Manchester United's Goal Drought and Managerial Dilemma

 Manchester United's Goal Drought and Managerial Dilemma

Christian Eriksen and manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on December 23, 2023 in London, England.(Image-Getty)

Bournemouth, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, West Ham — Manchester United haven't scored a single goal in their last four matches. United have gone four consecutive matches without scoring in all competitions - the last time that happened was in 1992.

  United scored 18 goals in 18 matches in this year's Premier League. Manchester United had previously conceded fewer goals in the first 18 games in England's top flight in the 1973–74 season.

  The woes of Erik ten Haag's Manchester United in the 2023-24 season are revealed in these nostalgic statistics. But United's woes are not confined to three or four decades of unsavory records, but also to the near-centenary dusty record that lies ahead.

United have lost 13 times this season before Christmas. The most successful team in the Premier League era last lost so many games before Christmas in 1930. That year United finished the season 22nd out of 22 teams in England's top competition known as The English Football League (EFL). That is, there was a decline.

The question has arisen, Manchester United will not change the coach even after the worst situation in memory? Louis von Gaal lost his job while fifth in the United League points table. Jose Mourinho also lost while finishing sixth. And David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Scholser had to leave to leave the team at number 7. But Ten Hug team at number 8 is still in force!

Saturday's 2-0 league defeat to West Ham was United's 20th in 2023. The Manchester club had previously lost 20 matches in a calendar year in 1989. According to The Athletic, Ten Haag's job has survived despite such adversity mainly for two reasons.

Firstly, United would have to pay a huge compensation if he was sacked. Not that United don't have the money to pay compensation. But the club is now up for sale. If all goes well, it could be resolved by the Christmas break. If ten Haag is removed during this change, there is a risk of creating instability within the team. Secondly, there is not a very good coach at hand at the moment. Those who United want to get are busy with one or the other club. There is a lot of negotiation, time and money to bring in mid-season.

All in all, Ten Haag's job remains for now. But how many more days will last, that is the big question now.