SunSport’s Big Debate: Erik ten Hag is the right boss for Man Utd… but he’ll never lead them to Premier League title
MANCHESTER UNITED’S struggles have seen many question whether Erik ten Hag is the right manager to lead the the club forward.
And that is the question our SunSport experts have been discussing on the Big Debate.
Last Saturday’s win over Fulham papered over the cracks after back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle.
However, Ten Hag remains on tentative footing at Old Trafford, and one bad result could end up resulting in a dramatic mood swing.
But The Sun’s Man Utd correspondent Neil Custis believes Ten Hag’s exploits from last season have given him plenty of credit in the bank to give him some more time.
Custis explained: “I think what he did last season put a lot of credit in the bank, he had a fantastic first season. So I think that is keeping him going.
“Currently they’re just staggering over the line in terms of the victories they have had.
“You know late goals, injury time goals and penalty saves which shows the spirit, but they are nowhere near as good as they were last season in terms of playing.
“I’ve seen this with a multitude of managers where when it starts to unravel, it unravels very fast and managers struggle to keep reins on it and stop it going to a complete mess.
“So I think it would be ridiculous to get rid of him, I think he’s the right man for the job, but I think he has a tough few weeks coming along.”
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The Sun’s Football Editor Charlie Wyett agrees with this sentiment, saying he should get until at least the end of the season, but admits he does not believe Ten Hag will stay long term.
However, he argues the third place finish the team achieved last season made them look better than they actually were.
He said: “They say the league table doesn’t lie. But I think sometimes it does. I don’t think Man Utd were the third best team last year, I thought Newcastle were a better team.
“And I think the problem by finishing third was Man Utd fans hoping to move on and maybe finish second, realistically not too many expected them to win the league, but they’ve gone backwards.
“He’s had 18 months there £400million, ten permanent signings (and) only a couple of them have really worked.”
So what is the problem for the Red Devils?
Some have pinned it on the owners, but both Custis and Wyett agree that the real problem at the club is the lack of a striker at the top of their game.
Man Utd invested £72m into signing Rasmus Hojlund over the summer, but Wyett feels that if the club really pushed for it they could have signed Harry Kane a couple of seasons ago.
They have to stick with this guy because I think his idea’s, his principle’s, his determination is right
Neil Custis
It is clear to see that the squad’s attackers are failing right now, with Marcus Rashford in a bad run of form, Antony not producing and Jadon Sancho exiled.
Custis argues another debilitating factor to performances this season has been injuries to key players, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lisandro Martinez, though these absences are not the reason for the attacking struggles.
He said: “I think Rashford has just lost it. I’m not sure how well he is being advised, I’m not sure whether he is getting a little bit star-struck or something like that.
“There is a fantastic player there – the best at Man Utd – but if you’re relying on Rashford to win you the league then you’re not going to win the league.
“He’s still a great player but I think there are things happening off the field or a distraction which is not helping.”
He adds that part of the reason for Ten Hag’s appointment was to quell the dominance of player power at the club, citing Jose Mourinho‘s feud with Paul Pogba as an example.
Custis adds that Mourinho was spot on with his analysis of Anthony Martial, who Custis describes by saying: “I’ve never seen anyone look more disinterested in playing football than Martial.
“Look at the winning goal Bruno Fernandes scored at Fulham, look at Martial’s reaction; not bothered, while everybody else is excited.”
Wyett agrees that the player issues at the club are no easy fix, but predicts Ten Hag to be gone by the end of season.
He said: “My prediction is I don’t think he’ll be the right man, equally at the moment I think he still deserves time. We need to see whether he can get the best out of them (summer signings).
“Players like Hojlund will be good in a couple of years time but he’s not the type of number nine they needed now because they needed someone with experience.
“I think it’s going to be a tough season for United but he deserves a chance.”
Custis concludes that he hopes Ten Hag is still at the club by the end of the season for the good of Man Utd, and outlines three key reasons for this.
He said: “It is a worry when I look at it. There is a lack of connection between the players and a lack of connection between the manager and the players but what do you do?
“If I say to you Ten Hag is sacked tomorrow who do you appoint? Everytime they turn a corner they end up back at square one.
“So they have to stick with this guy because I think his idea’s, his principle’s, his determination is right.”
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