I asked Sir Jim Ratcliffe what style Manchester United would play and they are already a contradiction of that

Before kick-off last night, I spoke to a friend just outside the press box who has been a season-ticket holder at Old Trafford for more than 50 years. There was one pressing question.

"When was it truly last this bad?"

Without hesitation, he said the season Manchester United were relegated. He recalled a 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham in March 1974, decided by Ralph Coates. United were so harmless that pigeons were pottering about in Pat Jennings' penalty area.

It would be cruel to suggest Joshua Zirkzee operates at a slower pace than the feathered species. The reaction to his 33rd-minute withdrawal certainly was cruel.

Anthony Gordon offered Zirkzee a humane pat. Emotions can get the better of matchgoers in the heat of the moment. There were two braying fans in front of the press box. One of them donned a Jose Mourinho scarf while Louis van Gaal was still in charge.

The stick Zirkzee got was deplorable. "I’m disgusted with our supporters who cheered when Zirkzee came off," a friend in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand messaged at half-time. "Absolutely fuming."

Only Harry Maguire has had it worse and that was during friendlies in Melbourne, Las Vegas and Dublin, games that attract casual fans unaccustomed to loyal matchday etiquette. Maguire has recovered from those public barrackings but Zirkzee's race is run.

It is not Zirkzee's fault the United brains trust signed him. They only did as he had a release clause and was Dutch. Dan Ashworth disputed the relevance of his nationality when this correspondent raised it with him.

No, Erik ten Hag had no connection with Zirkzee. He didn't with Wout Weghorst, either. Or Tyrell Malacia. United signed as many Dutchmen under Ten Hag in two years as they did in the previous decade.

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