g = window.googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; window.googletag = googletag; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var interstitialSlot = googletag.defineOutOfPageSlot('/17085479/redcafe_gam_interstitial', googletag.enums.OutOfPageFormat.INTERSTITIAL); if (interstitialSlot) { interstitialSlot.addService(googletag.pubads()); } });

Erik ten Hag - Manchester United manager

Should ETH be kept on or fired by INEOS


  • Total voters
    1,241
  • This poll will close: .

stefan92

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
6,847
Supports
Hannover 96
That's the crux of the issue. The argument to jump to that conclusion is that they think that he is brilliant and that there is no way that he has any role in what we are seeing. Surely you spot the issue with this? Their speculation is based on their rating of an experience they shared 20 years ago but if you follow the logic fully then imagine Blind making the same argument about ETH, there is no way he has any input in this team tactics because he was brilliant 5 years ago.
The difference is that we see some clear similarities between current United and EtH's Ajax team. Also some big differences (which basically are the reason why all this doesn't work), but still.

But there is nothing visible that would remind you of a "McClaren coaches how to defend spaces" coaching session.

But yes, it's the crux that we don't know if he doesn't want to or is prevented to do it.
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
The difference is that we see some clear similarities between current United and EtH's Ajax team. Also some big differences (which basically are the reason why all this doesn't work), but still.

But there is nothing visible that would remind you of a "McClaren coaches how to defend spaces" coaching session.

But yes, it's the crux that we don't know if he doesn't want to or is prevented to do it.
Or he shared the same idea? Keep in mind that United made a defensive leap when Queiroz replaced him.
 

stefan92

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
6,847
Supports
Hannover 96
Or he shared the same idea? Keep in mind that United made a defensive leap when Queiroz replaced him.
He surely didn't share the same ideas back then. Queiroz improved United's defence, but even before it never looked as clueless as now. But as I said it's possible that he was convinced by EtH.
 

Rightnr

Wants players fined for winning away.
Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Messages
14,699
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
He surely didn't share the same ideas back then. Queiroz improved United's defence, but even before it never looked as clueless as now. But as I said it's possible that he was convinced by EtH.
What makes you think that he shares the same ideas than himself more 20 years ago? You are essentially assuming three things that his ideas haven't changed, that United training sessions were entirely his and not SAF's and that he has turned into a better defensive coach than United performances showed at the time.

Edit: Also if I'm not mistaken SAF only started to not be hands-on early 2000s when the rumors of retirement started.
 

stefan92

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
6,847
Supports
Hannover 96
What makes you think that he shares the same ideas than himself more 20 years ago? You are essentially assuming three things that his ideas haven't changed, that United training sessions were entirely his and not SAF's and that he has turned into a better defensive coach than United performances showed at the time.

Edit: Also if I'm not mistaken SAF only started to not be hands-on early 2000s when the rumors of retirement started.
I always said it's a possibility on here, nothing more ;)
 

Berbaclass

Fallen Muppet. Lest we never forget
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
39,705
Location
Cooper Station
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

Is that accurate? I’m sure we are into 60+ injuries for the season I read somewhere. Might be imagining though.
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
I always said it's a possibility on here, nothing more ;)
You actually did more, you tried to argue in favor of a particular stance which is fine but that stance is in my opinion difficult to support.
 

Gavinb33

Full Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
2,881
Location
Watching the TV or is it watching me
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

I am not defending the manager and believe he needs replacing, our injuries have all been basically in defense if they were more spread around the team it might have been a bit more manageable
 

stefan92

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
6,847
Supports
Hannover 96
You actually did more, you tried to argue in favor of a particular stance which is fine but that stance is in my opinion difficult to support.
I didn't argue for it, I just explored a bit why it's a possible scenario what Scholes/Owen said. Nothing more:
Their conclusion that he has no impact whatsoever on the team however is indeed quite a lot of conjecture as it is possible that McClaren is convinced of EtH's approach to deliberately not cover these spaces.
 

Toshey

Full Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
840
Supports
Levski Sofia
What pains me the most is the state of younger Manchester United fans.
Today I got dragged into conversation with a bunch of kiddos, who claimed Casemiro and Lisandro individual seasons last seasons are the best they ever witnessed and couldn't possibly get any better. :(
They also firmly believe that any expectation for Manchester United to be title contenders is punching above our weight and that Carabao cup and top 3 was a massive success.
Of course, they support ETH and say nothing of this is his fault...

A whole generation of fans accepting Manchester United as Tottenham level club is just tragic. I feel sick.

I feel even sicker knowing that Eric will surely leave the team wide open against Arsenal. Imagine what they'll do to us...
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
Is that accurate? I’m sure we are into 60+ injuries for the season I read somewhere. Might be imagining though.
Transfermarkt is fairly accurate and as far as I can remember we have rarely been above 4th in the weekly tables from premierinjuries.
 

Blood Mage

Full Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
6,157
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

He has been unlucky with injuries but even with a fit squad we haven't pulled up any trees. The Ten Hag in crowd seem to have forgotten that we've been crap since February last season.
 

pocco

loco
Joined
Mar 17, 2010
Messages
22,735
Location
Keep a clean shit tomorrow, United is my final bus
Always makes me laugh when posters/fans claim an ex player or a coach like Mourinho is outdated and claims the game has passed them by. As though these guys sitting on their couch, posting on RedCafe, are at the forefront of football development and these people that are actually still involved with the game don't know what they know. Maybe clubs should cut out the middle man in these qualified coaches, and just hire the fans who are always current in their footballing knowledge.
 

Rightnr

Wants players fined for winning away.
Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Messages
14,699
I am not defending the manager and believe he needs replacing, our injuries have all been basically in defense if they were more spread around the team it might have been a bit more manageable
Newcastle's injuries have been pretty much concentrated in defence (except Joelinton but that came later). They still whoopped our arse at OT.

What people miss with these injuries is also the level of failure. Ancelotti could have easily had an excuse not to win major trophies because of the numerous injuries they've had but finishing 8th would have been a completely different level of failure.

We've not just been sub-par this season, we've been atrocious to the point of being on the verge of finishing outside of the European slots despite this manager getting what no one else since Fergie got - backing in his 2nd summer ON TOP OF the first one.

4th and a CL QF would have been disappointing but what we have now is an altogether different level of failure.
 

cj_sparky

Full Member
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
8,317
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

It is amazing how Brentford battered us with 6 of their regular starting 11 missing, including 4 of their usual back 5. Whilst we had Shaw unavailable from our strongest XI with Martinez and Casemiro on the bench who both came on .
 

Chipper

Adulterer.
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
5,775
Is that accurate? I’m sure we are into 60+ injuries for the season I read somewhere. Might be imagining though.
It can't be.

Just looking at West Ham, 6 injuries all season according to that. They currently have 3 out according to the premierinjuries website. Mavropanos, Aguerd and Phillips.

I personally recall 3 due to playing Fantasy Premier League. I only take interest in the players who might score good points on there. Areola and Bowen have both missed games due to injury recently. Paqueta was injured in January, they were short on quality options in midfield then as Kudus was away at AFCON.

I don't believe for one second they had no other injuries all season, and none before Christmas.

Antonio has missed time through injury this season hasn't he? So that's 7 for a start.
 
Last edited:

Winrar

Full Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
12,963
Location
Maryland
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

Worth noting that Brentford had more injuries than we did and played us off the park. Newcastle will probably do the same.
 

Sweet Square

Full Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
23,908
Location
The Zone
I'm just leaving for the all people crying how unfortunate he's been with injuries. It's been bad but Newcastle have had it worse with a worse squad and they're playing some good stuff.

He is just a shit manager and the quicker people accept it, the better.

I don’t think this table is accurate. The Mirror says we’ve had 60 separate injuries(Including
illnesses)and the Independent says 62 injuries.
 

DSG

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
2,591
Location
A Whale’s Vagina
The funny thing is, mcclaren actually delegated coaching to ten hag when the latter was his number 2. He saw he was better than him in that regard, he said it himself in his own words.

If Owen and Scholes did their job properly, they'd know. But they're riding off their ex player status and chatting absolute bollocks on live TV. Their view in football is also outdated. What worked for them doesn't apply today, they suffer from a time series bias. Overall they are a pair of clowns in a punditry capacity and that Mcclaren segment summed it up.

It's astounding how we have anyone here putting stock into their view.
Source on McClaren delegating coaching duties to Ten Hag? And he was better than him?

Ah, I see. So we should bow at the knowledge of @VP89 over two players who have actually played in the PL and been coached by Steve McClaren???? Nobody is saying those two are the best pundits in the biz or all of their comments are 100% correct. We’re talking about Paul Scholes who has said Steve McClaren is the best COACH for him, ever. Has nothing to do with their opinions on tactics, etc. Just communicating system details. If McClaren is such an awful coach, why would SAF hire him? Why? Is SAF a poor judge of talent? Of coaches? They only won the PL twice for the two seasons McClaren was coaching there. @JPRouve thoughts?

‘feck me, the Ten Hag **** alive and well. Great, let’s take your stance then. McClaren is an absolute shit coach. The worst coach ever. ten Hag is the best coach ever. Why the feck are we 8th with -3 GD, just lost embarrassingly to Crystal Palace 4-0 with two measly shots on goal? Dumped out of the CL as last in our group?

You’re just out to hunt down information to support some sort of delusional idea that Ten Hag is the next Alex Ferguson. It’s just one giant confirmation bias odyssey where you ignore everything you see, statistics and point to random reasons behind our poor performances rather than the most obvious one: Ten Hag is not good enough, never will be good enough. Every single pundit is saying we look like shit. Does that mean all pundits are knobs?
F
I suppose this is what makes the Caf great. If we had all logical, reasonable people here, it would get boring, one massive circle jerk while we agree with each other non-stop. You have to have some crazies in the bunch to make it all work. :lol:
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
Source on McClaren delegating coaching duties to Ten Hag? And he was better than him?

Ah, I see. So we should bow at the knowledge of @VP89 over two players who have actually played in the PL and been coached by Steve McClaren???? Nobody is saying those two are the best pundits in the biz or all of their comments are 100% correct. We’re talking about Paul Scholes who has said Steve McClaren is the best COACH for him, ever. Has nothing to do with their opinions on tactics, etc. Just communicating system details. If McClaren is such an awful coach, why would SAF hire him? Why? Is SAF a poor judge of talent? Of coaches? They only won the PL twice for the two seasons McClaren was coaching there. @JPRouve thoughts?

‘feck me, the Ten Hag **** alive and well. Great, let’s take your stance then. McClaren is an absolute shit coach. The worst coach ever. ten Hag is the best coach ever. Why the feck are we 8th with -3 GD, just lost embarrassingly to Crystal Palace 4-0 with two measly shots on goal? Dumped out of the CL as last in our group?

You’re just out to hunt down information to support some sort of delusional idea that Ten Hag is the next Alex Ferguson. It’s just one giant confirmation bias odyssey where you ignore everything you see, statistics and point to random reasons behind our poor performances rather than the most obvious one: Ten Hag is not good enough, never will be good enough. Every single pundit is saying we look like shit. Does that mean all pundits are knobs?
F
I suppose this is what makes the Caf great. If we had all logical, reasonable people here, it would get boring, one massive circle jerk while we agree with each other non-stop. You have to have some crazies in the bunch to make it all work. :lol:
No one said that McClaren was an awful coach. Now do me favor since you are in the business of making things up, don't quote me.
 

DSG

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
2,591
Location
A Whale’s Vagina
Always makes me laugh when posters/fans claim an ex player or a coach like Mourinho is outdated and claims the game has passed them by. As though these guys sitting on their couch, posting on RedCafe, are at the forefront of football development and these people that are actually still involved with the game don't know what they know. Maybe clubs should cut out the middle man in these qualified coaches, and just hire the fans who are always current in their footballing knowledge.
:lol:

I like to ignore those who are brain surgeons and have done 100s of brain surgeries over those who watched it a few times on tv. Absolutely, you’d pick the guy who’s never done the surgery but knows all about it cause he’s watched a few videos.
 

C'est Moi Cantona

Full Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2014
Messages
8,893
Surely our injuries been so concentrated with the defenders must be a factor

We've also been quite unlucky with Hojlund this season, and the less said about our only other striker the better.
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
You’ve boxed yourself into a corner. You’re a big boy, clean up your own mess. :lol:
I literally said that he was a decent coach and you claim that labeled him as awful. The only mess is you being full of it.

It doesn't make him the best ever coach or anything close to it. In a serious conversation there is no point making silly hyperbole, McClaren is a decent coach and his career as a head coach show that he isn't anywhere near elite as a coach.

Also SAF rated and trusted him in a smaller role at a time where SAF was himself still very involved. The same applies to Kidd, Queiroz or Meulensteen.
 

DSG

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
2,591
Location
A Whale’s Vagina
You made good points. And it comes back to my initial point, you have question their sense by that I meant that you have to question their thinking, they are drawing conclusions based on very old experiences and the context of these experiences shouldn't even lead you to these conclusions unless you assume that SAF and Eriksson who are both excellent coaches, had no input in the training sessions they delegated to McClaren. Then you have to consider that coaches and managers evolve and decline over time and we are 20 years removed from their point of reference.

Maybe McClaren is the best coach in 2024 but I will take that with a massive handful of salt.
You’re assuming there is zero communication between Scholes and McClaren over the last 20 years. You’re assuming there is decline. You’re discounting an informed opinion, however dated, for your own uninformed opinion.
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
32,082
Source on McClaren delegating coaching duties to Ten Hag? And he was better than him?
There's a few pieces that give tidbits at how Ten Hag effectively ran the show on the tactics and drilling the philosophy.

"I followed PSV Eindhoven for some time when he was the assistant manager there, just as he was Steve McClaren's assistant at FC Twente. He was instrumental at those clubs. He never tried to push in but the managers were so reliant on him because he was tactically so strong. It was a joy for them to have him and that says a lot about him" - Marcel Van der Kraan

"My first assistant was Eric Ten Hag. The dutch taught me a whole new football identity, way of playing and philosophy. I had to embrace that - they were delighted when we drew because we had 70% possession, but I was able to bring a winning mentality. They taught me about the football, the sessions I gave was down to them. What I gave them was emphasizing the style and possession is not enough, and that we have to win" - Steve McClaren

“[Working with Ten Hag] allowed me time to have a look the full extent of the job at Twente, it get me that time to focus, watch, listen, take in the job, and eventually find a little niche where as the manager of the team, I could make my impact. I suppose the last seven days have epitomised that again, the attention to detail, all the planning, which he wants to get right. That’s from the day after he won the championship with Ajax, he’s on to the next, a little like Sir Alex Ferguson used to do. - Steve McClaren

^ If not complete delegation, McClaren effectively relied massively on his assistant coach. Also, he mentions that Ten Hag in his role at the club would delegate responsibility himself, and expect it to be done. Here's what he said to MUTV:

"“That’s how he works with the staff on and off the field: he delegates a lot. He tells you what your job is and he expects you to do it,” McClaren told us, as part of an exclusive interview.

“If you’re not doing it, then he’ll tell you that you’re not doing it. That’s staff and players.

“We’ve had a load of discussions and Erik is in charge. We are – the rest of the staff – learning as much as the players are learning. This is a new style, these are new principles, a new way of playing."

So, from there we can say two things. 1) McClaren was massively reliant on Ten Hag as coach at Twente, for tactics and philosophy and how to orchestrate a style of playing. Mcclaren then focused on his niche of management. and 2) Currently, Ten Hag also delegates, and he expects his coaches and staff to be able to execute the instructions and style all the same.

Ah, I see. So we should bow at the knowledge of @VP89 over two players who have actually played in the PL and been coached by Steve McClaren????
Top players don't make top pundits. Owen and Scholes both say dumb things, and Scholes was coached by Steve McClaren what, 2 decades ago? The game is completely different then. Scholes is a football dinosaur, there's absolutely nothing to insinuate he knows what level of coaching is required to navigate the modern game.

This is such a stupid comment, sorry to just frame it in those words but its the only way of putting it. It's like me saying no one should question Danny Murphy or Graham Souness because they are two players who have actually played in the PL.

Steve McClaren himself has come out endorsing the work of Ten Hag at Twente and at United, but no you don't want to go to the horses mouth, you want to go by two ex players who frankly, have atrocious opinions in general football (let alone this topic), and go back 20 years? Yeah. OK kid.
Nobody is saying those two are the best pundits in the biz or all of their comments are 100% correct. We’re talking about Paul Scholes who has said Steve McClaren is the best COACH for him, ever. Has nothing to do with their opinions on tactics, etc. Just communicating system details. If McClaren is such an awful coach, why would SAF hire him? Why? Is SAF a poor judge of talent? Of coaches? They only won the PL twice for the two seasons McClaren was coaching there. @JPRouve thoughts?
No one said McClaren is an awful coach. What they are insinuating is that Ten Hag does not allow McClaren to coach, which is quite wrong. McClaren himself said Ten Hag delegates duties a lot. If anything that suggests there is a lot of blame elsewhere if not just on the manager. If they did just 20% of research they could educate themselves as 'analysts' of the game, but they don't because they ride on the fact they used to be players.

And no one is asking them to be the best pundits, we just want them to be competent pundits. That's asking for too much for these two though.
‘feck me, the Ten Hag **** alive and well. Great, let’s take your stance then. McClaren is an absolute shit coach. The worst coach ever. ten Hag is the best coach ever. Why the feck are we 8th with -3 GD, just lost embarrassingly to Crystal Palace 4-0 with two measly shots on goal? Dumped out of the CL as last in our group?
You know you've lost a debate when you're blindly calling another poster a "Ten Hag ****" :lol: good one, your gullible agreement Michael fecking Owen and Paul Scholes checks out with your mental age.
You’re just out to hunt down information to support some sort of delusional idea that Ten Hag is the next Alex Ferguson.
It's actually hilarious that you've posted this very statement. It's not me calling Ten Hag as some kind of Ferguson, the "better coach" according to your god pundits had made the comparison above :lol:
t’s just one giant confirmation bias odyssey where you ignore everything you see, statistics and point to random reasons behind our poor performances rather than the most obvious one: Ten Hag is not good enough, never will be good enough. Every single pundit is saying we look like shit. Does that mean all pundits are knobs?
I feel like you don't even know what is being debated at this stage.
I suppose this is what makes the Caf great. If we had all logical, reasonable people here, it would get boring, one massive circle jerk while we agree with each other non-stop. You have to have some crazies in the bunch to make it all work. :lol:
Yep, you've lost the plot on what we actually discussed. Good work.
 

DSG

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
2,591
Location
A Whale’s Vagina
I literally said that he was a decent coach and you claim that labeled him as awful. The only mess is you being full of it.
Frankly, it’s amazing you’ve even said he’s a decent coach. You have no idea more than I do. My original post was pointing out that two players, one an OT legend, sung very high praises of McClaren as a coach. You said you were dubious of such a claim despite having no first hand knowledge.

‘I’m not interested in continuing this as it’s starting to take this thread off topic. It’s fine. I think both Steve McClaren and Paul Scholes will be able to live with themselves despite your skepticism.
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
You’re assuming there is zero communication between Scholes and McClaren over the last 20 years. You’re assuming there is decline. You’re discounting an informed opinion, however dated, for your own uninformed opinion.
Well they both referred to 20 years ago. So yes I assume that the reference they mentioned is what they are using. In reality you are the only one claiming that something is 100% true, I simply stated that it is totally correct to question their take.

If you don't want to question it, then don't.
 

M Bison

Full Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,872
Location
In the Wilderness
Supports
York City
Always makes me laugh when posters/fans claim an ex player or a coach like Mourinho is outdated and claims the game has passed them by. As though these guys sitting on their couch, posting on RedCafe, are at the forefront of football development and these people that are actually still involved with the game don't know what they know. Maybe clubs should cut out the middle man in these qualified coaches, and just hire the fans who are always current in their footballing knowledge.
This should be pinned at the top of the whole forum!
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
66,337
Location
France
Frankly, it’s amazing you’ve even said he’s a decent coach. You have no idea more than I do. My original post was pointing out that two players, one an OT legend, sung very high praises of McClaren as a coach. You said you were dubious of such a claim despite having no first hand knowledge.

‘I’m not interested in continuing this as it’s starting to take this thread off topic. It’s fine. I think both Steve McClaren and Paul Scholes will be able to live with themselves despite your skepticism.
I question everything, when someone says something I don't just shut my brain and don't wonder about the context of that claim. They both set the context and that context opens obvious questions which is what I clearly said multiple times. There is nothing special about but for some reason you took that as some sort of insult or disrespect.

Edit: It's also quite funny to be perceived as a member of ETH's ****.
 

DSG

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
2,591
Location
A Whale’s Vagina
There's a few pieces that give tidbits at how Ten Hag effectively ran the show on the tactics and drilling the philosophy.

"I followed PSV Eindhoven for some time when he was the assistant manager there, just as he was Steve McClaren's assistant at FC Twente. He was instrumental at those clubs. He never tried to push in but the managers were so reliant on him because he was tactically so strong. It was a joy for them to have him and that says a lot about him" - Marcel Van der Kraan

"My first assistant was Eric Ten Hag. The dutch taught me a whole new football identity, way of playing and philosophy. I had to embrace that - they were delighted when we drew because we had 70% possession, but I was able to bring a winning mentality. They taught me about the football, the sessions I gave was down to them. What I gave them was emphasizing the style and possession is not enough, and that we have to win" - Steve McClaren

“[Working with Ten Hag] allowed me time to have a look the full extent of the job at Twente, it get me that time to focus, watch, listen, take in the job, and eventually find a little niche where as the manager of the team, I could make my impact. I suppose the last seven days have epitomised that again, the attention to detail, all the planning, which he wants to get right. That’s from the day after he won the championship with Ajax, he’s on to the next, a little like Sir Alex Ferguson used to do. - Steve McClaren

^ If not complete delegation, McClaren effectively relied massively on his assistant coach. Also, he mentions that Ten Hag in his role at the club would delegate responsibility himself, and expect it to be done. Here's what he said to MUTV:

"“That’s how he works with the staff on and off the field: he delegates a lot. He tells you what your job is and he expects you to do it,” McClaren told us, as part of an exclusive interview.

“If you’re not doing it, then he’ll tell you that you’re not doing it. That’s staff and players.

“We’ve had a load of discussions and Erik is in charge. We are – the rest of the staff – learning as much as the players are learning. This is a new style, these are new principles, a new way of playing."

So, from there we can say two things. 1) McClaren was massively reliant on Ten Hag as coach at Twente, for tactics and philosophy and how to orchestrate a style of playing. Mcclaren then focused on his niche of management. and 2) Currently, Ten Hag also delegates, and he expects his coaches and staff to be able to execute the instructions and style all the same.


Top players don't make top pundits. Owen and Scholes both say dumb things, and Scholes was coached by Steve McClaren what, 2 decades ago? The game is completely different then. Scholes is a football dinosaur, there's absolutely nothing to insinuate he knows what level of coaching is required to navigate the modern game.

This is such a stupid comment, sorry to just frame it in those words but its the only way of putting it. It's like me saying no one should question Danny Murphy or Graham Souness because they are two players who have actually played in the PL.

Steve McClaren himself has come out endorsing the work of Ten Hag at Twente and at United, but no you don't want to go to the horses mouth, you want to go by two ex players who frankly, have atrocious opinions in general football (let alone this topic), and go back 20 years? Yeah. OK kid.

No one said McClaren is an awful coach. What they are insinuating is that Ten Hag does not allow McClaren to coach, which is quite wrong. McClaren himself said Ten Hag delegates duties a lot. If anything that suggests there is a lot of blame elsewhere if not just on the manager. If they did just 20% of research they could educate themselves as 'analysts' of the game, but they don't because they ride on the fact they used to be players.

And no one is asking them to be the best pundits, we just want them to be competent pundits. That's asking for too much for these two though.

You know you've lost a debate when you're blindly calling another poster a "Ten Hag ****" :lol: good one, your gullible agreement Michael fecking Owen and Paul Scholes checks out with your mental age.

It's actually hilarious that you've posted this very statement. It's not me calling Ten Hag as some kind of Ferguson, the "better coach" according to your god pundits had made the comparison above :lol:

I feel like you don't even know what is being debated at this stage.

Yep, you've lost the plot on what we actually discussed. Good work.
Awesome. So now you’re quoting McClaren saying that ETH was focused on process more than results. How he taught him that winning is important and that results matter, winning matters. It seems Ten Hag has decided that process is more important than results because we aren’t getting results and the tactics are abominable.

Not sure if you’ve managed people in a business before, but delegation of duties is normal. Ten Hag delegating shit tactics for other people to implement is still shit management and mostly, if not all on the head of Ten Hag.

Look, we’ve locked horns before, and that’s fine. You’re all over the Caf in support of Ten Hag. I only ask that you apply the same standards to yourself as you do to Scholes and Owen. As it stands now, it looks more and more likely that Ten Hag will finish this season with the lowest PL point total of any United manager ever. He’s probably going to be sacked. Your posts in this thread are looking more and more delusional. My advice: own it. Say you were wrong about Ten Hag.

All of this is in good fun. Not trying to offend anyone. My apologies if I came across that way.
 

DSG

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
2,591
Location
A Whale’s Vagina
I question everything, when someone says something I don't just shut my brain and don't wonder about the context of that claim. They both set the context and that context opens obvious questions which is what I clearly said multiple times. There is nothing special about but for some reason you took that as some sort of insult or disrespect.

Edit: It's also quite funny to be perceived as a member of ETH's ****.
Sorry, the **** comment wasn’t meant for you. I know you aren’t.

I have a soft spot for Scholes as I once met him and had a chance to watch him play 5 aside very very close up. He was playing with all time legends and BY FAR the best on the pitch. They played a local side that I had connections to as part of a promotional tour. Maybe that’s why I took offense.
 

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
32,082
Awesome. So now you’re quoting McClaren saying that ETH was focused on process more than results. How he taught him that winning is important and that results matter, winning matters. It seems Ten Hag has decided that process is more important than results because we aren’t getting results and the tactics are abominable.
Watch Steve McClaren's interview - he is citing the dutch philosophy to be focused on the right style even in isolated games where it's a stalemate. It's astounding thats the conclusion you drew from it and literally moved goalposts in what we're actually debating.
Not sure if you’ve managed people in a business before, but delegation of duties is normal. Ten Hag delegating shit tactics for other people to implement is still shit management and mostly, if not all on the head of Ten Hag.
Right, so if it's normal then why are we suggesting he's suddenly a bad coach and everything is on him? Would you then agree that Owen and Scholes are low IQ pundits who lazily assumed that Ten Hag must be doing all the coachin
g, and McClaren is sitting twiddling his thumbs?
Look, we’ve locked horns before, and that’s fine. You’re all over the Caf in support of Ten Hag. I only ask that you apply the same standards to yourself as you do to Scholes and Owen. As it stands now, it looks more and more likely that Ten Hag will finish this season with the lowest PL point total of any United manager ever. He’s probably going to be sacked. Your posts in this thread are looking more and more delusional. My advice: own it. Say you were wrong about Ten Hag.

All of this is in good fun. Not trying to offend anyone. My apologies if I came across that way.
It doesn't matter what we've debated in the past, the point I've made is Owens and Scholes are ill informed pundits who have next to no knowledge on *modern day* tactics, coaching, or the european footballing landscape. If they did they'd be doing more than making cameos on BT Sport for 10 minutes here and there.

Whether Ten Hag has the right idea on the current tactics is a separate matter, I agree he's trying to implement something too ambitious. It could work with the right players, but it certainly doesn't with this bunch and that's a separate debate where we'd both land on an agreeable conclusion that he'd be worthy of a sack for such mistakes.
 
Last edited:

VP89

Pogba's biggest fan
Joined
Dec 6, 2015
Messages
32,082
I have a soft spot for Scholes as I once met him and had a chance to watch him play 5 aside very very close up. He was playing with all time legends and BY FAR the best on the pitch. They played a local side that I had connections to as part of a promotional tour. Maybe that’s why I took offense.
Funnily enough I've been really fortunate to meet both Scholes and Ole, and I've been extremely frank in their underperformance for their relative roles (not to them, admittedly :lol: too star struck)
You have to seperate art form artist - as players they were amazing, as people they are humble and great. As a pundit and manager relatively, they are basically underqualified. If Scholes sticks to player opinions I'm fine. Like how he gave a segment on Kroos, I enjoyed listening to it.
 
Last edited: