Erik ten Hag | 2022/23 & 2023/24

[Semper Fudge]

I am just saying if we get a new manager and just win our game in hand, we would only be only ten points behind and so if we win all of our games left over - we can still do it

This is either a terribly unfunny parody post or you actually believe it which would just be tragic.

Neither is a good look for you.

 

[mav_9me]

Barring the goal right at the end, the first half was a near-perfect away performance, a prolific striker in the team and we could have been 2-0 up before their goal.

The players absolutely lost it in the first five minutes of the second half, I don’t see how you can coach against that.

It was a complete freak occurrence - Ten Hag’s job is to make sure it never happens again.

Actually you are right. I still feel WW should have come off for Sabitzer.

 

[CM]

It's bizarre that these thrashings keep happening to us in big games. These types of humblings have happened before ten Hag arrived and clearly there are some players who don't have the fight in them and will need culling in the summer.

Still, this is the third time the floodgates have opened on us this season. First half away to Brentford, again at the Etihad, and the second half today. I'm a big fan of his but this is something he has to fix.

 

[AneRu]

After seeing AWB shut out and see the back of Saint Maximum why the hell did he go with Dalot? That was the first mistake, the second one was not going with Casemiro, Sabitzer and Fred in midfield to at least match their energy. However those two goals after half time killed us and we just collapsed from there on in.

 

[DJ_21]

At least ETH didn’t make any excuse like other managers do.

 

[TheGame]

Could not agree more. 7 goals were a freak occurrence today. Don't get me wrong, this was still a bad defeat. But Liverpool last year didn't even try hard.

It’s similar to that 7-2 result Liverpool had at Villa when they were champions.

 

[United492]

Throw your hat in the ring a

Barring the goal right at the end, the first half was a near-perfect away performance, a prolific striker in the team and we could have been 2-0 up before their goal.

The players absolutely lost it in the first five minutes of the second half, I don’t see how you can coach against that.

It was a complete freak occurrence - Ten Hag’s job is to make sure it never happens again.

Spot on in my view

 

[Ish]

It was unacceptable. On the flip side we’ve been playing every 2-3 days and it’s gotta catch up to a small squad

This. Tough, tough day. EtH got the tactics horribly wrong (it happens). You go there and shut down the middle (Case, Fred, Sabitzer as an example). But to move Bruno left, Rashford center and WW as a AM was suicide.

Still, he’ll learn. But there was zero excuse for the players giving up and just walking back and spending half the match bitching about. Absolutely unacceptable.

 

[bosnian_red]

It’s similar to that 7-2 result Liverpool had at Villa when they were champions.

Good example. Or the United treble winners losing 5-0 to Chelsea. Sometimes, you just have a day... What actually matters is how you respond. If we respond the same way we've responded to the last 3 defeats, then perfect. If we collapse after this, then yeah there are issues that need sorting out.

 

[SparkedIntoLife]

I think many of us got swept up in last week's "United's back" rhetoric but I, like many others, probably had a seed of concern in the back of my mind. ETH and the leadership across the club still have a lot of work to do and the disgrace of last season (and arguably the last 13 years) can't be undone in so short of a space of time.

When we were in for Erik, most Ajax fans seemed both gutted and very complimentary towards him. However, I remember some giving a couple of caveats - 1) he doesn't rotate enough in key times (no shit!) and 2) he will implement his style here effectively but there's likely to be some capitulations along the way while the players are getting used to it.

I think we need to follow the famous dictum of treating both success and failure as imposters. Just like, after the EFL Cup win, the United of old weren't truly back, today's shambolic loss doesn't mean that we haven't taken great steps forward. It's easy to be reactive but I trust ETH to assess this in the right way and keep improving us. Hopefully things go well with the takeover and we have a bright future ahead.

 

[I’m loving my life]

Has he given an interview? I turned off after the 4th goal and couldn't be bothered with the post match autopsy, but would be interested in what he has to say

 

[Jericholyte2]

This. Tough, tough day. EtH got the tactics horribly wrong (it happens). You go there and shut down the middle (Case, Fred, Sabitzer as an example). But to move Bruno left, Rashford center and WW as a AM was suicide.

Still, he’ll learn. But there was zero excuse for the players giving up and just walking back and spending half the match bitching about. Absolutely unacceptable.

I don’t k ow how you come to that conclusion regarding him getting the tactics wrong. Barring the goal the first half was textbook away-at-Anfield setup (we really should have gone ahead with the Bruno and/or Rashford chances) and I was quietly confident of a strong 2nd half performance.

The complete capitulation in the first 5mins of the 2nd half was nothing that could have been anticipated.

 

[MUFC OK]

It was unacceptable. On the flip side we’ve been playing every 2-3 days and it’s gotta catch up to a small squad

Massive over simplification to contextualise this horror show/paint it as a one off.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Massive over simplification to contextualise this horror show/paint it as a one off.

With the general trend of the season it is a one-off.

Doesn't mean it's acceptable. 3-4 players who started that game hopefully aren't in the squad next season.

 

[Siorac]

I just don't get the Weghorst thing. If there's one thing I could ask Ten Hag to explain, this would be it.

I mean if we're okay with playing Rashford centrally - and clearly we are, as we keep doing it in big games - then why does Weghorst start every game? What's the plan here? Is he there as an AM to provide an outlet for long balls from the back? But he isn't winning that many aerial duels, it's not something we've used to particularly great effect. Is it just because of his pressing? But when someone is as slow as he is, even insane pressing isn't that valuable. Could Sabitzer not provide similar workrate in that position, in addition to having some actual skills on the ball?

I thought I understood why we signed him: because Martial is unreliable and we need bodies. But most of the time he isn't playing in Martial's position! It's baffling.

 

[Leftback99]

It was unacceptable. On the flip side we’ve been playing every 2-3 days and it’s gotta catch up to a small squad

The problem is we're still going to playing every 2-3 days to the end of the season.

 

[Ish]

I don’t k ow how you come to that conclusion regarding him getting the tactics wrong. Barring the goal the first half was textbook away-at-Anfield setup (we really should have gone ahead with the Bruno and/or Rashford chances) and I was quietly confident of a strong 2nd half performance.

The complete capitulation in the first 5mins of the 2nd half was nothing that could have been anticipated.

You have a good point re the first half but I maintain second half when number 2/3 went in, you shore up the midfield. They walked through our non existent midfield at will. But yeah, I see your point albeit I’d have approached it differently

 

[Fluctuation0161]

A well balanced and sensible post.

I think the only option is to rest the first team and play some kids and second strings. We will probably lose, but the first team are shit to pieces after the schedule. I don't see any other solution.

 

[el3mel]

With the general trend of the season it is a one-off.

Doesn't mean it's acceptable. 3-4 players who started that game hopefully aren't in the squad next season.

It's not a one off considering that's the 3rd time we lose by 4 or more goals away from home this season.

We clearly have an issue keeping our heads in the game when things go out of control and Ten Hag has to realize this in order to fix it.

 

[Delano]

We've won more games than any team in Europe this season, best form in the Premier League since the World Cup. Last year was our worst Premier League season. Ever.

Let's not catastrophise and remember where we've been and where we are.

Today is a brutal day and an absolute wake up call in the sense that every issue we have, was exposed. Let's see where we are on April 1st before we start questioning the bloke who has turned us around.

 

[fergiewherearethou]

I just don't get the Weghorst thing. If there's one thing I could ask Ten Hag to explain, this would be it.

I mean if we're okay with playing Rashford centrally - and clearly we are, as we keep doing it in big games - then why does Weghorst start every game? What's the plan here? Is he there as an AM to provide an outlet for long balls from the back? But he isn't winning that many aerial duels, it's not something we've used to particularly great effect. Is it just because of his pressing? But when someone is as slow as he is, even insane pressing isn't that valuable. Could Sabitzer not provide similar workrate in that position, in addition to having some actual skills on the ball?

I thought I understood why we signed him: because Martial is unreliable and we need bodies. But most of the time he isn't playing in Martial's position! It's baffling.

I don't get it either, but we got results with him on the pitch so ETH keeps using him. In reality he wouldn't start for any other PL team.

 

[mav_9me]

It's not a one off considering that's the 3rd time we lose by 4 or more goals away from home this season.

We clearly have an issue keeping our heads in the game when things go out of control and Ten Hag has to realize this in order to fix it.

The thing is Brentford and City were a while ago. Didn't think it could happen again.

But today is more worrying imo. Today we lost our heads and discipline and gave up. Forget the 7 goals. How we gave up is very very worrying for me, in a team that had Casemiro, Varane and Martinez, Shaw and Bruno.

Brentford all happened first half, we were kinda caught out. City at least we scored a couple of goals in 2nd half.

Today for the last 3 or so goals, Liverpool on the counter had 3 on 2 or 4 on 3 against us, cuz we didn't track back.

 

[11101]

Today was caused by two main things for me.

Persisting with such a limited striker who provides no threat and allows opposing defenders to relax and play their game. He should have known this by now.

Playing Dalot instead of AWB. This one he couldn't have known that Liverpools has beens and never will bes would play out of their skins and exploit Dalot's defensive weaknesses.

 

[maxtrash]

Wow, never a dull moment with ETH.

I have to say I got a little uncomfortable with all the praise the manager was getting. Some of the responses here though now that he's lost are just hysterically emotional.
Main thing is that we recoup, Eth should take part of the blame and finish the season 3rd

 

[Lost bear]

The thing is Brentford and City were a while ago. Didn't think it could happen again.

But today is more worrying imo. Today we lost our heads and discipline and gave up. Forget the 7 goals. How we gave up is very very worrying for me, in a team that had Casemiro, Varane and Martinez, Shaw and Bruno.

Brentford all happened first half, we were kinda caught out. City at least we scored a couple of goals in 2nd half.

Today for the last 3 or so goals, Liverpool on the counter had 3 on 2 or 4 on 3 against us, cuz we didn't track back.

Today appears to have been a perfect storm situation.
The team was knackered.
The team is yet to develop real confidence against the elite English opposition.
A few players in particular seem to have panicked and gone to pieces.
Liverpool are more focused on derbies and were more up for it- they had something to prove.
They were undoubtedly very fortunate. Every shot went in. Every ball bounced their way.
Most importantly, alongside the fatigue, we are a work in progress.
Let’s not lose it further now.
Our day will come again. A couple more key players needed, especially an elite striker.

 

[Telsim]

I expect to see a reaction from him. Like, an actual reaction to the performance of certain players. Just not another "We go again!". This is unacceptable under any circumstances. Unacceptable.

 

[tariqo]

I believe in him totally.. the board just failed him at the beginning of the season….
We need a true world class striker
A real playmaker because bruno is nothing but average player with good moments every couple of games & quality full backs

 

[TheGame]

Think ETH tried a false 9 with Erikson earlier in the season and he was the wrong player for it. Would have liked it today with Bruno and Sancho behind. We needed to carry more of a threat like other teams have done at Anfield and we didn’t.

 

[Revan]

We’ve had enough batterings this past decade for this to melt into those. A trophy is forever a part of the football clubs achievements. The Carabao may not be the biggest but breaking the 6 year gap was huge

Carabao not only may not be the biggest, but it actually is the smallest.

Still good to have won it after 6 years of no trophies. But let’s not kid ourselves, it is a third tier trophy.

 

[Semper Fudge]

I expect to see a reaction from him. Like, an actual reaction to the performance of certain players. Just not another "We go again!". This is unacceptable under any circumstances. Unacceptable.

Did he say that or are you just shouting into the void?

 

[TheGame]

I expect to see a reaction from him. Like, an actual reaction to the performance of certain players. Just not another "We go again!". This is unacceptable under any circumstances. Unacceptable.

I think his interview was fine. He said all of the right things and he was clearly unhappy. We don’t need a Kevin Keegan meltdown.

 

[Telsim]

Did he say that or are you just shouting into the void?

I think his interview was fine. He said all of the right things and he was clearly unhappy. We don’t need a Kevin Keegan meltdown.

I meant a reaction to the players, not the media, feck them. Players getting dropped or whatever is necessary. Crack the whip, so to speak. Like after Brentford. I'm sure we will hear about it.

 

[golden_blunder]

Massive over simplification to contextualise this horror show/paint it as a one off.

Did I say it was acceptable?

but to put some context, big game players like Casemiro and Varane weren’t on it. Why? Certainly can’t be attitude in their cases. Has to be some element of fatigue, meeting a quality team that were on it second half

 

[golden_blunder]

The problem is we're still going to playing every 2-3 days to the end of the season.

Yep. Maybe we should be as a fan group taking each game as it comes and stop getting carried away

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

I feel sorry for him, he didn't deserve that.

You just know he'll get them to go on another run of wins now, but it must have been a shock that his players had this in them.

 

[TheGame]

 

[AshRK]

I feel sorry for him, he didn't deserve that.

You just know he'll get them to go on another run of wins now, but it must have been a shock that his players had this in them.

This defeat will stay with him. He has to make sure we overcome it.

 

[Rightnr]

The only thing I hope doesn't happen is a LvG-like back in our shells attitude. I don' think it will given how he's reacted to poor results so far but definitely my biggest worry.

If we finish 7 points ahead of Liverpool before the international break, in the EL and the FA cup, it'll be fine.

 

[Natener]

I expect to see a reaction from him. Like, an actual reaction to the performance of certain players. Just not another "We go again!". This is unacceptable under any circumstances. Unacceptable.

Another? When did he ever before said "we go again"? My apologies if he did after some match and I missed it before.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

The only plus point of today is that it should be a wake up call to the club hierarchy that there is still a lot of work (I.e. investment) needed with the squad, the good run of fixtures may have papered over that.