Manchester United won't stick to Ten Hag's five-year plan, says Tim Howard
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard has voiced concerns the club may not have the nerve to back Erik ten Hag all the way.
Ten Hag is close to the Manchester United job, with ESPN Netherlands reporting the club have decided on him as first choice.
The Dutchman is reported to want it all his way. The Mirror report Ten Hag told the Manchester United hierarchy it will take five years to restore the club to former glories.
The club should be aware there is no instant fix for the situation United are now in. Ten Hag will arrive with a project, which will take time.
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Impatient United
Ex United stopper Tim Howard told NBC Sports he is not convinced the club will be able to stick to the suggested timeframe.
Howard said: “Ajax’s way of playing is good, I’m just concerned about the experience. There is talk of a five-year plan. That’s great, but Manchester United often doesn’t work that way. Since Fergie no ones even got three years.”
“Arteta and Tuchel have said to their clubs ‘Keep calm, I’ll do it my way. At Manchester United there are many ex-players who experienced highlights in the 90s and in the period. That trebles were won. They have a big voice in the media and the fans follow it, and then they put tons of pressure on the manager.
“Manchester United need a manager goes,’I don’t care about the noise, I don’t care about all that. I’m going to do it my way, there’s a plan and a process, we’re going to have little wins over an incremental amount of time, and then we’re going to be successful’.
“That’s what Klopp did at Liverpool. He said ‘forget the history, we’re going to write our own history’.”
United have to hold nerve
It’s all very well for Ten Hag to shut out the noise and stick to the plan, but the club have to be able to do so too.
United tried to do so with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before results got so untenable there was no other option. But Ten Hag has more of a proven record than the Norwegian, and could walk into any job around Europe.
Howard is right that United do not have a great track record of patience though. David Moyes was famously hired on a six year deal and did not even last one.
It’s not inconceivable to imagine Ten Hag failing to last the year either, such is the intensity of the pressure and circus which surrounds United.
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