When Erik ten Hag first arrived at Manchester United back in May, nobody could have possibly prepared him for just how big a challenge he was about to face.
It was obvious from the outset that the club needed a complete cultural reset, the squad was desperate a world-class coach and new signings were required. Just two games into the Dutchman's tenure, the season is already threatening to become a write-off, with United propping up the other 19 Premier League clubs.
Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Brentford, which saw United produce one of their worst performances in the club's rich and colourful history, left them bottom of the pile without a point to their name after their opening two fixtures. They are also yet to score via one of their own players, with the only goal they have conjured up coming via an own-goal in their opening day reverse to Brighton & Hove Albion.
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The identity that United appeared to have rediscovered during the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia has been anonymous in the opening two games, with Brighton and Brentford both making light work of Ten Hag's team, even if the 2-1 defeat to the Seagulls did not make such horrifying viewing. Performance-wise, however, it was just as bad and uninspiring.
United's collective failure in their opening two matches has stemmed from individual errors and a lack of belief, with the scars of last season still yet to heal. David de Gea, who deserved to start the season as Ten Hag's first choice goalkeeper after a good campaign last term, has been guilty of making costly errors at the back, while the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who both showed signs of promise Down Under, have gone missing. In all honesty, you'd have done well to realise that they were even on the pitch.
Having made the shambolic start they have done, it is little wonder that Ten Hag is desperate for reinforcements. He wants to add a midfielder, a wide player and a striker to his ranks before the window closes, but, in reality, he could do with changing his whole team. Realistically, when was the last time United actually played well? You might need a few minutes to answer that one.
Admittedly, the problems run far, far deeper than what Ten Hag, who was always going to need time to rescue what is effectively a sinking ship, can control, but you would struggle to believe that five United players who started Saturday's mauling in the sweltering west London heat are out-of-contract at the end of this season. Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, De Gea, Fred and Rashford will all see their current deals expire at the end of next June, meaning they have futures at Old Trafford to fight for this season, although it is highly likely that United will activate the option to trigger one-year extensions in each of their contracts.
But even if they do that, that would only take the aforementioned quintet up to the summer of 2024, meaning the one-year extensions would offer them a safety net. But as established, seasoned players, they would much prefer to secure long-term clarity on their futures and be tied down to longer contracts, opposed to putting pen to paper on a one-year deal and being in the exact same position a year later.
One of United's biggest mistakes in recent years has been their lack of long-term and strategic planning. They have retained players and allowed them to run down their contracts when they could have cashed-in and recouped sizeable transfer fees. Jesse Lingard is a prime example.
Of the aforementioned quintet, all five players are in Ten Hag's plans for now - but how long will that last if their current performance levels continue? De Gea, for example, will be nudging 34 by the time his contract, with the one-year extension activated, runs out in 2024. Will he still be United's first choice goalkeeper by then? Certainly not on current form.
Taking his form and age into account, United need to start planning for next year and the year after in that regard. Activating his one-year extension and selling him next summer would be the wisest move, ensuring they get some kind of fee.
Ultimately, however, it is down to United's players to prove that they are worthy of new contracts, even though performances have not dictated the club's contract decisions in recent years. While Phil Jones and Cristiano Ronaldo, should he stay this summer, are unlikely to have new deals offered to them next summer, De Gea, Dalot, Shaw, Fred and Rashford have something to fight for.
But if they continue to perform in the same vein as they have done in the opening two games, they won't even be worthy of their one-year extensions being activated. Regardless of United's recent contract failings, they need to start pulling their weight and showing some passion for the shirt.
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