“DUMB MONEY” was Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s verdict of Manchester United six years ago. That could apply to his own time as co-owner.Now that he is sat in the Old Trafford directors’ box, Ratcliffe wants a free pass. It would account for the choice of certain soft interviewers he has granted access to since he invested in United.Man Utd have gone backwards under Jim Ratcliffe, though he does not like to hear itPAThe Red Devils have lost 19 games since hiring Ruben AmorimShutterstock EditorialTellingly, Ratcliffe has never spoken to the dedicated journalists on the United patch in Manchester. This correspondent was the only one present for the Knightsbridge summit to mark his minority stake in February 2024.But Ratcliffe has a bee in his bonnet with those who cover United. “The press, sometimes I don’t understand,” he complained on The Business podcast.“They want overnight success. They think it’s a light switch. You know, you flick a switch and it’s all going to be roses tomorrow.“You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”Whoever could he be referring to?In all seriousness, there is almost weekly constructive criticism of United because defeat has become so regular.Since the appointment of Ruben Amorim last November, United have lost 19 times. That does not include the generational nadir of their League Cup ejection by fourth-tier Grimsby Town on a penalty shootout.So that is 19 outright defeats in 11 months. There were no United matches during the three-month long close season. So it is 19 in eight months of playing time.BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSUnited finished 15th and trophyless last season, their worst campaign since relegation in 1974. And it was their first full term under Ratcliffe.And if anyone “goes off on one” the most it is Amorim. He promised a “storm” and billed last season’s side as “maybe the worst in the history of the club”. DOWNWARD SPIRALMatchgoers have gone off on one, accosting Ratcliffe outside Craven Cottage last season and airing an offensive chant about him that turned heads – including a startled Ratcliffe’s.Going back to when Ratcliffe entered the Old Trafford press room for a brief introduction to patch journalists in January 2024, United’s record reads: played 90, won 38, lost 28 and drew 24.Beyond results, the mismanagement has been rife on Ratcliffe’s watch. United sounded out every Tom, Dick and Harry to replace Erik ten Hag and then did not sack him after an interminable end-of-season review which drew conclusions that had long since been concluded.The club indicated they would negotiate new terms with Ten Hag. In the end, his contract was merely extended by a year.OVER £250M SPENTRuud van Nistelrooy was foisted onto Ten Hag later that summer. Predictably, Van Nistelrooy was made caretaker manager months into the season.United eroded Ten Hag’s authority with every major call and still allowed him to sign more Dutch-schooled signings as they invested more than £200million in his final transfer window.The club have already spent more than £250m under Amorim, whose odds to become the next Premier League manager to be sacked seem to shorten by the week.United, a club famed for producing wingers for the best part of a century, no longer operate with conventional wingers. There is scant evidence that the identity change will succeed.DIRECTORS OF FREEFALLBeyond United’s worst league finishes in decades, Ratcliffe has hiked ticket prices, relocated long-time season-ticket holders, overseen two rounds of redundancies and left staff morale on the floor.Ratcliffe thought Sir Dave Brailsford, a cycling guru, could improve performance at United. Brailsford is no longer on the scene after his predictably dismal impression of Sir Clive Woodward at Southampton.On Brailsford’s recommendation, United headhunted Dan Ashworth to become their inaugural sporting director. They spent more time pursuing him than the five months he lasted at the club.Those of us who write about United daily are duty bound to echo the supporters’ sentiments and channel their frustrations into analysis.We are also fair. There was widespread positive coverage of the harmonious pre-season tour of the United States as United performed well and the mood was undeniably upbeat heading into the season. Then the season started and regression returned.The clocks go back in a few weeks and United have gone backwards under Ratcliffe.