Steve McClaren | Yessh our new assistant coach

Cheimoon

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They've worked together before? The plot thickens.

Assuming there were no problems between them at Twente, it makes sense that ETH would want to work with him again, especially with Mclaren's PL experience and history with United.
I saw some quotes from McClaren about his time with Ten Hag recently on the forum. I can't find back the post, but this article seems to have the lot of them:.

https://thefootballfaithful.com/tac...n-waxes-lyrical-about-man-utd-linked-ten-hag/

Specifically, about their time at Twente:
McClaren recalled his first meeting with Ten Hag and opened up on his meticulous planning and preparation, hailing the work-ethic of his former assistant.

“I knew that pre-season was due to start the next day and I said to Erik, ‘Have you got our first day organised?’ Over the next two hours he talked me through six weeks of pre-season work. Every last detail was accounted for. Every document ready. Every drinks break planned. He would say, ‘There is 20 minutes here for you to do your specific session and then we do this.’ I had never seen anything like it before or since.

“For both individuals and for the team the work was the best I had seen. The detail was logged even down to what the coaches would be wearing on each day, and that we would all come out together. He had planned what equipment had to be carried out and when it had to be brought back in.

“I would occasionally say to Erik during a session, ‘We just need that goal moving to the halfway line’, and he would ask every player in the squad to do it. All 22 players. Everyone goes. That’s the way he likes it.”

“I thought I worked hard until I met Erik,” he added.

McClaren believes Ten Hag has proven he ‘can do it at the top level at Ajax’ and praised his ability to change games from the touchline, likening his influence to Sir Alex Ferguson.

“He’s proved he can do it at the top level at Ajax,” McClaren said. “In terms of changing games, he is second to none. He had carried on with that work ethic and he’s a far better coach and manager now. He was way ahead of his time. Even in Holland.”

“I would have to sit in the stand to analyse games that way but he can do it from the touchline and initiate changes. He was invaluable in my first year. I would not have survived if it hadn’t been for his work and his understanding of the game.

“The only other one I would have seen do that? That would have been the gaffer.”
 

tenpoless

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I'd be delighted if Mclaren came back, by all accounts not the greatest of managers but supposed to be a fantastic and innovative coach. If he gets back to that then the first team can expect some really interesting training sessions.
Cant wait until we see the players training in speedos for more aerodynamics.
 

Hughie77

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If Mclaren comes back as a coach, I wouldn't mind, he knows the club, and ETH, what the issue I think maybe in the boards mind is a clean slate. Mclaren is maybe to them harping back to the good old days?.

I don't think it will has he's been on his own journey in football and has the experience of different ideas. We wait and see if he comes back.
 

AneRu

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Twenty three years ago, before he achieved success in his own right, he was deemed qualified for the exact role under a certified GOAT. People should relax a bit.
 

Chesterlestreet

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He clearly isn't a "jobs for the boys" type of appointment (a pretty absurd idea to begin with: even if he'd been forced upon ETH - which he clearly isn't - he doesn't fit that description at all).
 

Red_Aaron

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This is a no brainer really. Having worked together in the same roles Steve will know the sessions inside out so ETH can trust him to implement them to his liking. His English, including the local colloquialisms will ensure ETH is communicating clearly enough with everyone at the club not just the players. Whatever you think of the criticism levelled at his managerial record he is by all accounts an excellent coach and very well liked by all that have worked with him

Beyond some twisted sense that the likes of us know better than actual professional football managers/coaches I don't see what there is to complain about tbh
 

mitchmouse

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Some "news" papers saying the board have turned down ETH's request for this. Have to admit, I was quietly hoping for RvP to get a role...
 
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Some "news" papers saying the board have turned down ETH's request for this. Have to admit, I was quietly hoping for RvP to get a role...
Pretty certain one source said the board turned it down, and the same source was forced to backtrack an hour later and ”pretend” that ETH had won a battle with the board.
As if it wasn’t already agreed that ETH could bring whoever the fexk he wanted :lol:

We have no idea how RVP would do, but we know that the McClaren/ETH team won Twente their only ever league title.
 

Judas

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I must be one of the few who doesn't want RVP? Seems more like a typical recent Utd hiring than this. Its a lot more jobs for the boys than bringing back McClaren.
 

mitchmouse

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Pretty certain one source said the board turned it down, and the same source was forced to backtrack an hour later and ”pretend” that ETH had won a battle with the board.
As if it wasn’t already agreed that ETH could bring whoever the fexk he wanted :lol:

We have no idea how RVP would do, but we know that the McClaren/ETH team won Twente their only ever league title.
I m right in thinking that was when McLaren was boss and ETH was his "minion"? A lot of water under the bridge since then: I just hope McLaren has moved with the times...
 
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I must be one of the few who doesn't want RVP? Seems more like a typical recent Utd hiring than this. Its a lot more jobs for the boys than bringing back McClaren.
Aye, RVP over McClaren, who has always been highly regarded as a World class coach would be bizarre. Especially considering ETH/McClaren have already proven to be a highly successful team.
 

mitchmouse

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I must be one of the few who doesn't want RVP? Seems more like a typical recent Utd hiring than this. Its a lot more jobs for the boys than bringing back McClaren.
Not sure RvP was "one of the boys". Think he was much more that at Arsenal: I just think having someone who knows what those things at each end of the pitch are will help Rashford etc (if he stays)
 
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I m right in thinking that was when McLaren was boss and ETH was his "minion"? A lot of water under the bridge since then: I just hope McLaren has moved with the times...
Yup. So why on Earth wouldn’t you want that switched around if ETH wants it? He clearly enjoyed working with him, were successful and ETH clearly still rates him?
So why would anyone be against ETH getting what he wants?
 

Floyd

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Does he actually speak dutch, as some are claiming, or just english with ridiculous dutch accent?
 

humdinger

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This is not jobs for the boys. There is a huge difference in appointing Steve McLaren who has some very successful coaching/managerial stints on his cv, including with Ten Hag and with our club, vs the likes of Carrick, Giggs and Phil Neville who had demonstrated pretty much nothing before being given positions purely because they were ex-players. McLaren is over-qualified if anything.
 

Giant Midget

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He knows the DNA of the club.
Any mention of the word DNA should be an automatic suspension from this forum.

United is not special, we are a football club just like any other. What fecking DNA is there to know that will help McClaren be a better coach?

The only reasons McClaren should be appointed is 1) his coaching expertise 2) knowledge of English football 3) past working relationship with ETH.

This mythical United DNA is an absolute farce, we’ve really become a replica of Liverpool from the 90s.
 

UnitedFire

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“The players are said to be having problems understanding what Gaag and McClaren want from them, they have doubts over their credentials to coach at this level having only ever collaborated in the much weaker Dutch league previously”

That’s what you’ll get if you ask these lads to run or put their bodies on the line
Two things to resolve there....
1) Coach go run, is better than ask to run... E. G. The basic question what are we falling short on? What can we do more of to thrive? How do we win titles? Part of the answer here will almost certainly be fitness and for which the players only question is are you willing to do what it takes win titles.

The key to successful leadership/ management long term is coaching. Often there is a need for tell rather than ask for lazier individuals. The kick in the arse strategy so to speak, but even this should be supplemented by working out why natural drive is missing.

2) These lads have almostly certainly shown they don't have what it takes, whether that is effort or ability and often both.
 

sunama

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I remember, back when Steve was the assistant to Fergie, we won most of our games. I think we won the league title 3 times in a row (can't remember that far back). It included the CL win and the treble.
I joked with my mate at the time, that since Steve joined, he has not known what it is like to lose a trophy and the football at the time in 1998-2000 was unbelievable. Swashbuckling, cavalier, etc. We would smash top teams and David Beckham was just unbelievable.
Steve was known to be a statistician. He loved working the stats and if a player had a high win rate within the team, he would push for that player to be included in the matchday squad.
He would take the training sessions, while Fergie was a hands-off manager.
I think Carlos Queiroz replaced him and that would usher in the Portuguese connection, which would include Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo.

That was a long time ago though. Not sure if Steve is up to the task these days, but the good thing is that ETH chose his assistant, not the board. The board are terrible with their footballing decisions, so I no longer trust them to make a good footballing decision.
 

Tarrou

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when did everyone start caring so much about the coaches? honestly couldn't give a feck if ETH wants them in
 

ti vu

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when did everyone start caring so much about the coaches? honestly couldn't give a feck if ETH wants them in
After experiencing "I have always been dependent on good coaches" Ole, of course.
 

roonster09

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After experiencing "I have always been dependent on good coaches" Ole, of course.
Not really, it was discussed during SAF times with "What does Phelan do". It was always discussed for some weird reasons when none of us know how good or bad they are.
 

UnitedFire

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Any mention of the word DNA should be an automatic suspension from this forum.

United is not special, we are a football club just like any other. What fecking DNA is there to know that will help McClaren be a better coach?

The only reasons McClaren should be appointed is 1) his coaching expertise 2) knowledge of English football 3) past working relationship with ETH.

This mythical United DNA is an absolute farce, we’ve really become a replica of Liverpool from the 90s.
It depends on the definition of United DNA. In reality it's just an attacking philosophy with a winning drive and mindset. There is nothing wrong with this, but the attacking philosophy is in itself requires some reinvention. Gung ho football is rarely successful in modern football.

The common features of Liverpool, City, Real Madrid and Villarreal are quick passing, fast attacks, but a decent defensive base. They've moved on a bit since the Chelsea style ultra contain, almost Italian style 1-0 win approach.
 

Random Task

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After experiencing "I have always been dependent on good coaches" Ole, of course.
Mclaren is an excellent coach with a wealth of experience throughout Europe and multiple levels of the game, making him pretty much the ideal candidate to assist Ten Hag through his bedding in period.

Nothing is stopping him from bringing in the likes of RVP too.
 

Foxbatt

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Not really, it was discussed during SAF times with "What does Phelan do". It was always discussed for some weird reasons when none of us know how good or bad they are.
We certainly know that he is good in bursting balloons.
 

ti vu

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Not really, it was discussed during SAF times with "What does Phelan do". It was always discussed for some weird reasons when none of us know how good or bad they are.
But it became quiet after SAF retirement, where all his successors take a hand on approach to training session. The peak of this is definitely with Ole, when his supporters were ready to excuse him by slaying into his coaches more than anything I remember in the old "what does Phelan do" thread.
 

ti vu

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Mclaren is an excellent coach with a wealth of experience throughout Europe and multiple levels of the game, making him pretty much the ideal candidate to assist Ten Hag through his bedding in period.

Nothing is stopping him from bringing in the likes of RVP too.
Please read the post I responded to. I simply answered the question.

I don't disagree with what you just said.
 

roonster09

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But it became quiet after SAF retirement, where all his successors take a hand on approach to training session. The peak of this is definitely with Ole, when his supporters were ready to excuse him by slaying into his coaches more than anything I remember in the old "what does Phelan do" thread.
Was it Ole fans who criticized coaches to excuse Ole or Jose fans who did that saying "What did these coaches do to get jobs, it's jobs for boys gang".

In any case, it's just weird. None of us know how good or bad coaches are, people just go with team results when the results change so much depending on who the manager is in charge.
 

siw2007

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Wouldn’t mind him coming back to the club. McLaren has had a mixed career as a manager in the game, on top of that he hasn’t been prevalent in the game in recent years. However, it is ‘coach’ job, he will be directed by Ten Hag and if it’s felt that his experience and profile will add value to what will be the new look coaching set up then it will hopefully be a positive thing.
 

ti vu

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Was it Ole fans who criticized coaches to excuse Ole or Jose fans who did that saying "What did these coaches do to get jobs, it's jobs for boys gang".

In any case, it's just weird. None of us know how good or bad coaches are, people just go with team results when the results change so much depending on who the manager is in charge.
It's definitely the Ole crowd. During Ole's interim period, Mourinho was the one holding the young coaches back, not listening to their input IIRC. After "I have always been dependent on good coaches" quote, the attention clearly shifted to McKenna and Carrick with "What does Micky Phelan do?" question make a comeback.

They really want Ole to stay and often seen suggesting upgrading the coaches. This prompted the response that what reputable coach want to come work under an underqualified manager like Ole?

Ole had to try to put out the fire by talking in the press about he's happy with McKenna and Carrick.

I get your point. I didn't mean anything serious. Simply pointed out where the recent over critical on backroom staffs movement started.
 

roonster09

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It's definitely the Ole crowd. During Ole's interim period, Mourinho was the one holding the young choices back, not listening to their input IIRC. After "I have always been dependent on good coaches" quote, the attention clearly shifted to McKenna and Carrick with "What does Micky Phelan do?" question make a comeback.

They really want Ole to stay and often seen suggesting upgrading the coaches. This prompted the response that what reputable coach want to come work under an underqualified manager like Ole?

Ole had to try to put out the fire by talking in the press about he's happy with McKenna and Carrick.

I get your point. I didn't mean anything serious. Simply pointed out where the recent over critical on backroom staffs movement started.
Lets agree to disagree. I have completely different view on it, maybe we read different posts.
 

devilish

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I don't understand the hate surrounding Mclaren. He was anointed by SAF as one of the most promising no 2 in the EPL at the time and was a key part of the coaching staff during the treble season. The guy went on winning a league cup with Middlesbrough which is 1 cup more then Ole has won as Manchester United manager while spending over 400m. Mclaren also won the Dutch league with Twente (their first league title ever) as well. We're a club who gives the technical director role to a man who started coaching on Tuesday evening and who seem to hail Murtough as a genius despite being a Moyes/Woodward man.
 

Ali Dia

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How can they possibly know what the players have issues with when Ten Hag hasn't met them as far as we know? Can you and others on the caf stop taking every news story at face value and take them with a pinch of salt instead? So many times you guys have been mislead by out of context quotes, made up stories. Just now people got confused by stupid journalism over the announcement of Steve McClaren.
it was a joke, Jesus! :lol: They also do it for every manager/coach so why not get in early? Same as the sack watch threads.