Man Utd analysis: Enough is enough…it’s time for Erik ten Hag to go
Erik ten Hag’s future as Manchester United manager is hanging by a thread after a torrid 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Dutchman had a stay of execution after an FA Cup final win over Manchester City salvaged a dismal Premier League season for the Red Devils - and the 2024/25 campaign has been equally as inconsistent, with United winning just two of six league games to lie 12th in the table.
They are already eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool - and six points behind the Champions League chasing pack in the top four.
Sports News Blitz’s Robert Bore, who has followed United through the good, bad and ugly years, gives his thoughts on the performance…
Sh*t show
When the team sheet landed about 20 past three, I messaged my Dad with a short and sweet: "Strong team that!"
Here we go. 'Lads, it's Spurs'.
The season starts here. Bald is Best and we're about to get this show on the road.
Sadly, with not much more than two minutes on the clock it became clear the only show on offer at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon was a Shit Show.
By the time Dominic Solanke had slid the ball home for Spurs' third (while Diego Dalot did his best traffic cone impression for the umpteenth time), I'd already started bathing my eyes in bleach.
Bald isn't best is he? He's not even second best. Or third or fourth.
No more waiting
So despite what had been an enduring solidarity for the man with whom I share a hair stylist, and factoring in an understanding that his new blood will need a bit of time to gel, even I can wait no more.
Spurs fans, who had already been through their songbook several times, eventually added a third to their repertoire with a rendition of "You're getting sacked in the morning".
Judging by growing sentiment in red Manchester, most are now hoping he doesn't last the night.
Money has been spent, players recruited to plug the gaps and injuries clearing.
But as United showed for the second consecutive evening at home, the gaps remain - predominantly straight through their lines as an opponent sauntered 70 yards through a flurry of either half-arsed or missed challenges before Andre Onana's net rippled.
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Visitors oozed class
By the end, Bald looked bemused. His skipper Bruno Fernandes (for me contentiously) was binned off with a red card just before half-time after clipping James Maddison, who had been wandering around the pitch seemingly invisible to his hosts up to that point.
But the script had already been written as the visitors oozed class all game - easy to do I guess when your opponents appear to have downed tools.
The sight of Marcus Rashford giving up on another ball or Joshua Zirkzee knocking the ball out for a throw-in instead of completing a four-yard pass is damning.
My eyes are now red and there's still a strong whiff of turd in my nostrils despite the Domestos as my phone vibrates next to me with a succinct reply from the old man.
"Ten Hag out - we're shite."
Enough is enough.