Ten Hag sack decision, Fernandes call - Man United supporters' stance given after Spurs woe

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag with attacker Bruno Fernandes
-Credit: (Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)


In a bruising week for Manchester United, the finger is pointed everwhere. Be it Bruno Fernandes for a reckless tackle, Erik ten Hag for failing to set up a team that looks vaguely coached, or the Glazers for their role in the club getting to this stage, nobody is safe.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos sporting ownership group are under fire as well. They were the core that in the end chose to back Ten Hag over the summer having not managed to lure in another manager. Maybe it's all really Casemiro's fault for being slow.

Everything is once more being questioned at Old Trafford as answers to the latest mess remain out in the ether. For now, United are standing by Ten Hag. There is little choice just one month on from the closing of the transfer window, to remain alongside the players.

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This run of three games without a win against teams of a lower quality and out of form, facing their own pressures, comes after moral boosting victories left the 'have United turned a page' narrative in the open. Now there are recriminations across the board and towards the board.

It is the players who are out on the pitch though, not living up to expectations, to price tags, and to previous form. Against Tottenham there was no hiding place. MEN Sport chief United correspondent, Samuel Luckhurst, didn't mince his words afterwards.

"Erik ten Hag should have moved him from left back weeks ago" he wrote about Diogo Dalot in a scathing 3/10 assessment. "Underestimated Micky van de Ven for the first goal and was overwhelmed on his first Premier League start", was the analysis of Manuel Ugarte.

Fernandes unsurprisingly landed a 1/10. "Was performing dreadfully again before his expulsion for a needlessly deliberate and high boot on James Maddison."

Joshua Zirkzee only got 45 minutes to impact proceedings but was hooked at the break as United went to damage limitation, another 4/10. As for Ten Hag himself: "Started a side that was two players shy of United's strongest and they were outclassed by a team whose manager was appointed more recently. 3/10."

The midweek draw to FC Twente wasn't quite as bad but still left plenty to be desired, with Luckhurst handing out a five to Rasmus Hojlund, four to Fernandes, and five to Ugarte. MEN readers have perhaps been even less generous though.

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"Instead of blaming the manager fans need to take a hard look at the players", commented Wiganman in response to the MEN's player ratings against Tottenham. "Too many poor passes and losing the ball too easily. And who bought Zirkzee as so far I have never seen him kick a ball hard, more often just tapped it to the opposing goalie

"Training tomorrow should be back to basics, passing, ball control and not losing the ball easily. And Bruno needs to keep his mouth shut and concentrate on his playing particularly tackles as they are too wild."

Fernandes was the one catching plenty of heat, but bobbn could only look to Ten Hag himself as a cause. "ETH [Erik ten Hag] is guilty just for sticking to BF [Bruno Fernandes] yet," they wrote. "Nothing else. Bruno is degrading for a long period of time now and he cannot cope anymore with PL [Premier League] pace and demands.

"He destroys the structure of the team when move out of position in order to get the ball and creates big hole in the structure and the team. And the opposition is there just for that /Wait, be dicipline and runrunrun to get the ball from poor first touch or bad pass/ . Liv [Liverpool] and Ttnm [Tottenham] got their goals in that way. BF is inpatience too. Rushes, starts to panic, loosing confidence and makes bad calls.

"The rest of the team must run more, out of position and out of possession and has a negative running. Pointless, negative, ineffective running and starts to pile cards. I duno why they panic so much? I am just still believing. I cant wait to prove myself - playing without BF for a while."

manura is willing to look beyond the head coach, to an extent. "This season, we can't blame the players-the squad is decent, maybe not title contenders, but certainly good enough for a top 4 finish", they explained. "I think ETH has become predictable and lacks flexibility. The team feels disjointed, often split in two during both phases of play. Conceding from set-pieces again is unacceptable.

Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag faces a crucial week in the future of his Manchester United job -Credit:Catherine Ivill

"Something needs to change-either the manager's approach or the board may need to consider replacing him." 1954brad is willing to go harsher than Luckhurst. "Very generous scores again," he says. "Onana aside nobody deserves more than a three.

"Why Ten Hag keeps playing the same way and expecting things to be different is beyond me. One holding midfielder doesn't work, [Marcus] Rashford and Bruno, is not working, two games running now a defender runs the length of the field unopposed, this should never happen. Pack the midfield control the game should be a priority."

EddieDuncan is calling for change though. "Expected to be down by a goal within five minutes today because the team is playing inside Ten Hag's head. We've always played within his head but these players again don't get it. I'm not sure who does.

"Terrible coaching for years has left them inept, abject and clueless. They do see what's going on around them and wonder...Why doesn't it happen here... hence Jadon Sancho...hence Scott McTominay...hence Marcus Rashford...- oh no he's not gone - just lost the plot due to all this.

"We need a manger [sic] who can light them up, enthuse them but who can put in some basic tactical understanding and challenge them. Since the first game last season against Wolves, It was obvious we have not had a clue due to this manager. I said mid table then...its not got any better- now we've lost Steve McClaren who surely had some common sense. Ineos cut Teg hag adrift what did they expect. Ineos you bottled the decision in the Summer...so over to you."

It is not just the ownership that is being hung out to try though with moin-star looking at player recruitment and plans for the future. "Rashford has to be sold, no question about it" they start. "Poor decisions, looks unhappy, not interested… issue is no club would want him.

"Bruno needs to be accessed [sic] by the end of this season. If he’s sold, make [Lisandro] Martinez or [Matthijs] De Ligt the new captain. Possibly bring back Sancho??? (Sounds bad, I know, but he will assist all day everyday… just needs to be managed properly. ETH doesn’t have the management skills)

"Definitely buy Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 100%. Ruud as manager for the remainder of the season while Ineos looks for other potential targets."

For some there is nothing more to be said. "Performance and ratings need no additional comments from me", FreddiePayne adds glumly. "Suffice it say [sic], this should be the last game for Ten Hag. He needs to go now. We are heading towards relegation and there needs to be something done now to give us at least a chance of regaining some measure of respectability.

"There has been some recent paper talk about Ole coming back with Keane to see the season out. Not sure that’s the answer, but surely it can’t be worse than it is. Horrible to watch this club in a downward spiral. Ratcliffe has to do something immediately."