Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

[BenitoSTARR]

Goals per game in PL only.

Arsenal: 2.4
Man City: 2.4
Man United: 2.14 (since Jan PL only)

We have a 19 year old and 21 year old as key parts of our attack.

We’re on the right track on this front.

 

[Sarni]

Well we did have issues with Højlund injury at the start, Sancho being Sancho and no back up striker due to Martial being as robust as a breadstick.

But yes we have had access to our 19 year old and 21 year old most of the season. And we’ve seen an improvement in our overall attacking play.

We’ve been creating and scoring more since January. It is a lie to suggest we haven’t.

You don’t think 2.3 goals per game is good enough?

I think we have not been good going forward even after January, yes. Many games where we scored despite not really creating much and completely against the run of play - the goal at City, both goals against Liverpool, both goals against Bournemouth, both goals against Villa.

We have hardly been breathtaking going forward, just very clinical at finishing the half chances we’ve had and quite lucky as well.

There has been improvement but that’s because prior to January we were beyond abysmal in virtually every single game.

 

[Remember the geese]

Jumping in today to say again he’s gone.
had it reaffirmed to me tonight.

Again always comes through third hand info but basically decision made , gone.

Any news on his likely replacement?

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

Jumping in today to say again he’s gone.
had it reaffirmed to me tonight.

Again always comes through third hand info but basically decision made , gone.

FFS

My Bald is Best pin badges ever only arrived last week

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Our XG from Jan onwards is 1.97 per game. So we’re averaging an expectation of 2 per game essentially.

By all available metrics we’ve improved in attack in that period of time.

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

Any news on his likely replacement?

Better be Bald

 

[stevoc]

Based on the replies you've made to both me and the poster in question, it's quiye difficult to see how you might be arguing in good faith. The content of this post makes that even more slim a possibility.

You argued that he let Reguilon go and been proven wrong, so the goalposts shift. You implied that he shouldn't have listened to what the medical team was saying and backtracked. Now it's that he must take the flak for every failure at the club. It's okay to have that opinion, I suppose, but then again I'm also friends with somebody who thinks that How I met your Mother is a better show than Breaking Bad, so I might be slightly too tolerant a litmus test.

Had he not made that public, you'd blame him. It is public, so you blame him. I'm very glad not to have you as a superior in any capacity. There seems to be no right that can't be turned wrong by your assessment.

Can you show me where I said these things in my posts today please?

Or did you mean to reply to someone else?

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

Our XG from Jan onwards is 1.97 per game. So we’re averaging an expectation of 2 per game essentially.

By all available metrics we’ve improved in attack in that period of time.

So theoretically, we’re not scoring as many goals as we actually are?

Interesting stuff

 

[BenitoSTARR]

So theoretically, we’re not scoring as many goals as we actually are?

Interesting stuff

We’ve scored 0.17 more per game than we theoretically should have.

 

[kaku06]

Jumping in today to say again he’s gone.
had it reaffirmed to me tonight.

Again always comes through third hand info but basically decision made , gone.

Don’t tease us like that. Tell us where you got that info from and how reliable is it?

 

[Jev]

Our XG from Jan onwards is 1.97 per game. So we’re averaging an expectation of 2 per game essentially.

By all available metrics we’ve improved in attack in that period of time.

Can you see our XG against trend on the same source? My feeling from watching us would be that any uptick in XG has come with an equally big or bigger downturn in XGa, seeing as we’ve seemed especially open these past few months, leading to opportunities at both ends.

 

[RedSky]

Benito's heart is going to be shattered when Ten Hag is thrown out the door. I suggest a collection to get him a bunch of flowers.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Better be Bald

Is there still time to hijack Arne Slut? Otherwise we’re looking at sending a big steaming baguette to Zidane

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Can you see our XG against trend on the same source? My feeling from watching us would be that any uptick in XG has come with an equally big or bigger downturn in XGa, seeing as we’ve seemed especially open these past few months, leading to opportunities at both ends.

https://understat.com/team/Manchester_United/2023

Take a look. I don’t know off the top of my head but I suspect it will be a similar level of goals conceded from August - Dec as it is from Jan - Present. We’ve not had our defenders all season.

Personally I’m not too concerned about goals conceded. It’s easy to just be hard to beat but harder to score goals. A CB and CDM will fix the majority of the gaping issues.

Benito's heart is going to be shattered when Ten Hag is thrown out the door. I suggest a collection to get him a bunch of flowers.

How many times must I say I’ll be happy with whatever decision is made?

I’m about as attached to Ten Hag as I am to Moyes. They’re just managers. I’m just quite happy to contextualise where criticism is unfair.

I just hope we get in the unicorn manager that fixes every issue single handedly.

 

[stevoc]

Or even one that fixes anything single handedly.

 

[hobbers]

Benito's heart is going to be shattered when Ten Hag is thrown out the door. I suggest a collection to get him a bunch of flowers.

Or maybe an ostrich egg, to remind him of the great man.

 

[RedSky]

How many times must I say I’ll be happy with whatever decision is made?

You might keep saying that but from everyone else's perspective it doesn't seem like that at all bud.

 

[Bilbo]

4 games left, 13 points behind Villa.

It was a sh*t joke. Ignore me

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Will be interesting to see if there is any news tomorrow with us being officially out of UCL contention now.

If they were waiting for that then...

While CL qualification is technically still achievable, I don’t think they can legally sack him for cheaper on the reduced salary

Though we both know it won’t happen, I think England can still get a 5th CL spot - and United can still get 5th

 

[BenitoSTARR]

You might keep saying that but from everyone else's perspective it doesn't seem like that at all bud.

 

[Suv666]

Mathematically out of the CL
Got bested by good ebening and some aussie bloke’s first season in a big league

One of the worst managers we’ve ever had.

 

[E-mal]

https://understat.com/team/Manchester_United/2023

Take a look. I don’t know off the top of my head but I suspect it will be a similar level of goals conceded from August - Dec as it is from Jan - Present. We’ve not had our defenders all season.

Personally I’m not too concerned about goals conceded. It’s easy to just be hard to beat but harder to score goals. A CB and CDM will fix the majority of the gaping issues.

How many times must I say I’ll be happy with whatever decision is made?

I’m about as attached to Ten Hag as I am to Moyes. They’re just managers. I’m just quite happy to contextualise where criticism is unfair.

I just hope we get in the unicorn manager that fixes every issue single handedly.

Stop it!
Nobody has said the manager will fix everything, you are being disingenuous for suggesting that.
There is a minimum expectation from a manager, being able to have a plan and not appearing incompetent against every team bar Sheffield united.

 

[Jev]

https://understat.com/team/Manchester_United/2023

Take a look. I don’t know off the top of my head but I suspect it will be a similar level of goals conceded from August - Dec as it is from Jan - Present. We’ve not had our defenders all season.

Personally I’m not too concerned about goals conceded. It’s easy to just be hard to beat but harder to score goals. A CB and CDM will fix the majority of the gaping issues.

It doesn’t make sense to just take the defence out of the equation. Football is also about balance. If you attack in a way that leaves you so open that you concede even more chances at your own end (which is what’s happening, we’re at 2.2 XGa since January and have ‘won’ the XG six out of 14 times), it’s no use.

 

[E-mal]

Mathematically out of the CL
Got bested by good ebening and some aussie bloke’s first season in a big league

One of the worst managers we’ve ever had.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

It doesn’t make sense to just take the defence out of the equation. Football is also about balance. If you attack in a way that leaves you so open that you concede even more chances at your own end (which is what’s happening, we’re at 2.2 XGa since January and have ‘won’ the XG six out of 14 times), it’s no use.

Im not taking it out of the equation. I’ve listed my source for anyone that wishes to focus on that area. They are welcome to present their findings.

Im merely pointing out analysing defensive performance with so many injuries and enforced rotations isn’t exactly a great judge of manager. Looking at areas of the pitch that have experienced average injuries and rotations makes much more sense to judge on.

As I said, a CDM and CB make a huge difference here (assuming we don’t go into another season with no fit LBs for 70% of the season.)

 

[TrebleChamp99]

Sorry had family over.
Came from someone close to the family who’s best mate is fairly senior in a certain dept in INEOS (legal side) neither are United fans and quite amusingly he always just mentions it in flippant passing like it’s useless nothing info. Same guy who told me about the takeover.

Just says “alright mate, not going well for your lot is it , anyway , mangers off bla blah tells me it’s all agreed between them”.

His info was a little bit off about the takeover , said it would happen in October and of course it dragged on but he was telling me this as early as March /April last year.

So I would definitely say with certainty their intention is to move on from ETH and they absolutely will. Just needs to be about timing and having someone lined up. I’d say looks like Tuchel based on rumblings out there.

 

[E-mal]

It doesn’t make sense to just take the defence out of the equation. Football is also about balance. If you attack in a way that leaves you so open that you concede even more chances at your own end (which is what’s happening, we’re at 2.2 XGa since January and have ‘won’ the XG six out of 14 times), it’s no use.

It doesnt take a genuis to recognise this mate, its annoying when people seem to think all this system needs is better players

 

[BenitoSTARR]

It doesnt take a genuis to recognise this mate, its annoying when people seem to think all this system needs is better players

It needs players that can cope with defensive transitions. Do we have them?

 

[Jev]

Im not taking it out of the equation. I’ve listed my source for anyone that wishes to focus on that area. They are welcome to present their findings.

Im merely pointing out analysing defensive performance with so many injuries and enforced rotations isn’t exactly a great judge of manager. Looking at areas of the pitch that have experienced average injuries and rotations makes much more sense to judge on.

As I said, a CDM and CB make a huge difference here (assuming we don’t go into another season with no fit LBs for 70% of the season.)

Do you not acknowledge that a lot of our defensive issues are structural/tactical?

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

We’ve scored 0.17 more per game than we theoretically should have.

Sorry, was joking. Im not remotely interested.

X anything is boring as **** to me, except maybe xhamster, and makes me want to stick pins in my eyes.

Each to their own though

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Do you not acknowledge that a lot of our defensive issues are structural/tactical?

I acknowledge we have defensive issues. And that structure and tactics play a role.

I am genuinely unsure to what extent those issues are Ten Hag’s fault. I can’t say with any certainty.

Do you acknowledge that injuries are a big part of the issue?

 

[Jev]

I acknowledge we have defensive issues. And that structure and tactics play a role.

I am genuinely unsure to what extent those issues are Ten Hag’s fault. I can’t say with any certainty.

Do you acknowledge that injuries are a big part of the issue?

Yes, a big part. But I believe it would still be dangerous to leave huge gaps of space even if Martinez played in defence. And if the gaps are caused by the replacements being slower or less proactive than the preferred players, it’s the manager’s job to see this and make changes accordingly.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Yes, a big part. But I believe it would still be dangerous to leave huge gaps of space even if Martinez played in defence. And if the gaps are caused by the replacements being slower or less proactive than the preferred players, it’s the manager’s job to see this and make changes accordingly.

I agree it’s always dangerous to leave space.

I’m not so sure that with two players like Martinez and Shaw who are comfortable in midfield that we’d see those same spaces.

Im not sure Casemiro is the guy anymore either hence the CDM need.

 

[Leftback99]

Our XG from Jan onwards is 1.97 per game. So we’re averaging an expectation of 2 per game essentially.

By all available metrics we’ve improved in attack in that period of time.

38% of that xG came in the 3 games against the bottom 3.

Our xG against is only worse than Luton, Sheff U and West Ham in the same spell.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

38% of that xg came in the 3 games against the bottom 3.

And?

 

[Leftback99]

And?

Wouldn't get too excited by it. Expect it to be dragged down by the 4 more difficult games to come.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Don’t tease us like that. Tell us where you got that info from and how reliable is it?

Heard it from Fat Bill down the pub who heard it from Salford Bob, he’d heard it through the wall of his cubicle whilst dropping a deuce.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Wouldn't get too excited by it. Expect it to be dragged down by the 4 more difficult games to come.

Ah ok. Fair. We’ll see how we do.

 

[zizi]

Yes, a big part. But I believe it would still be dangerous to leave huge gaps of space even if Martinez played in defence. And if the gaps are caused by the replacements being slower or less proactive than the preferred players, it’s the manager’s job to see this and make changes accordingly.

We all know having a consistent line up means you are going to be solid defensively, by default having an inconsistent line up means you are going to be giving up more chances.

We are playing with a make shift back four. 5 out of 6 Cb's are out, as well as both Lb's. We have had an unprecedented number of different back lines starting, in front of a new keeper, and behind a 18 year old who only made his debut 5 months ago.

When ETH came in the players on highest wages were De Gea, Ronaldo, Martial, Sancho, Maguire. Two have gone, one going, one half way out the door, and the other we agreed a transfer for. Ole had the right idea of wanting players with the right character but the wrong execution. ETH is changing the culture bit by bit, and one thing you cannot deny is the players are still playing for him.

We are going through growing pains (like Arteta did at arsenal), with a young core team, inc Mainoo, Kambwala, Hojlund, Garnacho, Diallo, all kids.

 

[Suv666]

And?

you’ve gotta be related to ETH somehow