Erik ten Hag is out of his depth at Manchester United - and it's time for him to go

While journalists were filing in the press conference room, the floodlights were dimmed at Old Trafford. The lights may soon go out on Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager.

After Ten Hag shook hands with Ange Postecoglou and the officials, he meandered briefly until he came into contact with a United player. There were cursory acknowledgements before appreciative applause for the supporters who did not stream out of the stadium.

Thursday marks a year since the Galatasaray debacle at Old Trafford. United had lost four of their opening seven Premier League fixtures and both Champions League group stage games by that point.

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That United have suffered fewer defeats at the same stage is moot. The scrutiny on Ten Hag is not based on this season but 14 months where United have become crisis addicts.

Scott McTominay, the saviour against Brentford before last year’s October internationals and matchwinner at Aston Villa, is gone. United are at Villa Park on Sunday before the internationals head for their private jets.

United pulled off a fair few salvage operations in Ten Hag’s last term. That suddenly looks beyond them as it was never a sustainable strategy for a second successive season under the same manager.

A 3-0 home hammering has become the norm. It has happened five times within the last year to City, Newcastle, Bournemouth, Liverpool and Tottenham. Hearing the away end at Old Trafford goad United and greet their team’s passes with ‘Olé’s is a recurring soundtrack.

The boos at full-time on Sunday were not deafening. United matchgoers have become so accustomed to defeat that