Whether it’s his inexperience as a manager in club football, his unwavering faith in Harry Maguire or his unsuccessful spell in the Premier League years back; many struggle to imagine Gareth Southgate at the helm of one of world football’s biggest clubs. The England manager has reportedly been identified as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag by Manchester United’s new billionaire co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. But would his appointment really inspire the change United fans long for? Join Soccer Laduma’s Kurt Buckerfield in trying to find balance amid the extreme reactions to the latest news surrounding Old Trafford.
Ten Hag under serious pressure
Before exploring whether Gareth Southgate is an appropriate fit for Manchester United, a conversation on Erik ten Hag’s future at Carrington is required. The Dutchman enjoyed an objectively successful debut campaign in England as he guided United to a third-place finish in the Premier League, to glory in the Carabao Cup and to an FA Cup final. But he has so far failed to replicate last season’s form this time out. With only 10 league games left to be played, the Red Devils find themselves nine points adrift from a guaranteed UEFA Champions League place, and six points behind fifth – which is currently expected to also be a qualifying position for Europe’s biggest club competition. This season, United embarrassingly crashed out of the tournament before the turn of the year after finishing fourth in Group A, in which they claimed only a single win and conceded 15 goals – more than any other Premier League team has in the group stage of the Champions League. It is, therefore, perhaps understandable that Ten Hag has seen his credentials questioned by fans and by the club’s new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. But is it fair to analyse his tenure in Manchester without taking the broken structure under the Glazer ownership he has worked in into account?
