Manchester United’s winless start to the season continued tonight with a humiliating annihilation at the hands of League One side MK Dons. A second-string starting line-up was put out by United manager Louis Van Gaal, whose side are struggling to adapt to his unfamiliar 3-5-2 system, boasting several very inexperienced players, but such a lifeless, uninspiring performance would’ve brought back unwanted memories for United fans of the doomed David Moyes reign. It was a performance very similar to the one against Olympiakos just six months ago, where Moyes’ side were emphatically beaten 2-0, which many consider the fatal moment of the Scotsman’s tenure at Old Trafford. Just like in Greece, today’s result was not only an embarrassing scoreline, but an embarrassing performance too, with the team lacking energy, creativity and rhythm throughout.
In what was Manchester United’s first appearance in the League Cup for 19 years, the visitors at the Stadium:mk started strongly, dominating the ball, as you would expect of a Premier League side coming up against a team that is playing football two divisions lower. Their possession was not able to be converted into goals, however, and a horrible Jonny Evans mistake midway through the first half gifted the hosts a dream lead through Will Grigg, tapping home into an empty net after Evans had lost possession, under very little pressure, just six yards from his own goal.
United had announced earlier this evening the signing of Angel Di Maria, but his arrival clearly had not lifted the players, with MK Dons’ dynamic, tireless performance completely blowing the team away, despite the gaping gap in ability between the two sides. It has to be said that United’s defence consisted of four players whom many would not recognise, but there can be little excuse for their impotence in attack, with no shot on target registered until the 72nd minute, despite that the likes of Javier Hernandez, Adnan Januzaj and Danny Welbeck being on the pitch.
MK Dons’ second came shortly after the hour mark, when a quick break found Grigg unmarked inside the penalty area, who cheekily chest the ball past De Gea into the corner. Questions will be asked about the defending, but when you see that the young Michael Keane had lost possession on halfway, and then Anderson, someone not known for defensive talents, had lost Grigg in the box, it does offer some explanation as to why the goal was conceded. Substitute Benik Afobe, on loan from Arsenal, then added two goals of his own, first sliding the ball under De Gea’s feet, who had a very poor evening, as with the rest of his team, before sealing the emphatic victory with a left-footed half volley six minutes from time, after bundling his way through several half-hearted United tackles.
James Wilson went close to finding a consolation whilst Januzaj hit the post, before Javier Hernandez’s sitter late on summed up what was a disastrous evening of football for Manchester United. There is still much work ahead of their trip to Burnley on Saturday, and more importantly, there is still business that needs to be done in the transfer market before it shuts next Monday.