Stick or Twist? Manchester United’s Ten Hag Dilemma

When Erik ten Hag sat down for his introductory press conference in May 2022, there was a feeling of change in the air.

Arriving off a successful spell at Ajax, the Dutchman was widely viewed as one of the best young coaches in Europe.

A student of Pep Guardiola during his time at Bayern Munich, he also displayed a clear, forward-thinking footballing philosophy – something which Manchester United had sorely missed.

His free-flowing style intrigued the United executives just as much as it did the footballing public.

A newcomer to the Premier League – facing the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp was always going to be a challenge, but ten Hag looked ready for the task.

However, that early promise has slowly faded.

Now, the higher ups at United face yet another managerial dilemma – whether to stick or twist with the man currently at the helm.

But how have United once again found themselves in this mess?

The Manager?

Yes, ten Hag is partly to blame for the clubs continued shortcomings. In a nutshell, he has failed to transfer the philosophy that him brought success at Ajax to Old Trafford.

Though, while saying this, in some ways he has never even tried to.

Possession and movement has always been at the centre of his core beliefs – a lease on the Cruyffian style of total football which has since been transformed by the likes of Guardiola for the modern day.

But its not like we have seen this in Manchester.

Ten Hag has taken pains to explain that his style hasn’t changed – just that the tools he has at his disposal have.

Speaking to the media in November, he stated, “I can’t liken [us] with Ajax because we have different players.

“I came here with my philosophy based on possession, but also [want] to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and combine it with the players and the competences and with the characters of the players.”

But, in individuals such as Rashford and Fernandes – United’s DNA is the opposite of possession-based.

Ball-players in the like of Onana, Martinez and Eriksen have been brought in to an existing side which thrives off the counter-attack.

Through efforts to transform their system, ten Hag has come unstuck – resorting to a squad of players which has now become a confused mix.

Nonetheless, it is easy to blame the manager for all your difficulties. After all, in what is an easy fix, United have already tried that tactic.

Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer, and now ten Hag – they can’t all be the problem.

At the end of the day the manager cannot take to the pitch. That job is down to the players alone.

The Players?

Look at any of the triumphant sides in the history of sport and the books will tell you that the playing squad takes just as much of the responsibility for achieving success as does the coach. 

Right now, the main individuals at United are way off it.

Marcus Rashford is at the top of this list. A man who once appeared to have the world at his feet, he has become a shell of the teenager who burst onto the footballing scene.

Insular and uninspired – he now exudes the look of someone who would rather be anywhere else than Old Trafford. The born-and-bred Mancunian epitomises the clubs lack of fight, spirit and togetherness.

A return of seven league goals this season just doesn’t fit the bill.

While some may be able to excuse that, nobody can forgive him for his attitude – one which has become increasingly downbeat, sheepish and outright petulant.

You look at someone like Bruno Fernandes and you might say he displays the opposite traits.

Energetic, tenacious and vocal, he comes across as a leader and has taken on that mantle.

Bruno is at the centre of everything United do. Constantly buzzing, he is a dynamic creator.

But, with him, there is also as much good as there is bad.

Despite his exterior, he lacks character and is far from captain material. Ill-disciplined, narky and irritable, with a penchant to blame others, he is anything but a leader.

The Board?

Absent leadership on the pitch has also been aggravated by a lack of leadership off of it.

With more focus on the next commercial deal than on a will to win, United’s ownership is a total disaster.

Under the control of the Glazer family, the club has plummeted from what was the Premier League’s biggest and most successful, to one which is now second-rate within its own city.

The fans know it.

An antipathy which had grown louder, it finally reached its boiling point when supporters spilled onto the pitch in protest at the Glazers’ involvement in plans to form a breakaway Super League.

The tip of a rather large iceberg, it was a piercing response to what has now been nearly two decades of decline and dereliction.

Epitomised by a leaking, rusting stadium no longer fit for purpose, United have faced a continued struggle to modernise in its structures.

The club, even a decade after the end of the Ferguson era, have failed to move on from the past. As such, they have been surpassed and their success on the pitch has diminished.

Still seen as one of the biggest clubs in world football – this is as much on a commercial basis than a footballing one.

Of all the issues and challenges associated with Glazer ownership – the opportunity to take financial gains over sporting success reigns supreme. It has been shown in their own elusive style of management and in the backroom CEO’s that they have employed.

With years of mismanagement, poor recruitment and conflict – the Glazers have overseen an ever worsening culture – one that has become stale, shoddy and sub-standard throughout the club.

The Future Under Radcliffe and INEOS:

So, in returning to ten Hag, the question of whether or not he should continue in post fails to focus on the bigger picture.

Yes, he has failed to bring in his philosophy and he has made many mistakes. Those facts are indisputable.

However, this has not been for a lack of want, but more so due to circumstances not under his control. Ten Hag has been hindered, hampered and obstructed – a state of flux which has led to a total confusion within the club.

The system at Old Trafford has lay rotten for many years, and it was always going to take more than one man to transform it.

Perhaps, with the arrival of Sir Jim Radcliffe, that will now happen.

But, what is for sure – it will neither be down to Sir Jim, or to whoever is the coach, alone.

If United are to ever return to the top, a brand new vision and structural rebuild is what is required.