Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager / awaiting clarity from the club over his position

[Greck]

We have players going back 10 years starting. How did Ole give him a pile of shit? Who did Ole sign we all didn’t want at the time? Man Utd have been the club where players sign to finish their career. Not sure blaming managers will help.

Ole was here for 3 years. Makes no sense to absolve that to instead blame who did what 10 years ago. As for fans supporting signings, that's just what fans feel obligated to do. It doesn't make any signing good (or bad I guess). Fans aren't getting paid 6-8 figure sums to know any better.

Ole's signings sucked because they didn't even conform with the project he claimed to be building. Is Maguire really the right man for what you want to so? Is AWB ideal? Why so many old stopgap signings for a long term project? Why so little emphasis on technical talent to actually hold the ball? These are signings that would have made Jose proud. A transfer strategy one could say we even sacked him for.

edit I should have said Ole's transfer strategy sucked rather than Ole's signings sucked. To eliminate doubt it's not the individual signings but rather the wider squad building strategy

 

[NewUser777]

Ole was here for 3 years. Makes no sense to absolve that to instead blame who did what 10 years ago. As for fans supporting signings, that's just what fans feel obligated to do. It doesn't make any signing good (or bad I guess). Fans aren't getting paid 6-8 figure sums to know any better.

Ole's signings sucked because they didn't even conform with the project he claimed to be building. Is Maguire really the right man for what you want to so? Is AWB ideal? Why so many old stopgap signings for a long term project? Why so little emphasis on technical talent to actually hold the ball? These are signings that would have made Jose proud. A transfer strategy one could say we even sacked him for.

Well. Both Maguire and Bissaka was part of A team finishing second and setting new away and defensive records. You can try, but you can’t take that away from them. The project fell apart. This one still can and probably will. And it won’t be on ETH either.

 

[lex talionis]

I'd say a solid 8. 9 is too much considering the three losses and two 4-0 at halftime shorelines.

Possibly even a 7.5 which is actually pretty good considering the scale of the task he has inherited. As long as this team keeps improving and becoming more cohesive and decisive , his score will increase. The upcoming games against Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea will give us a better picture of where we are in the process.

I can see the argument for an 8, but I'm sticking with a 9. Yeah, we were own 4-0 twice at the end of the first half but there's nothing ETH could have done about the trashing by City and if we're going to look at that game a whole we actually did a nice job on the top club on the planet in the second half. Foot off the gas, sure, but we did outscore them 2-3 in the second half.

Bears in the forest indeed. Let's come back to this in a couple of weeks.

 

[Greck]

Well. Both Maguire and Bissaka was part of A team finishing second and setting new away and defensive records. You can try, but you can’t take that away from them. The project fell apart.

Well yeah, no shit, that's the point. You didn't read? His squad builiding didn't align with his longer term vision. Everyone cried non-sustainability a full year before it happened. That one didn't even need hindsight.

 

[NewUser777]

Well yeah, no shit, that's the point. You didn't read? His squad builiding didn't align with his longer term vision. Everyone cried non-sustainability a full year before it happened. That one didn't even need hindsight.

That’s what we said playing the youngest squad in the prem, wasn’t it? Being able to score anytime? You have to be blind not feeling a dejavu at this point. Let’s hope it goes well this time, before our players down tools again.

 

[croadyman]

I'd say a solid 8. 9 is too much considering the three losses and two 4-0 at halftime shorelines.

Possibly even a 7.5 which is actually pretty good considering the scale of the task he has inherited. As long as this team keeps improving and becoming more cohesive and decisive , his score will increase. The upcoming games against Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea will give us a better picture of where we are in the process.

Yeah worry about Guimaraes's influence on the game on Sunday,he is looking the real deal

 

[Desert Eagle]

Yeah worry about Guimaraes's influence on the game on Sunday,he is looking the real deal

I'm worried about Saint maximin if our fullbacks aren't on it. Dalot especially

 

[Dec9003]

My only concern would be the impact of a month long break on United's momentum. Out of all the Top-4 contenders (City/Arsenal/Spurs/Pool/Chelsea/United), Chelsea and United have most to lose from a break. How many United players are going to the World Cup - I think it would be 14-15 main players? How many of them will play till at least the QFs?
On the other hand the break would definitely help the bottom-10 teams of the league since their players would have a good rest.

To be fair with the matches cancelled with the queen dying lasting up to the international break we practically had that long a break already. We might suffer after the World Cup, but I’d say most teams will do. I doubt it will be a season where we see the best of any European side, like you said about the bottom teams, it wouldn’t surprise me if a team without loads of internationals did well in the Champions League as well.

 

[wolvored]

We have players going back 10 years starting. How did Ole give him a pile of shit? Who did Ole sign we all didn’t want at the time? Man Utd have been the club where players sign to finish their career. Not sure blaming managers will help.

I was answering another poster who said Ole and RR had left a pile of shit. I was pointing out RR didnt buy anyone, so didnt leave any shit.

 

[Tigersam]

I‘m optimistic, players like Ronaldo and Casemiro are getting back to their best, and Rashford has started to perform consistently. Antony is improving every game and Shaw has fought himself into the team.

I think we will see a performance soon where we completely outplay and dominate a top side, not just pip them in transition. The pieces are coming together: it is just a matter of time.

Getting the consistency will be harder. There are still a lot of unnecessary mistakes in our game.

There is more to come in possession from players like Martinez, Malacia, Dalot, Eriksen and Sancho. They are contributing, but we are not seeing their best yet.

Next on my wish list is seeing Bruno become more influential. He works hard, but is not involved enough in possession.

Look I am sorry, but this is just a super-CR7-fan talking. Yes he scored a decent goal against Everton - but they are probably heading for the Championship anyway. I was glad he got to 700 club goals, it is an incredible achievement. But he is finished. There will be the odd flash in the pan against rubbish opposition but sometimes he wont even do that (Omonia last week for example). United need a new striker in January (if there is any money left) because Martial is always injured, Ronaldo is done, Rashford is inconsistent and Anthony still adapting to the PL.

But to get back to the thread under discussion, I have been impressed with ETH, when he called the players in for a 14km run after the Brentford game and did the run himself, everything changed. Excellent man-management.

We will probably just miss out on top 4. Our goal difference is a worry for me too. Feels difficult to imagine us winning a game by 3 or 4 goals.

This is the big worry. Has he the same clause in his contract as all the other post-SAF managers: get Champions League or you are gone? I assume so and my evidence for this - well he has spent next years transfer budget this year. Why save money for the next guy! Go all in to achieve top-4 (or the Europa Cup) and keep your job.

But if United don't win the EL and finish fifth, they would be daft to sack this new guy.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Huge fan of the fact that he’s signing shithousing players that smile a lot.

Martinez, Antony and Casemiro are all snidey fecks that can take a kicking and smile after it. They’re standard setters. Full of talent, but have substance too. Malacia is arguably on the same spectrum but not to that level yet.

If that attitude is absorbed by Martial, Sancho and Rashford they’ll have far better careers.

 

[izak]

I've noticed in our recent games a lot of our goals have been scored by subs.

I have also noticed our possession game has improved over the last couple of matches.

 

[Red00012]

So far I'm giving ETH a 9 out of 10. Ole and Ralf gave him a steaming pile of shite and he's made something edible out of this squad. Yes, there was the shambolic performance v Brentford but I'm not going to hold against ETH as I am against him. What's important is how we responded to Brentford and thereafter. So far, so quite good.

He’s not getting a 9 for losing 4-0 v Brentford , losing to Brighton , Sociedad at home and conceding 6 v City.

6.5-7 so far

 

[lex talionis]

He’s not getting a 9 for losing 4-0 v Brentford , losing to Brighton , Sociedad at home and conceding 6 v City.

6.5-7 so far

ETH has us sitting 5th in the table with a game in hand on 3 of the 4 clubs that sit above us, one of which we beat comfortably but entertains talk of a proper trophy challenge. Under ETH we also beat Liverpool, a club every single one of us here was sure would bitchslap us.

But Brentford and City did bitchslap us and much as we can acknowledge that City were the superior side and that we had no chance of beating them (does it really matter that much that we lost 6-3 and not 3-0?), the heavy to defeat to Brentford is an undisputed a humiliation. My only constructive response to the evidence of the Brentford bitchslapping is that ETH responded brilliantly with his defeat over Klopp and whatever we think of Klopp right now that defeat to ETH sent sent a massive signal that United was back in business.

The important point to keep in mind is how far we sank under Ole and Ralf and the task that Erik has signed up for. United have devoured every manager since Ferguson, but there is no doubt we can no longer be dismissed as a laughingstock as we were under Van Gaal, Mourinho and Solkjsaer.

 

[horsechoker]

I'd say ETH is about 7/10 but I'd rather he maintain that 7/10 for a little while

Ole was 9/10 out of ten when he started and then went down to 4-5 for a while and finished at 1-2.

 

[Grande]

He’s not getting a 9 for losing 4-0 v Brentford , losing to Brighton , Sociedad at home and conceding 6 v City.

6.5-7 so far

If it’s for the results so far, 6.If it’s for the quality of play, 7. If it’s for the decisions made and the style development rate, I’d up it to an 8. I’m enjoying watching atm.

 

[mav_9me]

If it’s for the results so far, 6.If it’s for the quality of play, 7. If it’s for the decisions made and the style development rate, I’d up it to an 8. I’m enjoying watching atm.

Good way of putting it.

 

[croadyman]

Good way of putting it.

Yeah very true

 

[croadyman]

I'm worried about Saint maximin if our fullbacks aren't on it. Dalot especially

Imagine having him on LW with Antony on RW,won't happen with the vast fortunes Newcastle now have.

 

[Gazza]

EtH
Credit: still bald
Debit: less “ehhh??” in recent interviews

 

[Zetrio2002]

It's amazing how ETH has transformed the club, beating Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton.

He has also transformed the defence with new additions Martinez and Malacia, midfield with Casemiro and Eriksen, attack with Antony. All first-teamers.

 

[Adam-Utd]

It's clear we're still only at the first step, we're fixing the house at present.

It's pretty similar to Klopps first season so far. Some good performances, a couple dodgy results but most importantly the team is functioning better.

Under previous managers we coin flipped our way through matches way too often, that was never going to be sustainable.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

If it’s for the results so far, 6.If it’s for the quality of play, 7. If it’s for the decisions made and the style development rate, I’d up it to an 8. I’m enjoying watching atm.

Seems about right, although I'm not sure as a manager what he was supposed to do when the team he picked shit the bed against Brentford and Brighton. It's not like he made some weird decisions that everyone disagreed with and it backfired.

Most important thing for me is the last part, he's making good decisions and you can clearly see the tactical and managerial influence in how we want to play. Of course it's not going to work all of the time this early, but it's more the ideas are coming across to the players in a way that we never saw with any other post SAF manager much more than LVG having us pass around the back or Mourinho having us sit deep. With Ole it just seemed like we'd hope the players turned up and did something brilliant, but very rarely did it ever look like we had a set plan of how we wanted to progress the ball in attack or how we looked to defend.

 

[Boondog]

It's amazing how ETH has transformed the club, beating Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton.

He has also transformed the defence with new additions Martinez and Malacia, midfield with Casemiro and Eriksen, attack with Antony. All first-teamers.

Yes. But I think most impressive is the culture change. He has taken a bunch of individuals and led them to accountability and hard work. You can see the difference. Also ten Hag is mentally tough and the squad is taking on that quality little by little.

I think we are back. Finally. Might need to wait for next year for the additions that are coming but this team is on the upswing for sure.

 

[Escobar]

He deals with tricky situations very well. All things that could have blown up, he handled well so far. Huge difference to our past managers

 

[Thoms]

Please come back

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Please come back

Get out!!!
Reported!!
Demanding ban!!!
Sorry.

 

[Andycoleno9]

I simply love his media approach. Simple honest answers without trying to be funny or to become media darling.
No empty phrases too. He says how things are and that is it. Love the guy.

 

[Grande]

Seems about right, although I'm not sure as a manager what he was supposed to do when the team he picked shit the bed against Brentford and Brighton. It's not like he made some weird decisions that everyone disagreed with and it backfired.

Most important thing for me is the last part, he's making good decisions and you can clearly see the tactical and managerial influence in how we want to play. Of course it's not going to work all of the time this early, but it's more the ideas are coming across to the players in a way that we never saw with any other post SAF manager much more than LVG having us pass around the back or Mourinho having us sit deep. With Ole it just seemed like we'd hope the players turned up and did something brilliant, but very rarely did it ever look like we had a set plan of how we wanted to progress the ball in attack or how we looked to defend.

Regarding what could he have done - he probably could have done a few things better, but not a lot. A manager can only control his decisions, tactics and communication, and that’s were I’d give him 8/10 based on how things appear to me. Results, he can’t control directly, only partly influence indirectly. The results are 6/10 so far, no sugarcoating that, but I think Those results are what you get for now if you make most of the right decisions for Man Utd as a manager.

 

[NLunited]

Look I am sorry, but this is just a super-CR7-fan talking. Yes he scored a decent goal against Everton - but they are probably heading for the Championship anyway. I was glad he got to 700 club goals, it is an incredible achievement. But he is finished. There will be the odd flash in the pan against rubbish opposition but sometimes he wont even do that (Omonia last week for example). United need a new striker in January (if there is any money left) because Martial is always injured, Ronaldo is done, Rashford is inconsistent and Anthony still adapting to the PL.

But to get back to the thread under discussion, I have been impressed with ETH, when he called the players in for a 14km run after the Brentford game and did the run himself, everything changed. Excellent man-management.



This is the big worry. Has he the same clause in his contract as all the other post-SAF managers: get Champions League or you are gone? I assume so and my evidence for this - well he has spent next years transfer budget this year. Why save money for the next guy! Go all in to achieve top-4 (or the Europa Cup) and keep your job.

But if United don't win the EL and finish fifth, they would be daft to sack this new guy.

Not at all, he was not fit but now he is looking sharp. He can give us a lot this year iff the bench and starting occasionally.

 

[Irwin99]

Please come back

It's fate that we'll meet you in the Europa League.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

Well. Both Maguire and Bissaka was part of A team finishing second and setting new away and defensive records. You can try, but you can’t take that away from them. The project fell apart. This one still can and probably will. And it won’t be on ETH either.

Yes because Ole bought players who's strength was to sit seep and play counter attack, but then tried to play offensively so it all went to shit.

ETH has been way better than I expected. I'm pleased so far. He had a massive job on. Still does. To fix squad balance, mentality and style of play.

 

[Dominos]

If it’s for the results so far, 6.If it’s for the quality of play, 7. If it’s for the decisions made and the style development rate, I’d up it to an 8. I’m enjoying watching atm.

Surely it should be the other way round?

Results have been better than performances. He's got us on course for 70+ points at the current PPG which gives us a shout of top 4 so credit for that.

But we've not won 1 league game comfortably. The likes of Leicester, Southampton and Everton wins would not be considered good performances on here if it was Spurs/Chelsea winning in that fashion. I'm not really seeing much in terms of style either. Very little in the way of pressing high up the pitch, we mostly abandoned playing out from the back, not particularly high defensive line, not consistently dominant in possession.

It's going to be a season of pragmatism until we overhaul the squad even further I feel. There's a chance the coaching pays off at some point this season and we start looking like a top footballing side, but it took Arsenal 2 and a half years to start playing decent football.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

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[MUFC OK]

already worried about his game time management. Expect him to go v strong tomorrow ahead of of Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea in the space of 6 days. Needs to heavily rest the first XI tomorrow but won’t.

 

[pocco]

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What's Ornstein smoking? That first tweet sounds like the most nonsense I've ever heard. The players can't do a thing about the executives and it's not their job to either.

 

[croadyman]

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Sadly fear Whitwell is spot on and it could well see us miss out on either top 4 or europa league title maybe both which is a kick in the teeth of Erik

 

[afrocentricity]

Was anyone expecting much activity in Jan?

 

[mikeyt]

This is the same lot of journo's who for most of the window said we had a budget of £120million. They're speculating as always. I don't see us doing much in Jan but I get the impression we may get one first team player, maybe two, if we shift someone out.

 

[Tarrou]

I reckon we'll try to sign a striker if we shift Ronaldo

otherwise nothings happening