ANDY DUNN’S VERDICT

JUST as Craig Pawson blew the first whistle of Manchester United’s latest defeat, the closing bell was being rung on Wall Street.

As United were about to collapse to an embarrassing loss, their stock was showing yet another rise.

No points collected at Old Trafford on Monday, but the same could not be said on the New York Stock Exchange.

Shares in the club began yesterday’s trading at an all-time high. United, at the opening bell, were valued at a figure close to £3.3biliion. The Glazers paid around £800million for the club 13 years ago.

When Kohler became a shirt sleeve sponsor this season, they became the club’s 54th commercial partner.

The morning after Jose Mourinho’s cringeworthy reaction to a thumping loss, United launched a pink third kit, with an asking price of £65 for the jersey.

It will sell in its hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

Manchester United the brand has never been stronger. Manchester United the team has rarely been so bland.

For now, the latter does not affect the former. For now.

But as consummately skilled a businessman as he clearly is, Ed Woodward (below) will know that will not stretch into the long-term. He does not want United’s commercial strength to even plateau. But for it to keep soaring year on year, there has to be success on the field.

There has to be a better product than the one served up by Mourinho of late. He has to somehow put a smile on the face of the football club once again.

At Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham, supporters see managers who look like they are having the time of their lives… Mourinho looks like he is hating every minute.

But he deserves the chance to recover from this poor start, he deserves an opportunity to re-energise this talented squad, he deserves a chance to make United an attractive watch once again.

Over two full seasons, he has done a decent job. And as the dollar mountain grows for the Glazers, there seems no urgent need for change anyhow. But that will not last.

Managerial upheaval, before August ends, makes no sense, even though Jose sounds as though he is losing the plot.

But while the moneymen might be happy right now, Mourinho needs to rediscover his mojo pretty sharpish.