Danny Murphy has called for Manchester United to sack Erik ten Hag following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Dominic Solanke, Phillip Billing and Marcos Senesi all scored for the Cherries as they earned their first ever away win at Old Trafford – a record not too many of us want to be reminded of.
On another sore note, it means United have now conceded three or more goals at Old Trafford five times in a single season for the first time in 60 years.
Former Liverpool man Murphy believes United are “regressing” under Ten Hag and they need to change the manager now.
“The fact Bournemouth won at Old Trafford and no one is surprised tells you everything you need to know about Manchester United under Erik ten Hag,” Murphy wrote in a column for the Mail on Sunday. “If United want to dine at English football’s top table again, Ten Hag is not the manager to take them there. United just cannot compete with City, Liverpool and Arsenal with the players they have under Ten Hag.
“I don’t see a team that’s progressing after a good first season. I see one that’s regressing and I don’t see how that will change with Ten Hag in charge.”
Murphy adds it is “clear this manager isn’t the right man for United” and feels he is out of his depth, which I don’t think will bother Ten Hag considering it is coming from a LFC-mouthpiece.
“I’ve always thought United would give Ten Hag until the end of the season but if they want to get to where they want to be, a change probably needs to happen now and let a new manager work out what he needs to do,” he added. “It’s a shame because Ten Hag is a likeable guy but you get the sense the United job came a bit too early for him.
“At Ajax, he never had to manage superstars. He never had to deal with the constant magnifying glass of being at one of the biggest clubs in the world. He’s learning on the job and it’s not working. Unless the manager changes, neither will the style.”
Murphy doesn’t have an answer for who should replace Ten Hag if United were to sack the Dutchman, which makes his argument void if you ask me. The rivals are calling for rinse and repeat. Does that means the same group of players get away with another manager being fired?
I wouldn’t be calling for the manager’s head. The problems run deeper than that.
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