One Last Chance

After some speculation, Erik Ten Hag remains as the Manchester United manager. Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS believe he’s done enough to stay in the position, and time will tell if this turns out to be the right decision. One thing I know is that this, his third season, is make or break for him. United must have a successful season and try get back to their former glories. So ahead of the season, I pinpoint what I want to see from the Red Devils over the next 10 months.  

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A Return To The Promise Land

United need to get back to the Champions League, plain and simple. I don’t like living off the past, but for a club the stature of United, playing in European’s premier club competition is imperative. Anything less is unacceptable. To his credit, Ten Hag has won two trophies in his two years (an FA Cup and League Cup), therefore I’m not that bothered if we don’t win a trophy this year. That’s not to say that trophies aren’t important. However, from a pure footballing perspective, the extra revenue & the increased ability to attract players due to playing Champions League football outweighs winning a “second-tier” trophy. Unless United win the league (which is next to impossible) or win the Europa League (slightly more likely), the focus should be on finishing in the top 4 (or 5). There is plenty of competition for those places, so it will by no means be a straightforward task. It’s go big or go home.

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Make Rashford Great Again

One of the biggest reasons for United’s poor 2023/2024 campaign was certain players not hitting the heights that we’ve seen before. No player epitomises that more than Marcus Rashford. He had a hugely successful 2022/2023, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. But then the season after, he looked completely devoid of confidence. Rashford has always struggled with inconsistency, however, when he’s cooking, he’s one of the best left wingers in the league. One of Ten Hag’s priorities should be getting the most out of the Englishman. Word from those inside Old Trafford is he looks fired up and ready to go for the new season. Let’s hope this is true. Not being picked for the EUROs was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed him to stay home, and have a full pre-season to focus on capturing the level that he’s shown in previous years. Rashford is United’s best attacker, and this could be his most pivotal year in the red of United.

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Define the United Way

Too many times I watched us last season and had no idea how Ten Hag wanted his team to play. It’s been an issue for a while, and it needs to be corrected this upcoming campaign. The hallmark of a great team is having a clear and defined tactical philosophy, one that gets the best out of the players available and that translates to winning football. What was apparent in the last two years is that Ten Hag wants to play this “total football” that he gained a reputation for at Ajax, which is heavily possession-based, without having the right players to do so. If it were me, I would have United play direct football, moving the ball from defence to attack as quick as possible, with a focus on wing play. This is what Sir Alex Ferguson was famed for, and we’ve seen some glimpses of this during Ten Hag’s spell, but not enough times. This will be United’s best pathway to success.

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Work Smarter In The Transfer Market

United have been busy in the transfer market over the last two years. So far, the only semi successful purchase has been Lisandro Martinez (despite his injury-ravaged second season). With the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) in place, now more than ever United need to do smart business and get signings in early. We’ve seen some evidence of this already as Joshua Zirkzee, the Dutch striker from Bologna, and Leny Yoro, the French defender from Lille, have already arrived. However, I’m questioning how smart these signings are. Zirkzee is another young, unproven attacker from Serie A, and now United have two junior number 9s of the same ilk. Yoro is only 18, and he could cost upwards of £60m despite only having a year left on his contract. I’m hopeful there is a strategy in place. United fans will need to trust that the club know what they’re doing and that future arrivals over the next 6 months are wise moves.

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Continue To Push The Youth

The shining light from last season for me was the emergence of some of the younger players in the squad. The prime example of this was Kobbie Mainoo. He came into that season being completely unknown to the wider masses, but he exploded onto the footballing scene, solidifying his place in the United starting XI. His approach to the game and his temperament for someone so young was something I hadn’t seen from a United youngster in a while. He wasn’t the only one to make an impact though. Alejandro Garnacho was probably United’s best winger, and in this upcoming season, the expectation should be for him to push on. One player I would love to see get more game time is Amad Diallo. He’s been at United since January 2021, but he’s never had a chance to show what he can do. United have always been a club that have given youngsters a chance, and Ten Hag should ensure they are key contributors this season.

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This Week’s Hot Take

If history is anything to go by, this could be the year it all goes pear-shaped for Erik Ten Hag. The two previous managers before the Dutchman, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær both acrimoniously left their post during their third full season in charge. Is the same fate set to be bestowed upon the former Ajax manager? Who knows. All I know is that this will be his most important season as the manager of Manchester United.