The searing question for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford can be simply framed: is Erik ten Hag two or three signings from transforming Manchester United or does a new manager need hiring because the Dutchman is culpable for the disjointed play, points dropped deep into added time and the flatlining performance of Marcus Rashford and others?
As Ratcliffe, who executes United’s football policy, and his key lieutenant, Brailsford, assess whether Ten Hag is the manager for them there is a body of evidence to work through that takes in serial injuries, the Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho sagas, Antony’s “off-field issues”, the powderpuff structure they inherited and a chronic scattergun recruitment policy.
