What I want next season is to see progress. I want to see a style of play implemented with a good tactical and technical setup. I don’t expect trophies and instant success from ETH.
Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager
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Nik (@Rood) is joined by Imran (@Annihilate Now!) and Ed (@That'sHernandez). Loads going on in this one as the guys give their thoughts on pre-season, where we are at currently and set out their expectations for the seasons. Nik also had a chance to sit down with Michael from @FootballOranje_ who gives us the Dutch view on Ten Hag, Malacia and Martinez (Spoiler alert, he thinks Martinez is bloody brilliant). We also hear from other members of the United Hour team about their expectations for the season, Nik and Ed square off in an Imran's Stupid Game, and more in this United Hour podcast, XL edition.
If you go into any thread from last summer the consensus was that we had a really good squad. We’ve had a shit season but a competent manager should easily make top 4, there is more than enough quality there.
I want to see defensive stability. Think if that happens it will help with the attacking as well. If you are confident of not conceding you are not as cautious going forward.
Exhausted at this stage and out of posts. Klopp had a chance to coach the players at his disposal. He got a tune out of them but they weren't good enough. He showed what his football was gonna look like though.
Should we get similar from Ten Hag and not get top 4 I'll be happy. You may call it low expectations but I call it being realistic. We have a squad ill adept to play his football and it'll take time.
What a great player.
A prime Mata would have been a joy to behold under Ten Hag. I'm so mad that we wasted him under rubbish/has-been coaches.
Was talking to someone the other day and the conversation turned to Mata. The feeling was that he could be a great back up for a ETH side even now compared to other players. He still has a good football brain and with technical players coached in the way Ajax seem to be he wouldn't need to be fast etc. The ball would do the work and it was the quick passes and 1-2s in tight space that create the flow rather than a player who is lightening fast.
Probably too late now but can see the point
If Mata leaves the club, I would love to hear his take on the shitbirds that populated the dressing room this season.
He is probably too nice to point fingers, but it would be amazing to hear from him what actually happened.
He is probably too nice to point fingers, but it would be amazing to hear from him what actually happened.
Holding people to their opinions from a year ago isnt going to sway today's opinions. Not only is it not the same squad it's also possible people have changed their stance and are no longer as high on the players staying or never even were. For example for a wide range of reasons very few hold the same opinions about Ronaldo, Rashford, Greenwood they did from a year ago, and honestly why should they?
Agree that everyone shouldn’t have to have the same opinions, but I’m offering a bit of perspective. We might not think the squad is as good as we used to think it was but to go from that to thinking it’s complete and utter dogshit is pretty extreme. I’m quite certain the common opinion of players like Maguire, Fred, Shaw, Bruno etc. will be very different next season.
What is metro, is it reliable?
The polar opposite
Yeeeey, thank you.
I really like Juan Mata as a person, he seems like he’s a great human being. He’s had some nice days in a United shirt for sure. Outstanding free kick taker, unselfish, technical. However, prime Mata was not as great as we remember. Even tough he’s 34 now, he really hasn’t played much the last 4 seasons. The game started to pass him by fairly early in his career. I think it was a combination of the came changing to be much more physical, speed-based. He really is the definition of a luxury player because he’s basically a zero as a defender, even in his prime. You’re constantly playing 11v10, and his contributions in possession weren’t impactful enough to make up for his defensive shortcomings.
I can’t help but think Mata represents what United have become post SAF. He just was never good enough to be a top player on a title winning side. Maybe that is harsh, but it feels true.
I mean, would anyone actually be surprised? If anything he's probably closer to a new bumper contract than an exit.
None of these players are guaranteed improvements. They especially have tendencies that have to be adapted. It's not a like for like equation where every talent scales higher. Bruno alone could spend the first few months adapting his ADD long ball fetish to more patient build. I don't even see ETH as his ideal manager. He obviously wants a lot of creative freedom.
We would be making big assumptions about who will adapt and who will improve when most of our best players are walking contradictions to high press tiki taka style. How do we solve Ronaldo being unable to expend much energy on a high press, De Gea being shaky on the ball, Maguire's suspect defending in space etc We are giving a team Jose would be proud of to a Pep clone. We could easily be on the end of some huge trashings while we figure things out.
Edit on a tangent this reminds me of the AWB debates. People actually thought ETH was going to improve that guy!
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The Reddit breakdown on ten hag pages back raised some interesting points.
He likes to change players positions. Of the current squad McTominay is the most likely.
He likes to change players positions. Of the current squad McTominay is the most likely.
Mata stopped writing on his blog in October 2019 to concentrate on writing headlines for the tabloids obvs.
Agree fully.
Nothing surprising about any of this, given Ten Hag's football philosophy is well known. Let's see if the club can deliver the 'energy' neeed to play his style.
FFS....i certainly hope ETH doesn't give Wan Bissaka a contract extension
Yeah, he is one of the few players we have with the intelligence and integrity to give such an account. On the other hand, and for the same reasons, he probably would not be the one to do it.
Hopefully the days of mediocre players getting contract extensions are finally over.
If you think McTominay is bad in midfield then just wait until you see him in defense.
He looks shite in Scotland's defense compared to the other Scottish defenders. That's how bad he is.
Not sure if anyone has posted the McClaren Performance Podcast with Steve McClaren and his son but in the first 20 mins he shares some great insights about ETH. From Steve’s first hand experience ETH certainly seems to have that same meticulous nature as someone like Guardiola…
The biggest battle ETH faces will be getting the current squad to buy in to his meticulous ways and vision, but I have full confidence that if he is given a high level of authority over transfers that he will bring in the right characters and players for his system.
It might take a while but I’m confident that if we give him as much time as Ole we’ll look like a completely different Manchester Utd on the pitch.
I can’t post media yet but for anyone interested in the clip just search - “ Erik ten hag and the title race” in YouTube.
The biggest battle ETH faces will be getting the current squad to buy in to his meticulous ways and vision, but I have full confidence that if he is given a high level of authority over transfers that he will bring in the right characters and players for his system.
It might take a while but I’m confident that if we give him as much time as Ole we’ll look like a completely different Manchester Utd on the pitch.
I can’t post media yet but for anyone interested in the clip just search - “ Erik ten hag and the title race” in YouTube.
The sooner people understand that who goes and who comes in from here on out is a collective effort that includes EtH, Murtough and a few others, the better.
He is the main cog in the wheel along with Murtough and others, but the man in charge with the first team.
He is the main cog in the wheel along with Murtough and others, but the man in charge with the first team.
Maybe he can learn specific instructions and the system will protect him.
the Reddit post alluded to random players playing well above themselves for ten hag at Utrecht and then falling back to their past ability when he left.
the one think McTominay has over most is his mentality.
Don't know if it's been posted yet:
How long do we think it will take ten Hag to get his ideas across and we start to see his style of play come to life?
You will be able to see the team play his style in the first preseason game, and for certain on match day 1. They might not play it particularly smoothly, commandingly or consistently, but it will be visible.
So what you’re trying to say is we should place any expectations on our new manager? Yeh good luck with that…
You don't know for certain those players will be different next season. Harry Maguire is certaintly no guarantee. Even Bruno might not be suited. The only one I see is Fred who could play in a Ten Hag system. And maybe Luke Shaw. You are really overhyping some of these players. Just being realistic here. Got to remember this team will have acquired the lowest premier league points in the clubs history. I know we had a decent previous 2 seasons but it isn't just the manager/coaching which was the reason we are fighting for 6th place. Ole certaintly had to go but you can't just blame him and the coaches soley for it.
Im waiting for the players to let him down or not be able to play the way he wants and then for some the idiotic fans to turn on him.
You know its bound to happen.
You know its bound to happen.
Timber, De Jong and Nkunku would be a good start.
Like we did in rangnicks first game you mean? Pressed like he wanted but then suddenly fell of the cliff as the games went on… hopefully it’s different this time though and I’m confident it will be.
I’m waiting for the first leaks to come out about how the players are already unhappy with ten Hag after he orders them to come back for pre season 2 weeks earlier so he can implement his style and ideas quicker.