It feels like every year at Old Trafford, Manchester United reach a new low. 'It's the worst start in 30 years', 'the worst run of form in decades', 'the lowest league position in 40 years'. These kind of stats are becoming all too familiar for Manchester United fans. It's got to the point where it's almost desensitizing.
United are the worst they have been for a long time. That much is obvious given our 15th place finish in the Premier League last year. United's time under Ruben Amorim was a time of United truly accepting that their journey back to the top of football was going to be a long one. But even through Amorim's reign, United didn't fall this low.
United's loss against Brighton in the 3rd round of the FA Cup means United have now exited both cup competitions at the first time of asking, after the humiliating loss to Grimsby in the 2nd round of the EFL Cup. Couple that with the rare occurrence of United not qualifying for European competition of any sort, it marks a new low.
Manchester United now play just 40 games in all competitions this season. The full Premier League season, plus a single game in each cup competition. No Europe. No cup run. A husk of a season.
United to have shortest season in a century after second cup exit
It is the first time the side has been knocked out of both domestic cups at the first time of asking in over 40 years. Even worse, it's the lowest number of games Manchester United have played in a single season since 1915. United have gone from unflattering comparisons to the team of the 1980s, to having the worst record in over a century.
United are, of course, not the worst they've been in a century. United were relegated in the 1970s, so the grass is comparatively green in the present, but it's still a damning comparison. It points to a perfect storm at Old Trafford, including poor recruitment, poor management, and a complete downing of tools from the players.
Last season was the worst Man United season that many fans had ever seen. For comparison, that United team played 60 games, including a run to the Europa League final, although it ended in a loss to Tottenham. That team still had some fight left in them. This team is simply past caring.
Despite all the doom and gloo, every cloud comes with a silver lining. Players and managers so often complain about the overloading of the schedule, with increased match loads bringing increased risk of injuries. United players can now have a necessary amount of rest between games, which will hopefully keep the squad fit and at its best.
It also allows the team to entirely focus on the Premier League, where United are still within touching distance of Champions League qualification. But with the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and the likelihood of any interim manager being changed again in the summer, it's becoming obvious that this season is a write-off.