Jonny Evans joined Man Utd as a coach in January under Michael Carrick, but the club felt his absence in another role that same month.
The new backroom staff at Man Utd has deservedly earned a lot of plaudits for the miracles Michael Carrick has worked.
From Steve Holland bringing a steeliness to the side, to Jonny Evans working his set-piece magic, and Jonathan Woodgate’s multi-lingual skills wowing the squad, everyone has been a hit.
However, in Evans’ case, this success as a coach is coming after leaving a mess behind in another role at the club, the debris of which caused a January mistake.
Jonny Evans honoured with a gift from Northern Ireland for his service as a footballer
Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Have you been impressed with Michael Carrick’s coaching staff?
Would you keep them all if he becomes permanent?🤔
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Jonny Evans exited as Loan Manager of Man Utd
A month before joining United as a coach, Jonny Evans exited Man Utd as the club’s Loan Manager in December.
He had been working in this role only from the start of the season, where his job was to oversee and sanction the right loans for youngsters.
From there, he would keep track of their progress, stay in touch with the players to keep them up to date, and devise pathways to an eventual first-team berth.
More United News
United’s loans in the summer were good, with Radek Vitek, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams among the three biggest success stories.
However, a desire to spend more time closer to his family led to what the club described at the time as an ‘amicable exit’.
The exit was surely amicable, as he was back at the club within a month in a new role, but that upheaval a month earlier caused a mess in January.
Evans’ exit saw Man Utd sanction poor January loans
United couldn’t get a dedicated person in place to take on Evans’ role, and they navigated the futures of youngsters in January with a lack of preparation.
WHICH Manchester United loanee have you been most impressed by this season and why?🔥⚽️
Split image of Marcus Rashford in Barcelona jacket looking to the side and Harry Amass in Sheffield Wednesday kit looking to the side.
Except for Jacob Devaney, who’s thriving at St Mirren, every single loan-related decision taken by the club in January has been a mess.
James Scanlon can’t get a game at Swindon, and Ethan Wheatley was uprooted from a good spell at Northampton and sent to Bradford, where his minutes have dried up.
Gabriele Biancheri’s first loan of his career is cratering at Rotherham, while Elyh Harrison has gone missing after returning from Shrewsbury.
Harry Amass’ case is more of bad luck since he got injured after joining Norwich, but Sekou Kone is struggling at Lausanne, while Jack Moorhouse came back from Leyton Orient and is playing for the U21s again at the age of 20.
Evans’ exit and a lack of planning is palpable in those decisions above, and many youngsters will pay the price for it by losing six months of their careers.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox