Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

[pcaming]

You have to understand how ridiculous this is, right? We beat City in the FA cup final.

A few games is not a season, he's had an awful season and people need to accept that. Abysmal style of play, disgraceful CL campaign, even the FA Cup we close to being done by Coventry...let's not forget the hammerings we've received. Goal scoring has been a constant issue, and this season he's just given up on midfield and defense and still can't get us scoring. We don't hold the ball well, all we do is counter sharply which we've done under every previous manager, so that can't really be attributed to him.

Injuries don't negate all, or even most of the above.

 

[Gabriel Djemba-Bebe]

I was pretty determined that he should go, called him a clown among other things. The FA cup made me rethink, not so much winning it but seeing how the players responded to him and how well we played. That with none of those managers we were linked with really getting me excited meant I switched my vote. I now need to be as fair as possible and give him a fair chance and not get all pissy if a few results dont go our way. I hope he suceeds and make my comments from the season just gone look foolish

Fair play for admitting this. There's nothing wrong with changing your mind about wanting a manager sacked. I thought my mind was made up after the Coventry game however I am now warming to the idea of keeping him. Let's see how he does with a fully fit Martinez - he is our most important player. When Klopp had Van Dijk injured in 2021, everyone gave him a free pass for losing 6 home games on the bounce, and he had far more talent up front than we have.

 

[Globule]

I don't think it's news worth celebrating, apart from the fact a decision has been made.

Whatever route we took would have come with massive question marks, because none of them, including Ten Hag, give me confidence.

But the fact Ineos have stuck by him should hopefully be a sign that there's alignment and that he hasn't lost the players.

 

[Judas]

I get logically why there would be new contract discussions, but kind of maybe he needs to earn it first? Lets just see how things go up untill christmas first.

 

[Marcelinho87]

People need to look at this new contract differently - it isn't a reward per se.

It could be the new contract benefits the club more as his terms before we unfavourable - we may have removed the long reported veto, we may have lowered any severance packages.

We need to stop getting so irate over little things, it's crazy.

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

Comparing apples and oranges. A manger in a stable environment who has said they’d be happy to retire after once they’ve finished at Madrid who has complete buy in from the players and fans vs one who’s job is fully up in the air. Ancelotti’s authority wouldn’t be in question from the players.

I disagree a bit. Ancelotti was widely reported to have agreed to take the Brazil NT job in 2024 if he wasn't renewed. That would affect his authority at RM and bring up issues of partiality.

There are differences in the cases but strong similarities too. In both cases the second season would have generally cost them the job (or at least seriously risked it) but a domestic cup win changed the balance.

 

[SuperiorXI]

I get logically why there would be new contract discussions, but kind of maybe he needs to earn it first? Lets just see how things go up untill christmas first.

Not giving him a contract would just introduce more uncertainty around the club and unwanted attention. The club cannot be half in and half out, a decision has been made.

 

[Melville Red]

Great news, the players are still playing for him, the club has now backed him and the most important fans, the matchgoers, are behind him. Great to see everyone united again.

Well almost. Great news though if things don’t work out and things are just as bad leading up to Christmas then maybe pull the trigger? However to do it now is madness. McKenna might be doing really well with Ipswich, it won’t be seen a so much of a gamble if United go for him then but I’m hoping that Eric has a very good season both in the league and the cups, not forgetting The Europa League.

 

[Godfather]

Of course you can.

Ancelotti signed a 3-year deal with Real Madrid that expired this summer. He entered the season without having renewed the contract. Real Madrid only met with him to renew the contract in December, and announced the renewal in December 2023. The club waited to see how the season was playing out, liked what they saw.

Yeah but they are run like a proper football club

 

[Doracle]

Fundamentally you don't send him into the season in charge and not back him. you take away a manager's ability to manage with any authority.

How do you know there is no confidence in him? I'm just indulging you by offering the optics explanation.

The people in charge have so much more data than you. Maybe acknowledge that the people with all the info might be in a better position than you to make the call.

That’s always been the case and yet, unsurprisingly, United have made many similar errors over the last few years. What you are actually suggesting is that we should watch the new controllers make the same type of mistakes and just assume it’s all ok because they are new. Not to mention, we have no power anyway - we are just giving our views on an internet forum.

I simply do not believe that putting ETH on a very tight lease and waiting to see how it goes until December before making a renewal decision will have any detrimental effect. If a manager is that flaky that he can’t get his team performing under pressure to get results, then he isn’t the right man for the job anyway.

 

[Judas]

Not giving him a contract would just introduce more uncertainty around the club and unwanted attention. The club cannot be half in and half out, a decision has been made.

Yep which is why logically it makes sense, it had to happen really. Still feels a bit eh (not heh) after last season.

I'm fully backing him though, I hope we can have a very positive summer, and really kick on. We should in theory be ahead of teams like Chelsea and Liverpool going into next season, as we're years into a "project" now. We shall see.

 

[Leftback99]

To the transfer muppetry huzzah!

One positive is that there will be a few more million to spend, saved from not sacking him.

 

[SirScholes]

Well, they set us up perfectly. And even practiced in the preceding three league games.

because there was nothing else to play for
Bottom of CL group
Worst league finish
Horrible football
He’s the luckiest manager alive and we need to give our head a wobble

 

[Raven]

Point me to a game where he contributed before the 4-3 Pool game? Amad was pushed relentlessly by some youtubers, but didn’t show anything in his cameos until Pool game.

You seem to be just judging performances on goals and assists.

 

[SirScholes]

Manager 1 Players 0

Some of those players that thought they could outlast another manager need a change of plan.

For whatever reasons, ETH was poor this season, but I would rather give the manager another year to prove himself than give the players another year with another manager.

Why not both ? New manager who started getting poor results at the end of his first season and new players ?

 

[FrantikChicken]

That’s always been the case and yet, unsurprisingly, United have made many similar errors over the last few years. What you are actually suggesting is that we should watch the new controllers make the same type of mistakes and just assume it’s all ok because they are new. Not to mention, we have no power anyway - we are just giving our views on an internet forum.

I simply do not believe that putting ETH on a very tight lease and waiting to see how it goes until December before making a renewal decision will have any detrimental effect. If a manager is that flaky that he can’t get his team performing under pressure to get results, then he isn’t the right man for the job anyway.

That’s not true though is it? The previous people in charge sacked managers when they were in a similar position, so if anything the new regime is making different decisions already. Wether that works out remains to be seen

 

[roseguy64]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Unsure if it's been posted in here yet but yeah...

 

[Stobzilla]

I don't think this was the correct decision in isolation, but given the wider context of the manager merry go round and who is now left available I am fairly sure it was the safest play.

Tour will must watch TV for me, it will be interesting to see what happens with players like Wheatley, Amass and Collyer who appear to be the next 3 up.

 

[IRN-BRUno]

I think this is the wrong decision but would be delighted if he proves otherwise. Wanting him sacked was nothing personal, just a reflection that performances more than results for the entire season were completely unacceptable. Now he starts a new season with a clean(ish) slate and hopefully he can show that the excuses he made for last year were fair enough.

One thing that does give me a little belief is that the bulk of the squad seem to be supportive of him. Players being quick to throw a manager under the bus isn't unique to United, it happens at all levels. That they haven't done so suggests to me they see something in him and understand the issues he's faced.

 

[Gehrman]

I think its bonkers to keep him because we managed a Fa cup win in our worst league and cl run in history. No other club with our stature would behave like this.

 

[Blood Mage]

If we offer him a new contract we are still the worst run big club in the world. Just feels like Ole in 2021 all over again.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

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

Why will it? Towards the end of the season Amad was getting more and more game time, regardless of the reasons. It seemsike Amad has won the trust of the manager and is now finally ready to play first team football.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

When did our fan base become so damn joyless?

A manager galvanising a team, working out a plan to beat the best team in the league, and one of the best teams on the planet, in an FA Cup final. Watching a clearly together squad raise that trophy in front of fans in celebration.

To see that, and instantly start bitching that he’s not being replaced - despite there quite literally being a thin puddle of talented managers to replace him with…

Madness.

The fella took a mic on the pitch in our final home game, fronted up. Made good on a promise and let us finish the season with a trophy.

He’s not perfect. The last season was almost an absolute disaster. But I still got some chunks of joy from it. When you’re not a great team, that’s pretty much enough to sustain me. Not forever. Not for years in the spin. But the bloke is more qualified at his job than Radcliffe, Brailsford and Wilcox at theirs. Backing them over him is properly bonkers.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

If we offer him a new contract we are still the worst run big club in the world. Just feels like Ole in 2021 all over again.

Ajax say hello. Overmars fiasco. Squad full of mediocre players and not looking great with the youth at the moment. Miles off winning the league again anytime soon.

Bayern spunked £100m on a 30 year old striker and failed to win any trophies in the process. They've literally just hired a manager that got his team relegated, and have just had their worst league finish in 13 years.

Chelsea just sacked Poch after it looked like they were on the right track.

Juventus are a million miles away from where they were 5 years ago, and don't look like getting back to that level anytime soon.

Barcelona just sacked the manager after begging him to stay a few months ago. They are in a ridiculous amount of debt and need to sell players just to meet their financial targets, the levers fiasco was an absolute joke.

PSG spent roughly €1bn on transfer fees, agent fees and sign on fees for 3 players in Neymar, Messi and Mbappe to win the CL. They failed that and all 3 have now left. Mbappe just left on a free transfer and now they're in a far worse position than they've ever been in since they were bought.

We aren't the only big club being ran by idiots.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

We are going to be so shit to watch again next year.. feck

 

[Judas]

We are going to be so shit to watch again next year.. feck

That's the spirit.

 

[Juicy Juiced]

At least we know were are we with INEOS.

I had lowered my expectations for next season, probably 6th place finish, and accepted our slowly drifting to mediocrity.

Who ever say we are biggest club in the world or something like that should be laughed off. It's fecking sad how we destroyed everything what Fergie had buliding for decades. I can't imagine how he feels watching what we have become.

 

[roseguy64]

The cynic in me believes this was all for show and they never intended to get another manager.
Just selling this idea to the fanbase that they actually meant business when in reality, it's business as usual.

Interviewing another manager on the day of the cup final is for show?

 

[The Hilton]

Yes, which is why I find it strange that you're imagining something that there is no sign of.

Did I imagine the entire first season under Ten Hag, where we were much more solid defensively and had the most clean sheets of any team?

I get you aren't thrilled with the decision to keep him, but your excessively condescending attitude is coming across as really quite salty.

There's clearly potential for a good team and setup. That doesn't mean it's guaranteed to have a happy ending, I'm still questioning whether or not we'll have enough control, but the pieces are there, whether or not they fit together we'll find out soon enough.

 

[Giggsy13]

When did our fan base become so damn joyless?

A manager galvanising a team, working out a plan to beat the best team in the league, and one of the best teams on the planet, in an FA Cup final. Watching a clearly together squad raise that trophy in front of fans in celebration.

To see that, and instantly start bitching that he’s not being replaced - despite there quite literally being a thin puddle of talented managers to replace him with…

Madness.

The fella took a mic on the pitch in our final home game, fronted up. Made good on a promise and let us finish the season with a trophy.

He’s not perfect. The last season was almost an absolute disaster. But I still got some chunks of joy from it. When you’re not a great team, that’s pretty much enough to sustain me. Not forever. Not for years in the spin. But the bloke is more qualified at his job than Radcliffe, Brailsford and Wilcox at theirs. Backing them over him is properly bonkers.

Given the season we had, I thought it took some real guts to stand up and speak in front of the supporters. It earned ten Hag a lot of plaudits from the sensible supporters who understand it wasn’t all him for the poor season. I really want him to succeed and I’m glad he’s been backed.

 

[romufc]

At least we know were are we with INEOS.

I had lowered my expectations for next season, probably 6th place finish, and accepted our slowly drifting to mediocrity.

Who ever say we are biggest club in the world or something like that should be laughed off. It's fecking sad how we destroyed everything what Fergie had buliding for decades. I can't imagine how he feels watching what we have become.

So what were your standards winning the league prior to INEOS?

People need to wake up and realise we haven't competed for the league for years now, barking on standards standards but not backing anything up is pointless.

 

[NLunited]

Because the fans got giddy about winning the last game.

Those are the same fans who applauded the team after they lost 4-0 to Palace. Those fans know things are shiit and the team was trying, which they appreciate.

The FA cup win was a way to repay their support. We have the best fans. Not on this site though.

 

[RedRover]

I think we will know in the first 3 PL games if it is the right decision.

We played Wolves last season in the opening game, the signs of us being open were all there.

Obviously, December for results but the way we play in the first 3 PL games will tell us if Ten Hag has learnt at all or not.

Perhaps - certainly he's going to be under huge pressure.

 

[stefan92]

Did I imagine the entire first season under Ten Hag, where we were much more solid defensively and had the most clean sheets of any team?

No. But the fact that this was his first season and then got worse the more he got players in he wanted and felt comfortable to change the style in the way he likes at the end of that first season and much more during his second season is what's lowering peoples hopes.

 

[The Firestarter]

Ajax say hello. Overmars fiasco. Squad full of mediocre players and not looking great with the youth at the moment. Miles off winning the league again anytime soon.

Bayern spunked £100m on a 30 year old striker and failed to win any trophies in the process. They've literally just hired a manager that got his team relegated, and have just had their worst league finish in 13 years.

Chelsea just sacked Poch after it looked like they were on the right track.

Juventus are a million miles away from where they were 5 years ago, and don't look like getting back to that level anytime soon.

Barcelona just sacked the manager after begging him to stay a few months ago. They are in a ridiculous amount of debt and need to sell players just to meet their financial targets, the levers fiasco was an absolute joke.

PSG spent roughly €1bn on transfer fees, agent fees and sign on fees for 3 players in Neymar, Messi and Mbappe to win the CL. They failed that and all 3 have now left. Mbappe just left on a free transfer and now they're in a far worse position than they've ever been in since they were bought.

We aren't the only big club being ran by idiots.

The reason Bayern didn't win anything is not Harry Kane. Kompany though, that's weird as feck.

 

[fergiewherearethou]

Oh god this isn't one of those 'standards' threads is it.

I hope not, no reason to discuss what's long gone.

 

[Roboc7]

I’d have sacked him but don’t have an issue with him staying, he’s clearly on thin ice and any new contract is fairly meaningless other than ending some of the speculation. He needs to improve dramatically or he’ll be sacked and at least can get on with buying and selling players now.

 

[Blood Mage]

That's the spirit.

It's the reality unless we have an all-timer transfer window.

 

[moses]

I think its bonkers to keep him because we managed a Fa cup win in our worst league and cl run in history. No other club with our stature would behave like this.

You seriously think there are no other factors?

 

[The Hilton]

No. But the fact that this was his first season and then got worse the more he got players in he wanted and felt comfortable to change the style in the way he likes at the end of that first season and much more during his second season is what's lowering peoples hopes.

Sure, that's fair enough, but that isn't what the poster I was replying to was talking about. I was saying that I see potential for a good team under him, one of the reasons being that we know that he can coach a defensively sound United team, even if we didn't see that last season. I'm hopeful that, with the right personnel, he can take the solidity from his first season, and the high pressing more proactive system he was trying to implement in his second season, and put them together.