Manchester United were on the end of another disappointing defeat at the hands of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle on Wednesday night and yet another record they’d rather not have broken as their poor start to the season continues.
As well as the Carabao Cup holders being knocked out of the competition by the team they met in the final last year, the defeat to the Geordie boys just days after losing the Manchester derby by the same scoreline meant that this was the first time Man United have lost by three goals or more since 1962.
To put things into perspective, while the club is back on the up since their takeover, it was the Magpies’ biggest win at Old Trafford in over 100 years (7-4 back in 1930) and also saw the Red Devils mark their eighth loss in their opening 15 games of the season for the first time since 1962/68. Yikes.
They are some truly shocking stats and, sadly for Reds, the unwanted accolades don’t stop there — not even close. Here are some more of the bad records Man United have broken under Erik ten Hag.
United’s loss to Newcastle saw another unwanted record tied to ten Hag’s mast.
The EFL Cup defeat didn’t just see United notch a fifth home loss from their opening 10 fixtures for the first time since 1930-31 but even before that, the damning 3-0 defeat to Man City on Sunday also saw them register a 26th league loss at Old Trafford in nearly a decade since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
For context, that’s more home defeats than Sir Alex suffered during his entire 26-year career at the Theatre of Dreams. The historic stains just keep coming, both domestically and continentally.
When Galatasaray beat ten Hag’s side 3-2 at Old Trafford just last month, it was the first time the Turkish team had ever won a game on English soil in their entire 117 years as a club; it was also the first away goal they’d scored in the Champions League full stop since 2015.
United had already equalled their worst start to a league season since 1989 before this European fixture, which also saw them suffer consecutive defeats in their opening two UCL games for the first time ever (yes, another one), and things don’t look to improving any time soon. Honestly, we could go on for quite a while but, luckily, one fan already beat us to it.
Records broken so far this season –
– Galatasaray hadn't won a game on English soil in 117 years of existing, until Erik Ten Hag.
– Manchester United had never lost the opening 2 CL group games, until Erik Ten Hag.
Club legend Gary Neville summed things up yet again last night by saying he saw the “Theatre of Dreams turn into the Theatre of Nothing”, describing every supporter inside the ground as “bored and flat”, before adding, “We’ve seen it before, we know how it ends and we’ve had enough.”
The question is, the way it’s going at the minute, how long will the 53-year-old be given if it continues like this and the football doesn’t improve?
While most fans still believe the club’s ownership is the root of the problem and things won’t change until the Glazers are gone, many are also wondering if this group of players have already downed tools as has been suggested with managers in the past.
As for the Dutch coach himself, speaking in the post-match presser after the latest defeat, he assured that the team knows the performances are “not good enough”, let alone the results themselves, insisting that he “has to take responsibility” for their failures so far this season and turn things around.
Featured Images — Manchester United/Newcastle United (via Instagram)
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Manchester City set to re-sign former youth keeper James Trafford
Danny Jones
Manchester City look set to re-sign their former academy goalkeeper, James Trafford, just over two years after he left the club.
The Burnley shot-stopper was signed by the Lancashire side back in June 2023 after he impressed in two consecutive seasons on loan at Bolton Wanderers.
Now, just a few transfer windows later, it looks like Man City are set to fend off interest from other Premier League outfits for the chance to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement is already in place for him to return to Manchester in the next few days.
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City agree deal to sign James Trafford as new goalkeeper, here we go!
Deal in place with Burnley under value of £40m buy back clause. Trafford said yes to Man City as Pep Guardiola wanted him.
According to Romano, the Cockermouth-born and Carlisle-blooded keeper, who joined the City youth setup at the age of 12, will be signed once again for a fee below the previously reported £40m price tag.
Although the details of the contract are yet to be fully confirmed, it is said that City maintained the option to match the bid of any other team that came in within three days as part of the stipulation.
Backed up by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, it seems the club have done just that, entering a matched price of £27m (before add-ons) after an offer was made by Newcastle United.
Once again, the wages he will earn upon returning to the Etihad remain undisclosed, but you can assume they have promised a more attractive package than Newcastle; you would expect some assurances surrounding playing time, too.
Although Ederson is the first-choice goalkeeper on paper, he and backup keeper Stefan Ortega have been increasingly rotated across multiple competitions, and the 22-year-old said in an interview back in 2021 that he believes he has the potential and talent to become “Manchester City’s number one.”
Here are some of the highlights from the previous term.
Having impressed at youth level for England and most notably keeping 29 clean sheets – conceding just 16 goals in all 45 league fixtures in 24/25 – with Burnley securing automatic promotion as one of the best defences in the EFL, he’s not just a young prospect any more: he’s a sought-after shot-stopper.
It seems only a matter of time before his comeback is officially announced by the clubs, with Trafford preparing to sign a five-year contract with his old employers and where the bulk of his youth development took place.
The question is, Man City fans: can you see him pushing Ederson and Ortega, who have both been linked with moves away themselves, for the starting gloves?
Meanwhile, although Pep might be looking to phase in a new go-to between the sticks, another member of his senior squad who has struggled to nail down a consistent spot in the first XI could, conversely, be on his way out the exit door.
Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away
Danny Jones
Manchester City star and England international, Jack Grealish, has been linked with leaving for a possible Serie A switch as the midfielder is reportedly eyeing an exit from the Etihad Stadium.
The 29-year-old is already being monitored by a number of clubs here in England and in mainland Europe, but it appears that Italian champions Napoli have emerged as the latest and seemingly strongest suitors looking to add Jack Grealish to their growing roster.
A number of outlets are reporting interest from the ‘Gli Azzurri’, who have already signed former Man City talisman Kevin De Bruyne this summer, and look to be continuing with a productive period of recruitment ahead of defending their fourth league title – the second in the space of three seasons.
It wouldn’t be a change in colour or even in position, apparently, as they have identified him as a number of left-sided targets this summer, according to the likes of Corriere dello Sport.
🚨 Jack Grealish remains on a list of wingers still being considered by Napoli, @CorSport claim 👀🩵
The former Aston Villa favourite was left out of the FIFA Club World Cup after Pep Guardiola revealed the pair had shared “honest” discussions regarding his future in Manchester, but did reassure that it was the “best” decision for him and is not ruling out a resolution before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Telegraph‘s Matt Law states that Grealish has returned to City but only to train alone and will remain apart from the rest of the team until an outcome has been decided.
Other clubs that are said to be keen on tapping up the dynamic winger and attacking midfielder include Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle and even Everton are thought to be exploring a potential approach.
Guardiola‘s squad are expected to resume training on 28 July following a much-needed break post-tournament, which they crashed out of in the round of 16 following a shock defeat to Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Meanwhile, it is claimed that the England star has already flown to Naples.
As per Manchester Evening News (MEN), Grealish’s driver, Salvatore, told the ‘Radio Goal’ show on native station Kiss Kiss Napoli that the footballer is already training privately on the Amalfi Coast.
The outlet also recently wrote that the 29-year-old would be available if the right offer came in, with Man City supposedly wanting around £40 million for his prospective sale.
Jack Grealish is now considered well within his traditional ‘prime years’, and arguably soon to exit this crucial period for any athlete, so he will no doubt be pushing hard for a move this summer if his place with the sky blues is still undecided.
Despite being a well-regarded talent and regularly picked for his national team, the Brummy-born footballer has struggled to cement a spot in the starting XI under Pep, so perhaps leaving City might be the best for both Grealish and City, who are continuing to rebuild with new personnel.
He’s not the only Manchester-based star looking to the continent for a new lease on life.
Danny Jones -
2nd November 2023 
