Turns out it takes more than a slick PR campaign and the appointment of an iconic manager to restore the fear factor at Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal was hired to end humiliations likes this but this bore all the familiar hallmarks of last year�s catastrophic season.
All of usual signs were there. The presence of a stern-faced Sir Alex Ferguson in the directors� box, accompanied by Ed and Avram Glazer; the small knot of away supporters celebrating in the corner, goading their rivals and making more noise than the remaining 70,000 fans; the stunned incredulity all around at the sheer ineffectiveness and mediocrity of United; and fans slowly drifting away in resignation towards the end.
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