Who is world class? Varane? He was never world class just played on stacked Real Madrid teams and 4 other good PL CBs you say, yet i'm having a hard time coming up with 1 . Lindelof and Maguire have showed they are not good PL CBs they are bang on average on a good day and I have no clue who the other 2 are. Bailly & Jones? Please. neither have ever been healthy enough to be considered "good".
Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24
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Who is world class? Varane? He was never world class just played on stacked Real Madrid teams and 4 other good PL CBs you say, yet i'm having a hard time coming up with 1 . Lindelof and Maguire have showed they are not good PL CBs they are bang on average on a good day and I have no clue who the other 2 are. Bailly & Jones? Please. neither have ever been healthy enough to be considered "good".
Yeah I love how that 2nd place is constantly undermined. We were the second best team last season gang.
Agree to disagree. I think Lindelof is a good centre back. I think Bailly is useful for Ten Hag too because of his pace. Same goes for Mengi and Tuanzebe and Varane is a recognised top class centre back and was a key player for Madrid in winning those trophies. I don't see anybody taking Maguire and Jones off our hands so that makes 7 centre backs.
Shouldn't we see about Mengi and Tuanzebe before putting a 6th centre back in front of them?
So Varane who has won 3 La Liga’s, 4 champions leagues and the world cup was never world class?
Ok then.
How do you think that the players will react to Ten Hag.
Judging by the past, we could see a reasonable improvement followed by a typical decline when things start to get tough.
A few strategic additions could help to unlock the performance potential.
But our problems run deep.
And key to success is going to be the development of a high performance culture across the club.
Most of them will hate him I reckon. Seems like a task master with very strong work ethic and standards. Our lot don't even want to run half the time.
We only have two central defenders of any worth: Varane and Maguire. They've had poor seasons by their own high standards, but we all know they are capable of much better and worth persevering with moving forward - Varane especially. So we bring in a new CB this summer to compete with and eventually replace Maguire, and keep Mengi around to act as cover.
Lindelof, Bailly and Tuanzebe have never been good enough and they never will be.
That is a real risk isn't it. But he should not be pandering to popular opinion like Ole. Once you do that, you are a hostage to fortune.
He must be fully backed by the Board who decided to appoint him.
He is going to have to be very targeted in his approach. But critically, he is going to have to make some real tough decisions and show true leadership.
Something we have missed since Sir Alex.
I've no idea how the players will react to Ten Hag, mate. Hopefully well?
I think the grafters at the club like Fred and Mctominay and, erm... yeah. So I reckon Fred and Mct will be up for the challenge, the younger players too as they'll have a point to prove.
Ten Hag's first press conference was refreshing. Such a welcome contrast to Ralf who was bent on self preservation and throwing players under the bus.
Welcome to United, coach!
Welcome to United, coach!
When Ten Hag was shaking his head a lot during the Palace game I kept wondering if it was because of the players or because he felt the team had been set up wrong. Ralf may have a lot to say but after his performance as a coach it brings up the question of whether or not ETH should just take what he says as gospel.
I like that he was buttering up the team by saying we came second last season, and saying Maguire did a good job. I know that it's pretty much bullshit; we need serious changes to the squad, but if it gives the players a chance to prove themselves instead of making them more entrenched in their shitty attitude then I'm all for it.
Then when they're happy we chuck then in a bin and set it on fire.
Strongly agree with the notion that our players (broadly) are going to hate him, unless he brings instant success (and even then).
We're in a shitty conundrum where realistically we can't change the entire squad so there's a managers' merry go round with some changes in players each summer, but it got to the point where it should be obvious that this group of players would lead us nowhere even if they were coached by a hybrid of Pep, Klopp and Fergie.
As per reports the amount of toxicity in the dressing room is overwhelming. The rot has settled so deep that we're going to need a Klopp-like effect from our manager, where he almost single-handedly manages to transform the club around in ways that go way off the pitch.
I'm afraid that hardly any manager will have it in him to do that in the space of 2-3 years (more than that and the board/fans will hound ETH or whoever it might have been out).
Adding to that the fact that there were never this many great coaches in the PL at the same time (Klopp and Pep are the undoubtedly historical best _ Conte and Tuchel being very good in their own right)... He has an insane task at hand.
One could argue that Fergie only ever had to face 1 great manager of a rival (2 at a stretch) in the same season... Anyone who's going to coach United or Arsenal has 4. It's hugely significant.
We're in a shitty conundrum where realistically we can't change the entire squad so there's a managers' merry go round with some changes in players each summer, but it got to the point where it should be obvious that this group of players would lead us nowhere even if they were coached by a hybrid of Pep, Klopp and Fergie.
As per reports the amount of toxicity in the dressing room is overwhelming. The rot has settled so deep that we're going to need a Klopp-like effect from our manager, where he almost single-handedly manages to transform the club around in ways that go way off the pitch.
I'm afraid that hardly any manager will have it in him to do that in the space of 2-3 years (more than that and the board/fans will hound ETH or whoever it might have been out).
Adding to that the fact that there were never this many great coaches in the PL at the same time (Klopp and Pep are the undoubtedly historical best _ Conte and Tuchel being very good in their own right)... He has an insane task at hand.
One could argue that Fergie only ever had to face 1 great manager of a rival (2 at a stretch) in the same season... Anyone who's going to coach United or Arsenal has 4. It's hugely significant.
The Beeb had a great editorial piece about his press conference. Looks like he's got off on the right foot with the journalists.
Love ten hags confidence. He said klopp and guardiola era can come to an end without any of them leaving. He said pretty much everything we all wanted to hear but let’s hope he can make it happen… especially about the entertaining football. He’s brought in 2 assistants who have won trophies so we’ve now got a back room team with a winners mentality! Hopefully it can translate quickly into the squad!
Refreshing to hear from the new manager a month before pre season.
Nope, just lucky I guess...
I agree about Lindelof and Bailly is quick and might - might - be useful if he can remain fit which doesn't seem to have happened yet so have to worry. I don't now anything about Mengi but Tuanzebe's loan didn't seem to go any better than Brandon Williams'... I reckon Jones will be released and allowed to go on a free if he can find somewhere. I said on day one that Maguire was the wrong chose and haven't changed my mind on that. Varane needs to stay fit for us to see. All in al, if a top class CB becomes available, I think we should buy him. Not sure who that would be however
They can argue it but they'd be wrong. Fergie fought off competition just as fierce as this. Mourinho, Wenger, Benitez... all in charge of some good teams through those years. All better teams than what we see today in my opinion, bar maybe City and Liverpool.
He sounds so authoritative in that interview. I like that
I thought he was shaking his head after his lawyer told him he couldn't find an "out" for him in the contract
Ten Hag " I will give some players a second chance"
CAF "SACK HIM ! SACK HIM NOW!"
CAF "SACK HIM ! SACK HIM NOW!"
We can argue the toss about Dalglish as a manager but he had won a league title+ with Liverpool and took on an expensively assembled Blackburn side so that needed seeing to, along with overhauling a Newcastle team that went close then added a world record striker into the mix.
that's OK - some of the names I'm thinking of can barely be called "players"!Ten Hag " I will give some players a second chance"
CAF "SACK HIM ! SACK HIM NOW!"
There will be some drama, of course. But if the result of hardworking is visible soon enough in training and games, they will be behind him. I think people are really underestimating about man-management and leadership skills of a manager to make a team successful. Obviously, I am hoping that ETH has some considering how successful he was with another team.
I think Rangnick was just brutally honest about the players. Not great for morale maybe, but then he didn't have much to lose anymore. He also said it wasn't just the players' fault but his as well. Hardly self preservation.
Personally I think Maguire could be lined up to play as a CDM under ETH. He is a solid ball player with a better passing range then MCtominay and Fred.
His lack of pace will be far less exposed if Maguire sits back, stops counter attacks and then pings the ball around for a progressive attacking play.
His lack of pace will be far less exposed if Maguire sits back, stops counter attacks and then pings the ball around for a progressive attacking play.
He can barely play as a competent CB, what makes you think he can do it as a CDM?
I don't think Maguire is mobile enough to play as a midfielder. I'd much rather see Garner getting a chance. He has far more ability on the ball which we'll need if we want to dominate possession. And if Garner isn't good enough we'll need to bring in someone new.
If anything, Lindelof has a better chance of playing as a CDM.
..........wat ?
When he mentions second place, he is saying it is only one place below top.
He plays his cards close to his chest.
I have full confidence in him.
Hope our fanbase supports him and is patient.
He plays his cards close to his chest.
I have full confidence in him.
Hope our fanbase supports him and is patient.
Absolute nonsense! He is not a solid ball player, if anything this myth has been stabbed to bits for two seasons now. Besides, playing from the back and standing in the middle of the park with pressure is two different things. A midfielder has to deal with chaos from all sides, a defender knows exactly where all players are at all times - well, unless you're Maguire of course and very prone to losing the ball in dangerous situations because your eyes are only down on the ball.
Really looking forward to seeing what he can do.
The squad lacks leaders who don't accept unacceptable behaviour from others, and those who might try to call people out get met with a response that they just don't care.
Each top squad, or any squad for that matter, has leaders who put people in their place when behaviour is not correct. Allowing players to mock the manager / coaches etc creates toxic environments.
ETH has my full support to throw any of these players in the reserves until he has a core of leaders who won't tolerate what has crept into the squad.
Only then we get to see the ETH who can make us fight for the title again.
The squad lacks leaders who don't accept unacceptable behaviour from others, and those who might try to call people out get met with a response that they just don't care.
Each top squad, or any squad for that matter, has leaders who put people in their place when behaviour is not correct. Allowing players to mock the manager / coaches etc creates toxic environments.
ETH has my full support to throw any of these players in the reserves until he has a core of leaders who won't tolerate what has crept into the squad.
Only then we get to see the ETH who can make us fight for the title again.
Wasn't sure where to post this but rare footage of Avram Glazer talking united for about 5 seconds.
Casemiro, Fabinho. Magurinho
Spend it better you foul. (Directed at Glazers)
Do people really think that 2nd place last season was an accomplishment? City were still 12 points clear of us. You know what our record last year would have gotten us this year? 5th. You know what 58 points got you last year? 11th. 2020-21 was a down year for the PL and in a down year we were still 13 points off. Chelsea were the 2nd best team last season. Would have rather had Chelsea's season than our's. won Champions League, finished 4th and went to penalties in the FA and League Cup finals.
I think this year was more of what the team actually was than last year was. I think they just had a good fortunate run in the middle of the season, they got lucky with health whereas other teams weren't.. Reminder we dropped 10 points in the last 6 matches. Imagine if City would have dropped 3 more points at any point last season it would mean that team "that finished 2nd" would have choked away a league title. But yes let's act like the current team has the frame of a team that won stuff because they finished 2nd and lost the final of the Europa and just needs some needs a few parts.. I think the level of the team got shown at the end of of last season and is still going.
Lindelof is good? Guy got bullied yesterday by Crystal Palace.
Bailly is useful? Bailly has never been useful. He's always hurt and the rare times he has been healthy he's been bad. This is the guy that got subbed in the 1st half of a CL knock out tie by a manager that was one of the worst ever at making subs. That's how bad he was in that match.
Mengi & Tuanzebe- Listing them is just pure hopium on your part. Hoping they will come good or that ETH will be able to unlock Tuanzebe whereas the previous regime couldn't because they don't know tactics just feelings and vibes and wasn't feeling Tuanzebe so they binned off and tried to sell him for 20m and got laughed at so sent him out on loan.
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He has got a good right foot so he should play on the right wing where he can cross the ball well.
He has given himself the maximum amount of time available before next season starts by ending his Ajax contract early and coming to watch the team live in the last game. Its a good start and I wish him all the best during the summer.
Pre-season will be just as important as transfers.
Pre-season will be just as important as transfers.
Exactly, i thought it was a test of wills and ETH came out on top. From the beginning he said he would not be answering questions about the squad as he’d make his analysis and keep it to himself, then he literally faced 5 questions trying to get him to go against what he said but he passed each by reiterating his initial reply. So the journalist looked stupid by wasting their question.
I like him he talks well & has that ruthless undertone which no doubt will come out in the coming months
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