Erik ten Hag | Currently unemployed

[Dec9003]

That's what a good manager will do, not a great one. It was a good job not a very good one, a very good job would have been to actually win something and be better in cups, in particular in EL.

I don't really get why people are being so lenient when it comes to Pochettino, to the point where saying that he is a good manager but not great and that he did a good job instead of great is being debated. What would you guys be saying if he actually won something? I asked this question in his own thread but how what do you guys say about Simeone who did more with slightly less, while starting from a lower position?

But Ten Hag hasn’t won anything in Europe, he’s not done as well as Pochettino and hasn’t taken his Ajax side as far in the Europa League as they did before he went there.
I think it’s fair to say Poch is a good manager rather than a great one, same as Ten Hag. They both have potential to maybe be great, but neither are.
Simeone has done a fantastic job at Atletico, I don’t like his football but it’s hard to argue about his achievements.

 

[Sviken]

Yes they played beautiful and dominant football that 2016/17 season and it was the third straight season in the top three playing exciting football. That season was simply the pinnacle of that era for Spurs.

Think you're vastly overexaggerating their attractive football with your praise. They played nice, decent football, but I'd never have call their football "dominant". They were high pressing, kept possession well, but never had control over the game such as Guardiola or Klopp's teams. I always found them chaotic in their play. You talk as if Tottenham dominated the league in 2016/17, but the reality is that their goal difference was only +8 over Conte's Chelsea, who is described by people as a conservative, defensive manager. Now I've disagreed with that, but surely we'll both agree that Conte is not as attacking manager as Klopp or Guardiola are.

Asid efrom that season, the rest of his seasons have not been even remotely as "impressive". in 2014/15 the GD is +5, in 2015 and 2017 it was +34 and +38 respectively - surprisingly a worse GD than us under Mourinho. in 2018 it was +28 and in 19 it was just +14. This is a very, very bad trend that we're witnessing here.

So I think we can put the myth of Poch's ultra exciting and dominant football to rest. He had one very good season, but aside from that Spurs have largely been above average and that's it. Nothing really spectacular. In comparison, Ten Hag's dominant performancce in the league is as follows:

in 2017 it was +56 (shared season with a sacked manager). in 2019 +86, in 2020 +45 in 26 matches (season cut short because of COVID, from what I remember), in 2021 +79, rigght now with 26 matches played Ajax has a GD of +66. Now that is league dominance. Before him Ajax meagered around a 30-50 GD, only once hitting 60.

See the difference between the two managers?

Outscoring everyone else in the league and having the best goal difference is literally being dominating. Spurs did play beautiful football. It's true to me, not to you, it's not objective is it? How long did it take Klopp to win anything of note with Liverpool? He won the league title in 2020 after being there 5 years but he got the backing he needed for instance.

That's not true. Dominating would be winning actual titles, something Poch still hasn't done. Dominating would imply Spurs were title challengers, they were not. You can't say he dominated the league or anything like that when he achieved nothing really of note. It took him 3 seasons to win the CL with Liverpool with an obvious progress along the way. What... um, did Poch win in 5 years at Spurs?

The PL is very competitive, something Ten Hag hasn't experienced. Do you think he'd have went further and won something at Spurs if he coached them? Do you think he'd have handled the internal adversity of working with Levy better than Pochettino did?

So is the Eredivisie. You're making a mistake thinking just because the Eredivisie is a poorer league, it isn't competitive. Ajax hadn't won the league for 4 seasons prior to Ten Hag's appointment. And I'm sorry but when Poch came to Spurs the league was in a big transitional period, ripe for the taking. SAF had retired, Klopp and Guardiola still hadn't come in (and they had their transitional seasons, too), Arsenal were still wallowing in midtable and Chelsea went through a couple of interims. He did a decent job, but let's not pretend the league back then was at a lower level than it is currently. Let's not forget that Leicester won the league during that time, too.

As far as how Ten Hag would do a Spurs, there's no point in talking in "ifs". Neither you or I will ever know the answer to that. Or anyone in the world, for that matter.

We'll never know, but Poch not winning under those constraints is not what we should be focusing on, his feat in itself to catapult Spurs in the manner he did is worthy of praise. His accomplishments at Southampton, making them one of the most exciting clubs to watch in the league in his few years there is something worthy of praise as well. His influence on English football is something worthy of praise and not something to be glossed over or go unacknowledged.

Okay, I think this heap of praise on Poch over his wrok at Spurs is grossly exaggerated. Yes, he did a good job, but come on - this isn't Fergie at Aberdeen or whatever. He took over perennial top 4 contenders and made them a consistent top 4 team until he was sacked. Okay, that's a good job, true, but it isn't amazing or something. He didn't win the title with Spurs, he didn't win the CL with Spurs or any major improvement in the league for him to get this praise like he was working miracles.

He did a good job, but that's it. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Poch is a risk indeed, but for me he's less of a risk than a manager who's never managed in a top league. Crystal Palace found that out with Frank De Boer even though he had a previous dominant spell at Ajax, winning four league titles in a row. Dortmund found that out with Peter Bosz when he made the step up from Ajax after taking them to the EL final with that exciting young team united beat in 2017 (he was replaced at Ajax by Ten Hag of course). Winning the Dutch league doesn't mean shit, with all due respect. Am I impressed by Ajax's brand of football under Ten Hag? Very much so! I still think Poch is the better candidate

Neither Flick, nor Guardiola, nor Zidane, nor Nagelsmann or whoever needed to prove themselves before taking over a top club. They just did it because they had the qualities. If we wait on managers to prove themselves, we'll miss out on every great manager in existence. These same arguments were used on Klopp when the discussion for him being our manager came up a long time ago.

Even in press conferences Ten Hag speaks like a United manager in the mould of Fergie, Poch speaks like a manager in the mould of Ole. As far as your example with the managers you've listed, none of them ever showcased the dominance that Ten Hag's teams do. Ten Hag also hasn't been at Ajax only, he has done a very good job at other clubs and teams, too.

So far Ten Hag has achieved remarkable success at every club he has been. Okay, we can agree the level he has been in has been much smaller, but he's been impeccable everywhere. In contrast, Poch has been sacked from Espanyol, Tottenham and now would be from PSG, too. Three clubs in a row. Not a very good trend. Do we really need a manager who can get us top 4 for a few seasons before inevitably shit hits the fan, everything collapses and we're right back to square one? We've had that with Jose and LVG, hell Ole ,too. If the goal for this club was to just get top 4, maybe we should have just kept Ole.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

Nigel De Jong on Ten Hag: “Every manager who joins a new club needs reinforcements. Fresh blood. That is a fact - this is something he would need if he was to move to a club like #MUFC.” [Voetbal]

Nigel de Jong on #MUFC: “If Ten Hag comes in the summer, he can also make all his adjustments. Fresh blood does not mean that a large part of the squad has to leave immediately, but he has to be honest with them. With him everyone starts at zero.”

Nigel de Jong on how Ten Hag would do at #MUFC:
“What I do know is that Ten Hag loves football. He loves the game, spends all day playing it. He likes to talk to players. If a player is not feeling right, he sees it very quickly, this is huge.”

 

[United in sin]

He didn't build teams at Espanyol and Southampton, surely we are not going to give him credit for someone else's job? Who talked about Pochettino's fault, I mentioned ten Hag's achievements and compared them to Pochettino's.

He left indelible marks at both clubs that go largely unmentioned.

Espanyol indebted to Mauricio Pochettino as kids show their worth

An in depth Guardian article

His work at Southampton in the short time he was there unearthed so many gems and players who ended up leaving their mark in the game at bigger clubs. Perhaps he didn't build them from scratch, but he definitely built on and added to their squads. A lot of youth players like Phillips Coutinho owe a lot to him

 

[Yorkeontop]

Ajax missing out in the knock-outs is expected, but the overestimation of ten Hag on here is borderline dangerous, he would never reach those expectations given our lowly, current state. Would I mind him? I would gladly take him onboard, but I wouldn’t be silly enough to expect him to challenge the big boys in England.

I feel his floor (performance) is definitely lower than Pochettino's with regards to EPL but I hold out hope for his ceiling being higher (based on mostly my muppetness.) I can see the board going with the tried and tested and I wouldn't blame them.

 

[Nickelodeon]

He signed for them in 2017 and they’d won the league in 2014.

My bad. I trusted one of the tweets on the previous page.

 

[Matt851]

But Ten Hag hasn’t won anything in Europe, he’s not done as well as Pochettino and hasn’t taken his Ajax side as far in the Europa League as they did before he went there.
I think it’s fair to say Poch is a good manager rather than a great one, same as Ten Hag. They both have potential to maybe be great, but neither are.
Simeone has done a fantastic job at Atletico, I don’t like his football but it’s hard to argue about his achievements.

ETH also hasn't had to qualify for the champions league in a competitive league like poch or simeone. He might well be a very good manager but its hard to be certain based in his experience to date

 

[Caesar2290]

He left indelible marks at both clubs that go largely unmentioned.

Espanyol indebted to Mauricio Pochettino as kids show their worth

An in depth Guardian article

His work at Southampton in the short time he was there unearthed so many gems and players who ended up leaving their mark in the game at bigger clubs. Perhaps he didn't build them from scratch, but he definitely built on and added to their squads. A lot of youth players like Phillips Coutinho owe a lot to him

About Espanyol:

Spoiler: Espanoyol sack Pochettino

Espanyol have sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino following last night's 2-0 defeat at home to Getafe. Los Pericos are currently rock-bottom of La Liga with just two wins in 13 games.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/espanyol/news/espanyol-sack-pochettino_56498.html

Amazing work indeed.

His unearthing gems at Soton coincided with this man right here. Paul Mitchell: Former Tottenham and Southampton director of recruitment joins Monaco

It's also amazing how when Mitchell left Spurs and Poch was tasked with "refreshing" the squad he signed quiet a few flops that Spurs have on their books to this day.

Unlike Poch, Mitchell continues to unearth gems to this day. Tchouameni that everyone and their dog wants, is a Mitchell buy. Just like the entire thing Poch inherited.

I would continue this conversation, but you are making stuff up as you go along at this point.

 

[bosniamanutd]

I hope ETH would help us..we are in deep shite

 

[JPRouve]

About Espanyol:

Spoiler: Espanoyol sack Pochettino

Espanyol have sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino following last night's 2-0 defeat at home to Getafe. Los Pericos are currently rock-bottom of La Liga with just two wins in 13 games.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/espanyol/news/espanyol-sack-pochettino_56498.html

Amazing work indeed.

His unearthing gems at Soton coincided with this man right here. Paul Mitchell: Former Tottenham and Southampton director of recruitment joins Monaco

It's also amazing how when Mitchell left Spurs and Poch was tasked with "refreshing" the squad he signed quiet a few flops that Spurs have on their books to this day.

Unlike Poch, Mitchell continues to unearth gems to this day. Tchouameni that everyone and their dog wants, is a Mitchell buy. Just like the entire thing Poch inherited.

I would continue this conversation, but you are making stuff up as you go along at this point.

Mitchell didn't unearth Tchouaméni and he wasn't purchased under Mitchell.

 

[lsd]

Mitchell didn't unearth Tchouaméni and he wasn't purchased under Mitchell.

No surprise. It's really getting very sad the sheer hate people are so throwing in Poch because they want to Ten Hag.

There is so much bitterness on here.

I'm not that fussed on either but I don't go out of way to make up nonsense to belittle them

 

[Cassidy]

No surprise. It's really getting very sad the sheer hate people are so throwing in Poch because they want to Ten Hag.

There is so much bitterness on here.

I'm not that fussed on either but I don't go out of way to make up nonsense to belittle them

Its not really nonsense that Poch and recruitment is suspect

 

[lsd]

Its not really nonsense that Poch and recruitment is suspect

Not as suspect as you making stuff up to try and prove your point.

There is a real danger in is following the path of Everton whose fans wanted Lampard and no one else. Look how toxic they behaved to get him

 

[JPRouve]

No surprise. It's really getting very sad the sheer hate people are so throwing in Poch because they want to Ten Hag.

There is so much bitterness on here.

I'm not that fussed on either but I don't go out of way to make up nonsense to belittle them

That's not the point. Mitchell was the one in charge of recruitment at Southampton not Pochettino and he was also the one initially in charge of recruitment at Tottenham. It just happens that Tchouaméni joined Monaco 5 months before Mitchell.

 

[Cassidy]

Not as suspect as you making stuff up to try and prove your point.

There is a real danger in is following the path of Everton whose fans wanted Lampard and no one else. Look how toxic they behaved to get him

i made stuff up, are you sure?

 

[United in sin]

About Espanyol:

Spoiler: Espanoyol sack Pochettino

Espanyol have sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino following last night's 2-0 defeat at home to Getafe. Los Pericos are currently rock-bottom of La Liga with just two wins in 13 games.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/espanyol/news/espanyol-sack-pochettino_56498.html

Amazing work indeed.

His unearthing gems at Soton coincided with this man right here. Paul Mitchell: Former Tottenham and Southampton director of recruitment joins Monaco

It's also amazing how when Mitchell left Spurs and Poch was tasked with "refreshing" the squad he signed quiet a few flops that Spurs have on their books to this day.

Unlike Poch, Mitchell continues to unearth gems to this day. Tchouameni that everyone and their dog wants, is a Mitchell buy. Just like the entire thing Poch inherited.

I would continue this conversation, but you are making stuff up as you go along at this point.

I'm tired of your misrepresentation of Pochettino on here. It's tiring. Maybe we'll get your young and upcoming manager who's had a coaching badge since 2001 when Pochettino was playing at age 28. Maybe we won't.

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

Hipsters choice. Truth is 99% of the people wanting ETH haven’t watched more than 5 games at Ajax and even that’s being generous.

Exactly this. Wasnt it only last year the general concensus on here was that he was "overrated"? How fast thing change.
Only dead fish follow the stream, and theres a lot of dead fish on this forum.

 

[United in sin]

Exactly this. Wasnt it only last year the general concensus on here was that he was "overrated"? How fast thing change.
Only dead fish follow the stream, and theres a lot of dead fish on this forum.

This. So many on here don't even have the access to United games week in week out as evidenced by the cries for 'rivers' in the matchday threads of even the biggest games of the season. No way the multitudes screaming for Ten Hag watch Ajax regularly. They are followers who've bought into a dream

 

[RkkMan]

 

[#07]

United are impressed by how Ten Hag has assembled two successful teams either side of the sales of Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong in 2019. Ten Hag's potential for longevity also appeals as he joined Ajax in December 2017.

Of the realistic candidates to replace Rangnick, Ten Hag is probably the best. However, this is a fundamental misreading of the situation.

Ten Hag did not assemble two successful teams. Ten Hag coached two successful teams. There's a difference.

Not implying that Ajax could've achieved what its achieved without him. Not by a long way. He had to input into where the gaps in the team were and, once Ajax filled those, he had to demonstrate the ability to harness the talents of the new playing staff. It was not a given that he'd be successful at that. However, the lines as carried by Luckhurst misunderstands Ten Hag's remit.

Overmars, as Ajax's Director of Football, was arguably as important to assembling those teams as Ten Hag.

If we're going to bring Ten Hag in and expect him to be scouting players and deciding on major signings, we clearly don't understand how Ajax works and what Ten Hag will need to be successful.

 

[JPRouve]

Of the realistic candidates to replace Rangnick, Ten Hag is probably the best. However, this is a fundamental misreading of the situation.

Ten Hag did not assemble two successful teams. Ten Hag coached two successful teams. There's a difference.

Not implying that Ajax could've achieved what its achieved without him. Not by a long way. He had to input into where the gaps in the team were and, once Ajax filled those, he had to demonstrate the ability to harness the talents of the new playing staff. It was not a given that he'd be successful at that. However, the lines as carried by Luckhurst misunderstands Ten Hag's remit.

Overmars, as Ajax's Director of Football, was arguably as important to assembling those teams as Ten Hag.

If we're going to bring Ten Hag in and expect him to be scouting players and deciding on major signings, we clearly don't understand how Ajax works and what Ten Hag will need to be successful.

Fundamentally it's not necessarily a misread. He effectively changed the way they played based on different personnel at his disposal. So while he isn't the one bringing the players, he is the one who built two different teams through coaching.
If I remember correctly the first team was more tiki taka like while the current one is more direct and in a way closer to how Enrique set Barcelona.

 

[#07]

Fundamentally it's not necessarily a misread. He effectively changed the way they played based on different personnel at his disposal. So while he isn't the one bringing the players, he is the one who built two different teams through coaching.
If I remember correctly the first team was more tiki taka like while the current one is more direct and in a way closer to how Enrique set Barcelona.

Not necessarily but this is Manchester United we're talking about. When they think about assembling a team...well they've got previous. We know what they mean, we've been told by three or four ex-coaches now.

Ten Hag's strength is coaching and he's exceptionally good at that. He can tell you what pieces of the puzzle he's missing and what you need to get for him to make the puzzle work. However, if we're thinking its going to be like Ole who had a personal scout, then we're mistaken. Ten Hag will, justifiably, be expecting there to be a functioning structure in place for him. He's worked at Bayern and Ajax, two clubs that operate like well oiled machines.

I just hope he's ready for the dysfunction he may be walking into. I just hope the Board of Man Utd are finally ready to give a head coach the tools he needs to succeed.

 

[LoneStar]

I’m still skeptical of bringing him in for one major reason - none of our current players are suited to possession based football, at least the way City play (which I assume is close to how ETH sets up to play). It’s unrealistic (and tbh stupid) for any club to basically just replace all their players to suit a manager.

Can he adapt to the players strengths? And adapt tactics to get something out of the current players? We would, at best, buy maybe 4 players next summer. Whoever takes over has a giant rebuilding job at their hands, and needs to show versatility and patience in bringing in their vision. Suppose this applies for fans too, if we are in a similar position next season, how many fans would be willing to wait for the manager to get it right?

 

[McGrathsipan]

I’m still skeptical of bringing him in for one major reason - none of our current players are suited to possession based football, at least the way City play (which I assume is close to how ETH sets up to play). It’s unrealistic (and tbh stupid) for any club to basically just replace all their players to suit a manager.

Can he adapt to the players strengths? And adapt tactics to get something out of the current players? We would, at best, buy maybe 4 players next summer. Whoever takes over has a giant rebuilding job at their hands, and needs to show versatility and patience in bringing in their vision. Suppose this applies for fans too, if we are in a similar position next season, how many fans would be willing to wait for the manager to get it right?

Its completely logical that a manager gets players that suit him. How is it Stupid. Look at Pep - would he keep donkeys like maguire and jogba or the likes of Rashford? Absolutely not
feck the current players. They have proved exactly what they are.
If it takes 2/3 years to cleanse the squad then so be it. If not its going to be the same old same old shite
I expect most of us will be patient if we see progress and a vision and most of all effort and application from the playing staff

 

[#07]

I’m still skeptical of bringing him in for one major reason - none of our current players are suited to possession based football, at least the way City play (which I assume is close to how ETH sets up to play). It’s unrealistic (and tbh stupid) for any club to basically just replace all their players to suit a manager.

Can he adapt to the players strengths? And adapt tactics to get something out of the current players? We would, at best, buy maybe 4 players next summer. Whoever takes over has a giant rebuilding job at their hands, and needs to show versatility and patience in bringing in their vision. Suppose this applies for fans too, if we are in a similar position next season, how many fans would be willing to wait for the manager to get it right?

Liverpool did it for Klopp. There was no trying to 'protect value' when it came time to move on Sakho, Sturridge, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, Skertel, Mingolet, Lovren, Ings, Solanke, Benteke, Jose Enrique etc. If it was Man Utd a lot of those players would still be there, with the club renewing contracts to try and get transfer fees.

United, as a club, should have a vision for how they want to play. If that vision is, effectively, we want to play something like Ajax or whatever. Then the club should start sweeping the decks of anyone who can't fit that style and bring in players that can. Also, even if Ten Hag ultimately proves he can't deliver that style the plan shouldn't change. We should just go out and find another coach who coaches that same style to replace him and keep doing that until someone finally delivers the vision we want to see.

That's what clubs like Barcelona do. They say this is our way. This is how we play. If you can't coach it or you can't play it, leave.

 

[JPRouve]

Not necessarily but this is Manchester United we're talking about. When they think about assembling a team...well they've got previous. We know what they mean, we've been told by three or four ex-coaches now.

Ten Hag's strength is coaching and he's exceptionally good at that. He can tell you what pieces of the puzzle he's missing and what you need to get for him to make the puzzle work. However, if we're thinking its going to be like Ole who had a personal scout, then we're mistaken. Ten Hag will, justifiably, be expecting there to be a functioning structure in place for him. He's worked at Bayern and Ajax, two clubs that operate like well oiled machines.

I just hope he's ready for the dysfunction he may be walking into. I just hope the Board of Man Utd are finally ready to give a head coach the tools he needs to succeed.

I don't really see it that way, I think that they are talking about building a team on the field.

 

[lenny_1248]

It’s unrealistic (and tbh stupid) for any club to basically just replace all their players to suit a manager.

It's neither unrealistic nor stupid imo.

We would, at best, buy maybe 4 players next summer. Whoever takes over has a giant rebuilding job at their hands, and needs to show versatility and patience in bringing in their vision. Suppose this applies for fans too, if we are in a similar position next season, how many fans would be willing to wait for the manager to get it right?

He will be given 3 years to completely rebuild this team. [I'd think]

 

[#07]

I don't really see it that way, I think that they are talking about building a team on the field.

I hope you are correct. As I keep reading reports that the club is waiting for the new coach to come in to make signings and it unnerves me. It doesn't feel like there's an equivalent Overmars at Man Utd who has thought thoroughly about what Ten Hag may need to be successful, then started putting in plans to bring that together.

I contrast this with what I'd expect if it were announced that Ten Hag was going to Bayern and its like night and day. The way our club works just feels so reactive and directionless. City even had Soriano and Begiristain in place years in advance of getting Pep, in order to try and prepare the ground for him.

I hope we have decided that what we want is the brand of football Ten Hag represents and that, as a club, we're going to all in on realising it. I just wouldn't be surprised if we hire Ten Hag and then in a year's time the club are briefing they chose the wrong man cos he hasn't found a way to teach Wan Bissaka to build out from the back...

 

[JPRouve]

I hope you are correct. As I keep reading reports that the club is waiting for the new coach to come in to make signings and it unnerves me. It doesn't feel like there's an equivalent Overmars at Man Utd who has thought thoroughly about what Ten Hag may need to be successful, then started putting in plans to bring that together.

I contrast this with what I'd expect if it were announced that Ten Hag was going to Bayern and its like night and day. The way our club works just feels so reactive and directionless. City even had Soriano and Begiristain in place years in advance of getting Pep, in order to try and prepare the ground for him.

I hope we have decided that what we want is the brand of football Ten Hag represents and that, as a club, we're going to all in on realising it. I just wouldn't be surprised if we hire Ten Hag and then in a year's time the club are briefing they chose the wrong man cos he hasn't found a way to teach Wan Bissaka to build out from the back...

I'm pretty sure that all of these reports are nonsense. Since when do the press has a clear idea about what clubs are going to do in the summer when we are in the middle of March? They have no idea about what Bayern, City, Liverpool or United are planning or at which stage of their thinking they are.

 

[#07]

I'm pretty sure that all of these reports are nonsense. Since when do the press has a clear idea about what clubs are going to do in the summer when we are in the middle of March? They have no idea about what Bayern, City, Liverpool or United are planning or at which stage of their thinking they are.

All of the people reporting this stuff are on the Manchester press beat and they have all had solid stories before. You may be correct but then why believe the stories about Ten Hag? They're from the same people.

Its possible that all these journalists are just making things up. However, based on recent history there's cause to believe what they're coming out with. However, that's just my opinion. You, clearly, are entitled to your own.

For me, the most important thing is, if Ten Hag is United's choice the club must make sure it gives him the structure and platform needed to do well.

 

[onemanarmy]

Absolutely nothing in Dutch press for now.

 

[JPRouve]

All of the people reporting this stuff are on the Manchester press beat and they have all had solid stories before. You may be correct but then why believe the stories about Ten Hag? They're from the same people.

Its possible that all these journalists are just making things up. However, based on recent history there's cause to believe what they're coming out with. However, that's just my opinion. You, clearly, are entitled to your own.

For me, the most important thing is, if Ten Hag is United's choice the club must make sure it gives him the structure and platform needed to do well.

These same people had little idea that the club was in contact with Rangnick, they have no clue. And it's not as if they are giving you any details, they are sharing very vague ideas that will never be exposed because it's never exposed and that applies to all clubs. I would be with you if they were making claims that could comeback to haunt them but they are making unverifiable claims about informations that clubs rarely share at this time of the year.

 

[RuudTom83]

Personally I would like Ralf to stay at the club and oversee the development.

With that in mind I don’t see Poch working well with Ralf. But for some reason I feel Ten Hag would accept Ralf position.

*Completely making this up but ain’t we all on the forum.

 

[RkkMan]

These same people had little idea that the club was in contact with Rangnick, they have no clue. And it's not as if they are giving you any details, they are sharing very vague ideas that will never be exposed because it's never exposed and that applies to all clubs. I would be with you if they were making claims that could comeback to haunt them but they are making unverifiable claims about informations that clubs rarely share at this time of the year.

Luckhurst was actually the only Utd journalist that reported Rangnick as Utd's preferred Interim option when everyone thought it would be Valverde. He also called Varane back in February last year before the summer amongst other stories. There's a reason I've posted his story he tends to get these exclusives in advance ahead of many journalists

 

[LoneStar]

Its completely logical that a manager gets players that suit him. How is it Stupid. Look at Pep - would he keep donkeys like maguire and jogba or the likes of Rashford? Absolutely not
feck the current players. They have proved exactly what they are.
If it takes 2/3 years to cleanse the squad then so be it. If not its going to be the same old same old shite
I expect most of us will be patient if we see progress and a vision and most of all effort and application from the playing staff

It's neither unrealistic nor stupid imo.


He will be given 3 years to completely rebuild this team. [I'd think]

Liverpool did it for Klopp. There was no trying to 'protect value' when it came time to move on Sakho, Sturridge, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, Skertel, Mingolet, Lovren, Ings, Solanke, Benteke, Jose Enrique etc. If it was Man Utd a lot of those players would still be there, with the club renewing contracts to try and get transfer fees.

United, as a club, should have a vision for how they want to play. If that vision is, effectively, we want to play something like Ajax or whatever. Then the club should start sweeping the decks of anyone who can't fit that style and bring in players that can. Also, even if Ten Hag ultimately proves he can't deliver that style the plan shouldn't change. We should just go out and find another coach who coaches that same style to replace him and keep doing that until someone finally delivers the vision we want to see.

That's what clubs like Barcelona do. They say this is our way. This is how we play. If you can't coach it or you can't play it, leave.

All this is fine in idea. But the question is will United do this?

The problem is that this will take time. However, if the results go poorly in the first season, I’m wondering how many fans would still stay patient? Pep would be backed even if he has a poor season, simply because of his track record at big clubs. Do you trust our board to do the same with ETH though? I’m not so sure.

Maybe I’m being overly pessimistic here, but I will prefer to hold it till I see something from the club. I’m not saying that ETH is the wrong choice or that there are better choices, but it seems like assuming a lot from the club when it’s done no such long term planning for a good decade. A lot of factors need to fall into place since we would not just be changing coaches, but trying to build a new structure and more or less changing the starting 11.

 

[DJ_21]

It seems like it’s going to be ten Hag… there’s more noise around him then any of the other 2. It makes sense, he’s the fans 1st choice, he’ll be cheaper to get, unless poch is sacked of course but I’m hoping we wrap this up before poch is sacked so then it’s to late to change there minds. Quicker we get it sorted then the quicker we can focus on the managers preferred transfer targets. It will take a while for ten Hag to implement his philosophy though as we haven’t played a possession brand of football since LVG. That was the boring version though… ten Hag will bring an attacking possession style. I expect at least a year of him implementing his style but aslong as he gets us in to the top 4 in his first season and build from there then we should be alright.

 

[AshRK]

I’m still skeptical of bringing him in for one major reason - none of our current players are suited to possession based football, at least the way City play (which I assume is close to how ETH sets up to play). It’s unrealistic (and tbh stupid) for any club to basically just replace all their players to suit a manager.

Can he adapt to the players strengths? And adapt tactics to get something out of the current players? We would, at best, buy maybe 4 players next summer. Whoever takes over has a giant rebuilding job at their hands, and needs to show versatility and patience in bringing in their vision. Suppose this applies for fans too, if we are in a similar position next season, how many fans would be willing to wait for the manager to get it right?

We won't be getting instant success. We have two options either give a manager like ETH to instill his philosophy or appoint a pragmatic manager and look for instant success like Conte, Ancelotti or even Poch. I would rather we go with the former and give him time and resource to completely revamp our style.

 

[Leftback99]

Not necessarily but this is Manchester United we're talking about. When they think about assembling a team...well they've got previous. We know what they mean, we've been told by three or four ex-coaches now.

Ten Hag's strength is coaching and he's exceptionally good at that. He can tell you what pieces of the puzzle he's missing and what you need to get for him to make the puzzle work. However, if we're thinking its going to be like Ole who had a personal scout, then we're mistaken. Ten Hag will, justifiably, be expecting there to be a functioning structure in place for him. He's worked at Bayern and Ajax, two clubs that operate like well oiled machines.

I just hope he's ready for the dysfunction he may be walking into. I just hope the Board of Man Utd are finally ready to give a head coach the tools he needs to succeed.

Yeah, it will be another disaster whichever new coach we bring in if player recruitment continues in the same way as it always has.

Most still massively underestimate how important top class scouting and recruitment has been to the likes of Klopp, without it he'd be nowhere near as successful.

 

[#07]

All this is fine in idea. But the question is will United do this?

The problem is that this will take time. However, if the results go poorly in the first season, I’m wondering how many fans would still stay patient? Pep would be backed even if he has a poor season, simply because of his track record at big clubs. Do you trust our board to do the same with ETH though? I’m not so sure.

Maybe I’m being overly pessimistic here, but I will prefer to hold it till I see something from the club. I’m not saying that ETH is the wrong choice or that there are better choices, but it seems like assuming a lot from the club when it’s done no such long term planning for a good decade. A lot of factors need to fall into place since we would not just be changing coaches, but trying to build a new structure and more or less changing the starting 11.

You make some solid points. Will Man Utd stay the course?

Honestly, I can't answer that. Like you I am sceptical. Hence me saying I hope we have decided that Ten Hag is in line with a long term vision, one that will be supported by a structure and a plan that's long term.

However, even if the club does go Grand Old Duke of York, I'd like to hope and believe there is some plan beyond get the name that's hot on social media.

 

[United in sin]

I hope you are correct. As I keep reading reports that the club is waiting for the new coach to come in to make signings and it unnerves me. It doesn't feel like there's an equivalent Overmars at Man Utd who has thought thoroughly about what Ten Hag may need to be successful, then started putting in plans to bring that together.

I contrast this with what I'd expect if it were announced that Ten Hag was going to Bayern and its like night and day. The way our club works just feels so reactive and directionless. City even had Soriano and Begiristain in place years in advance of getting Pep, in order to try and prepare the ground for him.

I hope we have decided that what we want is the brand of football Ten Hag represents and that, as a club, we're going to all in on realising it. I just wouldn't be surprised if we hire Ten Hag and then in a year's time the club are briefing they chose the wrong man cos he hasn't found a way to teach Wan Bissaka to build out from the back...

Very thoughtful post, and I'm dreading the things you mention will come to fruition no matter who's at the helm. The operations of this club are in desperate need of a deep reset, a paradigm shift of sorts.

I believe Ten Hag or whichever candidate is appointed for the managerial role will be in for a shock if they're not doing their research and asking pertinent questions about the operational structure of this broken club.