“This problem needs a open heart surgery”
Ralf Ragnick on Man United”
It has been a catastrophic start for the Reds this season. The club officially lost more games (12) than won (11). In addition, they have finished bottom of their Champions League group and have had 26 overall injuries this season. For a club the size of Manchester United this is more than just unacceptable. The team's dull performances and results, lack of ambition and struggle for form have gotten many United fans questioning who is to blame for all this with many fingers pointing at the gaffer Erik Ten Hag. This begs the question: Is Ten Hag to blame for United’s struggles and is he the man for the job?
Well, the simple answer to these questions is, no, Ten Hag is not to blame for United’s struggles and yes, he is the man for the job. But why?
Well to start, Erik Ten Hag started this season with his hands tied behind his back, with so many key players injured that were a big part of his plans. To make things worse, many odd decisions have gone against the club this season with the club frequently getting goals ruled out for offside and receiving many questionable red cards. The most questionable of them all was the Evans disallowed goal which I'm still trying to wrap my head around. Or, the Rashford red card against FC Copenhagen. To add salt to the wounds, many players have made costly mistakes that the gaffer has no control over. For example, Onana giving away easy goals in the Champions League, Or Rashford and Antony doing stupid dribbles unsuccessfully on the edge of the box instead of making the easy and correct pass.
All this comes with no surprise. At the end of the day, this is a familiar scene. The players disrespect the manager, complain when things go wrong, and take no responsibility and instead put it all on the manager. We have seen this happen before with Van Gaal, Mourinho and Solskjaer. As a fan base, we must understand how much the players impact the situation. Another point that is important for me to make is the obvious impact that the Glazers have in this dire situation. Most well-run clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle, etc, help the new manager get all the resources they need to perform. When it comes to the Reds, things look a little different. The only person from Ten Hag’s coaching staff that he was permitted to bring with him was his assistant coach Van de Gaag. Ten Hag wanted to bring his Ajax medical staff with him but was denied the opportunity to do so. At the time it seemed like a poor decision, showing that the club is not prepared to back the gaffer fully. Now though, this decision is laughable and shows how poorly this club is run. If Ten Hag got his medical staff, the crises would look quite different with the medical staff knowing how to work with Erik’s coaching antics. As I'm trying to point out, the last person to blame for the situation is Erik Ten Hag. This club is desperate for a rebuild from top to bottom, from the players to the stadium to the owners. Just a little reminder that Ten Hag has said before that the process of fixing this club will take seasons.
On to the next topic, why is Ten Hag the man for the job?
To start, Ten Hag is no stranger to rebuilds. When he took on the Ajax job, the club was in shambles. Ten Hag came in and rebuilt the club. He put a strong emphasis on the academy which Ajax and Manchester United are notoriously known for valuing highly. And adapted himself tactically with the players he had to the League and Champions League where he famously brought the clubs to the semis.
What Ten Hag did at Ajax he can do at Man United as well. The only difference I can think of is that Ajax gave Ten Hag the necessary time to do his job while it seems like United won’t. In addition, when Ten Hag took on the United job, the club was off the back of a messy season. Many fans across the media were saying Ten Hag would need a miracle to finish in the top four. Mark Goldbridge of the United Stand said that with the squad he has it’s close to impossible. Despite all this Ten Hag did his magic, finished third in style, and ended the club’s 6-year trophy drought.
Most importantly, Ten Hag showed everyone who is in control, something most gaffers failed to do. He did so by axing the club's biggest player Cristiano Ronaldo due to disciplinary issues, which of course set a standard at the club that has rarely been seen since the Sir Alex days. He proved that no player is bigger than the club, something that the club has struggled to prove in recent years.
The cycle can’t repeat itself anymore. As Phil Neville said, the last thing we should do right now is sack the gaffer. We must take Ten Hag's words seriously and give him the Seasons it will take to do his magic, and fully back him.
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