Erik ten Hag - Ajax Manager

[In Rainbows]

3.5 gpg, are you kidding me? Do they teach defending at all in that league?

The absolute number itself isn't important. Rather the relative attacking prowess ETH showed in comparison to his managerial peers, is what's important. You can see that 3.5 is really far above what his peers managed the last 12 seasons or so. And he was consistent in his attacking output in comparison to his peers.

 

[Solius]

Yeah only because right now we have higher priorities than upgrading to a modern style GK

Yeah that’s literally what I said.

 

[United in sin]

Stopped watching after 40 seconds, if he thinks De Gea is a shoe in he knows nothing about Ten Hag. Pep’s first move was to bin Joe Hart and I expect something similar from Ten Hag.

Hag doesn't have Pep's power and prestige coming into a club and league of this magnitude for the first time. I doubt he's going to come in and make an instant big decision on De Gea's game time.

 

[GoonerBear]

Ranking of most goals scored per game in Eredivisie of last 12 seasons. This includes every dutch side (Ajax, PSV, Twente).

1. ETH 19' = 3.5 gpg
2. Jol 10' = 3.12 gpg
3. Advocaat 13' = 3.03 gpg
4. ETH 21' = 3 gpg
5. ETH 22' = 2.96 gpg
6. MVB 19' = 2.88 gpg
7. de Boer 12' = 2.74 gpg
8. ETH 20' = 2.72 gpg
9. Cocu 15'= 2.71 gpg
10. Keizer, ETH* 18' = 2.62 gpg (* ETH only had 2.19 gpg after he took over).
11. Cocu 16' = 2.59 gpg
12. Cocu 18' = 2.56 gpg
13. Rutten, Cocu 12' = 2.56 gpg
14. Schmidt 22' = 2.54 gpg
15. Bronckhorst 17' = 2.53 gpg
16. Adriaanse, Mcclaren 12' = 2.41 gpg
17. Rutten 11' = 2.32 gpg

Notice the goals de Boer put up against ETH's Ajax sidees.

I've another question for you if you don't mind. Who would you class as the last Ajax manager that left Ajax & was actually a big success at a higher level?

 

[United in sin]

Peter Bosz will be great but he’s not going to want a number 2 position.

Only Muelensteen would accept that role in my opinion. Hopefully this is just rubbish paper talk. Why would Bosz indeed reduce himself to a number two role especially from his position as boss at Lyon? It's a bit worrying Hag seemingly is open to any fellow Dutchman or ex united player/coach. Would be nice if he had his own man already familiar with his ways.

Yes he worked with McClaren at Twente but that was years ago and a completely different dynamic. This assistant coach position situation seems it could be a forced one. I wonder if the talk of Hag bringing Mitchell van Der Gaag from Ajax was just guesswork. The two have a real connection that goes beyond Ajax

 

[Solius]

Is there a reason he wouldn’t bring Michael Reiziger with him? Seems to be the assistant he currently has.

 

[NoPace]

Hag doesn't have Pep's power and prestige coming into a club and league of this magnitude for the first time. I doubt he's going to come in and make an instant big decision on De Gea's game time.

Maybe he'll only have the capital to move on from one of De Gea or Maguire right away?

De Gea has more time left to change though, and Maguire can't get quicker, but De Gea could improve his passing. Ten Hag really seems to want passing keepers though, but De Gea could use a new challenge and might be up for it? How was he under Van Gaal at passing? I genuinely can't remember, so it wasn't a disaster?

 

[RkkMan]

Hag doesn't have Pep's power and prestige coming into a club and league of this magnitude for the first time. I doubt he's going to come in and make an instant big decision on De Gea's game time.

Arteta did the same with Aubameyang despite him being their best goalscorer since RVP/Henry with an even more inferior reputation than the Dutchman. It may not happen immediately but if Ten Hag is given the power he needs De Gea at best has one year left at Utd

 

[Hansi Fick]

How is Schreuder doing these days? He used to be Ten Hag's assistant during the successful CL season.

Answering my own questtion, he seems to be doing well as manager of Brugge, hard to see someone leave that for an assistant job.

 

[Superman123]

@United Fans

ETH is an amazing coach for years for us now. He's not comparable with FdB.
Main differences between the two:
- Substitutes: FdB has made some of the worst substitutes. In the final game of the championship for Ajax as in the Eurocup 2021.
- Managing players with character. FdB can't handle players with character, while ETH gets the most out of those players. ETH can work with all nationalities at Ajax and get the most out of them.

What makes ETH so special is his way of playing, the way he sees talent in players and his management of players with different nationalities.
- He makes Ajax play great football. Plays the Cruijff philosophy and let the team function well together. If you guys wanna know more about the Cruijff philosophy you can ask.
- He sees talent in players that they might not even see themself. He turned Tadic in a world class number 9. He turned Berghuis from left wigh to number 10. He put Schone from right wing to number 6. He put Ziyech from number 10 to right wing.
- ETH works well with players with character. In Holland we have Dutch players with a Maroccan background. These players are technical very talented but they are most of the time high in emotions and gets conflict with trainers. ETH just manages these players so well and lets them shine.

I can't wait to see how he will position the players in the Ajax system. I got an idea and I hope for you guys he will buy Erikssen.

 

[United in sin]

Is there a reason he wouldn’t bring Michael Reiziger with him? Seems to be the assistant he currently has.

He had no say in Reiziger's appointment. That was all Ajax. Hag had three assistants at Ajax with the other two being Winston Borgard (another club alumni appointment )and Mitchel Van Der Gaag who worked with Hag at Go ahead Eagles if I remember correctly and who's appointment he had a direct say in. It's no wonder he seems to want to repeat the trick by working with a former united coach/player but we're no Ajax

Edit: Van Der Gaag coached at youth level at Utrecht in the late 2000s, not at the same time Ten Hag was there. Ten Hag did promote him to the third assistant coach position at Ajax in 2019

 

[NoPace]

The more you look at our squad, the more you realise so many of our players are unfit for purpose in a Ten Hag team. A thorough overhaul is required, unless Ten Hag is more flexible in his approach than we're giving him credit for.

He might be somewhat flexible AND we still won't have a ton of players up to it, is my guess.

 

[United in sin]

Arteta did the same with Aubameyang despite him being their best goalscorer since RVP/Henry with an even more inferior reputation than the Dutchman. It may not happen immediately but if Ten Hag is given the power he needs De Gea at best has one year left at Utd

Arteta didn't immediately bin Aubameyang. He was their talisman and second top scorer in the PL the season Arteta was named manager. Auba did himself in this season with his lack of care

 

[RkkMan]

Yeah could see an absolute maximum in the summer of DM, CM, RW & ST. Yes there is an issue at RB but Erik could give the likes of Dalot/Laird chances.

CB? Think a CB comes in in place of a RW

 

[Leftback99]

Maybe he'll only have the capital to move on from one of De Gea or Maguire right away?

De Gea has more time left to change though, and Maguire can't get quicker, but De Gea could improve his passing. Ten Hag really seems to want passing keepers though, but De Gea could use a new challenge and might be up for it? How was he under Van Gaal at passing? I genuinely can't remember, so it wasn't a disaster?

De Gea isn't going to significantly change his game which has already seen him dropped from Spain squads. He's at risk of being replaced by Henderson if anything.

Maguire is our best centre back at passing, more likely he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet than anything.

 

[RkkMan]

Arteta didn't immediate bin Aubameyang. He was their talisman and second top scorers in the PL the season Arteta was named manager. Auba did himself in this season with his lack of care

Hence why I said maybe not immediately but eventually, within a year is my guess

 

[Castia]

CB? Think a CB comes in in place of a RW

CB again? I think we've bought a new 30m+ CB for the past 4 summer windows

Varane- Maguire- Lindelof- Baily

They need coaching not constantly replacing there's a much bigger hole in centre midfield and now in attack since we lost Greenwood and Martial

 

[United in sin]

Hence why I said maybe not immediately but eventually, within a year is my guess

I don't disagree with this. The post I responded to asserted that Hag could do to De Gea what Pep did to Hart in his first season at City

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

CB? Think a CB comes in in place of a RW

I doubt it.

In fact, I fuly believe that and left wing are the two positions we won’t be looking at, at all.

CM will be given top top priority with Pogba leaving.

 

[onemanarmy]

3.5 gpg, are you kidding me? Do they teach defending at all in that league?

The difference in quality and resources is massive in Holland. Ajax is 5 levels above the rest, bar PSV, AZ, Feyenoord...

 

[United in sin]

Maybe he'll only have the capital to move on from one of De Gea or Maguire right away?

De Gea has more time left to change though, and Maguire can't get quicker, but De Gea could improve his passing. Ten Hag really seems to want passing keepers though, but De Gea could use a new challenge and might be up for it? How was he under Van Gaal at passing? I genuinely can't remember, so it wasn't a disaster?

De Gea wasn't a disaster under LVG distribution wise but it's a part of his game LVG wasn't impressed with from the jump. It's why LVG almost immediately pushed De Gea out (when the fax machine stopped him signing for Real) and brought in Victor Valdes. De Gea did great under LVG otherwise

 

[RkkMan]

CB again? I think we've bought a new 30m+ CB for the past 4 summer windows

Varane- Maguire- Lindelof- Baily

They need coaching not constantly replacing there's a much bigger hole in centre midfield and now in attack since we lost Greenwood and Martial

I doubt it.

In fact, I fuly believe that and left wing are the two positions we won’t be looking at, at all.

CM will be given top top priority with Pogba leaving.

Just going by the media reports which say RW is low on the priority list. Also looking at likely departures of Bailly and Axel which will leave a hole in the CB position that can't be ignored

 

[JPRouve]

De Gea wasn't a disaster under LVG distribution wise but it's a part of his game LVG wasn't impressed with from the jump. It's why LVG almost immediately pushed De Gea out (when the fax machine stopped him signing for Real) and brought in Victor Valdes. De Gea did great under LVG otherwise

That's not what happened. De Gea is the one who wanted to go back to Spain due to his fiancé still living there.

 

[United in sin]

That's not what happened. De Gea is the one who wanted to go back to Spain due to his fiancé still living there.

That was mentioned at the time even by LVG but it was later revealed that De Gea and LVG butted heads from the beginning. I believe it was Eric Steele who provided insight on the situation

 

[NoPace]

De Gea isn't going to significantly change his game which has already seen him dropped from Spain squads. He's at risk of being replaced by Henderson if anything.

Maguire is our best centre back at passing, more likely he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet than anything.

Prefer Lindelof as a passer. I don't see how we play a high line with Maguire and I hate his wasting of the ball with diagonals he's not quite good enough to hit.

 

[AdNani]

what are peoples thoughts on Rene Meulensteen coming back?

 

[United in sin]

what are peoples thoughts on Rene Meulensteen coming back?

He talked a big game about his role under Fergie after being overlooked by Moyes in 2013 but his coaching record has been underwhelming since save for his role as assistant with the Australian NT. Hard pass for me.

 

[TwoSheds]

what are peoples thoughts on Rene Meulensteen coming back?

Bit of a loon but speaks the language, knows the club, experienced, was at one time a very highly rated coach. If Ten Hag fancies him then why not? Would make sense on a lot of levels. I'd prefer McLaren though I think if he'd consider it.

 

[Leftback99]

Prefer Lindelof as a passer. I don't see how we play a high line with Maguire and I hate his wasting of the ball with diagonals he's not quite good enough to hit.

De Gea is far more of a hindrance than Maguire for us playing a high line.

 

[AdNani]

He talked a big game about his role under Fergie after being overlooked by Moyes in 2013 but his coaching record has been underwhelming since save for his role as assistant with the Australian NT. Hard pass for me.

i think he's very very highly rated as a coach, but that's different to being a manager, plenty great coaches have failed as managers, id be happy with him, as long as Ten Hag is.

 

[tenpoless]

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Fair play, probably because of his kids being settled and starting school and such

Good man admits his managerial ability. It is beyond his scope.

 

[United in sin]

De Gea is far more of a hindrance than Maguire for us playing a high line.

So says a poster who has a favorable opinion of Maguire. If they are both to leave I know who should be going first

 

[AdNani]

Bit of a loon but speaks the language, knows the club, experienced, was at one time a very highly rated coach. If Ten Hag fancies him then why not? Would make sense on a lot of levels. I'd prefer McLaren though I think if he'd consider it.

Mclaren being apart of the setup would be good but don't think he'd take the step down

 

[United in sin]

i think he's very very highly rated as a coach, but that's different to being a manager, plenty great coaches have failed as managers, id be happy with him, as long as Ten Hag is.

Thing is I don't think Hag is even familiar with his work other than the fact he last coached at united over a decade ago and is Dutch. Why doesn't Ten Hag have at least his own trusted assistant and why is no one questioning this? All his previous clubs have provided him assistants. We can just hope he'll mesh well with whoever he goes with but names with united links are just being picked out of hats it seems. Waiting for the Raimond Van Der Gouw links

 

[Leftback99]

So says a poster who has a favorable opinion of Maguire. If they are both to leave I know who should be going first

We'll see if yet another manager decides to start him despite having supposedly better alternatives.

 

[JPRouve]

That was mentioned at the time even by LVG but it was later revealed that De Gea and LVG butted heads from the beginning. I believe it was Eric Steele who gave insight on the situation

Steele wasn't at the club when LVG was at the club, he left in 2013. De Gea was linked to Real Madrid and Barcelona before LVG and De Gea meet on the training ground. As for Valdes I highly doubt that he was signed as a starter, he was coming back from a knee injury and failed move to Monaco.

Also Steele is quite obviously speculating, he didn't reveal anything.

“He was not displeased with the fans or the club, but it was clearly something that had gone on behind the scenes. Now things are different. He has got a smile on his face, the club are improving and I cannot see why he would want to leave.”

 

[United in sin]

Steele wasn't at the club when LVG was at the club, he left in 2013. De Gea was linked to Real Madrid and Barcelona before LVG and De Gea meet on the training ground. As for Valdes I highly doubt that he was signed as a starter, he was coming back from a knee injury and failed move to Monaco.

Also Steele is quite obviously speculating, he didn't reveal anything.

We're both using our own discernment here. Steele and De Gea have always been very close and it would come as no surprise if De Gea shared/talked about his frustrations. Steeles comments for me are subtle, maybe even veiled but they allude to what was probably the real reason De Gea wanted out.

LVG was very blunt about his expectations when he joined and some players didn't like it. If you remember a few others left soon after, even fellow countryman Buttner who admitted that LVG didn't rate him. Welbeck was ushered out too without a seconds thought

 

[AdNani]

Thing is I don't think Hag is even familiar with his work other than the fact he last coached at united over a decade ago and is Dutch. Why doesn't Ten Hag have at least his own trusted assistant and why is no one questioning this? All his previous clubs have provided him assistants. We can just hope he'll mesh well with whoever he goes with but names with united links are just being picked out of hats it seems. Waiting for the Raimond Van Der Gouw links

is it not reported his assistant at Ajax is coming as well?

also Meulensteen is a very highly regarded dutch coach who's spent the majority of his career at one of the most famous clubs in the world. Im sure he's familiar with him. Ten Hag has apparently asked for a dutch coach with a connection to united, aren't many better qualified than Rene. Only if Ten Hag wants rather than being pushed though.

 

[United in sin]

is it not reported his assistant at Ajax is coming as well?

also Meulensteen is a very highly regarded dutch coach who's spent the majority of his career at one of the most famous clubs in the world. Im sure he's familiar with him. Ten Hag has apparently asked for a dutch coach with a connection to united, aren't many better qualified than Rene. Only if Ten Hag wants rather than being pushed though.

Mitchell Van Der Gaag is staying at Ajax apparently and those links gave gone cold. If Hag wants Meulensteen so be it. I still wonder how much he really knows about these names being mooted save for McClaren who he worked with at Twente, famous ex united players and coaches or not. Phelan might as well get it too

 

[AdNani]

Mitchell Van Der Gaag is staying at Ajax apparently and those links gave gone cold. If Hag wants Meulensteen so be it. I still wonder how much he really knows about these names being mooted save for McClaren who he worked with at Twente, famous ex united players and coaches or not. Phelan might as well get it too

ah ok, maybe taking over from Ten Hag?

yeah fair, He's maybe asked for a coach with a connection and they've gave a list of names? and he's suggested Mclaren?

On Phelan, watched a video where Rio was talking about the best coaches he ever worked with and he said Rene and Carlos Queiroz, and that Phelan never coached the team even then, which is the same as now, strange how he's been apart of the 1st team setup for so long without actually coaching. think he's gone either way