Will the World Cup disrupt our development next season?

sullydnl

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Typically when a new manager arrives at a club and tries to introduce a new style of play with a lot of personnel changes, I would expect to see early teething problems followed by improved performances as the season goes on and the team gels.

This seasons' schedule is slightly different though as the league will break off for the World Cup from November 12th/13th until December 26th. So effectively our new team will play the first 14 weeks of the season, stop for 6 weeks, then resume again after Christmas.

Aside from any distraction that comes from having a World Cup imminent, my concern would be that a 6 week break so early in the season may halt any momentum we're starting to build by that point.

Do you think it will have any real impact? Might we be impacted more that more settled sides by the disruption and perhaps have a slower start upon returning from the World Cup? Or will it largely make no difference to us?
 

The Corinthian

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I can’t see it having a massive impact given the majority of our squad will probably not make the World Cup squad call up for their respective national teams (and if they do, they’ll not play).

DdG has lost his first team place so will be part of the squad but not play.

Out of the back 4, only Maguire, Varane and Shaw are likely to play. AWB, Lindelof will be watching from home. I can’t see Dalot being a starter for Portugal, although he may be in the squad. Can’t see Telles turning out for Brazil.

Midfield - well McT will be at home, Fred & Bruno likely to play.

Up top - only Ronaldo is a shoe in for his NT. Sancho will maybe make the squad but not play. Rashford won’t be called up and Elanga will be at home. Martial hasn’t had a call up for ages.

This obviously doesn’t include any incomings. So I don’t think it’d have a material impact overall. If anything it should give whoever’s left behind more time on the training pitch and time to instil ETH’s ideas.
 

IRN-BRUno

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Before it would probably have been a concern that anyone not going to the World Cup would be off on holiday for weeks. Under Ten Hag I'm hopeful that it'll be used as a perfect opportunity for effectively a 2nd pre-season which should benefit us in the 2nd half of the season.
 

tenpoless

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Wouldnt it help him instead? so he knows which ones are on bad form at United and which ones are complete shite everywhere
 

Dembeza

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IRN-BRUno said:
Before it would probably have been a concern that anyone not going to the World Cup would be off on holiday for weeks. Under Ten Hag I'm hopeful that it'll be used as a perfect opportunity for effectively a 2nd pre-season which should benefit us in the 2nd half of the season.
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I think it will also help Ten Hag, he will use the first 12 weeks to adapt to the league and then he can use the break to asses his tactics and also work on a game plan after the world cup
 

BusbyMalone

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Isn't a summer tournament worse in this regard for a new manager? Little time for pre-season, players arriving late in dribs and drabs, the inevitable "post-world cup hangover"

I don't know. I've seen this argument a few times now regarding this world cup, and I just don't see how It's going to be any worse than any other major tournament. It's obviously a different challenge, I guess, as we've never had one before. But not sure about it having any more impact.
 

Andersonson

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The ones we know going are:
Maguire
Dalot
Varane
Bruno
Ronaldo.

Huge questions marks for the rest
 

Velvet Revolver

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The Corinthian said:
I can’t see it having a massive impact given the majority of our squad will probably not make the World Cup squad call up for their respective national teams (and if they do, they’ll not play).

DdG has lost his first team place so will be part of the squad but not play.

Out of the back 4, only Maguire, Varane and Shaw are likely to play. AWB, Lindelof will be watching from home. I can’t see Dalot being a starter for Portugal, although he may be in the squad. Can’t see Telles turning out for Brazil.

Midfield - well McT will be at home, Fred & Bruno likely to play.

Up top - only Ronaldo is a shoe in for his NT. Sancho will maybe make the squad but not play. Rashford won’t be called up and Elanga will be at home. Martial hasn’t had a call up for ages.

This obviously doesn’t include any incomings. So I don’t think it’d have a material impact overall. If anything it should give whoever’s left behind more time on the training pitch and time to instil ETH’s ideas.
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ouch!
 

Velvet Revolver

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sullydnl said:
Typically when a new manager arrives at a club and tries to introduce a new style of play with a lot of personnel changes, I would expect to see early teething problems followed by improved performances as the season goes on and the team gels.

This seasons' schedule is slightly different though as the league will break off for the World Cup from November 12th/13th until December 26th. So effectively our new team will play the first 14 weeks of the season, stop for 6 weeks, then resume again after Christmas.

Aside from any distraction that comes from having a World Cup imminent, my concern would be that a 6 week break so early in the season may halt any momentum we're starting to build by that point.

Do you think it will have any real impact? Might we be impacted more that more settled sides by the disruption and perhaps have a slower start upon returning from the World Cup? Or will it largely make no difference to us?
Click to expand...
If this in general has any impact to the general scheme then holidays in winter should be a thing
 

Powderfinger

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The bigger issue for Ten Hag, relevant for every team in Europe but particularly hard on a new manager trying to install a new system of play, will be the ridiculous level of fixture congestion.

The PL season begins Aug 6 and runs until the weekend of Nov 12/13. Accounting for one international break, there will be 13 midweeks during that period.

-6 will be European games
-2 will be additional PL fixtures
-1 will be the league cup third round

So PL teams in Europe will play on 9 of 13 midweeks with the empty midweeks most likely to occur in August. Starting in early September its going to be basically playing twice a week for 2.5 months with maybe one exception. It will be absolutely brutal on the players but also make it difficult to train in a new system as you are spending so much time either recovering from matches, doing opponent-specific preparation for the next match, or traveling.
 

sullydnl

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BusbyMalone said:
Isn't a summer tournament worse in this regard for a new manager? Little time for pre-season, players arriving late in dribs and drabs, the inevitable "post-world cup hangover"

I don't know. I've seen this argument a few times now regarding this world cup, and I just don't see how It's going to be any worse than any other major tournament. It's obviously a different challenge, I guess, as we've never had one before. But not sure about it having any more impact.
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Could well be a summer World Cup would be worse again, especially as you'd have the added complication of trying to get your transfer business done across it. I was more thinking in comparison to a non World Cup year.
 

tomaldinho1

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Better than summer tournament surely? Its not ideal but it’s lesser of two evils.
 

Nickelodeon

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Getting the summer is probably better for us. Had the WC happened like last years Euros, there wouldn’t have been any preseason.
 

BusbyMalone

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sullydnl said:
Could well be a summer World Cup would be worse again, especially as you'd have the added complication of trying to get your transfer business done across it. I was more thinking in comparison to a non World Cup year.
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Oh well in that case the answer will obviously be yes. Particularly if we actually get some momentum going only to be cut off with a six-week break. That would be infuriating. And this is merely one reason why this World Cup is horseshit.
 

Luke1995

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It's the same for everyone, isn't it ? Most premier league teams will be giving players away to the world cup.
 

Leftback99

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Should help us transfer wise with it giving a month to plan for January.
 

choccy77

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World Cup in December means a fantastic long pre season for Hag.

It's a good thing
 

amolbhatia50k

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It's great for us as we get a nice full preseason to implement his ideas.
 

pauldyson1uk

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I can see it being OK, we will get a proper pre-season.
The players will be in a warm place, keeping fit, not playing a huge amount, every chance we would have games called off in December due weather.
Iam not a fan of a December WC, but I dont really see it being a huge problem.
 

diarm

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How long before the world cup do the national team coaches get to call players up?

And are their international training weeks planned for during the summer as well?
 

golden_blunder

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Powderfinger said:
The bigger issue for Ten Hag, relevant for every team in Europe but particularly hard on a new manager trying to install a new system of play, will be the ridiculous level of fixture congestion.

The PL season begins Aug 6 and runs until the weekend of Nov 12/13. Accounting for one international break, there will be 13 midweeks during that period.

-6 will be European games
-2 will be additional PL fixtures
-1 will be the league cup third round

So PL teams in Europe will play on 9 of 13 midweeks with the empty midweeks most likely to occur in August. Starting in early September its going to be basically playing twice a week for 2.5 months with maybe one exception. It will be absolutely brutal on the players but also make it difficult to train in a new system as you are spending so much time either recovering from matches, doing opponent-specific preparation for the next match, or traveling.
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We won’t have to worry about those European games
 

Relfy

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It could help us. 14 weeks of the season, plus pre-season will allow Erik to assess which members of the squad are good enough and fit the system and those that don't - there will likely be players staying but with a question mark over them from this summer. It may allow a more informed approach to the winter transfer window and who needs to be shifted and who can be upgraded upon. Also, it allows Erik to ensure that he has rid the changing room of all the bad apples. It wouldn't surprise me if everyone is on best behaviour at the start before they get comfortable again.
 

Lay

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It may help him bed in his philosophy with the players who have remained behind or have been knocked out early.
 

OT1214

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We should sign a bunch of Italian players this summer!!
 

romufc

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It might be a very good time for ETH to work with the youngsters. The ones that are almost breaking through, if he sees players capable of breaking through, the time will be crucial.

Considering when players come back from the world cup, there will be alot of players injured, fatigued.
 

TheReligion

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sullydnl said:
Typically when a new manager arrives at a club and tries to introduce a new style of play with a lot of personnel changes, I would expect to see early teething problems followed by improved performances as the season goes on and the team gels.

This seasons' schedule is slightly different though as the league will break off for the World Cup from November 12th/13th until December 26th. So effectively our new team will play the first 14 weeks of the season, stop for 6 weeks, then resume again after Christmas.

Aside from any distraction that comes from having a World Cup imminent, my concern would be that a 6 week break so early in the season may halt any momentum we're starting to build by that point.

Do you think it will have any real impact? Might we be impacted more that more settled sides by the disruption and perhaps have a slower start upon returning from the World Cup? Or will it largely make no difference to us?
Click to expand...
Surely it’s far better as it is than being in the summer? That would have ruined it
 

phelans shorts

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sullydnl said:
Typically when a new manager arrives at a club and tries to introduce a new style of play with a lot of personnel changes, I would expect to see early teething problems followed by improved performances as the season goes on and the team gels.

This seasons' schedule is slightly different though as the league will break off for the World Cup from November 12th/13th until December 26th. So effectively our new team will play the first 14 weeks of the season, stop for 6 weeks, then resume again after Christmas.

Aside from any distraction that comes from having a World Cup imminent, my concern would be that a 6 week break so early in the season may halt any momentum we're starting to build by that point.

Do you think it will have any real impact? Might we be impacted more that more settled sides by the disruption and perhaps have a slower start upon returning from the World Cup? Or will it largely make no difference to us?
Click to expand...
Conversely, those on the edges of squads can do some hands on work and get into the real rhythm of what Erik wants from them, and raise the bar for those at the tournament to come back and try to win their spots back by working harder.
 
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