It was rather predictable, wasn’t it? That we’d end up back here, in this familiar setting. As last season concluded, Jim Ratcliffe, Dave Brailsford, and other leaders of Manchester United’s Ineos team had discussions with several prospective replacements once the squad concluded their Premier League run in an unimpressive eighth place with a negative goal difference. However, they ultimately retained Erik ten Hag as the team’s manager. Who wouldn’t have envisioned that another series of disappointing performances would lead us back here, only a few million pounds in the red after acquiring a host of Dutch and near-Dutch athletes?
This is typical of United, where complications often arise from comparing contemporary struggles with the legacy of Alex Ferguson, who slogged through some challenging seasons before capturing league glory in his seventh year. The fans’ instinctual response is usually one of endurance. No fan relishes the idea of becoming the next Pete Molyneux, the supporter famous for displaying a signs at a match just six months prior to the monumental 1990 FA Cup victory that propelled Ferguson’s career. His banner read, “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap … goodbye Fergie.”
The previous season’s FA Cup progress only adds to the entanglement, especially when considering the major victories over Liverpool and Manchester City. For those seeking any connect to the Ferguson era, there were plenty to be found. But the modern-day FA Cup can’t be compared to its past glory days, and the 1990 run, though fortuitous, does little to mask how incredibly lucky United was last season. A staggering triumph over Liverpool is one thing, but shouldn’t United defeat teams like Newport or Coventry without any hiccups?
Fast-forward to now. If the performance during the first half against Tottenham on Sunday wasn’t Ten Hag’s rock bottom, it’s simply because there are plenty other dreadful contests to choose from – four goals surrendered to Brentford in his first season or the six let in during the first half at Anfield in 2023, and certainly the complete 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last May. They played without structure, zest, and discipline, seemingly devoid of even a shred of confidence.
Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United seems increasingly uncertain with each game. He’s at the helm of a drifting and seemingly lost team. As with Atlético Madrid’s recent stadium closure following a derby disturbance, it appears the football world never ceases to shock.
Antoine Griezmann, the World Cup Champion, has pronounced his retirement from French football. On the back of a 3-0 victory at Southampton and a larger, 7-0 triumph in the League Cup against Barnsley, some suggested momentum was growing for United. But many undermined these wins, with Barnsley being a League One side and United’s pre-penalty performance against Southampton lacklustre. Doubts over United’s prowess were further fuelled by a distinctly poor final half hour in a goalless draw at Palace. Does the drawing against the bottom teams prove their ascendance in football?
In a recent match against Twente, Ten Hag’s infamous doughnut reemerged, leaving a gaping hole in the midfield. United fell into a peculiar pattern of letting in strange goals – like the way Micky van de Ven, even with his renowned speed, managed to snatch the ball and thunder forward 60 yards uninterrupted to set up a goal. It showed a lack of structure and defensive control that’s usually worked on rigidly in training.
The same issue arose anew just two minutes into the second half of that game. Lisandro Martínez made a rash attempt to control the game which consequently let Brennan Johnson sprint 50 yards unchecked, eventually setting up Dejan Kulusevski’s goal. Martínez is known for his unpredictable style, but it’s that kind of irrationality that characterises United’s current form. Bruno Fernandes’ unlucky dismissal after falling and inadvertently catching James Maddison, came as a result of a misguided lunge; a more composed player may have avoided such a blunder.
Perhaps the most significant criticism is the fact that United had regained traction in the game and were giving Spurs a hard time. Yet, Ten Hag’s decision to make a double substitution with only 17 minutes to go led to the alleviation of pressure United had been asserting on Spurs; Dominic Solanke netted a goal merely four minutes afterwards. A comparable scenario played out at Palace last week, with Ten Hag’s alterations handing the advantage to Palace.
There existed a supposition that retaining Ten Hag provided Ineos with a gradual decline, a figure to blame in the event of an unfortunate start to the season. However, United completed signings worth £180m during the summer transfer window, with Ten Hag likely having some influence over these decisions. This already appears as if funds were poured into a failing entity. As more matches give no positive outcome, their indecision to find his successor, despite seemingly having the desire to do so, appears feeble. It portrays a club uncertain of its own desires or lacking the strategic insight to finalise their ambitions.
Thus, the ship without a captain continues to drift aimlessly, devoid of any clear strategy, structure or leadership. Although the Glazers might not be in control any longer, it’s becoming apparent that no one else is either. – Guardian.