer window.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has performed the seemingly impossible by actually making United worse than when the Glazer family held full control at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe spends big on pay-offs as he corrects his own blunders – to Erik ten Hag and his backroom boys as well as sporting director Dan Ashworth – while decimating morale by slashing support staff.
At least he is saving money on win bonuses just now.
Even more remarkably, Amorim – regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in Europe at Sporting Lisbon – is making United worse than they were under Untenable Hag.
They have lost five of their last six league games. Had it not been for a bizarre 2-1 success at the Etihad – when United struck twice in the dying minutes to win the worst Manchester derby in decades – Amorim might genuinely be staring into oblivion.
And Sunday brings a visit to Anfield against champions-elect Liverpool – who trounced United 7-0 when they were half-decent two seasons ago.
The avoidance of complete humiliation will be United’s sole aim on Merseyside.
This is comfortably the worst United have been since they were relegated from the top flight half a century ago.
And only six teams currently sit below the Old Trafford rabble in the Premier League table.
Of those, Crystal Palace have more attacking talent than United, Everton have a game plan which makes them capable of grinding out points in a way Amorim’s men seemingly cannot, while Wolves are on the rise under new boss Vitor Pereira.
The idea of United finishing as low as 17th doesn’t feel all that fanciful.
So that brings us to the bottom three – all promoted from the Championship last season.
Southampton, the next visitors to Old Trafford on January 16, are on course to be the worst Premier League side of all time. Surely United can win that six-pointer?
Leicester were sploshed twice at by United during Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s stint as caretaker boss.
The Dutchman is now in charge of the Foxes, where early optimism is fading.
But having watched Ipswich bully Chelsea to defeat on Monday night, bringing them to within seven points of United, you simply never know.
Former Red Devils coach Kieran McKenna has masterminded back-to-back promotions and, if Portman Road keeps rocking as it was the other night, the Tractor Boys might overtake a Ferrari or two.
Since February, United have lost to 13 of the 16 opponents who have been in the top flight both this season and last – only Aston Villa, Brentford and Everton have failed to beat them.
Nobody fears facing United any more, home or away.
So who knows, perhaps the outcome of Manchester City’s 115 Premier League charges will see the champions relegated in United’s place?
