Yes, there are many reasons we did not improve much.
The fact remains that we did not improve much!
We don't disagree.
Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager
- Thread starter sewey89
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Jamie (@Vault Dweller) are joined by special guest Anders (@Lyng) to celebrate the news that ETH is staying put! They also talk about the Euros so far, with special attention on England, Scotland and Denmark. They then finish with some transfer talk and the potential comings and outgoings at Old Trafford.
The fact remains that we did not improve much!
We don't disagree.
I think we’ve improved though and the reasons why it’s not as much as some would like are quite obvious (as I’ve listed).
Give some of the teams around us the same problems and I very much doubt they’d be flying themselves.
I wouldn't necessarily attribute that to luck, though. Those are just the vicissitudes of football. Different cycles, bad form, and other teams having anomalous seasons. It's something that always happens. Don't think many would have had Arsenal and Newcastle as nailed-on favourites for top four (or better, in Arsenal's case).
It's not luck
When was the last time Chelsea looked good in the PL? 2017?
Spurs... No, they're just as crap as they always are.
Last year. They finished 3rd.
Spurs finished 4th.
This year we aspire to finish 4th. That's our dream at this moment.
Yes, of course.
You can say the same about injuries, red cards, and so on. These things happen all the time.
He would have been better for the most part but end result would he similar, but with a lot of optimism that things will improve.
You don't just sack managers due to finishing outside top 4. You sack them because they show they can't improve even with signings. That's obviously not the case with ten hag. It's continual improvement with him. If we finish like shit, then we do the summer and build for next season with a squad more equipped to handle his needs. Because he has obviously shown a lot of great qualities, has shown he can implement a very good system but it is clear that it is certain individuals holding us back. You don't replace a manager when there are some positions holding us back. You replace the manager when it is clear they are the ones holding us back.
And no, judging by your posts you would love to see everyone shit on him and blame him instead of naturally blaming injuries and the previous disaster of a squad we had. The reason people endlessly hype ten hag is because he has shown everything required to be our long term manager, finally, after a decade of garbage from the club. So yeah. An injury crisis derailing our season doesn't stop that. You just move on, because he has shown he's worth sticking with and you know he'll get there.
I clearly don't think he's done as fantastic of a job as you think he has. Also I don't want to just shift blame for poor performances around the block between players and managers, depending on who I like more at the time.
I don't think anyone is 'shitting' on ten Hag, but there are some very valid criticism around from several posters with regards to his squad rotation and game management, some of which I agree with. No it's not that we're being armchair experts or hindsight heroes, it's just fecking wierd. Kudos to him if he wins, but criticism is valid if he doesn't.
And look, I don't want to be overly negative either ok? I think he's done a great job with almost all our fullbacks, as well as Rashford. We are in a good place in the league and cups so far. There are definitely big positives.
Edit: No one is wanting him sacked.
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I don't think I'll ever forget the 7-0. And I don't think my Liverpool supporting mates would let me forget either.
I mean, I still remember the 5-0 to Newcastle from 96, with Phillippe Albert chipping Big Pete. How many years ago is that now?
I don’t know why you guys bother engaging in discussion with frostbite about Ten Hag.
You only need to venture over to the Ronaldo threads to understand their bias against Eric.
You only need to venture over to the Ronaldo threads to understand their bias against Eric.
I think ETH has done a fantastic job, although perhaps there is a better word than “fantastic” to describe the job he’s done.
All of us can quibble with individual decisions, but that he has us playing substantially better football than what we saw under José/Ole/Ralf is not seriously debatable. His handling of the CR7 crisis was masterful. That many of us even dared to dream in January, even if for just a moment, that we had a shot at the PL title, should put to rest any doubt that’s done a fantastic job this season.
All of us can quibble with individual decisions, but that he has us playing substantially better football than what we saw under José/Ole/Ralf is not seriously debatable. His handling of the CR7 crisis was masterful. That many of us even dared to dream in January, even if for just a moment, that we had a shot at the PL title, should put to rest any doubt that’s done a fantastic job this season.
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Football fans are fickle especially the caf just after a bad result.
ETH has been great this season and I couldn’t expect anymore. We have the most goals off the bench in top 5 leagues so he obviously makes good in game changes.
With that said even though they were both OG’s and terrible for certain players that result the other night was on him. The changes where wrong
ETH has been great this season and I couldn’t expect anymore. We have the most goals off the bench in top 5 leagues so he obviously makes good in game changes.
With that said even though they were both OG’s and terrible for certain players that result the other night was on him. The changes where wrong
Game management is the craziest criticism of ten Hag I’ve seen so far. Hasn’t he got the best subs record in Europe right now, or something?
If someone is criticising his in-game management, then it’s hard not to think that person has some kind of agenda.
If someone is criticising his in-game management, then it’s hard not to think that person has some kind of agenda.
Looks amazing and if we qualify for the CL it will have been an absolutely fantastic season.
If we finish 5th and don't win any more cups it will be a totally different story and that 70% record will soon be forgotten.
Season is on a knife edge. We have to win tomorrow. 3pts is vital.
Yeah no CL would be a bad look on this season even if the results have been good
No, I want us to finish first.
We are playing structured football, one two passes, wide players creating space and dropping between the line, pushing up (why Maguire isn't playing), fullbacks dropping into midfield and a weird split center back and goalkeeper play out.
That's just the football, when was the last time you seen the utd team in the papers "player don't respect blah, blah"
He is the man for this job. We need a new owner, a fresh approach to recruitment in summer. Back him up!
He has completely earned the right to be backed - support wise of course and financial wise - until end of next season no matter what happens.
More than anything else he has returned some common decency to the club and given us back some dignity. It’s horrible to support a club like this, and what it has been turned into in last decade. feck titles, someone like Erik and a new (non state) owner would be mission accomplished.
More than anything else he has returned some common decency to the club and given us back some dignity. It’s horrible to support a club like this, and what it has been turned into in last decade. feck titles, someone like Erik and a new (non state) owner would be mission accomplished.
We won't secure top 4 with a win and even if we draw/lose we will have a very good chance for top 4. So, how can 3 pts be vital?
If anyone has a vital game tomorrow it's Forest.
If you don’t think we’ve improved much since Ole/Rangnick I don’t know what to say to you. Last season was the worst I’ve ever season I’ve ever seen from United, and I’m including the Moyes era in that.
Yes we’ve had a few poor results when we’ve reverted to type and capitulated, but we’ve also beat City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the reverse fixtures as well as beating Barcelona over two legs (in a season where they’re absolutely walking La Liga).
No it hasn’t been perfext and there are areas that need serious improvement, but on and off the pitch I’ve been thoroughly impressed with Ten Hag’s first season in charge.
The guys head is so far up Ronaldo’s arse he can’t see the wood for the trees.
And has a vendetta against Ten Hag because of what happened with Ronaldo. It’s as simple and as transparent as that.
Because it's one of the easiest games we have left on paper. We have some very tough away games to come. This is probably the easiest one left on paper. Need to win.
We did improve though. We are still in every cup competition, whereas last season we were knocked out of all of them at this point. Sure, in the league we could have been sitting more comfortably, but saying we didn't improve is just not true IMO.
It's not vital though. Also, Forest away is extremely difficult game, their home record is the only thing that it's giving them hope. Even City couldn't win there in full strength and we are going without Martinez, Varane and Rashford.
Of course that a win would be brilliant, but it will be tough and it would be even if we didn't have injuries. Either way, we have a very good chance for top 4, reckon 14 points from next 9 games will be enough.
Eh come on, Forest away is as easy as it gets for us in the run in.
The other away games are Spurs, Brighton and West Ham. They will be much harder.
Then we have 2 home games, one vs Villa and another vs Wolves. Not the easiest either. I'm particularly wary of the Villa game now.
Just told you a bit about their home record, only Newcastle won in the league since September there and they needed 93rd minute goal for that to happen. It's a tough game with our injuries, their home form and also them fighting for their life.
Am just putting some context here because every loss or even draw is seen as the end of the world. We will get top 4 in any case imo.
I know about their home form, and no game in the Premier league is easy. But we can't be claiming confidence for a top 4 finish and also be a bit worried about Forest away..... It's as easy as it will get for us. Maybe Wolves home is a bit easier, I don't know? But Wolves are generally hard to beat.
Edit: Eh sorry BBC fixture list fecked up. There's Bournemouth away and Fulham home as well. Fulham home might be the easiest of the lot.
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Not worried about our home games, we are fine at home.
Yeah agreed. We should do them all at home. Fingers crossed.
He has to find a solution for the injuries, perhaps a change in the tactics since Martinez & Varane are out for a while. I hate to say it but we have to play with Maguire and Lindelof, so sitting a bit deeper and keeping shape rather than pressing might be a better option in the upcoming games.
Eriksen's return is a positive, hopefully Shaw returns as we really need his creativity.
I have full confidence in him and I think we will at least secure top 4.
Eriksen's return is a positive, hopefully Shaw returns as we really need his creativity.
I have full confidence in him and I think we will at least secure top 4.
With all the injuries, suspensions and background drama of selling the club, if ETH gets us another cup and top 4 then he deserves his statue.
Nah it probably was, I've just read such drivel on here the last few weeks it's become really hard to tell
We have to agree to disagree.
I have never checked that thread. I don't think ever.
We have improved MASSIVELY. We have a 70% winning percentage this season. Even in the season that we finished 2nd under Ole our winning percentage was less than 60%. When we finished 2nd under Mourinho it was 67%.
If we don't win a single game from here until the end of the season i.e. we dont win any of the 9 league games and we lose our ties against Brighton and Sevilla, we will have a win percentage of 57%, which would be on a par with our win % in Ole's best ever season.
Obviously win % is not the only yardstick and a draw is better than a loss but it helps paint a picture, and the eye test shows the team is clearly better.
If we don't win a single game from here until the end of the season i.e. we dont win any of the 9 league games and we lose our ties against Brighton and Sevilla, we will have a win percentage of 57%, which would be on a par with our win % in Ole's best ever season.
Obviously win % is not the only yardstick and a draw is better than a loss but it helps paint a picture, and the eye test shows the team is clearly better.
If that's good luck then every other club in the Premiership has had a slice of it - not just ETH.
We are miles better than last season. Maybe you missed watching us during 21/22. With everyone fit this team would hammer that one.
However good he is as a manager, we do not have the quality in the team as we keep getting exposed to low level players as replacements. From weghorst, mctominay, maguire, lindeloff.
The Sevilla game is more or less done. They will be at home with small fouls here and there and rolling on the floor, they will win with a stop start game plus we will be without Bruno, Martinez, Varane and a fully fit Rashford.
Brighton based on their form will run rings around us. Top 4 is the only target really possible at this moment just due to the amount of games we have played and the injuries.
Top 4 and Liverpool in the conference league will be a decent season.
The Sevilla game is more or less done. They will be at home with small fouls here and there and rolling on the floor, they will win with a stop start game plus we will be without Bruno, Martinez, Varane and a fully fit Rashford.
Brighton based on their form will run rings around us. Top 4 is the only target really possible at this moment just due to the amount of games we have played and the injuries.
Top 4 and Liverpool in the conference league will be a decent season.
We’re favourites for 3rd you wally.