Manchester United’s loss at Crystal Palace was one of the worst defeats of the Erik ten Hag era.
Injuries may be taking their toll, but seven of the 11 starters for Manchester United were players signed by the Dutchman.
Right now it is looking pretty grim. Just look at the fixture list. Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Brighton (a), and then the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
It is genuinely hard to see Manchester United winning any of these if we continue like this.Erik ten Hag looks out of ideas.
He has now one just one of the past seven games. Can anything be done to snap the team out of this run before the FA Cup final?
Get Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in for the end of the season
What Manchester United could choose to decide to do, is sack Erik ten Hag now, and appoint an interim to the end of the season.
This could serve to give the squad a much needed shake up, and provide an instant impact, combined with getting a few players back from injuries.
And there is nobody better to answer the call one more time than former interim manager turned permanent boss,Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solskjaer remains out of work and would jump at a Manchester United SOS just he did in late 2018 when Jose Mourinho was fired.
The Norwegian had an instant impact, winning his first match in charge 5-1, and going on to win nine and draw one of his opening 10 fixtures.
This squad are in desperate need of a lift, and Solskjaer has proven he can lift a floundering dressing room and make an impact on a short-term basis.
Long-term it didn’t work out, and nobody is looking for a repeat of that.Last night’s loss felt like his final game, a 4-1 loss at Watford.
But Ineos are deliberating over Erik ten Hag’s job, and if they do not plan on keeping him, why not put him out of his misery now?
United can save this season by winning the FA Cup final. Could a short-term boost, and feelgood factor give the team the shot in the arm to do so?
There is a case to be made that it could be worth rolling the dice. At this stage, what is there to lose?
Solskjaer would not have same coaching staff
Let’s say Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did return, one drawback would be that he could not call on the same coaching staff.
Michael Carrick is at Middlesbrough and Kieran McKenna is at Ipswich Town, recently leading them to back to back promotions. It’s possible Mike Phelan could return with Solskjaer.
Solskjaer knows many of this squad, including key players Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
Solskjaer has good record v City
One case for bringing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in, would be his very respectable record against Manchester City, ahead of the final at Wembley.
Pep Guardiola said after Solskjaer was fired: “It was a pleasure to face him, he beat us a bit a more than I wanted.”
Solskjaer is one of only three managers to ever complete a double over Guardiola, winning home and away in the same season.
Could the Norwegian return and it turn out as a disaster? Yes. But you could also not blame Ineos for taking a bold short-term fix and giving it a go.