Ineos have launched a new Manchester United project but they face PR disaster to make it work
In hindsight, this wasn't a great week for 'Project 150' to leak out of Old Trafford. As Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos appointments are beginning to find out, Manchester United and parody have become close pals in recent years.
Maybe United's majority decision-makers are simply hoping to speak it into existence. Following the old maxim that if you say it often enough it will happen. We lost 3-0 at home to Tottenham? Don't worry about that, we're going to win the league in 2028. We've even got a project name for it.
To bring Project 150 to fruition, who do Ineos see as the manager to deliver? Is it Ten Hag? Do they see something that so many others don't? It's almost impossible to envisage it happening. Right now, Ten Hag's personal Project 150 is to survive another 27 games to reach that milestone on the job.
Even that looks unlikely right now. Ineos are going to have to face the PR disaster that is paying off a manager they have just given an extended contract to, at a time when they made 250 staff redundant. Maybe there's a project name for that. If there is, it's probably unprintable.
Read Tyrone Marshall's full column, here.
RAILSTON: Manchester United fans are beginning to accept Erik ten Hag reality
Manchester United fans desperately wanted Erik ten Hag to be the manager to take the club back to the summit but with the benefit of hindsight they backed the wrong horse.
It looks like Ten Hag is nearing the finish line at Old Trafford and Sunday's heavy defeat to an ordinary Tottenham side felt like a significant turning point among fans. The Stretford End was defiant in the second half but they have seen enough. It's rare United fans turn on the manager, but supporters made an early exit from the stadium in their droves and nobody could blame them for wanting to be put out of their misery.
Read the full column, here.
Man Utd owners told they made Erik ten Hag's Man Utd job 'impossible' with decision
Alan Shearer has suggested that Erik ten Hag has been left with an "impossible" task at Manchester United after the club's owners openly sought his replacement during the summer.
On Monday's (September 30) episode of The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer, alongside co-hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, argued that INEOS - under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe - conducting a public search for Ten Hag's potential successor over the summer has put the 54-year-old in an untenable position at Old Trafford.
"As soon as it came out in the summer that Man United were looking at other managers, the manager was on a losing run," said the Newcastle legend.
"Even though he had his FA Cup win last year which was brilliant and they deserved to win it, as soon as it came out that they were looking at other managers last year, they just did not help him at all. It was virtually going to be impossible for him."
Read the full story, here.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy interim, January clear out - Erik ten Hag Man United sack verdict
The pressure is mounting on Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag following their dismal 3-0 defeat against Tottenham.
United, who saw Bruno Fernandes just before half-time, were comprehensively beaten at home courtesy of goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke. The Old Trafford club started on the back foot and went behind within three minutes, as Johnson tapped home at the back post after Micky van de Ven's fine solo run and cross. As United were preparing to go into the half-time break just one behind, Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on James Maddison.
That made the task even harder for Ten Hag's side, who went 2-0 down moments after the interval, with Kulusevski expertly tapping home from close-range. Although United started to grow into the game, they were hit with a suckerpunch in the 77th minute as Solanke fired the ball beyond Andre Onana.
It ended 3-0, and there were boos from the United faithful after the full-time whistle. The defeat moves United down to 12th and behind Brentford on goal difference, having picked up just seven points from their opening six Premier League matches. They have also lost their last two top-flight home matches, having suffered defeat to Liverpool by the same scoreline four weeks ago.
Some have called for Ten Hag to be sacked after United's latest humiliating defeat, while others believe he deserves more time to turn it around. With this in mind, our Manchester Evening News writers deliver their verdict on his future and whether he should be dismissed...
Read the full story, here.
I saw Ruud van Nistelrooy do what Man United boss Erik ten Hag couldn't during Tottenham loss
As Tottenham prepared to take a wide free kick, the camera turned to Ten Hag again. This time he was sat on the bench, next to coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The two were in deep conversation over the game. While Ten Hag cut a frustrated figure with his input, including gesturing towards the pitch, van Nistelrooy appeared to be staying cool and calm during the conversation, not taking his eye off what was happening on the pitch.
The former striker was linked with some Premier League managerial positions over the summer, but he returned to Old Trafford to be part of Ten Hag’s backroom staff. The 48-year-old was PSV Eindhoven boss for a year, leading the Dutch side to victory in the Dutch Cup.
Read our full moments missed piece from yesterday's defeat to Spurs, here.
United make Ten Hag decision
Manchester United are set to stick with Erik ten Hag for now but the Dutchman faces a defining week as he battles for his Old Trafford future.
The pressure is building on the 54-year-old after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday left United languishing in 12th in the Premier League. They have won just three of nine competitive fixtures this season.
Ten Hag arrived at Carrington at 7.30am on Monday and he is set to remain in charge for the Europa League trip to Porto on Thursday and the Premier League fixture at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Read the full story from Samuel Luckhurst and Tyrone Marshall, here.
Erik ten Hag speaks out on Manchester United future after Tottenham drubbing
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insists he is not concerned about his future despite a second successive 3-0 Premier League home defeat.
"No, not thinking about this," Ten Hag replied when asked about his future. "We all made a togetherness, this decision, to stay together as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.
"And also we made the decision from a clear review, what we have to improve as an organisation and how we want to construct a squad. They are all decision-making in togetherness.
"But we also knew it will take some time because of how the window went, some players were late in like Ugarte, we have to integrate him now. Also, we had to make some improvements in organisation, we still have to deal with some injuries, impact players. We will get better there, we need some time.
"We are all there on one page, one boat, together, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, the players’ group as well, so I don’t have that concern.
"Of course, there’s always a new game, there will be a new day and it’s also obvious you have to learn as a team."
Read the full story, here.