Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

[Sarni]

No none called that a miracle if my memory serves me right. But many called what ETH did here last season was miracle. And I'd agree with that considering most including me wrote off that season and expected us no be nowhere near the top 4 let alone winning anything after the utter disaster season under Ole - Rangnick.

If this season he could do only what he did in the last season then agree it's only a decent season.

And I'd disagree with the bold part. We're being utter crap atm but things will improve once we got our first choices back and the new signings adapted. Imo this is just a inevitable bumpy part on the road. For once we're heading in the right direction after all the years being so clueless. At least the progressive football we're trying to play would make us competing again if we do it right. No more dinosaur or sit deep and counter football.

Tbh I don't even mind he's sacked if we can get someone proven. That means at a top club or CL level. We hired ETH not only because what he did at Ajax but also in the CL. I don't want any more of those caretakers or some 'modern manager' who only did well at Brighton. The chance we'd hit gold with those is like winning the lotto. At least with ETH I still have some belief if we keep backing him and fix our structure things might work again.

I don’t really get why last season was a miracle but virtually the same season under a different manager before was not a miracle. Either it’s a team that is expected to have that sort of season, in which case Ole did as expected but so did ETH, or it is indeed one of the worst teams in the history of the league to finish top 4, in which case they are both miracle workers.

It makes no sense for Ole’s season to be normal/expected but for ETH’s to be a miracle. If anything ETH’s job was easier because he was allowed to spend over £200m in one window to address key issues with players of his choice.

We are also not playing progressive football. It’s deluded to look at the last three months of football and call it progressive, modern football. The fact that we are playing horrible brand of football AND getting poor results is exactly why so many question him, if one of these were not true there’d be less doubts.

 

[Castia]

Dead man walking.

 

[Berbaclass]

Some very interesting things mentioned in here

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

Some very interesting things mentioned in here

Like what? Good sources for what is said? Genuine question as I can’t watch.

Sadly can’t see him turning it around. Too many out of form players and the ones he probably thinks are suited to his style just aren’t good enough.

 

[clarkydaz]

Dead man walking.

pretty much, when it gets to this its just a matter of time. Even after a few wins, it will return again when results drop

 

[Kostov]

Whilst Anthony is underwhelming, and the lack of scoring over the whole front is worrying, it did appear to me as Man Utd not having any list of options when ten Hag came. The right front wing position was not working, with Sancho rarely doing any good. At least with Anthony he knew what to get, but Ten Hag doesnt do the buying, the club does. if Ajax keeps increasing their demands, Howard & co shouldv said no.

It seems a vicious circle of nothing. New manager, manager bounce. Then after a year: rut comes in, players stop working, stroll around the park. result: manager sacked. This has now happened for 6 or 7 years. Review the last matches of Moyes and see how similar the players walk around the field.

In a way rangnick was right. A huge, huge clear out is needed.

The comparisment with Newcastle is not real. Ten Hag was brought in for fast high press. Newcastle is a 4-4-2 low block team. Much more effective, but would not be accepteed if Ten Hag plays like that.

That said, for his sake, I dont think he can keep onplaying the high press high line attacks anymore. He needs a string of results. 5-3-2 pak the bus for all I care. Then wait for Rathclif and hopefully some choice, well scouted buys in january. Not Weghorsts of this world.

What kind of silly logic is that? He knew he was getting a 15m player but still gave the go ahead to splash 100m euros on Antony and blow his budget for January as well??

 

[IWat]

70m is the going rate for that sort of player.

This kind of notion is what has got us in the shit and is just evidently untrue. Look at the top scorers in PL the past few years - Heck any of the big leagues, how many of them were purchased for £70m+ after scoring 9 goals in a top 5 league?

It's not the lads fault and I hope he comes good.. But we've had our pants taken down.

 

[Ahmer Baig]

I’m kind of sick of sacking managers at this point. As much as I think it’s not working with ETH, I would rather just keep him just to prove a point to the players.

Players sucked - Ole sacked
Players sucked - Rangnick left
Players sucked - ETH also about to be sacked?

There’s one common denominator here but no one wants to feck them off.

How many of these players of Ole or prior Ole do we have left?

 

[TrebleChamp99]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...m-zinedine-zidane-manchester-united-8h7bqdnsq

ffs he’s gone if these reports are breaking

 

[Tom Van Persie]

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[Strelok]

I don’t really get why last season was a miracle but virtually the same season under a different manager before was not a miracle. Either it’s a team that is expected to have that sort of season, in which case Ole did as expected but so did ETH, or it is indeed one of the worst teams in the history of the league to finish top 4, in which case they are both miracle workers.

It makes no sense for Ole’s season to be normal/expected but for ETH’s to be a miracle. If anything ETH’s job was easier because he was allowed to spend over £200m in one window to address key issues with players of his choice.

We are also not playing progressive football. It’s deluded to look at the last three months of football and call it progressive, modern football. The fact that we are playing horrible brand of football AND getting poor results is exactly why so many question him, if one of these were not true there’d be less doubts.

No it's quite different if my memory serves me right. After he took the caretaker job things were flying for a while that's why he got the permanent job. So there's some expectation for the next season. Like a top 4 at least I think. And in the next season we started horribly it's Bruno who saved his ass when we signed him in Jan I think. Anyway it's too long ago I can't remember anymore. However I'm pretty sure not many poster would have called what Ole did back then was a miracle.

Agree on the progressive football part. Last three months we're still been trying to play that kind of football. Problem is we just can't. Imo it's largely because of the injuries. That's why I said in this very thread imo ETH should simply sit deep and counter for a while until his first choices players are back. Of course only if he's still there by then. Imo if he keeps being stubborn with his progressive football he'd get sacked pretty soon.

 

[saivet]

Sure, they were on the radar - we have dozens of scouts all over the world, so that's not surprising. That doesn't mean we were interested in them or had any intention of signing them though.

Exactly, there were reports that the scouts weren't overly impressed with Antony for example. Most players signed by other clubs in the PL would also be on the club's radar.

 

[Ahmer Baig]

How long before these players down tools for new manager?

 

[mu4c_20le]

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[Winrar]

Seems like a dead man walking at this point as players seem to have given up.

 

[Ahmer Baig]

Sack him and then what? The cycle starts again.

The players know they are untouchables. Another manager getting the sack because of players power.

 

[USREDEVIL]

Manager graveyard. Anyone ready to have their managerial career destroyed next?

 

[Tom Van Persie]

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[Santos J]

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Surprised we're seeing this already from someone half reliable.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Surprised we're seeing this already from someone half reliable.

Lawton is very reliable.

 

[Bo_devil]

To me it seemed like Eric was more the 'fans choice'. There were alternatives, though. Seemed a bit like the board were pressured into this one to appease fans. Poch and Rodgers are both better coaches IMHO

 

[Superunknown]

I’m kind of sick of sacking managers at this point. As much as I think it’s not working with ETH, I would rather just keep him just to prove a point to the players.

Players sucked - Ole sacked
Players sucked - Rangnick left
Players sucked - ETH also about to be sacked?

There’s one common denominator here but no one wants to feck them off.

Casemiro, Antony, Amrabat, Mount, Malacia, Onana, Weghorst, Sabitzer and Eriksen are all some of the 16 players that ETH has signed. He's signed more goalkeepers than strikers in a team that doesn't score goals.

We can blame the hangers-on from Ole's days as much as we want, but he's added more mediocre players to that pile. I can't look past the Antony signing.

 

[Berbaclass]

Like what? Good sources for what is said? Genuine question as I can’t watch.

Sadly can’t see him turning it around. Too many out of form players and the ones he probably thinks are suited to his style just aren’t good enough.

Kieren McKenna been spoken about at INEOS he says.

 

[Marcelinho87]

I think Casemiro gets some unfair flack on here, he’s not old at 31 and has plenty more years in the tank.

He has been used totally wrong, the 1 midfielder experiment needs to end, how is any midfielder supposed to do it all on themselves? Put Casemiro in any other top side and you’d see a different player.

for me EtH needs to go full on defensive and try nick some games and stop the flood of goals.

 

[saivet]

Manager graveyard. Anyone ready to have their managerial career destroyed next?

I disagree with this sentement. I don't think any manager reputation has been destroyed after United and if it happens to ETH, he will be the first.

Moyes was making a step up, failed and now has returned to his level.

It's fair to say LVG was appointed many many years after his peak. His record in recent years prior to being United manager wasn't all that impressive.

Jose showed signs of decline before managing United and has had big jobs at Spurs and Roma and not exactly pulled up any significant trees

Ole's reputation was boosted, I would argue.

Rangnick had a bigger reputation as a Sporting director than manager.

ETH would be the first up and coming manager that many though had big potential to have failed at the club, if he is sacked.

 

[crossy1686]

Like what? Good sources for what is said? Genuine question as I can’t watch.

Sadly can’t see him turning it around. Too many out of form players and the ones he probably thinks are suited to his style just aren’t good enough.

It's a YouTube channel from them American jokers who are formally of Reddit, called the Muppetiers, who post random bollocks with reckless abandon like they know what's going on behind the scenes.

 

[Strelok]

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Just forget about Zidane. Is this Ruben Amorim any good? First time I've heard of him tbh.

 

[Fooza]

Where's the news that the board is on 'thin ice' and are the owners are looking for replacements? Oh yeh, the owners are the Glazers who know feck all.

Nothing is going to change, give me a break

 

[Oranges038]

How long before these players down tools for new manager?

6 months at best.

With Ralf it was 20 mins.
ETH got 6 to 8 months.

The absolute state of the place, but we're back to the new manager placebo again. So all is good until these bunch of gowls decide they don't want to put in a shift anymore. And rinse and repeat.

Massive clearout required, it's not just an ability thing, it's a mentality thing. 90% of this squad aren't good enough ability wise. But they're also not mentally strong enough to deal with the pressure and expectation that comes with playing for Utd.

People just need to accept that unless this squad is gutted and a proper development plan put in place that's going to take a few years to rebuild, then we're just going to continue to go around in circles.

 

[miliebrowndivorceattorney]

If the players have downed tools then that is on the manager as the game last night had 7 ten hag players in it. And they were still shit. This is his team now with a few left overs, if he’d built a stronger mentally team those few left over would be insignificant or have to toe the line or be dropped. I’m sick of reading we’ve seen these players down tools before under previous managers when 75% of them wasn’t even here then.

I’m gutted how this year is going but the players brought in are just not good enough or were the wrong choice. It’s been said a million times but why the feck did we buy mount when we really needed a dm. It just seems insane to me, and then who the feck decided to give him the 7 shirt, there was obviously big plans for him from the manager and it just doesn’t seem right. The team being built is second rate.

yeah, I hear you. But how much of these payers are really Ten hag choice? Do you really think Ten Hag went to Howard and the Glazers and said: ""This Weghorst, this guy we really REALLY need. get him"

If the choice was Kane or Hoijlund, do you really think Ten Hag went to Howard and the Glazers and said:"" No, please no Harry Kane. Buy me Hoiland. proven quality"??

Onana, that one I can understand. And bar his first few games, the last 2 weeks hes been great in some and outstanding in others. (Last night Onana was the better footballer between him, Maguire and Lindelof.)

But, really, why arent there any world class strikers at united? How come for the last 3 years or so, No Kane, no Alvarez, no Gakpo. Under Fergie, the biggest and baddest guys all went to Old Trafford, whatever the cost. Rangnick was sacked but Im sure we all agreed his assesment was right, and the least the Glazers couldv done, is get Ten Hag the De Jong or Kanes of this world?

 

[Bo_devil]

Massive waste of money.

Antony, Mount and Casemiro are awful deals.

I would have gone for Joao Palhinha, Olise, Maddison (all Premier League Proven) and you would still have had change for a center back.

To think what we are paying Mason Mount, unwanted at Chelsea, more a week than Maddison, when Mount only had a year left on his contact, as well as £20mil more on the transfer fee. It hurts.

People are only hyping up Maddison because he's having a good season with Spurs. Hardly anybody wanted him in the summer, he wasn't deemed 'good enough' by the majority on here, but now he's the flavour of the month. There's no guarantees he'd have did much here, based on current midfield signings.

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

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Makes me think of the "kite flying" that poiticans do before a budget to see what the mood is out there and how people think about certain scenarios.

I am not looking for a new manager , but it has to be Zidane if ETH is replaced.

If the frenchman fails then there cant be anymore arguments about the managers being the reason weve be so bad for a decade.

 

[UnitedSofa]

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I’d be inclined to go with Rúben Amorim based on the very fact Zizou has said he doesn’t want to manage in the PL if I remember correctly.

That being said if Zizou did come in, he’d instantly get respect from the players & would be my #1 choice by far.

 

[Irwin99]

The club had to get rid of more players this summer, regardless of whatever you think about the new signings that came in. Players like Maguire and McTominay have been here for 5 or more seasons, have had numerous managers, and have no place in a title winning team. I understand the club didn't want to be rinsed by insulting offers but they simply had to go.

I mean, in a way, as horrible as it sounds, if you're a player who has been here for 5 seasons, seen numerous manager changes, you're going to think to yourself 'if i can get this manager gone, i can revive my career here or get away with it a bit longer'. Luke Shaw practically admitted that he knew he'd "outlast" Jose at United in what I thought was a truly disgraceful comment but that's the nature of the culture here.

 

[bosnian_red]

I think that is such BS.

The only people worrying about their jobs will be the likes of Arnold and Murtaugh. That fear isn't working its way down to players. That is just an excuse.

The feck? Have you ever worked in a big company where there is uncertainty? A toxic atmosphere? All that shit spills down to EVERYONE. The squad isn't on an island away from the company that is Manchester United. It's not just executives. Staff members of any level don't know if they'll be in a job for various reasons. Having a drawn out sale process will inevitably have a huge impact on every aspect of the organization.

The players always live with the uncertainty of their careers being tied to athletic performance. But it's the mood. The mood at every corner. The mental image everything sets to the players. The motivation and drive and admiration and togetherness. That atmosphere spreads to the team, and it has an impact. When you have that much negative publicity as we've had this year, add in injuries which in turn leads to questionable decisions by the manager and him now making some mistakes, things can quickly slip. If the rest is a mess, it makes the actual club morale a very fragile thing. If it's strong behind the scenes, set, secure, leading the way and striving to be the best... Then you are much better positioned to deal with any set back. As it is, United the club just give a hopeless feel to all fans, staff, and players.

 

[Kaos]

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Zidane again? The guy's turned us down pretty much everytime we're looking for a new coach. At this point he should file a restraining order.

With Amorim we'd just be making the same mistakes again.

 

[crossy1686]

6 months at best.

With Ralf it was 20 mins.
ETH got 6 to 8 months.

The absolute state of the place, but we're back to the new manager placebo again. So all is good until these bunch of gowls decide they don't want to put in a shift anymore. And rinse and repeat.

Massive clearout required, it's not just an ability thing, it's a mentality thing. 90% of this squad aren't good enough ability wise. But they're also not mentally strong enough to deal with the pressure and expectation that comes with playing for Utd.

People just need to accept that unless this squad is gutted and a proper development plan put in place that's going to take a few years to rebuild, then we're just going to continue to go around in circles.

Maybe there's a clear moment when they down tools? It's usually when the manager starts telling them all they're shit and he can't use them to play any kind of good football, despite already managing to do that when he first arrived and wanted to try.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Not going to lie, everytime I get a notification from the Man Utd app, I’m expecting it to be a sacking of EtH statement

 

[Mickeza]

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Very similar managers. Good to see we’ve a clear strategy of what we want in the next manager…

 

[saivet]

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While this is all well and good, if it's not Ineos' people driving this search, why the feck aren't they thinking about the club structure? If ETH is on thin ice, why the feck has Murtough not already fallen through it? It would be farcical of us to sack him, Murtough appoint someone else for the Ineos team to come in and have their view after. The sooner the get control of the footballing operations the better. Even if we lose to Luton, I don't want Murtough and co to be making any significant decisions.