It's not as simple as that though. You can just send half a dozen first-team players to the reserves, and the reason we know that is that no manager has ever done it. And Ten Hag has hardly shown a lack of balls dealing with big players, look at what he's done to Ronaldo, Sancho, Varane, etc. If anything I'd argue he's shown a lack of tact. I'm an organisational psychologist, and I can tell you from experience that a toxic culture is very difficult for one leader to overturn overnight.
The odd thing is though, as I and other posters have pointed out, is that he has no qualms about being very strict in relation to off the pitch issues. It's his tolerance of low standards, solely in relation to effort, on the pitch that is the biggest issue.
I understand its not easy to change a culture, but that's why we pay these managers millions. SAF and Wenger got rid of the boozy lad culture at United and Arsenal respectively. Klopp changed the 'likeable losers' culture at Liverpool and made them the hardest team to play against in World football. Even Pep had to change the culture at City. They'd won a few trophies but they still had that propensity for slackness and for chucking in the towel.
Rangnick said we needed "open heart surgery". What that means to me is, there is something wrong at the very core of the dressing room and it needs to be fixed. You don't fix that by releasing Phil Jones and selling James Garner. You do it by breaking up the senior group and replacing them. It should have started with Marcus Rashford. Why are we talking about his lack of effort again? He shouldn't have been given a 2nd or a 3rd chance to chuck the towel in.
There's a story about when Vince Lombardi took over at Green Bay Packers as a relatively unknown coach. His first act was to summon their star player, who had a reputation as a maverick, and to sack him on the spot.
If I was EtH I'd walk into Carrington tomorrow, tell Martial and Varane to clear out their lockers. I'd send Rashford to train with the u23s (see if he can remember what it means to fight for a career at the club you love). I'd tell Casemiro and his agent to find him a new club in January. I'd call Dalot into my office, make him sit and watch the Newcastle game in the Carabao + the Galatasary game at home, then I'd tell him to go and join Marcus in the u23s until further notice. Sancho's position wouldn't change, he's still transfer listed and banned from the club's facilities.
Sure, they'd be furious, but let them be. Who cares? Do you think Pellistri, Hannibal, Mainoo, Dan Gore, Joe Hugill, Amad etc...would have any sympathy for them whatsoever? They'd run themselves into the ground for the club and their careers. I don't care if we finished 15th, I can deal with that by bringing in players, proper characters, with more quality and experience in time.
