Erik ten Hag: "It was quite clear after the interview that Cristiano Ronaldo had to leave, we didn’t have to discuss it. You can’t accept it". 🔴 #MUFC"When he's in good shape, he is a good player and he could help us to achieve objectives we have. That's clear. But he wasn’t". pic.twitter.com/Nc40wLq7TO— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 9, 2022
Ten Hag is out here doing side quests, taken over the united reserve side 😭— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) December 31, 2022 Erik Ten Hag will take charge of the reserve team selection, player positions and minutes so he can influence the flow of young talented players via @MullockSMirror 👏👏👏— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) January 1, 2023
This I why the Glazers choosing Murtagh over Butt was criminal. Butt had the academy humming. Also the disconnect between the academy, the reserves and the first team has been an issue for years. Funny enough it was the last Dutchman that seemed to be making progress.
Obvious that EtH is doing a fantastic job, however what has been especially impressive is how he is managing to keep things going while rotating the squad. From dealing with players unavailable owing to returning from the World Cup, to injuries in key positions such as RB, CB, Erik has somehow just dealt with it seamlessly in terms of results. For example the City game - having just one of the first choice back 4 in their normal positions in Varane against the champions and yet we concede just one shot on target. Players like AWB, Shaw @ CB even the likes of Fred as sub - it all just works under him. Huge, huge respect.
It’s hard to give him anything below a 9/10 so far during his time here. He’s been immense. The only worry is that the club sale doesn’t go through and our shithead owners don’t support him this summer.
❤️ Together, there's nothing we can't do. #MUFC || #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/HPKqY9fhog— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2023
Gaz gushing about EtH Sky Sports: Neville: I'm mesmerised by job Ten Hag's doing at Man Utd. https://www.skysports.com/football/...y-win-makes-it-five-straight-league-victories
It took me a while to figure out that the thread title was related to the show. I was not sure that the proper pronunciation of his name sounded closer to Bad than Hog.
me too actually. from the picture above it makes sense now. they are both bald and somewhat similar in looks i guess. never watched the show
🗣️Erik ten Hag:“Lindelof was educated as a 6, as a control holding midfielder in Benfica. So i know he can do that. We already tried it before in training & maybe in 1 game. I also want my Centre halves playing sometimes in midfield positions.🇳🇱🧠 https://t.co/2xXeG09rmQ— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBall_) February 2, 2023
Erik ten Hag’s 1st win as Manchester Utd Manager. Goosebumps.❤️ pic.twitter.com/OriLKISdm1— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBall_) February 5, 2023
🔴 It's the first trophy of the Ten Hag era!!! 🏆 🔴“A coach can’t perform magic”? He’s cast a spell on Man Utd 🪄 🎩#BBCFootball #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/wcVCBGPu9Q— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 26, 2023
[emoji4] Manchester United have their first trophy of the Erik ten Hag project 🚗 pic.twitter.com/dgtQGyw9dh— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 26, 2023
Instant impact. It's a shame he's 53. I don't know why I thought he was younger. Could mean he'll have fewer years at peak management than thought.
Realistically, that makes a great deal of sense, but SAF was about 50 years old when Man U finally had a team capable of winning trophies and stayed with United until he was 71. Potentially, ten Hag could be around for a long time. The only thing is how will football change in due time? If the EPL becomes THE super league, then he'll likely want to stick around as long as possible. In Ferguson's time the EPL wasn't even the world's best league (Serie A and La Liga were more dominant), but he accomplished some great things in the UCL no less. If not, managing at Barca, Bayern, or a big club in Italy would remain very attractive options to him. There's also the possibility he will want to coach Netherlands. Ferguson had coached Scotland to the 1986 WC prior to taking on the Man U job. He got that itch out of his career rather early. Ten Hag might want to scratch it at some point.
This is interesting in retrospect - Steve McClaren analysis of Ole team from a few years ago. https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/11931600/mcclaren-manchester-united-need-leaders
Steve McClaren sounds pretty dumb talking about Mata, Martial, Maguire in this video. The only thing that sounds right is the quote on leadership and consistency. His evaluation of Martial doesnt seem to align with that of ETH. But I know that wasn't your point for posting this, but just had to point out how stupid he sounds.
Was a mixed bag for me. I think saying dumb is harsh. ETH worked with the guy in the Netherlands and chose him as an asisstant Actually think he was spot on with Mata and was nice to finally hear a pundit say how positionally indisciplined he was. He doesn't say much about our defence, but tbf under Ole at that time defence wasn't our biggest issue with them sitting deeper. So being generous can see why he glossed over that. Think he was right to point out that we needed a #6 and that neither Fred or McT can do that as they "wander" (think the term many of us have used is ball-chasers). Pereira not really being a CM / pivot and more of a #10 was something a number of us felt too. On the one hand, a number of previous managers and pundits have said of both Rash and Martial that they are not #9s - so not an original view in that sense. Even SAF said this week when asked about Rash form as a striker that he doesn't see Rashford as a striker. On the other hand as per many previous debates, in the modern game for many teams a #9 isn't what everyone (especially the older folks such as McClaren) think of as a prototype #9. Especially if playing a more dynamic system with interchanging as ETH does. That said would be surprised if we don't sign a #9 as clearly need more options. As have said before, we need Martial to be available for a long run of games before we know what ETH real view of him is. ETH is a manager you judge on what he does with players rather than what he says. He said lots of nice things about Ronaldo as he left him on the bench. Likewise has said a lot of nice things about Maguire as he rides the pine too McClaren being dismissive of both our wingers in Mata and James is hard to disagree with. The biggest takeaway for me was the leaders thing. Judging by ETH signing Casemiro, Varane, Martinez etc. seems that ETH felt that way too. Changing the mindset and professionalism has clearly been the biggest step we have taken under ETH and having more leaders in the starting eleven has been pretty key to that.
Like I said your main point stands, about leadership. The point about Martial I just cant get down with that. And calling Mata positionally undisciplined.
He was talking about this game: https://www.manutd.com/en/matches/matchcenter/man-utd-vs-wolves-match-1059947 The game ended 0-0. To add further context, that season we finished third and conceded only 36 goals. I don't think he sounded dumb at all, but he was trying to avoid any dramatic soundbites that could be interpreted as direct criticisms of Ole or the players. He was just being a nice guy and wanted to be as respectful as possible to the players and coach. His main point was we didn't have a Roy Keane, that we were really missing someone in the middle. We now have that player in Casemiro. Nail. On. The. Head. The back five was solid that season. In four meetings with Wolves, we conceded only once. The problem: we lacked more of a goal threat. In those four meetings with Wolves, we scored twice and won only once. Given the context, he's not off base. Martial was not enough of a goal threat as a 9 on his own, and was better suited from out wide (a position where he had proven himself to be more of goal threat before). The wide men and central midfield was another part of the issue too. Only Bruno was above his criticisms for the failure to score that game.
Well he survived the first lows and got us to highs. Now we have to overcome a new low. Let's see how he goes.
BREAKING: Erik ten Hag is Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month after an unbeaten record in February! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DwACE3NHXh— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 10, 2023