Manchester United could yet salvage something from this season, but for the most part it’s not been a good campaign for the Red Devils.
Erik ten Hag is facing an uncertain future at Manchester United and the pressure was ramped up once again on Monday evening with the heavy loss at Crystal Palace.
Admittedly, a Europa League place is still very much up for grabs via the Red Devils’ league finish or by winning the FA Cup.
However, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe making changes at boardroom level, it remains to be seen whether the club will seek to go in a different direction.
A number of managers have been linked with the Manchester United job, including Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Ruben Amorim.
However, there have also been calls for one of the Red Devils’ former managers to get the job again.
The manager in question is Jose Mourinho, and Stan Collymore has become the latest to back him for the Old Trafford role.
Jamie O’Hara recently said Manchester United should move for the 61-year-old, and Collymore has now thrown his weight behind the idea.
What has Stan Collymore said about Manchester United and Jose Mourinho?
Collymore wrote on CaughtOffside: “I thought Jose Mourinho getting the United job when he did was completely the wrong move.
“Attack, attack, attack was United’s history but the ‘Special One’ arrived and we saw the dark arts, ****housery and sometimes turgid football in an era of progressive coaches like Pep and Klopp.
“But now, it’s a whole new ball game.
“United need a leader again, someone willing to create an identity and a style of play, even if it’s not the most exciting. A style that competes, wins and weeds out the weak and immature.
“I’m increasingly coming round to the fact that one man in world football still has that ability to galvanise and who would relish the challenge. His name? Jose Mourinho.”
Jose Mourinho to Manchester United won’t be a popular proposition
Although Mourinho didn’t do badly at Manchester United trophy-wise, things turned sour by the end, and really, the club could do with something new.
Going back to a former manager often doesn’t work out. It suggests that the Red Devils are out of ideas and no longer have the appeal of getting a top new manager, and also he’ll be judged on his prior success with the club.
Manchester United would be better off going for someone who hasn’t been their manager and can start with a clean slate. The club might be struggling but they’re certainly got the prestige to be able to get someone big.
Manchester United could also do with someone who could just ruthlessly clean house, even if that means a few years in the wilderness. A Mikel Arteta-type manager, for instance (obviously not Arteta himself but someone along those lines).