Sir Jim Ratcliffe has only spent 90 minutes at Old Trafford watching Manchester United since his INEOS group paid £1.3bn to take control of the club’s football operations. Given the way things have gone on the field for Erik ten Hag‘s team this season, a 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Sunday represented a reasonable afternoon’s work.

However Mail Sport’s columnist Chris Sutton has decided he has seen enough and believes Ratcliffe should waste no time in getting rid of the manager who led United in to the Champions League places in his debut season last time around.

Former Premier League and golden boot winner Sutton told our It’s All Kicking Off podcast on Monday that Ten Hag has taken United too far backwards over the last five-and-half months to be given any more time. In doing so, he became the first of Mail Sport’s team of experts to call on Ratcliffe to make a change.

Sutton said: ‘Jim Ratcliffe will be looking at everything within the club. He’ll be looking to fix the leaks in the roof. He’ll be looking to make improvements at the training ground.

‘But what can he improve and improve right now? I think he really needs to scrutinise Erik ten Hag and I suspect he’ll be thinking about a change.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (L) attended his first game since his £1.3bn investment was announced as he watched Man United draw 2-2 with Spurs

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (L) attended his first game since his £1.3bn investment was announced as he watched Man United draw 2-2 with Spurs

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (L) attended his first game since his £1.3bn investment was announced as he watched Man United draw 2-2 with Spurs

Mail Sport columnist Chris Sutton believes Ratcliffe should immediately sack Erik ten Hag

Mail Sport columnist Chris Sutton believes Ratcliffe should immediately sack Erik ten Hag

Mail Sport columnist Chris Sutton believes Ratcliffe should immediately sack Erik ten Hag

United have struggled under Ten Hag this season and have already lost 14 matches

United have struggled under Ten Hag this season and have already lost 14 matches

United have struggled under Ten Hag this season and have already lost 14 matches

‘I think the safe thing to do would be to make the change in the summer and give himself time. But if he evaluates Manchester United this season and he strips back and looks at their results and the way that they play, I think he should make the change now.’

Sunday’s draw with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham saw United share the goals but they were dominated in the all other relevant statistics such as possession, shots, shots on target and corners. This has been a pattern ever since Sir Alex Ferguson stood down as manager eleven years ago. The United managers that have followed have all struggled with these metrics.

But as Ferguson sat next to Ratcliffe – whose investment is expected to be ratified by the Premier League next month – in the Old Trafford directors box Sutton believes both men were watching a failing football team that is showing no signs of getting better under their Dutch coach.

‘Sir Alex Ferguson’s team didn’t just land the odd punch,’ continued Sutton.

‘They were relentless. It was blow after blow after blow. Total commitment, total domination.

‘I think if you’re looking at the team this season you see a team that’s been bottom-half bullies. At home against teams from the bottom half, they have dominated possession.

‘But against half-decent teams at Old Trafford, Manchester United have let themselves be dominated. And this is a manager who’s been in for 18 months now.

‘Manchester United at this moment in time are going backwards. And it’s like small comforts now. Rasmus Hojlund scoring, good for him. I’m pleased for him. Marcus Rashford, as I say, rocking up. Alejandro Garnacho having moments. But that’s all they are.

‘And Ten Hag can talk about injured players coming back. But as a whole, this season, Manchester United aren’t going to change as far as I can see in the way that they play.

Sutton claims Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou (left) would transform United's fortunes overnight

Sutton claims Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou (left) would transform United's fortunes overnight

Sutton claims Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou (left) would transform United’s fortunes overnight

Tottenham were the better side at Old Trafford on Sunday but could only leave with a point

Tottenham were the better side at Old Trafford on Sunday but could only leave with a point

Tottenham were the better side at Old Trafford on Sunday but could only leave with a point 

Sutton said the arrival of Ratcliffe should hail a new era at Old Trafford - including a new manager

Sutton said the arrival of Ratcliffe should hail a new era at Old Trafford - including a new manager

Sutton said the arrival of Ratcliffe should hail a new era at Old Trafford – including a new manager

But It's All Kicking Off co-host Ian Ladyman said calling for Ten Hag's head was 'extraordinary'

But It's All Kicking Off co-host Ian Ladyman said calling for Ten Hag's head was 'extraordinary'

But It’s All Kicking Off co-host Ian Ladyman said calling for Ten Hag’s head was ‘extraordinary’

‘That 20-year period under Sir Alex Ferguson must surely be what Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to get back to. So how is he going to do it? Is there a better option out there as manager?

‘I think there are at this moment in time. So I think it’s time for a change. The Radcliffe revolution. New era, new manager required.’

Sutton and fellow IAKO host, Mail Sport Football Editor Ian Ladyman, were supportive of Ten Hag during the early part of the season. Both feel he handled problems with Jadon Sancho and the Dutch winger Antony impressively while also having to deal with injuries and the departure on loan of talented forward Mason Greenwood.

Ladyman has also expressed reservations about the United manager in recent weeks but insisted on IAKO that he must still be given more time.

‘I think this is an extraordinary thing for you to say,’ Ladyman told Sutton.

‘Our views on Ten Hag over the course of this season have pretty much run in parallel. It started off with very strong support. Support for the way he dealt with some of the issues at the club that we know about. Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo last season for example.

‘And then we have seen the way the team has regressed this season and it has regressed. And we’ve started to look at the team and wonder how well it’s being coached and how well Ten Hag is managing to get his messages through, whether he’s improving players, whether he’s improving a team. So we’ve started to ask questions about him.

‘However, I think to suggest that Jim Ratcliffe, whose takeover hasn’t even been fully ratified by the League yet, comes in, walks into his office, sits down at his desk, picks up the phone and bins the manager straight away I think is a remarkable call.

‘We both think that the likes of [football director] John Murtough and [technical director] Darren Fletcher probably won’t be long for the football club, so there will be other people coming in I’m sure.

‘Those people, those experts, as far as I’m concerned, have got to give themselves the time to look at the football club and decide where the fault lies and decide whether some of those players are beyond help or whether it’s down to the recruitment and whether Ten Hag has his fingerprints on some of that, which we think he has, and how much of it is on the coach.

Ten Hag has been praised in certain quarters for the way he has handled issues including Jadon Sancho

Ten Hag has been praised in certain quarters for the way he has handled issues including Jadon Sancho

Ten Hag has been praised in certain quarters for the way he has handled issues including Jadon Sancho

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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‘And I don’t think that Jim Ratcliffe can make that decision or would be wise to make that decision on the back of one afternoon sitting next to Alex Ferguson. It’s too soon.’

There are examples elsewhere in the Premier League of new managers having a transformative effect on teams. Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Postecoglou at Spurs are good examples.

Asked if he thought a coach like Postecoglou could transform the current United team overnight, Sutton said: ‘Absolutely. 100%.

‘Are there better people out there who could do a more effective job than Ten Hag? I think there are and I think if it is a revolution then you have to come in and make your mark.

‘Jim Ratcliffe is not the owner but he’s running the football department.’

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