Will he stay, or will he go? That’s the big question surrounding Erik ten Hag.

The Manchester United boss thrived in his first season, securing a third-placed finish and delivering the Carabao Cup, as well as reaching an FA Cup final.

This time round it has been a much more sobering experience with United set to miss out on the Champions League, with a record number of league defeats to their name.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have taken on the responsibility of football operations at Old Trafford following their minority takeover and they have a decision to make as to how they move forward, not least with the man they want to lead their quest for success.

Here, Mail Sport looks at the FOR and AGAINST arguments for Ten Hag continuing as Manchester United manager next season…

FOR

No obvious replacement

One of the strongest arguments for sticking is that ripping it up and starting again every few years is hardly a recipe for success that Ineos would endorse.

Ten Hag overachieved in his first season in charge, finishing third, winning a trophy and reaching the FA Cup final. And while he has underachieved this time around – there can be little argument about that – a reflection on the two seasons as a whole lends itself to giving Ten Hag more time and backing.

The concept of new players and new managers is often more enticing than the reality.

There is no sure-fire coach out there that would have this United group challenging on all fronts. Roberto De Zerbi? Thomas Tuchel? Gareth Southgate? Graham Potter? All represent gambles.

The lack of a No 1 candidate, that man who is universally seen as a clear upgrade, is telling.

Faith in youth

Factor in too that Ten Hag’s work with young players this season deserves an immense amount of credit.

Ineos want to reduce the age of the squad and target more young players moving forward. Ten Hag has shown he knows how to coach and develop burgeoning young stars, just look at Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Willy Kambwala.

Add to that that the likes of Toby Collyer, Harry Amass, Omari Forson and Habeeb Ogunneye have been trusted to join first team squads this season and Ten Hag has not neglected youth like some of his predecessors.

Rasmus Hojlund, 21, is another that Ten Hag is working to improve day in and day out. When the Dane hit his purple patch earlier this year it was vindication for the hard work put in on the training ground and the belief instilled in him by Ten Hag.

No luck with injuries

It should also be stressed that the sheer number of injuries United have suffered this season represents mitigation.

Scott McTominay, who missed the draw with Liverpool, was the latest to be sidelined, making it 56 separate cases of injury this season alone.

It has meant Ten Hag has constantly had to chop and change his side, with his defensive unit in particular decimated in key moments of the campaign.

Critics will point to the intensity of Ten Hag’s training as one reason why so many players have collected niggles but contending with so many injury problems is unprecedented.

And that is why there are plenty of staff at Manchester United, who, it is understood, are of the belief that Ten Hag should be given another season with a clean bill of health in his squad and a fresh structure to work under.

While United’s hopes of securing Champions League football for next season look all but over now, the Athletic report that Ten Hag is being included in meetings right now surrounding recruitment heading into the summer.

They also report that Ten Hag is also being consulted on training facilities and hotels that United will use on their US pre-season tour this summer.

Trust the process

For now, plans are being made with Ten Hag still in charge.

‘I think you need to follow the process,’ Ten Hag said recently.

‘We have good young players coming through. They are developing very well in their progress.

‘We are in a good way, a good direction and we need to make the next steps. Don’t interrupt this process.’

Match-going fans are sticking with Ten Hag and that’s key when they have turned on some of his predecessors. There have been critics, and at times boos for this squad, but no such demonstrations calling for Ten Hag’s sacking.

Ineos and Ratcliffe have a big decision to make, and while it has been a bitterly disappointing season, with the potential for another FA Cup final – and another trophy – on the horizon, disposing of him is not as clear cut as some critics would suggest.

AGAINST

Not Ineos’ man

The first argument to sacking Ten Hag is that he’s not and never will be Ineos’ appointment.

New owners and regimes typically love to go out and appoint their guy and that is the one thing hanging over Ten Hag.

Ratcliffe was non-committal in February when asked about Ten Hag’s future.

‘Erik’s been in that environment,’ he said. ‘I’m talking about the organisation, the people in the structure, and the atmosphere in the club.

‘We have to do that bit. So I’m not really focused on the coach. I’m focused on getting that bit right.’

No clear style of play

Ineos and Ratcliffe are shrewd operators; they won’t make a change purely on ego, purely to have their own guy if that manager is worse for United than Ten Hag.

But if they are leaning towards a change then the lack of a clear style of play, limited playing style evolution and some questionable pieces of recruitment would work against him.

Despite seeing the midfield scarily overrun for large spells in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, Ten Hag was upbeat about the performance, to the incredulity of Roy Keane.

‘Listen, obviously he’s had a couple of glasses of wine after the game,’ Keane told Sky Sports after watching Ten Hag’s post-match interview.

‘I don’t know how strong that is, but he seemed really upbeat, and I admire him for it, because he’s obviously seeing something that I’m not seeing at this moment in time.

‘I’m not saying there’s not potential at the football club or with these young players, but in terms of competing with Arsenal or Man City and Liverpool, they’re way off it.

‘They are competing at this moment in time with Aston Villa and Spurs for that fourth and fifth position, and at this stage, they’re well behind them.

‘So I don’t get his positivity, but maybe that’s just me obviously being a bit old and grumpy. He’s upbeat, but I certainly didn’t see that upbeat performance – I thought [there were] two very good goals from Man United and a team that hung in there and stuck at it, and I give them credit for that, but if you’re looking at the bigger picture I’m not sitting back here and going “Man United are on their way back”.’

Disappointing results and poor recruitment

Note too that disappointing performances are not a one off this season.

United finished bottom of their Champions League group – which included FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray – and saw their Carabao Cup defence ended early with a hammering at home by Newcastle United.

There have also been late collapses at Arsenal, Chelsea and Brentford, all of which haven’t helped his cause.

Then there is the case that United have spent £400million during Ten Hag’s tenure, and many moves have been headscratchers.

Mason Mount has spent most of the season on the sidelines, Antony has been incredibly frustrating for £86m, while Sofyan Amrabat hasn’t worked out on loan in midfield.

And to top everything off, 12 league defeats this season equals United’s worst in the Premier League era.

In previous seasons (2013-14 and 2021-22), there was a managerial change before the campaign had ended and more defeats could yet follow before this season is out.