The Ultimate Poisoned Chalice

Whatever Erik Ten Hag said to his team 9 days ago at Old Trafford was more than enough to turn the tide of the match that seemed to be slipping through his team’s fingers, but that comeback was not enough to save his job.

I was at work when a young lad broke the news to me and remembering the wave of enthusiasm that swept him down the tunnel it seems insane to me that he has been sacked just over a week later.

Though in truth that victory was a blip on the bleak landscape of results for the team once most feared in the land under Sir Alex Ferguson, who had only 2 other wins all season.

Beating Fulham with an 87th minute opener/winner and a 3-0 win against a newly promoted Southampton team that finished the 90 with 10 men are hardly the season highlights United are used too and adding a 2nd London team to their scalp collection was never going to be enough.

Sure they are unbeaten in the Europa League, but a triplet of draws is not what the home faithful expect from their team.

United fans of a certain vintage still remember the Fergie teams that took their team to the top of the world and in the 11 years since he stepped down from the helm they have cycled through 8 managers searching for a swift return to their perch without success.

They tried their god’s chosen successor, four of the best foreign coaches ever to grace the English club game and now they turn to their third ex-star player to steady the ship for the next permanent manager to try and right it permanently.

The young lad who broke the news to me wants Gareth Southgate to take the job, but even he admitted it was likely to be a foreign coach that takes over in the hot seat.

Many news outlets are reporting that Sporting Lisbon’s coach Ruben Amorim, who secured their first Premeira Liga title in 19 years and has them currently celebrating a 100% record this season, is being lined up to be next on the manager’s carousel at Old Trafford.

His record of turning around the fortunes of a sleeping giant should fill hearts full of hope in Old Trafford, but only time will tell if he can repeat the trick in North West England.

With his Potential new charges starting a run of 4 home games on the bounce, topped and tailed by Leicester City, now is a good time to join the team and win over the home fans.

Jump on the carousel and see how far you get Mr. Amorim, but with the record of those who have come before you I will wish you all the luck in the world.

Till there are new owners and the new stadium goes through it’s the ultimate poisoned chalice, one that is impossible to turn down.