The 2023/2024 season has been a horrible season to be a Manchester United fan, for different reasons, but mainly the football being played by the team in a campaign that had high expectations.
Erik Ten Hag is in his second season at United, after finishing third in the league and with a Carabao Cup + FA Cup Final appearance in his first year.
It’s been downhill since. With three games remaining this season, it’s clear to many that the Dutchman is facing a sack at Carrington, and with new standards being set by the recent arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe/INEOS in the club’s football management, there’s a lot to be done and it seems to begin with the coach at the helm.
It’s important to note SJR has already indicated he’s likely to throw his weight behind Ten Hag staying for another season, a different approach to dismissals suffered by the likes of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjæ, and Jose Mourinho.
So despite being supported by the man in charge of all football operations at United, why do I think Ten Hag deserves the sack this season? Here are the three main reasons which I think carry heavy weight in the argument for Ten Hag to be relieved of his duties.
Letting De Gea go for Onana was a colossal blunder
There is absolutely no reason under the sun that can justify rejecting David De Gea’s apparent contract demands for a move for Andre Onana. Before the start of this season, United decided to let their best player go, on a free, probably with Ten Hag’s recommendations to go after Onana, who had just played one of his best games for Inter Milan in the Champions League final against Man City.
Judging by Onana’s performances last season, the move kind of made sense when paired with the type of football Ten Hag wants his side to play, but a ball-playing goalkeeper needs a ball-playing backline and a smart midfield anchor. United have had neither this season.
Sure, the argument for injuries to Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Raphael Varane for the majority of the season can be made, but the side’s defensive stats haven’t been good enough this season. The side concedes an average of 17 shots per Premier League game and this has led to Onana shipping in 81 goals, the most in a single campaign since 1976-77.
With that said, Onana has also shown he’s clearly a talented goalkeeper; you have to be to be signed by Man United. In terms of clean sheets, he’s in the top five this season still, but remember De Gea won the Golden Glove in his last season at United.
Perhaps a wiser thing to do with Onana would’ve been to purchase him AND keep De Gea to guide through the pressure that comes with being a Red Devil.
Most new players haven’t delivered
Onana aside, almost all of Ten Hag’s new players haven’t fully delivered, with some facing the exit door with just one season under their belt at United. I’m still shocked by the amount of money spent on Antony, which hasn’t yielded anything because he is clearly not at the level required to play for a top Premier League team.
Mason Mount has spent the majority of this season injured, which makes one wonder, who sanctioned a move for an injured Chelsea reject? Rasmus Hojlund has showed potential but the obvious question again is, did United need potential or a proven killer in front of goal? I lean towards the latter. The decision to take Sofyan Amrabat on loan has been a weird one because he’s hardly been used. Midfielders need consistency to stay fit and on the top of their game, Amrabat hasn’t even been given adequate time on the field to show what he can do; why was he brought in?
The less said about the decision to bring back Johnny Evans, who was relegated with Leicester last season, the better.
Where’s the style of play Eric?
We’re a few games away from the end of the current season but if you were to ask any Man United fan or football fan who watches the Premier League what style of play is played by Eric ten Hag’s side, many would struggle to point it out. The fact that he gets asked about this many times should have informed him by now that the style isn’t visible yet.
Man United play in disjointed moments. One moment they can produce a really good move going forward that can result in a shot or goal, or turnover position and score, but in between all of that is a lot of schoolboy mistakes and championship-level football on display.
The best coaches for me are ones who can work with any players available, coaches who are able to stamp their style of play on a side despite not having favored players in place. A brave coach.
United lacks bravery and leadership. A manager who will put his foot down and say ‘play this way or you’re out of the team’ – there seems to be no consequence for United players not playing the way Ten Hag wants them to play.
Players drop stinkers week in week out, and they are still on the team sheet next week. What message does this send to academy players and players breaking through to the first team?
Left-back latest ℹ️
Erik gives a positive @LukeShaw23 update when asked about potential defensive reinforcements this summer 👇#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 5, 2024
With plans for the 2024/2025 season already under way, it will be interesting to see what United eventually decides seeing as there isn’t a great pool of managers available at the moment.
