- Pressure is building on Marc Skinner as fans grow louder in their criticism of him
- The calls for Skinner to be sacked feel unprecedented in the women’s game
- It’s brainless to doubt David Moyes at West Ham – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off
Marc Skinner faced the music, but it was as if he did not want to listen.
As the Manchester United manager stood in front of the away end at Stamford Bridge, he could see the ‘Skinner Out’ signs. He could hear the chants for him to leave. Yet he kept applauding.
After the game, Skinner deflected questions about fans’ criticism. He said he would not let any negativity drip into his psyche. He claimed that he is too focused on managing his team to be distracted by outside noise. But that noise is getting louder.
There were chants for him to leave after United were beaten by Liverpool in December. There were more when fans travelled to the club’s winter training camp in Malta. The situation is getting worse and, if Skinner is not careful, the crescendo will become deafening.
It is unprecedented for a manager in women’s football to be faced with fans calling for their head.
Skinner led United to second in the WSL last season, their best-ever position, which saw them secure Champions League qualification for the first time. They finished one point behind title-winners Chelsea. They also made their first FA Cup final. Skinner doesn’t get enough credit for that. He had a much smaller squad and budget than Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.
This season has been more challenging. United’s 3-1 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday left them 10 points behind the league leaders and seven points outside of the Champions League places. It will take a near-perfect second half of the season to overcome that gap.
There are some mitigating circumstances for United’s form. Four of their summer signings – Hinata Miyazawa, Gabby George, Emma Watson and Evie Rabjohn – have long-term injuries.
Two of their new recruits – Geyse and Melvine Malard – are still adapting to life in England.
United also lost assistant boss Martin Ho to Norwegian club SK Brann and did not appoint a replacement until November.
Skinner has perhaps been at a disadvantage since he took the United job in 2021. His predecessor, Casey Stoney, was loved by United fans. Many supporters did not want Skinner from the outset.
He did an excellent job with a small budget at Birmingham City, keeping them in the top flight and reaching an FA Cup final. After a rocky start with American club Orlando Pride, he led them to their longest unbeaten run in history.
But he arrived at United without a trophy to his name and that has not changed.
The lack of silverware is a sticking point for fans but there also gripes over a perceived lack of playing style. Skinner is passionate in his press conferences and generous with his time. But some fans feel he talks too much.
After United were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of Champions League qualifying, Skinner claimed there were teams who had progressed that were not good enough to be there.
The qualifying format meant only the champions of Spain, Germany and France qualified automatically.
Chelsea took a fourth spot due to the competition’s holders, Barcelona, having already qualified by winning their league. Other clubs who won their leagues were placed into the ‘champions path’ while those who finished in lower positions were placed in the ‘league path’.
This meant there were some incredibly one-sided ties, with Czech champions Slavia Prague beating Romanian equivalents Olimpia Cluj 11-0 on aggregate. United being pitted against PSG meant one of the best teams in Europe would be knocked out before the group stage.
Skinner had a point in that the qualifying format was flawed. But he was the wrong person to make it at the wrong time. It made him look bitter. United were only formed in 2018 and have no history in the Champions League, unlike some of the clubs who did qualify.
Skinner has the backing of United and a change in management feels unlikely unless results get progressively worse.
He has regularly called for more investment to better compete with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and City. Whether the Ineos era will bring that remains unclear.
There are still fans who support Skinner and there is still time for him to turn this season around. But the discontent is growing stronger. Skinner said after the defeat at Chelsea that his job is to get a tune out of his players. At the moment, he is failing to do so.
NIKE OUGHT TO SEIZE EARPS OPPORTUNITY
Mary Earps may be no closer to deciding whether to stay put at Manchester United at the end of the season but it is not the only dilemma that the England goalkeeper is faced with.
Earps is currently an adidas athlete but Mail Sport understands that sponsorship deal may not be renewed beyond this season. Should that be the case, then it would present Nike with a perfect PR opportunity.
Earps and Nike clashed over the kit manufacturer’s refusal to sell her goalkeeper shirt at the World Cup before they made a U-turn after the tournament.
There is no England player with as great a profile as Earps and it would allow Nike to make up for their misstep in the summer.
Earps would not be the first high-profile women’s player to depart adidas, with England defender Millie Bright and Spain forward Salma Paralluelo also leaving the brand. Paralluelo was presented with a more lucrative deal by Nike, who have a number of leading female players.
This could be a win-win for both parties.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS, FOR GRAHAM
An unusual predicament has emerged in Scotland, where Partick Thistle boss Brian Graham may have to choose between managing or playing.
Graham, 36, still turns out as a striker for the men’s team but has also been coach of the women’s side since 2020.
Thistle beat Hibernian 2-0 to set up a League Cup final with Rangers on March 23, but the game clashes with the men’s Championship fixture against Arbroath.
Women’s matches usually take place on Sundays, meaning Graham can play on a Saturday and coach a day later.
‘They have got to change it (the final),’ Graham, who also scored in Saturday’s Scottish Cup win at Ross County, told BBC Alba.
‘We play on a Sunday all the time. It is just not possible for us to play on Saturday at 3pm. There is no way I am missing the chance to get to lead my girls out at a cup final.’
Hopefully the Scottish FA do the right thing.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
