Acquire Me
Full Member
It depends what we're expecting from him though. Its clear that ETH is a systems manager who values organisation and hard-work over individual skill and talent.
This is not about defending ETH either, I have actually been vocal about my belief were not improving and he's failing to implement 'his' football - but I do like the direction he's going in, with respect his signings.
I accept many fans will disagree with me. They want flair, skills, dribbles, beating defenders, goals from outside the box etc...whereas I much prefer hard-work, ball retention, ability to press, footballing IQ, ball control etc...
We see it with Antony. I happen to really like him, but he's not the player United fans are used to seeing in wide-areas for the club. Likewise, Mount isn't the type of AM were used to seeing at the club....but this is by design.
I mentioned in a post above that we need to build a platform of solid, reliable, hard-workers before we add the 'stardust' that transforms us from 'good' to 'great'. Personally I'm sick of the Rashford's, the Martial's, the Pogba's, the AdMs, the Depay's, the Mhiki's etc...that turn-up one game in four and are desperate the rest of the time.
We wonder why our form keeps swinging wildly from the sublime to the ridiculous. Its because those players' top level is high, but their base level is very low - and they don't work hard enough to cover for bad performances.
I personally want a team of Mount's, Amrabat's, Antony's and Hojlund's working their backsides off game in, game out, first and foremost. We can worry about flair and individual brilliance once we have that solidity. Appreciate that's my preference/opinion.
Good post. Missed it when you posted. But I agree completely. It’s obviously entertaining as hell with flair players who can do incredible stuff from time to time. But to make a team tick you need players who can do the less impressive jobs like ball retention, defensive and attacking press, control pace of the game, etc. Without those hard working players the team will never be able to produce great football.
So I am firmly behind Mount. He got what we need and he will be a very important player for us.
Antony is another example of a player with a great work ethic and a huge potential to be better in terms of scoring and assisting others.
I think Erik ten Hag will get his reward by sticking to his plan.