Gareth Southgate benefits from Dan Ashworth and Harry Maguire in a bid to replace the Ten Hag

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his gang of revolutionaries at Manchester United are looking for alternatives to Erik ten Hag, who looks increasingly unlikely to last beyond the summer.

A manager who is rated by the club has prompted massive head-shaking from Red Devils fans and celebration from their vocal rivals on social media, who are yearning for a move by Ineos that would simultaneously see England finally be able to take advantage of real The Golden Generation and United were doomed by a manager who unilaterally prevented that stellar group of players from winning three major international tournaments on the ball.

Here are five reasons why appointing Gareth Southgate may not be such a bad idea…

Together
Put your cynicism aside for a second, though it’s not difficult to imagine Southgate as a traveling team-building consultant, standing in front of half-asleep employees with this word on a whiteboard behind him: “What together means to you?”

Because actually the Manchester United players don’t seem to have the faintest idea and could really do with a week of days thrown in to hammer home what it means to pull in the same direction and support each other .

The toilet is leakier than a discount nappy and at the first sign of trouble the players either shrink away or, in the case of their captain in particular, let out cries suitable for people for whom nappies should be mandatory.

Southgate may not be the greatest tactician, but his ability to improve the ethos and dynamic of a dressing room cannot be doubted, having lifted England off the floor following their Euro 2016 thrashing and they have led them to a place now where every player is happy to wear the jersey that once weighed down to the point of paralysis.

It’s been a long time since Manchester United’s players seemed to enjoy their football as much as England’s stars, with Ten Hag’s pack seemingly as burdened as the three Lions before Southgate.

READ: Gareth Southgate in the Premier League: 24 damning stats Manchester United should see

Dan Ashworth
Gareth Southgate has consistently and vehemently praised Dan Ashworth’s impact on England during their time working together for the FA, deserving the future sporting director of Manchester United for the country’s success at youth level, which has translated into significant improvement in the senior team under Southgate’s watch. And the respect is mutual.

“Gareth is an exceptional leader,” Ashworth said ahead of the 2018 World Cup, just before picking up sticks for Brighton. “The environment that has been created depends on it. He has a great understanding of getting the best out of players and staff. So what’s happened is that Gareth has put together a way of working for the players and the staff, which means it’s a big group of people. He has to take credit.”

Reports, believe it or not, suggest that Southgate is leading the race to be the next United boss, and Ashworth has certainly played his part in that.

Harry Maguire and the Man Utd defence
“Never let England down” is the line every time Harry Maguire is selected for England in the face of what has at times been significant evidence that he shouldn’t, whether he doesn’t actually play for Manchester United or really playing for Manchester United.

As a one-eyed man in the land of the blind or the fastest snail, Maguire has arguably been United’s best centre-back this season. Silliness aside, he was pretty good by his own standards, the highest of which I’ve seen him in an England shirt.

A team that has taken more hits than any other this year probably needs a little backing. And in what we’re sure all United fans want to hear, he could become THE man to lead a team built on the solid defensive foundations that Southgate covets.

We can hear it now: “Defend, defend, defend!”

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Out of field and optics issues
Erik ten Hag handled the Cristiano Ronaldo situation well, handled the change of captain with aplomb and overall last season seemed to command the respect of not only his players but also the media, fans and the general public through his management or. of Manchester United’s multitude of off-field problems.

However, it hasn’t been so sure this season the way he addressed his and the club’s critics suggesting a man on the brink. He disputed Jamie Carragher’s analysis of his defensive set-up despite agreeing with it, ordered Fulham’s social media team to apologize for asking if Bruno Fernandes was OK, hit out the imaginary reporters who questioned Kobbie Mainoo’s promotion to first. team and claimed ahead of the 4-0 drubbing by Crystal Palace that his side “are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league”. He seems to have gone mad, not totally, but definitely slightly.

United won’t get that with Southgate, who has proved to be – if nothing else – a master of media relations and the England team’s optics, with his zenith, “Dear England” open letter to fans later standing on the basis of a blockbuster hit at the National Theatre, which could be the best thing an England manager has ever done. I’m sorry, Sir Alf.

Home transfer focus
Sir Jim is said to be keen to sign homegrown talent as part of his changes to United’s recruitment model. He “want to reinforce a domestic flavor”which sounds suspiciously Brexit-y, but is likely – just as deplorably – to be connected to a desire for more Manchester United DNA.

And if that doesn’t come through the youth teams, a near likeness can be purchased for exorbitant fees from other Premier League clubs, whose players can probably almost remember a time when United were good, so they have the requisite knowledge of genetics the club. if not the DNA itself.

Who better to attract English talent to the club than the England manager himself? Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Ollie Watkins are among the England players previously linked with United, while Jarrad Branthwaite – believed to be among their top summer targets – is certain to be called up soon.

England players have nothing but good things to say about Southgate, who could prove to be United’s very own carrot for some very good footballers.

READ MORE: Southgate to Manchester United as Allardyce and Lampard return: predict each club’s next boss