“LADS, it’s Tottenham” has taken on a very different meaning for Manchester United over the last three years.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous three-word team talk came back to haunt him when he watched Spurs end their trophy drought against United in the Europa League final.
Remarkably, the Red Devils are winless in eight against the North Londoners — a run spanning Ryan Mason, Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank.
The 2-2 draw at Tottenham in November was another nail in Ruben Amorim’s coffin. Tottenham fans booed at half-time and again in the second half when Frank hooked Xavi Simons.
United were 1-0 up at both stages. In the end, they required an added-time equaliser from Matthijs de Ligt just to avoid defeat.
That draw was the second match in a sequence of three wins from Amorim’s final 11 matches in charge.
Amorim was sacked for challenging Jason Wilcox but United’s communications department could easily point to the team’s form. In particular, some diabolical draws (West Ham and Wolves) and defeat (to ten-man Everton).
The last time United beat Spurs, Antonio Conte was in the opposition dugout and it was the night the unused Cristiano Ronaldo left the stadium early.
That 2-0 win was in October 2022, back when United were on the up under Erik ten Hag and poised to finish in the top four.
It was also one of their best performances under the Dutchman. One of the worst was the 3-0 home reverse last season. Ten Hag was dismissed four weeks later.
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Ten Hag’s last victory with United was against Frank’s Brentford. It was noticeable whenever Frank visited Old Trafford and spoke to the press how complimentary he was about United.
And that was in spite of some gutting defeats. Brentford were 1-0 up in the 90th minute at Old Trafford two seasons ago but were downed by two Scott McTominay goals.
Last season, they went 1-0 up again only to lose 2-1 again.
Frank revealed earlier this season he was interviewed about the United job the day before the 2024 FA Cup final, which was supposed to be Ten Hag’s curtain call.
The last time United beat Spurs, Antonio Conte was in the opposition dugout and it was the night the unused Cristiano Ronaldo left the stadium early.
Frank told a confidant he remained diplomatic about United in public on the off-chance that they would come calling again. They never did.
Giving Frank a swerve was a wise move.
He did a magnificent job at Brentford, who dominated United in all four of their home games against them under the Dane.
Frank absolutely deserved a big club for his next job but United would have been too steep a leap.
Frank and Spurs seemed a good fit, initially. Some of their recruitment was eye-catching (Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha).
Spurs have significant injuries to contend with, which have undeniably contributed to their malaise. But two wins from 15 Premier League matches is sackable form.
If Daniel Levy was still running the show, it would have been curtains for Frank long ago.
You would not have put it past Levy to have ditched Frank and made a mischievous approach for Michael Carrick, given the short length of his contract.
If United end up hiring an external candidate to be their head coach next season then Carrick to Tottenham would not be beyond the realms of possibility.
Carrick has an attachment to the club, albeit a brief one, from his two years as a player between 2004-06.
Spurs fans have despaired about Frank’s conservatism. His formation shape-shifting backfired in the worst fixture imaginable: away to Arsenal in November.
Carrick has been back in the building at Carrington for barely three weeks and already has three wins, United scoring eight goals against three top-seven sides.
Provided he keeps this up and is still not kept on, Carrick would be an attractive appointment to certain Premier League clubs. He is not as wedded to United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was.
Solskjaer has been borderline unemployable despite some respectable feats with United (third and second-place finishes, European final appearance, four semi-final appearances).
The difference with Carrick is he is a coach and has managed in the Premier League and the Championship. His backroom staff is not like the old-boys’ club reunion that Solskjaer assembled.
West Ham, Carrick’s first club, could not be ruled out as a future destination for the Geordie, whether or not they sink down to the Championship.
Carrick’s six-game unbeaten run in charge of United has come against Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel and Marco Silva.
Victory over Frank would be another scalp.
Then ‘lads, it’s Tottenham’ would revert to its original meaning for United.