November 2nd 2023.
Pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag and it's clear to see why. When the Dutchman was appointed at Old Trafford in the summer of 2021, he was given the backing of the board to bring in players that could aid in his implementation of an Ajax style of play. The signings of Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were all sanctioned with the view that anything else would be viewed as a failure from the highly-criticised board.
Fast forward 15 months and it's fair to say that the naivety of the board in handling Ten Hag has been laid bare. This week, Ten Hag said that Manchester United will 'never' be able to play like his Ajax side - something that was likely not discussed when Richard Arnold and John Murtough flew to Amsterdam to speak with him about the role. To make matters worse, the club's poor planning has resulted in four loan signings in three transfer windows and an injured Rasmus Hojlund prioritised over Harry Kane.
The blame for the current situation is largely down to the ownership, but Ten Hag must take his fair share of the blame. After the success of last season, the Dutchman was expected to further implement his style of football this season with the signings of Hojlund and Onana. However, the side remains reliant on moments of individual quality from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, and Ten Hag's refusal to drop the latter - who has scored just once all season - is increasingly baffling.
Ultimately, United fans will feel they've been here before. It's not the first time that a new appointment has enjoyed initial success at the club only to be undermined in their second season. As long as the club continues to make money, the Glazers see little difference between coming first or fourth. It's why action is only ever taken when the club's Champions League hopes are at risk.
It's looking increasingly ominous that Ten Hag will become the next victim of the Glazers' cycle of doom. With the board's naive handling of the situation, and Ten Hag's questionable tactics and team selections, it's not difficult to see why. The Dutchman's future is now firmly in the balance.
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