Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

[croadyman]

Watching us play, I really do not understand why he prioritised signing Mount over Kovacic

Yeah just can't get my head around him not prioritising midfielder who can pass and progress the ball. This screams of someone who doesn't value possession enough

 

[Strelok]

The only thing that makes people believe Antony has big potential is the price tag, ignore that and the majority of teams in the league have a better rw

The price tag wasn't his fault. ETH asked the club to buy Antony ealy but the Glazers said no. Then we got panic after the first terrible results and Ajax fleeced us because they know we're desperate. Imagine you ask your boss for something to get a project done. He said no then later it turns out that thing is a must and he has to pay more then you got blamed for that.

 

[Yorke to Cole]

The price tag wasn't his fault. ETH asked the club to buy Antony ealy but the Glazers said no. Then we got panic after the first terrible results and Ajax fleeced us because they know we're desperate. Imagine you ask your boss for something to get a project done. He said no then later it turns out that thing is a must and he has to pay more then you got blamed for that.

Until the structure and more importantly the ownership changes, Murtough is always going to go with the default option and that is Ten Hag's choices. We should not be paying x money for Anthony. We should not be going for Hoiberg.

Once we have squad capable of challenging and not playing catch up, then other scouts can start to recommend incremental changes by by bringing younger players. As it is, we have a crap budget, with even worse owners, and director of footbaĺl asking Ten Hag who have you coached in the past that can play this role?

 

[Strelok]

Until the structure and more importantly the ownership changes, Murtough is always going to go with the default option and that is Ten Hag's choices. We should not be paying x money for Anthony. We should not be going for Hoiberg.

Once we have squad capable of challenging and not playing catch up, then other scouts can start to recommend incremental changes by by bringing younger players. As it is, we have a crap budget, with even worse owners, and director of footbaĺl asking Ten Hag who have you coached in the past that can play this role?

Agree that would have my full support. We should pick an approach and sign players and managers base on that approach. The manager would have only the power to suggest and veto the transfers. He must know he would have to work with what he currently has if he chooses to veto the transfers offered by the club.

 

[Micky Targaryen]

Our midfield actually looked balance with Eriksen instead of Mount. And Rashford was a lot better with on the wing. Imagine if we’d sign Tonali instead of Mount.

Yeah I was just thinking the same. I'm still on the fence with Mount. Apparently ETH likes him for his workrate and versatility?
Properly watched Tonali vs Liverpool and he was putting out quite a shift, and with better technique. So it begs the questions: Did we even try to bid for Tonali? Did ETH and our scouting team even heard of Tonali? It's not like he came from some serie A minnow club.

 

[Toshey]

The only thing that makes people believe Antony has big potential is the price tag, ignore that and the majority of teams in the league have a better rw

Have you even watched our games? Or you just wait for Antony to make a mistake and then you post about him...

I'll agree that sometimes he goes for stupid shots when there're better options. But this can be coached.

He has great link up play, vision, great workrate and can pull off excellent curlers. He is able to hold the ball under pressure and has tricks up his sleeve.

People criticise him for not running at defenders enough, but it's obvious our style of build up includes overlapping fullbacks.
So he waits for the RB to make the run and then either passes to him or cuts through the middle.

When he decides to attack 1 on 1, he is often successful.


Antony makes the team better and is comfortably our best RW.
I'm confident this season he'll make a lot of posters reconsider their constant hate.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Watching us play, I really do not understand why he prioritised signing Mount over Kovacic

City had Kovacic sorted and nobody else had a chance.

 

[Matt851]

The price tag wasn't his fault. ETH asked the club to buy Antony ealy but the Glazers said no. Then we got panic after the first terrible results and Ajax fleeced us because they know we're desperate. Imagine you ask your boss for something to get a project done. He said no then later it turns out that thing is a must and he has to pay more then you got blamed for that.

This isn't quite true because eth was the one still really pushing for Antony after our first offers were rejected, the only way we were going to get him was going back with a big offer.

Anyway my point was more that even ignoring how much he cost Antony just isn't very good. Most pl clubs have better players than him in that position and moussa diaby has had more impact than him in just a few games. The fact ETH managed him before doesn't say much for his ability to direct our transfer business

 

[Matt851]

Have you even watched our games? Or you just wait for Antony to make a mistake and then you post about him...

I'll agree that sometimes he goes for stupid shots when there're better options. But this can be coached.

He has great link up play, vision, great workrate and can pull off excellent curlers. He is able to hold the ball under pressure and has tricks up his sleeve.

People criticise him for not running at defenders enough, but it's obvious our style of build up includes overlapping fullbacks.
So he waits for the RB to make the run and then either passes to him or cuts through the middle.

When he decides to attack 1 on 1, he is often successful.


Antony makes the team better and is comfortably our best RW.
I'm confident this season he'll make a lot of posters reconsider their constant hate.

People harp on about him being our best rw as if it's some sort of achievement. His competition is a young player who couldn't get minutes at a la liga relegation contender, or Bruno out of position. There is no real competition in
that position because we bet the farm on Antony so eth feels like he has to play him. I would play sancho there more regularly but he isn't great either. Fact is our options on the right are piss poor

 

[pocco]

I don't know how he will get top 4 with this injury ravaged squad but if he does, he's a genius!

The saving grace for us at the moment is that Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton and Newcastle have all had bumps in the road early on. It could be a sign that other clubs are going to have faltering seasons again, which will mean that we can be a bit inconsistent again and still get top 4. I suppose it depends on who finds form soon and can start putting together back to back wins.

 

[gajender]

The saving grace for us at the moment is that Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton and Newcastle have all had bumps in the road early on. It could be a sign that other clubs are going to have faltering seasons again, which will mean that we can be a bit inconsistent again and still get top 4. I suppose it depends on who finds form soon and can start putting together back to back wins.

Every year People panic about Top 4 but the reality is you can be shit for half the season or even more and still be within touching distance of top 4 .

 

[Skills]

Is it true we've offered him a new contract?

Would it surprise you?

 

[Judas]

Yeah I was just thinking the same. I'm still on the fence with Mount. Apparently ETH likes him for his workrate and versatility?
Properly watched Tonali vs Liverpool and he was putting out quite a shift, and with better technique. So it begs the questions: Did we even try to bid for Tonali? Did ETH and our scouting team even heard of Tonali? It's not like he came from some serie A minnow club.

If we'd wanted Tonali he'd be here. Doesn't seem from the outside looking in he was ever on our radar, which is sad and a bit weird really.

 

[podurban2]

Yeah I was just thinking the same. I'm still on the fence with Mount. Apparently ETH likes him for his workrate and versatility?
Properly watched Tonali vs Liverpool and he was putting out quite a shift, and with better technique. So it begs the questions: Did we even try to bid for Tonali? Did ETH and our scouting team even heard of Tonali? It's not like he came from some serie A minnow club.

We did not sign him or were close to because our club is run my incompetent people who let the manager do all the ID targeting, as we haven’t learned anything from previous years.

 

[pocco]

Would it surprise you?

After the Ole debacle, not really.

 

[Skills]

After the Ole debacle, not really.

Mourinho debacle as well. Extended his contract for no reason after 18 months

 

[pocco]

Every year People panic about Top 4 but the reality is you can be shit for half the season or even more and still be within touching distance of top 4 .

Yeah a lot of teams have achieved top 4 recently whilst being fairly average. For me top 4 shouldn't be how we are judged, there needs to be clear progression in all aspects towards challenging for titles. At the moment we seem to spend a lot of money but still end up nowhere near - I'm surprised the expectations for higher-ups aren't higher with regards to this. It's like we've accepted a never ending rebuild and that can't be a good ROI for the club or anybody.

 

[Buster15]

Perspective is lost by many who are even now blaming ETH for the LB situation and coming to wild conclusions that he’s training the team too hard. Our slow start has resulted in 6 points from 3 games. It should be noted that Arteta took Arsenal to finishes of 8th, 8th and 5th before contending for the title in his 4th season. This is also after spending a significant amount of money on transfers. ten Hag is barely in year 2, has already delivered a top 3 finish and a trophy yet there are those questioning whether he’s the right manager. Insane.

Yes Giggsy. Completely agree with you. We all want United to be back at the top. And of course, supporters are perfectly entitled to their views.
But there is no entertainment for United. It has to be built on strong foundations first with an elite coach.
And to me, EtH is either an elite coach or very close to it.

 

[pocco]

Mourinho debacle as well. Extended his contract for no reason after 18 months

I can't remember that, but it seems to be our MO for any half performing manager these days. It's usually the kiss of death too. I couldn't believe it when Ole got given the job after getting past PSG, only for the rest of the season to be rubbish.

In my opinion it would be senseless to give ETH a new contract right now. Or any time soon for that matter - let's see what he can do first, but the question marks are already there.

 

[Skills]

I can't remember that, but it seems to be our MO for any half performing manager these days. It's usually the kiss of death too. I couldn't believe it when Ole got given the job after getting past PSG, only for the rest of the season to be rubbish.

In my opinion it would be senseless to give ETH a new contract right now. Or any time soon for that matter - let's see what he can do first, but the question marks are already there.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...mourinho-manchester-united-contract-extension

A month later, Seville happened and the atmosphere around the club starts to become poisonous.

I agree though. No reason to extend ETHs contract. Wait until the end of the season and make a call then on weather we want to continue down this route or look in the market for something else.

 

[Steve 007]

First 50 games most successful of any manager we’ve ever had.
A win percentage in his first 50 that only Pep can better.
Inherited dross with broken confidence.
Got third and two finals one cup.
This season.
Won 2 out of 3, hasn’t played well so far and suddenly the pitchforks are out. We could have a great game against Arsenal and lose to a dodgy decision and some will be threatening to not watch us again until he’s sacked

 

[mitchmouse]

Once the new owners are in, ETH needs to get better at transfers or he could be in trouble

 

[Steve 007]

Once the new owners are in, ETH needs to get better at transfers or he could be in trouble

Apart from Anthony and malacia (who cost 13m) which players haven’t worked. Please don’t say Mount after two games
We also know that most players take a season to adapt to pl. I would hope we get the best out of Anthony this season.

 

[Skills]

Once the new owners are in, ETH needs to get better at transfers or he could be in trouble

I mean he could be in trouble regardless.

If a new managers allowed to buy his own players, I don't see why a new owners not allowed to bring in his own DOF who brings in his own head coach.

Rephrasing what Fergie - then it's our time to back our new owner.

 

[Jeffthered]

Have you even watched our games? Or you just wait for Antony to make a mistake and then you post about him...

I'll agree that sometimes he goes for stupid shots when there're better options. But this can be coached.

He has great link up play, vision, great workrate and can pull off excellent curlers. He is able to hold the ball under pressure and has tricks up his sleeve.

People criticise him for not running at defenders enough, but it's obvious our style of build up includes overlapping fullbacks.
So he waits for the RB to make the run and then either passes to him or cuts through the middle.

When he decides to attack 1 on 1, he is often successful.

Antony makes the team better and is comfortably our best RW.
I'm confident this season he'll make a lot of posters reconsider their constant hate.

I really have to question your assessment of Antony. You can clearly, clearly see that this is a player with significant limitations. 'Excellent curlers' ?? What does that actually mean?

He rarely beats his man, v rarely. And the guy cannot cross the damn ball! I could go on and on but this is an ETH thread, and my concern is the judgement made by our manager regarding this player. I'm more interested in how ETH, who I fully support, 100% by the way, now deals with the Antony situation, because this one is on him (ETH). And he needs to admit that and resolve it.

 

[Toshey]

It means Antony has excelled curling shots technique. Scored some amazing goals, got unlucky hitting the post a few times. Usually he misses the target narrowly or forces a save.

And yes, this matters. Especially after watching Rashy hitting the ball straight with full power 9 out of 10 times, Brunno hitting the sky etc.

Actually, Antony is the only player in the squad I'm confident could score from outside the box.

Stop trying to make him seem worse than he is. As a supporter you should be happy when our players perform well, seems like you close your eyes on purpose every time Antony does something right...

 

[Cassidy]

City had Kovacic sorted and nobody else had a chance.

Surely you get Im talking about the type of player

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Surely you get Im talking about the type of player

I didn’t. Sorry pal

 

[croadyman]

I mean he could be in trouble regardless.

If a new managers allowed to buy his own players, I don't see why a new owners not allowed to bring in his own DOF who brings in his own head coach.

Rephrasing what Fergie - then it's our time to back our new owner.

Yeah you make a very valid point, last year I would have been worried about a new owner throwing weight around. I feel a bit differently after the last few weeks of this window. Having said that I don't think him walking if these financial strains continue is actually that far fetched anymore.

 

[Redstain]

Still maintain that ETH is a brilliant manager. I think prior to his time at Ajax he was more renown for his coaching, but I feel his coaching credentials have been somewhat overrated while his managerial capabilities are underrated. That's on the basis of the teams progression and his time being at a bigger club which gives more exposure by way of responsibility. He's handled some adverse situations at the club very well from the Ronaldo debacle to the genuine pressures of a first season and reshaping the mood of the squad.

The biggest problem with this current regime are those above ETH in the form of Murtough / Arnold and all the spheres of influence. The overindulging and lack of foresight from Murtough puts the manager in this hybrid position of having to be a conventional manager, coach and a DOF minimalist in certain regards.

If ETH was working with a more prudent superior there's room for incremental improvements across the board. I still question the long term directive, there are already senior players in the squad who will eventually need replacing and I've always maintained that this team is being put together as opposed to being built but those questions land at the feet of the DOF more than anyone else.

Even if things do south for example, United can sack the manager and it will regurgitate the revolving door rebuilding process again. Fans need to be objective and realise that United are always asking more from their managers because of how incompetent the superiors are. So if flavour of the month De Zirbi was hired for example, it would be the equivalent of him taking away Brighton's model of operations, removing the input from the sporting directors and capitulating the ethos / philosophy of the club and relying solely on his input in leading everything forward.

That is the position United put every manager in and until you move the pieces at the top (not even the Glazers) don't expect any different of an outcome. The hierarchy is so bad, that even under new ownership the current establishment would fail.

 

[DJ_21]

He’s gonna really struggle if he doesn’t get his signings correct. I mean city won the treble and have still improved their squad with nunes. Meanwhile we’re struggling to get a deal done for Amrabat even though he agreed personal terms in June. Gonna need a miracle to pull off our objectives this season.

 

[mitchmouse]

Apart from Anthony and malacia (who cost 13m) which players haven’t worked. Please don’t say Mount after two games
We also know that most players take a season to adapt to pl. I would hope we get the best out of Anthony this season.

Well the defence looks edgy so I wonder about Martinez - he doesn't seem to know when to hold off and jockey rather than dive in, But, yes i do include Mount because I've seen him at Chelsea and no idea what he brings. But I'm more woried aobut names being bandied about right now like Cucurella.

But most of all, you can't just say "apart from".. and dismiss how disappointing Antony has been or completely out of place Malacia is. And overall, we don't really looked to have strenghtened this summer - certainly not as much as some of our rivals for top four

 

[Steve 007]

Well the defence looks edgy so I wonder about Martinez - he doesn't seem to know when to hold off and jockey rather than dive in, But, yes i do include Mount because I've seen him at Chelsea and no idea what he brings. But I'm more woried aobut names being bandied about right now like Cucurella.

But most of all, you can't just say "apart from".. and dismiss how disappointing Antony has been or completely out of place Malacia is. And overall, we don't really looked to have strenghtened this summer - certainly not as much as some of our rivals for top four

So he’s signed Casimeiro who last season was excellent, Martinez was also excellent. Erickson was pretty good. Anthony was not great and Malacia was great. Mount, Onana and Hojilund are not settled yet. As for Cucurella this time last year City and Chelsea two of the best managers in the game in Tuchel and Pep were battling for him. Very few signings are not a gamble.

 

[Pronewbie]

I'm not sure if United fans are willing to give a system-based manager the luxury of time after LVG, Mourinho and Ole. If he doesn't look like achieving a CL spot this season I think he'll be gone. He will live or die by his player transfers.

Next season is going to become more challenging as it's likely we'll part ways with Varane and Casemiro if they can fetch a decent fee. Meaning yet another rebuild of our spine after already spending all that money.

 

[Varun1]

Sadly, am not seeing the leap that I was hoping. I don't see the best transition team in the world (or however he called it) and it doesn't feel like we excel at anything!

If we break it down:
Transfer: average - yeah I know there's a whole team behind it, but he has a big say in things! Incomings: Antony is a huge flop and Mount feels like a square peg in a round hole. The money spent on Casemiro would have been better off spent on a younger, long-term option. The constant link to ex-players could just be coincidence, but at some point it feels like the strategy. Outgoings: I wish he had been more astute.
Tactics: average - where's the physicality, we still don't close down quickly enough, can't hold on to the ball, shite passing. Very lethargic & unconvincing and no plan B.
Selection: average - I wish he was more ruthless, and that ties in with the next point about youth.
Youth: average - what's the point of playing and bringing countless youth players on the tour if they won't get a chance during the season.

 

[nickm]

Well the defence looks edgy so I wonder about Martinez - he doesn't seem to know when to hold off and jockey rather than dive in, But, yes i do include Mount because I've seen him at Chelsea and no idea what he brings. But I'm more woried aobut names being bandied about right now like Cucurella.

But most of all, you can't just say "apart from".. and dismiss how disappointing Antony has been or completely out of place Malacia is. And overall, we don't really looked to have strenghtened this summer - certainly not as much as some of our rivals for top four

So players who haven't worked include someone who's played, what, 2 games, and a player who's never played for us at all...?

 

[Sarni]

I'm not sure if United fans are willing to give a system-based manager the luxury of time after LVG, Mourinho and Ole. If he doesn't look like achieving a CL spot this season I think he'll be gone. He will live or die by his player transfers.

Next season is going to become more challenging as it's likely we'll part ways with Varane and Casemiro if they can fetch a decent fee. Meaning yet another rebuild of our spine after already spending all that money.

The problem with dismissing him after failing to deliver CL football next year is we'll have allowed another manager to change strategy and rebuild the team at a cost of close to half a billion, only to take a completely new direction immediately after he failed. At this point it feels like we are almost obliged to give him more time because we've invested so much into his vision. At some point we have to allow the manager to spend that £1bn (though at this pace it may be double that if we are spending this much on individual players) and invest into their ideas. If ETH goes, virtually none of the players he had signed (except maybe Onana) are likely to be that appealing to whoever our next manager is, and that manager would need to go out and replace half the team again. We can't go around in these circles endlessly.

 

[Sarni]

Well the defence looks edgy so I wonder about Martinez - he doesn't seem to know when to hold off and jockey rather than dive in, But, yes i do include Mount because I've seen him at Chelsea and no idea what he brings. But I'm more woried aobut names being bandied about right now like Cucurella.

But most of all, you can't just say "apart from".. and dismiss how disappointing Antony has been or completely out of place Malacia is. And overall, we don't really looked to have strenghtened this summer - certainly not as much as some of our rivals for top four

Martinez is not that great. He's Heinze reincarnated, i.e. someone that we all fall in love due to his attitude and spirit with but once we get a proper CB we will realize how misled we had been.

He's not terrible but none of the top clubs would ever look at him, really.

 

[Witchking]

I have completely trusted Eth since he has come here and still trust that he has the tactical knowledge to make United a good team, but the team is looking very lopsided and laggy. I am sure we are going to get tonked away to the big teams. Just hoping i am wrong and we come out and play some decent football and finish top 2 which right now is looking impossible.

All of his signings last summer are looking jaded this window and the signings this summer are already on the treatment table. Coupled with the usual suspects like Rashford, Sancho, Garnacho all playing their own game, the season is not looking good.

 

[RedorDead21]

He overseas a club who like any individual not terribly smart with money blows their salary in week one and then drops their usual standards for the remaining 3 weeks. Wenger got terribly involved on the money side of the club with mixed results to avoid similar I imagine happening at arsenal during his time. Having seen what we were like in Jan and now for the second half of the following window…a smart guy would be taking this into account when saying who he wants and setting a bar not to step over when buying. It’s shambolic from the outside looking in.