The situation at Wolverhampton Wanderers, currently propping up the Premier League table, is far from rosy. Yet, Erik ten Hag seemingly views himself as the saviour for a club in crisis. It's a familiar narrative: managers who believe they can transform a relegation-threatened side, devoid of confidence and quality, into a fighting machine capable of securing safety. However, this often proves to be an illusion, culminating in a disappointing scenario where the manager becomes the scapegoat.
Learn from Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ten Hag might do well to follow the example of Ruud van Nistelrooy, his former assistant at Manchester United, who last season dared to take the reins at Leicester City, then rooted to the bottom of the English league. And, predictably, he too failed to prevent relegation. This led to a swift dismissal, a harsh lesson Ten Hag should not ignore.
The problem is that Ten Hag, the Dutchman once considered one of the most promising coaches from the Netherlands, finds himself in a vulnerable position. After two disappointing years, his standing among top clubs has significantly diminished, and a failure at Wolves could further tarnish his reputation. A move to a club like Wolves, mid-season and seemingly heading for disaster, appears to be a recipe for failure. There's simply no glory to be gained.
Erik, don't do it
What Ten Hag needs is an environment where he is given the time to develop his vision and philosophy from the very start of a new season's preparations. It would be wiser to wait for a stable mid-table club in England or Germany where he has the space to build a team that optimally utilizes his coaching qualities.
At this moment, it would simply be prudent to call Ruud van Nistelrooy and learn from his experience of stepping into a bottom-of-the-table club. The harsh reality is that not every challenge is worth taking on. So, Erik, don't be so stubborn and don't do it. You've proven you can be a top coach, but timing is key. A move to Wolves could very well be the wrong club at the wrong time.