This is the topic of discussion among our SunSport experts in the Big Debate. Last weekend’s victory against Fulham temporarily masked the issues that arose following consecutive 3-0 losses to Manchester City and Newcastle.
Nevertheless, Erik ten Hag’s position at Old Trafford remains uncertain, and a single poor result could lead to a dramatic change in mood. However, The Sun’s Manchester United correspondent, Neil Custis, argues that Ten Hag’s achievements from the previous season have earned him some leeway.
Custis elaborated, stating, “I think what he did last season put a lot of credit in the bank, he had a fantastic first season. So I think that is keeping him going.”
“Currently they’re just staggering over the line in terms of the victories they have had.”
“You know late goals, injury time goals and penalty saves which shows the spirit, but they are nowhere near as good as they were last season in terms of playing.”
He added, “I’ve seen this with a multitude of managers where when it starts to unravel, it unravels very fast and managers struggle to keep reins on it and stop it going to a complete mess.”
“So I think it would be ridiculous to get rid of him, I think he’s the right man for the job, but I think he has a tough few weeks coming along.”
Charlie Wyett, The Sun’s Football Editor, concurs with this view, suggesting that Ten Hag should be given until at least the end of the season but doesn’t anticipate a long-term stay for him. He argues that the team’s third-place finish last season made them appear better than they actually were.
He explained,”They say the league table doesn’t lie. But I think sometimes it does. I don’t think Man Utd were the third best team last year, I thought Newcastle were a better team.”
“And I think the problem by finishing third was Man Utd fans hoping to move on and maybe finish second, realistically not too many expected them to win the league, but they’ve gone backwards.”
“He’s had 18 months there £400million, ten permanent signings (and) only a couple of them have really worked.”
As for the issues plaguing the Red Devils, some blame the owners, but both Custis and Wyett agree that the club’s primary problem is a lack of a top-quality striker. Despite the £72 million investment in Rasmus Hojlund, Wyett believes the club had an opportunity to sign Harry Kane a couple of seasons ago.
It’s evident that the squad’s attackers are currently underperforming, with Marcus Rashford experiencing a poor run of form, Antony failing to produce, and Jadon Sancho being sidelined. Custis also attributes injuries to key players, including Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Lisandro Martinez, as factors affecting the season’s performance but not the attacking struggles.
Custis commented on Rashford’s situation, saying, “I think Rashford has lost his touch. There may be off-field distractions or a loss of focus that’s affecting his performance.”
Ten Hag’s appointment aimed to address the issue of player power at the club, with Custis referring to Jose Mourinho’s conflict with Paul Pogba as an example. Custis also agreed with Mourinho’s assessment of Anthony Martial, describing him as disinterested in playing football.
Wyett acknowledges that resolving the player issues at the club won’t be easy but predicts that Ten Hag won’t be with the team by the end of the season. He believes Ten Hag deserves an opportunity to get the best out of the summer signings, such as Hojlund, who may shine in a couple of years but lacks the experience needed for the current situation.
Custis hopes Ten Hag remains at the club until the end of the season for the benefit of Manchester United, emphasizing the need for continuity and the challenge of finding a suitable replacement in case of his departure. He believes Ten Hag’s ideas, principles, and determination align with the club’s needs.
Manchester United performance and stats
Manchester United is currently 3rd in the Champions League with 3 points.
In the last 3 games, it has won once and lost twice. In its last match, Manchester United won 1-0 against FC Copenhagen.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 6 goals and conceding 7.
Manchester United will play the next match in Champions League against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday 8th of November in København. The prediction is Manchester United winning the match.