Last week it was Atletico Madrid and Lisandro Martinez; this week Como and Bruno Fernandes.
Another defeat in Europe, another voice in the dressing room feeling compelled to cry out.
Such insubordination would once have meant instant dismissal even for the stellar likes of Roy Keane and David Beckham.
But today, a geological age of anguish later, almost all fans and probably most players feel the complainant is stating the obvious.
For many of the bedraggled army that still follow United in Europe, the sentiment was not for sacking another manager, but for removing the hierarchy.
You would hope that the richest United fans might resort to a revival of the Red Knights that tried to wrest control of the club in 2010.
Mere millionaires came up short last time, but if billionaires were serious, and fans make life difficult for Ratcliffe, you never know.
Beckham is a billionaire now. In 2010, he wore a green and gold scarf to give his support. He needs to rustle up a few rich cronies.
Club captain Fernandes did bring tactics into it, which are at Michael Carrick’s door, but the loathing for the ownership is ratcheting up several notches.
If losing at Atletico Madrid could not be compared to Grimsby or the recent home loss to Brighton after a two-goal lead, Como is in a league of its own.
As recently as 2019, Como were in Italy’s Serie D playing at a communal stadium with a capacity of just over 1,000.
They are managed by Cesc Fabregas, who is remembered as much for throwing pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson as for his spells in midfield with Arsenal and Chelsea.
At the ‘Battle of the Buffet’, it was just a slice; this was the whole pizza, deep-pan with lots of topping.
Como were all over them and United didn’t deserve even a late consolation.
To have progressed to Europe’s premier competition under a rookie manager in that time is a salutary tale for United. Another one.
In between these losses, United managed a creditable draw at Leeds, but they have won only two of ten games this season.
They are a precarious 21st in the Champions League table.
They’re on course for the second-round playoffs, but not a million miles from the ignominy of elimination (positions 25 to 36).
In the EPL, they are 13th, but play Bournemouth, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Liverpool next.
No one is predicting a surge up the table.
We pretty well know what will happen next. Carrick will cling on till December, eking out the odd result.
Jim Ratcliffe will say he’s “fully supportive” while interviewing all the usual suspects.
And so it goes on.
As the fans are all too painfully aware, changing the manager doesn’t work.
With the exception of Tommy Docherty’s five-year reign, United has had only two successful managers since the Second World War.
Matt Busby, appointed in 1945 – delayed while he completed military service – and Fergie in 1986.
Looking at the names post-Fergie, they should have done better.
David Moyes is still at it with Everton, having led West Ham to a European trophy.
Louis van Gaal is one of the giants of the era and, despite illness, took the Netherlands to a quarter-final loss on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup.
He was sacked immediately after winning the FA Cup with United and blames City’s “cheating” for his demise.
Jose Mourinho is now at Real Madrid, but he did win the League Cup and Europa League. United were not that bad in those days.
Ralf Rangnick lasted only months as an interim, but it’s widely accepted that he was “sacked” by Ronaldo.
Where was the hierarchy? Where were the Glazers?
And where were they when Rangnick gave his list of players he wanted United to sign?
Avert your gaze now, United fans, as it could be painful reading. Among them were: Erling Haaland, Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Josko Gvardiol.
With those and under his astute guidance – he was mentor to the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann – United could have outdone City.
And there are two more. Between the outbursts by Martinez and Fernandes, Erik ten Hag took a swipe as well.
The Dutchman revealed that he’d wanted Harry Kane and Declan Rice, but his request fell on deaf ears.
Fergie had famously said he’d suffered more pain dealing with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy than from his hip operation, so chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough didn’t try.
Even though Kane was desperate for the move!
Ditto West Ham and Rice. The Hammers didn’t want to sell, but Arsenal managed to prise their star asset away a year later for £110m.
With those seven players, United would have had a side to take on the world.
Ten Hag also partly blames City for his sacking, but in the period of City’s illegal £900m spending spree, United matched them almost pound for pound, totally above board.
But the Glazers surpassed that figure, taking out an estimated £1.5 billion in dividends and interest.
Absentee owners, incompetent directors. Enter Ratcliffe and the Politburo.
Where the Glazers treat United as a cash cow, to Ratcliffe it’s a hobby horse.
The billionaire sports fan loves to dabble in several and involves his petrochemical company, INEOS.
But unfortunately for him and his many victims, he has the Sadim touch – the opposite of Midas. Or, what has been dubbed the INEOS Curse.
In football, French club Nice have had seven managers in five years while Swiss club Lausanne suffered relegation before coming back up.
The dominant SKY cycling team lost their way when INEOS took over, as did Mercedes in F1 as soon as INEOS sponsorship came in.
Britain’s America's Cup sailing challenge ended in humiliation and litigation after Ratcliffe took over.
Even the mighty All Blacks suddenly became vulnerable with Ratcliffe’s backing.
Cash cow or hobby horse? Between them, the owners have cooked up a real dog’s breakfast.
It’s time for the Red Knights to ride again.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.