Sir Dave Brailsford would agree with chant aimed at Manchester United in Nottingham Forest defeat

It could be the theme tune to this Manchester United season. "What a waste of money," belted out the Nottingham Forest fans as Antony trudged off the City Ground pitch early in the second half.

The TV cameras didn't show the reaction of Sir Dave Brailsford, but as he conducts a review of United's football operations, he can only possibly come to the same conclusion. Former cycling supremo Brailsford was the king of marginal gains on two wheels. There's nothing marginal about the extent to which United overpaid for their £85million Brazilian winger, or to the level to which he is underperforming.

Nothing sums up the mistakes and missteps in the recruitment department as the pursuit of Antony. Having told Ajax they wouldn't pay £60million in July 2022, they instead coughed up £85million on a desperate deadline day deal. On the form he has shown this season, he is barely worth £8million.

ALSO READ: United player ratings vs Nottingham Forest

ALSO READ: Nottingham Forest vs United as it happened

His return to the team at Forest came about as a result of Rasmus Hojlund's illness and it was over early in the second half as he once again proved to be a totally ineffectual attacker in the Premier League. Footage soon showed the 23-year-old looking accusingly at his leg, presumably citing an injury rather than an inability to control it.

Antony scored in this fixture in April. Incredibly, that is his last goal for United. In 30 games since then, not only have there been zero goals, but there's been one assist. That was 23 appearances ago.

That is a woeful record and he is borderline unselectable now. Hojlund will surely be fit to return against Wigan, but even if he's not, Erik ten Hag's patience with the winger whose signing