Bad start While a lot of the conversation has surrounded how long it's going to take the players to adapt to his style, I think a question that has been overlooked is how long it's going to take the manager to adapt to this league. Today was one of the most naive and meek team selections I've seen. I'm not really interested in who's 100% fit, or what authority may need to shown, that team was never a winning one. For a club and fanbase with a dark cloud hanging over it, today was imperative to get a decent result. He's made things harder for himself already. Obviously he's going to get a lot of time, but I can't say I'm impressed at all with that.
I may have mentioned this once or twice before , but until we get a top class defensive midfielder we'll continue to need a top class defensive midfielder. It must be 10 transfer windows and counting, yet this latest manager seems obsessed with yet more fancy-Dan showboaters and even more wingers.
It's one game, but if Ten Hag didn't realise the scale of the job, he certainly will now. Among other things you just can't take liberties in this league, you have to put your best available 11 out every week unless you're City. Long way to go, head down and get on with the job.
I dont blame him much for yesterday but there were worrying signs, no subs at HT after that performance? very weak, starting season with Maguire, very weak. just sitting on the bench resigned to whats going on, weak. and if he is the reason we have been lingering on De Jong and he has not gotten confirmation from De Jong himself that he would come if he leaves Barca then thats horrendous. Club really should have got another midfielder in regardless as we need 2
I was surprised that the obligatory new manager effect never seemed to materialize and those players from last season that stunk your yard out showed little improvement in their respective games. The manager surely must have worked on bringing those players into line with his football philosophies 'blueprint if you like'. Any new manager who comes in is forced to work firstly with the players he has available and usually they can run the gauge over their early performances and determine who to retain and who to bin ,but the most disconcerting aspect of yesterdays performance is as you have highlighted ,that none of those players were brought to the touchline and given instructions by the manager even when it was clear they were at odds with what he exactly wanted. The United players yesterday looked completely disinterested and disillusioned with what the guy expects, he needs to ensure that they're fully aware of the roles and positions they're supposed to play in this team and if that means coming to his technical area and raving like a lunatic then so be it. The likes of Fernandez had no defined role to play in that team and it showed in his touch and overall game ,Shaw was undecided about whether to push forward or sit back given how Martinez was being continually dragged out of position ,these are key roles in your team and they were just allowed to get on with it without any instruction ?
Not sure what happened with pre-season but find it weird he wouldn't find a way to get van de Beek in his starting side. Surely you want as many players on the pitch who know what you require and get your "system" as possible.
Only seen the highlights now. More questionable decisions, including playing a very small and weak midfield. This was a game where McTominay needed to play. Another manager that does the least inspiring substitutes.
EtH doesn't come across in the few interviews I've seen with a particularly strong personality. He just doesn't look dynamic. He appears to surround himself with Dutch connections who don't appear a particularly good fit into the Premier League, and it doesn't fill me with optimism for a turnaround this season. IMO if EtH finally bins the De Jong acquisition fairy story he might look stronger. If he can rescue himself he'll have done better than I think he's capable of. But then again they could beat Liverpool to launch their season.
Impressed that he played to avoid our weaknesses against Liverpool. I thought he might stubbornly maintain the style he clearly wants to get to, but realising we need the players to do it first was encouraging. Msde some bold selection choices and they all paid off.
If pressing is a big part of his style then they did that in abundance for most of the first half tbf to him. United's pressing in the first half really caused problems.
Yeah we didnt exactly park the bus (atleast majority of the game), we just let them have the ball in their half then pressed high in our half
The lack of any midfield earlier is surely worrying. This is a manager who comes with a reputation for controlling the ball, and yet he set his side up to play Manchester City and completely disregard the midfield area. Has an explanation been given as to why Casemiro didn't start? He had to play today. Average player positions from https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1...e-2022-2023-Manchester-City-Manchester-United
