Different dugout - same dire, desperate, dismal Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag decided to switch the home bench to be closer to the Stretford End but it turned out that was the only change he has introduced. First things first, let nothing dilute the excellence of Brighton and the brilliance of Graham Potter, who welcomed his new Dutch adversary with a tactical masterclass.
And let nothing detract from the two smart Pascal Gross goals that gave the visitors their first-ever win at Old Trafford. But in case any supporters had their memories erased by the arrival of Ten Hag and by some pleasant summer kickabouts, this was a grisly reminder of just how stunningly mediocre this United squad has become.
Why would anything change when Fred and Scott McTominay - the latter lucky to dodge a red card for a horror foul on Moises Caicedo - form your midfield hub? Why would anything change when Harry Maguire spreads panic? Why would anything change when Marcus Rashford struggles to trap the simplest of balls? Why would anything change when the entire ensemble does not look fit enough? To think Ten Hag might have some sort of magic wand up his sleeve is not wishful thinking, it is pure delusion.
The soundtrack to this Old Trafford opener was a familiar one, a pre-match protest and a low hum of Glazers Out, heard by one of their number, Avie. It is a refrain that continues to fall on deaf ears but the discontent does not make for a positive atmosphere about the place. And this group of players needs all the positivity it can get. Technically, they are a world away from the elite, their issues typified by the distribution of David de Gea.
You really don’t have to be a coaching genius to come to the conclusion that you cannot play out from the keeper if the keeper cannot play. If Ten Hag wants his keeper to pass it, he needs to change his keeper, simple as that. Not that passing failure was restricted to De Gea - far from it. That Fred lasted until the 53rd minute was a bit of a mystery while Rashford’s touch and finishing prowess have gone into long-term hiding.
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In contrast, Brighton’s passing was crisp, accurate and purposeful, leading to a couple of first-half goals. Gross finished with dual-footed expertise on both occasions but his chances were made by smart interchanges that, firstly, ended with Danny Welbeck’s assist and, secondly, with a Solly March that De Gea could only plate up for the scorer. United’s only clear first-half chance had arrived before Brighton struck but Bruno Fernandes spooned it into the stands.
Their half-time deficit was a reflection of United’s mediocrity but, needless to say, they livened up after Cristiano Ronaldo replaced Fred and when Brighton, either consciously or subconsciously, decided to sit back. There was, though, a significant element of fortune to the goal that got United back into the contest.
While the VAR John Brooks did not even look at what looked like an obvious penalty after Lisandro Martinez had bundled Welbeck over, he did decide that the ball had not come off Diogo Dalot’s arm before a mix-up between keeper Robert Sanchez and Alexis Mac Allister led to the midfielder's own goal. But not even luck can help this Manchester United squad. Ten Hag has got one hell of a challenge on his hands - and it will take more than switching seats to meet it.
