Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

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That seems based more on speculation. It could well be that it was him who insisted on waiting for FDJ and rejecting suggestions for other #6s. In which case the lack of #6 at the start of the season burdens him the most.

In any case he had Eriksen and instead of playing him at #8 to help with ball control in midfield, he played him at #9. He could have played Ronaldo at #9, or if he didn't want to play Ronaldo from the off then Rashford up top and Elanga/Garnacho at LW. But no, he chose the most unorthodox line up by playing without a ball playing CM and without a striker and he paid for it. He didn't need setting up to fail yesterday, he achieved that by himself.

EDIT: Yes, sure, there are glaring problems with the club and its recruitment. And yes, ETH of course deserves time to suss things out. We're not saying otherwise. But yesterday he had the options to set up a better team than he did and chose not to. So most of the blame lies with him for this particular game. Let's hope he learns from it.
You think a manager should have all that control over transfers? They’ve failed him either way, it’s been clear De Jong didn’t want to join 12 weeks ago.

We all agreed that a new scouting system was needed but sacking most of them without a plan to replace this summer is beyond incompetence.

Eriksen in midfield would’ve been slightly better but hardly comparable to other top teams midfields. Brighton would’ve still played us off the park, because this team and squad is well below good enough.
 
Even if you have the world's best players, if you play them in a formation where their positions are easily countered by the opponent's formation, they will struggle. Playing a 4-1-2-3 against a 3-6-1 is bound to collapse as the 6 man midfield will squeeze the space of a 3 man midfield. It doesn't matter if you have the best DM and best CMs, there is just not enough space to work with. ETH realized this, which is why he made a formation shift in the 2nd half, leading to better control and a goal.

If yesterday was a fresh set of problems you could then say it was a formation issue.

But there was nothing new. It was the exact same issues we've been dealing with for years. The same problems that happen whatever formation we play and whatever formation the opposition play. So the cause of yesterday is the same cause that's blighted the last two years.

Formations and tactics are secondary.

You have to first sort the basics. Passing, a bit of movement, first touch, winning challenges, making good decisions with the ball.

Sort all that then it becomes clearer if there's an issue with formation.

ETH has to be seriously brave and forget going with experience. Go with talent.
 
You think a manager should have all that control over transfers? They’ve failed him either way, it’s been clear De Jong didn’t want to join 12 weeks ago.

How much control is "all that control"? Sometimes managers do insist on specific players. See Mourinho and his insistence on Perisic. That goes double if they know them from previous cooperation. But that doesn't mean they have complete control of transfer policy. Again, I simply don't know if waiting for FDJ was on the insistence of Ten Hag or the lack of alternatives suggested from the club.

We all agreed that a new scouting system was needed but sacking most of them without a plan to replace this summer is beyond incompetence.

There's obvious incompetence at play from Murtough as well. No doubt. ETH should have had a better team at the start of the season and he doesn't. But I will shit on them on their own threads and not absolve ETH of his responsibility to manage the team to the best of his ability and not make nonsensical choices. Like Ronaldo on the bench, Eriksen at 9 and McFred in midfield.

Eriksen in midfield would’ve been slightly better but hardly comparable to other top teams midfields. Brighton would’ve still played us off the park, because this team and squad is well below good enough.

That's a pretty bad argument, because Brighton didn't play us off the park in the second half when he made the change. Instead we gained control of midfield. If you want to see what not having control of midfield for 90mins against Brighton looks like, you only have to cast your eyes back to 3 months ago when they thumped us 4-0. We were not playing a top team, we were playing Brighton at Old Trafford.
 
Yeah he should've had the humility and wisdom to at least meet with Rangnick and hear his assessment of the squad.

It's a bit tiresome to keep switching managers only for them to go through the same tedious process of slowly coming to the conclusion certain players are crap, when we've all known it for ages.


This.

I was, like many, concerned going into the season with pretty much the same, if not, a somewhat diminished squad. If Ten Hag thinks he can get something out of this squad, then I fear he is a little delusional.

The vast majority will give him time, but he has to show something is changing, and I couldn't see that yesterday. Tactically, we were so open, and easy to play against yesterday, it was really poor. So we will see what Ten Hag is made of, and v quickly at that.
 
The amazing thing for me is that our top three areas to improve at the start of the summer were defensive midfield, right back and striker... so we start the season with Dalot, McTominay and no striker whatsoever! A midfielder was needed from the last start of last season, never mind this season. They've had over a year to identify a player. Matic has left too, so I would argue we need two, not just one. Haven't even got one in.

Its incredible. As woeful as central defence was, the 3 areas you mentioned were worse. To not be able to secure a right back better than Dalot isn't reality - this is wilful neglect of squad
 
You know what's funny yeah this summer it was almost like we collectively agreed that it would be rough and we would be united behind ETH who would get a free pass for the year. There was even some positivity online before the game.

It really says it all how bad this situation is though both in terms of the transfer window and the team at large that that's all gone tits up after ONE GAME. You just know that even the chronically positive lot are absolutely fuming, don't get me wrong obviously nobody wants him gone but i mean that team looked like they had just started preseason not the opening day of the league under a new manager.
 
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How much control is "all that control"? Sometimes managers do insist on specific players. See Mourinho and his insistence on Perisic. That goes double if they know them from previous cooperation. But that doesn't mean they have complete control of transfer policy. Again, I simply don't know if waiting for FDJ was on the insistence of Ten Hag or the lack of alternatives suggested from the club.



There's obvious incompetence at play from Murtough as well. No doubt. ETH should have had a better team at the start of the season and he doesn't. But I will shit on them on their own threads and not absolve ETH of his responsibility to manage the team to the best of his ability and not make nonsensical choices. Like Ronaldo on the bench, Eriksen at 9 and McFred in midfield.



That's a pretty bad argument, because Brighton didn't play us off the park in the second half when he made the change. Instead we gained control of midfield. If you want to see what not having control of midfield for 90mins against Brighton looks like, you only have to cast your eyes back to 3 months ago when they thumped us 4-0. We were not playing a top team, we were playing Brighton at Old Trafford.
We were slightly less shit in the 2nd half, conceded chances while creating very little. Brighton were sitting back a lot more also, so it’s a guessing game of what would’ve happened had we set up differently from the off.

ETH can do things better and I’m sure he will improve on his side of things but I can understand why Ronaldo didn’t start after missing almost all of pre season, begging every club in Europe to take him and then leaving the stadium early when he eventually could be arsed to play for us.

Another issue that wasn’t solved before the season started.
 
You people are insane. The only reason we are targeting players he knows is because:

a - our scouting department just undertook a massive reset
b - ETH wants to inject his system quickly, hence targeting players he knows would fit said scheme

This doesn't necessarily reflect every transfer window for the next 5 years.


I agree.


We need bodies to fit his system. We literally only played one game with mostly the same team as last year, only even worse of version.

Give him time.
 
You know what's funny yeah this summer it was almost like we collectively agreed that it would be rough and we would be united behind ETH who would get a free pass for the year. There was even some positivity online before the game.

It really says it all how bad this situation is though both in terms of the transfer window and the team at large that that's all gone tits up after ONE GAME. You just know that even the chronically positive lot are absolutely fuming, don't get me wrong obviously nobody wants him gone but i mean that team looked like they had just started preseason not the opening day of the league under a new manager.

It's just been a really horrible 24 hours - I was largely apathetic towards the end of last season but any little bits of hope seem to have gone. From McFred starting, seeing the players head drop straight away, the panic signings. It's all a bit much. I still have total faith in ETH though it's just been a rollercoaster day
 
I can’t believe that the Caf is already judging ETH after 1, yes 1, league game. WTF???? Most of the posters on here live in cloud cuckoo land.
The club has only just started getting the right structures in place and it will take time to get the right players in place to implement ETH’s ideas, just as Fergie needed time when he was appointed. There are no short term fixes. Meanwhile, players like Arnoutovic or Rabiot would be good short term acquisitions to temporarily fix gaping holes in the squad. Players of the quality of de Jong are extremely difficult to sign and the club needs time to identify and target the right long term fixes to the squad. Meanwhile, the fans need to be patient and give the club the chance to get their house in order after a decade of mismanagement. Remember Fergie’s first 5 seasons..


Couldn't have said it better.


Shocking the turn round and stick he getting already.
 
I agree.


We need bodies to fit his system. We literally only played one game with mostly the same team as last year, only even worse of version.

Give him time.
Anything would be better than Mcfred, that’s the thing. We looked better with Matic last year and it’s clear they aren’t up for it. We need forwards in now. Feck knows why it’s Arnie but I’m pretty sure he’s only here for numbers at this point and as a plan b off the bench. Yesterdays bench was shocking, but then again our front 3 was horrendous too.
 
I agree.


We need bodies to fit his system. We literally only played one game with mostly the same team as last year, only even worse of version.

Give him time.

time without additions is a waste of time. So what we are saying is give our transfer team more time. Given they’ve had12 months to define their strategy and execute it…it’s abit of an ask.
 
It's just been a really horrible 24 hours - I was largely apathetic towards the end of last season but any little bits of hope seem to have gone. From McFred starting, seeing the players head drop straight away, the panic signings. It's all a bit much. I still have total faith in ETH though it's just been a rollercoaster day

That's a good way to put it the hope has gone hasn't it like theres no way out, ETH is only one man he can't fight against an incompetent structure, greedy owners and an ill equipped squad. Personally i won't be worried unless he starts the problem players again at Brentford, that will really illustrate nothing has changed.
 
As an dutchie At Ajax there were also complaints about ten hag signing famillair players who are out of depth like zakaria labyad who he worked with at Utrecht who was benchwarmer at Ajax and jurgen klaiber who also never played
 
I can’t believe that the Caf is already judging ETH after 1, yes 1, league game. WTF???? Most of the posters on here live in cloud cuckoo land.
The club has only just started getting the right structures in place and it will take time to get the right players in place to implement ETH’s ideas, just as Fergie needed time when he was appointed. There are no short term fixes. Meanwhile, players like Arnoutovic or Rabiot would be good short term acquisitions to temporarily fix gaping holes in the squad. Players of the quality of de Jong are extremely difficult to sign and the club needs time to identify and target the right long term fixes to the squad. Meanwhile, the fans need to be patient and give the club the chance to get their house in order after a decade of mismanagement. Remember Fergie’s first 5 seasons..

Arnautovic and Rabiot are just more of the same shitty signings that won’t resolve anything.

Can’t judge ETH after one game, he’ll need lots of money and lots of time, he might well get neither. Have to feel sorry for ETH, has a very tough season ahead.

Anyone who think the Glazers, Murtough and Arnold are sorting this out is living in a fantasy land. All you can guarantee is they’ll continue to line their pockets whilst presiding over a complete shit show.
 
I'm within a similar situation not concerning the team sheet but the transfer strategy. Luckhurst's recent tweets all but confirm that ETH is running the show for recruitment this summer and it's actually an outright embarrassment that he is only targeting individuals he has worked with previously. I'm not saying he's a bad manager but surely with the resources at his disposal he can do better to cast a wider net at players concerning new transfers.
Maybe those targets are saying 'no chance, pal, not Man Utd, not right now' and he's forced into this. We don't know.

I do think the caf criticism of ralf was errant though, he was closer to the answer than we'd like to admit. This is going to be a REAL project, we might need to be compact, tight and very physical.
 
It's Game 1 but questions do have to be asked.

He's (a) persistent on Arnautovic - a racist and vile character - and he has (b) clearly been mugged off by De Jong meaning we've been chasing after a target who had no interest in us and (c) he thought McFred could be starters and could play Eriksen as a False 9 and (d) has repeatedly said "we sign the right player or we work with what we've got" with the players we've got being utter shit and (e) he keeps targeting Dutch players or players he's worked with which is absurd.

So, yes, questions have to be asked.
 
Yeah he should've had the humility and wisdom to at least meet with Rangnick and hear his assessment of the squad.

It's a bit tiresome to keep switching managers only for them to go through the same tedious process of slowly coming to the conclusion certain players are crap, when we've all known it for ages.

Agree on the sentiment. I've wondered if it was arrogance, ignorance or optimism. The way it's been portrayed is that ETH wanted full control of the club but to forgo the opinion of an individual who has been extremely successful in assessing players seems short sighted.
 
Arnautovic and Rabiot are just more of the same shitty signings that won’t resolve anything.

Can’t judge ETH after one game, he’ll need lots of money and lots of time, he might well get neither. Have to feel sorry for ETH, has a very tough season ahead.

Anyone who think the Glazers, Murtough and Arnold are sorting this out is living in a fantasy land. All you can guarantee is they’ll continue to line their pockets whilst presiding over a complete shit show.
He could at least have the decency to veto Arnautovic. The manager of MUFC shouldn't be considering a scumbag like him.
 
If he is a proper manager Shaw, Maguire and McFred will be on the bench next week. We are already losing with them so give me Malacia, Varane, Eriksen/Garner. Apparently Eriksen played more forward passes in the limited time he was moved to CM than Fred or McTominay had played the whole time they were on the pitch. Just saying club isn't gonna get any better or win many games as long as Fred, McTominay and Maguire are 3/4 of the CM & CB

Maguire was alright I thought. Dunno why he's getting so much shit.
Dalot was the worst player on the pitch for me. Shambolic.
 
It's Game 1 but questions do have to be asked.

He's (a) persistent on Arnautovic - a racist and vile character - and he has (b) clearly been mugged off by De Jong meaning we've been chasing after a target who had no interest in us and (c) he thought McFred could be starters and could play Eriksen as a False 9 and (d) has repeatedly said "we sign the right player or we work with what we've got" with the players we've got being utter shit and (e) he keeps targeting Dutch players or players he's worked with which is absurd.

So, yes, questions have to be asked.

When put like this it makes bad reading but I guess it's a 3 year process so he's doing what he can in the short term to get results, not that it worked yesterday! That being said I'd struggle to support a team with Arnautovic in it.
 
Some of you lot need to chill. ETH is brilliant. He needs a few years. I can absolutely remember Klopp’s/Peps first few seasons.
Especially as even I couldn't understand Klopp's apparent reluctance to strengthen the core, centre def, keeper, just seemed bizarre. Then he obviously got the green light and they transformed.

Think a lot goes on we have no insight into.
 
If he has seriously ok'd deals for Arnautivic and rabiot then he isn't going to last long.
 
Kinda wonder if The club is happy to proceed with short term older signings to pad up the squad maybe Conte was the answer after all
 
He could at least have the decency to veto Arnautovic. The manager of MUFC shouldn't be considering a scumbag like him.

It’s panic and desperation now, two players we’d never have considered weeks ago both with attitude problems. But they are cheap and available so looking for the right player has gone out the window.
 
Kinda wonder if The club is happy to proceed with short term older signings to pad up the squad maybe Conte was the answer after all


Conte should've been who we went for 100% but he is similar to Jose in the sense that he would've been in constant arguments with the board and players. Im certain Conte would've sold half this squad by now, martial, rashford, Shaw would've been moved on without doubt.
 
Firstly it was not Erik who got rid of Ralf.
It was the fecking board who hated his honesty.

And the accusation he is only going for Ajax and former Ajax players.
Well who else would he convince to come to a club that is run by these parasites who only take their dividends promptly.
 
If he has seriously ok'd deals for Arnautivic and rabiot then he isn't going to last long.
He's pushing the Arnautovic deal. And I find it hard to believe that he's not on board with the Rabiot signing since he seems to have final say on everything.
 
You know what's funny yeah this summer it was almost like we collectively agreed that it would be rough and we would be united behind ETH who would get a free pass for the year. There was even some positivity online before the game.

It really says it all how bad this situation is though both in terms of the transfer window and the team at large that that's all gone tits up after ONE GAME. You just know that even the chronically positive lot are absolutely fuming, don't get me wrong obviously nobody wants him gone but i mean that team looked like they had just started preseason not the opening day of the league under a new manager.
It’s the culmination of about a decade of built up tension, especially from the last few years.

Patience is virtually gone for a lot of fans - mine included.
 
He's pushing the Arnautovic deal. And I find it hard to believe that he's not on board with the Rabiot signing since he seems to have final say on everything.


Well it's ridiculous then.

Arnautovic is 33 and not a prolific scorer. Even as a back up its a poor choice.

Rabiot is known to have attitude problems and again is the definition of average. Neither are an upgrade on what we have which says it all.
 
I get the negativity somewhat as it’s hugely disappointing to lose the first game. I think there’s an over analysis on here though. He simply got it wrong with the false 9. Once he moved Erikson deeper and brought on a striker we were miles better and could easily have got something in the game. Let’s not forget that Brighton are a very good and well drilled team who can punish teams not quite on it. He won’t make the same tactical mistake of playing a false 9 again so I think we will be much improved next week. Remember he’s still learning on the job here.
 
As an dutchie At Ajax there were also complaints about ten hag signing famillair players who are out of depth like zakaria labyad who he worked with at Utrecht who was benchwarmer at Ajax and jurgen klaiber who also never played
Heard this alot. He was one of his first signings, played a squad role, and they won the league that year.
 
Well it's ridiculous then.

Arnautovic is 33 and not a prolific scorer. Even as a back up its a poor choice.

Rabiot is known to have attitude problems and again is the definition of average. Neither are an upgrade on what we have which says it all.
We didn’t play a striker yesterday. Of course Arnautovic is a massive upgrade on Erikson as false 9 when he’s needed much deeper.
 
Arnautovic and Rabiot. I desperately want the guy to succeed but fecking hell, he isn't exactly buying himself time with the fans by going for such average players who in addition are rotten characters.
 
Conte should've been who we went for 100% but he is similar to Jose in the sense that he would've been in constant arguments with the board and players. Im certain Conte would've sold half this squad by now, martial, rashford, Shaw would've been moved on without doubt.

Conte doesn't fight with his players but yes he would've demanded a lot from the board right away.
 
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