Erik exactly what crisis club United need at the start of a new era

The saga continues but it now seems certain that Erik ten Hag will be Manchester United's manager from next season.

Reports suggest the Dutchman has, verbally at least, agreed to take over at Old Trafford and while the paperwork is still to be completed, an announcement is expected next week following Ajax's KNVB Cup final with PSV Eindhoven.

Ten Hag has spent recent summers rejecting overtures from some of Europe's biggest clubs, preferring to stay put and continue his excellent work at Ajax.

Now it finally looks like he's ready to move on and after also being sounded out by other lesser sides requiring revolution, United could be the perfect fit.

The Red Devils are the cream of the crisis clubs and are seeking a visionary to bring back the glory days. However, wasn't that why they first appointed Ralf Rangnick?

Rangnick's November arrival following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking was seen as a masterstroke but it remains to be seen if the German will be kept on to fulfil the 'consultancy' role set aside for him.

For a club whose success was built on having one man, Sir Alex Ferguson, in charge for 26 years, the German's potential exit would be very much in keeping with how they've been run since his departure in 2013. In short, they will be dispensing with someone brought in to do a long-term role due to him failing in a short-term position that was only meant to be an experiment.

Like most interim coaches, Rangnick is believed to have clashed with the players over tactics and training methods, two issues that are often an occupational hazard for any manager placed in charge of a group who know he won't be there the following season.

Ten Hag's reported three-year contract with the option of a further season gives him both security and the authority to try and implement his methods.

While Rangnick's reign hasn't gone to plan, it's United's reputation rather than his which seems to have suffered the most. However, with a boardroom reshuffle afoot, change is in the air.

After burning through Messrs Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho and Solskjaer since Ferguson stepped down in 2013, the squad appears disjointed and disillusioned and includes players from each reign. In fact, two of Ferguson's title winners from 2012-13 are still on board.

What's needed is a clearout, something in which Ten Hag excels. His best team at Ajax reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, but only five of the 18-man squad from their second-leg defeat to Tottenham are still at the club.

It is, therefore, remarkable that their round-of-16 exit from the Champions League against Benfica was so heavily criticised.

Ajax's expression and dynamism are reminiscent of United during Ferguson's peak years and are precisely why the 52-year-old has proved such a popular choice for big clubs looking for a new manager.

Those attributes have been lacking at Old Trafford for some time and they were shambolic during Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Everton.

With reports suggesting he has been offered a clean slate to work with, Ten Hag could be the perfect man to restore the Red Devils' relevance.

Fantastic Forest heading back to the big time

I'm a bit late to the party I know but I recently got around to watching Jonny Owen's fantastic documentary 'I Believe in Miracles' charting the rise of Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough.

While there's a way to go before they win back-to-back European Cups again, there is some familiarity with the current Forest side in that they have a nice blend of experienced pros and precocious youngsters.

At the helm is a coach who, while not possessing Clough's inimitable charisma, appears just as good at getting results.

Steve Cooper took charge on September 21 with the club bottom of the Championship but they are now fourth in the standings after ten matches without a defeat, winning their last five.

The 42-year-old has paid his dues, coaching in the youth setups at Wrexham and Liverpool before leading England under-17s to global glory at the 2017 World Cup.

After working wonders with Swansea, Cooper's exploits at the City Ground are further prove that the Welshman is destined for the top, as are the likes of Joe Worrall and Brennan Johnson.

Their results heading into the Easter weekend suggest they have a faint chance of automatic promotion and, more importantly, they should head into the playoffs full of confidence.

It's remarkable to think that Forest's last season in the top flight was 1998-99. There is an air of an inevitability that the likes of Cooper, Worrall and Johnson will be in the Premier League next season and there's every chance it will be at the City Ground.

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