We've seen this one before. Manchester United enjoy a new manager bounce, claim they have learned from past mistakes, and back a manager handsomely in the transfer market.
Then player power seeps back into play, results fall off a cliff and the manager pays the price. United hunt for a new manager and give them a licence to rip apart their previous plans, effectively writing them off and starting the cycle all over again.
Rinse and repeat, in the hope that their next lottery finally pays off, despite the enormous odds against them. You can change the manager all you like, even most of the players.
But what about those who have been there throughout? The common denominators in a decade of disappointment. LUCKHURST: Rashford and Martial have not done what Keane did OPINION: Ineos could make Erik ten Hag decision after three games in 20 days The nature of United's dismal defeat to Newcastle at the weekend brought fresh scrutiny and questions about Erik ten Hag's suitability for the managerial job, which, while valid, also missed the main point.