Dissecting Manchester United’s ‘game model’: What is Erik ten Hag hoping to achieve?
What are
Manchester United hoping to achieve this season?
A clue might be found in Ten Hag’s use of the phrase “game model”, which has steadily increased in recent weeks. But what is that? And how will it affect his team in the coming weeks?
What does Ten Hag mean by “game model”?
Football managers describe their plans as tactics. Then “playing philosophy” became the buzzword of choice. Now, more and more football managers and executives are using the term “game model” to describe a vast umbrella of principles that define a club’s playing style and identity.
“For the team, this is the perfect night,” Ten Hag said following United’s 7-0 victory over
Barnsley in the Carabao Cup last month. “We did everything we planned, won to reach the next round, scored some great goals, entertained the fans and worked on our game model, so we are happy.”
When a football person refers to a club’s game model, they are broadly referring to the tactical, strategic and logistical plans that contribute to the positive momentum of a football club. The term can cover how you want to approach the different phases of a team’s play (both in and out of possession), how you press and how you wish to counter-press. It will also cover your approach to set pieces, both attacking and defensive.
It is worth noting that Ten Hag only began to use the term in interviews towards the end of last season after the INEOS minority takeover was finalised and Jason Wilcox joined as the club’s new technical director. The head coach and his staff take chief responsibility for handling the day-to-day game model, but others — including players and other non-playing staff — factor into how a game model is created.
If a club’s game model is to play high-pressing, counter-attacking football, then they are likely to have a high number of young, athletic players suited to that style of play. Their scouting department and recruitment team will be geared towards acquiring more players that fit that system. They would also have a manager proficient at coaching that style of football. And so on.
So what sort of game model are United pursuing at the moment?
This is tricky to know for certain as Ten Hag has a habit of talking about a plan, rather than outlining what the plan is.
That could be a byproduct of the disastrous 2023-24 campaign, where he spent pre-season talking of his intention to turn United into “
the best transition team in the world“, only for injuries and other disruptions to see that plan blow up in his face.
The end of last season saw Ten Hag play down previous ambitions, but he appears to be pursuing a game model where United seek to control games by maintaining attacking pressure on opponents high up the field. After his side has pushed the opposition’s defence to breaking point, he then wants United to attack at pace and score quickly.
“If we have players available, we can construct a team that can play very dynamic, very proactive (football), with a lot of speed,” said the United manager before facing
Crystal Palace last month. “We can play very good in attacking transition but we also want to dictate in possession and, from there on, find our moments to speed up.”
Ten Hag has also made it clear that United’s game model seeks to provide a clear pathway for academy prospects. The Dutchman cites the progression of
Alejandro Garnacho and
Kobbie Mainoo as one of his jobs under the previous leadership.
While we can throw multiple Ten Hag quotes at you explaining what he wants, United’s game model remains frustratingly opaque because:
- There has been limited evidence of it since April 2023
- Ten Hag rarely elaborates on his out-of-possession demands when asked
- He also doesn’t like to elaborate when asked what makes this game model different to those used by other top sides
- When he does attempt to do either, his answers can be so circuitous that they often leave the reader/listener more confused