What decisions has Ten Hag got right since joining?

sdb4884 said:
Playing with pretty much the same shit side from last year and the same shit captain doesn't help. That's why pre season form is bullshit. Minimum 10 signings we needed and as much leaving but neither have happened. The board needs to get their fecking heads out if their backsides and fast.
Click to expand...

And the season before! 2019/20 had a very similar make up bar Ronaldo. It was obvious back then that we needed to strengthen specific areas and it's still obvious.
 
I am not sure about mistakes so far, but if he extends any of these contracts this year, he would instantly blow up his tenure as manager.

Contracts expiring in 2023: David de Gea, Tom Heaton, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Fred, Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo
 
Castia said:
Probably thought he was going to get players to suit his system - FdJ, Antony and Timber.

It’s like asking Pep to manage Derby County, he can ask them to play out from the back and play Tiki Taka but on match days they’d get slapped every week. Our players are absolutely shite.

I can’t believe people are still blaming managers do you know anything about fecking football?
Click to expand...
I assume that Pep could manage Derby County, or a kid's U8 team for that matter. That he could scale his expectations to his players abilities.
Are you saying that Ten Hag can't do that?
 
Lets do a checklist:

1. Praising the strength of this squad and claiming we don't need major changes... checked
2. Keeping Maguire as our captain... checked
3. Ignore dossier from Rangnick who insisted we need overhaul of this squad, and ignore all his recommendations, then went on with his own wish list which became a complete disaster for us this summer...
4, Didn't want to sign any ball winning DM, even though it is by far our weakest position for years... checked
5. Spending most of our funds on a CB who isn't suit to play PL... checked
6. Only signing Ajax-related/Dutch players, who isn't quite ready for PL yet... checked
7. Not clearing our deadwood in summer, and targeting other clubs' deadwood as our potential signing.... checked
8. Got it totally wrong in game plan in our 2 opening games... checked
9. Still relying heavily on McFred... checked
10. Finally admitted we need a major changes after total humiliation in our opening 2 games with him in charged, despite the fact we all know it many months ago, except him and Glazer... checked

So he got 0 out of 10 right so far... if I didn't miss anything.
 
Real Madras said:
I remember Conte get smashed 3-0 at Half Time in his 1st season. I remember that game was a turning point and he went on to win the league. Why can’t that happen with us?
Click to expand...

I believe that game prompted Conte to switch to a 343 and Chelsea never look back after that.

I hope ETH recognises that a major change is required. Switching to 343 as Conte dud is one of the possible solutions, actually.
 
hobbers said:
He's got plenty right. He's just got the main thing wrong.

Which is having faith in and giving a clean slate to all these sham players. Particularly when trying to coach them into playing a philosophy that is anathema to them, which Ralf found out himself 1 game in.

And sticking with Maguire as captain. But then you have to look at Ronaldo, who wants to leave, Bruno who's a fecking fraud stealing a living this past year, and De Gea, and think, yeh there's actually no one in this squad who deserves the armband. He will have to wait and give it to a new signing at some point.

The other big mistake is having faith in what that little clown of a man with the title of football director told him. Believing he could deliver what he wanted.
Click to expand...

Sensible post.

It's a shameful indication of our squad's personality that there isn't one suitable candidate for captaincy. Successful sides will usually have a handful of options.

I'm sure with the hindsight of what he knows now, ETH would have insisted on an overhaul on a grander scale, but not doing so was an understandable mistake to make. Plus we dont know to what extent his wishes would have been fulfilled anyway.

I'm not judging ETH on the first few games or over analysing every word he says. But I do expect to see him make some meaningful adjustments quickly.
 
steffyr2 said:
I assume that Pep could manage Derby County, or a kid's U8 team for that matter. That he could scale his expectations to his players abilities.
Are you saying that Ten Hag can't do that?
Click to expand...

Well we’ve brought a manager in to play a certain type of way, an attacking style of football the fans want to see I might add.

Pointless bringing in ETH and asking him to play a defensive game because the team can’t defend for shit. Should have appointed big Sam if thats the case.
 
Thiagoal said:
While I get your point, Graham Potter managed to get Championship players playing a beautiful brand of possession football! You’d hope our millionaire internationals would be able to play a few passes too…
Click to expand...

True that. This team for whatever reason won’t even run, it’s like they all hate their employer and are only giving 70% on the field.

Massive issues that I don’t know how to fix. Would be ideal if the manager got his first choice players though.
 
Taking the armband off Maguire and giving it to another half baked alternative would have been idiotic. The next player who gets it will have it for years, and they're not currently playing for this club. No one deserves it right now and is the right fit. Maguire shouldn't be playing for us, that's the main issue. The captaincy issue really isn't even a drop in the ocean.
 
While watching the game yesterday my youngest son (who is 7) asked me why the defenders aren't checking their area and looking over their shoulder.

This is what ten Hag is dealing with. Players who are so down with confidence that tjay can't even get the basics right. It's going to take time and patience.
 
Kinky Melinky said:
Word of advice, never ever get into investing. You're too emotional and impatient. You would lose all of your money.
Click to expand...

I'm just going to take it as a rule that when posters feel the need to post glib, irrelevant comments they're reacting angrily to being unable to answer the question.

We're 5 pages in and there's still precious few examples of Ten Hag getting much right. But thanks again for padding out the count without engaging with the pretty basic question posed.
 
It is a marathon and not a spirit though, as cliched as it sounds. I'm so worried this fanbase and club has no patience left, I desperately want to see this bloke given time.
 
AndyMUFC said:
feck off blaming the manager. This squad is broken and the club is run by a bunch of fools. It is a long, painful road back that needs to start with a clear out.
Click to expand...
Undoubtedly true but spending a significant sum on a centre back who will be targetted every game isn't the road to improvement
 
Judas said:
It is a marathon and not a spirit though, as cliched as it sounds. I'm so worried this fanbase and club has no patience left, I desperately want to see this bloke given time.
Click to expand...

I'm certainly out of patience, and I think that any fan that isn't should probably consider a career change to a Buddhist monk.

The question though is who our imaptience should be directed at. Certainly, the players and and certainly the board, we need to clean house on both fronts.

But is it really a ridiculous premise that a board who had been responsible for this mess also hired a manager deeply incapable of sorting it out. In fact is it possible that Ten Hag is here because he didn't even see it as a mess which needed sorting until Brighton? Why would they have got the managerial hire right, but everything else wrong?
 
NinjaFletch said:
He was, by absolutely all accounts, entirely an ETH target. Another point of significant concern about his judgement for me, even with the mitigation that he shouldn't be responsible for talent ID.
Click to expand...
It does make me worry to, it seems like the kind of signing that would prosper in his ajax team but struggle in the pl. I query whether he properly acknowlwdges the difference in the leagues e.g. signing a midget centre back
 
It’s to early to blame the manager he’ll learn for again hopefully that the PL is a physical league playing such a small team definitely didn’t help you could see that a halftime.
The only thing I will blame ten hag for is keeping maguire as captain again 2 games in he’s been terrible.
But saying all that the players have to do better shocking performance I think it’s the worst I’ve ever seen as a United fan in 30 years especially when it come to effort pride and fight.
 
Indeed that is a good question. I'd say getting Eriksen was a smart move, because it gives us some options.

The way Eriksen has been used so far though...

So I guess not a lot of positives so. But he's against a huge challenge and I don't think we could have gotten a better coach, so he has my full support.
 
Wonder whether it would be better to play Martinez as a DM? He seems to be able to tackle, is quick.
 
Those he got wrong -

1) Starting maguire when others have shown more capable
2) Thinking of mcfred as midfielders both can pass not play positionally well in the midfield
3) Not yet realising Shaw won’t give him long term success
4) Not getting in a proper midfielder, at this point youth have shown better passing ability
5) Rashford should be clearly put on transfer list, after his own declared proper pre season lack of effort or ability shown on the pitch is alarming
6) Not getting a striker in
 
I like ETH I do however he has already made the following mistakes ;
1. Chasing a pipe dream all summer of FDJ when knowing first hand the wage and CL issue.
2. Not understanding the physicality of the PL by buying a 5’5/6 left back and a 5’8/9 CB, both can only play in this league in 343 or 352 formation.
3. Blooding Youth on tour and then discarding talents like C Savage, Garner, Pellistri, Garnaucho and IQbal
4. McFred can not play together, Mctominay or Fred could play as an 8 with Garner or even Victor Lindelof as the 6 who should be playing right now.
5. His in game management looks poor, takes too long to make changes and really needs to understand he has 5 subs available in 4 phases, no point bringing on a sub on 90/92 minutes.
6. We lost Pogba, Cavani, Lingard, Matic, Mata and everyone was delighted but who have they been replaced with because in reality take those players away and Ronaldo who has no interest being here and that squad with such limited firepower
and such a weak mental attitude are relegation candidates.

If he does not improve quickly and by that I mean he has only accumulated 1/2 points after 6/7 games he’ll be out the door and Pochetino will be in because unfortunately targeting Eredevise players at £50m are only going to make his standing with that selfish board worse, they’ll throw him under the bus to the Glaziers when really Murtourgh should be sacked this weekend and go get a proper DOF.

Steve McClaren can help by being honest with ETH and telling him they need to make radical changes for the next 3 games and target 6 points just to get going, they are not getting much against Liverpool but an improved performance is what we want to see; The team should be changed for next 3 games to the following ;
T Heaton, AWB, Bailey, Varane, Malacia, J Garner or V Lindelof(CDM), Zidane, Ericsen, Sancho, Ganaucho, Rashford or Rinaldo neither deserve to play right now but we have no other options - Subs D D Gea, L Shaw, H Maguire, Fred, L Martinez, J Garner , Bruno, Ronaldo, Elanga

I can at least see the team above not conceding 4 goals to many teams in the PL and has enough to hit teams on counterattack.

The other thing is David Gill needs to help in transfer market by jumping in to assist clueless John Murtourgh, we need ; GK, CDM, RW, CF and we need those players now, like this week and if they cost £150m, the Glaziers need to get the money from their dividend funds because if they don’t buy those 4 key players they will owner a championship club next year with a stadium 1/3 full and no sponsorship deals.

You know what I’d take that to get rid of the parasite owners we have, I wonder how many more united fans would too?
 
Last edited:
His biggest call will be to taking the captaincy from him and dropping Maguire, within the next few weeks.
 
Matt851 said:
It does make me worry to, it seems like the kind of signing that would prosper in his ajax team but struggle in the pl. I query whether he properly acknowlwdges the difference in the leagues e.g. signing a midget centre back
Click to expand...
To be fair it's not like there aren't physically strong strikers in the Eredivisie (though the PL is more focused on those, that's true). However Ajax got away with it as they worked much better to prevent heading duels for the CB. But with the fullbacks United currently have it's a disastrous setup. Basically no player can cover for the weaknesses of players in other areas.
 
Matt851 said:
Undoubtedly true but spending a significant sum on a centre back who will be targetted every game isn't the road to improvement
Click to expand...

Yeah cannot play there against big strikers, really hope he realises that pronto
 
He’s got plenty right already and personally I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen of him already. This was never going to be easy and I’m not surprised that we already have fans who have thrown in the towel. The irony is those same posters question the lack of mentality in the players, well look in the mirror because youre displaying a weak mentality.
 
What an absolutely ridiculous post, and part of the reason we as a fanbase are so disjointed and toxic, the man has been here a matter of months and we already have posts like this. It has already been said from Dutch insiders that ETH was shocked at the state of recruitment and the youth, so he has had to take the reigns himself. Moyes, LVG, Mourinho, Ole, RR, and now ETH, all can’t be wrong and those above be correct. It is glaringly obvious where the issue is, the Glazers and their shambolic running of my club that I have followed for 43 years. I genuinely believe that ETH has been lied to, and because we can’t convince anyone to come to United, he has had to reply on what he knows……the Dutch market and people he has worked with and trusts. FFS wouldn’t you……with this lazy bunch of back stabbing cowards that think they have made it……when in actual fact they are self preserving because they KNOW that they are not the United level. People need to back ETH 100% and aim their disdain at the higher echelons of the club.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
He’s got plenty right already and personally I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen of him already. This was never going to be easy and I’m not surprised that we already have fans who have thrown in the towel. The irony is those same posters question the lack of mentality in the players, well look in the mirror because youre displaying a weak mentality.
Click to expand...

What has he got right, in your opinion?
 
sirAlexsglasses said:
What an absolutely ridiculous post, and part of the reason we as a fanbase are so disjointed and toxic, the man has been here a matter of months and we already have posts like this. It has already been said from Dutch insiders that ETH was shocked at the state of recruitment and the youth, so he has had to take the reigns himself. Moyes, LVG, Mourinho, Ole, RR, and now ETH, all can’t be wrong and those above be correct. It is glaringly obvious where the issue is, the Glazers and their shambolic running of my club that I have followed for 43 years. I genuinely believe that ETH has been lied to, and because we can’t convince anyone to come to United, he has had to reply on what he knows……the Dutch market and people he has worked with and trusts. FFS wouldn’t you……with this lazy bunch of back stabbing cowards that think they have made it……when in actual fact they are self preserving because they KNOW that they are not the United level. People need to back ETH 100% and aim their disdain at the higher echelons of the club.
Click to expand...


There's a million and one threads to air your ire with the Glazers. Frankly, I see little point in discussing that issue because there is no disagreement: everyone knows they need to go.

But they also appointed Ten Hag and it's not inconceivable thay made a mistake, too, there. In fact, their track record would suggest it's a minor miracle if they had appointed the correct manager.

So to the substance, what makes you think targeting Eredivise players is a good idea? Historically, they've struggled with the step up to the PL and a significant number of even star players in that league have struggled to even perform as squad players in PL teams.
 
He's right that we need to build from the back, it's the number one priority. Martinez's signing is questionable for now. Get FDJ and another CM that's good against pressing and maybe we will get there?
But he made a grave mistake that he thought DDG's feet could be trusted. 17/20 teams in the EPL know that DDG's fecking terrible at it. This should not happen if United had a proper structure. Pep binned Joe Hart in the first two months in charge, ETH should've done the same.
 
NinjaFletch said:
There's a million and one threads to air your ire with the Glazers. Frankly, I see little point in discussing that issue because there is no disagreement: everyone knows they need to go.

But they also appointed Ten Hag and it's not inconceivable thay made a mistake, too, there. In fact, their track record would suggest it's a minor miracle if they had appointed the correct manager.

So to the substance, what makes you think targeting Eredivise players is a good idea? Historically, they've struggled with the step up to the PL and a significant number of even star players in that league have struggled to even perform as squad players in PL teams.
Click to expand...

i never said it was a good idea, it I don’t believe that these shysters and crooks have left ETH with much choice. I liken this to any job, let’s say I’ve been asked to come in and manage an engineering project (what I do) and there is unrest, teams not performing etc. The first thing I do is bring my way of doing things to the table, and there will be some resistance as there are some bad eggs. So I bring some trusted lieutenants with me that know how I work and how to implement my way of working, I then steady the ship and strip away who isn’t prepared to work and isn’t a team player. Then I adjust and recruit accordingly, the Glazers have left ETH with no choice and they are simply anonymous and have let these absolute cowards throw five managers under the bus. We can not recruit anyone of any real standing in the game because of how poorly we are run, so he has to revert to what he knows.
 
Substituting Shaw and Fred at half time yesterday was the right decision (even though bringing McT in was a mistake, especially as he was dropped as a starter).

Of course, he should have also taken off Maguire (essentially blaming Martinez for the corner goal which was ridiculous since two defensive mistakes from the team had already happened before the ball found its way towards Martinez).

ETH is learning, and he will have to learn pretty fast in the Premier League in which every game is a battle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.