Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

[iHicksy]

I just feel differently when it comes to getting managers out of clubs compared to recruitment staff

I think the issue is there's so few world class managers in world football. There's what, two in the prem out of 38? Arteta is starting to look like he might get there. Then you look abroad, at la liga and you look at the best three teams in spain and see:

Xavi at Barca (not world class),
Ancellotti at Madrid - Who knows? I'd say yes, but before hand the only job he could get was Everton (?!) - which is insane really.
Zidane - was it a case of right man at the right team at the right time? We're not sure because he's not done anything elsewhere.
Simeone - obviously done great things but we all know the type of football he uses to get those results.

So you're talking about a manager who won 3 CL's, another who's Real madrid manager who's won a ton etc....and how many of the above would you say you'd want at United? None of them? Maybe one as a risk? So when you look at some of the most successful managers in the world outside of Klopp/pep and you think....well actually i'd rather go with someone else, less successful and perhaps more "up and coming" you've got a huge risk to reward ratio.

And out of the above - how many would want to take that risk and come to United?

We did this with ETH, and we'll have to do it again.

Anyway that's a very long winded way of agreeing with you in terms of United is a massive draw for the top staff in the world, but when it comes to managers it's a bit of a different ball game.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

I give Coventry a decent chance against us, we're that bad a side. Not that we would beat City in the final anyway.

Tomorrow is all about pride and denting our main rivals title challenge - if we get something from the game I'll be contented enough to allow him see out the season. I still think INEOS are giving him enough rope to hang himself, they were always going to want their own man in charge after such a large investment.

Man, what an utterly dreadful season. We can only hope that with the ownership shift we can look back on this season as the start of something good.

 

[Woziak]

Every incompetent manager says the same thing before they are sacked.

I genuinely believe he will be kept if he secures FA cup Final and 6th Place, he must get Europa football at the least which is no certainty right now, then they keep him on trial to Xmas 25. If he loses against Coventry, and 2 or 3 more PL games he’s gone!

 

[Berbaclass]

I genuinely believe he will be kept if he secures FA cup Final and 6th Place, he must get Europa football at the least which is no certainty right now, then they keep him on trial to Xmas 25. If he loses against Coventry, and 2 or 3 more PL games he’s gone!

I think so too. After Liverpool our next 5 games are Bournemouth, Coventry, Sheff Utd, Burnley and Palace. Think we will put some wins together there.

 

[Paul778]

Every incompetent manager says the same thing before they are sacked.

I'm sure he doesn't have any doubts. Nor did LVG after the cup final.

You don't let the encumbant know anything until the replacement is under contract in case the negotatiations fall through.

 

[Berbaclass]

I'm sure he doesn't have any doubts. Nor did LVG after the cup final.

You don't let the encumbant know anything until the replacement is under contract in case the negotatiations fall through.

Not remotely comparable.

 

[FrankDrebin]

I think so too. After Liverpool our next 5 games are Bournemouth, Coventry, Sheff Utd, Burnley and Palace. Think we will put some wins together there.

I think we'll just about beat Coventry but not sure about the others.

 

[Rista]

Not remotely comparable.

Yeah, LVG was held to higher standards. We accept mediocrity now.

 

[wolvored]

I genuinely believe he will be kept if he secures FA cup Final and 6th Place, he must get Europa football at the least which is no certainty right now, then they keep him on trial to Xmas 25. If he loses against Coventry, and 2 or 3 more PL games he’s gone!

Do you believe we will win the FA cup? Because I think we will struggle to beat Coventry and City will destroy us in the final, if we do get there. If we keep a manager on because we finish 6th, whih is also still in the balance as we have potentially half a dozen clubs not so far behind, then Ineos are no better than the Glazers.

 

[Berbaclass]

Yeah, LVG was held to higher standards. We accept mediocrity now.

Good one

 

[Yorkeontop]

I feel like I'm moving solidly into ten Hag in territory. I need him to do his part though but I'll be rooting for him. It's about damn time we learnt to back a manager.

 

[Rista]

Good one

In all seriousness, do you actually believe EtH answers that question with anything other than "I don't have any doubts" whatever the situation may be? He's not going to say "I doubt it" even if he knew he's getting sacked.

I feel like I'm moving solidly into ten Hag in territory. I need him to do his part though but I'll be rooting for him. It's about damn time we learnt to back a manager.

EtH has been backed like no other manager post SAF and pretty much like no other manager in football.

 

[VP89]

EtH has been backed like no other manager post SAF and pretty much like no other manager in football.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

In all seriousness, do you actually believe EtH answers that question with anything other than "I don't have any doubts" whatever the situation may be? He's not going to say "I doubt it" even if he knew he's getting sacked.


EtH has been backed like no other manager post SAF and pretty much like no other manager in football.

He has been backed by people who didn't have a clue what they were doing. Hopefully that is going to change.

 

[Berbaclass]

In all seriousness, do you actually believe EtH answers that question with anything other than "I don't have any doubts" whatever the situation may be? He's not going to say "I doubt it" even if he knew he's getting sacked.

Depends what he's been told.

 

[Blood Mage]

I feel like I'm moving solidly into ten Hag in territory. I need him to do his part though but I'll be rooting for him. It's about damn time we learnt to back a manager.

He's been firmly backed since he got here and has utterly failed with the tools given to him. And some of you would give him another 400m to spend on shit signings.

 

[Woziak]

Do you believe we will win the FA cup? Because I think we will struggle to beat Coventry and City will destroy us in the final, if we do get there. If we keep a manager on because we finish 6th, whih is also still in the balance as we have potentially half a dozen clubs not so far behind, then Ineos are no better than the Glazers.

I think Coventry is genuinely a 50/50 game but the wide spaces of Wembley suit our attackers who have elite pace, so hopefully Nick it 3-2 or 4-3, we like those type of games, we’ll get smashed by Liverpool and Arsenal at home probably lose to Brighton but somehow Nick 3 or 4 wins from the rest so I’m going we win 4 draw 1 lose 3 and finish with 61 points and probably 7th to 8th, if we don’t beat Newcastle they will finish ahead of us as they have a far easier run in and Chelsea, West Ham and Brighton could all get 62-64 points easily so we might end up 10th but most likely 7th to 8th, remember if EpL gets a 5th CL spot the. 6th and 7th qualify for EL if City win the Fa Cup, I genuinely think it’s that bad!

Chelsea have 43 points, have 9 games left and can easily win 6 of those 9, and finish on 64 points, right now I’m picking Chelsea 6th, Newcastle 7th, United 8th and that will get him sacked 100%.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

The new structure is not there to support the manager. It is there to ensure the club has a single direction and a change of manager does not change the club’s playing philosophy.

So this point does not really make sense unless that new structure believe the way to go forward for the club is to get our asses handed to us every match by every crap team out there.

As has been pointed out what if Ineos decide Ten Hag is the right manager to be given this new direction/philosophy?

It's not beyond the realms of possibilty that they think he has been dealt a very tough hand in his forst 2 seasons at United, and now want him to be the guy to be given this new structure/support to see if he is able to become the sort of manager we all thought we were getting from Ajax.

 

[stevoc]

They're the only two I've seen us linked to, like I say if we start getting linked to anyone of note then I might get excited, but i'm not just going to shout for Ten Hag to go when our options for a replacement look so limited.

Because the media don't know shit. Under the Woodward/Arnold regime they had a direct line and were regularly briefed.

Now who knows what if anything they are being fed. The southgate stories I reckon are just the press stirring shit because of his history with Ashworth.

Ten Hag is doing so badly right now and seems so lost that I'd be willing to see anyone decent have a go.

 

[laughtersassassin]

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If he is manager next season bits frankly disgraceful and a bad start to things under Ineos.

His performance this season should have seen him sacked many times over.

Obviously we all want him to be a good manager but he is doing a terrible job and that's just a fact.

 

[Rista]

99.9% of managers can only dream of being given the freedom and financial backing that he has had. On top of that having the most forgiving, although partly delusional, fanbase in the world. If anything we need to unlearn to back the manager and stop treating sacking managers as a bad thing.

Depends what he's been told.

Obviously but his answer on this is meaningless.

 

[miliebrowndivorceattorney]

Let's see for the race to top 6.

Wolverhampton at 41 and I have them down for another 12 dead sure. They are good but erratic. Big games vs Arsenal, LFC, City. Today West Ham can bring 3 more. End result prediction: 53 - 56

Chelsea are at 42 pts but I have them down for 13 more dead sure. They are our number one danger. They also play Villa, Spurs and West Ham. If they win those it's nine more. End result: 55 - 64 pts.

Brighton is another erratic rival. 43 but they have a big run and I have them on only 6 dead sure more points. Still, they play us, and they are capable of a good run. End result: 49 - 54

Newcastle at 44 pts. I see them getting another 15 for sure and they are our number two big danger for our top 6 finish. They have some games where its hard to predict. End result: 59 - 64

West Ham at 45. I predict another 9 but it can go either way in a lot of games. Play LFC, City, Chelsea. End result: 54 - 57

I have us at another 12 points for sure but you never know. A draw vs LFC would do nicely. A win even better. We also can beat Arsenal but I did leave out that dream. Brighton away is going to be huge if Newcastle and Chelsea (our main danger) keep it up. Even then, Chelsea can beat us on points.

But Chelsea is even worse defending than us. They are bound to leave some points somewhere.

Wich leaves Newcastle. They need to lose 1 or two of my win predictions. Today against Fulham would be a good time for them to lose.

Top 6 and maybe a cup final will save Ten Hag for 24 25 I think. P7 and INEOS will try someone else regardless of performance.

 

[Real Madras]

We can't get rid of Ten Hag. I don't see any signs from the players that they have downed tools. They're just a bit shite. Give the manager another season. With a structure above him and some new signings I think we can be fine.

 

[Garethw]

Not remotely comparable.

Why? This is far worse than under LVG.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Because the media don't know shit. Under the Woodward/Arnold regime they had a direct line and were regularly briefed.

Now who knows what if anything they are being fed. The southgate stories I reckon are just the press stirring shit because of his history with Ashworth.

Ten Hag is doing so badly right now and seems so lost that I'd be willing to see anyone decent have a go.

Define the level of decent you'd be willing to take?

 

[Rista]

Top 6 and maybe a cup final will save Ten Hag for 24 25 I think. P7 and INEOS will try someone else regardless of performance.

If they were really going to base their decision on this then it wouldn't be a good look for them, would it? 6th or 7th, cup final or not is almost completely meaningless in the grand scheme of things. If they believe he's the guy then you'd expect one position in league table not changing that if their beliefs are founded on anything concrete. Similar with a cup final. One particular game should not be used to decide if the manager is the one to take us forward. He's been here for two years, there's enough material to judge him on, whether you're EtH in or out.

 

[Berbaclass]

Why? This is far worse than under LVG.

Becasue we have effectively changed ownership and his contract will have to change so will need discussing.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Few days ago i watched video about Ajax season when they were in CL semi finals. Why, ffs he decided to not play that style in United? Quick, attacking and high press football. That season they destroyed Real Madrid in two games. And we are doomed to watch this?

 

[Berbaclass]

Few days ago i watched video about Ajax season when they were in CL semi finals. Why, ffs he decided to not play that style in United? Quick, attacking and high press football. That season they destroyed Real Madrid in two games. And we are doomed to watch this?

Players not capable

 

[buckooo1978]

so INEOS will instill a style of play and the staff - existing or new - will have to adapt to that......surely this will be the deciding factor on Ten Hag's future. Can he deliver the kind of football they want.

If they've plans to play a possession-based style surely they would go for a coach like Di Zerbi who is a specialist and one of the best in class in that style - you wonder what he could achieve with a bigger budget

I'm very uneasy about Teg Hag... last Summer in all honesty I was concerned a team like Real Madrid might come knocking for him if he wasn't backed by the Glazers when he wasn't getting Harry Kane.

Now I'm absolutely baffled that he has seen and maintained a style of play that has resulted in a 6th place that flatters us. We are closer to 13th than 4th. Decision making has been suspect and I'm not sure what evidence there is that he is the man to take us forward.

Watching us at the minute are the decision makers really thinking this is the man to take us forward?

 

[kouroux]

Yep, same as the post I quote from myself this time last year moaning how we haven’t played well for ages and it looked a mess. It was excused more last year as we were playing so often and just trying to get through games, I didn’t think it’d still be going on a year later

Basically the same for me.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Players not capable

That is lame excuse. He inherited better team than he had in Ajax and he got 400 mil euros to build himself a team.

 

[buckooo1978]

Few days ago i watched video about Ajax season when they were in CL semi finals. Why, ffs he decided to not play that style in United? Quick, attacking and high press football. That season they destroyed Real Madrid in two games. And we are doomed to watch this?

he has played that style of football - the issue is that we don't have quick defenders so we have to play a lower defensive line.

this is why we are so vacant in midfield and easy to run through.

Not sure where to find any recent stats

https://tribuna.com/en/news/manutd-...s-react-as-man-uniteds-pressing-stats-emerge/

 

[Munkehboi]

We have one more season with him. Give him the third season but take the transfers out of his hands and see if we have made any progress at all. If there is tangible progress i.e playing progressive and cohesive football then consider giving him an extension and let him build on it. Otherwise he leaves next summer and we wipe our hands with him.

 

[Andycoleno9]

he has played that style of football - the issue is that we don't have quick defenders so we have to play a lower defensive line.

this is why we are so vacant in midfield and easy to run through.

Not sure where to find any recent stats

https://tribuna.com/en/news/manutd-...s-react-as-man-uniteds-pressing-stats-emerge/

As i just said to Berba; that excuse is BS. He got 400 mil and open hands in building the squad. He could and should have easily build a team for that style. He even got a job because "he destroyed on interview". Murtough and Arnold said that his vision and plan was something which made them to hire him over Poch.

 

[Berbaclass]

That is lame excuse. He inherited better team than he had in Ajax and he got 400 mil euros to build himself a team.

His Ajax team would have beaten the team he inherited here.

The squad he inherited was a pure counter team, not a possession based team. Our players just aren't as good under a press or on the ball as those Ajax players.

We're getting better with additions like Onana, Martinez, Mount etc but that's only a handful.

 

[AndySmith1990]

His Ajax team would have beaten the team he inherited here.

The squad he inherited was a pure counter team, not a possession based team. Our players just aren't as good under a press or on the ball as those Ajax players.

We're getting better with additions like Onana, Martinez, Mount etc but that's only a handful.

We're not getting better though are we, that's the whole point

 

[Suv666]

99.9% of managers can only dream of being given the freedom and financial backing that he has had. On top of that having the most forgiving, although partly delusional, fanbase in the world. If anything we need to unlearn to back the manager and stop treating sacking managers as a bad thing.

Yeah you’re not wrong.

Any CL side in Europe would have sacked him by now, the run in December, conceding 7 against your biggest rival, the blunders in the market

But tbh we are a midtable team and it’s been that way for a decade. Fan expectations reflect that. Also Ferguson has spoiled the fans, there is a reason why he’s the GOAT.
People seem to think given the right circumstances any half decent manager can be moulded into Fergie.

 

[buckooo1978]

As i just said to Berba; that excuse is BS. He got 400 mil and open hands in building the squad. He could and should have easily build a team for that style. He even got a job because "he destroyed on interview". Murtough and Arnold said that his vision and plan was something which made them to hire him over Poch.

I agree with you - I was just replying to a poster that he has persisted with a flawed pressing style

perhaps instead of Mount he might have bought a quick reliable CB or a quick DM

Amrabat baffles me also - the guy isn't anywhere near quick enough for the Premier League

 

[RORY65]

We have one more season with him. Give him the third season but take the transfers out of his hands and see if we have made any progress at all. If there is tangible progress i.e playing progressive and cohesive football then consider giving him an extension and let him build on it. Otherwise he leaves next summer and we wipe our hands with him.

Who is going to be responsible for transfers then? We currently don't have a director of football (we have Murtough I guess but he's out the door soon) and we don't have a head of recruitment in place. If the decision is to keep him this summer then he probably needs to be given a new contract anyway because if we can't judge him properly currently because the structure above him isn't good then I don't see how that changes next season.