Ruud Van Nistelrooy interim, January clear out – Erik ten Hag Man United sack verdict
The pressure is mounting on Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag following their dismal 3-0 defeat against Tottenham.
United, who saw Bruno Fernandes just before half-time, were comprehensively beaten at home courtesy of goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke. The Old Trafford club started on the back foot and went behind within three minutes, as Johnson tapped home at the back post after Micky van de Ven’s fine solo run and cross. As United were preparing to go into the half-time break just one behind, Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on James Maddison.
That made the task even harder for Ten Hag’s side, who went 2-0 down moments after the interval, with Kulusevski expertly tapping home from close-range. Although United started to grow into the game, they were hit with a suckerpunch in the 77th minute as Solanke fired the ball beyond Andre Onana.
Image credit: Manchester Evening News
It ended 3-0, and there were boos from the United faithful after the full-time whistle. The defeat moves United down to 12th and behind Brentford on goal difference, having picked up just seven points from their opening six Premier League matches. They have also lost their last two top-flight home matches, having suffered defeat to Liverpool by the same scoreline four weeks ago.
Some have called for Ten Hag to be sacked after United’s latest humiliating defeat, while others believe he deserves more time to turn it around. With this in mind, our Manchester Evening News writers deliver their verdict on his future and whether he should be dismissed…
Kieran King
For me, the time for Ten Hag to leave United has come. In comparison to Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham – like this fixture last season – United didn’t look like they had a plan and a structure from the start. United appeared disjointed, disorganized and dysfunctional. Considering Ten Hag has been in charge for almost two-and-a-half years, that is worrying and it remains to be seen when – or whether – he will be able to change that.
I am in the belief that he won’t be able to put a successful style of football in place to challenge at the top of the Premier League – something United want to do – on a regular basis and therefore he should be sacked. The United board should do this before the crucial league trip to Aston Villa next weekend.
Who should replace him? In order to give United more time to get a replacement over the line, I would put Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined United in the summer as Ten Hag’s assistant, at the helm on an interim basis. As well as this, I would try and persuade Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna back to United.
Stephen Killen
With Manchester United chasing the third goal, finding themselves in the ascendancy, it looked like there was enough fight left to salvage a draw. On the face of it, by that point for 77 minutes, United had been second best, and far too many times in recent years has the Theater of Dreams been more of a happy hunting ground for the visitors.
The players looked lost, and there was rarely an attacking threat. There’s an argument that Erik ten Hag was lucky to remain in one of the most sought-after positions in football after last season’s performance in the Premier League. But the case for Ineos to move on is increasing.
With October and the international break around the corner, it poses the perfect opportunity to line up a replacement and allow for almost four weeks of preparation on the training pitch, with one Premier League game in there. By that argument, United should make a decision on Ten Hag, but their next step is to find a manager who can drill a structure into this team.
Millions upon millions have been spent to bolster the squad, and the struggles are clear to see. Would promoting Ruud van Nistelrooy, a United icon with just two domestic cup wins at PSV during his time as manager, work? Not in my eyes. United need a tactician who has experienced big personalities in the dressing room with a mix of success too, and the best option out there at this time is Thomas Tuchel.
Keifer MacDonald
While Tottenham will head back to North London, thrilled by a deserved 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford, it’s fair to say that a victory at this historic stadium does not signify what it once did.
For United, goals from Johnson, Kulusevski and Solanke resigned them to a second consecutive home defeat in the Premier League and ensured that until they are in action in midweek, speculation surrounding Ten Hag’s future will be rife.
For United, the most worrying aspect of the afternoon wasn’t the fact they were beaten by a misfiring Tottenham side but the ease at which Ange Postecoglou’s side were able to record this resounding triumph.
And the sight of Micky van den Ven cutting through United’s midfield and defence just minutes after the referee’s whistle had signaled the start of play at Old Trafford did little to dispute the theory that Ten Hag has little buy-in from United’s current crop.
Of course, this defeat alone won’t be enough for the Dutchman to be given the boot by United chiefs, but with games coming thick and fast – including against FC Porto and Aston Villa – perhaps his time in Old Trafford is running out.
Amie Wilson
Things have to change at United with the performance against Tottenham, just as against Liverpool at the start of the month, highlighting the difference between where United want to be and where they actually are.
There are however some problems with sacking Ten Hag at this moment in time. The first is the impression that it would give, after handing the manager a new contract in the summer and then backing him with a budget of over £100 million in the summer, giving him just six Premier League games in quite a dramatic U-turn.
The second is the problem that United encountered in the summer: just who comes in as his replacement? There’s no real standout candidate; Mauricio Pochettino has now taken up international management with the USA. Graham Potter is still out of work but struggled with one big job at Chelsea, meaning he would be a massive risk.
Giving the job to Ruud van Nistelrooy on an interim basis could be an option, but I’m not convinced he has the experience necessary to take on a job where so much needs doing. His only managerial experience came as one year in charge of PSV.
Therefore, while it’s not an ideal scenario, I think that Ten Hag should be given a bit longer to try and turn it around, with maybe a clear out of the squad in January needed. A change with no real plan in place can sometimes do more damage than good.