Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

[chocolate cloud]

Is he trying to get us destroyed?

Two changes.....

 

[croadyman]

Getting those players back would help, if they play as well as they are able to. I am as annoyed as the next person about how shit we have been most of the time. I just think it is not as simple as blaming the manager.

EtH seems to make some very strange decisions that I don’t agree with but I do like his ethos and I like the type of players he is recruiting. They are not playing as well as we need them to but I like the profile of them. I think he’s misjudged the adaptability of the players in the squad and that’s where the problems are.

My patience is wearing pretty thin and there will come a point where I’ve had enough. However, when we do sack him, I won’t have any expectation of improvement because I’ve been paying attention for the last ten years.

Yeah like excluding Varane since he had that poor game in Copenhagen,yet others can get away with multiple poor showings

 

[#07]

At this point, its not possible to exonerate Ten Hag from blame if things go wrong.

He has decided that he will play this 4-1-4-1 formation, with a high press and that's that.

Its a complete roll of the dice. If we get turnovers, create chances from them, and take those chances, then we might be able to demoralise the teams we play. However, that has yet to happen all season. Even against Chelsea we didn't kill them game when we were on top.

At this point its hard to believe that, after a decent start, we won't run out of steam, have our press dismantled and be taken to the cleaners by everyone we play.

Effectively, once they get around our first line press its a clear run at goal.

Fair enough, Ten Hag has decided not to go pragmatic and play a double pivot to defend our defence. He's chosen to live and die by his beliefs. If we get destroyed in December, and he ends up unemployed, I guess he can at least say he went out on his terms.

I can only hope we suddenly become as clinical as John Wick.

 

[Fortitude]

when has he ever tightened the midfield? Part of the reason im just over him is the fact that whatever his strategy is for his ideal midfield, it aint one that gonna be successful long term

At this point, its not possible to exonerate Ten Hag from blame if things go wrong.

He has decided that he will play this 4-1-4-1 formation, with a high press and that's that.

Its a complete roll of the dice. If we get turnovers, create chances from them, and take those chances, then we might be able to demoralise the teams we play. However, that has yet to happen all season. Even against Chelsea we didn't kill them game when we were on top.

At this point its hard to believe that, after a decent start, we won't run out of steam, have our press dismantled and be taken to the cleaners by everyone we play.

Effectively, once they get around our first line press its a clear run at goal.

Fair enough, Ten Hag has decided not to go pragmatic and play a double pivot to defend our defence. He's chosen to live and die by his beliefs. If we get destroyed in December, and he ends up unemployed, I guess he can at least say he went out on his terms.

I can only hope we suddenly become as clinical as John Wick.

The most inflexible manager we've had by now. It's all well and good if it comes good. If we get hammered, I don't know what's left to say.

 

[Donut]

He’s truly insane.

 

[cj_sparky]

We aren't going to do a great deal until he shores the midfield up, the trios he keeps going with leave us wide open.

 

[Abhinav]

We aren't going to do a great deal until he shores the midfield up, the trios he keeps going with leave us wide open.

The way he keeps picking McTominay it’s almost as he believes he has a prime Lampard playing there. The guy has scored a few goals - is it really worth sacrificing the entire midfield balance for him?

 

[FerociousCorgis]

The way he keeps picking McTominay it’s almost as he believes he has a prime Lampard playing there. The guy has scored a few goals - is it really worth sacrificing the entire midfield balance for him?

i just dont get it. At least i understand the idea of trying to balance for bruno, but mctominay? No fecking way.

 

[mav_9me]

It's fundamentally all rooted in this - agreed. It's either 1. Ten Hag has abandoned all his principles, or 2. He really wasn't the Pep/Cruijff disciple we expected and his work at Ajax was more being at the right system with the right overheads rather than something he imposed himself.

Honestly at this point I think the answer is somewhere between 1 and 2 -- seeing the manager utilise players like McTominay and even Fernandes with the fervency he has (from the start of his time here)... Really doesn't strike me as a manager who seeks middle of the field measured build-up control. I don't think he's married to the idea of football we envisage[d], and is far more of a pragmatic manager than first thought. Hence the failures.

That's the weird part. How pragmatic is he if he keeps playing this suicidal 5-0-5 nonsense instead of making adjustments?

I gave up. I have no idea why he keeps trying this nonsense

 

[Abhinav]

i just dont get it. At least i understand the idea of trying to balance for bruno, but mctominay? No fecking way.

People were criticising him for playing Eriksen next to Casemiro last season. He has outdone himself with this new obsession of his.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Maybe I'm just not very smart, but I still have no idea what he's trying to do

 

[December_16]

But on the other hand, it’s not like he has a plethora of options to choose from. If Casemiro/Eriksen/Mount are available, I guess he would start ahead of McTom. People really get mad about Mainoo not getting a start here?

 

[Desert Eagle]

But on the other hand, it’s not like he has a plethora of options to choose from. If Casemiro/Eriksen/Mount are available, I guess he would start ahead of McTom. People really get mad about Mainoo not getting a start here?

He's been our best midfielder when played and our midfield is generally trash so what's the surprise?

 

[Alex99]

Maybe I'm just not very smart, but I still have no idea what he's trying to do

Seems like he wants to set us up similarly to how City and Arsenal are. Doesn't really work with Maguire, Lindelof, Amrabat and McTominay though.

 

[cj_sparky]

The way he keeps picking McTominay it’s almost as he believes he has a prime Lampard playing there. The guy has scored a few goals - is it really worth sacrificing the entire midfield balance for him?

That is just it, I don't think you can play Fernandes and McTominay. Same way I wouldn't pair Mount or Eriksen in there with Fernandes. I think we are too easy to play against and it will only change if we have two players who can provide a proper shield to the defenders.

I thought he might sit Mainoo in there alongside Amrabat.

 

[December_16]

He's been our best midfielder when played and our midfield is generally trash so what's the surprise?

I dunno, try to save him of experiencing a spanking of epic proportion on European stage?
Or more optimistic view, try to nick a goal and then get him on to shore up the MF with fresh legs if we need to hold on to dear life?

 

[FerociousCorgis]

But on the other hand, it’s not like he has a plethora of options to choose from. If Casemiro/Eriksen/Mount are available, I guess he would start ahead of McTom. People really get mad about Mainoo not getting a start here?

yes. Mainoo has looked good in his time actually performing the role of midfielder, the position you know we actually need someone to play. We continually get fecking thrashed in midfield yet we dont address it. Of course people will get mad. We have seen amrabat/mctominay/bruno as our "3 midfielders" doesnt do shit for us. Stop continuing with it and making excuses for it. feck me LVG was boring as hell to watch but at least he wasnt scared to put younger players out there if the need arose.

 

[Telsim]

We aren't going to do a great deal until he shores the midfield up, the trios he keeps going with leave us wide open.

We are doomed if he is the one doing the shoring up.

 

[Desert Eagle]

I dunno, try to save him of experiencing a spanking of epic proportion on European stage?
Or more optimistic view, try to nick a goal and then get him on to shore up the MF with fresh legs if we need to hold on to dear life?

I'd rather the manager try to save the team than the feelings of a youth player.

I'd say it makes more sense to bring Mctom on from the bench if we go behind to score a goal.

 

[December_16]

I'd rather the manager try to save the team than the feelings of a youth player.

I'd say it makes more sense to bring Mctom on from the bench if we go behind to score a goal.

I could only guess man. I’m not even excusing his approach, just saying not playing Mainoo ahead of McTom is not that much of a head scratcher.

 

[FujiVice]

Not to be overly negative lads, but those Varane quotes sound like our manager hasnt got a clue what he's doing. Willing to be proved wrong.

 

[AndySmith1990]

Not to be overly negative lads, but those Varane quotes sound like our manager hasnt got a clue what he's doing. Willing to be proved wrong.

We can see that from the performances

 

[Fortitude]

Not to be overly negative lads, but those Varane quotes sound like our manager hasnt got a clue what he's doing. Willing to be proved wrong.

What quotes? Not turning the telebox on until KO.

 

[Ace of Spades]

Not to be overly negative lads, but those Varane quotes sound like our manager hasnt got a clue what he's doing. Willing to be proved wrong.

What did he say ??

 

[mav_9me]

Maybe I'm just not very smart, but I still have no idea what he's trying to do

I see so many posts like this. Maybe you mean something else like why is he doing rather what is he doing but it's fairly easy to see what he is trying to do.

Off the ball. 5 up the pitch to press high and 1 Dm in front of back 4. Ideally the full backs backup the high press. Turn the ball over in the final 3rd and go from there. On the ball is the same, back 4 with GK and DM to progress the ball to 5 attackers essentially.

That's what he is trying to do. I don't get why he keeps persisting without making adjustments and why he keeps playing McT (just for occasional goal threat)

 

[El Jefe]

What are the odds on us getting a red card and an Onana howler?

 

[uwotm8]

Maybe I'm just not very smart, but I still have no idea what he's trying to do

Not playing with a functional midfield is big brain stuff.

Dutch football minds are breathtakingly arrogant is something I've come to learn.

 

[FujiVice]

What did he say ??

He responded to why Varane is starting with "we need a strong defensive performance."

 

[Alex99]

He responded to why Varane is starting with "we need a strong defensive performance."

He said "we need to defend strongly", which suggests more "physical presence" than "good performance", although the latter is a given in any game.

I've also noticed Lindelof isn't in the squad. Is he injured?

 

[bosnian_red]

Tuchel summarizing what I think the big problem with us is

 

[evil_geko]

Why is Tuchel getting worked up? The don't need anything from this game.

 

[Pyro19]

When will we get rid of this joker?

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Tuchel summarizing what I think the big problem with us is

The regular Caftan said that after the opening game vs Wolves.

 

[mancsarered]

Why is Tuchel getting worked up? The don't need anything from this game.

He's a fecking clown that's why. Never understood his appeal

 

[Irwin99]

The set up hasn’t been bad and he’s capable of setting his team up to be a bit more stable but the attack is so blunt. The pace on the wings isn’t slow but it isn’t exactly devastating either and Hojlund looks miles off it in the first half.

so weird to have another season - a third in a row in all probability-where scoring goals is a problem.

 

[AndySmith1990]

The attack he has built is the worst we've seen at United in decades.

 

[Leftback99]

The attack he has built is the worst we've seen at United in decades.

Without a doubt

 

[Shark]

Imagine Copenhagen qualifying for the last 16 over you, with Galatasaray in the group also. Utter failure of a season.

 

[luke511]

If you’re going to play Bruno deeper for more control, why not use Mainoo for that role instead so our most creative player can play in his best position, over McTominay who has never played as a sole 10 for us, it’s awful.

 

[Redstain]

Rubbish manager managing a rubbish team