Our football has been rubbish since we lost our key midfielder and was playing without a CF. Wonder why that happened
No it was more or less rubbish before. People try to tell themselves that the football was great when Eriksen was in form and I would agree, it was definitely better than what came after but it wasn't anything to write home about. It was patchy, it was long ball stuff and it resembled Ole ball for most parts except the builtup and the use of space and general organisation level. Still wasn't robust. What has been good during this time, have been the results, but we shouldn't mix those things.
Normally I'm all in for sacking a manager for the sake of a new manager bounce, but the signings we've made for the last 2 years are so fecking baffling that I'm not even hoping for much there.
I genuinely think this is the worst squad we've managed to assemble in the last decade - and the last 2 summer transfer windows have set us back about 3 years.
I don't even have any hope under a new permanent regime as well, because it feels like we've completely emptied the coffers now.
Thats very harsh. Are you sure? I mean, it might be dysfunctional to a degree and having three A-Listers out for disciplinary reasons obviously effects the team but even apart from it, the team is in a better state than it was under Ole. It still is in problematic state in terms of squad composition (age etc) but it certainly isn't as dead end as the group ETH inherited.
Other clubs do well, they change coach when it is clear they're going nowhere. Eventually they find a coach that is clearly working and they stick with them until such a time that they don't work. Sometimes you just need a different approach, sometimes a different manager clicks with a team and they buy intimate what he's saying. I don't feel like that's been the case with ETH.
If we're questioning his tactics then the players must too, and they're the ones being hung out to dry. Tactics make up so much of the game, you can't simply get by with having the best players all of the time.
I'm intrigued though, if you don't think changing the manager is the answer then what is? Even more players? More money? Stop Ten Hag having a say in recruitment? Let's not forget he the one that insisted on getting rid of RR because he didn't need somebody making transfers for him. I reckon he'd walk if we moved those goalposts now. So shall we just keep going like this until we're all and truly buried?
Other clubs might be able to do it, because they have another element in their organisation that makes sure, a certain level of continuity is taken care of. We don't have that. Which is a problem regardless of ETH, I'll give you that, but it won't get better with a new manager at all. Ask yourself the simple question: do you think, Murtough is capable of bringing in a manager, who will improve things?
We're probably seeing his system right now. It's just shite and I think he's underestimated the PL.
Thats crazy. You do know, that a) we have many injuries and b) a new system (especially a deeply different one) will take time to set in. It is absolutely crazy, you expect such a system to work, when we had Hojlund make his first start for us yesterday. Mount is gone since how many games? You can't really evaluate a system, that wasn't really in place! Thats absolutely crazy.
I think you are right that Erik doesn’t want to drop certain players even though he probably should. I would like him to be bolder in that respect.
Tactics wise, he tries something a bit different yesterday which probably didn’t help because the players are confused enough as it is. The main 4141 / 3241 he’s been trying to implement is not working either but that’s because the players aren’t doing it right.
Some are saying EtH underestimates the Prem but, imo, it is more that he overestimates his players’ ability to follow instructions.
I agree with you, but regarding the system, I don't think, we have to dig so deep: do you guys think, that Tiki Taka Barcelona would have been the same when Pep changed David Villa to Inzaghi and Xavi with Frank Lampard? No, because certain system require certain player types. Pre-season showed that the new system wasn't really set in yet even when most of the personal was there but it was missing the striker (which in many system is an essential part). This striker made his 2nd start yesterday. Mount isn't there. Evaluating this system now would be like planning a house for 2 years and then throwing it all in the bin because you don't like the color of the brickstones when they are delivered.
I can see that people are skeptical about the new system - I wouldn't have went for Mount as well and I am skeptical if Bruno is capable to play such a role but if that is what ETH wants to try, we should give him time.
Yesterday Brighton scored 3 very similar goals. Attack space down the flanks and cutback to an unmarked player in our penalty area. Very simple and de Zerbi won the tactical battle on KO. He humiliated ETH.
You cannot prove that de Zerbi would fail at OT other than to say that Brighton is very different to United. So is Ajax and the Dutch league. The only way to prove it is if de Zerbi would actually manage us for 17 months. If this shitshow continues for another 10-15 games ETH is gone.
De Zerbi came into a team that was playing really well and was prepared to play a certain way. He didn't fundamentally change that. The manager is the weakest cog in the whole system, I like him and I think it is fantastic what he can achieve but it is a different ball game than coming here and repeating it. We DO NOT have a system to built on. We have a few good players. A few good players for certain setups.