By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-11-22 07:58:32 | Updated at 2024-11-28 03:43:28
5 days ago
Six months ago Marc Skinner led Manchester United to their first major trophy and they are unbeaten this season - so why are some fans not happy?
The 41-year-old, who is in his fourth season in charge at United, has faced criticism for several months and there has been booing at some home games this year.
Question marks over his future - with his contract originally set to run out in the summer - dominated conversations in May, before he led United to their FA Cup victory and was handed a new short-term deal.
Since then, he has been backed in the transfer window by the club, who are taking a new direction under minority ownership group Inoes.
But signs saying "Skinner Out" are still being spotted and despite an unbeaten run in the Women's Super League, some supporters are not satisfied.
BBC Sport takes a look at some of the reasons why.
United have won four and drawn three of their WSL games this season and are currently sitting fifth in the table, six points off leaders Chelsea, who they face on Sunday (12:00 GMT kick-off).
But it was the run of three successive draws against Brighton, Arsenal and Aston Villa that increased scrutiny of Skinner.
Despite keeping five clean sheets in seven WSL matches, United have lacked ruthlessness at the other end of the pitch, scoring just 11 goals - fewer than five teams in the WSL and less than half the tally of Sunday's opponents Chelsea.
One of the reasons for this, according to Skinner, was the relatively "new team" he said he is working with this season.
Summer signings Dominique Janssen, Celin Bizet and Elisabeth Terland have become regular starters, while midfielder Grace Clinton - who spent last season on loan at Tottenham - and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce have come into the side.
Skinner believes that provides context as to why United have not been firing on all cylinders but his comments did not go down well with supporters.
"He has said some odd things. Sometimes he gets himself into a muddle. Sometimes I think he says too much," former England striker Ellen White, who played under Skinner at Birmingham City, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"He is an absolutely phenomenal coach - in terms of my development, one-to-one stuff and on the pitch.
"Maybe the managerial and communication side, he is lacking slightly in that understanding."
Ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright said he was "pleased" to see United fans "pull him up" on those comments and that he disagrees with Skinner.
Speaking on the podcast Crossways, Wright said: "What he [Skinner] is saying, in respect of new players - he's had this team for long enough now.
"They should be doing a lot better. You listen to that interview [after the 0-0 draw with Villa] and there was no plan B, no real structure of what they were doing.
"They were playing against a Villa side that were bottom of the league and he's talking about how they got a good result at home.
"This is why I was quite pleased to see Manchester United fans pull him up about the interview."
United supporter Ben told BBC Sport before their victory over Leicester City on Sunday that he was "torn" on whether Skinner is the right man for the job.
"Some of the stuff he comes out with in press conferences is baffling, but he has always been like that," said Ben.
"But he also comes in for some unnecessary criticism. United will win games and people will find ways to moan and whinge about him because they don't like him."
Another fan, Graham, said to "give the man a chance" because he has to "rebuild" the team after big players such as goalkeeper Mary Earps, striker Lucia Garcia and captain Katie Zelem left the club in the summer.
But United supporter Jade believes Skinner has "lost trust" from the players and they are "not performing as we should".
That is a view felt by others attending home matches this season, with some supporters calling for members of the media to "get answers" as they walked past the press box at Leigh Sports Village following the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
His critics grew last week when World Cup winner Irene Guerrero told Spanish newspaper Marca, external she "had to go into the bathroom to cry" due to treatment she received while at United last season.
"The reality is, players want to play football. She's got consistent time where she is in Mexico. We have a great support team behind the scenes," said Skinner, when asked about Guerrero's comments.
"Not everybody is going to agree with your decision-making. It's unfortunate she feels that way but we give as much support as we possibly can and we can review how we look at things."
Whether Skinner can regain the fans' support throughout the campaign is yet to be seen, but he says they are "entitled to their opinion" and vows to do all he can to bring success to the club.
"We all know at Manchester United we're judged by results and performances. It's the beauty of our fantastic and huge club," Skinner said this month.
"The reality is, we agreed as a team that the performances [against Villa and Arsenal] probably haven't been quite where we want them to be.
"We want to be more attacking. There is always noise - good, bad and indifferent. The draws are obviously not what we want - but we're still unbeaten."
