Listened to the podcast where he said "some" players were lacking the capacity to process the instructions, didn't name them but called out players like Eriksen and a couple of others that can't. I'd rather go for smarter players than a dumber "vibes" based manager.
Andy Mitten: The players aren't responding to the 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?
Sounds like a lot of senior management I've worked with to be fair.
The players are not exactly a constant because so many of them have come and gone in recent years. And our issues now include ETH's own signings.
Our failures in the last decade are due to several reasons. Mostly, it's the lack of structure to improve our chances ot getting the mix of the right players and the right manager which has sent us into the cycle of replacing people without ultimately improving.
The more this season goes on, the more this has proven to be nonsense, and you have to wonder who fed Mitten this info.
Apologies for not responding sooner, as you actually posed a fair few questions and spent time writing it.
These were more players I think get what he's asking - those players bar Evans (who I forgot) don't seem to really to get the instructions in my opinion. Maguire has been challenged to be aggressive, in his defending, but he's only really in his heading and passing. McTom puts the effort in, but definitely doesn't understand space when it comes to receiving the ball.
I think Varane is a special case, I think he's as good as gone and his body is just collapsing from the intensity.
I think you can see that Ten Hag would prefer someone more assured in possession than Bruno, that doesn't discount that he runs the most in our team, creates the most and is a bit of a standard setting from an effort perspective. He needlessly gives away possession from playing first time without looking, which on the transition is fine, but he does it in silly areas.
I think we've got a squad that isn't suited to the manager fully, which is really on the sporting structure it they weren't going to shift players he didn't want on or realise some weren't going to fit into his style - ten hag may have hoped they'd learn, but they should know better.
I am not wedded to Ten Hag, but I don't also see what manager would like a squad like ours, unless you want to continually be a counter attacking team. Either way, the sporting structure needs to be better and more aligned on what they want and what they believe it takes to get to the desired playing style. We can't just keep hiring talented managers and just let them do their thing with no real key results to measure them by, bar points or trophies.
We have to realise our players attitudes as a whole is disgusting and it’s been clear for years regardless who’s in charge.
Too many don’t give a feck about us the club or rest of their team mate. They lose they don’t care they go partying they post media of them dancing etc. there is very few who spend time signing tops for the kids before and after game. They post sorry posts after a defeat and think it’s ok. They are a bunch of spoilt kids who have no respect.
Sir Alex before signing a player asked about attitudes family life etc. when Patrice evra signed for us he went and learnt about the club studied the history etc and realised what the club and fans were about and dedicated himself to rewarding them.
until we can get the bad bad culture in our club at moment there is no point hiring and firing anyone.
Too many don’t give a feck about us the club or rest of their team mate. They lose they don’t care they go partying they post media of them dancing etc. there is very few who spend time signing tops for the kids before and after game. They post sorry posts after a defeat and think it’s ok. They are a bunch of spoilt kids who have no respect.
Sir Alex before signing a player asked about attitudes family life etc. when Patrice evra signed for us he went and learnt about the club studied the history etc and realised what the club and fans were about and dedicated himself to rewarding them.
until we can get the bad bad culture in our club at moment there is no point hiring and firing anyone.
I’d buy this argument if you could point to a group of EtH players who are fighting against the ‘bad egss’ he inherited.
Casemiro was seemingly a club back up to the failed de Jong so bar Martinez & perhaps Onana by dint of being a goalkeeper, EtH has barely addresses your assertion. Do you think the City squad grew up caring about them? Arsenal spent a record fee on Chelsea fan Declan Rice.
I personally don’t buy that these players have bad attitudes in terms of burying managers I just think as an ensemble they are not good enough and lack leadership both from peers and above. The majority of this squad have only really played under OgS, former player with no management pedigree & EtH who starts fights with players too often.
I understand this fan base like nothing more than thinking a bunch of overpaid millionaires need a good telling off but the composition of the squad is as much a problem as their attitude. Take any one of our squad & put them into another around Europe, they won’t be half as conspiratorial as the media would make you believe they are.
They are not good enough.
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In any way of life or sport etc if the current attitude is stinking and you bring in body’s who have great attitudes usually you’ll find they will fall to their level. Regulion has made more effort in his games than most in his little games because he is probably tryna impress to get permanent move when that is sorted he will most likely end up with bad habits. When rashford first broke through he was forever chasing back tryna help the full back now he has no interest. There is a cancer of an attitude that needs shifted. Unless it’s different type of players more disciplined and strict coaches it’s not going to change.
Who are the players EtH has purchased that have fell to their level?
I wouldn’t use the word cancer but I certainly think this group of players are done as a collective. Too many big losses & the acceptance of those standards are the biggest issue for me though.
Again, I don’t think our players will have particularly worse attitudes than their peers at other clubs. Look post game & on the socials, they’re all mates between clubs anyway.
We don’t need a drill sergeant, we need a raise in quality. Look how badly we have played & for how long, with all the negative media. If it was simply a case of trying a bit harder these guys would do it just to quiet the noise alone.
We indeed need a different type of player. A better one.
Mitten is backing him. I’m sure now he’s saying something in support of the manager he’ll be slagged off though and his opinion called worthless.
https://x.com/andymitten/status/1731783905236107668?s=46&t=3cSPEXx54yOkvLX_Hq8XPw
https://x.com/andymitten/status/1731783905236107668?s=46&t=3cSPEXx54yOkvLX_Hq8XPw
That's nice to see. I don't think Mitten was ever calling for his head, he was just briefing what the main cnuts in the dressing room were feeding him. But we've seen a lot of hardcore United fans turn on Rashford now so there are no holy cows left I guess. People are seeing that most of these players are completely disrespectful to the fans and have hidden behind every manager they've had here.
Need to stop giving players chance after chance. Hopefully new football structure will stop rewarding 1 good season in every 4 with juicy new contracts.
Hopefully that new structure can identify players for the manager too. He’s clearly pretty shit at that.
That combo will hopefully mean a squad built up of those who are good and play with something to prove. Certain players believe that playing for United is enough to say you’ve made it.
Hopefully that new structure can identify players for the manager too. He’s clearly pretty shit at that.
That combo will hopefully mean a squad built up of those who are good and play with something to prove. Certain players believe that playing for United is enough to say you’ve made it.
That's a real change of tune from him. The vibe I always got was of real disdain for him - I guess that's easy when the source of stuff inside the club is likely from disgruntled players.
Will be very interested to see said interview.
He really liked him last year. I haven’t listened to the podcast this year - watching our games is depressing enough.
Yeah maybe I was reading into it as anger towards him, but he's probably just angry at the state of affairs and having to watch and write about the games. I've enjoyed the podcast this year, I'm not Anka's biggest fan, but it's made me like Mitten more.
Problem is everyone also turned on the players when Solskjaer was sacked. But then as soon as we started winning a few games last season all was forgotten. It'll be the same next time we win a few and Rashford scores a penalty
Anka is the worst
I'm not sure. I fully expect the Glazers to continue their chase the losses philosophy in the sporting sense. The question is will Ratcliffe be all hubris and think his guru can do things he's never done in his life or is he sensible. And will he have sway. I suspect the supporters have had enough of plenty of the players. It will be very interesting to see the reception Rashford gets next time at OT, especially if his body language and effort is that of a player who shirks responsibility.
Very interesting from Mitten. I look forward to that read and the next podcast.
I’ve never got that impression with Mitten really. Often when he’s more impassioned, he’s speaking as a fan rather than a journalist.
And when they record straight after a game, that’s often when you get the more pointed remarks. Which is understandable.
Haha yes.
This all sounds very familiar. Might it be that we’ve a bunch of bang average players being paid eye watering salaries, who sulk because they can’t handle criticism from time to time (turning up late for training) ?
Some of them have been here for the best part of a decade and are toxic, just hope we can move them on soon.
Some of them have been here for the best part of a decade and are toxic, just hope we can move them on soon.
Super reply!Haha yes.
I like Mitten. Sometimes feels like he’s too close to the club to really speak out at times but he’s a positive guy.Haha yes.
Top reply.
By the same token, when he says something its meaningful because its at the point where he cant even attempt to balance his opinion out.
I see him as a United fan first who just happens to report stories about United. A typewriting Paddy Crerand.
"he knows what's needed"
Goes on to sign Antony, Onana, Mount, Amrabat....
Goes on to sign Antony, Onana, Mount, Amrabat....
Looking forward to reading this. I won't jump on the bandwagon of Mitten's opinion as the correct compass for this situation though until that read though.
I already know its going to be garbage. You get granted a good scoop with the United manager, you're not going to bite the hand that feeds (fed) you. And I'd have to question if Andy Mitten knows what's needed before I can accept that he can judge ETH.
Exactly.
Abandons his principles to play the "United way". Then proceeds to play shit on a stick football and gets figured out by practically every manager he faces.
Make strange signings like Mount and deploys a wacky system that completely undermines the team. I could go on, but it's clear he doesn't really know what's needed or how to implement it.
What EtH does know is how to speak to the hearts of the fanbase.
Honest question, has Mitten ever publicly gone against a manager while they were in the job?
On what world are you going to be invited to sit down for an extended interview with someone, be treated to a decent conversation with a decent man and then come out of it not rooting for them? Of course you are. That's absolutely guaranteed for anyone who isn't some kind of sociopath. Unfortunately it means diddly squat, precisely because that's all it is. Talk. Talking like you know what needs to be done is the easiest thing in the world. All of us on here could have worn a Ten Hag mask like the ones from Mission Impossible and had the same chat with Mitten and achieved the same result. It's actually doing it that's the hard part.
Didn't take long, the same page even
Weird. Carl Anka is great, does his job well, doesn't make shit up, is respectful and seems a genuinely good guy.. what is there not to like?Anka is the worst
So he sat down with ETH who charmed him and said all the right things about what he wants to do... Hardly means anything.
I didn't before, but again, maybe it's just because every game is car crash I'm getting that vibe every podcast and projecting.
I think he strays into the realm of the Twitter tactico too much, which is a pet peeve of mine.Weird. Carl Anka is great, does his job well, doesn't make shit up, is respectful and seems a genuinely good guy.. what is there not to like?
Or maybe, just maybe, ETH was convincing that he knows what the problems are and how to clear them up, which probably involves the change of control of the club, discussions with SJR about infrastructure and a couple of transfer windows to ship out disruptive players.
I can't be bothered with yet another knee-jerk sacking followed by an interim and then another new manager who gets one season's grace before the players decide it's too much like hard work and get the manager sacked again. Give ETH a proper crack under Brailsford/SJR and see how he gets on.
And you think ETH was telling Mitten everything in detail and them two made pinky promise not to publish this plan? If the manager can tell a journalist plenty of confidential info, what stop reading lady to do the same? Or it's likely just ETH telling his side of the story on certain event that journalist love to have exclusive access since it make money, and increase his credibility for future work regarding ("this manager trust me to give me exclusive interview. So take what I say in the future more serious if even I can't provide source.")
There is a line of failure that once cross, there is no free shot for any managers. ETH visibly failed to stay true to his principle which got him the job in the first place. Brailsford/SJR owe ETH no debt. If they're competent, they would be objective about how ETH is performing (which is bad), what ETH has in store for the future (notjing when he brought down the foundation of last season and "learn on the job" the United way). Sacking manager is cheaper, there would come a time these players contract would run out if Brailsford/SJR is competent not extend them silly contract to certain bad apple after a proper DoF again give assessment base on performance data on the pitch and in training. There should be no fear if you believe Brailsford/SJR is the savior, bringing competency and accountability to the club. Club change manager all the time. The DOF is the one who oversee long (middle) term matter. What ETH is showing is improvable. His last season is very decent but it's not the best. Quite a few managers came and won PL on their first season even.
Things are discussed "off the record" all of the time, so yes it's likely that ETH told Mitten things that Mitten can't pass on.
I like AM and trust what he says; he clearly has a hell of a lot more access and knowledge than I do, so why would I assume to know better? You on the other hand clearly don't rate AM, which is fine, maybe you're right and I'm wrong. Time will tell.