Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

[diarm]

Did you, and the rest of the people that desperately want him to stay, forget the absolute travesty of a season he just served up?

Like, did yous just blank out:
4 - 0 v Palace
1 - 1 v Burnley
3 (4) - 3 (2) v Coventry - after winning 3 - 0 at half time and not losing in the final minutes by the virtue of VAR.
2 - 2 v Bournemouth
4 - 3 v Chelsea (after winning in the 90th minute only to end up losing)
1 - 1 v Brentford (scoring in the 90+ minutes only to immediately concede)
1 - 2 v Fulham
0 - 3 v Bournemouth
0 - 1 v Crystal Palace
1 - 3 v Brighton

Or the absolute disastrous Champions League campaign.

Or being dumped out of the League Cup 0 - 3 at home to Newcastle.

Or struggling to beat Newport in the FA Cup.

These results alone should have seen him go months ago.

But wait there's more you must have blanked out:
9 games lost at Old Trafford.
14 PL games lost this season.
19 games lost in all competitions.
85 goals conceded in all competitions.
58 goals conceded in the PL.
57 goals scored in the PL.
Negative goal difference.
Lowest ever position finish in the PL.
Highest number of shots faced in a PL season.
Bottom of our CL group.

You can't chalk all of this up to "injuries". The buck stops with him. Do you think that's all going to suddenly change next season?

I feel like I'm in the bloody Twilight Zone.

But the people you’d be happy to see him replaced with were equally bad.

Pochettino’s Chelsea got hammered by Arsenal, Liverpool and us, as well as Wolves, Villa, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Brentford and West Ham.

Tuchel’s Bayern finished third in a literal one horse race.

Southgate took an established premier league team who had just reached the UEFA Cup final, and relegated them.

Sacking Ten Hag is what everybody would’ve wanted if there had been an outstanding candidate available and willing to replace him, but we looked and there wasn’t.

Perhaps there was a less obvious choice out there to be identified and interviewed, but we don’t yet have our senior management team in place to go through that process and find him.

After more than a decade spent making terrible choices, I don’t understand why people are so desperate to dive head first into more bad calls? Changes are happening for the first time in a long time - why not just let them happen and see what comes of it?

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

You've just repeated what was wrong with what you said. The only manager that's been worse than ETH in terms of play style is Ralf.

Do you not remember how mind-numbingly dull Van Gaal's second season was?! I went 3 months without seeing a goal at my end of the stadium. There was a guy sat near me who was so bored he was doing the 'United We Stand' quiz during the game - and other fans around him were joining in to help him out, as a quiz was far more entertaining than watching the 40 consecutive passes between our back 4. History has been too kind to Van Gaal.

 

[croadyman]

Would like to have seen Tuchel appointed, however now off the table then willing to give him chance under the new structure. Now let's go out and negotiate but please Erik no BROBBEY or DUMFRIES.

 

[Raven]

Do you not remember how mind-numbingly dull Van Gaal's second season was?! I went 3 months without seeing a goal at my end of the stadium. There was a guy sat near me who was so bored he was doing the 'United We Stand' quiz during the game - and other fans around him were joining in to help him out, as a quiz was far more entertaining than watching the 40 consecutive passes between our back 4. History has been too kind to Van Gaal.

Van Gaal was shit and boring. Ten Hag isn't fit to lace his boots after this season.

 

[Maurice Setters Training]

I was starting to worry that they were waiting for Southgate.

 

[Reiver]

I was in the EtH out camp but had come to accept he was probably staying. Feeling quite unenthusiastic about the new season but Euros and a close/pre season of transfer muppeteering will probably lift my spirits.

 

[Redstain]

I think it's all good saying he'll be successful but measuring the level of improvement required its basically going to require Erik to reinvent himself as a manager and right the wrongs.

Has to be emphasized that the biggest issue last season was not the results but the performances. He attempted to implement a new approach and for every benefit it came with about three more disadvantages.

I don't think going into the new season he has the capacity to change it unless INEOS and more specifically Wilcox is breathing down his neck with a demand in shifting the teams dynamics.

It would be like a 6th or 7th sprinter competing against Bolt having to finish level with him in his peak. It's not so much the task overall but what's being asked of that average runner who runs 10.1, they can't be expected to get down to the 9.70's let alone a world record.

In a team that has been outplayed by lower league opposition in periods, I don't see that level of improvement in Erik, but one thing I enjoy about life as a principle is those sink or swim moments and we will see if Erik has the tenacity and intelligence to pull-through.

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

I disagree. LVGs football was mind numbingly boring,but it had a purpose and you could see evidence of some coaching.
This season the football was awful, with no obvious gameplan nor coaching.
It doesn't really matter in the long run - we should expect better, no matter who is in charge.

This is where we'll have to agree to disagree. Give me a kamikaze 4-3 win any day over a mind-numbingly dull 4th consecutive 1-0 win with 70% possession and 2 shots on target. Ten Hag isn't perfect, but as a fan, I've had many more enjoyable memories over the last 12 months than I did during Van Gaal's last 12 months.

 

[Adnan]

So if they take on board that a big part of the explanation for our poor season is injuries, by extension they take on board that those players missing were crucial to the manager's tactical plans and the ones available are not suitable for said plans.

There are some players whose character I like and they've proved useful in a very tactically limited way, like Maguire, but I hope we're not sentimental this summer and that ETH's vision aligns with the new hierarchy and vice versa. A high line, an aggressive high press, and players who are both technical and physically capable of sustaining this way of playing over a season.

Apart from thinking that none of the linked managers were anything exciting (bar McKenna), and apart from the feeling that the way the manager has been treated has been unacceptable really, I also worried that a new manager would be a stay of execution for the whole squad and they'd get in someone who'd tell them that the squad is amazing and he'll wave his magic wand and everyone will perform at the top level.

We know who is not suitable tactically. We know where we have zero depth. And we know who are difficult to rely on due to fitness issues. A lot of work to be done, but thankfully it can start now.

Good post Bastian.

I completely agree and for me ten Hag has absolutely got to play his default strategy which is to dominate all phases of play. He's said several times about wanting to play out from the back and dominate the game. And contrary to what is being said on here, his tactical ideas will work with the correct profile of players imo. So it's imperative those players are brought to the club and it's in positions in deeper midfield and at CB that will potentially have a huge impact on creating the conditions for the type of football he wants to play.

The target next season will have to be to finish in the top 4 and take further steps towards playing a proactive brand of football where building play from the back through the thirds, and pressing high as a collective unit, whilst having a strong rest defense to thwart opposition transitions is an absolute requirement. And the positions which will have the biggest impact on creating the aforementioned dynamic are the CBs and deeper midfielders, because those positions are absolutely crucial in controlling the game in possession and also out of possession. Those positions are absolutely open for ten Hag to upgrade and we of course will expect ten Hag to deliver along with the club to deliver in bringing the 3 or 4 players which are required at CB and in midfield.

If ten Hag fails or the club fails to get him the right players, then ten Hag will be gone regardless because INEOS aren't going to sack themselves.

 

[Infra-red]

My preferred outcome overall. I'm expecting a huge battle to make it to 4th place next season, but that would have been the case with whoever was managing the team. If he looks like he's floundering when he has a full squad to pick from, then Tuchel, Pochettino, De Zerbi and everyone's favourite waistcoat wearing former Middlesbrough manager, will be waiting on standby.

 

[NLunited]

No. Amad showed quality in every appearance he made last season. He was also coming off the back of a great season in the championship. He was then shunned in favour of Antony and Forson who are genuinely nowhere near the required quality for months on end until he forced his way into the team in the last couple of matches.

Disagree. He was unavailable due to injury, then started getting cameos. Showed nothing at first, Antony was actually better at that point.

Eventually he started showing some involvement in our attack and some quality. If you ask me, he was managed correctly.

 

[BaguetteBoy]

At least we now know what’s happening I guess

 

[Judas]

I hope with other teams starting from scratch we can take advantage. We bloody well should do seeing as we're into the 3rd year.

 

[AneRu]

How many years did the scousers go without the title? 20 years? We're going to beat it.

For the last 10 years there's been shit seasons followed by new hope in different managers, new approaches etc. Yet it always fails. I hoped Ineos would be the end of it, but my overriding feeling right now is that we've turned a new chapter in disaster and this will simply be the Ineos era of ridiculous decision making and failure. I could have almost accepted Ten Hag staying on merit or for strong footballing reasons. But this talk of fan sentiment, or developing youngsters (they've been our best players since they stepped into the team, of course he's going to play them every week. The guy was dripping with desperation for anything to work for him), I just honestly give up. I just think we're doomed to failure, we're another has been like AC Milan who just can't get a damn thing right anymore or look like a well run outfit.

This we are completely done as a top club and this decision just shows how we are in for another era of idiocy from INEOS. Completely bottled the decision due to fearing fan backlash, they don't believe in him that much is clear and he hasn't given anyone a reason to apart from a couple of midrate trophies in the sea of mediocrity spiced with a few thrashings from serious teams.

This is a false start by INEOS and completely delays a crucial rebuild by another year or two. I don't think any serious football operation watches that abomination at Palace and decides to keep the manager who presided over it on account of one game against a hungover City. Utter shambles and by November his future will be under scrutiny again, other teams will improve and we are just holding ourselves back by rewarding incompetence, negligence and stubbornness.

 

[Reiver]

This is where we'll have to agree to disagree. Give me a kamikaze 4-3 win any day over a mind-numbingly dull 4th consecutive 1-0 win with 70% possession and 2 shots on target. Ten Hag isn't perfect, but as a fan, I've had many more enjoyable memories over the last 12 months than I did during Van Gaal's last 12 months.

I wasn't saying I preferred either style really, just that they were both equally poor. There was some good moments with LVG but i'll take 2 cup wins over 1.

 

[lsd]

It's a mistake but no bigger than the one giving him the job in the first place. Next season we will be sat in the same position most likely without the benefit of a lucky cup run.

 

[GlazersHater]

Better than Southgate but the fact we took so long to confirm shows how poorly we're still run. Ineos or not we're still a shit show.

 

[Orange Tree]

Oh ffs. De Zerbi is free.

Time to get behind the manager and hope for the best, but I'm not optimistic. Feels like we are just wasting another season while INEOS sort out the upper management.

 

[Yakuza_devils]

Warm the seat for McKenna.





Just kidding

 

[Raven]

Disagree. He was unavailable due to injury, then started getting cameos. Showed nothing at first, Antony was actually better at that point.

Eventually he started showing some involvement in our attack and some quality. If you ask me, he was managed correctly.

How about the goal against pool followed by further banishment? I wonder if I'm even living in the same dimension as some of you ETH cultists.

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

I wasn't saying I preferred either style really, just that they were both equally poor. There was some good moments with LVG but i'll take 2 cup wins over 1.

Fair enough. I much prefer Ten Hag's kamikaze style over Van Gaal'a mind-numbingly dull style. We shouldn't have to tolerate either style at United, but until there are better alternatives than Southgate or Poch, then I'm willing to give Ten Hag a few more months.

 

[croadyman]

Jeez there is some people absolutely pissed off at this decision, so when Tuchel wasn't an option then who did they want to be appointed then?

 

[mu4c_20le]

What? What kind of weird insult is that supposed to be?!

Was meant as a joke

 

[Van Piorsing]

Shittiest thriller you could ever watch. Ten Hag's plot armor obvious from the start.

Romano's performance so uninspired, and Goldbridge sounds more and more like Jar Jar.

 

[caid]

How about the goal against pool followed by further banishment? I wonder if I'm even living in the same dimension as some of you ETH cultists.

I thought the red card ruled him out?
I would have used him more personally and wouldn't give Ten Hag any particular credit with how he managed him but i will say that fitting him in with mainoo and garnacho wouldn't necessarily be easy. Even Bruno and Hojlund are somewhat lightweight and Antony or Rashford probably has a bit more to offer there than other choices. I guess with Rashford its more in theory than practice.

 

[Carolina Red]

I'm flying a bit close to the sun here and I haven't posted everything I've heard here.

I'll just say this.

I'm getting my information from two places. Both very close to INEOS just very random they don't know each other and they've never met. One is a family friend a few people removed and another os one of my best mates.

First is basically as good as working in INEOS on this venture second is someone who hangs around alot of INEOS people as close mates and colleagues.

I was told a long time ago basically back in march/Feb they will sack him no matter what as it's a key part of the project and he's just not their guy.

I asked again in May the second one says he's heard alot and they aren't impressed with ten hag.

Today I have heard that he's going to be sacked and who they want in, which I'm sure you can all guess based on the Chelsea news etc.

Now he was right on INEOS (family friend) back last year in March/April and said it was happening and in October- it got delayed to December so benefit of the doubt things can change but that's very specific so far ahead of time.

Now on today's news he says its done to the point there's no going back.

So keep an eye out.

Flying close to the sun, indeed.

 

[Judas]

How about the goal against pool followed by further banishment? I wonder if I'm even living in the same dimension as some of you ETH cultists.

feck sake another season of you kids saying shite like this

 

[croadyman]

There has to be conditions, he has absolutely no excuses for poor performances if we can keep squad relatively fit and a proper structure behind him. So with transfers Erik gives INEOS the positions he needs and they give him a shortlist of options to choose. Just maybe that will put an end to Erik signing players he has worked with before.

 

[spiriticon]

Right. Finally.

Let's get going for next season.

 

[AneRu]

You can’t have a manager in his final year. It completely undermines their position. We spoke to Tuchel and got no where.

So there you go.

When you came so close to sacking the manager you can't make it more expensive for yourself to do so should the need arise, giving him a couple of years more will make it doubly more expensive and given his incompetence we might need to exercise that option as early as November. We should keep all our options open and if he can't manage in the uncertain situation his performances put him in then so be it.

But then we have the idiots upstairs who watch him shit the bed for 9 months and think that deserves another season because he won a 6 game tournament. At serious and ambitious football club he wouldnt survive the Palace debacle but here he comes out with a new contract. We will deserve everything we get from hereon in.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

How many years did the scousers go without the title? 20 years? We're going to beat it.

For the last 10 years there's been shit seasons followed by new hope in different managers, new approaches etc. Yet it always fails. I hoped Ineos would be the end of it, but my overriding feeling right now is that we've turned a new chapter in disaster and this will simply be the Ineos era of ridiculous decision making and failure. I could have almost accepted Ten Hag staying on merit or for strong footballing reasons. But this talk of fan sentiment, or developing youngsters (they've been our best players since they stepped into the team, of course he's going to play them every week. The guy was dripping with desperation for anything to work for him), I just honestly give up. I just think we're doomed to failure, we're another has been like AC Milan who just can't get a damn thing right anymore or look like a well run outfit.

Milan won a league title recently and made the CL semis.

We're a long ways off that.

 

[Lewnited]

Fair, options out there were not great at all.

Nowhere to hide now though. After two full pre-seasons he's typically had us looking like the poorest outfit in the league pound-for-pound, full squad or not. He's been given leeway that no other manager has in my time, so the pressure will be on from the start next season.

Not expecting top 4 now, but I hope he can at least prove me wrong on that.

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

feck sake another season of you kids saying shite like this

Did you not get the memo? There are only 2 camps: ETH cultists and those who want a better future for United. There is no middle ground.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I'd say our midfielder was forward as often as not in season 1 and the bigger change was our defence being 20 yards further forward and making challenges, rather than dropping back to the edge of their box. Different defenders and those available this season are much better suited to doing that. Rashford's form probably makes up most of the difference though to be fair.

You’d be wrong in that case as we played one of the deepest lines in the league in 22-23.

 

[diarm]

How about the goal against pool followed by further banishment? I wonder if I'm even living in the same dimension as some of you ETH cultists.

There were 12 games after the game against Liverpool. He was suspended for one and of the remaining 11, he played in 8. It's hardly banishment.

Ten Hag insisting on playing Antony and his reluctance to give Amad minutes is one of my major criticisms of him, but I am also not privy to what goes on on the training ground, or what makes up the individual player development programs and what targets they have been set.

What I do know, is that Amad appears happy at the club, and that his performances when he has got minutes, are night and day from the levels we saw from him before Ten Hag arrived. You can think he should've played more, and I'd agree with you, but you can't at the same time dismiss the suggestion that Ten Hag has developed him.

 

[msjmohd83]

Flying close to the sun, indeed.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Amad got progressively better in his cameos. At first he contributed nothing at all.

He didn’t fecking play ! Are we really trying to spin this as a ETH positive? It’s okay lads even if you support him you don’t have to spin everything, like I said he did well integrating Garnacho and Mainoo but was poor in how he handled Amad

 

[roseguy64]

Was tosh for much of his first season as well truth be told but we were getting much more consistent positive results to pepper that over.

Only because Rashford was in the goalscoring form of his life. We weren't great to watch for the most part.

 

[lsd]

My preferred outcome overall. I'm expecting a huge battle to make it to 4th place next season, but that would have been the case with whoever was managing the team. If he looks like he's floundering when he has a full squad to pick from, then Tuchel, Pochettino, De Zerbi and everyone's favourite waistcoat wearing former Middlesbrough manager, will be waiting on standby.

Yeah awesome just waste another year and will see the end of players like Amad at the club.

No doubt we will give him a six year contract too.

 

[afrocentricity]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.......

Oh well, on we go!