sport news Paul Scholes insists Erik ten Hag should be sacked BEFORE the FA Cup final but ... trends now
Erik ten Hag is facing calls to be sacked as Manchester United manager immediately, after their 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace on Monday night.
The Dutchman's future is under severe scrutiny after a poor season in which the Red Devils are eighth in the Premier League, were knocked out of the Champions League before the knockout phase, and are underdogs in their upcoming FA Cup final clash with local rivals Manchester City.
There are many who feel that he could be replaced at the end of the season, though reports have suggested that United won't sack before the FA Cup final, though players 'already believed his fate is sealed'.
But with Manchester United approaching the final in a poor run of form with just one Premier League win in their last seven, there are some former players who feel that the club's owners can't wait until the end of the season to get rid of the Dutchman.
Mail Sport takes a look at what pundits have been saying on the Ten Hag question, and namely who thinks he should stay, and who believes his time is up at Old Trafford.
There have been calls for Erik ten Hag to be sacked immediately, though reports have suggested that Manchester United wouldn't remove the Dutchman before the FA Cup final
Ten Hag (right) is under severe pressure following a frustrating season at Old Trafford
Things got worse on Monday as Crystal Palace thumped the Red Devils 4-0 at Selhurst Park
Michael Owen - Sacked immediately
The former Liverpool and Manchester United striker believes Ten Hag is not the right man for the job and feels that the club's board might have to make a decision immediately,
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Following United's defeat to Crystal Palace, he told Premier League Productions: 'I've said it for a long time that Ten Hag is not the right man for the job. He simply cannot manage the club next season.
'But I almost wonder now, they've got a cup final and some important games that could mean European football next year or not, and at some point you have to make a decision.
'They are going to get absolutely hammered by Manchester City, they will get annihilated. Arsenal will smash them to bits at Old Trafford, Newcastle will probably beat them and I wouldn't even fancy them going to Brighton, they might not get anything out of the rest of the season if they are playing like that.
'I just wonder with so much at stake, even though it's for four games, I wonder whether the board might just have to do something here and now and be radical about it.
'But he simply cannot manage this team next season he's not good enough.'
Owen like the next pundit, also called for Steve McLaren - Ten Hag's assistant - to be placed as caretaker until the end of the season.
Paul Scholes and Michael Owen insist that Erik ten Hag should be sacked as manager before the FA Cup final
Paul Scholes - Sacked immediately
The legendary United midfielder appears to have changed his mind over whether Ten Hag should stay or leave Old Trafford.
Like Owen, the humiliating loss at Selhurst Park has had a big impact on his thinking, and he said that the game felt like the 'final nail in the coffin for the Dutchman.
He said: 'I felt for a while he (Ten Hag) might get another year and work for a club that has calmed down a little by the new owners but it doesn't feel like that now.
'I thought who is out there to replace him? With Thomas Tuchel saying he's leaving Bayern Munich, I don't think that creates a bigger problem for him (Ten Hag) as the problems are there anyway, I think it's quite plain to see that he's on borrowed time.
'Sometimes you get those moments where you think this is the end. I remember Ole Gunnar (Solskjaer) at Watford away, 4-1, it felt very similar to me, it felt like the end.'
Scholes then suggested McLaren, who was assistant for a period of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford, should become interim boss until the end of the season.
He described McLaren as the best coach he worked with during his playing career.
Paul Scholes and Michael Owen recommended Steve McLaren take the job until the end of the season
Jamie Carragher - Sacked
The Sky Sports pundit said that Ten Hag couldn't have any complaints if he was sacked following their loss to Crystal Palace.
He ripped into United's performance, stating: 'This is one of the most poorly-coached teams in the Premier League. It's not an opinion, that's a fact.
'I get that (the backline was unavailable), I understand, your performance level will drop and your results will not be as good when you miss your best players, that's obvious.
'But Erik ten Hag needs performances. You've got to make us believe there's something there or working to something. If he was to lose his job, I don't think he could have any complaints.
Carragher hasn't gone as far to say Ten Hag should leave immediately, but has repeatedly given the belief that the Dutchman will be forced to leave Old Trafford.
After their penalty shootout win over Coventry to reach the FA Cup final, he said: 'I think that result there has cost a United manager his job. I don't see how he stays, I don't.'
He added: 'If you were at the top at Manchester United, what is it about the situation
