Still backing Erik ten Hag – opinion

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·8. Mai 2024

Still backing Erik ten Hag – opinion

It’s another dire week for a Manchester United fan covering the club as a journalist.

The dour mood hasn’t lifted all season, the Reds have lost 4-0 against Crystal Palace and Monday night at Selhurst Park felt like the end for Erik ten Hag.

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As a staunch supporter of the Dutchman, I am not naïve to think he isn’t at fault for some of the glaring issues we’ve had on the pitch this season.

Injuries don’t help and I still believe Ten Hag deserves the benefit of the doubt ahead of a third season in charge.

That said, part of me believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe won’t be as patient as the INEOS-led reshuffle takes place. A quick fix doesn’t exist but they must flinch at seeing our standards drop even further.

Like Watford 4-1 Manchester United did for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Like Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United did for Jose Mourinho. Like that four-game losing streak in December 2015 did for Louis van Gaal. And like Everton 2-0 Manchester United did for David Moyes.

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History is repeating itself. All we need know if for Ten Hag to get the sack after winning the FA Cup, a repeat of what happened Van Gaal in 2015.

It was unacceptable to watch Ten Hag’s players surrender at Selhurst Park. Only 12 senior outfield players travelled, which gives a taste of what Ten Hag is coming up against every week.

There was a lot of warranted outrage online after the Palace defeat. But some was extreme in the grand scheme of things. We’ve got a depleted squad and were without club captain Bruno Fernandes, hence why I feel some were guilty of exaggerating the loss. Especially when we’ve come to expect those results from this team.

The players cannot escape criticism. They should’ve been embarrassed to receive an incredible ovation from United’s travelling support on Monday night. They must know their levels this season are unacceptable at a club like this. When will they wake up to that because it feels like we return to this position every 18 months. That is why I have been calling for a stop to the rinse and repeat malarkey we are seeing with the managerial situation time and time again. There’s been no sense of stability behind the manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ten Hag’s biggest worry for his future is if the reaction to Palace’s win was a bit much, it will get worse if we fail to win any of our remaining three league matches – against Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton. These players were ripped apart by Palace.

Jonny Evans wasn’t fully fit and has earned respect for stepping in as United’s only available centre-back on short notice. The Northern Ireland veteran had only returned to training last week after a three-week lay-off.

Many have made their mind up over Ten Hag. I’m still giving him time.

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