The key question for Jim Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford boils down to Erik ten Hag’s ability to turn around Manchester United’s fortunes: Is he a few signings away from transforming the club or, are his strategies causing the team to falter, drop points in critical moments and undermine the performance of players like Marcus Rashford?
Ratcliffe, United’s chief football strategist, and his right-hand man Brailsford, have to sift through a plethora of factors. They need to weigh in on issues like recurring injuries, the complex situations surrounding Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho, Antony’s personal problems, the inherited weak team structure and an erratic recruitment approach.
These problems could blur the true potential of Ten Hag’s suitability for the role. However, his achievements last season paint a clearer picture – when Greenwood, Sancho and Antony plus the injury woes weren’t there, the Dutchman ended a six-year spell without a trophy by winning the Carabao Cup, secured a place in the FA Cup final and secured a third-place finish overall.
He achieved all this, despite having to clean up from the previous season’s debacle which saw the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, interim manager Ralf Rangnick announcing the club’s dire need for a radical overhaul and a dismal sixth, 35 points behind city rival Manchester City.
After considering this information and its impact, Ratcliffe and Brailsford must turn their focus to a team calling out for fresh blood. The challenge lies in choosing the right players who could further lift Ten Hag’s plans while working within profitability and sustainability limitations.
Although it might not be feasible to repeat last summer’s three major signings worth over £40 million, if a similar move is possible, Ten Hag could greatly benefit from the inclusion of a central defender, midfielder and a prolific scorer. While there might also be cases for bringing in a new goalkeeper, full-back and winger, the immediate focus should be on bolstering a defence that has conceded the highest number of shots (224, leading by eight) in the Premier League.
The central defense lineup of Manchester United, which includes Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans and Raphaël Varane, often is hindered by frequent injuries or patchy performances, or a combination of both. Despite this, only Martínez poses the quality to elevate United back to the champion contenders they once were. However, he is currently sidelined for roughly four weeks due to a muscular issue, adding to his previous injury absences due to foot and knee issues.
Maguire maintains a prime spot on the team following unsuccessful attempts to trade him last season. An equally peculiar scenario is the enlistment of 36-year-old Evans, who after impressing in a trial during the summer was acquired free of charge. The fiscal austerity experienced by Ten Hag is indicative in this move. Varane showcases unimpressive pace and is highly susceptible to injuries, while Lindelöf seems to lack the assertiveness and confidence required to tackle forwards.
The defensive lineup would ideally feature new additions like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, or Leny Yoro from Lille. One can imagine a formidable defense lineup featuring a constantly fit Martínez, assisted by Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw. This would definitely enhance United’s defense.
Turning our attention to the midfield, where the ageing Casemiro exists, a perfect accomplice for Kobbie Mainoo would bring a blend of skill, cunning, and defensive knack. An example could be Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle. Additionally, the signing of a battle-hardened forward to partner Rasmus Højlund like Jarrod Bowen from West Ham would be beneficial. Bowen, who can operate centrally or wide, currently boasts 15 Premier League goals.
Hard-pressing this ideal XI from the sidelines would be Rashford, Casemiro, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Willy Kambwala, Scott McTominay, Amad Diallo, and Mason Mount. The appointment of the new CEO, Omar Berrada, and perhaps the imminent arrival of football director Dan Ashworth – subject to a settlement agreement with Newcastle – will reassure Ratcliffe and Brailsford that Ten Hag is fully vested with the tools for success.
In this situation, Erik could be the one essentially put on the spot to display his capabilities. However, on the flip side, Ratcliffe and Brailsford are pointing fingers at the Dutchman, blaming him for significant problems within the team due to his role in recruiting Casemiro, Mount, Onana and Antony. These signings have been unimpressive. A lack of strategy during games, a weak outlook, along with the added late defeats at Chelsea as well as the extra-time draw at Brentford, have all resulted in loss of crucial points in the race for Champions League football. Rashford’s diminishing performance and inappropriate behaviour outside of football add to the troubles. The baffling strategy of re-defining the roles of Maguire and McTominay, who were initially planned to be sold last season but have now become essential elements in the current one (with the latter tying as United’s top league scorer) adds to the confusion.
Given this multitude of different problems, it can be understood why Ratcliffe and Brailsford are unsure about the best way to proceed. They may believe that if United does not win the FA Cup and fails to achieve Champions League football, their next steps may become clearer.
Moreover, they could still determine that Ten Hag, who has two years of experience in one of the most pressure-filled positions in English football, presents their best option, and it would be wiser to persist with him than gamble on a new manager who could potentially let them down.
Having a 27.7 per cent ownership of United was a lengthy process for Ratcliffe, primarily because of the time it took to negotiate the conditions of his demand to oversee football matters. Now that the 71-year-old has this control, he must fully grasp the enormous challenge he has taken on.