Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

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I'd start him over Bruno right now.
I agree but our manager (who pushed to pay the big bucks for him and give him our most iconic shirt #) won't do that.

So I ask again. What was the point and/or vision behind this signing? At the moment, it looks he'll have to be shoe-horned on the right or Bruno moves there and he's terrible (well more terrible than his usual this season) there.

Again, I come back to the parallels with Havertz. Arteta has realised he doesn't fit in their best 11 and he's well on his way to being a more expensive and less effective version of Trossard in midfield. Mount seems to be heading the same way.
 
I can understand all of the whining about our style of play, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’re missing our entire back four!

The defence is the bedrock, the foundation of any team, especially one that, as ETH wants, plays out from the back. The foundation they build gives the midfield more licence and the attackers more freedom to do what they’re best at.

ANY OTHER TEAM missing their entire first choice back four (and especially only having one fit FB) would struggle to play the style of football that ETH wants.

Now I’m not expecting the proverbial switch to flick ‘on’ when Shaw, Martinez, Varane and AWB are back, but that’s a back four that gives you a lot more of a chance to build up play with a solid foundation.

Yeah you are right, I forgot how well the football was flowing before our back four got injured.
 
I can understand all of the whining about our style of play, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’re missing our entire back four!

The defence is the bedrock, the foundation of any team, especially one that, as ETH wants, plays out from the back. The foundation they build gives the midfield more licence and the attackers more freedom to do what they’re best at.

ANY OTHER TEAM missing their entire first choice back four (and especially only having one fit FB) would struggle to play the style of football that ETH wants.

Now I’m not expecting the proverbial switch to flick ‘on’ when Shaw, Martinez, Varane and AWB are back, but that’s a back four that gives you a lot more of a chance to build up play with a solid foundation.
The defence smashed it today? They literally set up and scored the winner, Maguire got man of the match and made the most passes out of all of our team. How on earth can the defence be at fault for that poor performance?
 
Papering over the cracks. Hard to see where a turnaround in performances are going to come from. It's more of the same every week.
 
Second half was decent. Can’t blame a manager for us constantly missing easy chances. That’s been the case for a few of these guys in the team for multiple managers now.
 
Yeah, if we ignore the manager he is and what he has accomplished in the past and downplay all of his wins even when he has joined..he’s shit.
This is my main worry, what manager he is really? A lot of us bought into the hype purely on that one season in CL but when you think about it, there have been multiple managers achieving the same only to never do anything of note again. What is his real level? I'm not convinced he is what I thought he was anymore.
 
The fixture list has been relatively soft so far. Either the run of games against better teams will catch him out if things stay the same or the challenge galvanises him into getting a spark into the players. I don't think he has lost the players but they look undercooked more than anything.
 
The defence smashed it today? They literally set up and scored the winner, Maguire got man of the match and made the most passes out of all of our team. How on earth can the defence be at fault for that poor performance?

I didn’t say they were, I’m saying the lack of a solid, first choice defence, impacts the way that a team would play.

Not having your first choice FBs (or any FB in the case of LB) impacts on your ability to double-up on opposition FBs or support in midfield.

Not having CBS comfortable and composed on the ball leads to poor decision making, a lack of trust in building up play from the back, and desperation in defence where you just hoof the ball upfield at nobody in particular.
 
I didn’t say they were, I’m saying the lack of a solid, first choice defence, impacts the way that a team would play.

Not having your first choice FBs (or any FB in the case of LB) impacts on your ability to double-up on opposition FBs or support in midfield.

Not having CBS comfortable and composed on the ball leads to poor decision making, a lack of trust in building up play from the back, and desperation in defence where you just hoof the ball upfield at nobody in particular.
Our centre backs tonight were comfortable on the ball though. I can agree with the left back issue to a point, but Lindelof set up the winner that was scored by our other fullback. :lol:
 
Interviewer asked him about the slow starts and he blamed the international break as if it's not been evident all season long
 
Ajax have a history and ethos of passing well, taking one manager from there won't give us that. He's more adaptable, with a 72% win ratio for us last year. He is good manager that needed support.

Whether he can hang on it's looking doubtful as the club slowly tries to evolve.
 
The technical level of our squad seems so low. I know we haven't got the brightest players in the league but there are teams with far worst players who are capable of better football then this lot, we just struggle with the basics and we are so slow at moving the ball.
 
The technical level of our squad seems so low. I know we haven't got the brightest players in the league but there are teams with far worst players who are capable of better football then this lot, we just struggle with the basics and we are so slow at moving the ball.
Well ten hag has brought in enough players for us to have seen a difference on that front by now
 
Getting frustrated now. I see no improvements or plan at all. I don't see any style either. Just dependent on individual brilliance.
 
I don't give a shit what he has done before United. That's for himself. For United he has been a bang average coach or even less.
Any competent manager can win the Dutch league with ajax. He did well to get that ajax team to the cl semis but let's not forget they went out to spurs
 
Only one point behind the team that has beaten football and has the best manager in the league.

He's doing alright.
 
And this game is proof that xG is sometimes bollocks and can't be relied upon always. He is right, we should have scored at least 4 goals.

I can understand all of the whining about our style of play, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’re missing our entire back four!

The defence is the bedrock, the foundation of any team, especially one that, as ETH wants, plays out from the back. The foundation they build gives the midfield more licence and the attackers more freedom to do what they’re best at.

ANY OTHER TEAM missing their entire first choice back four (and especially only having one fit FB) would struggle to play the style of football that ETH wants.

Now I’m not expecting the proverbial switch to flick ‘on’ when Shaw, Martinez, Varane and AWB are back, but that’s a back four that gives you a lot more of a chance to build up play with a solid foundation.
Rare common sense post among sea of misery, good post.
 
I didn’t say they were, I’m saying the lack of a solid, first choice defence, impacts the way that a team would play.

Not having your first choice FBs (or any FB in the case of LB) impacts on your ability to double-up on opposition FBs or support in midfield.

Not having CBS comfortable and composed on the ball leads to poor decision making, a lack of trust in building up play from the back, and desperation in defence where you just hoof the ball upfield at nobody in particular.
Shaw played against Wolves and Spurs and we didn't impress in those games.

The average fan questioned the Mount signing and Mount has not done much this season. Onana is very dodgy and Antony is quite ordinary. ETH will not take us forward.
 
Progress is slow.

The job can be done in a thousand different ways but none of them are quick. EtH was the outstanding candidate; he is the man to complete the job.

He has a long term plan. He is making mistakes - more mistakes than any of us want to see. But we have to stop looking at the problem in terms of selection or tactics in any given match, even specific recruitment decisions. The development and rehabilitation of this club is a highly complex endeavour.

What we should be looking at is a broad improvement in every facet of the club over a long period. Better performances, better results, better prospects of success, yes, but viewed and judged over a long period.

SAF was not a tactical genius. He also bought many dud players. We lost games we shouldn’t have on a regular basis. In his first few years we looked, at times, as though we would never win the league again. But whilst we were losing, playing like shit and finishing way down the league, the club was gradually (yes gradually) being improved in line with his long term plan.

I don’t suggest that nobody can do better than EtH but, imo, his is the right profile and personality to see this through. Everyone has to hold their nerve for about three more years of agony. And enjoy every minute, if we possibly can.
 
Will be interesting to see how far he can take us.

Right now we look like a disjointed side with no evident style of play.

May be a controversial take what I'm about to say, but here it comes...

I would have more belief of us going somewhere if we had Sean Dyche in charge of us. I can't think how he could have spent £400m any worse than what we have done under Ten Hag... and by this point we would have had an identifiable style of play.

Is Ten Hag the right man for us? I'm not sure he is.
 
Progress is slow.

The job can be done in a thousand different ways but none of them are quick. EtH was the outstanding candidate; he is the man to complete the job.

He has a long term plan. He is making mistakes - more mistakes than any of us want to see. But we have to stop looking at the problem in terms of selection or tactics in any given match, even specific recruitment decisions. The development and rehabilitation of this club is a highly complex endeavour.

What we should be looking at is a broad improvement in every facet of the club over a long period. Better performances, better results, better prospects of success, yes, but viewed and judged over a long period.

SAF was not a tactical genius. He also bought many dud players. We lost games we shouldn’t have on a regular basis. In his first few years we looked, at times, as though we would never win the league again. But whilst we were losing, playing like shit and finishing way down the league, the club was gradually (yes gradually) being improved in line with his long term plan.

I don’t suggest that nobody can do better than EtH but, imo, his is the right profile and personality to see this through. Everyone has to hold their nerve for about three more years of agony. And enjoy every minute, if we possibly can.
You’re willing to put up with three more years of this football? To what end? The signings aren’t exactly getting us closer to the top, they’ve been more bad than good if anything.
 
I can understand all of the whining about our style of play, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’re missing our entire back four!

The defence is the bedrock, the foundation of any team, especially one that, as ETH wants, plays out from the back. The foundation they build gives the midfield more licence and the attackers more freedom to do what they’re best at.

ANY OTHER TEAM missing their entire first choice back four (and especially only having one fit FB) would struggle to play the style of football that ETH wants.

Now I’m not expecting the proverbial switch to flick ‘on’ when Shaw, Martinez, Varane and AWB are back, but that’s a back four that gives you a lot more of a chance to build up play with a solid foundation.
It's a very small sample size but i don't think we've played really well in any game in the league this season and those did include a few games where we had our first choice defenders or near enough. Also, the technical quality of the squad defenders may not be Martinez or Shaw level but we shouldn't see a drastic drop off with the likes of Evans, Lindelof, Maguire etc. Shaw is a big loss but i expect more from the attack, even if the defensive positions are changed.

Something has just looked very odd with this team ever since that League cup final. EtH has been really unlucky with injuries but i just can't see a 'team' forming from these players. The attacking balance looks horrible, the defence concedes too many, we don't score enough goals. For his sake i hope he can make it to January but whether he'll have any money to spend or if can get rid of any supposed problems in the dressing room, I don't know. December looks a hell of a tough month.
 
Having a majority of your defence out is far from ideal, but we should still be able to move the ball a wee bit better than this no? No pace, no ideas, mostly kick it long and hope for the best. Or we need to hit them on the counter.
Second season now and i can`t see anything that is about to kick into gear. How many seasons do you need to get your team to play the way you want it? Or is this it? Are his ideas on full display right now?
 
What’s the game plan with Ten Hag?
The fact we are still asking this question at this point is very worrying indeed. I’m willing to give him benefit of the doubt until we have a fit team, but for me the warning lights are on. And I’m gutted as I really wanted this to work.
 
The “more time” arguments are a massive disservice to the greatest manager in the history of the game.

He was special and was able to run a club successfully under his own guidance and care.

United needs a new everything, new recruitment, new vision, new mentality and new personal at every level, but they also need a new manager.

More time will just delay the inevitable, like it does in every single other case that the team doesn’t have a genius in charge.

Even the excuses over having fit players is something that is partly under his control. It’s his staff and his preparation. We went into the season unfit, and that was his doing.

This isn’t working and he isn’t doing a good job.
 
hmmm

the injuries are perhaps excusing the fact that we dont seem to have an effective game plan.

Really poor tonight for first 30 then ok for rest. Not really good enough

im expecting more from a United team
 
I can understand all of the whining about our style of play, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’re missing our entire back four!

The defence is the bedrock, the foundation of any team, especially one that, as ETH wants, plays out from the back. The foundation they build gives the midfield more licence and the attackers more freedom to do what they’re best at.

ANY OTHER TEAM missing their entire first choice back four (and especially only having one fit FB) would struggle to play the style of football that ETH wants.

Now I’m not expecting the proverbial switch to flick ‘on’ when Shaw, Martinez, Varane and AWB are back, but that’s a back four that gives you a lot more of a chance to build up play with a solid foundation.

Pin this somewhere so the fools can try and understand
 
Pin this somewhere so the fools can try and understand
It’s not foolish to believe we should be playing a more coherent style of football with the players available. All of the back hour have featured this season and the only match we performed well in was in the cup.
 
It’s not foolish to believe we should be playing a more coherent style of football with the players available. All of the back hour have featured this season and the only match we performed well in was in the cup.

It’s foolish to fail to acknowledge that Shaw and Martinez are absolutely vital to the style of play.

Last season Martinez was transformational in his style and ball playing.
 
It’s foolish to fail to acknowledge that Shaw and Martinez are absolutely vital to the style of play.

Last season Martinez was transformational in his style and ball playing.
What exactly is the style of play and why has losing two players completely messed it up? We don’t seem to be particularly well coached and the shape is a mess regardless of the defensive choices.

Martinez is very good, Shaw is good on his day. Neither are going to completely revamp out style of play and they’ve shown that when they played this season.
 
You’re willing to put up with three more years of this football? To what end? The signings aren’t exactly getting us closer to the top, they’ve been more bad than good if anything.
Yes. That’s the whole point of my post. If you don’t “put up with it” now you will never see the club, as a whole, move forward. Many, many people would have sacked SAF after six months. The same was true then as now - a huge job with no quick fix. We played some damned awful stuff under SAF but we stuck with him. It wasn’t until we signed Cantona that we really started looking like serial winners.
 
Yes. That’s the whole point of my post. If you don’t “put up with it” now you will never see the club, as a whole, move forward. Many, many people would have sacked SAF after six months. The same was true then as now - a huge job with no quick fix. We played some damned awful stuff under SAF but we stuck with him. It wasn’t until we signed Cantona that we really started looking like serial winners.

It's blowing my mind some are still bringing Ferguson as an excuse to keep an awful manager in job. This point has been literally discussed to death so many times under all our previous managers yet with every new one the same tiresome argument keeps getting repeated.
 
The “more time” arguments are a massive disservice to the greatest manager in the history of the game.

He was special and was able to run a club successfully under his own guidance and care.

United needs a new everything, new recruitment, new vision, new mentality and new personal at every level, but they also need a new manager.

More time will just delay the inevitable, like it does in every single other case that the team doesn’t have a genius in charge.

Even the excuses over having fit players is something that is partly under his control. It’s his staff and his preparation. We went into the season unfit, and that was his doing.

This isn’t working and he isn’t doing a good job.
This is the classic short-termer view. I guarantee you would have sacked SAF long before anyone realised he was special.
 
Yes. That’s the whole point of my post. If you don’t “put up with it” now you will never see the club, as a whole, move forward. Many, many people would have sacked SAF after six months. The same was true then as now - a huge job with no quick fix. We played some damned awful stuff under SAF but we stuck with him. It wasn’t until we signed Cantona that we really started looking like serial winners.
The point was nonsensical really. As mentioned sir Alex really was a special manager and there is literally no evidence that eth can replicate what he did with more time and it would be unreasonable to expect him to do so. At the moment it's really hard to imagine him getting us to play entertaining attacking football
 
It's blowing my mind some are still bringing Ferguson as an excuse to keep an awful manager in job. This point has been literally discussed to death so many times under all our previous managers yet with every new one the same tiresome argument keeps getting repeated.
It blows my mind that anyone thinks changing the manager and giving him 18 months to undo 10 years of shit is a good idea.
 
I guess some of you guys just want to see only negativity.

Nevermind the two times we hit the bar, both Hojlund and Garnacho should have scored a brace.

We have very clear plan and game patterns that largely work.
Our bad goalscoring form is due to bad performances by our attacking players.
That's the reason we often score through "individual brilliance ". We just miss the easy chances we keep creating.

When eventually at least one attacker hits form, we'll be much more convincing.

The players are passionate and they are trying hard.

It's slowly coming together.

But I guess supporting the team and the manager is too old school.

Another point I'd like to make - it's easy to look amazing at Brighton, Spurs, Everton, West ham etc. because nobody expects you to do fecking anything. At United the pressure is huge. So stop preaching how amazing they look at the momemt. They'll still be behind us in the end of the year.

ETH has done so much work to set Manchester United on the right path.

And you'll see.We'll deliver.
 
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