Eventually that performance will be put into context. An XI that had never played together, several of whom are unlikely to start league matches, in a largely empty stadium, and when they had only been selected because the competition is not top priority, is always likely to produce a sub-par performance. Not as bad as the Barnet game, though. But individuals will survive that. A year and a half ago, I went to watch United Under-23s play a friendly at Matlock, when both Duffy and Brookes played. In a low intensity match with less strong team-mates, I concluded that Duffy was past it and Brooks would never make it. By the end of the Boxing Day massacre, I had changed my mind...