At risk of speculation, I'd say it's more likely to be someone like James Garner, or someone that didn't feature much during the tour.
McT was injured and Shaw was rotated.
Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24
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McT was injured and Shaw was rotated.
Ten Hag's new rebuild has unfortunately been completely overshadowed by the Ronaldo and De Jong situations. Both which are pretty much completely out of his control and it's up to the club to make a call on them sharpish to give him a free run at it.
I just hope that if the club doesn't start the season perfectly with this cloud over the team that people will have a bit of patience for him.
I just hope that if the club doesn't start the season perfectly with this cloud over the team that people will have a bit of patience for him.
Garner was also injured from what I recall.
ETH along with the club needs to resolve/end the Ronaldo/Frankie stories before the season starts.
A few bad results on the pitch to begin the season will be a massive headache on top of those two…he just doesn’t need it.
A few bad results on the pitch to begin the season will be a massive headache on top of those two…he just doesn’t need it.
Why do you say this? Since the appointment of David Moyes it is well known that it is written into the contract of each subsequent manager* that they must achieve Champions League qualification - either via league position or winning the Europa Cup. I have no reason to think that has changed for Erik Ten Hag because these contracts are drawn up by accountants and lawyers, many of whom probably won't know that to achieve top-4 (or win that Cup) next season, will be very, very difficult, indeed. Do you know otherwise?
*I would even add this: I bet if Ralf Rangnick had managed to put a decent run together in March, April and May and finish in a top-4 position, he would have been kept on in the 'consultancy role' he was originally promised, as a sort of 'bonus' for meeting that target, but he didn't and he went. It was reported he made the decision due to the Austria job (to save face maybe?), but it was also said to be '...by mutual agreement...'. It's all in the small print these days, because Manchester United is a business first and a football club second.
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A rebuild was never going to be done in a few weeks- it will take time for the manager to have the players that HE wants. Patience is what supporters need and if we see improved performances and players actually looking like they are playing as a team firstly then that's ok for me.
That is just the noise people are being attracted to and their inability to focus on the team that was started to take on what is demanded from EtH and staff. Whatever happens to Ronaldo or FdJ, the team will continue to move on and there with be growing pains with or without them.
There will be clouds overhead throughout the season no matter the players on the pitch. This process under EtH isn't going to be a straight line to the top levels. It will go sideways and reverse at times, but overcoming those setbacks is part of competition.
But this time, EtH has the ideals and past history (the past 4 to 5 seasons), to show that he's a winning manager with a particular style that can seriously rival the best teams in England. It will take another year or two to really sink in and get those players, but United is in very good and promising hands...moreso than it has been the past 4 full time managers. And there's no more Woodward.
So it's boiled down to begging FDJ to join for weeks on end and begging ronaldo to stay.
Funny thing is neither want to be here. It's just embarrassing for the club at this point.
I thought ETH was a manager that is straight talking no nonsense.
Funny thing is neither want to be here. It's just embarrassing for the club at this point.
I thought ETH was a manager that is straight talking no nonsense.
Can we at least stick to facts before throwing around the new favourite term on the CAF “embarrassing”.
We agreed a fee for FDJ, it’s up to him whether he will get what he feels is owed to him or not.
No one is begging Ronaldo to stay, if we got a suitable offer for him, I’m sure we would sell him, but no top team meeting his own criteria wants him.
ETH has literally said a million time Ronaldo isn’t for sale and he’s part of his plans, it’s becoming clear that we can’t shift him unless it’s to a Saudi team or something. The fact is we shouldn’t even entertain the idea of playing him if he doesn’t get his move he obviously wants. You can’t try force yourself out of a club then just expect to play game 1
de jong has continually said he doesn’t want to leave Barca as He wants champions league football. What good is agreeing a fee if the player doesn’t actually want to come here.
Think he's going to do a great job.
I have a lot of envy because I think you will see some fantastic football being played at Old Trafford this season with a fairly young and vibrant squad.
The results probably won't be as consistent as some hope (or expect) but I think you will see a consistency in performance that you haven't seen for years.
I know a lot of posters are down (with some justification) on certain members of the squad and the term "clean slate" is frowned upon in some circles but I really do believe that EtH will make most of those players look better immediately (or at least the structure he will put in place will allow them to perform to a higher level).
I'm relatively excited to see how your signings slot in (especially Martinez) and feel that we may see the most interesting/ high quality battle for the champions league positions than we have seen in years.
I was very excited to watch your front line last year (Pre Ronaldo and obviously the issue with Greenwood) because it felt like you were on the verge of something.
I still believe that can be brought back on track.
I have a lot of envy because I think you will see some fantastic football being played at Old Trafford this season with a fairly young and vibrant squad.
The results probably won't be as consistent as some hope (or expect) but I think you will see a consistency in performance that you haven't seen for years.
I know a lot of posters are down (with some justification) on certain members of the squad and the term "clean slate" is frowned upon in some circles but I really do believe that EtH will make most of those players look better immediately (or at least the structure he will put in place will allow them to perform to a higher level).
I'm relatively excited to see how your signings slot in (especially Martinez) and feel that we may see the most interesting/ high quality battle for the champions league positions than we have seen in years.
I was very excited to watch your front line last year (Pre Ronaldo and obviously the issue with Greenwood) because it felt like you were on the verge of something.
I still believe that can be brought back on track.
Yes I think with this brand of football entertainment is guaranteed, it would take time to perfect his idea and till then we might have issues dealing with counter attacks especially. Hopefully we'll be solid enough to resist opponent attacks.
Crucial for us would be certain key players staying fit, the window isn't done yet and we may still make addition but Rashford-Martial-Sancho need to stay fit to maintain the offensive threat.
We still need that holding midfield signing though its crucial, Eriksen improves the midfield, I know people compare him to Bruno but there's one crucial difference, Eriksen is a lot better in build ups were Bruno is almost exclusively a final third player so I'll like to see what Eriksen can do as an 8. I like Fred but if we get De Jong then we have a midfield to dominate games and sustain possession the way ETH would want.
I'm excited by the promise of having a manager with the ideas of ETH not just for next season but the long run.
again that word.I might have missed when FDJ publicly said he wants to stay and of course ETH will say a player who's still on clubs books is in the plans. Until he's sold.
Good post. No more Woodward is the key phrase.
But we will need a season or two to clean up his mess and install a proper system that's built for sustainable success within the club.
100%. Murtough gave him a clean slate for year 1 and the scouting system. The type of players identified and recruited start here and now for EtH and a more baseline identity of technical ability, character, and competitiveness.
EtH is the catalyst, everything else will following and only for the better.
ETH should on priority address all this transfer sagas/dramas that happens every transfer window with us. The sooner we get our transfer business streamlined without much of a fuss the better for the club & us fans. Every year it starts with enthusiasm & as the transfer window deadline nears it becomes too toxic.
Understand it is not easy or simple but the likes of R.Madrid, Bayern, City & Liverpool go about their business really quickly. We on the other hand get into a situation where that one transfer somehow takes the entire window. This window we have De Jong & now Cr7. I'm pretty sure its not good for ETH & our team witnessing this forever dragging transfers & hampering our preparation for the season.
Understand it is not easy or simple but the likes of R.Madrid, Bayern, City & Liverpool go about their business really quickly. We on the other hand get into a situation where that one transfer somehow takes the entire window. This window we have De Jong & now Cr7. I'm pretty sure its not good for ETH & our team witnessing this forever dragging transfers & hampering our preparation for the season.
I doubt it affects him that much to be honest. He has to spend a certain amount of time talking to the press and if this is what they want to spend their time talking about, then so be it. It shouldn't affect his ability to coach the team.
It was absolute shite football, stop talking nonsense.
He could’ve had all the discipline in the World and he’d have still been an utterly terrible coach.
Still a sensitive subject I see
Sensitive? He was shite, the only sensitive ones are those still suggesting he wasn’t.
I’m just elated we finally put a stop the most ridiculous experiment in football where a side thought a bloke managing in Norway and not pulling up trees there would be able to challenge Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
What do you want him to say? Yeah there you go Ronaldo free transfer pal?
So it turns out he has even literally switched the dugouts at Old Trafford. The home and away configurations have been swapped for this season.
I wonder why that is? would be interesting to hear his reasoning.
Away one was closer to the pitch and where the subs warm up.
From what I can gleam from the article.
- Closer to the tunnel.
- Is in the half of the pitch where the subs warm up.
- Closer to the stretty.
- Matches the halves of the pitch the home and away teams warm up in.
There may be more to it than those as well but they are stated in the article.
Thanks guys, all seem fairly obvious reasons - makes you wonder why we've never done that in the past.
This is the sort of stuff I love, he's planning and paying attention to every little detail.
Cuts the grass to 15 mm, switches dugouts....
Our Erik has OCD
Our Erik has OCD
One of those things it takes fresh eyes to see I guess.
I really like the new boss, hope the results will back him up.
I guess the amount of effort it takes to swap them is so minimal its no bad thing - basically two new signs - but it still feels like ultra-marginal gains.
Why not say that? I read he’d asked to be released from his contract. If so, why not bite his hand off?
One thing has puzzled me for years about modern football and its this: why do the managers/assistants medical people etc. seem to sit on what look to me like car seats? Does anyone know?
I once did a tour of the stadium and had a good look, they really are seats normally found in cars!
On the tour it was explained that most clubs do play little games to gain an advantage with the whole home/away facilities. Smaller more cramped for the visitors, no heating, cold showers - that sort of thing.
Oh, I think I have realised myself my answer to my previous question: they are car seats, heated ones, to keep the muscles warm for the subs would be advantageous.
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No big deal switching but why did they cover the iconic brick dugouts? They were unique, now it just looks tacky.
Agreed look very out of place and tacky, all then needed to do was swap over the name plates and job done.
Quite like the giant United badge on the front of both dugouts.
Because it would give other players and their agents good grounds to believe United are a soft touch?
Yeah true, but I guess we need both the big and the small steps to turn us into the modern power house we all want to be.
If cutting grass a certain lenght and changing signs is amongst the small steps then I'm all for it.
It's gonna look weird at first
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