GORD AWFUL Reds would wreck Erik’s reputation
IF Erik Ten Hag has any sense he’ll wake up, smell the tulips and take Louis van Gaal’s advice to give Manchester United a massive swerve.
For this United team are stinking the Premier League out. They are reputation wreckers not content with tarnishing their own careers – and they’ll take down any new boss who walks through the door at Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick is viewed as a coaching guru by Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
But in just four months United’s dysfunctional rabble have damaged his credibility.
Everton are struggling for their lives. But in this crackling clash at Goodison Park they at least looked a team with a plan, despite the huge anxiety on the blue half of Merseyside.
They showed bravery, character and commitment – all the attributes this United side lacks. And they stood up to be counted in a game they couldn’t afford to lose for boss Frank Lampard, running a staggering TEN kilometres more than lazy United.
With their season imploding
United stars look as if they’d opt to be in an endless security queue at chaotic Manchester
Airport heading for the beach rather than on a football pitch.
They’ve gone mentally – and offering the uncertainty over their new manager as an excuse won’t wash.
They should be playing for club and professional pride – especially with a Champions League place an outside chance.
Instead, they’re in freefall with the gap between them and the top teams now a disgraceful badge of dishonour.
And no one mirrors United’s fall from grace more dramatically than Marcus Rashford.
Once the golden boy and vision of a brighter United future, Rashford, 24, looks shot to bits. He started this one after being left out against Leicester but his day lasted just 64 minutes. Aside from crafting his side’s best two chances with a shot and header saved by impressive Jordan Pickford in the early stages, most of his hour on the pitch was pitiful to watch. United’s breakdown has sucked the life from him but he shouldn’t carry the can alone for yet another shocker.
Bruno Fernandes was a waste of time, Cristiano Ronaldo offered next to nothing, Jadon Sancho was anonymous and United’s midfield offered zero creativity.
Paul Pogba, weeks away from leaving Old Trafford after an expensive failed second spell, came on for injured midfielder Fred in the first half with United already trailing to Everton’s 27th-minute goal. Anthony Gordon’s shot deflected off Harry Maguire (left) against the run of play and was a stroke of fortune for Lampard who’d seen his side lose at Burnley in midweek. And when the inevitable second-half onslaught began Everton put bodies on the line. Pickford held everything, while central pairing Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane were solid. Lampard was at pains to point out Everton’s display isn’t his vision for a better future for the club.
But all that mattered here were three points and his team were decent value for the win. And United? The most damning indictment is that doomed Norwich will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of going to Old Trafford next Saturday. Watch out Erik.