Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

[Crimson King]

Heh

 

[Rood]

Finally made the right decision - better late, than never

The fans should back the manager now - or feck off and support Chelsea !

 

[royboy16]

Correct decision.

 

[glazed]

New contract will probably take away his veto clause. Allow him to focus on just being the coach. Let’s go!

Utterly amazed they are keeping him but also pleased. Strongly suspect he will be obliged to compromise on playing style and transfer veto and essentially become head coach. That said, they have treated him appallingly.

 

[Shark]

Not sure why they want to extend contract? Why not, you know, just wait and see how the season goes?

It's truly baffling. There weren't exactly vultures circling either.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Not that fussed but man oh man for Eth and those who’ve backed him all this while.
Theres no fecking about now. No more excuses, no more bullshit. The team HAS to perform next season. Results and performances.
If he fails from here then that should be it, no waiting around wasting the season. By October you’d expect to see this improvement that’s been promised. Otherwise he should be sacked no questions asked and about 100 “i told you so” threads should be welcomed and encouraged on this site.

 

[Ubik]

I don't want to keep ETH, but if they're not sacking him they have to extend. If not it would undermine him.

Don't really see why, or at least it wouldn't if they hadn't been publicly talking to other managers for weeks. Would've been completely reasonable to go into the final year as a prove it year given the league performance last season.

 

[Berbaclass]

The fact of the matter that had the FA Cup final gone the way that it did last season, we'd be making the opposite decision will never sit well with me and continue to be a source of malaise in regards to the new people in charge and our long term prospects as a club for me...

I get your point but when else should this arbitrarily cutoff point to decide his future have been?

The FA cup final was a very significant game and the performance (regardless of the result) was very, very good.

 

[Livewire1974]

We had no other choice. Real decision will be made around Christmas.

 

[bobglory]

im buzzin

now buy him a striker and a midfield to compliment mainoo and we will be a problem next season .

 

[Rolaholic]

Maybe they've not forgotten that ten Hag had a very good first season, whereas some fans seem to have short memories.

That's what happens when you finish an entire 38 match season on a negative goal difference after the worst performing season in generations. The goodwill/credit in the bank burns up quickly...

UCL winning managers have been sacked in less time, mid-season even, for similar results

 

[Adebisi's Hat]

Good decision but my word they made a right old drama out of it

 

[Amarsdd]

I was leaning ETH out; not only due to the dreadful season, also cause he's the only United manager (other than Ralf) that I've never felt connected with.
Having said that, if he's continuing on as manager, I'll back him. (please ETH don't let me regret it a month into the season)

 

[Red Royal]

Fair enough, we now need to focus on the future

 

[kaku06]

Have to say I’m happy with him staying for a number of reasons after being ten hag out for a while.

 

[Adz_99]

There's always an idiot part of me that thinks "well gee maybe we'll wind up winning the league and we'll all look back and laugh at the time we wanted him sacked".

Then we'll get 5 points from our first 4 games and I'll want him gone again.

 

[Balljy]

The reality is that there wasn't an obvious and available option to replace him with. He stays by default.

Slightly meh about the whole thing. It really wasn't a great season in the league and Europe. Very poor quality football on the whole. I want to know how that's going to change.

I think that's partially the point, it gives us a season to build, buy transfer targets who suit the way we want to play and identify the next manager if it doesn't work out in the new season. We may have already done the latter, but he's not available yet. It's a bit of a no-lose scenario considering the available managers and at least it's not another rush decision.

 

[AltiUn]

It's interesting to see the disconnect between RedCafe and r/reddevils on this topic, here there is some muted optimism but a general feeling he's still here because the other candidates were shit, whereas on r/reddevils they're absolutely creaming their knickers to the point you'd have thought Fergie was coming out of retirement. Very strange for 2 United communities to react so differently to the news.

 

[George The Best]

Well he's not in charge of recruitment anymore and the alternatives left a lot to be desired.

I think there's no point choosing a replacement when there isn't an obvious one and the new structure isn't even in place yet.

It’s a contract negotiation. We don’t yet know if he will agree to this.

 

[AltiUn]

There's always an idiot part of me that thinks "well gee maybe we'll wind up winning the league and we'll all look back and laugh at the time we wanted him sacked".

Then we'll get 5 points from our first 4 games and I'll want him gone again.

True

 

[Ricardo de la Vega]

Hopefully now we can move on, have a strong transfer window and a strong start to next season. Eriks at the wheel.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

a little bitter perhaps

He’s a useless moron like almost all of them. Just use our club for clicks. Journalism is pathetic at the moment. Guessed and now completely flips it…. journalism is easy like that?

 

[CM]

All this talk of veto is nonsense. Lets call a spade a spade here - a contract extension is just confirmation the new lot don't have a scooby either.

 

[hobbers]

Well we've done rewarding mediocrity for a while, nice to see us branch out into rewarding failure.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Don't get attached to ETH, hes gone in the summer no matter the performances or turn around on the pitch.

He isn't their man and if you want any public proof of it, he hasn't been offered a new deal.

Anybody remember my semi reliable scoops about INEOS?

ETH is gone end of the season.

He is gone, mutual agreement, end of season.
Nagelsman offered terms.

Keep an eye on it , I was told they are making the change , they had always planned to make the change and they view the club as completely broken from top to bottom (coaching , staff etc) they want a completely new slate regardless of how ETH does this season.

He isn't being sacked, he is leaving by mutual agreement.

100% no question he is going.

When I get told things its very quick and not much detail as its usually in passing or in response to me just moaning about united.

I was having a moan about our style of play and how bad ETH has been, in response to that I was told "you wont have to wait too long, he off end of season its been agreed for some time between them".

No matter what happens, he could win every game till the end of the season and win the cup. Hes gone according to this guy who was the guy who told me about INEOS happening months before it happened and it was being discussed and loose agreement before even announced to the press.

INEOS side

Jumping in today to say again he’s gone.
had it reaffirmed to me tonight.

Again always comes through third hand info but basically decision made , gone.

Sorry had family over.
Came from someone close to the family who’s best mate is fairly senior in a certain dept in INEOS (legal side) neither are United fans and quite amusingly he always just mentions it in flippant passing like it’s useless nothing info. Same guy who told me about the takeover.

Just says “alright mate, not going well for your lot is it , anyway , mangers off bla blah tells me it’s all agreed between them”.

His info was a little bit off about the takeover , said it would happen in October and of course it dragged on but he was telling me this as early as March /April last year.

So I would definitely say with certainty their intention is to move on from ETH and they absolutely will. Just needs to be about timing and having someone lined up. I’d say looks like Tuchel based on rumblings out there.

I sawy mate who is close to INEOS

He's gone , asked him outright. Said again decision made bye bye ten hag after cup final.

I'm not ITK I'm just relaying information.
I told you guys about INEOS taking over back in like march last year and told you it would be done in October, admittedly it took until December but we all know it got delayed.

Same person I heard that from has told me twice on separate occasions that they are moving him on. These guys are ruthless and don't have time to wait to get it right.

They won't, the decision is made him taking the final is courtesy not a barometer.

If you think we're winning that final your in for a big surprise.

No amount of prep is winning us that.

He wasnt just told he agreed to leave by mutual agreement weeks ago.

I explained many times before.
Someone v close to INEOS is a close mate and just by chance a family acquaintance is also extremely close to one of their departments.

Just a reminder he's leaving and it's already been decided.

His post match comments are just toeing the party line.

Next week I imagine it will be communicated as in not the week coming but the week after.

League cup and top 3 - okay

FA Cup, 8th, bottom of CL group and disastrous injury handling is untenable.

Add in despite all these things INEOS are basically resetting the club with their own appointments keeping just him amongst everything else makes no sense.

He's gone, thank you for the trophies, time to move on.

Personal opinion is I like the guy bit he's not winning the league next season and I imagine he'll struggle to handle the squad again and injuries so he'll likely struggle to get top 4 so I'm not against his sacking.

However my heart says give him another season and I wouldn't be surprised if we won the europa or something, he's a very good cup manager.

But united are not just a cup team.

He'd be an excellent spurs manager.

You can argue until your blue in the face with multiple lists of reasons to keep him and excuses.

The fact is they want their own man that they have vetted and interviewed. You can go apeshit and shit yourself with frustration but it doesn't matter they have people at INEOS Blanc and Brailsford that do not have a fans sentiment and will look at this very harshly and very coldly.

They are not united fans nor should they be. He will be sacked and we'll just have to deal with it.


I do think he'll sack himself anyway next season. Expect the injuries to continue and the excuses. Then we are in a real mess.

He'll be gone by tonight.
Sacked.

Nor sure it will be communicated tonight FYI

Just know he's gone , decision made.

I'm flying a bit close to the sun here and I haven't posted everything I've heard here.

I'll just say this.

I'm getting my information from two places. Both very close to INEOS just very random they don't know each other and they've never met. One is a family friend a few people removed and another os one of my best mates.

First is basically as good as working in INEOS on this venture second is someone who hangs around alot of INEOS people as close mates and colleagues.

I was told a long time ago basically back in march/Feb they will sack him no matter what as it's a key part of the project and he's just not their guy.

I asked again in May the second one says he's heard alot and they aren't impressed with ten hag.

Today I have heard that he's going to be sacked and who they want in, which I'm sure you can all guess based on the Chelsea news etc.

Now he was right on INEOS (family friend) back last year in March/April and said it was happening and in October- it got delayed to December so benefit of the doubt things can change but that's very specific so far ahead of time.

Now on today's news he says its done to the point there's no going back.

So keep an eye out.

I won’t believe a word of it until
@TrebleChamp99 our resident ITK confirms it with one of his 2 sources.

 

[AneRu]

Yes, let's always remain in transition. That would be good, worked thus far.

As opposed to doing this? Turning a £9m pay off into a potentially £20m one? We know what we saw since the League Cup Final, it's delusional to think that more time will miraculously turn him into Klopp/Pep. What do we do if we are still struggling in midtable by Christmas, playing horrendous football and the likes of Bournemouth still having their way with us at OT?

By keeping him we are saying it's ok to be criminally negligent with the team if you can fluke a Cup win. We are saying we can't identify a manager unless there is an obvious option available. We are saying finishing 8th is acceptable because Arteta did it in his novice years. We are saying it's ok to waste 400m on utter tripe. This is a nonsensical decision which will set us back by years and probably make it impossible to come back as a top team.

 

[Red Company]

Ultimately I think this is the result of Ineos not having the confidence to make such a big decision without the new recruitment team in place. He'll be under huge pressure as soon as Berrada and Ashworth get here.

This is what my prediction was too.

I think Ineos already has enough on their plate and wanted to focus on getting the recruitment & operations team in place first.

If they had selected a new manager (from the current mediocre available choices) and he wouldn’t have performed well come the start of the new season then they’d get a lot of stick for making poor decisions from the get go.

 

[Bwuk]

This fecking club Keep rewarding mediocrity, I've already checked out of the 24/25 season

spot on. Ridiculous decision.

 

[AltiUn]

It’s a contract negotiation. We don’t yet know if he will agree to this.

I'd assume it's something that would've already been discussed before we start negotiating a new deal.

 

[izec]

fecking hell

 

[stevoc]

Going to be fun looking back at this decision in 4 months, when we find out we still can't properly control games, or do anything but play on the counter.

Bah at least they finally made a decision. It's done and the club can concenrate on transfers now. At the start of the season all you can do is get behind the manager and the players and hope for the best.

 

[Spark]

Fantastic news, genuinely buzzing (heavily helped by knowing we aren’t getting Southgate).

Now needs to be properly supported - strong transfers, not based on whether they’re dutch and/or have been managed by him.

 

[Widow]

I can understand people wanting him to stay but celebrating it after we've just had our worst league finish in the PL era is insane to me.

That's exactly my thinking too

 

[Red the Bear]

Considering the circumstances, the correct thing to do even if they made a mess out of it.

Would like to see us buy him some youthful prospects, I think he's done very well in that regard.

 

[Blood Mage]

We need to stop acting like our choices were Ancelotti or Alonso to replace him. The only names mentioned with any consistency were Tuchel, Poch, De zerbi, Southgate.

When the first two are ruled out, i don't understand whom people wanted to come in? You want ETH sacked but don't want Southgate. So what...just take a punt on De Zerbi because he's just there and you want vengence?

We need better option that ETH, not just pick the easiest option because i need to feel good about someone getting the sack.

By this logic there will never be an obvious replacement for ETH so we should stick with him forever. No the reality is at some point you need to start taking risks and look for exciting up and coming coaches.

 

[kaku06]

I really hope this isn't true

Good. Will come in handy when they decide to appoint fecking waistcoat.

 

[Berbaclass]

All this talk of veto is nonsense. Lets call a spade a spade here - a contract extension is just confirmation the new lot don't have a scooby either.

It's not though is it. Been reported by Ducker, Whitwell, Dawson etc.

Ten Hag fecking said it himself

 

[Mike Smalling]

A decision finally! At least we can focus on next season now.

The alternatives were so underwhelming that I’m ok with this. Hope we can sort out the squad somewhat and push on

 

[prateik]

No transfer involvement please.. veto is fine I guess.. but no demanding players.. if he cant work with that, he can leave..
please please dont let him pick players. He'll sign Brobbey for 60m

 

[Adnan]

They've made the correct decision imo, and if they give him the right players in the build up phase I believe he will get the team playing the way he wants the team to play which is to dominate the game in all phases of play.

You can't play that way if three of your most prominent ball players (Martinez, Shaw and Mainoo) are not available for a significant part of the season. Mainoo isn't someone that many people thought was going to feature much this season but it was clear to see that ten Hag was entrusting him to play a important role in the build up phase. You don't sign players like Onana, Martinez and also promote a youngster with the skilset of Mainoo to then ask them to play in transition. You only resort to playing in transition if the build up capabilities of your own team become weak against the threat of the opponent's high pressure tactics. And with the injuries United had at the start of the season, it was clear that our build up capabilities were weak against teams who were adept at applying a well coordinated press.

So ten Hag clearly adapted and looked to go direct with the press and counter press as a defensive mechanism high up the pitch. It didn't work effectively but for me it would've been cowardly to resort to type and sit back in a double pivot because that is a strategy that may help us get a few points in the short term but won't help us in the mid to long-term as far as implementing a proactive game style with and without the ball.


I'm not sure how the likes of Thomas Frank became options after what's been reported in the media about INEOS wanting to implement a possession based play-style. Frank and Brentford have been signing players for a direct high intensity pressing game with players with physicality in advanced areas. It's no surprise that Chelsea went with Maresca, because Maresca is a coach who wants to play out from the back and adheres to the positional play principles. And with Chelsea having spent huge amounts of money on players like Caicedo who was statistically one of the very best in the league at evading the press in the build up phase and also signing Enzo Fernandez who is a player that is very capable on the ball dropping deeper, it made zero sense to keep Pochettino or hire Frank.

Erik ten Hag is absolutely a coach who wants his team to dominate the game in all phases of play. Give him the players that are missing in midfield and at CB, and I believe we will see his vision come to the fore. If it doesn't then we can move on from him.