Manchester United lost 4-0 to Crystal Palace in a game that not many fans thought the team would win anyway due to the injury issues, but the manner of defeat was shocking.
The players looked like they were caught in a tornado of Palace shirts and the fans who were there to see the team would be forgiven for being dejected.
After all, it was a bank holiday Monday night kick-off, an arrangement so bad that United arranged coaches for fans due to a lack of transportation facilities.
However, the loyal away fans not only made their way but kept singing till their throats were sore despite what was unravelling in front of them.
The players at least recognised the support and applauded the fans at full-time with their heads hung in shame while fans continued to serenade them.
Well, only the players did that.
Erik ten Hag went straight down the tunnel instead of appreciating the travelling support which was the only bright sign in a disaster for United on the pitch.
While this might seem like a minor thing in the grand scheme of things, the failure to read the room is not a new theme for Ten Hag.
His bond with supporters has largely been forged out of good results in the first season but there is no “cult of personality” connection where he makes them the 12th man in games.
In fact, he has repeatedly called the fans out for not understanding his way of thinking when he has never managed to convey it properly.
When a manager is under pressure, fan support and style of play can go a long way in keeping them in their job.
Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and most strikingly in David Moyes’ case, either started facing boos in the ground or their playing style started grating.
For Ten Hag, playing style has been a worry for a while but fans, tired of seeing managers leave constantly, have stuck by him but it hasn’t been reciprocated in the same way.
“Charisma” was often said to be his weakness even when he joined and that jumps out even more in tough times. Unfortunately for Ten Hag, his lack of acknowledgement of the travelling support at Palace is another example to support that theory.
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