‘Inconsistent and awful!’ - Man Utd told they are ‘horrible to watch’ as embarrassing Nottingham Forest defeat shows club are ‘back to where they are’

The Red Devils suffered their ninth Premier League loss of the season at the hands of Nuno Espirito Santo's side on Saturday. Nicolas Dominguez netted the game's opening goal at the City Ground, with Marcus Rashford equalising 12 minutes from time. Unfortunately for the under-pressure Erik ten Hag, Morgan Gibbs-White would later earn Forest all three points with a fine finish from the edge of the box.

Analysing the game for Sky Sports after the final whistle, Redknapp revealed that he was not impressed with United's performance. "Manchester United are so inconsistent. They are horrible to watch. They have no real appetite, desire, it looks like they are playing under duress. There's not enough ambition or desire," the former Liverpool midfielder said.

Neville, who was commentating on the game, was equally unimpressed. "Manchester United are back to what they are - inconsistent and awful. They walk off the pitch a defeated bunch. United fans behind the goal will go off so disappointed. But let's not forget about Nottingham Forest who have been absolutely wonderful today," he said.

He added: "I'm not really sure what this Manchester United team is.' He continued. 'It's a very difficult watch. I think everyone accepted that Erik ten Hag did a very good job in his first season. With the new ownership, Sir Dave Brailsford's going to be on a watching brief, week in, week out now. We're going to see him appear there in the directors' box. He's going to look at what this club is, on and off the pitch. What he's seeing at this moment in time he isn't going to like, along with all the fans behind the goal who travelled to Nottingham today.

"Ten Hag needs his players back - [Lisandro] Martinez, [Harry] Maguire, Casemiro, [Rasmus] Hojlund, Luke Shaw... and he needs to somehow finish the season strongly. But it's been a really up-and-down season. It's more down than up. Some of these performances are really, really poor. Well below anything that should be required at this level."

The result leaves United in seventh heading in 2024. They are nine points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal - and that gap will increase if the Gunners gain a positive result against Fulham on Sunday. Perhaps more worrying has been the team's startling lack of goals, with struggling Luton Town netting once more than the Red Devils this season.

The second half of 2023 has been miserable for Ten Hag and Co. In total they suffered 21 defeats in the calendar year, with the club only registering worse records in 1930 (28), 1972 (25) and 1921 (24).

Ten Hag has never been under more pressure at Old Trafford than he is right now. Not only has the team's form been woeful, the club's new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is now in control of sporting matters. Should the Dutchman not convince Ratcliffe that he is the best person to take United forward, he could be shown the exit door.