After a final decision was made, Erik ten Hag of Man United received a 30-day warning and an Ineos U-turn.

More than a week has passed since Manchester United's first of two painful draws during a crucial week for Erik ten Hag, and the manager's job is still vulnerable. Even if he managed to navigate through four pivotal days in leadership, his long-term status remains uncertain.

Ten Hag probably expected the worst following a pre-arranged meeting with the new Ineos executives on Tuesday afternoon in downtown London. Ten Hag is certain that he has the support of the senior figures, despite the fact that his performance as head coach is rumoured to have been one of the many subjects discussed.

It seems today to be true that much. Given the silence that has followed this meeting of directors and management, Ten Hag appears to have survived the chop once more. For the time being.

Even under duress, he remains incredibly manly. He keeps defending himself in public even when Sir Jim Ratcliffe doesn't. Analysts, former professionals, advocates, and the broader media are all far less optimistic about how promising the future appears to be under his leadership.

Even yet, Ten Hag has found it crucial to get through the past week, avoiding any humiliating losses while doing little to inspire optimism. He now has time to get ready for Brentford's visit the following Saturday, which is a fascinating matchup between two of the potential summer replacements at Old Trafford.

This might be a pivotal game if Thomas Frank's performances against United since 2022 are any indication. Actually, every one of the ensuing seven games will be.

Two weeks after the home match against Leicester City on November 10—a match that frequently results in management changes under duress—there will be another international break. Ten Hag, who has survived until thus far largely unharmed, is aware that for the results to continue, they must materialise over the course of the following four weeks.

How long will Ten Hag have to prove himself now, and was it the right decision to let him stay as head coach given the vultures that are waiting to strike, his battle for time rather than something more permanent, and the new sporting owners who don't seem to have much faith in a guy they have aggressively tried to replace? Writers for the Manchester Evening News share their opinions here.

Livesports808
United has found itself in a difficult situation. Ten Hag wasn't really thought to be the guy to take things farther, as was made evident in the summer, so every subpar performance makes more questions than it probably should.

As things are right now, the club is obviously divided over how long to continue working with Ten Hag. It will be more difficult to continue if he loses to Brentford the following week, but he will have had two weeks of free time, which would have been perfect for making a move.

Does this imply that leniency will increase even further? Weird to carry that over too far into the future, considering that the week before the international break might have ended with a loss (or two).

But for how long do you give someone who recently signed two more players from a previous team in addition to a national? Ten Hag's transfer company has received more support from United than is probably prudent.

It only really makes sense to give him the time he needs to get through the international break if Ten Hag is given at least the next five weeks to set things right. United cannot give in any earlier.

George Smith - Ten Hag was always going to be happy to hear silence this week. It looks like he's been given a stay of execution after the executive committee meeting on Tuesday.

When the jury was out at the end of the previous season, I was fighting for Ten Hag, saying he should be given time to adjust to the new leadership and ideally have a season with fewer injuries. But thus far this season, neither the output nor the performances have been good enough.

But in football, everything may change in an instant because the season is still new. This window of time between now and the November international break is his last opportunity, in my opinion, to try and get things right in terms of a run of games.

Ten Hag needs to make the most of United's seven games, five of which are at Old Trafford, between the November break and next weekend's return. Even though I have spoken up for him, I feel like this next phase is critical.

Kieran King
Erik ten Hag should have been fired by Manchester United in the summer, in my opinion. A fantastic chance to split ways with the Dutchman at the end of the season and give the new manager several weeks and a full preseason to prepare his team for the upcoming campaign was squandered by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.

Rather, Ten Hag remains in command and United continues to play badly, as they did for most of the previous campaign. Undoubtedly, Ten Hag was spared in the end by winning the FA Cup, but he should have been eliminated after coming last in a Champions League group that included Copenhagen and Galatasaray and ninth in the Premier League. That was by no means adequate for a team the size of United.

Though I believe United has gotten worse this season, I was delighted to give Ten Hag another chance to try and turn their fortunes around. With five goals in seven games, they are the second-lowest scoring team in the Premier League and are very boring to watch. Right now, there isn't much enthusiasm surrounding United.

In light of this, I think Ratcliffe and Ineos ought to have fired Ten Hag following the goalless draw with Aston Villa so that he would have had two weeks to get ready for their upcoming match. Now that the deadline has past, Ten Hag should be able to keep his job until the next international break, at the very least.

It remains to be seen if this turns out to be the right move, and while I have no doubts about Ten Hag's ability as an operator, he doesn't seem like the ideal fit for that United dressing room at this time. I would be attempting to get someone in similar to Kieran McKenna, a manager who has worked at the club previously, knows English football, and plays a visually appealing style of football.

Seelochan, Isaac
Erik ten Hag has had ample opportunity to demonstrate his ability to turn United around. After the Reds' FA Cup victory and their injury woes, I can somewhat see why Ineos retained him this summer, although injuries are no longer a valid reason.

Ten Hag's progress throughout United's two worst-ever Premier League season beginnings ought to be sufficient proof for Ineos that this won't work. Another major black point against the former Ajax manager is the confused style of play.

It surprises me that he wasn't replaced right away following Tuesday's meeting. I still harbour a small suspicion that it will occur prior to the Brentford game.

Offering it to Ruud van Nistelrooy temporarily and seeing how he does wouldn't seem like a bad idea in my opinion. He has a solid reputation as the PSV manager and is unlikely to get much worse.

Wilson Amie
The Premier League table typically takes shape over the first ten or so games of the season. After seven games, United is in 14th position in the league, and Erik ten Hag's future doesn't appear bright.

But, I believe that he has likely avoided the firing brush for the time being because to the lack of viable successors. The issue for United is that they might be in a similar predicament during the upcoming international break unless someone becomes available over the course of the next several weeks.

But, if things don’t improve, or even get worse, between now and then, then club chiefs will have no alternative but to swing the axe. Between now and the next break, United have seven games in all competitions, realistically, they will be expected to win six of them.

United take on Brentford, West Ham and Leicester City in the Premier League, as well as Fenerbahce and PAOK in the Europa League and Leicester again in the Carabao Cup. They also play in-form Chelsea at Old Trafford in the league.

The manager should be granted additional time if Ten Hag can improve in those seven games and start to turn around results, even though their future shouldn't depend on winning all six of the games in which they are favourites. But if there are no indications of progress, I believe Ten Hag's final match could be at Old Trafford against Leicester City.

Horn Kieran
The fact that Manchester United hasn't fired Erik ten Hag yet surprises me greatly, even though their alternatives for his replacement aren't that exciting. Even after spending millions and winning two domestic trophies, Ten Hag still can't seem to get his players to perform consistently.

His career at Old Trafford ought to have ended there, even if the Reds had just won the FA Cup when the internal decision on his future was taken over the summer. Even though United outperformed Manchester City on that particular day, Pep Guardiola's team usually prevails in the championship game.

But in the end, he needs to be given the rest of the season if United has opted to put him in charge once more, or else club executives will appear dumb. Fortunately, Ten Hag has a chance to win back supporters with advantageous fixtures coming up, at least temporarily.

Having said that, the schedule will change and the same issues will surface, putting United in a situation they could have avoided.