Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Another EtH's 'sweezy bomtime' game.
There’s a weird subsection of our fan base that seem ready and almost excited to get the knives out towards him.
The players don't give up anymore. He's brought back the "nah, feck you" mentality that Fergie instilled in the club. For all the shite about "United DNA" it seemed that even Ole missed the point of it. It's about being too fecking stubborn to admit when we're beaten.
Some of his tactical choices are a bit strange at times but he hasn't got many options. We're relying on a frequently injured Martial and a dead parrot that used to be Ronaldo to put away the multitude of opportunities we create early in games. He has to rotate otherwise we'd probably have more injuries as well and the squad depth just isn't there, or he doesn't trust them.
But how often do you see these players shrug their shoulders when the opposition equalise or go ahead now? That's all I remember from the last three or four years. I don't see that now.
This man is cooking biscuits with saw dust.
Feels like the performances have gone down a notch but he still has us among the top four which is great. Hopefully after the world cup he can get us playing properly again with everybody back.
Aye, starting to sense that myself. It’s like they’ve completely erased last season from their minds and can’t see the obvious improvements he’s made in his short time here, considering how shite we were. Not to mention doing it while managing Ronaldo throwing his toys out the pram and the whole Maguire situation.
I have silent hope that thing you're talking about is EtH's thing and not temporary reaction to a new manager effect. I've seen these players doing all kinds of things bad or good and it will take a lot of effort to instill somekind consistency, even in not giving up alone.
Eriksen's attacking stance saved us once again accompanied by Garnacho's talent & youth energy. Don't know for how many more matches we can avoid bad results, but something more will be required to reach top 4.
If players return healthy from tournament there is solid chance. I do love the fact that bad performing players are isolated from the squad. Something is changing on that front indisputably.
Yeah, you have to work hard to provoke that extra bit of luck and his doing that with this team!
I mean Ole's team was famous for winning the games in second halves and late games.
If anything, we usually struggle badly in second halves with ETH, compared to the first halves.
For a while during Covid football when no fans were in the stadium.
Not half way stage but kind of half way stage id rate his reign about a 6.5/10.
Have to say I expected a little bit more in terms of the development of our play....
We work harder but in general we're still quite far off being a well drilled football team and id be surprised if this side finished in the top 4. We don't really control games and our last three league games before this World Cup we've been playing like the underdogs. We're still very error prone in possession, our pressing is still disjointed and bar the spurs game we don’t sustain attacks.
His Positives have been his interviews, the way he's handled certain players and he's identified shit players and replaced them as soon as he’s had the chance. The attitude of our players has increased tenfold. There’s not a lot of strutting around. All of his signings as individuals are upgrades on who they replaced but unfortunately I don’t think it’s made us a better overall football team which is kinda weird.
I'm not sure about the whole tucking full backs inside and having your wingers hug the line . It doesn't look right to me and isn't effective. When Casemiro gets the ball our wide players are too far from him and Bruno and eriksen too far ahead. And when we get swarmed (as we did today) it makes it difficult for us to control midfield.
We don't have a lot of overlaps so we barely put crosses into the box meaning we’re not giving our forwards enough scoring opportunities in the box. I just don’t get what kind of football were trying to implement at the moment.
I don't think it helps when we lose one or two key players either because the back ups are of mid/lower table level (Elanga, Lindelof, Mctominay, Ronaldo etc) but the levels of performance in those games against villa West Ham and Fulham should not happen regardless.
Have to say I expected a little bit more in terms of the development of our play....
We work harder but in general we're still quite far off being a well drilled football team and id be surprised if this side finished in the top 4. We don't really control games and our last three league games before this World Cup we've been playing like the underdogs. We're still very error prone in possession, our pressing is still disjointed and bar the spurs game we don’t sustain attacks.
His Positives have been his interviews, the way he's handled certain players and he's identified shit players and replaced them as soon as he’s had the chance. The attitude of our players has increased tenfold. There’s not a lot of strutting around. All of his signings as individuals are upgrades on who they replaced but unfortunately I don’t think it’s made us a better overall football team which is kinda weird.
I'm not sure about the whole tucking full backs inside and having your wingers hug the line . It doesn't look right to me and isn't effective. When Casemiro gets the ball our wide players are too far from him and Bruno and eriksen too far ahead. And when we get swarmed (as we did today) it makes it difficult for us to control midfield.
We don't have a lot of overlaps so we barely put crosses into the box meaning we’re not giving our forwards enough scoring opportunities in the box. I just don’t get what kind of football were trying to implement at the moment.
I don't think it helps when we lose one or two key players either because the back ups are of mid/lower table level (Elanga, Lindelof, Mctominay, Ronaldo etc) but the levels of performance in those games against villa West Ham and Fulham should not happen regardless.
I think it was more like the whole season and the covid point was valid. But still it is a fact about not giving up till the end stuff.
We had loads of comebacks under Ole. You can't say there weren't numerous examples of us refusing to be beaten under him. We set an away record under him.
If anything Ole didn't get the initial bit right. Not being repeatedly behind in the first place because eventually it catches up.
The fewer occasions we need that never beaten attitude the better.
AV buyout is something I do for work, sometimes. An interactive touchscreen at 85” or so can range easily $15k-$30k, material only. If you go bigger than 85” the cost goes way up.
Add speakers, cameras etc and a fully fitted out room with a great AV system would be $150k + furniture.
Ole being mentioned at least once every three or four posts is becoming so damn tiresome 
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.ETH has done ok so far - 7/10. If it wasn’t for the disaster of the first two games, we’d be comfortably in the top 4. The lack of goals is the key issue, although we might be able to fix it in January. I think he has a plan and offers at least the possibilty of competing again on a sustainable basis.
Let him whisper sweet Hehs in my ear 
8 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses in 14 PL games; finished 2nd in EL group and through to last 16 of Carabao Cup. It's been good enough so far but it'll be all about how team can play after coming back from World Cup. If we can 1-2 signings in January, with important players available, then it could be fine.
Also: 20 goals scored/20 goals conceded a zero GD isn't great at all. There's most of the season yet to be played obviously but that has to be fixed.
Also: 20 goals scored/20 goals conceded a zero GD isn't great at all. There's most of the season yet to be played obviously but that has to be fixed.
In the hunt for top four and have been signs of things changing in our play, plus all the signings have generally been good. That’s all I want first season.
Let’s pray for no WC injuries.
Let’s pray for no WC injuries.
we are only 6 points behind city with many injuries and no fitting striker for much of the season. very important win today as it will only get better. i am really excited
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Yes the attack could be more fluid and penetrative but that takes many years to perfect.
And quite frankly, our attack being blunt is something that is chronic and has been with us since the Moyes days. It is ingrained into the wood and will take a long time to sort out.
And quite frankly, our attack being blunt is something that is chronic and has been with us since the Moyes days. It is ingrained into the wood and will take a long time to sort out.
It won’t be smooth sailing until we have the opportunity to address our issues in the transfer market in Jan which is a hard market so more likely the summer. Newcastle’s form along with Arsenals makes top 4 this season a very hard ask. 2 teams very few had in their top 4 predictions afew months ago. To still expect it given that, we defo will need a striker in Jan to really hit the ground running..
People need to really remember the absolute lows we reached last season. Im loving the early stages of ETH era. The challenges his faced with poor squad depth, frequent injuries and the Ronaldo cloud over the club has been good in my opinion.
looking forward to what 2/3 transfer windows look like.
looking forward to what 2/3 transfer windows look like.
One day someone will make a song just out of his Hehs, ETH Super mario theme HEH mixLet him whisper sweet Hehs in my ear
11 behind arsenal, equally mental!
The players are working hard for him that much is clear. Never got the impression that previous managers since Fergie could command that. Happy to see we have the joint highest highest number of yellow cards this season (37, tied with Villa), at least shows we’ve had some fight.
I think he's the right man, a couple more transfer windows to build a team he wants and I believe he will get us back among the top.
He makes some odd subs though his game management isn't very good.
He makes some odd subs though his game management isn't very good.
arsenal is doing exceptionally well - but i cant see them doing it until the end. if so they deserve it to win the pl. still think city is the benchmark
What Arsenal has done reminds me ourselves under Ole that season. We eventually fell short in Feb. it’s interesting to watch how arsenal does eventually.
He doesn't deserve the mentions. So tedious.Ole being mentioned at least once every three or four posts is becoming so damn tiresome
Yeah. Imagine referencing our last full time manager when discussing his replacement. Anyhoo...Ole being mentioned at least once every three or four posts is becoming so damn tiresome
Was imperative that we won this game or else we would have undone all the good work after the first 2 losses and gone into the break in a negative mood.
Whilst im not a fan of this constant pinging balls behind the opponent into the space, I also think there is a realisation from Ten Hag that teams are pressing Eriksen and Case in the midfield and neither really have the quick feet to handle the ball under pressure. The reason the best teams can have so much possesion and play through the midfield is because 99% of the opposition can not press them into a mistake. So the safer option is to not press and concede possession. I think teams have cottoned on to the fact that both Case and Eriksen are not capable of taking the ball under pressure in a tight midfield and are now pressing them. Which is then leaving space in behind for us. So I think it makes sense what we are doing, Its just not pleasing on the eye to me.
Hopefully we can identify a midfielder who is able to take the ball like a de jong or verrati which should then allow us to control games better.
Whilst im not a fan of this constant pinging balls behind the opponent into the space, I also think there is a realisation from Ten Hag that teams are pressing Eriksen and Case in the midfield and neither really have the quick feet to handle the ball under pressure. The reason the best teams can have so much possesion and play through the midfield is because 99% of the opposition can not press them into a mistake. So the safer option is to not press and concede possession. I think teams have cottoned on to the fact that both Case and Eriksen are not capable of taking the ball under pressure in a tight midfield and are now pressing them. Which is then leaving space in behind for us. So I think it makes sense what we are doing, Its just not pleasing on the eye to me.
Hopefully we can identify a midfielder who is able to take the ball like a de jong or verrati which should then allow us to control games better.
He and his team need a break. We have run out of gas.
Not as pressing and progressive as I would've liked. Not great with substitutes.
Other than that, he's been better than previous managers so far. Clear desire to improve.
Other than that, he's been better than previous managers so far. Clear desire to improve.
Unlucky not to have been further ahead but that sub almost totally cost us the result/
However, got away with it, and thankfully this break has come at a great time for us.
However, got away with it, and thankfully this break has come at a great time for us.
Very important win before the break but it's clear we're still years away from being meaningful team in the top races. Unless we buy well in the next market, I don't see us challenging for any big trophy before 3 years minimum.
That's just nonsense. Last year Arsenal were miles off any significant trophy, and look where they are now. Things change quickly in football
Martian’s constant injuries, Ronaldo being completely done and Greenwood’s off pitch things are what’s really hindered ETH from being further ahead of where we are although I think Rashford will continue to improve under ETH as will Antony so we’re a non injury prone striker who can be fluid and link play but has pace to get in behind away from being at least a constant in the top four.
Arsenal played good football last season though. They weren’t winning games in ‘moments’ as we are at the minute. You could sense they were coming.