yes, you're right the EU split the negotiations in two forcing the UK into a much weaker position. Mrs May should never of agreed. Weren't there even bi-lateral talks between Ireland and the UK on the ways to get a near frictional border but these were stopped by the EU as it is really an EU border rather than an Irish border?Original Post Deleted
The below was a good future view of the negotiations for article 50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYdGAAYW_EI