Following a disappointing defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend, Manchester United fans have begun to question Erik Ten Hag’s position at the club.

Today, we’ll examine Ten Hag’s performance after five games in the Premier League this season and determine whether it merits his sacking or not.

Additionally, we will also look at a potential replacement for Ten Hag, should the Red Devils hierarchy choose to relieve the Dutchman of his duties.

How have Manchester United performed so far this season?

So far, it is fair to say that United have been distinctly underwhelming in the Premier League this season. Their performances have been concerningly below par – as have their results.

Following their defeat against Brighton, United have won two, drawn zero and lost three. Even their victories, which came against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, were unconvincing at best and perhaps blessed with a touch of good fortune.

It has been a poor start to the season for United – concerningly, they seem to have regressed after a relatively strong end to the 2022/23 season.

Of course, this is not necessarily Ten Hag’s fault. He has brought a lot of new players into the squad, such as Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana – it will take time for them to gel with the rest of the team.

However, perhaps the biggest indictment of Ten Hag’s performance this season is his inability to control his team. He has already fallen out with Jadon Sancho in a public manner – it seems he may be beginning to lose the dressing room. If this occurs, then his position at United will become untenable.

Who could United replace Ten Hag with?

One name stands out among the rest in terms of Ten Hag’s potential replacements – Julian Nagelsmann. He was pursued by Chelsea earlier in the year, only for him to turn down a move to the Blues.

A young head coach with a modern style of play, he could be the man that United need to bring stability and success to the club – if Ten Hag proves that he is incapable of doing so.