Premier League: Ten Hag may go but little will change at Old Trafford

Another season and another Manchester United manager under threat.

10 years since David Moyes was shown the door for failing to do the impossible job of filling Alex Ferguson’s shoes, we have had seven men take on the top role at Old Trafford, at full-time, caretaker, or interim level. And 10 years on, the picture as to who is Ferguson’s true successor is no way clearer.

Just Spurs

A United encounter against Spurs always recalls the famous story of a Ferguson half-time team talk, back in 2001, when United were 3-0 down to Spurs in a league match at White Hart Lane. The dour Scot came into the dressing room to perform what the players expected would be the famous hairdryer treatment. A tirade of abuse that would blow them away. Instead, Ferguson calmly queried his players abilities and professionalism, especially when they couldn’t even get the better of Tottenham Hotspur. Discounting the opposition, rather condescendingly, by pointing out to his team exasperatedly, “Lads, it’s just Spurs.” United went out in the second half and won it 5-3. Those were the good old days for United and Ferguson definitely had the drop on the North London side. In the 42 times he played them in the Premier League, he only lost four and remained unbeaten against Spurs for another 12 years after that 5-3 result in 2001.

Suffice to say ‘it’s just Spurs’ doesn’t hack it so much these days. United haven’t beaten them now since 2022 and after last Sunday 3-0 home defeat it won’t be until 2025, and away, before the Red Devils get an opportunity to address that statistic.

Same again

In the typical deluge of a Manchester autumn evening, the United boss Erik ten Hag looked a forlorn figure on the sideline, not unlike so many of his immediate predecessors. The Dutchman perplexed at the unravelling of a team that cost in the region of £600m to assemble.

Unlike, his side’s other two defeats in the league this season, to Brighton and Liverpool, when Ten Hag had the excuse at least that his side were down a few key players and new gs, United were as close to full strength as they could be against Spurs. Yet the manner of the defeat to the Lilywhites was upsetting for management and fans alike. That it was the side’s second 3-0 home defeat in-a-row in the league, predictably kicked off the speculation on Ten Hag’s future and naming of possible replacements.

This is not new for the Dutchman; he was informed by the club owners after last season that they had looked at alternatives to him but that no one suitable was found to replace him and so they were giving him their full for the following season.

With that kind of blow to your ego and with the players in full knowledge that the bald lad on the sideline is circling the sinkhole, it may not be surprising that we are seeing the side struggle to play with the kind of charisma and drive one would expect from players at Man United and more important market value.

And while another unfavourable result in tomorrow’s away game to Aston Villa may very well spell the end of Ten Hag’s tenure at United, there is absolutely no guarantee that his replacement can be presumed to improve the situation at Old Trafford.

Let us consider that United have had some serious talent on the sideline since Ferguson left: Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, et al, all came with immense managerial or playing reputations, but all have failed to return the United to the promised land. Indeed, with each new manager the prospect of an all dominating United team looks further away.

United can keep changing the manager but the common denominator across all these years has been many of the players. And the idea that another new manager is suddenly going to start winning seems fanciful.

Flaws

There are questions on what Ten Hag is trying to do at United as there seems to be little shape or commitment to tactics by the players and these flaws are being exposed a lot now. 

That Micky van de Ven tore through United from inside his own half to the byline and then send in a cross for Brennan Johnson to tap in unmarked for Spurs’ opener without a single tackle, was inexplicable from a side that looked like it was set-up to press high and hard. Diogo Dalot put up his hand for the blame for not even attempting to keep track with Johnson’s run. But about four tackles were missed on Van de Ven’s run, long before any Dalot negligence came into the goal’s reckoning.

The Spurs players deserve their credit in a great goal too, but the blame must still fall on United player’s shoulders, especially when you consider that Bart van Rooij did almost an exact replica run four days earlier to create Sam Lammers’ equaliser for FC Twente in the Europa League draw also at Old Trafford.

It looks like Ruud van Nistelrooy is lined up for Ten Hag’s job if United continue to leave gaps in their lines like this. And with the type of commitment shown by these players, especially the senior ones, it looks like it’s just a matter of time.