Is Ten Hag the right man for United? (original) (raw)

Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League and their manager kept his job.

This still feels like a very strange sentence to type and fully appreciate, but it actually happened last season.

In the last eleven years, previous United managers have finished fifth (Louis van Gaal in 2016) and seventh (David Moyes in 2013) and were deservedly sacked, but despite comfortably doing worse, Erik ten Hag managed to hold on to his position at Old Trafford.

It should not be underestimated just how miserable large swathes of last season were for United fans: the embarrassment of finishing bottom of a ‘winnable’ Champions League group behind FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray; losing a club record 14 games in the Premier League, managing to score just 57 Premier League goals, and for the first time ever in the Premier League finishing with a minus goal difference.

United’s midfield started the season wide open in a ridiculously undeserved win over Wolves at Old Trafford and remained so for most of the season. They allowed opponents to amass, over 38 games, a total of shots that even surpassed Derby County in the 2007-08 season when they were relegated with the lowest points total in Premier League history. United’s football was routinely dull as they were consistently dominated by opponents, and the brutal truth was they became a distinctly average team last season under Ten Hag where the amount of convincing performances could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

The Dutchman even managed to make reaching an FA Cup final a confusingly deflating experience, after his side threw away a three-goal lead to Coventry City, and then appeared to concede a last minute winner, before a VAR rode to the rescue. I genuinely thought he would not recover from that strange day at Wembley. It actually got worse on a harrowing night in south London when United lost 4-0 to Crystal Palace. My understanding is this finally convinced United’s new co-owners INEOS that Ten Hag was finished at Old Trafford and to begin a more intense search for his successor.

And yet Ten Hag is still United’s manager and preparing for a third season. INEOS were adamant that they would not be swayed by a single game, but that is exactly what happened. If United had lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City the club would now have a new manager. A repeat of the 2023 FA Cup final and more humiliation was expected, but Ten Hag’s team played with a cohesion and vigour they had lacked for most of the season to surprise City and take control of the game. It was not only this win that gave INEOS pause for thought, but the outpouring of support for Ten Hag that followed from United fans.

I have watched United for nearly 45 years and will admit this came as a surprise to me, as for many, that day at Wembley washed away all the pain and frustration of the season. Maybe United’s fans had become tired at the constant churn, the constant new starts, and a trophy and the lingering memory of Ten Hag’s first season where his side had actually impressed for long spells, won the Carabao Cup, finished third, and collected wins over Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Maybe it seemed strange to sack a manager who had won two trophies in his first two seasons. That certainly suggests he has something about him. Of course this still did not stop INEOS looking for a new manager, and they spoke to a very long list, but no one convinced and in the end they decided to stick with Ten Hag.

If the Ten Hag from his first season reappears then this will be hailed as a supremely wise decision, but if the second season version continues he will be gone by the end of the year.

------------
The RoM Manchester United 2024-25 season preview is now available. It includes articles from the country's best football writers about our expectations for the season ahead and our brightest talents, as well as proposed transfer business and which youth players to keep an eye out for. All profit goes to The Christie so please support this fantastic cause.