Manchester United have one way to escape tedious cycle - and it's not sacking Erik ten Hag

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.

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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.

He has spent a lot of money but was let down on signing many of his top targets. His team selections are often baffling, but his hands are tied by the injuries he has to deal with. His style of play is still elusive; okay, there is little defence for that.

As the manager of one of the biggest sides in the world, there is no escaping the scrutiny that has rightfully been directed at the Dutchman in recent weeks, though there is also no quick fix to suggest that sacking him would actually solve anything either.

Ten Hag is a problem, but he is not the problem at United. That was the same with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and it was the same with Jose Mourinho too. There is no outstanding