Premier League

PAUL MITCHELL blamed predecessor Dan Ashworth for Newcastle’s underwhelming transfer window and says the recruitment team assembled by him were not “fit for purpose”.Ashworth left St James’ Park for Manchester United and was replaced by ex-Tottenham and Monaco chief Mitchell as sporting director two months ago.Man Utd chief Dan Ashworth has been blamed for Newcastle’s poor transfer windowSuccessor Paul Mitchell has slammed Newcastle’s recruitment departmentCredit: GettyBut the new man has come under fire from the Toon Army after failing to deliver the top-class centre-half Eddie Howe wanted following the failed pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.Right-wing was another position the Magpies boss wanted to strengthen but he was left with only defender Lloyd Kelly, a free transfer from Bournemouth, and £10m forward William Osula from Sheffield United as outfield additions.Mitchell said: “You look at the money we have invested up to this point, £250 million net over the last two-and-a-half years.“It’s a lot of money and was our model in place to be able to spend more to the levels we would have liked to keep enhancing the team? READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“I don’t think it was, because we haven’t sold a player during that time, barring what we were forced to do through legislation of PSR.“There hasn’t been a clear strategic strategy over the last five years to say once we get to this point, can we keep enhancing the team with the same level of investment?“I don’t think that was factored into the strategies we had and that is a learning for everyone but I do think we have to be more global in our vision of the players we sign.“I think the skill, whether it be personal philosophy or the demands of financial fair play has to come into play where you have to find undervalued talent at a certain age profile.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMitchell then took aim at the recruitment team set-up by Ashworth, who has overseen the big-money buys of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee since his arrival at Old Trafford.He added: “Should our scouting and recruitment be driven more extensively with a wider reaching net? ‘Man Utd have wrong bald Dutch manager’ – how Slot schooled Ten Hag at Old Trafford“It definitely should be because this is becoming a really nuanced space now, when you just can’t capitally fund everything every year and buying loads of players at peak age and peak price.“Of course it needs to be, and that’s the responsibility of me, the scouting team, the recruitment team and Eddie. To do that, to look at that. Is it fit for purpose?“Not last winter gone, the winter before that. Is it fit for purpose in the modern game, with the modern challenges? “Because other clubs that have maybe adopted a different approach over time, with more intelligence, maybe more data-informed than what we are, actually prospered, didn’t they, this window? “And I think that’s where we have to grow to be now.“It’s kind of the next phase of the growth of this project. We have to become better in this area of expertise, and there’s a skill.”Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Teddy Sheringham claims Erik ten Hag is “not good enough” to be the club’s manager and reckons he’ll be “gone by CHRISTMAS.”Ten Hag was given a surprise reprieve by new football chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe over the summer, resulting in a two-year contract extension and extensive backing in the transfer market.Erik ten Hag has been tipped to be sacked by Man Utd by ChristmasCredit: AlamyTeddy Sheringham believes the Dutchman is ‘not good enough’ to be United’s bossCredit: AFPThe Dutchman splashed out on five new signings in Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.But United have already lost two Premier League matches this season against Liverpool and Brighton.They were also fortunate in their sole win so far, a late 1-0 win against Fulham.And counting the Community Shield penalty defeat to Man City makes it three defeats from four already.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUnited’s dud performance in Sunday’s 3-0 home loss to Liverpool was particularly tough for fans to swallow.Ten Hag was outplayed for the whole match by Arne Slot, who only joined the Reds this summer.And the pressure is starting to build on the Dutchman despite a public vote of confidence from CEO Omar Berrada.However, former United striker Sheringham believes Ten Hag is already on thin ice.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHaving survived last season thanks to his FA Cup final win over City, Sheringham reckons Ten Hag has now proven for sure that he is “not good enough” to manage a club of United’s calibre.And the Treble winner, who netted 46 goals in 153 games for the Red Devils between 1997 and 2001, will eat his hat if Ten Hag lasts past the Christmas period. Man Utd fans say ‘this is a tough watch’ as Ten Hag claims he ‘feels sorry’ for journalist in awkward interviewTen Hag’s five worst defeatsERIK TEN HAG has suffered some heavy defeats during his tenure as Manchester United manager.5. Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd, November 2023The damaging defeat saw the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League.4. Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth, December 2023It was the first time the Cherries had ever won at Old Trafford with the players being booed off.3. Brentford 4-0 Man Utd, August 2022Perhaps a sign of things to come, in Ten Hag’s second Premier League game, his side was dismantled by the Bees.2. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd, May 2024The heavy defeat to the Eagles saw the Dutchman edge ever closer to the sack.1. Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd, March 2023Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield as it was the club’s worst defeat in 92 years.Sheringham told Ladbrokes: “When you’re finishing eighth in the Premier League, that’s quite clearly not good enough, for Man United. “Full stop. End of story, for me. You’ve got to change what’s going on. “When you look at the inconsistency of last season, and that has followed on, without a shadow of the doubt in the first three games of this season… you can see there’s been no change whatsoever. “Different players, maybe. But still no change in the philosophy, and the way Erik ten Hag wants to play.“Look, I don’t want to see people getting sacked. It’s not nice to say that people shouldn’t be in certain positions, but he shouldn’t be there. It’s not good enough for Man United. “They’ve fallen way below the expectancy levels, and to think that it’s alright to finish eighth… it’s just wrong. READ MORE SUN STORIES“Do I think the manager will be there at the end of the season? No, I don’t. I think he’ll be gone by Christmas.”Teddy Sheringham was speaking at the launch of Ladbrokes’ “Gaffer of all Accas”Man Utd player ratings vs LiverpoolMANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?Andre Onana – 5Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error. Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.Lisandro Martinez – 3Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.Diogo Dalot – 4Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.Casemiro – 2A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.Kobbie Mainoo – 4Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.Bruno Fernandes – 5Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.Marcus Rashford – 3Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.Joshua Zirkzee – 4Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.SubsTom Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/ANot on long enough to make an impact. More