Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

[phelans shorts]

Alot of guess work there. I'm not convinced.

It was the girl who released the video, not her father, who's to say she wouldn't have released that to the newspapers in years gone by?

I hate people bringing up that nonsense for another reason. Her dad spoke to one journalist on the morning that entire mess broke, he was in shock and had seen Mason as part of the family for a number of years.

Nothing said in that interview is any use to anyone except those trying to portray the victim as money grabbing.

 

[GaryLifo]

I like that we already see there is a clear system into which players are fitted due to being able to play system roles, which is a huge upgrade on "just go out there and express yourselves".

Get the system sorted then every window upgrade 1-2 of the weakest positions and within 1-2 years we will look better and better.

Also youth players will be coached to be able to fit straight into the first team too.

This manager is the one for me.

 

[Santoryo]

Alot of guess work there. I'm not convinced.

It was the girl who released the video, not her father, who's to say she wouldn't have released that to the newspapers in years gone by?

Because in the past there wouldn't have been undeniable video evidence. It would have been her word against his and we all know how that would have turned out.

 

[Superunknown]

I like him and think that he is definitely the right manager to take us/bring us/drag us to where we need to be.

Saying that, whilst I think the signings that we have made are the right ones, I'm disappointed that we haven't done more in this area. I'm looking at our attacking options and it just feels too light. I can see a situation this season where we play great looking football, but don't score enough goals. Another attacker or two would be brilliant.

The quality of football is going to be better, for sure. But, we're going to be limited by the players that we currently have, which will then limit the amount that we can conceivably achieve this season. Right now, I think somewhere around 4th or 5th is where we'll end up, with the latter being more likely. There's still time in this window to change that.

 

[Olecurls99]

Best case scenario: It all clicks. Rashford, Sancho, Martial and Bruno recover their top form and score bundles, finding each other for fun and working their socks off for each other. We sign Frenkie, and him and/or Eriksen help us play out from the back and control midfield with Fred, Dalot and a motivated Shaw doing lots of leg work along with the attackers. 2 of Maguire, Varane and Martinez form a good partnership and De Gea does his best sweeper keeper impression. We get 80 plus points and are on our way back playing flowing hard working football.

Worst case scenario: What we've been living with for the past 10 years. De Gea finds his worst form, Dalot gets found out time and again defensively, Shaw starts looking disinterested again, Maguire and Martinez are shown to be far too slow to play a high press and Varane stays in the injury cupboard. We don't get Frenkie and are left with the same old trio in midfield who battle hard but constantly turn over the ball and lose more battles than they win. Our attack remains disjointed as confidence ebbs away and the fans get more and more on the case of our players.

Praying for the first scenario

 

[Yagami]

I’m imagining him as captain Holt from Brooklyn 99

I was just about to reply asking if he was the Dutch version of Captain Holt

 

[Kill3r7]

Trust the process.

Hopefully we get to see some entertaining football, regardless of results, this upcoming campaign.

 

[Beans]

fred, Bruno and Eriksen would be suicidal

we need another CM for sure

Against the top teams perhaps, but I'd like to think we could pin back some teams with 2 midfielders who know how to attack. Bruno would need to become less wasteful.

 

[Dante]

Those sikh guys who have always sat behind the dugout are gonna be disappointed that EtH has switched the home and away benches around.

 

[Lordyfw]

I was just about to reply asking if he was the Dutch version of Captain Holt

It's also just him still getting to know the media around the club, I reckon. When EtH started at Ajax, he was a tad withdrawn following the increase in media attention he got (in the media, not in or around the club). He often answered questions without emotion, just plain, simple and short, straight to the point type of answers. Once he got to know the journalists better, especially on a more personal level, the answers got more relaxed, joking with the journalists here and there and once every while, Erik ten Holt turned into someone with actual facial expressions in pressers. So expect to see less of Captain Holt in the future

 

[sullydnl]

Those sikh guys who have always sat behind the dugout are gonna be disappointed that EtH has switched the home and away benches around.

Might have missed it but do we know why he switched them?

 

[Blood Mage]

Best of luck to you Erik you'll need it starting next week. This is the weakest United squad in my lifetime, I'm just glad we now have a competent coach who can hopefully make the most of a shit situation.

 

[Teja]

I’m imagining him as captain Holt from Brooklyn 99

It's true

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Best of luck to you Erik you'll need it starting next week. This is the weakest United squad in my lifetime, I'm just glad we have now have a competent coach who can hopefully make the most of a shit situation.

Squad was arguably stronger on paper last season but in reality it was a mess.

Sometimes less can be more. Yes I'm trying to be optimistic a bit.

 

[Woodzy]

Best of luck to you Erik you'll need it starting next week. This is the weakest United squad in my lifetime, I'm just glad we have now have a competent coach who can hopefully make the most of a shit situation.

If you consider the players that left the club were deadwood then and the fact we now have an actual manager, then we were much weaker last season.

 

[Borys]

If you consider the players that left the club were deadwood then and the fact we now have an actual manager, then we were much weaker last season.

Matic, Pogba, Greenwood?
How on earth we are stronger without not replacing them?

 

[Yagami]

It's also just him still getting to know the media around the club, I reckon. When EtH started at Ajax, he was a tad withdrawn following the increase in media attention he got (in the media, not in or around the club). He often answered questions without emotion, just plain, simple and short, straight to the point type of answers. Once he got to know the journalists better, especially on a more personal level, the answers got more relaxed, joking with the journalists here and there and once every while, Erik ten Holt turned into someone with actual facial expressions in pressers. So expect to see less of Captain Holt in the future

Haha, but I like Holt!

 

[Woodzy]

Matic, Pogba, Greenwood?
How on earth we are stronger without not replacing them?

Do people rate Matic and Pogba as being useful members of the squad now then? They barely played for us and both needed to leave and Eriksen is an upgrade on Pogba anyway. Matic looked decent in the final few games of the season but his time here was clearly over.

There’s no point talking about Greenwood either because he featured for 1/3 of the season.

 

[Borys]

Do people rate Matic and Pogba as being useful members of the squad now then? They barely played for us and both needed to leave and Eriksen is an upgrade on Pogba anyway. Matic looked decent in the final few games of the season but his time here was clearly over.

There’s no point talking about Greenwood either because he featured for 1/3 of the season.

OK mate.

 

[Irwin99]

Best of luck to you Erik you'll need it starting next week. This is the weakest United squad in my lifetime, I'm just glad we now have a competent coach who can hopefully make the most of a shit situation.

Can't help but agree. I'm waiting for the inevitable Caf battle in two months time:

Caf member 1: Our board sucks, why didn't we bring in more players sooner, what was Erik meant to do with this squad?
Caf member 2: This squad finished second two seasons ago don't you know, the board have spent money, we are witnessing changes,

Personally the pessimist in me says that, with our squad as it stands, top 4 will be a big big ask unless Martial, Rashford rediscover some major form and Ronaldo doesn't cause issues, but the optimist in me says we'll go all out and win the Europa League which will stand us in good stead for the rebuild long term . A signing like De Jong, who EtH clearly sees as integral to the project, would give me a lot more faith for the final league position: I wouldn't like to see another year of McFred (or the Maguire-Lindelof partnership for that matter but thankfully we have Martinez and hopefully a fitter Varane)

 

[NoPace]

I like that we already see there is a clear system into which players are fitted due to being able to play system roles, which is a huge upgrade on "just go out there and express yourselves".

Get the system sorted then every window upgrade 1-2 of the weakest positions and within 1-2 years we will look better and better.

Also youth players will be coached to be able to fit straight into the first team too.

This manager is the one for me.

Yeah. It's promising so far. We know the DM we need to sign has to be able to pass and make himself available, the RB we need to sign to be good in the half-spaces/able to tuck into midfield, and the #9 capable in link up play and good in the box but probably doesn't have to be lightning quick.

Though signing the next Rodri, Kimmich and Kane (to pick basically the ideal guys from what I see as those roles) I'm less confident we'll be able to actually get done.

 

[Bebestation]

I remember reading an Ajax supporters comment on here about how Ten Hag was a great coach but his buying in the transfer market was not very good.

Whilst the transfers have so far been good - it just genuinely feels like he will only buy Dutch or eredivise players and that has me a bit worried if that continues.

 

[Frank Grimes]

I remember reading an Ajax supporters comment on here about how Ten Hag was a great coach but his buying in the transfer market was not very good.

Whilst the transfers have so far been good - it just genuinely feels like he will only buy Dutch or eredivise players and that has me a bit worried if that continues.

How can you say his signings have been good before a ball has been kicked?
Also you believe in a random fans opinion on this forum?
Everything about your post is wrong.
You even went down the he only buys Dutch path? Ffs man.

 

[Bebestation]

How can you say his signings have been good before a ball has been kicked?
Also you believe in a random fans opinion on this forum?
Everything about your post is wrong.
You even went down the he only buys Dutch path? Ffs man.

Well because Lisandro Martinez is one of my favorite players at Ajax. Just because you don’t know him doesn’t mean I don’t. Malacia has looked good in preseason and then there is hope for Frenkie De Jong which everyone is consistently talking about night and day.

And how is what I have seen an Ajax supporter say on red cafe “wrong”

So grumpy and grimey. Yuck

 

[pawanraj]

Personally the pessimist in me says that, with our squad as it stands, top 4 will be a big big ask

For this season, anything better than 5th would be a success in my eyes. 3rd or better, I would be ecstatic.

We've lost midfield bodies without replacements (as yet), our attack is a couple of injuries away from decimated, and we have a new coach who will take time to bed in. Not to mention Spurs, Chelsea, City and Liverpool have all strengthened as well.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Well because Lisandro Martinez is one of my favorite players at Ajax. Malacia has looked good in preseason and then there is hope for Frenkie De Jong which everyone is consistently talking about.

And how is what I have seen an Ajax supporter say on red cafe “wrong”

So grumpy and grimey. Yuck

Yet more nonsense.

 

[Escobar]

He seriously needs more top players

 

[Bebestation]

Yet more nonsense.

Yet more Grime

 

[MinGin]

I remember reading an Ajax supporters comment on here about how Ten Hag was a great coach but his buying in the transfer market was not very good.

Whilst the transfers have so far been good - it just genuinely feels like he will only buy Dutch or eredivise players and that has me a bit worried if that continues.

I would think that he bought Dutch or eredivise players only in this window because he knew them a lot already and they knew him in the past. it is to pay safe for first transfer window to fix the broken boat effectively and faster.

 

[mav_9me]

Best of luck to you Erik you'll need it starting next week. This is the weakest United squad in my lifetime, I'm just glad we now have a competent coach who can hopefully make the most of a shit situation.

Could not agree more.

 

[Sviken]

Could not agree more.

I think we've had worse squads, especially in Fergie's last year. Obviously that man did magic and nobody can match him, but it's not that bad.

 

[Borys]

I think we've had worse squads, especially in Fergie's last year. Obviously that man did magic and nobody can match him, but it's not that bad.

It was close, probably better players but old. It is quite a poor squad Fergie left to the next manager tbh.

 

[BackfromtheRed]

Is anyone else just a teeny bit bothered by the way ten Hag seems to be so heavily focusing on his old Ajax lads ?

I mean, OK, I get its good to have some players you know and trust, and who understand what you want. But even so - as Manchester United manager, even with United in their somewhat diminished state, you would think he now has a bigger pond to fish in.

I can't help being concerned it is yet another manager trying to reshape the squad entirely in his own image, rather than the club building a coherent squad for the long term.

 

[Dante]

Might have missed it but do we know why he switched them?

Because the home bench used to be further away from the players' tunnel than the away bench. By switching them, the United players no longer have to walk past the opposition manager/subs when going to their own dugout.

I think EtH felt it created some kind psychological edge to the other team.

 

[Trex]

It was close, probably better players but old. It is quite a poor squad Fergie left to the next manager tbh.

Ole first full season we started with Martial, Rashford, James, Lingard, Mata, Perriera as our front four options with McFred starting the majority of games in midfield.
At the moment its Ronaldo, Martial, Rashford, Sancho, Bruno, Eriksen, Elanga.
We should still land a midfielder before the window closes so not so terrible compared to that.

 

[Trex]

Is anyone else just a teeny bit bothered by the way ten Hag seems to be so heavily focusing on his old Ajax lads ?

I mean, OK, I get its good to have some players you know and trust, and who understand what you want. But even so - as Manchester United manager, even with United in their somewhat diminished state, you would think he now has a bigger pond to fish in.

I can't help being concerned it is yet another manager trying to reshape the squad entirely in his own image, rather than the club building a coherent squad for the long term.

He bought one Ajax player? The one he met at the club is unlikely to start vs Brighton. We are unlikely to sign another from Ajax this summer. De jong plays for Barca and is a special talent.
Malacia and Eriksen never previously played under ETH.

 

[largelyworried]

Ole first full season we started with Martial, Rashford, James, Lingard, Mata, Perriera as our front four options with McFred starting the majority of games in midfield.
At the moment its Ronaldo, Martial, Rashford, Sancho, Bruno, Eriksen, Elanga.
We should still land a midfielder before the window closes so not so terrible compared to that.

Yeah, that first season with Ole felt absolutely barren, especially once Pogba started his long injury out. Debating whether Lingard or Pereira was our best attacking midfielder was a real low. I'd say that was the weakest squad in the last 10 years by far.

 

[Santoryo]

Do people rate Matic and Pogba as being useful members of the squad now then? They barely played for us and both needed to leave and Eriksen is an upgrade on Pogba anyway. Matic looked decent in the final few games of the season but his time here was clearly over.

There’s no point talking about Greenwood either because he featured for 1/3 of the season.

This post is as wrong as it gets. Losing the qualities of Pogba and Greenwood is considered nothing now? Jesus Christ.

 

[VanUtd]

I would think that he bought Dutch or eredivise players only in this window because he knew them a lot already and they knew him in the past. it is to pay safe for first transfer window to fix the broken boat effectively and faster.

Also:

• Malacia (currently Dutch national team starter)
• Lisandro Martinez (not really Eredivisie-standard: he's not Dutch and just a really talented player)
• Christian Eriksen (former Eredivisie too right)

The whole "he buys too much Eredivisie players" concern is no concern at all I think.

 

[Borys]

Ole first full season we started with Martial, Rashford, James, Lingard, Mata, Perriera as our front four options with McFred starting the majority of games in midfield.
At the moment its Ronaldo, Martial, Rashford, Sancho, Bruno, Eriksen, Elanga.
We should still land a midfielder before the window closes so not so terrible compared to that.

2018 we started with Fred, Fellaini, Herrera, Matic and Pogba. Martial Rashford Lukaku Pogba scored 45 goals together so not that bad. Sanchez was the biggest disappointment I guess.
The bolded part I think isn't true, as Pogba Matic and Herrera all started more games than Fred and McTominay.

We had pretty shite defence though.

EDIT: I read it wrong, this is not the first full season so I stand corrected.