Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

sglowrider

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The squad is mentally fragile. City carving us open at the Etihad broke them last season under Rangnick, and Liverpool at Old Trafford during the 5-0 did the same under Ole. If its anything like they're not recovering this season.

These aren't machines, they're human beings and these humiliating defeats - especially now that they've become such a regular habit cause long lasting damage.
That has been true for a few seasons now.
 

Bluelion7

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If what Gary Neville said about what the Glazers allegedly have in their bank accounts is true, they will be forced to sell because it is just unsustainable for them to have this little money and yet operate 2 massive sports franchises. It's either their hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Manchester United to be sacrificed. Considering how interest rates have moved higher higher (to fight inflation), loans and mortgages will become a lot more expensive for anybody as well.
Well, this was what I was talking about in the De Jong thread when Chelsea’s spending was questioned. People very broadly use the term billionaire. Someone could have billions in assets and literally no money.

Clearlake is almost entirely liquid billions. Giving and lending money is what they do outside of the tech realm.

But Neville is most likely right with the Glazers, or he read my post on here. I suspect their cash on hand is extremely low.

ETH seemingly just going down a list of Ajax grads would make me a little nervous. But the manager has never been your biggest problem.

For a team that generally gives people too long in position, they ran Rangnick off REAL quick for telling the truth.
 

Skills

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That has been true for a few seasons now.
That wasn't true the season before last. It wasn't a mentally fragile squad that was repeatedly coming back to win from a goal down. They might have choked some key moments, but they weren't completely capitulating like they have been since last season.

What broke them was the run of humiliations they went through in the run up to Solskjaer's sacking. They've not been the same since then. There's no fight left, because once they go down they expect the worse. There's no left in them to be able to fight back from there now.
 

SouthernRedDev

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At what stage does the manager adapt to what the players are capable of, ie counter attacking football, or does he stick it out with players when cant change and be damned with the results.
 

Newtonius

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Damn just seen this broke a record nearly a century old for 7 league defeats in a row, quite fitting considering they are playing like we are still under Ralf, if we lose at Liverpool too it will have broken another old record with 3 opening defeats, and that season we was relegated...

Man you have to feel sorry for him though talk about having a set of minerals for taking this job was fuming in that post match. Just think he has spent 6 weeks training these lads in his system just to lose 6-0 on aggregate to Brentford and Brighton playing like that. We needed to do the most work in the transfer window for him as well but ended up with his 2nd choice cb, competed for Brighton for a free transfer, and ultimately a LB who he doesn't prefer over Luke Shaw of all players.
 

Nicoseth

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He won't but I wouldn't blame ETH for walking away from this mess. He should be given all the time he needs and he absolutely needs to be backed with some new feckin players. Murtough and Arnold should be the ones who face the sack - what an absolute joke they have made of this transfer window. I honestly could see us finish in the bottom half of the table, but even then ETH should be backed. Give him a chance to truly rebuild this squad.
 

sglowrider

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That wasn't true the season before last. It wasn't a mentally fragile squad that was repeatedly coming back to win from a goal down. They might have choked some key moments, but they weren't completely capitulating like they have been since last season.

What broke them was the run of humiliations they went through in the run up to Solskjaer's sacking. They've not been the same since then.
I think Ole understood the mindset and fragility of the squad and you could partially blame Jose for that and the toxicity within the club too. Thus Ole's mollycoddled approach to the team. But something changed at the start of last season that broke it.
 

TheLord

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Even if we brought Guardiola, the results won't change much. The problem is with the players; all of them are so weak, inconsistent and slow. Not one player would be in City's or Liverpool's first team. We have recruited so badly in the last 10 years, it is sad.
 

TheLord

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A good manager can only do so much. Klopp's training sessions won't turn fat Shaw into anything worthy of starting a top PL side, for instance.
 

city-puma

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I think he will be given the proverbial three transfer windows at least. But I bet by the end of this season, calls for Poch will be much louder.
True. I hope they give ETH a platform and patient to success. But at the same time, ETH must learn quickly, the players and the league.
 

Skills

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I think Ole understood the mindset and fragility of the squad and you could partially blame Jose for that and the toxicity within the club too. Thus Ole's mollycoddled approach to the team. But something changed at the start of last season that broke it.
Even under Mourinho when the situation was so toxic the team was never humiliated the way they were under Ole. There was still a fight, the scoreboard was respectable.

From the 25th of September till Ole was fired, these were our league results :

Lost 1-0 Villa Home
Draw 1-1 Everton Home
Lose 4-2 Leicester Away
Lose 5-0 Liverpool Home
Win 3-0 Tottenham Home
Lose 2-0 Man City Home (this was a lot worse than the scoreline)
Lose 4-1 Watford Away

Tell me another big club, that's ever let their players go through that run of games without trying to change anything? That Liverpool game in particular, is what permanently broke it.
 

city-puma

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Even under Mourinho when the situation was so toxic the team was never humiliated the way they were under Ole. There was still a fight, the scoreboard was respectable.

From the 25th of September till Ole was fired, these were our league results :

Lost 1-0 Villa Home
Draw 1-1 Everton Home
Lose 4-2 Leicester Away
Lose 5-0 Liverpool Home
Win 3-0 Tottenham Home
Lose 2-0 Man City Home (this was a lot worse than the scoreline)
Lose 4-1 Watford Away

Tell me another big club, that's ever let their players go through that run of games without trying to change anything? That Liverpool game in particular, is what permanently broke it.
Please include the games before Villa.
 

sglowrider

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Even under Mourinho when the situation was so toxic the team was never humiliated the way they were under Ole. There was still a fight, the scoreboard was respectable.

From the 25th of September till Ole was fired, these were our league results :

Lost 1-0 Villa Home
Draw 1-1 Everton Home
Lose 4-2 Leicester Away
Lose 5-0 Liverpool Home
Win 3-0 Tottenham Home
Lose 2-0 Man City Home (this was a lot worse than the scoreline)
Lose 4-1 Watford Away

Tell me another big club, that's ever let their players go through that run of games without trying to change anything? That Liverpool game in particular, is what permanently broke it.
They lack a strong leader like a Keano who refuses to lose. Slabhead ain't it nor is Ronaldo, who hates to lose but isn't one who will pull the whole team up.
 

CarbonStoolBites

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Even if we brought Guardiola, the results won't change much. The problem is with the players; all of them are so weak, inconsistent and slow. Not one player would be in City's or Liverpool's first team. We have recruited so badly in the last 10 years, it is sad.
I could totally see Guardiola losing 4-0 away to Brentford in his first season in the PL with this Manchester United team and playing Eriksen as a 6 away from home against such a physical side.
 

skc_18

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True re: individual mistakes, we just need extra bodies defensively to cover for mistakes, and players in positions/roles that will minimise their mistakes.

I wasn't even thinking about the Liverpool game, I'd probably go something even more defensive/counter attacking for that. 3 CBs and 3 CMs.
When We bought Martinez I thought we would play 3 at the back or Martinez will play more in the DM role. But looks like we bought him for CB in back 2.
I think with the CB options we have, back 3 and midfield of Bruno , Eriksen and Vdb would be great but not sure if Eth played with back 3 anytime.
 

mu4c_20le

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Even under Mourinho when the situation was so toxic the team was never humiliated the way they were under Ole. There was still a fight, the scoreboard was respectable.

From the 25th of September till Ole was fired, these were our league results :

Lost 1-0 Villa Home
Draw 1-1 Everton Home
Lose 4-2 Leicester Away
Lose 5-0 Liverpool Home
Win 3-0 Tottenham Home
Lose 2-0 Man City Home (this was a lot worse than the scoreline)
Lose 4-1 Watford Away

Tell me another big club, that's ever let their players go through that run of games without trying to change anything? That Liverpool game in particular, is what permanently broke it.
2015 Chelsea under Mourinho.
 

Eyepopper

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Love to see a manager come into a new league with new ideas, like playing out from the back with one CB who gets the hibeejeebies anytime he has a ball to feet, and the other whose playing his first game in the league, oh, also with no one playing as a defensive MF who can take a ball to feet without literally shitting their shorts, let's do that for a half, what's the worst that could happen?
 

sglowrider

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True. I hope they give ETH a platform and patient to success. But at the same time, ETH must learn quickly, the players and the league.
Thats then key.

I suspect he's pretty parochial in his football view otherwise why are we only linked/bought to players that have played for him mainly? And partly it highlights the role and contribution to the Ajax's success by Overmars.

Murtough is allowing ETH to encroach into that space for this window. But hopefully, when we rebuild back our recruitment team, he will re-balance that lopsided approach of getting Ajax/Dutch players mainly.
So much talent in the French league or even the Portuguese we can extract but its so sad that we arent linked to anyone there.
 

Irwin99

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The squad is mentally fragile. City carving us open at the Etihad broke them last season under Rangnick, and Liverpool at Old Trafford during the 5-0 did the same under Ole. If its anything like they're not recovering this season.

These aren't machines, they're human beings and these humiliating defeats - especially now that they've become such a regular habit cause long lasting damage.
This should be a separate thread because, as much as I may not like one or two of the players still remaining at United, the absolute thrashings given to us by so many clubs over the past year and a half must be crushing to some of them at least, especially when you consider the caliber of some of the teams (Watford and Brentford spring to mind). The snide comment of 'good vibes FC'- if that really was a thing- is absolutely a thing of the past.

We must be at approaching double figures now in games where we've lost by three goals or conceded four or more over the past season and a bit? Not to mention games like the 2-0 defeat to City last year where they were absolutely just taking the piss. The damage on these players must be extraordinary and you'd think all the more reason for them and the club to get a fresh start and split/move on.
 

tenpoless

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If there was something Ole did right, at least his new signings did well in the first few matches. All he did to do was patting them on the back and asked "Same as La Liga? same tempo?" during their debut.
ETH should have copied that, patting every new player after their debut and asks "Same as <<previous league>>? same tempo?".
Yes I might have gone insane. Thanks United.
 

sullydnl

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I could totally see Guardiola losing 4-0 away to Brentford in his first season in the PL with this Manchester United team and playing Eriksen as a 6 away from home against such a physical side.
Even after having inherited a much, much, much better squad Guardiola's first season at City still saw him shipping 4+ goals to teams like Leicester and Everton and 6 goals over two legs to Monaco. The worst run of results of his managerial career up to that point, the worst domestic loss of his career, etc. Ultimately finishing just three points ahead of the fifth place team.

So yeah, safe to say if Guardiola took over our much worse squad this summer it would still be a bit of a shit-show.
 

city-puma

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Thats then key.

I suspect he's pretty parochial in his football view otherwise why are we only linked/bought to players that have played for him mainly? And partly it highlights the role and contribution to the Ajax's success by Overmars.

Murtough is allowing ETH to encroach into that space for this window. But hopefully, when we rebuild back our recruitment team, he will re-balance that lopsided approach of getting Ajax/Dutch players mainly.
So much talent in the French league or even the Portuguese we can extract but its so sad that we arent linked to anyone there.
Yeah, we can’t expect him able to identify many good players outside his zone. He can only target those he knows in this window. So far, Malacia is promising and will probably take over Shawn’s position from next game. Martinez is a question mark. A matching DOF is critical. Let’s see how it develops.
 

CarbonStoolBites

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Even after having inherited a much, much, much better squad Guardiola's first season at City still saw him shipping 4+ goals to teams like Leicester and Everton and 6 goals over two legs to Monaco. The worst run of results of his managerial career up to that point, the worst domestic loss of his career, etc. Ultimately finishing just three points ahead of the fifth place team.

So yeah, safe to say if Guardiola took over our much worse squad this summer it would still be a bit of a shit-show.
For sure. He’s had a front 6 of Fernandinho, KDB, David Silva, Sane, Sterling and Aguero.
Safe to say, every one of these players is significantly better than what ETH has to work with in their positions and every one of these players walks into our team and improves it.
 

Skills

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This should be a separate thread because, as much as I may not like one or two of the players still remaining at United, the absolute thrashings given to us by so many clubs over the past year and a half must be crushing to some of them at least, especially when you consider the caliber of some of the teams (Watford and Brentford spring to mind). The snide comment of 'good vibes FC'- if that really was a thing- is absolutely a thing of the past.

We must be at approaching double figures now in games where we've lost by three goals or conceded four or more over the past season and a bit? Not to mention games like the 2-0 defeat to City last year where they were absolutely just taking the piss. The damage on these players must be extraordinary and you'd think all the more reason for them and the club to get a fresh start and split/move on.
Yeah, and the issue was that after Ole though Rangnick did steady the ship at first the genie left the box again with the City defeat, Liverpool and then Brighton. I honestly don't know how you recover at that point.
 

croadyman

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He won't but I wouldn't blame ETH for walking away from this mess. He should be given all the time he needs and he absolutely needs to be backed with some new feckin players. Murtough and Arnold should be the ones who face the sack - what an absolute joke they have made of this transfer window. I honestly could see us finish in the bottom half of the table, but even then ETH should be backed. Give him a chance to truly rebuild this squad.
Murtough and Hey Arnold are probably the ones who told him to boot Ralf from consultancy role
 

croadyman

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Even if we brought Guardiola, the results won't change much. The problem is with the players; all of them are so weak, inconsistent and slow. Not one player would be in City's or Liverpool's first team. We have recruited so badly in the last 10 years, it is sad.
They wouldn't make their squad
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Two games in and people blaming Ten Hag for the same shite we've seen for years :lol: :rolleyes:
He's not blameless either though.

We should be happy with ETH for losing 4-0 to Brentford? It was 4-0 after 35 minutes too. They took their foot off the pedal.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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There were so many players that should have been booted out this summer.

It should have been a transformative summer with plenty of outgoings/incomings.

But the board clearly botched it.
 

croadyman

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He's not blameless either though.

We should be happy with ETH for losing 4-0 to Brentford? It was 4-0 after 35 minutes too. They took their foot off the pedal.
Yeah changes needed to happen the minute we concluded that second goal, thought we could wait and boy that decision backfired
 

Irwin99

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Yeah, and the issue was that after Ole though Rangnick did steady the ship at first the genie left the box again with the City defeat, Liverpool and then Brighton. I honestly don't know how you recover at that point.
I just counted it up; seven Premier League defeats since October last year where the opposition have scored 4 or more goals- combine that with results like the 2-0 defeat to City which was just as bad in some ways and these players must be shattered mentally. You also have the champions league group stage exit the year before, the EL final loss, getting knocked out of the FA cup by Middlesbrough last year: in isolation those things might seem like nitpicking but it all adds up to a sense of failure.

Ultimately, it has to be the end for 80% of this squad; they simply will never be a consistent title challenging/trophy winning team. For the sake of their own careers and sanity it might be worth moving on.
 

croadyman

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I just counted it up; seven Premier League defeats since October last year where the opposition have scored 4 or more goals- combine that with results like the 2-0 defeat to City which was just as bad in some ways and these players must be shattered mentally. You also have the champions league group stage exit the year before, the EL final loss, getting knocked out of the FA cup by Middlesbrough last year: in isolation those things might seem like nitpicking but it all adds up to a sense of failure.

Ultimately, it has to be the end for 80% of this squad; they simply will never be a consistent title challenging/trophy winning team. For the sake of their own careers and sanity it might be worth moving on.
Well we both know who will put their foot down on that idea straight away, they will just do the bare minimum and we suffer again
 

Giggsy13

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The failures fall directly upon ownership and a disastrous recruitment and footballing structure. The fact ten Hag is seemingly leading the charge in identifying targets is disturbing.
 

fallengt

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Just target Dalot and Maguire on counter and teams will get something out of it. Or better yet, press our CBs and DeGea. Win 2nd ball from midfield
You can tell even relegation fodders are not afraid to come at us. This team has been figured out long ago, let see how long it takes for ETH to see this
 

Reditus

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The squad is broken mentally and not good enough quality-wise. I don’t blame ETH at all.
It is, but there is no other way to look at this other than an horrific start. It literally could not have been worse so far.

I’d normally never dream of pointing my finger so early on, but his approach in terms of signings, the window as a whole., team selection and sub usage from the two games has me concerned