Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier (centre) is tackled by Manchester United’s Youri Tielemans (left) and Andrey Santos during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Sunday October 25, 2026. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Staff takeaways from another embarrassing defeat.
Suwaid: Santos Is the Latest Underwhelming Midfield Signing
Andrey Santos is a tidy player. He’ll likely look fine in a side that’s a neutral favourite. One that enjoys a large share of possession, embarrass the post-SAF United on the odd occasion, and play lots of short passes, but Manchester United are none of that. United have been here before, where the future of the midfield and the season relies on an unknown: Sofyan Amrabat, Manuel Ugarte, and now Andrey Santos.
Ultimately, what we see is a shortcut: players who would perhaps contribute their bit to a team punching above their weight but look anonymous on the big stage. It’s why they don’t get the big move or underwhelm when they do. Of course, Michael Carrick’s imminent end will be the big story of the day, but United’s tendency to take shortcuts has been the story for over two decades. Andrey Santos can’t do a lot more, but those who can have failed everyone.
Colin: 3 for 3 in 3-0 L’s to Bournemouth
If I had a nickel for every time a Manchester United manager lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth I’d have three nickels in the last four years. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird it’s happened thrice.
The apparent new bogey team at home is also a team that entered Saturday with some struggles. The wins are hard to come by for most Premier League sides at the moment, but for United this felt like an opportunity against another struggling side. That was far from the case.
Bournemouth wasn’t just an Andoni Iraola team. There is an identity of working hard and forcing opponents into uncomfortable, physical battles that was established by Eddie Howe and built upon later by the now-Liverpool boss. That identity was apparent again at Old Trafford, and overwhelmed a United team that has no identity to fall back on at the moment. There is history at United, a history that Michael Carrick tried to reignite with pragmatism and a solid understanding of the team’s strengths last season. That understanding is gone now after a woeful summer transfer effort and a spiralling case of poor leadership across the board at the club.
Manchester United deserved to be embarrassed in all three losses to the cherries since 2023, and they’ll deserve the next beating too if they don’t find the right people and players to establish a new brand.