Should Man Utd sack Erik ten Hag after a poor start to season?

After a promising campaign in Erik ten Hag’s debut season as Man Utd boss last term, optimism was high ahead of this campaign as it was thought that United would be able to continue the rebuild and close the gap with Manchester City.

Man Utd even spent over £150m and strengthened several areas of the squad last summer. However, things haven’t gone according to plan for the Red Devils so far this season.

Ten Hag’s side have already lost half of their first 18 games of this season in all competitions. So, questions have already started to emerge as to whether the former Ajax boss is the right man for United to take them forward.

Story of last season & issues this term

United tried to play a counter-attacking brand of football last season, though they showcased glimpses that they could play an expensive style of football but those performances only came against weaker oppositions.

Man Utd have a team – who are comfortable playing in a counter-attacking system as their previous two full-time managers Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deployed that system at Old Trafford.

However, Ten Hag has tried to break the mold and has been looking to implement his possession-based style of football this season. But, United don’t have many players who can straightaway fit into that system.

So, the Dutch boss has prioritised signing technically gifted players to implement his preferred style. Lisandro Martinez – who already achieved success with Ten Hag at Ajax – was purchased last summer. Despite being short in stature for a top-level centre-back, the Argentinian’s ability with the ball at his feet is second to none.

The South American has established himself as an integral part of Ten Hag’s system at Old Trafford and he was a fundamental part of United’s success last term.

However, following his injury absence, United struggled to showcase their best during the business end of last season. Although he returned to full fitness in the first few games of this term, it was revealed that his injury hadn’t healed properly so he had to undergo surgery for the second time.

United have struggled to showcase their best amid the Argentinian’s absence and it has been suggested that he won’t be returning to action before the end of this year. Those with Manchester United tickets who watch games week-in, week-out, know how important Martinez is to the team, and his absence is a huge factor in United’s poor form.

On the other hand, Ten Hag wanted to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona to help implement his system quickly at United. But, the former Ajax star refused to leave the Blaugrana so United couldn’t manage to secure his signature at the beginning of last term.

However, after failing to sign the Netherlands international, United surprisingly opted to purchase Casemiro from Real Madrid in a £70m deal. Although the Brazilian has showcased over the last few years that he is a top-class defensive midfielder, he isn’t a similar type of player to De Jong. Casemiro’s defensive quality is second to none but he lacks efficiency with the ball at his feet.

Martinez played a key role in covering Casemiro’s lack of quality with possession last term. However, the Brazilian has been exposed after the Argentinian’s injury problems.

Ten Hag has been trying to use Christian Eriksen in the deep-lying playmaker role as United only has the Dane – who can do the job that the Dutch boss demands from his holding midfielder. However, the former Tottenham Hotspur star lacks the mobility and dynamism to play in a highly intense environment.

United purchased Mason Mount from Chelsea to support Eriksen as the Englishman is a hard-working midfielder. However, he doesn’t possess the necessary attributes to play as a deep-lying playmaker.

So, questions have started to arise as to why Ten Hag decided to sign Casemiro and Mason by splashing around £130m.

Man Utd injury issues

Man Utd have been struggling with their long injury list this season and it’s extremely hard for any manager to keep the performance level very high without several first-team players.

It has already been mentioned that Martinez has been ruled out for an extended period and along with him, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro and Luke Shaw have also been on the long-term injury list.

The recent additions to that list are Jonny Evans and Eriksen. New summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has also suffered an injury and is expected to return to action before the end of this month. Along with them, several other players – who are now fit – missed out due to injury problems at some point this season. In addition to that, Jadon Sancho and Antony’s off-the-field issues haven’t helped Ten Hag either.

Conclusion

When things don’t go right, managers generally get the blame and that usually happens at big clubs. However, United’s hierarchy has shown over the last few years that they can’t be trusted to make the right decision regarding the football department.

United lack identity on the pitch since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and the United hierarchy opted to appoint different types of managers – who have different philosophies over the last decade.

So, every manager has found themselves in a difficult situation to implement their style of football. In addition, United’s recruitment team has shown that they lack the knowledge to sign the right player for their existing boss.

Therefore, there is no guarantee that things will get better at United if they decide to sack Ten Hag over the coming weeks.

United have failed to showcase their best this season, however, there were glimpses in their displays in the last couple of games – which suggests that they are moving forward.

Ten Hag showcased his playing style during his time at Ajax and the United fans would certainly like to see Man Utd displaying a similar style of football.

However, it is extremely difficult to replicate the same system at Old Trafford for Ten Hag when his current squad isn’t suited to play like that. With time and proper recruitment, Man Utd could do that over the coming years. So, it would be the right decision to give the former Ajax boss more time.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is seemingly on course to buy a minority stake at Man Utd and it has been suggested that he is set to take over the football department.

So, United fans will be hoping that the Englishman will be able to appoint the right people to the recruitment team and if that eventually happens then Ten Hag’s job will get easier a bit.

Ten Hag is a very good manager and with time and proper backing, he would be able to turn United’s fortune around over the coming years. So, sacking him wouldn’t be the right decision from the Red Devils hierarchy.