In letting us fall off a cliff?
I know what you are trying to say, but let me call your bluff by saying, yes, exactly.
The players were given a fairly simple remit, press, control and quick verticality where possible.
Oleball involved the latter two, Ralf basically was instructing the players to add the former, they were asked to run and press with more intensity and most of them have failed miserably thus continuing to tank the season.
How this relates to ten Hag? He has half a seasons worth of evidence as to who is going to give him the best chance to succeed immediately, half a seasons worth of evidence along with the day to day input from one of the most respected men in coaching circles in world football.
So yes, he has made the conditions for ten Hag to come in better.