KATHRYN BATTE: Loud calls for Marc Skinner’s head at Manchester United are like NOTHING we’ve heard before in the women’s game… PLUS Nike ought to seize Mary Earps opportunity

Marc Skinner looked at the music, but it was as if he didn’t want to listen.

As the Manchester United manager stood in front of the away side at Stamford Bridge, he could see the ‘Skinner Out’ signs. He could hear the chants for him to leave. Still, he continued to applaud.

After the match, Skinner dodged questions about fan criticism. He said he would not allow any negativity to trickle into his psyche. He claimed he was too focused on managing his team to be distracted by outside noise. But that sound is getting louder.

There were calls for him to leave after United were defeated by Liverpool in December. There were more as fans traveled to the club’s winter training camp in Malta. The situation is getting worse and if Skinner isn’t careful, the crescendo will be deafening.

It is unprecedented for a manager in women’s football to be confronted with fans shouting for their heads.

Skinner guided United to second place in the WSL last season, their best ever position, securing Champions League qualification for the first time. They finished one point behind title winners Chelsea. They also reached their first FA Cup final. Skinner doesn’t get enough credit for that. He had a much smaller squad and a much smaller budget than Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.

This season was more challenging. United’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday leaves them ten points behind the leaders and seven points outside the Champions League places. It will take a near-perfect second half of the season to close 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 adjusting to life in England.

United also lost assistant boss Martin Ho to Norwegian club SK Brann and only appointed a replacement in November.

Skinner may have been at a disadvantage since taking the United job in 2021. His predecessor, Casey Stoney, was loved by United fans. Many supporters did not want Skinner from the start.

He did an excellent job on a shoestring budget at Birmingham City, helping them stay in the top flight and reach an FA Cup final. After a difficult start at 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 hasn’t changed.

The lack of silverware is a sticking point for fans, but there have also been complaints about a perceived lack of playing style. Skinner is passionate during his press conferences and generous with his time. But some fans think 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 and were not good enough to be there.

The qualifying format meant that only the champions of Spain, Germany and France qualified automatically.

Chelsea took fourth spot as the competition’s holders, Barcelona, ​​had already qualified by winning their competition. Other clubs who won their leagues were placed on the ‘championship path’, while those who finished in lower positions were placed on the ‘league path’.

This meant there were some incredibly one-sided ties, with Czech champions Slavia Prague beating Romanian counterparts Olimpia Cluj 11-0 on aggregate. United playing PSG meant that one of Europe’s best teams would be eliminated before the group stages.

Skinner had a point that the qualifying format was flawed. But he was the wrong person to make it at the wrong time. It made him bitter. United was only founded in 2018 and has no history in the Champions League, unlike some clubs that did qualify.

Skinner has the backing of United and a change in management seems unlikely unless results continue to deteriorate.

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 supporting Skinner and there is still time for him to turn things around this season. But the dissatisfaction is growing stronger. Skinner said after the Chelsea defeat that it is his job to keep his players informed. At the moment he is not succeeding.

NIKE MUST SEIZE THE EARPS OPPORTUNITY

Mary Earps may be no closer to deciding whether she will stay at Manchester United at the end of the season, but it is not the only dilemma facing the England goalkeeper.

Earps is currently an adidas athlete, but Mailsport understands that the sponsorship agreement may not be extended beyond this season. If that were the case, it would provide Nike with a perfect PR opportunity.

Earps and Nike fell out over the kit manufacturer’s refusal to sell its goalkeeper jersey at the World Cup before making a U-turn after the tournament.

There is no English player with as great a profile as Earps and it would allow Nike to make up for their misstep in the summer.

Earps wouldn’t be the first high-profile women’s player to leave Adidas, with England defender Millie Bright and Spanish forward Salma Paralluelo also leaving the brand. Paralluelo was offered a more lucrative deal by Nike, which has a number of high-profile female players.

This could be a win-win situation for both parties.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, FOR GRAHAM

An unusual situation has emerged in Scotland, with Partick Thistle boss Brian Graham potentially having to choose between managing or playing.

The 36-year-old Graham is still emerging as a striker for the men’s team, but has also been coach of the women’s team since 2020.

Thistle beat Hibernian 2-0 to set up a League Cup final with Rangers on March 23, but the match clashes with the men’s Championship match against Arbroath.

Women’s games usually take place on Sundays, meaning Graham can play on Saturday and coach a day later.

“They need to change it (the final),” said Graham, who also scored in Saturday’s Scottish Cup win over Ross County BBC Alba.

‘We always play on Sundays. On Saturday at 3 p.m. it is simply not possible for us to play. There’s no way I’m missing the opportunity to take my girls to a cup final.”

Hopefully the Scottish FA does the right thing.