Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

[OmarUnited4ever]

The only worrying thing for me is that these muppets might only be putting in performances now because the World Cup is next month.

We’ll see how motivated they are post WC.

I don't think you need to worry, because If you look at the current preferred 11 and the ones that usually play, most of them if not all are guaranteed to be selected and many of them are more or less guaranteed starters, the only ones that might not be selected are Rashford and Sancho, Rashford might still go but I feel Sancho won't .

DDG will either be 2nd or 3rd GK for Spain
Dalot is either the starting RB or behind Cancelo.
Varane is a starter if he is fit
Martinez is either behind Romero/Otamendi or a starter
Luke Shaw is a starter unless Chilwell is preferred.
Malacia will be selected and might be starter.
Casemiro, Eriksen & Bruno are guaranteed starters for their countries
Fred & Antony have a high chance to be part of the WC squad for Brazil
and of course Ronaldo will start for Portugal in the WC.

Sancho has been terrible recently so he is not doing himself any favors with Southgate, while Rashford has been good overall, the best he can wish for is to be selected for the 26-man squad, since we all know all know that Sterling, Kane, Saka and/or Foden are Southgate's preferred forwards with Grealish the preferred option from the bench.

 

[the_cliff]

I don't think you need to worry, because If you look at the current preferred 11 and the ones that usually play, most of them if not all are guaranteed to be selected and many of them are more or less guaranteed starters, the only ones that might not be selected are Rashford and Sancho, Rashford might still go but I feel Sancho won't .

DDG will either be 2nd or 3rd GK for Spain
Dalot is either the starting RB or behind Cancelo.
Varane is a starter if he is fit
Martinez is either behind Romero/Otamendi or a starter
Luke Shaw is a starter unless Chilwell is preferred.
Malacia will be selected and might be starter.
Casemiro, Eriksen & Bruno are guaranteed starters for their countries
Fred & Antony have a high chance to be part of the WC squad for Brazil
and of course Ronaldo will start for Portugal in the WC.

Sancho has been terrible recently so he is not doing himself any favors with Southgate, while Rashford has been good overall, the best he can wish for is to be selected for the 26-man squad, since we all know all know that Sterling, Kane, Saka and/or Foden are Southgate's preferred forwards with Grealish the preferred option from the bench.

Fred is also a starter for Brazil.

 

[Mike Smalling]

The key thing with Ten Hag is that we keep remembering the limitations of the squad and judge him accordingly. I wouldn't necessarily call it a failure if we don't make top four (at least if we don't spend in January).

He is doing splendidly, but we have to remember that he is working without a striker, limited width in wide positions, and big drop-offs in quality in both central midfield and central defense. There will be ups and downs - it's almost guaranteed. But the direction, the strategy and the spirit seems to be there now, and that's the most important thing for now. It's enjoyable again.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

Fred is also a starter for Brazil.

You are right, he is defo going to the WC, Casemiro is the undisputed starter in the midfield and Fred started at least 70% of the time, Fabinho and Guimaraes are his competition

 

[crossy1686]

I don't think you need to worry, because If you look at the current preferred 11 and the ones that usually play, most of them if not all are guaranteed to be selected and many of them are more or less guaranteed starters, the only ones that might not be selected are Rashford and Sancho, Rashford might still go but I feel Sancho won't .

DDG will either be 2nd or 3rd GK for Spain
Dalot is either the starting RB or behind Cancelo.
Varane is a starter if he is fit
Martinez is either behind Romero/Otamendi or a starter
Luke Shaw is a starter unless Chilwell is preferred.
Malacia will be selected and might be starter.
Casemiro, Eriksen & Bruno are guaranteed starters for their countries
Fred & Antony have a high chance to be part of the WC squad for Brazil
and of course Ronaldo will start for Portugal in the WC.

Sancho has been terrible recently so he is not doing himself any favors with Southgate, while Rashford has been good overall, the best he can wish for is to be selected for the 26-man squad, since we all know all know that Sterling, Kane, Saka and/or Foden are Southgate's preferred forwards with Grealish the preferred option from the bench.

That's what I mean though, they're all going and they want to be first choice in the lineup's. Dalot, Varane and Shaw have all of a sudden found form, when it was looking like their place was under pressure, Rashford has started playing well again just in time for a call back into the squad. I'm just hoping this is a more permanent cultural improvement than a "I better pull my finger out this month", which our lads are very prone to.

 

[Freak]

Depending on what success means to you obviously, most would point to LVG's FA Cup win, Jose's Europa & League Cup double.

I don't think you can win the FA Cup/Europa/League Cup after 11 games.

 

[golden_blunder]

MUGA
BBU
MUW

 

[Foolsgold21]

Love his no nonsense approach - so refreshing after the old boys club of the past few years

 

[Waynne]

What a contrast to the shameful attitude of last season when players looked like they didn't care. What stands out to me here are the reactions of new guys Casemiro, Martinez and Antony. Signing players with the right mentality is so important

I've been saying this before Ten Hag was appointed manager.

We needed players like this. Because of their attitude, you can always mold these kinds of players to your gameplan or style of play. Malacia is another one. Always gives it 110%.

We have a team in the making and while we have to be patient, I can't wait to see what the final lineup will look like based off these very early promising signs.

Bright future ahead.

 

[crossy1686]

What a contrast to the shameful attitude of last season when players looked like they didn't care. What stands out to me here are the reactions of new guys Casemiro, Martinez and Antony. Signing players with the right mentality is so important

It’s hard to down tools and feel sorry for yourself when you’ve got guys like Casemiro questioning your attitude and ability to play at the top level.

It seems like the players are finally starting to take responsibility for the results and their performances. Guys like Rashford now need to take this mentality forward and be someone who holds others to this standard instead of waiting for others to come along and push them.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

I see, I must support a rival because I’m not entirely happy with us sat in 6th in the league and am not ejaculating everywhere over a draw against Chelsea when we should have won.

Seems like you’d be much happier supporting a rival. Don’t worry you won’t be missed.

If you can’t see the very obvious improvements ETH has already made in his short time in charge then I don’t think football is the sport for you fella.

 

[tenpoless]

MUGA
BBU
MUW

Is this supposed to be a baby language? I know he's bald but not every bald person is a baby.

 

[Real Name]

I see, I must support a rival because I’m not entirely happy with us sat in 6th in the league and am not ejaculating everywhere over a draw against Chelsea when we should have won.

I may be wrong but I think you've been on ETH's case from the day one.

 

[MUFC OK]

Seems like you’d be much happier supporting a rival. Don’t worry you won’t be missed.

If you can’t see the very obvious improvements ETH has already made in his short time in charge then I don’t think football is the sport for you fella.

What the hell are you talking about?

 

[golden_blunder]

Is this supposed to be a baby language? I know he's bald but not every bald person is a baby.

Make United Great Again
Bring Back United
Make United Work

 

[dove]

I see, I must support a rival because I’m not entirely happy with us sat in 6th in the league and am not ejaculating everywhere over a draw against Chelsea when we should have won.

Context is important. 9 matches out of 11 we have played have been against teams currently placed 1st-11th. Fulham is the only one we haven't played yet. I think we have done very well considering that and the remaining 8 or so matches left until halfway point should be easier. It's probably a bit too soon to start ejaculating or whatever but we are quite clearly improving and we have made an obvious progress since the start of the season. It will take time, we will lack consistency from time to time, we desperately need some new players but I think overall the signs are very good so far that ETH can finally be someone to take us back where we belong. I haven't had this feeling with any of our previous managers in the last decade, especially the last one.

 

[MUFC OK]

I may be wrong but I think you've been on ETH's case from the day one.

Yeah you are wrong. I was as vehement as anyone in wanting ETH and I think he will prove to be the best appointment we've made since SAF, so not keen to be classed as a ETH naysayer. The reality is far from it.

Context is important. 9 matches out of 11 we have played have been against teams currently placed 1st-11th. Fulham is the only one we haven't played yet. I think we have done very well considering that and the remaining 8 or so matches left until halfway point should be easier. It's probably a bit too soon to start ejaculating or whatever but we are quite clearly improving and we have made an obvious progress since the start of the season. It will take time, we will lack consistency from time to time, we desperately need some new players but I think overall the signs are very good so far that ETH can finally be someone to take us back where we belong. I haven't had this feeling with any of our previous managers in the last decade, especially the last one.

Context is important, I agree. If we had won the Newcastle and Chelsea games I'd be absolutely buoyant with how we are doing, but I see 4 pts dropped there. Probably why my enthusiasm isn't coming across. Hopefully we can convert the much improved displays and chances into goals in the next few games.

 

[bosskeano]

One thing for sure about this club, we know who's in charge. The biggest obstacle/issue coming into the season was how will ETH handle the big egos and big wages paid to these guys coming from Ajax.

well we've seen that with Ronaldo and Maguire, he's not afraid to drop anyone. That clearly sends a message to the players and the club feels a bit more like when Fergie was in charge where no one player was bigger than the club.

the football is better, it's more proactive, it's more attack minded and most importantly it looks like the players actually give a damn.

Now somehow he could manage to get martial fit and teach rashford to hit the damn target, we'd be in business.

The WC i think will help us b/c i don't see either of those guys making a WC roster which will allow Martial to regain fitness and hopefully help Rashford to regroup, recharge himself and find some form.

 

[the_cliff]

One thing for sure about this club, we know who's in charge. The biggest obstacle/issue coming into the season was how will ETH handle the big egos and big wages paid to these guys coming from Ajax.

well we've seen that with Ronaldo and Maguire, he's not afraid to drop anyone. That clearly sends a message to the players and the club feels a bit more like when Fergie was in charge where no one player was bigger than the club.

the football is better, it's more proactive, it's more attack minded and most importantly it looks like the players actually give a damn.

Now somehow he could manage to get martial fit and teach rashford to hit the damn target, we'd be in business.

The WC i think will help us b/c i don't see either of those guys making a WC roster which will allow Martial to regain fitness and hopefully help Rashford to regroup, recharge himself and find some form.

Rashford is definitely going to the world cup.

 

[Real Name]

Yeah you are wrong. I was as vehement as anyone in wanting ETH and I think he will prove to be the best appointment we've made since SAF, so not keen to be classed as a ETH naysayer. The reality is far from it.


Context is important, I agree. If we had won the Newcastle and Chelsea games I'd be absolutely buoyant with how we are doing, but I see 4 pts dropped there. Probably why my enthusiasm isn't coming across. Hopefully we can convert the much improved displays and chances into goals in the next few games.

For someone who's supposedly vehement in wanting ETH you do have some strange takes. You see improvement but you're not ejaculating cause we're not winning enough or didnt win vs Chelsea. So we cam to the Bridge where we rarely have a dominant game (I dont remember one, it's been that long), dominate them in the 1st, fall of in the 2nd and take away a point and you're not satisfied cause of our position in the table. You cant have it all at once, we're starting to look like a properly coached team, we're a team on the up and will have hickups along the way, yet you're not happy. I dont think you should jump for joy of course but some context and reality is in order.
Of course we should score more and take more chances but in the other thread you said we're not taking many shots. I dont know if that post was before we shot 28 times against Spurs or after Chelsea game where we had about 4 or 5 good chances to score.

 

[bosskeano]

he hasn't been in the past few squads on based on form, you'd actually take him?

Rashford is definitely going to the world cup.

 

[the_cliff]

he hasn't been in the past few squads on based on form, you'd actually take him?

He was meant to be in the last one but pulled out due to injuries.

And to answer your question yes I'd definitely take him and I'm 100% sure Southgate will as well.

 

[Stadjer]

he hasn't been in the past few squads on based on form, you'd actually take him?

Rashford hasnt scored but his form is better than it was last year. Rashford is also a perfect player for playing on the counter to defend a lead (or just the general Southgate gameplan). Rashford will go to the World Cup.

 

[dove]

Context is important, I agree. If we had won the Newcastle and Chelsea games I'd be absolutely buoyant with how we are doing, but I see 4 pts dropped there. Probably why my enthusiasm isn't coming across. Hopefully we can convert the much improved displays and chances into goals in the next few games.

I get what you mean, and it's definitely frustrating we haven't won more points in those 2 games but to me it's another positive sign, half a year ago we would have been celebrating a draw against Chelsea like we have won a trophy.

 

[Orange Tree]

We are doing fine. The target of the season should be getting back to the CL, which means top 4.

Recent performances have been great and the results are good enough for top 4. 1 point away to Stamford Bridge or any other top 6 is a good result in any case. We should have won against Newcastle and Chelsea, but that's what you'd expect without a striker that can finish.

Give ETH a decent striker and we will fly.

 

[DSG]

Dalot looking something like a footballer might be Ten Hag’s biggest achievement yet.

This is so true. Defending as well. Could Ten Hag bring Maguire back from the dead? A crazy difficult task, but after his work with Dalot, who knows?

 

[Adam-Utd]

he hasn't been in the past few squads on based on form, you'd actually take him?

In previous form no, on this form? definitely. Rashford/Grealish/Foden/Saka is a great winger setup.

 

[USREDEVIL]

This is so true. Defending as well. Could Ten Hag bring Maguire back from the dead? A crazy difficult task, but after his work with Dalot, who knows?

Doubt it. Can't teach someone to be faster and less fridge-ike. He's only going to get more Maguiry as he gets older. We should sell in summer.

 

[NewYorkRed]

If you look closely at the table and look at some of the fixtures we’ve played vs the others, I think it is fairly safe to say that we should be, as it stands, favorites to get into the top 4 come the end of the year. If you think about last season and the start of this one, that is nothing short of absurd. Big Kudos to ETH for having us in this position right now.

My concern still though is against teams that play a low block, we A)aren’t creating a ton of clear cut chances and B)when we do create them, we’re not taking them. We need to go out and get a 9 this January, although I don’t have high hopes that we will.

 

[MUFC OK]

If you look closely at the table and look at some of the fixtures we’ve played vs the others, I think it is fairly safe to say that we should be, as it stands, favorites to get into the top 4 come the end of the year. If you think about last season and the start of this one, that is nothing short of absurd. Big Kudos to ETH for having us in this position right now.

My concern still though is against teams that play a low block, we A)aren’t creating a ton of clear cut chances and B)when we do create them, we’re not taking them. We need to go out and get a 9 this January, although I don’t have high hopes that we will.

This is my exact concern. Results against big teams have been good but I'm genuinely concerned ahead of West Ham, Villa and Fulham. Would be shocked if we won all 3 based on how we play against lower opposition.

 

[RuudTom83]

He needs a CF but the club can't be spending 50+ million on every transfer, needs to be a cheaper option which makes the search more tricky but not impossible.

 

[NewYorkRed]

He needs a CF but the club can't be spending 50+ million on every transfer, needs to be a cheaper option which makes the search more tricky but not impossible.

Can’t get 20+ goals if you don’t spend big. Its the premium position in the sport so you have to be ready to pay as such.

 

[mav_9me]

That's what I mean though, they're all going and they want to be first choice in the lineup's. Dalot, Varane and Shaw have all of a sudden found form, when it was looking like their place was under pressure, Rashford has started playing well again just in time for a call back into the squad. I'm just hoping this is a more permanent cultural improvement than a "I better pull my finger out this month", which our lads are very prone to.

Not sure Dalot's place in the Portuguese squad is under any more threat now compared to last season.

Varane is a natural leader. He doesn't need the threat of a national team position under threat to play his best. In any case he is an automatic when fit.

Shaw wasn't starting to begin with. Malacia's form is what upped his game.

I don't see ETH letting anybody's standards drop.

 

[GreatDane]

This is my exact concern. Results against big teams have been good but I'm genuinely concerned ahead of West Ham, Villa and Fulham. Would be shocked if we won all 3 based on how we play against lower opposition.

I wouldn't blame that on ETH, the plan k's there - our big miss is a proper striker. Martial being made of glass this season is hurting us.

 

[bosskeano]

i don't think ETH will go out and spend big on a striker...i think he will find a guy that fits his system and style of play. He'll want a guy who's willing to run, press, good ball skills and decent in the air.

 

[croadyman]

i don't think ETH will go out and spend big on a striker...i think he will find a guy that fits his system and style of play. He'll want a guy who's willing to run, press, good ball skills and decent in the air.

We desperately need someone in January or feel we are going to fall away from top 4 in second half of the season

 

[RuudTom83]

Can’t get 20+ goals if you don’t spend big. Its the premium position in the sport so you have to be ready to pay as such.

Be prepared to wait until the summer then...which is the most likely solution if EtH wants a top striker.

However, I'd rather not wait to add a CF so a short term cheaper/older one might be the option now.

 

[Cassidy]

Can’t get 20+ goals if you don’t spend big. Its the premium position in the sport so you have to be ready to pay as such.

We need 2 CFs anyway so we might as well get the no2 in now

 

[NLunited]

I wouldn't blame that on ETH, the plan k's there - our big miss is a proper striker. Martial being made of glass this season is hurting us.

Eventually he’ll be right. If you whine every time we have a game, he’s bound to get what he is afraid of. He needs to start taking his meds again.

 

[Escobar]

Ronaldo, once more, is just a huge distraction. Get him out and focus on improving our club