Manchester United fans must feel like they are trapped in a recurring nightmare.

A goalless draw against Aston Villa was underpinned by an improved defensive performance on Sunday, but three consecutive Premier League games without scoring, just eight points from their opening seven matches, and a goal difference of minus three makes for their club’s worst start to a Premier League season.

And for many people, the natural direction to point the finger in this situation is at the manager.

After a season review in which INEOS spoke with multiple managerial candidates including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, the decision was made to stick with Erik ten Hag and support him in the transfer market this summer.

Performance data would have likely contributed to such a review and a rudimentary look at the trend of United’s ClubElo rating — which is a measure of team strength that allocates points for every result, weighted by the quality of the opposition faced — offers little reason for optimism in fortunes since the Dutchman arrived.

Ten Hag has spoken confidently about the faith he feels United’s executives have in him, something he reiterated even after the damaging Spurs defeat.

“We made the decision, after a clear review, what we have to improve as an organisation and how to construct a squad,” Ten Hag said. “All decisions were made in togetherness, also knowing it would take some time given how the window went. We are all there on one page, one boat, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, the players, too.”

Today, that leadership group, including two of the co-owners, Joel Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will gather in London for a long-scheduled executive meeting. The performance and future of the manager are expected to form part of the discussions.

One question United executives have to consider when deliberating over Ten Hag’s future is whether or not there are better managerial options out there now than they found and decided against last summer. The contract or job situations of some of those considered then (such as Kieran McKenna who extended his stay at Ipswich and De Zerbi, now of Marseille) have also changed, while others remain in situ (such as Thomas Frank at Brentford and Marco Silva at Fulham), and others (such as Tuchel) are still out of work.

So if United do think about making a change, who should they be considering?

Here The Athletic’s data analyst Mark Carey looks at a selection of possible alternatives focusing largely on those not considered in the summer.

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It has been another difficult period for Erik ten Hag (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Many fans have expressed frustration over Gareth Southgate’s rumoured links due to his ties with INEOS head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, but it does speak to the idea that United could benefit from having a manager with a near-ambassadorial presence.

Amid the external noise and sensationalist perspectives that surrounded England’s national team across his tenure, Southgate has proven he can navigate choppy waters and ensure that his players perform on the pitch. Given the ongoing transition occurring at boardroom level, that is not to be underestimated at United in the medium term.

Could Southgate’s ambassadorial style suit the INEOS ethos? (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

By the same token, a strong character in the shape of Zinedine Zidane has merit, with the Frenchman leading Real Madrid to three successive Champions League trophies from 2016 to 2018. Zidane has not been famed for his teams playing a particular style of football, with an approach that was more pragmatic than dogmatic.

However, his ability to command a dressing room and sustain a winning mentality are two huge ticks on the checklist. As unlikely as it may be, a well-respected figure who can manage a squad of personalities can sometimes be enough to get results at the elite level.

The same traits can be levelled at Massimiliano Allegri, who is an unattached manager since departing Juventus (for the second time) this summer. Allegri’s own tactical acumen is not to be underestimated, but the authority and standards the 57-year-old demands would be appealing.

Things did not go perfectly to plan in the Italian’s second stint as Juventus manager, winning a solitary Italian Cup since returning to Turin in 2021. His football might not always be maximum entertainment, but a man who is capable of managing up as well as down could be a valuable asset to have as United set their sights on a Premier League title by 2028.

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Sacking a manager during a season can be a thankless task and United have experienced mixed results with interim appointments. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s caretaker position in 2018 resulted in a permanent role that lifted the mood at Old Trafford, while Ralf Rangnick’s interim tenure was underwhelming, to say the least.

Solskjaer has recently said he would be open to returning to the club if the opportunity was offered to him. In light of recent seasons, this may seem appealing to some fans, but there is likely to be some revisionism of Solskjaer’s tenure, which ended poorly. The prospect of another reunion would feel like a step back in United’s progression.

Could United return to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? (Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

The appeal of hiring a manager who “understands the club” can often be quite reductive. While they may progress into high-profile roles, suggestions of former players Wayne Rooney (Plymouth) or Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough) feel premature in their respective coaching careers. Both have a strong affinity with the club — Carrick having had a caretaker role at United — but sentiment should not be a leading factor in a club’s search.

If United are eyeing former players, they shouldn’t overlook current assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy, who led PSV Eindhoven to second place in the Eredivisie in 2022-23.

Using The Athletic’s playstyle wheel, which outlines how a team look to play compared with Europe’s top seven domestic leagues, we can get a broad idea of the Dutchman’s sole season in the dugout.

Blessed with a stacked forward line containing Johan Bakayoko, Cody Gakpo, Luuk de Jong, and Xavi Simons, PSV adopted a direct style (Patient attack, 19 out of 99) that focused on width from their marauding wingers (Central progression, 53 out of 99). It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but only Benfica averaged higher than PSV’s 2.2 non-penalty expected goals per 90 across Europe’s top seven leagues.

Conflict with the coaching staff and players meant Van Nistelrooy left PSV before the end of the 2022-23 campaign. While the Dutchman can offer a lot to the coaching setup, there is little suggestion that he currently has — nor wants — the management experience required at the elite level.

Kieran McKenna, however, sits in the overlap between “knows the club” and “up-and-coming tactician” after guiding Ipswich Town to back-to-back promotions since joining them for his first job in senior management in December 2021.

McKenna held roles as United academy coach and progressed to the first-team setup under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, but committed his future to Ipswich by signing a new four-year deal this summer, making an impending move elsewhere highly unlikely in the short term. However, United fans are keenly monitoring the Northern Irishman’s progress in the Premier League.

McKenna is both an up-and-coming tactician and also ‘knows the club’ (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

With United’s game model alarmingly unclear at the moment, perhaps what INEOS should consider is a manager who is capable of punching above their weight relative in the football food chain.

Brest’s Eric Roy would jump out, having led his side to the Champions League for the first time in their history after a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. Similarly, Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt has performed miracles in guiding his hometown club from the fifth tier of German football into the Bundesliga and now the UEFA Conference League this season.

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Beyond Xabi Alonso’s invincible Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart were the Bundesliga’s overachievers after Sebastian Hoeness led them to a second-place finish above Bayern Munich. Having been appointed at the end of the 2022-23 season, the 41-year-old guided Stuttgart away from the relegation zone and into this year’s Champions League within 18 months.

From a low-possession, counter-attacking team last campaign, Hoeness has transformed Stuttgart into a dominant, progressive side that can suffocate teams in their own defensive third (Field tilt, 86 out of 99) and press from the front (Intensity, 78 out of 99).

Hoeness has guided Stuttgart into the Champions League (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Only Alonso’s Leverkusen (73) generated more shot-ending high turnovers than Stuttgart (61) last season, as Hoeness had a tangible impact on Stuttgart’s style across the board.

Dino Toppmoller is this season’s version of Hoeness, with Eintracht Frankfurt catching the eye after winning four of their opening five league games. Having served as Julian Nagelsmann’s assistant coach at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, it is unsurprising that Toppmoller likes his side to play with a front-foot approach on and off the ball.

The 43-year-old has the attacking duo of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike to call upon as Frankfurt’s main attacking threats and is quickly emerging as one of Europe’s best young coaches.

Topmoller is a rising star of football management (Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images)

Staying in Germany, Thomas Tuchel remains on the shortlist for most clubs after leaving Bayern Munich in the summer.

Despite a disappointing season relative to Bayern’s standards, the underlying numbers from Tuchel’s side show how dominant they have still been in both boxes. Competing with a history-making, invincible Bayer Leverkusen side was not part of the plan, but Bayern’s 1.6 xG difference per 90 — which accounts for the quality of chances created and conceded — was the best of any side across Europe’s top five leagues.

For context, United’s xG difference sat at -0.3 per 90 — good enough for… 72nd on the list.

Tuchel’s tactical acumen is undeniable, but question marks over his temperament might be a factor that works against him. Across his three most recent roles at Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, he averaged a tenure of one year, nine months and 15 days. If United are looking for stability with a long-term vision, Tuchel might not be the best man to hand the keys to. United met Tuchel in the summer, getting to the point of discussing financials but ultimately did not employ him, so any issues that prevented a deal at that point would need resolving, too.

Across the border, United have frequently looked to the Netherlands for player and coaching talent, but might they have missed one crucial man? Peter Bosz led PSV to the Eredivisie title last season with the most potent attacking numbers in Europe (2.7 non-penalty expected goals per 90) and they look to be continuing their form this season with seven league wins in seven games.

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Despite losing the individual talent of Gakpo, Simons, Noni Madueke and Ibrahima Sangare in recent windows, Bosz got his side working as a cohesive unit to bulldoze their way to the league title. As you can see by their stylistic evolution over time, Bosz shifted the dial on nearly every measure after taking over from Van Nistelrooy.

There have been mixed fortunes for Bosz during his time as manager of Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon, but the Dutchman has got this PSV side cooking since he took over in 2023.

In Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini finally got the silverware his career has warranted after leading Atalanta to Europa League glory in the summer — becoming the oldest coach to win a final of a major European competition on his debut.

Gasperini would bring a wealth of experience and a front-foot, aggressive style of play on and off the ball — one that can frustrate the elite sides as shown recently in Atalanta’s goalless draw with Arsenal in the Champions League.

The remit would be entirely different at a club on the scale of United, but Gasperini has evidenced his ability to overperform with the tools he has at his disposal. As The Athletic’s James Horncastle has previously stated, the 66-year-old does not get the credit he deserves for his achievements in Bergamo.

“They’ve normalised the extraordinary!”@JamesHorncastle discusses Gian Piero Gasperini’s incredible work at Atalanta…

🎙️ @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/IYOvjlutjH

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024

Finally, why not consider Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, who has garnered praise across the Premier League for his own aggressive, counter-pressing style of play?

Bournemouth’s direct approach will often see the ball played long into the opposition’s third before squeezing the space and regaining the ball in advanced positions. In the early weeks of the season, only Tottenham Hotspur have won possession more in the attacking third than Bournemouth’s 47 occasions as Iraola’s style looks to be deeply embedded in his squad.

Iraola has settled well into the Premier League but at a much smaller club than United (Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images)

It might not be to everyone’s taste, but a well-drilled, clear identity is not to be underestimated in a coach — it is something United still look to be searching for this season under Ten Hag.

(Top photo: Getty Images)

Robert Saleh was reportedly escorted out of the New York Jets’ team facility after he was fired as head coach on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. 

The most recent head coach to be fired by the Jets, Adam Gase, was fired after the conclusion of his second season and was reportedly not removed by security. 

The Jets have not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication. 

The team’s owner, Woody Johnson, released a statement shortly after the firing was announced, in which he said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. 

“This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the Head Coach of the Jets. I thanked him for his hard work these past three-and-a-half years and wished him and his family well moving forward,” Johnson said. 

“This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction. Jeff Ulbrich will serve as our Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season. He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team. 

“I believe he along with the coaches on this staff can get the most of our talented team and attain the goals we established this offseason.”

SAINTS’ KHALEN SAUNDERS, BROTHER OF TAYLOR SWIFT BACKUP DANCER, RECORDS 1ST CAREER INTERCEPTION VS CHIEFS

Robert Saleh of the New York Jets reacts to a call during the Kansas City Chiefs game at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Saleh is now planning to go on vacation with his family before preparing to interview for defensive coordinator jobs during the next hiring cycle, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Saleh’s dismissal came more than a day after the Jets lost to the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in London. The offense has sputtered through the first games with a presumably healthy Aaron Rodgers under center for the team.

Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets talks with chairman Woody Johnson during the teams OTAs at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on May 31, 2023, in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

New York is 25th in points scored and 27th in yards gained while having a top five defense.

Rodgers has performed like a 40-year-old quarterback who is coming off of an Achilles tear. He has 1,093 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and four interceptions.

Saleh was hired to be the Jets head coach in 2021 after four successful seasons as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator. But Saleh was 20-36 with New York and never won more than seven games a year while at the helm. 

His tenure was plagued by inconsistent quarterback play after the team’s third-round draft pick in 2021, quarterback Zach Wilson, played poorly and was benched multiple times across his first three seasons and Rodgers was injured in the first game of last season. 

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SEATTLE — After six seasons as a New York Giants quarterback, Daniel Jones understands the New York media experience. That’s especially true when thinking about the ups (the 2022 playoff victory) and downs (where do you even want to begin?) of his career.

“There will always be a story of the week or a kind of idea that’s out there,” Jones explained Sunday. “It’s our job to know what’s real and know what’s going on. To fix the problems that are real but also to ignore the things that aren’t.”

This past week, Jones and his teammates were tasked with trying to ignore a narrative that suggested the Giants had no chance to beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The thinking went: This was a cross-country trip to one of the most hostile environments in the NFL against a quality opponent without two of their top playmakers in rookie sensation Malik Nabers and starting running back Devin Singletary. Coming off an ugly loss against Dallas last Thursday, the Giants had no chance. A fall to 1-4 was a given.

Or so the story of the week went.

But Jones and his teammates didn’t let a bad narrative get in the way of a good day. On Sunday, they played their most complete game of the year en route to a 29-20 victory that might just help change the trajectory of their season.

Jones, in particular, looked poised throughout Sunday’s game, racking up 257 yards and two touchdowns while going 23-of-34 passing. Of course, what’s more important than the quality stats — which he’s posted routinely lately — was marrying them with a win. Against Dallas, Jones’ final numbers looked good, but the scoreboard didn’t.

On Sunday, Jones made both shine.

“It all started with DJ just dicing the defense up, being confident as hell and just throwing the ball downfield,” right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said after Sunday’s victory.

Actually, the way things started Sunday, it certainly didn’t seem like a win was in the offing for New York. In fact, the Giants’ first offensive play seemed to foretell a rocky afternoon, as Jones tripped in the pocket and then fumbled, pushing the Giants within five yards of their own end zone. Jones recovered, however, and proceeded to lead a 10-minute drive down the field which ended catastrophically. Running back Eric Gray fumbled while diving into the end zone, and Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins recovered it before running 102 yards for a Seattle touchdown.

99 yards and a skip into the endzone…

TOUCHDOWN RAYSHAWN JENKINS! pic.twitter.com/XY4wpFXLwI

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— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 6, 2024

But the Giants didn’t let the devastating start derail them. Instead, two series later, Jones marched the Giants 81 yards down the field and knotted the game 7-to-7 with a touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson.

That’s six for Robinson 🫡

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/uoRBHFsui5

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 6, 2024

Jones set up that 7-yard strike to Robinson with an 11-yard scamper. That was his longest run of a game in which he relied on his legs quite a bit. Jones rushed 11 times — more than any game since the 2023 season-opener (13) — for 38 yards.

While Jones’ legs are an asset, he should probably be more careful going forward, as he took a few cringe-inducing hits — though he delivered a few hits of his own, lowering his shoulder and impressing his teammates.

“That man does not feel pain because he was running right into the fricking smoke all day today,” Eluemunor said. “I mean as an offensive lineman, you’ll run through a brick wall for that type of guy.”

Fortunately for Jones’ health, the Giants running game didn’t rely solely on him trying to be a battering ram. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. stepped up in the absence of Singletary, rushing for 129 yards on 18 carries in his first career start. Gray, the second-year back, added 50 receiving yards on three receptions.

But it was the passing game where the Giants shined. A week after taking a lot of criticism for missing his deep shots, Jones connected on Sunday.

He finished 2-for-2 on passes that traveled 20-plus yards in the air, both of which went to veteran receiver Darius Slayton on the same drive. He hit Slayton down the near sideline for a 41-yard gain before connecting with Slayton again on a 30-yard score three plays later.

DJ LAUNCHES TO SLAYTON 🚀

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Ei9YalCAPD

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 6, 2024

That Jones was so productive Sunday without Nabers, who had a league-high target share of 38.2 percent coming into the game, is encouraging. It’s even more encouraging that Jones keeps stringing together quality games. Over the past four weeks, Jones has completed 67.6 percent of passes, thrown for 952 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception while taking only seven sacks. Jones’ 0.18 EPA/dropback during that stretch (Weeks 2-5) ranked sixth in the league entering “Sunday Night Football.” Even with his abysmal Week 1 factored in, Jones is 15th in the NFL in EPA/dropback (0.04).

“It’s never been easy for him, but everything we’ve asked him to do, he does it the very best he can do it,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s played some good football here. We’re going to need him to continue to do that.”

It’s been and up-and-down start for New York, now 2-3, but the Giants offense has looked better each game and this week at least, the final score reflected that.

“I feel like I’m a better player than I was then,” Jones said when asked if he feels he’s back to his 2022 playoff level. “I’m a better player every week. That’s what you’re always striving for. I get comparing to ’22 or years past or whatever that — I don’t know how productive that really is. Just focus on getting better right now and being the best I can be week to week.”

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That’s a storyline you can always count on with Jones.

(Photo: Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images)