For all the doubts you may harbour about Erik ten Hag, it must be said that the Manchester United boss certainly hasn’t enjoyed the same support, the same structure at Old Trafford that Eddie Howe has benefitted from at Newcastle. Yet.
Upon replacing Steve Bruce back in 2022, Howe joined a Newcastle side on the up. Brimming with momentum and optimism following that long-awaited Saudi Arabian takeover and the departure of the hated Mike Ashley.
Since then, The Magpies have been on an almost uninterrupted upwards trajectory. Newcastle are two places and three points ahead of Manchester United before Wednesday’s trip to Old Trafford.
How might Erik ten Hag‘s dismal second season in the Red Devils dugout panned out had the Glazer family sold up to Ineos 12 months earlier? Can the Dutchman still succeed at Man United, like Howe has at Newcastle, under an ownership group focused on sporting glories rather than profit and balance sheets?
Manchester United host Newcastle on Wednesday
It’s telling that, when asked about the criticism that is coming Ten Hag’s way, Howe was keen to point out the importance of a stable support network; the Man United boss forced to deal with theCristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood sagas – and countless other issues – almost entirely on his own.
“I think, when you’re in a position to manage, you’re exposed to (the criticism). It goes with the job really. I think a lot of the criticisms of managers up and down the country are excessive but I would because I am sat in this chair,” Howe says, via Newcastle’s official YouTube channel.
“As a head coach or a manger, you need to put your stamp on the club. It depends on the club environment and how supportive the ownership is.”
Ten Hag, if indeed he does get the backing to carry on by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co, can surely only benefit from the appointment of experienced, top-level footballing operators such as Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and Howe’s former Newcastle director Dan Ashworth.
The ex-Bournemouth boss is also reluctant to play down the size of the task facing his Newcastle side in midweek, even if the North East outfit did cruise a comfortable 3-0 win in their last visit to Old Trafford in the EFL Cup.
Red Devils need a win to ease pressure on Erik. tenHag
“My record there has not been fantastic over the years so, no, I absolutely disagree with that,” Howe added when asked if the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ – or the Theatre of Streams should another sudden downpour arise – has lost it’s fear factor.
“We don’t underestimate Manchester United’s qualities. We don’t underestimate the magnitude of the game we are preparing for.
“They’ve got world-class players. So, look, we will do our own preparations. I will speak to the players about what we need to do and how we need to play and our mindset, what it needs to be going into the game.
“We can’t underestimate the challenge in front of us. That would be foolish. That would counter-act everything we need to be in this game.”
Man United have lost their last two top-flight games but can draw level on points with both Newcastle and Chelsea with a much-needed win at home.