I mean I guess we meet half way on both of our points really. Like you say we have a massive issue in either our scouting department or just in general who we think we should be buying, as in players like Maguire for example, there would have been better and cheaper options elsewhere 100%, Ruben Dias being one of them at the time. We also buy square pegs for round holes and just leave neglected areas of the pitch without signings, like our midfielder at the start of this season, this is where, as you say, Liverpool excel in this area. If we get ETH and we shape up in this department, I think we could become a lethal force in a couple of seasons
Erik ten Hag | Currently unemployed
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I mean I guess we meet half way on both of our points really. Like you say we have a massive issue in either our scouting department or just in general who we think we should be buying, as in players like Maguire for example, there would have been better and cheaper options elsewhere 100%, Ruben Dias being one of them at the time. We also buy square pegs for round holes and just leave neglected areas of the pitch without signings, like our midfielder at the start of this season, this is where, as you say, Liverpool excel in this area. If we get ETH and we shape up in this department, I think we could become a lethal force in a couple of seasons
Agreed. Recruitment is key, we need to stop this square pegs round roles attitude.
We signed a RW to play on the LW, when we started the season with 2 LW's.
Its not just even the position, its the profile of player we need, Donny for example?
We also had a coach who said trophies are for ego
Reports say he is going to bring Van Der Gaag as an assistant manager. Apparently he is responsible for Ajax's great defensive record this year.
Player wise: Anthony most likely since we need a RW. He might want to bring in De Jong if he is available and if we are to judge Dutch's views on Maguire through Van Der Vaart's lense, then De Ligt instead of Maguite.
Also Ten Hag loves a GK who can play as playmaker from the back. He even brought Pasaveer who is 38 and a very crappy shot stopper to fullfill this role. Doesn't spell anything good for Dave as I see Henderson being favored ahead of him. We will either buy a new GK, stick with Henderson or promote Vitek from the academy who seems a perfect fit for the way Ten Hag wants to play(though he is probably 2 seasons away from being ready, so we might have to wait a bit for that).
Also judging by his time at Utrecht and Ajax and considering he worked with the Bayern reserves, he will give youth a chance. Elanga, Mejbri are all going to be integrated. Laird fist his style perfectly, Garner will benefit from his coaching as well. Great times ahead for our academy lads regardless if Poch or Ten Hag becomes the manager
Yeah, they likely won't feature this season. I don't think that's a problem.
I can’t explain myself well but I get a gut feeling that Ten Hag would be a massive success at City or Liverpool, even Chelsea or Spurs or Arsenal.
But it’s not so guaranteed at United. United don’t do fancy styles or entertainment
I think he would need to be given a lot of time and patience to implement his style
But it’s not so guaranteed at United. United don’t do fancy styles or entertainment
I think he would need to be given a lot of time and patience to implement his style
In a nutshell.
Not a bad appointment but not an exciting one. Did a great job at Spurs but his football is very mechanical/functional. Not sure it's a good fit for us.
I have faith that by hiring Ragnick we'll actually be more saavy than we would otherwise be. If it was up to the board they'd probably have just gone with Poch as he ticks the boxes of experience, name brand, and it completes the story (as he's been linked with us for ages). I'm hoping Ragnick makes the difference as he likely doesn't give a shit about anything but who is the best person to transform (not just lead) this club into winners.
They weren't. I posted an in depth article from this season which discussed their squad depth then and now and also discussed first team squad aquisitions in that time which directly contradicts this claim. They've managed well despite departures and have promoted several youth players. It's not a big deal, I like ETH.
https://www.allaboutajax.com/2021/12/back-to-the-top-the-transformation-of-afc-ajax/
Read at your own leisure and let me know if you still hold this opinion
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He's their Tier 1 journalist.
Sufficient grounds for pulling out one's cock?
This journo broke the Donny news to United earlier than everyone else, pretty sure he’s very well connected to Ajax
I will miss him dearly but IF he has to go to any club I hope it's United. I think if given time and budget he will do wonders for the club.
Apparently it's from a podcast today that he was on, definitely a good source so this is interesting to hear
Been a fan of Ajax since the great Cruyff played for them.
But it was not just him. The entire team and total football they played was great to watch.
The rest of us are all unfurled…catch up!
De Kok's out?
Pretty much everybody. I’d have been all for it.
Depends how you define “most of us”. There were plenty of people who were convinced that Jose had deliberately engineered his Chelsea meltdown so that he’d be available to take his Dream Job at United. Some are still convinced that it was everybody’s fault but his that he isn’t still our manager.
Welcome to Manchester, Erik! 
Yep, gimme that! This guy will take us places and those places will be not just challenging but winning major honours, if he's given full license to bring in and sell who he deems good enough and not good enough.
Ahem!!! I'll not hold my breath.
My first choice as manager!
Said before, the reason being is his ability to build a side after having his first one picked apart - that quality is severely overlooked, and the fact he did so on a budget too, Sir Alex had a knack for building squads to keep them fresh, most of the great managers have that ability, from the looks of it ETH has it.
Said before, the reason being is his ability to build a side after having his first one picked apart - that quality is severely overlooked, and the fact he did so on a budget too, Sir Alex had a knack for building squads to keep them fresh, most of the great managers have that ability, from the looks of it ETH has it.
If you like him, I don’t know why you are trying so hard to downplay his achievements. He lost his two most promising and valuable players this year. That’s not something you can ignore. And by the way I don’t know many people who are expecting Ajax in the final rounds of the CL, it’s unrealistic.
Anyway, he would be an interesting choice for us, as would Pochettino. I don’t have a favorite among the two. I think both are very good managers, I just hope we will hire a good fit for us for once.
I'm not downplaying his achievements. I'd be fine with either him or Pochettino. I merely challenge this blind adulation he gets from sections of supporters who present some falsehoods about him and his time at Ajax as cold hard facts
Just as long as you don't send pictures around. (That's no longer an Ajax tradition.)
He feels like the only good choice for City now that his team looks so much like a Guardiola one with Timber playing like Kyle Walker and the fullbacks inside a lot and the wingers so wide.
I wouldn't at all be shocked if they already have a deal under the table to pay him to stay at Ajax for another year so that if Pep does leave in 2023 instead of signing a new contract he can step right in.
Guardiola - Bald
Dyche - bald
What does this say about ETH?
Dyche - bald
What does this say about ETH?
You stay away from him. He's not named Erik Ten Nag.
His wife calls him Eric Ten Shag and she smokes an Eric Ten Fag.
So are we bullish for ETH?
Asking for an investment advice.
Asking for an investment advice.
Have to say these last couple of days are first where it seems like it's more likely that ten Hag will become our manager in summer and not Pochettino. 99% it's one of those 2, just it felt like Pochettino is more realistic until all these rumours that came out this week.
The one right thing we have done at the club is develop some fine young players that are coming through.
A manager who likes working with up and coming players will have the resources he needs.
A manager who likes working with up and coming players will have the resources he needs.
Eric tan Hogna.
Looking at the most successful coaches in the world (Pep, Klopp, Simeone, Conte and Zidane) they are big/strong personalities. Very charismatic. Do you have to be or has it just helped them reach the top? Not sure.
But it is the biggest question mark relating to Ten Hag. It has been said that talks between Ten Hag and Spurs broke down due issues with communication/language barriers. Even in Holland there has been criticism over him being less «charismatic» or even a bit weird. I think he is just a bit geeky.
Maybe it could be wise of him to do what Bielsa and Pochettino did; hire an interpreter. I consider myself to be quite decent in English, but I often experience feeling a bit inferior in meetings with people who has english as their first language. Especially if there has been a while since I last spoke. I think I just come across as a bit less intelligent or slow. For a coach, that could undermine his authority.
But it is the biggest question mark relating to Ten Hag. It has been said that talks between Ten Hag and Spurs broke down due issues with communication/language barriers. Even in Holland there has been criticism over him being less «charismatic» or even a bit weird. I think he is just a bit geeky.
Maybe it could be wise of him to do what Bielsa and Pochettino did; hire an interpreter. I consider myself to be quite decent in English, but I often experience feeling a bit inferior in meetings with people who has english as their first language. Especially if there has been a while since I last spoke. I think I just come across as a bit less intelligent or slow. For a coach, that could undermine his authority.
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