Manchester United substitution vs Newcastle summed up failings on and off the pitch

Subs say it all

Somehow Manchester United were still in this game with 10 minutes to go, but the double change Erik ten Hag made said it all about the strength of this squad at the moment, partly as a result of injuries but more accurately through muddled recruitment and out-of-form players.

Two like-for-like attacking changes had already been made and that left Ten Hag with nowhere to turn. The final roll of the dice features an on-loan left-back and an on-loan defensive midfielder being thrown on. It was hardly a double substitution to strike fear into the hearts of the Newcastle defence. When Amrabat smashed United's last shot high into the Gallowgate, it summed it up.

The alternatives were hardly encouraging. Facundo Pellistri has rarely looked good enough for United and Donny van de Beek is now a passenger here to make up the numbers. United have injuries, but would Christian Eriksen or Mason Mount have made much a difference? It's hard to imagine Mount would have done on his contribution so far.

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In a way, it felt like this was the substitution that summed up the travails of modern-day Manchester United. Two players signed on deadline day, on temporary loans, being thrown on in positions that were never going to hurt Newcastle. It's difficult to envisage any of United's rivals getting themselves into a similar situation.

Ten Hag's instructions

When United finally went behind in this game the TV cameras picked out Ten Hag, sat dejectedly in the dugout, shaking his hand ruefully. The goal took 55 minutes to come, but it had been on the cards throughout this game.

You could hardly blame Ten Hag for that look of