Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

[Skills]

The notion of managers needing more time is applicable in some cases, but they are generally the exception, rather than the rule.

Our last two permanent managers got way too much time, which will obviously skew peoples views.

I think the impressive thing about ETH is that he's visibly improved the way his team plays month by month, in a season where we're playing 2 games a week. He's getting feck all time to prep them compared to a normal season, but his coaching effect has grown.

The other pretenders had multiple pre seasons and nothing close to a schedule like this, and all we heard from the serial standard droppers is 'he needs time'.

 

[Chairman Steve]

The difference between Solskjaer and ETH is I don’t think we’d get that superior 2nd half performance under Solskjaer.

That first half was like watching a Solskjaer game again.

If we were under Solskjaer, it’d be another 45 minutes of being on a knife edge and everyone shitting themselves… maybe we‘d have got a 2–0 towards the end when Leicester threw everything forward confident they could get an equaliser, and we just countered them.

Under ETH, we controlled the game and nullified Leicester in the 2nd half... did they even do anything of note in the 2nd half? I remember being pretty relaxed watching.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Without Casemiro we struggle a bit defensivly, but in attack we are really good right now. The direction we are going is really positive.

We are the best side in the league right now I think even if we lost vs Arsenal.

 

[KjaAnd]

One of the (many) things I really like about him is how his statements almost always reflect the feelings of the fans. When we play bad - even if it's just one half like today - he acknowledges it. He isn't content after winning 3-0. Always looking to improve. His appointment is the best decision made by the club post-SAF.

 

[bosskeano]

His interviews are always pretty straightforward and he's not afraid to let people know taht what he thinks about how the lads played....it's refreshing to be fair that he says they were rubbish but always basis it on his principles of play and his expectation of how they should perform. It's clear that he has set a standard for the players to achieve when they perform and he holds them accountable to those principles.

Impressive to say the least and as a player that is something that is clearly tangible for them which makes playing so much easier and free

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Without Casemiro we struggle a bit defensivly, but in attack we are really good right now. The direction we are going is really positive.

We are the best side in the league right now I think even if we lost vs Arsenal.

Just shows how important getting a Case understudy is this summer. We literally have one holding midfielder in the entire squad.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

One of the (many) things I really like about him is how his statements almost always reflect the feelings of the fans. When we play bad - even if it's just one half like today - he acknowledges it. He isn't content after winning 3-0. Always looking to improve. His appointment is the best decision made by the club post-SAF.

He's probably the best post match interview there is if you strictly want a review on the a teams performance as he's very honest and no-nonsense. It's a nice change of pace from listening to Ole be happy that the boys tried hard, or Klopp complaining that the weather wasn't quite right in the first half.

 

[Tarrou]

It’s so crazy that we’ve finally got it right just as the Glazers are fecking off

Not just the manager either, the structure is better and seems functional ( so far at least )

I just hope the new owners don’t meddle too much

we could have a decade of success under ETH if he can maintain this level

 

[NLunited]

It’s so crazy that we’ve finally got it right just as the Glazers are fecking off

Not just the manager either, the structure is better and seems functional ( so far at least )

I just hope the new owners don’t meddle too much

we could have a decade of success under ETH if he can maintain this level

Yes. If we get Qatar owners we are screwed. PSG is a fecking mess.

 

[Cheimoon]

His interviews are always pretty straightforward and he's not afraid to let people know taht what he thinks about how the lads played....it's refreshing to be fair that he says they were rubbish but always basis it on his principles of play and his expectation of how they should perform. It's clear that he has set a standard for the players to achieve when they perform and he holds them accountable to those principles.

Impressive to say the least and as a player that is something that is clearly tangible for them which makes playing so much easier and free

Watching that compilation of post-match interviews of Ten Hag, Bruno, and Rashford that was posted earlier, I thought Bruno and Rashford actually sound a lot like Ten Hag in their analysis of the match, in terms of perspective and a couple of terms they used. That's normal I suppose, but all the same, probably a good sign of their buy-in into Ten Hag's approach.

 

[Big Ray]

Yes. If we get Qatar owners we are screwed. PSG is a fecking mess.

I don’t think so. Ten hag is the golden goose and we already have him. I think we’ll be grand.

 

[NLunited]

Watching that compilation of post-match interviews of Ten Hag, Bruno, and Rashford that was posted earlier, I thought Bruno and Rashford actually sound a lot like Ten Hag on their analysis of the match, in terms of perspective and a couple of terms they used. That's normal I suppose, but all the same, probably a good sign of their buy-in into Ten Hag's approach.

The way we are playing now is not possible without buy-in from the players. It is a prerequisite, like putting in maximum effort.

 

[TsuWave]

He's cooking something special. Crazy that this squad isn't even tailored to him yet

 

[Cheimoon]

The way we are playing now is not possible without buy-in from the players. It is a prerequisite, like putting in maximum effort.

Yeah, I probably didn't properly express what I meant. Can't really thinking of the right words, but something like that they now seem to see or think of football like him. Again, probably fairly obvious, but also good to see.

 

[NLunited]

Yeah, I probably didn't properly express what I meant. Can't really thinking of the right words, but something like that they now seem to see or think of football like him. Again, probably fairly obvious, but also good to see.

Very good to see, and not obvious at all. Most fans don‘t notice these things.

 

[NLunited]

I don’t think so. Ten hag is the golden goose and we already have him. I think we’ll be grand.

Nope, just look at PSG. A total disaster.

If we get players like Neymar, Ten Hag will be out the door.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

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I love him

Love it!

 

[amolbhatia50k]

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Given how wank our attack has been for this past decade this is a big accomplishment

 

[Waynne]

De Gea kept us in it first half. Fred had one of those games and surrendered possession at every opportunity, Bruno was also playing erratic balls straight to the oppo. Rashford scored totally against the run of play but it was still absolute rubbish for most of the half

Standard fare then since Casemiro is out. We really need to get in capable ball players in the middle of the park to replace Fred, Scott and maybe even V.D Beek. That's 3 bodies that I'm not comfortable with starting in the team.

I can forgive Bruno because while he may at times be wasteful he is key up front behind Wout and Rashy. He has the ability to play that perfect pass or be instrumental in the build up to a goal.

 

[Cheimoon]

Very good to see, and not obvious at all. Most fans don‘t notice these things.

Ah no, I didn't mean it in a self-congratulatory sense, but rather that it's probably pretty normal (guess that's the word I should have picked) that players start talking like their manager. Or at least: that's what you'd hope, cause that's how they hear about the match constantly.

It's requiring a couple of steps, but eventually we'll get to what I had meant to say all along.

 

[bosskeano]

Watching that compilation of post-match interviews of Ten Hag, Bruno, and Rashford that was posted earlier, I thought Bruno and Rashford actually sound a lot like Ten Hag on their analysis of the match, in terms of perspective and a couple of terms they used. That's normal I suppose, but all the same, probably a good sign of their buy-in into Ten Hag's approach.

it's actually more than that....when players buy in to what the coaches want and when they get on the same "page" it's a completely different vibe and comfort for the players. Players take on the personality of their coach and what their coach wants...the best teams embody that approach like what we saw in the Fergie days and i think you're starting to see that with EtH that we haven't seen since the Fergie days.

i'm sure alot of people on this forum have played footie, some may have played at a higher level than others, but if you watch and listen to these guys you understand that buying in at this high of a level for a guy who's only been in charge for 6 months is pretty fuking impressive

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

When, since Fergie, have we played better football ?
Refresh my memory because I can’t remember.

LVG's team beat Liverpool home and away, twice. I loved those games. Every other LVG game was tumescent. We finally look like a real club again!

December 14th 2014
Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie

March 22nd 2015
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Juan Mata x 2

September 12th 2015
Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool
Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial.

January 17th 2016
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
Wayne Rooney

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I love the man to bits.

He's done an incredible job.

If we get the right signings in, we will be scarily good.

 

[croadyman]

Ah, a slow start again. I hope this can be rooted out. Heard the second half was amazing but we need to try and put games to bed early on.

Yeah definitely need to work on that,however we still haven't got the GK,progressive CM and ST for that to happen but will get two in the summer

 

[croadyman]

LVG's team beat Liverpool home and away, twice. I loved those games. Every other LVG game was tumescent. We finally look like a real club again!

December 14th 2014
Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie

March 22nd 2015
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Juan Mata x 2

September 12th 2015
Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool
Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial.

January 17th 2016
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
Wayne Rooney

I dream of the day we stick it on the scousers in their backyard like City did with that 4-1 last season. We need some payback for those 2009 & 2021 beatings at Old Trafford

 

[Cheimoon]

it's actually more than that....when players buy in to what the coaches want and when they get on the same "page" it's a completely different vibe and comfort for the players. Players take on the personality of their coach and what their coach wants...the best teams embody that approach like what we saw in the Fergie days and i think you're starting to see that with EtH that we haven't seen since the Fergie days.

i'm sure alot of people on this forum have played footie, some may have played at a higher level than others, but if you watch and listen to these guys you understand that buying in at this high of a level for a guy who's only been in charge for 6 months is pretty fuking impressive

Yes, thank you! That's what I was trying to get at (well, in less detail, etc). Took me a couple of posts with @NLunited to word it better, but you're doing a much better job here in just one post.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

Rangnick essentially called the squad rubbish and think we needed to replace the whole squad. It may have reflected in the performances but many of those players have significantly improved under Ten Haag. I’m not sure most of them would have liked to continue working (perhaps indirectly) with someone who essentially thought they didn’t deserve to be at the club.

I agree with you.

It felt like Ten Hag decided a clean slate policy was the best option going forward which meant a No to Rangnick's continud presence, he said so in his very first interview that he would assess and see for himself and then decide, which sent a message to the players, and that message was "forget what happened in the past and show me what you've got", and it worked really for him.

Rangnick is an experienced football operator (Coach and DoF) and I don't think Ten Hag thinks very little of Rangnick's views or ideas, just that there was a different way to go about how to progress this team

 

[Redfrog]

LVG's team beat Liverpool home and away, twice. I loved those games. Every other LVG game was tumescent. We finally look like a real club again!

December 14th 2014
Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie

March 22nd 2015
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Juan Mata x 2

September 12th 2015
Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool
Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial.

January 17th 2016
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
Wayne Rooney

Ok, we won 4 games. But you said it yourself, almost every other game were horrible under LVG.
I wasn’t speaking about few games won but a prolonged period when we were good. And I can’t remember one appart this season.

And personally LVG was the worst manager we had. I was literally falling in sleep while watching the games. Never experienced something like that before as I am not the one to sleep anywhere.

 

[kthanksbye]

I agree with you.

It felt like Ten Hag decided a clean slate policy was the best option going forward which meant a No to Rangnick's continud presence, he said so in his very first interview that he would assess and see for himself and then decide, which sent a message to the players, and that message was "forget what happened in the past and show me what you've got", and it worked really for him.

Rangnick is an experienced football operator (Coach and DoF) and I don't think Ten Hag thinks very little of Rangnick's views or ideas, just that there was a different way to go about how to progress this team

Going to put my hand up and say I was wrong about him, when I thought he was making a mistake by not sitting down with Rangnick for a proper handover (think they did a short skype call, according to reports). Thought it was arrogant of him and could be a mistake, but the guy knew what RR thought about the players and didn't meet with him because he didn't want the players to assume what he assumed of them, as the players knew what RR thinks of them.
Looks like ETH knew what he was doing, right from day 1

 

[DevilRed]

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That is a dire record to have, considering the amount of money we spent on attacking players over the years.

ETH really has turned us around. Lets hope it continues.

 

[horsechoker]

Yea he enjoyed the match and himself after

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[Parma Dewol]

Any gif/video of Erik’s supposed rallying cry? Apparently he was “raising his arms and shouting a rallying message to the fans before heading down the tunnel at Old Trafford.”

Would love to see it and know what the message was.

 

[Adnan]

Any gif/video of Erik’s supposed rallying cry? Apparently he was “raising his arms and shouting a rallying message to the fans before heading down the tunnel at Old Trafford.”

Would love to see it and know what the message was.

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[Jeffchin]

Ten Hag on his rousing exit down tunnel, with fans responding to his rallying cry: "I said, 'Come Thursday, it's a big game, make sure you are there, we can beat Barcelona together.'" #MUFC

 

[Parma Dewol]

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Thanks! Sounds like something about Barcelona.

Edit

Ten Hag on his rousing exit down tunnel, with fans responding to his rallying cry: "I said, 'Come Thursday, it's a big game, make sure you are there, we can beat Barcelona together.'" #MUFC

Thanks! Man, wish I was going Thursday. What a game that will be.

 

[NoPace]

He's really something.

Sancho might be the best attacking sub in the league by next year at this rate.

 

[Trex]

The thing that makes ETH side very good is his team can be the better side with 60+ possession and also with 30+. Very few managers can pull that off.

 

[UnitedSofa]

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[RopersReturn]

The difference between ETH and someone like Mourinho is that he has the patience to work with players who are going through a bad spell, not just in football, but in life as general.

ETH is a great coach and we are so lucky to have him.

 

[Tony247]

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This. I am highly appreciative of Steve McClaren. A round of applause for this man please.