Not a chance we’d have held on to that result at any other time in the last 18 months. Mentality and determination from the team which has been non-existent for too long - to get that turnaround after a 4-0 defeat is very impressive. Back to basics - win your duels and earn the right to play. Needs more quality in the side but he’s laying the foundations and we look like a team again.
Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24
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Think having Martinez and Malacia in there helps, they are mentally stronger.
Yup. And I think that’s what is being overlooked with people moaning about the Antony fee. It’s not just his quality - he knows his character.
And their style of play is much more intense/proactive. They just don't give their players time on the ball ever.
Exactly. He knows some of our lot a emotionally weak, he want terriers in there.
Definitely.
Yup. For too long we’ve been the easiest team to play against. Now we’ve got some cnuts opposition fans hate.
Considering the collapse against Brentford, we're now miles away from that performance. Team is tighter, working harder, and defending much better. We're winning which in turn helps us gain confidence which we really lacked for a long time.
Going forward we're really shite though, and it's obvious why Antony is so important. We're very wasteful in possession, and our forwards aren't consistent. We're missing a CF badly and Rashford isn't the answer.
All in all I think ETH is doing a good job, but he'll be limited in what he can do with this squad.
Going forward we're really shite though, and it's obvious why Antony is so important. We're very wasteful in possession, and our forwards aren't consistent. We're missing a CF badly and Rashford isn't the answer.
All in all I think ETH is doing a good job, but he'll be limited in what he can do with this squad.
Really should have brought Casemiro on earlier. That was the second game in a row that Eriksen was fecked after 65 min and he should have been replaced earlier.
Think it took too long for the changes today.
Also, he clearly wants to play from the back but DDG skill set is lacking to enable it so he’s adjusted it for DDG to pretty much just lump it, it’s good in terms of showing that Ten Hag can adapt to the tools he has available but I’ll expect us to play much better once he has to tools he wants
Also, he clearly wants to play from the back but DDG skill set is lacking to enable it so he’s adjusted it for DDG to pretty much just lump it, it’s good in terms of showing that Ten Hag can adapt to the tools he has available but I’ll expect us to play much better once he has to tools he wants
Ten Hag: "There is room for improvement but there was also some really good football. The last half an hour was a survival and there I think we can do better."
He understands it. This is not his style , the style he wants to play but he cannot play expansive possession based football with the players we have. It will take time.
He understands it. This is not his style , the style he wants to play but he cannot play expansive possession based football with the players we have. It will take time.
I thought McTominay did well today, don't understand the criticism personally
One of the reasons we struggle to retain possession is we don't have forward who can win those 50:50 / 40:60 balls that help get the team up the pitch and bring the AMs into the game. Rashford "played like a child" again today, its like watching a gawky teenager play mens football
One of the reasons we struggle to retain possession is we don't have forward who can win those 50:50 / 40:60 balls that help get the team up the pitch and bring the AMs into the game. Rashford "played like a child" again today, its like watching a gawky teenager play mens football
He needs to sort our midfielder's problem out now. If we dominate the midfield somehow, goals will come. Looks like he fixed our defensive problem, I am more than happy with this.
Do any of you think that maybe Jose Mourhino ...(3 Premier League Titles, 2 Champions League Titles, 1 Europa League, 4 League Cups, 1 FA. Cup, 2 Serie A titles, 1 La Liga...etc) ...and Erik Ten Hag... ( 3 Eredevise titles and a CL semi with a smaller club) ......might know more about picking Scott Mctominany in a footballing team than you?
As said previously, if we sort out the midfield then we’re more likely be able to hold possession and kill off games more convincingly. Still could do with a replacement in goal but am impressed with how committed ETH is to restoring and rebuilding the team. We look much fitter too.
I think they're picking him because they don't have better options. Casemiro will take his starting spot in the next few matches.
People already have an agenda that McTominay will always make mistakes, so they judge him based on any mistake they find during the game. He did what was need as a DM and that was a very good performance.
Agree regarding the forward pressing, we just lacked players who could push the opponent's defence. I wonder if the forwards are out of stamina after the intense fitness training.
Agreed. While he is clearly not good enough with the ball to play regularly for us, today he had a great game defensively. Now arguably if say we had FDJ we wouldn't need this type of defensive work.
He's gonna turn out the same as his predecessors if he doesn't figure out the midfield quickly.
A point straight from the Harry 'I must be be good because the manager picks me' Maguire school of thought. Very insightful
Ten hag just said it was good football bar the last half hour which was understandable.
He also said feck the haters.
He also said feck the haters.
To control a game you need a quality midfield.
McT ain't it, yes he puts a decent shift in here and there, but he isn't going to be the one who gets us where we need to be when competing with the top. That's why he will never be backed on here.
Confident that he will get it done. He’s saying the things I want him to say at the moment. Despite him starting Scott today, I think it’s clear that he identified the midfield area as a key area to improve, and you will imagine Casemiro will come in in due course. But he’s starting with the foundations first, such as attitude and effort, and it seems that he has the squad believing in him.
The improvement will need to be done layer by layer, so I am not too worried that we are not playing quick possession football now. I don’t think we have the players to play such football yet anyway, certainly not the midfield that has been playing. But over time, and with additions, that will come, but he needs to get results in the meantime, which he seems to recognise.
The improvement will need to be done layer by layer, so I am not too worried that we are not playing quick possession football now. I don’t think we have the players to play such football yet anyway, certainly not the midfield that has been playing. But over time, and with additions, that will come, but he needs to get results in the meantime, which he seems to recognise.
He is adapting to the squad like any good manager does. I was worried he would persist with idealistic ways and risk the sack. Smart man.
Need another midfielder to compete with Eriksen/Bruno, an RW and a ST. Ideally also a RB. We gave the ball away so cheaply and the team lacks composure under pressure. The fact we couldn’t keep the ball in the second half is concerning.
The issue with McTom is that his level is so poor that when he plays well, it's still at a level below what we need. I don't fault the guys' effort but he's just a level below in ability and no matter how much you run around he's so incredibly limited that he's not going to offer enough. The difference between him playing the role and Casemiro will be so stark that we'll realise just what we've been missing. We do however need another midfielder unless Fred steps up because Eriksen and Bruno doesn't work for me.
His interview was really good. Said all the right things. Important to focus on winning but also important to understand that if we play like we did at the end then we will concede most days
You don't run the perfect 100m after falling flat on your face and we've been face planting non-stop for about 18 months. While we're learning to play pretty we need to re-learn how to win ugly. Today wasn't break but we didn't lose the battle.
For me it's quite clear at this point that he plays Mctominay for height on defensive and attacking set pieces alone, because he still can't trust our defence. Once the defence is settled and get to desired level, plus with the introduction of Casemiro, I am sure he will be ni more than rotation option at best.
ETH doesn't seem that stupid.
ETH doesn't seem that stupid.
I just can't accept a football team that can't pass the ball with more than 3, 4 consecutive passes and always losses it.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Another solid defensive performance.
Yup. And should only improve with Casemiro getting up to speed.
No he won't, he knows our limitations which is why we play nothing like his Ajax team.
The main thing now is we look defensively solid with this back 4 and Casemiro will strengthen that even more.If he gets what he wants in the next couple of days then we can start to transition to the style of football he wants and expects.
People need to understand pressing high and consistently playing out of the back is a risk and if you can’t do it properly you’re begging to concede goals. No matter who is on the pitch it takes time to build the sufficient cohesion and fitness to do these things at a high level.
He’s more of a pragmatist than I’d have expected.
Given that a total overhaul of the squad seems unlikely, he’s just going to have to do whatever it takes to hang on to stay in the job, while getting in players who’ll enable him to play the type of football we’re all waiting for.
It’ll probably be a bit of a grind, but I totally believe he’ll get it right. If we can get in two more players who can slot right in before the window closes, I think we’ll start seeing signs of what’s to come. But that seems a hard ask at the moment
Given that a total overhaul of the squad seems unlikely, he’s just going to have to do whatever it takes to hang on to stay in the job, while getting in players who’ll enable him to play the type of football we’re all waiting for.
It’ll probably be a bit of a grind, but I totally believe he’ll get it right. If we can get in two more players who can slot right in before the window closes, I think we’ll start seeing signs of what’s to come. But that seems a hard ask at the moment
Exactly.
People need to stop thinking what we saw in preseason can be easily translated into real matches. If gloried friendlies meant anything Andreas Pereira would have become the next Thiago Alcantara.
Our preseason shape and execution is what we're working towards. However, its not going to be possible with the playing staff we have. Ten Hag knows this and has focused on getting results with the squad he has, which is the right move.
For now we just have to grind our way to victories until the squad overhaul reaches completion.
I think we will really develop and improve after the window shuts. Once ETH knows exactly what he’s got to work with, whether we sign any more guys or not, he will settle on a plan and way of playing that will get results.
Longer term the plan will change as and when we have the personnel to do it.
I won’t be shocked if we resemble Ole’s team this season but more effective and harder to beat. It all depends on the resources but I don’t think he will give a shit if we are not playing fancy football all the time.
“99% is not enough.” I like him.
I see lots of people are concerned about the midfield but without having a striker that can actually hold onto the ball it doesn’t really matter how good they are
i’m glad he’s starting off by changing things slowly tbh. This is a side that really isn’t going to take to ‘total football’ quickly, and tbh that style doesn’t work completely in England.He’s more of a pragmatist than I’d have expected.
Given that a total overhaul of the squad seems unlikely, he’s just going to have to do whatever it takes to hang on to stay in the job, while getting in players who’ll enable him to play the type of football we’re all waiting for.
It’ll probably be a bit of a grind, but I totally believe he’ll get it right. If we can get in two more players who can slot right in before the window closes, I think we’ll start seeing signs of what’s to come. But that seems a hard ask at the moment
I like what we’ve seen so far. Clearly we need a few more additions but first things first he needs to fix the mentality. Getting a few wins together and not totally collapsing is the most important thing for now
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