As far as coaching feats go, what would you deem to be the most impressive ETH could do with our current players?

I’m not sure that much can be done with de Gea; sadly, I reckon he’s too stuck in his ways by now.

If he can just be prevented from hoofing the ball aimlessly upfield, and thus losing possession 19 times out of 20, my blood pressure will settle to its lowest level in years.
 
Carl said:
Movement off the ball. It's something we've been shit at for at least a decade.
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True.
And given this, I don't believe that the current batch of players can be coached to be better off the ball.
I still remember last season when Ralf R came in he asked our players to press. They tried for 30 minutes against Crystal Palace and then gave up.
Ralf R was then forced to abandon the pressing game and revert back to Ole-ball. It's all our players know, unfortunately.
This is why I believe that most of the players need to be sold before we can make any genuine progress.


Olecurls99 said:
Have the team as fit as Liverpool. Dole out as many inhalers as required. :smirk:
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I agree.
But you need to remember that several managers have attempted to get this set of players to improve their fitness. They have failed.
I don't expect that to change and if ETH demands that the players put more effort in, they'll attempt to throw him under the bus, just as they did to our previous manager.
I stand by what I said: most of the squad needs to be replaced and when a new player signs for us, he needs to be told explicitly that he needs to keep himself in tip top physical condition and that he will be playing a very physical style of football. If the player is overweight, he should be expected to reduce his bodyweight.
Our fitness coaches also need to be replaced, btw, as they have proved themselves to be incompetent.
 
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One that I'd like to see, and am rarely if every in favour of such changes: Turn Elanga into a good RWB. With Laird coming back next year it means we can get rid of AWB and next year, Dalot.
 
Crashoutcassius said:
given that ole got 2nd with a worse squad, with 74 something, id be impressed with much better than that eg. 85 and 2nd place. obviously 90 odd and the title is out of reach for now
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Ole's season was a freak season to be fair
 
Fortitude said:
Whatever take you have on our squad, it is not unfair to state somewhere in nearly all of them as individuals is a player. Most are flawed in one way or another, but it could be argued that seasons of neglect and dire coaching caused this, that too alongside not tapping into what makes the individual tick. Klopp, in particular is lauded for extracting every sinew of what he wants/needs out of players under his tutelage, and as far as I'm aware, ten Hag has this quality in spades himself.

So, in you opinion, what would be the most impressive set of feats he could perform here outside of getting the collective to perform cohesively? On an individual one-to-one level, which would be the greatest feats?

Let me give an easy run of examples of flaws that might be seen as miraculous to see fixed:

De Gea - (1) Playing out from the back; (2) coming off his line.

Shaw - (1) Decisiveness in the final 3rd; (2) tracking runners (3)motivation/consistency

Maguire - (1) Decision making; (2) reading of play

Värane - Does he have specific flaws to work on?

Wan Bissaka - (1) Offensive capacity; (2) defensive reading of play

Dalot - (1) .…

McTominay - (1) Reading of central midfield play; (2) showing for the ball

Fred - (1) General composure

Martial - (1) Off the ball movement; (2) effort, general

Rashford - (1) Reading of play/ decision making; (2) off the ball effort and movement; (3) defensive contribution

Sancho - (1) Imposing himself in games and general involvement; (2) taking on more shots

Elanga - (1) Not sure he has a specific flaw per se, rather he has a lot to do overall to be part of any serious rotation

Bruno - (1) Composed, intelligent football and considered use of the ball

Ronaldo - (1) Pressing and concerted defensive work off the ball

The flaws you perceive may well be different to the above. I am interested in what Erik ten Hag could you impress you with on an individual level with the players we’ve already got, and what point would you consider getting a tune out of specific individuals a miraculous turnaround from your expectations?
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What is most illuminating about this post is, we can all see and agree on the vast majority of the individual flaws of the squad…. And many of those flaws have been the same for years.

it just begs the question, what the hell have they been doing training?!?!

Cleary a complete lack of developing individuals.
 
I reckon we will play better, as no way we can be worse, but still end up outside of the top 4. 5th at best.
 
Defend and press as a unit and keep clean sheets.
 
Midfield three of Bruno VDB and Garner bossing teams. Any laziness or not tracking back or pressing from the players he gives them three warnings and subs them. Turn Luke shaw into a world class left back all season round instead of five games per season.
 
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