One step forward and two steps back. That’s Manchester United ever since Sir Alex Ferguson and while they’ve made progress under Erik ten Hag, that old saying rings true. In order to evolve, they need better - as their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle shows. Better than Scott McTominay and Wout Weghorst, in particular.
Manchester United had gone into the game with Newcastle looking to boost their chances of finishing above the Toon and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
But that didn’t happen, with goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson inflicting a painful defeat on Ten Hag’s side.
There were many bad performers for the Red Devils on Tyneside, with United looking fragile at the back, woeful in midfield and devoid of any attacking intent.
Marcus Rashford was anonymous, Diogo Dalot was given the runaround by Allan Saint-Maximin and Luke Shaw was a weak link, too.
But McTominay and Weghorst were arguably the worst of the bunch.
McTominay has been a good squad player for United over the years, ever since being given his debut by Jose Mourinho during the Portuguese’s spell at the helm.
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Yet five years on and the midfielder just isn’t good enough to play for the club on a weekly basis.
It was surprising to see Fred left on the bench, especially given the progress the Brazil international has made since Ten Hag’s appointment.
Potentially United are using McTominay wrong. He was a striker in his youth, while he operates well as a box-to-box player.
He is not, though, an anchorman and pales in comparison to Casemiro - who missed the contest against Newcastle through suspension.
McTominay has had plenty of chances to save United millions on players such as Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham, of Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
But this experiment must end this summer and the Red Devils will need to dip into the transfer market to acquire a world-class replacement.
Man Utd takeover LIVE: Sheikh Jassim 'wants' £106m deal after Glazers 'let down' Ten Hag
Manchester United's prospective new owners may have some concerns about how their season could yet take a turn for the worse as the club's Champions League hopes hang in the balance following their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday. Erik ten Hag's side were well beaten at St James' Park as United slumped to fourth after their third game without a win, but it is unlikely to put off their potential suitors.
Man Utd star Scott McTominay was poor during Newcastle defeat (Image: GETTY)
Yet United require better and it’s no surprise they’re eyeing the likes of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhem, of Tottenham and Napoli respectively.
Speaking after United lost to Newcastle, meanwhile, Gary Neville slammed Weghorst and said he ‘lacks the quality’ to play week in, week out.
“He does play his part,” he said. “It’s a big issue.
“He doesn’t deserve to be criticised, I think he is doing his very best. He works as hard as he possibly can but he just lacks the quality that a player in that position should have at Manchester United.
“He’s filling in obviously with [Anthony] Martial being injured. [Cristiano] Ronaldo’s left. [Edinson] Cavani left at the start of the season.
“Manchester United don’t have a centre-forward, really.”
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Man Utd star Wout Weghorst offered nothing during Newcastle defeat (Image: GETTY)
And Neville also believes Ten Hag was ‘let down’ after Ronaldo’s exit by the Glazers, adding: “He was badly let down in January.
“That Ronaldo interview that was done with Piers Morgan, I think was done in November. And he was always going to leave at the start of the World Cup.
“Manchester United then had six weeks before the transfer window began and they made a conscious decision not to give Erik ten Hag the money - because they haven’t got the money.
“They made a conscious decision to say you have to bring in someone on loan and he was left then with [no] options - who’s going to loan Manchester United a world class striker in January? So they ended up with Weghorst.
“I don’t blame Weghorst at all, I think he’s done a really good job. He obviously isn’t good enough to be a Manchester United striker, but Erik ten Hag was doing really well for the Manchester United players and he needed support in January with a top class striker.”