10 months ago
Manchester United's play plunged to caller depths connected Wednesday nighttime erstwhile Erik 10 Hag's broadside were dumped retired of nan Carabao Cup pursuing a 3-0 conclusion against Newcastle.
The consequence came conscionable 3 days aft they were brushed speech by neighbours Manchester City by nan aforesaid scoreline, pinch nan Red Devils losing successive location games by 3 aliases much goals for nan first clip since 1962.
Ten Hag is facing mounting pressure aft overseeing nan club's worst commencement to a play successful six decades, after losing 8 of their opening 15 matches of a season.
Man United will look to respond against Fulham successful nan Premier League connected Saturday, pinch nan nine lying eighth successful nan table, 8 points disconnected nan Champions League places.
Here, Mail Sport's experts reply cardinal questions connected Man United's malaise.
Manchester United slumped to a dismal 3-0 conclusion to Newcastle successful nan Carabao Cup
The consequence accrued unit connected head Erik 10 Hag aft a dreadful commencement to nan season
THE REPORTER - CHRIS WHEELER
Define nan existent Man Utd successful 1 sentence…
A nine successful disarray from apical to bottom, sleepwalking into different situation arsenic a consequence of absent owners, sub-standard leadership, a head who is losing power and players who don't look to care.
How overmuch do you blasted Ten Hag? How agelong does he last? Who could do better?
That's 3 questions! Erik 10 Hag has to return a batch of nan blame. After 18 months, this is his squad now and United person spent £400million putting it together. The Glazers didn't fto Tino Livramento waltz done to group up nan first extremity for Newcastle. The players are failing Ten Hag, though, conscionable arsenic they did pinch each nan different managers earlier him.
He lasts arsenic agelong arsenic United's nervus holds. It's ever difficult to say, but nan truth we are airing these questions openly now shows he's successful trouble. And, thirdly, there's ever personification amended to do nan occupation until they get it. Old Trafford has go a graveyard for managers. We've seen them travel and spell complete nan past decade.
Even legendary coaches for illustration Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho move into handbasket cases astatine United.
Ten Hag has been capable to style nan squad complete 18 months truthful must return a batch of nan blame
Legendary coach Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho were worn down while astatine Man United
Where will they decorativeness this season?...
My caput says seventh because location are (at least) six amended teams than United successful nan Premier League. My bosom says eighth because I don't want to screen nan Conference League adjacent season.
If City are a Rolls-Royce, what are United?
An aged VW Golf convertible. Sexy successful nan 90s but has seen amended days acknowledgment to immoderate not-so-careful owners. Oh, and nan tile leaks.
Let's springiness United fans immoderate hope. Something affirmative you tin say…
Christmas is coming! No, moreover Sir Alex Ferguson needed clip to get it right. In his 2nd afloat season, United vanished 11th, sandwiched betwixt Millwall and Wimbledon.
THE OLD ENEMY - MARTIN KEOWN
Define nan existent Man Utd successful 1 sentence…
This is simply a sinking vessel taking connected much and much h2o pinch each defeat, having suffered their eighth of nan play successful that utterly miserable showing against Newcastle astatine Old Trafford.
How overmuch do you blasted Ten Hag? How agelong does he last? Who could do better?
The existent failings of 1 of nan world's biggest clubs are a corporate work of nan unit and players of nan first team.
But it is nan head who, pinch his power connected selection, signings and tactics, takes nan eventual power and blame. Ten Hag knows nan rules and realises he is perilously adjacent to losing his job. I've not seen immoderate grounds of advancement successful their performances this season. There's been a chopped deficiency of unity from nan squad and an absence of a clear imagination from nan manager.
There tin beryllium nary semipermanent early for Ten Hag. He must simply spell from crippled to crippled to find if he stays aliases goes, and that makes Fulham connected Saturday lunchtime a immense match.
Manchester United's 5 wins successful nan Premier League this play person not been convincing
Fans must cling to nan dream wounded deed players like Lisandro Martinez tin return and impress
Where will they decorativeness this season?
Eighth is nan position they inhabit and, successful truth, it is difficult to spot them finishing higher than that successful their existent state.
Even nan 5 Premier League wins they've secured person hardly been convincing. They needed 2 stoppage-time goals to hit Brentford 2-1. They had to travel backmost from 2-0 down to triumph 3-2 against Nottingham Forest. They edged past Wolves, Burnley and Sheffield United, each of whom were disappointed not to time off pinch astatine slightest a draw.
Without a monumental upturn successful form, it is difficult to spot United cracking nan apical six, fto unsocial nan apical four.
If City are a Rolls-Royce, what are United?
I'll mention you to my first reply — they're a sinking vessel listing successful nan larboard of Salford.
Let's springiness United fans immoderate hope. Something affirmative you tin say…
United fans tin only cling to nan dream that a boatload of injury-free players move up soon to springiness them options, pinch influential defenders Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez among those sidelined.
THE UNITED FAN - ANTHONY HAY
Define nan existent Man Utd successful 1 sentence…
Martin's right. A sinking ship.
How overmuch do you blasted Ten Hag? How agelong does he last? Who could do better?
The work falls connected nan head contempt nan players' incompetence.
Ten Hag has been backed successful nan transportation marketplace to nan tune of £400m and is failing to get nan champion retired of high-profile signings specified arsenic Antony, Casemiro and Mason Mount.
It looks for illustration he has mislaid nan dressing room, which intends his sacking is inevitable. Zinedine Zidane, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and Antonio Conte should each beryllium considered.
Antony Hay believes Ten Hag has mislaid nan dressing room and his sacking his now inevitable
Ten Hag has been backed but has grounded to get nan champion retired of awesome signings specified arsenic Antony
Mason Mount arrived for £60m successful nan summertime but has grounded to make a important impact
Where will they decorativeness this season?
A top-four decorativeness already looks retired of reach, truthful nan champion United tin dream for is 5th spot.
If City are a Rolls-Royce, what are United?
A stalling three-wheeler that has tally retired of gas.
Let's springiness United fans immoderate hope. Something affirmative you tin say…
Kobbie Mainoo. It's unfair to pin your hopes connected an 18-year-old but he would astatine slightest bring immoderate passion, hunger and thrust to United's faltering motor room.
THE PUNDIT - CHRIS SUTTON
Define nan existent Man Utd successful 1 sentence…
This is simply a rudderless nine presently trapped successful a joyless rhythm — they train, they play, they flounder, they frustrate, past they spell again.
How overmuch do you blasted Ten Hag? How agelong does he last? Who could do better?
Manchester United took awesome guardant strides arsenic a squad past play but this word nan guidance of recreation is backwards.
Erik 10 Hag has spent £400m since taking complaint and that, I'm afraid, is connected him. United person an upcoming tally of games which, successful different eras, you would expect them to stroll. It feels arsenic if Ten Hag cannot spend to suffer immoderate of them, surely not Fulham tomorrow.
Are location alternatives retired there? Tottenham recovered Ange Postecoglou, who has fixed them an contiguous identity. Brighton recovered De Zerbi, who did nan same. United request to find their ain messiah if they do push that large reddish button. The large names haven't helped Ten Hag — the show of Antony kicking Jeremy Doku to people points pinch supporters astatine nan extremity of their 3-0 nonaccomplishment to Manchester City was grim, arsenic was Bruno Fernandes's typically bad attitude — but nan head needs to judge work for United's wide decline.
Ten Hag has spent complete £400m since taking complaint but Man United are now going backwards
Antony's conflict pinch Manchester City's Jeremy Doku was petulant during nan derby defeat
Big names including Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes person not helped Ten Hag's cause
Where will they decorativeness this season?
I'm looking down nan array from wherever they are, not up. What person we seen to propose otherwise? Maybe a caller head tin spark a revival but correct now I'm predicting 11th, their first bottom-half decorativeness successful nan Premier League era.
If City are a Rolls-Royce, what are United?
They're a spluttering three-wheeler and, arsenic Del Boy mightiness opportunity successful Only Fools and Horses, it's carrying excessively galore plonkers.
Let's springiness United fans immoderate hope. Something affirmative you tin say…
I for illustration Rasmus Hojlund, but his imaginable will beryllium wasted if he is dragged down to United's level. So my reply to if location is thing affirmative to opportunity is… no.
THE WRITER - OLIVER HOLT
Define nan existent Man Utd successful 1 sentence…
A squad going backwards fast; a nine successful limbo.
How overmuch do you blasted Ten Hag? How agelong does he last? Who could do better?
I for illustration Ten Hag and he still has a small in installments successful nan slope from past season. But it's moving out.
He has to return a large stock of nan blasted because his recruitment successful nan adjacent season, and successful general, has been poor. Mount looks lost, Sofyan Amrabat is disconnected nan pace, Andre Onana doesn't moreover look bully pinch his feet anymore, Hojlund has committedness but is excessively raw, Antony's a elephantine discarded of money. And Ten Hag's determination to name Fernandes arsenic skipper has been a catastrophe.
Time is starting to tally retired for Ten Hag. All nan tell-tale signs of a man nether aggravated unit are there. He is making unusual action decisions. He is making bizarre excuses for atrocious displays. If United suffer to Fulham and FC Copenhagen, he will struggle to survive.
Oliver Holt believes Brighton leader Roberto De Zerbi would beryllium nan apical prime if Ten Hag leaves
Holt believes it difficult to spot Man United's business improving nether nan Glazers' ownership
Anyone who would do a amended job? De Zerbi would beryllium nan No 1 choice, surely. Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate. Arne Slot is incredibly good regarded successful nan Netherlands and beyond. The problem is that going to United seems to destruct nan profession of each head who steps crossed nan threshold.
Ten Hag bears overmuch of nan blasted for what is happening but not each of it. United are rotting from apical to bottom. The recruitment stinks. It's reliable for immoderate head to woody with. Until nan ownership business is sorted — and that intends much than Sir Jim Ratcliffe owning a 4th stock — it is difficult to spot things improving significantly.
Where will they decorativeness this season?
They're eighth now and I don't deliberation that's a mendacious position. They whitethorn creep up a spot aliases 2 because Brighton, for example, mightiness slice because of nan demands of European shot connected a much shallow squad. I don't spot United finishing higher than sixth.
If City are a Rolls-Royce, what are United?
A rusting Ford Capri. They look astir 30 years retired of their time.
Let's springiness United fans immoderate hope. Something affirmative you tin say…
Chelsea are moreover worse.
THE BLUE HALF - JACK GAUGHAN
Define nan existent Man Utd successful 1 sentence…
A confused transportation argumentation contributes to a confused head contributes to a confused team.
How overmuch do you blasted Ten Hag? How agelong does he last? Who could do better?
In nan summer, I thought Ten Hag would struggle pinch nan 2nd season, pursuing a shape of managers since David Moyes. I wagered he'd get nan twelvemonth and if adjacent play started poorly past October 2024 mightiness spot his clip up.
That each feels for illustration it's accelerated. His messaging aft Sunday was truthful muddled that he doesn't look to cognize which measurement is up. There has to beryllium an constituent of blasted astatine his door, particularly erstwhile nan increasing power of his agency SEG is factored in. As for others, look astatine nan feline successful nan different dugout connected Wednesday. Newcastle person had importantly much return connected their finance pinch Eddie Howe.
Where will they decorativeness this season?
Top six, definitely. And that's pinch aliases without Ten Hag. It'll amended either measurement but nan grade to which it does will beryllium cardinal to nan Dutchman's future. Eight points down Liverpool successful 4th already feels ominous. But that is nan shape of things astatine United complete nan past 10 years: 1 measurement forward, 2 back.
Newcastle person much return connected their finance pinch Eddie Howe than United pinch Ten Hag
Fans person to judge Sir Jim Ratcliffe revamping nan shot broadside tin boost their fortunes
If City are a Rolls-Royce, what are United?
I learned to thrust successful a Mini Cooper. Nippy thing, felt a spot for illustration a go-kart. Could really spell done nan gears. So I bought one; a fewer years aged but still pinch each nan speed. The reality was that it spent astir of its life astatine nan mechanics and yet ended up juddering to a halt. Its exhaust erstwhile fell disconnected down Carrington Lane, extracurricular United's training ground. No durability.
Let's springiness United fans immoderate hope. Something affirmative you tin say…
It can't get immoderate worse and nan tally of fixtures coming up isn't excessively bad. More broadly, fans person to judge Sir Jim Ratcliffe clears nan decks connected nan shot broadside and starts again. From a recruitment side, they've been moving nan deckchairs connected nan Titanic pinch scouts and others for excessively long.
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