04 Sep 2023 17:23:11
Jesus, talk about supporting your club.

Some people now questioning ETH saying he is overrated. Let's remind ourselves that last year we finished 3rd, won the League Cup and got to the FA Cup final, so real progress. This despite moving on Ronaldo and losing Greenwood.

As Red Man has pointed out, we needed to address the spine which for whatever reasons we haven't done. We needed a proven goalscorer but signed a youngster with potential. We needed more solid MF options but signed Mount, a player we didn't need. We've swapped the GK, we shall see if that is an improvement but whilst DDG won the golden glove last year, he regularly dropped clangers.

Add to that the injuries we have and the ownership issue and it paints a very unstable picture.

Players who were solid last year have yet to hit form. Rashford has finally woken up, I thought Cas looked awful yesterday, slow, off the pace, and overweight, and Martinez hasn't got going either. We now have Sancho whinging and it is clear there are ongoing issues to resolve.

We all hoped the change of ownership would see a fresh start but that may not happen now, so things aren't going to change any time soon.

1. We have players on ridiculous contracts who do not want to move.
2. We pay well over the odds, far more than others would pay, Antony and Hojlund are the latest examples.
3. We have people in the wrong roles.
4. The structure appears unfit for purpose.
5. We are not producing Academy players who can step up.

Against this backdrop ETH is overrated right?

I'm not going to single anyone out but if every post is a negative whinge it gets really tedious. We went to a very dark place with Ole, 4 games in, let's not do that already with ETH.

We had a very solid year last tear, poor start so far but a long way to go.

1.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 17:49:15
Ignore it.

For me he isn’t rated because he’s still a fairly young manager and finding his way. He’s a good manager but not the level of Pep yet. Will he get there who knows. But yeh he’s not over rated he has had only a few jobs where he is the number 1. He still has a lot to prove to get to the position of being over rated.

2.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 18:08:28
AJH i will say it because your post is pointed at me. Ole got us 2nd amd 3rd and a Europa league final and that didn't make him great. The style of play is pretty much the same. Mind you Ole was playing with worse players than what EtH has at his disposal. You were one of those who championed Ole for his arm around the shoulder approach but ofcourse that has changed with EtH. If i am not wrong Ole had it worse with woodward at the helm and if i am not wrong the owners were the same. So what exactly is your point?

3.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 18:30:19
Completely agree AJH. Absolute jokers some of our so called fanbase. ETH has done a miraculous job for us compared to what we were two seasons back. A slow start to the season with an injury hit squad and a host of new signings that are still yet to play either at all or more than a couple of games and these absolute jokers have already got the knives out. It’s beyond pathetic.

As for Fzzz’s comment you say ignore it and then go on to staje digs at the manager anyway in a snide underhand way. Ten Haag did a great job with Ajax winning the league for the first time in 5 years and won 3 out of 4 titles in his time there. He is a top class manager and he will bring United back to the top as long as he’s given time. If he can finish 3rd and win a trophy in his first season with a squad that was basically bereft of any confidence, and only a few signings, i'm absolutely certain he will have us challenging for honours again in a season of two when he completely refreshes the squad and builds a team that is entirely his.

4.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 18:46:31
Jose done better in his first year with absolute crap of a team! And TBF anyone could have took us upwards from where Ole left us, even Van Gaal won a better cup! I think it’s really hard to say that ETH is great yes he is good if your measuring against Ole, but if you measure of what we should be measuring against, the likes of Klopp and Pep there he is nowhere near, he ain’t young he is what 50 odd! United is not the place to learn on the job in my view, his substitutions ain’t great and reacts after the event, plus got habit of alienating players, winning the Dutch league is nothing to shout about, and the players he wanted and bought have not exactly set the world alight, might be ok in the Dutch league but not here, I say again his stubbornness will be his downfall.

5.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 18:58:17
Many stats that he is second only to pep after the number of games he has played in terms of wins. and pep took over a much better squad.

Doesn't really matter though. Eth is the best we could have got and he will make us successful again. Just back him, I can't believe this is even up for discussion.

6.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 19:00:31
You do talk some absolute tripe Trafford. His substitutions aren’t the best? His subs yesterday nearly won us the game. Last season I think we scored more goals from the bench than any other team. Ahh yes winning the Dutch league is garbage, the Dutch have no idea how to play football. Only the premier league is any good. Alienates players? Who a sulking sancho who was told to buck his ideas up. He’s been outstanding for us since he joined right? Best player I’ve ever seen in a United shirt. Well worth nearly 400,00k a week. Worth every penny. Seriously he’s been awful and someone needed to call him out. His reaction last night has shown his true colours though and why he’s never lived up to his talent. I suppose if Sancho leaves he will be our best player like you said about Fred the other day ?.

7.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 19:05:15
JE888, you obviously have no idea what a miracle is. I feel sorry for you if you think EtH critics are clowns. You actually are the reason the club has given itself upto mediocrity. You keep praising the crap being served to us week in week out and hence the situation we find ourself in. You are waiting for Pep to go but do you think City will not replace him with someone who will be good enough to continue. EtH needs to get it right and do it soon.

8.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 19:17:43
Exactly the point I’ve been making AJH. People have quickly forgotten the absolute shambles the club was (and still is) when ETH took over.

Sure he’s been stubborn in-game at times, and the poor away record cannot be argued. But he’s earned his right to manage how he wants given the sheer amount of crap he’s having to sift through.

He’s worked miracles as far as I’m concerned, to get us back into the top 4 and win a trophy, with what seems to be endless off-pitch issues and a hangover of entitled brats who have been allowed to coast through their careers while picking up wages that they simply wouldn’t be paid anywhere else.

He’s got a solid 9/ 10 from me so far.

9.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 19:24:24
So you’re telling me UA that after the absolute shambles the season before under Ragnick and Ole, you expected 3rd in the league and a trophy? ETH is not accepting “mediocrity”, he’s a top manager and there have been signs of where he’s trying to take us. His Ajax team played excellent football, when he took them to the Semi final of the champions league (only losing on aggregate) they were a revelation. They played excellent football and massively over achieved given where they were before he took over and the squad they had. Anyone who is criticising the manager after 1 season is an absolute joker, especially after the season we had last year which was by all accounts a success. Klopp took 4 years to win anything. Pep didn’t win the league immediately either. Arteta took 2 and a half years to get Arsenal playing the way they are today. If after 4 games into this new season which hasn’t even been that bad, you’re criticising the manager I think you’re an absolute joker.

10.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 20:00:52
Wazza how can he get a 9/ 10, so your saying he is virtually the top then, that’s ludicrous, in reality maybe a 7/ 10, it was not really difficult to move up from Ole, Jesus even Big Sam could have done that, we are now in 2nd year and we are not seeing much of a plan, we seen some average signings that are not going to get us back to the top or even near it, you would have to be a pretty poor manager with the side and spending of the club not to be up and around the top, but if that’s all we now want, then yeah happy days!
We may just have to realise we are not a big club no more, if we are waxing lyrical about Ten and this team.

11.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 20:10:18
Sorry Trafford that's cobblers. winning the Dutch league is tough.

12.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 20:26:03
It was nice on here for a while. I had week 3 before it ended ?.

13.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 20:35:31
My point UA isn't that ETH is great, it's that after a solid season, jumping on his back so soon is plain silly.

My other point is that continual negativity (and it wasn't aimed at you), is just boring and it adds nothing to the debate.

Trafford is fairly new to this site, it seems he just wants to moan and take issue with people. I respect his view, I just don't want to have to read it in every bloody post.

14.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 20:51:58
Oh sweet Jebus, what a bunch of whingers some of you lot are! It reads like junior school playground rubbish. Okay, so every fan wants their team to win every game, all of the time …We’ll no rubbish Sherlock, but reality isn’t that is it? Even in the Ferguson glory years it was never that.

But here you are after four games, already saying we’re doomed and the manager isn’t up to it. Christ on a bike, everyone knows it’s night and day the best set up we’ve had for years. and then when other rational minds try to temper your vitriol they get accused of accepting mediocrity! If Garnacho’s goal was allowed and we won at the Arsenal, you’d all be hailing the great Ten Hag as the new messiah. we’re all passionate about our clubby& want the best. But lads, please just calm down.

15.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 21:10:17
The big problem is the owners, fans should unite in one cause, to see the back of them. Personally i think we are slowly going the right way football wise, but everybody has their opinions. I would be interested if anyone on here, doesn't want rid of the owners.

16.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 21:36:13
Trafford not just writing off the manager he’s criticising the new signings too after minutes ??

Absolute troll you are!

17.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 21:38:50
Trafford I think I’ve made it quite clear why I’d give ETH a 9/10. He’s won us silverware and got is back into the top 4 against a backdrop of utter trash.

Today alone, he’s dealing with Sancho being a little prat, and the statement of Antony’s then pregnant mrs claiming he threatened her life.

Honestly we could write an encyclopaedia on the amount of off the field nonsense and conditions he’s having to manage under.

Despite everything which is just too long to list, he’s second only to Peo for games won since he took over, with what even you can agree is a flawed squad containing a number of spoiled brats.

You’re ignorant if you can’t acknowledge the conditions he’s currently managing under, and I really wonder who people such as yourself would rather have in charge right now.

We are lucky to have ETH right now.

18.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 21:54:30
While I'll reserve judgement on whether or not ten Hag is the business, I'll also apply some straight up logic.

Ten Hag arrived with great hype and an encouraging demeanour, he quickly implemented the foundations of his ideology and worked at bringing a degree of balance to the squad.

Now one of the things this new culture has brought is an understanding, the kind of understanding between coach and players that brings about a healthy dose of positivity and increases the levels of quality.

So there is an argument that he may have simply boosted the vigour within the squad with the freshness of his approach and that this subsequently led to last season's achievements.

However, the arguments that Ole or Jose or Van Gaal had it better or worse are a bit daft.
Football in this modern age of elite athleticism and intense tactical acumen has the annoying habit of evolving very quickly - how much was heard about hybrid defensive strategies and inverted fullbacks before the end of last season?
The point is that ten Hag's predecessors were at the club during different stages of football evolution and thus cannot be used as a solid gauge for how ten Hag has done because their respective occupational environments were different. Nobody knows with any degree of legitimate certainty who would do what in another era, absolutely nobody.

I believe we might be witnessing the start of something notable, but I believe the future will not be influenced well enough by ten Hag or anyone else so long as the Glazers are at the helm.
It's not absurd to suggest this transfer window hasn't been entirely to his liking, nor is it foolish to think he might be getting a little irritated by the distractions that are beyond his control.

Personally, I like his approach of not suffering fools - long may that continue.

19.) 04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 22:41:49
Chris1 he’s so far made a list of every player slagging them all off. Taken the side of Sancho over Ten Haag, claimed Fred would be the best player on the pitch if we played against him, said the De Jong refused to work with Ten Haag because he knows him and that he’s a terrible manager, said that United had no budget and the signings were all terrible and they’re all Ten Haags fault. He hasn’t said a single positive thing about the club players or manager. He’s an absolute troll baiting us all and it’s worked. The site now is just full of negativity. I guarantee if we won yesterday he would be nowhere to be seen.

20.) 05 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023 23:48:42
JE,

It’s not really full of negativity, just 2 people who could even be the same person, we know Maze has form for that, everyone else sees balance and posts sensibly.

The ‘not a big club no more’ is clear now to me that he’s a fan of another team looking for a reaction and to be fair it’s worked as he’s got one. Don’t really understand why a fan of United would want to turn all his fellow fans against him unless he’s just a bit of a tit.

21.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 04:08:18
True GTS. I’ve got to admit I thought it was multiple accounts and the same guy.

22.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 04:27:12
Je. You make up all this, you seriously need to read properly again for you to understand, someone made a tongue in cheek comment about Fred I said yeah he would probably be the best player on the pitch that day! Wise up man
I not took Sancho side at all but I said Ten gone about it totally wrong! I said Ten chased DeJong all season when he must have been on Tens speed dial, so was easy to find out he was not interested, every journalist did know.
In my view 90% of the signings are average
Perhaps I think there is nothing to shout and get excited about, you clearly do and that’s fine!
G2S. If it’s still a big club why does it seem that no big top players are interested in coming here! Your living in the past I’m afraid, big commercially yes big on the pitch, not a chance.

23.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 06:02:23
From my perspective we should be fully behind ETH right now.

However, I would say there are questions to be answered though, in particular purchasing several of the players at the money paid and why we still lack a strong spine after circa 500m. Why there was no CD bought and after HM was ostracised why was he not sold no matter what cost. I would say he didn’t need to explain the training issue on Sancho and that has brought it to a head, maybe he wanted that. Why have the team not been running and why were we so sluggish and injury prone after preseason?

There are questions to answer and maybe he isn’t in full charge of the buying, the amateurs may have a sway. See what happens this season and ETH has to take responsibility for it. My expectation would be 2nd challenging and a good cup, realistically I think top 4 could be a challenge and 5th maybe where we end up. Then the ETH discussion will no doubt take place, but right now he is the manager and there must be no doubt about his authority at all or it will end in a mess very quickly.

24.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 08:02:33
Red Man,

Agree on the post-pre-season comment. I’m not sure just how much say ETH has on the location, it may or may not be his fault.

All the other things you mention are not up to the manager.

He has a say on the players he wants to bring in, but no say on how much we pay for them.

He has a day on the players he wants gone, but again no say on how much we receive for them, or if the powers that be accept a bid, or if the player himself (Maguire) refuses to leave.

I don’t think it’s right to blame the money spent on the manager, or any of our previous managers for that matter. Our negotiators are poor, it’s public knowledge that we overpay for players due to the amateurs above the manager.

25.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 10:58:25
I agree 100% on backing eth. I am not an emotional guy about this stuff but can clearly see a massive progression in this team. Defensively when we can field a team that is not hampered by multiple injuries we are a very tough team and have shored up at the back. We were a joke during ole/ ragnik in terms of how we were conceeding.

Offensively, we are work in progress and not firing yet but will get there. It looks like we finally have a number 9 who will be a handful and should free up the wings and vice versa. It takes time to integrate new players into a team and get settled.

Finally if we had new ownership, we would be a lot further down the road than we are today but that is something not within eth control or the fans to be frank.

26.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 11:27:41
Redman

Our net spend was around 128 mill in the last window even when you factor in the add ons. Total net spend 320 mill last two windows. We are cleaning up the wage bill in parallel.

Do you really think ETH does not know we need a CD or even 2. He strikes me as a very detail guy so all this stuff about Varrane's injury record is not lost on him.

Its a weird argument to judge someone on idealism. You judge them on how they are doing with the tools at their disposal.

I would also bet the house, he would have liked martial gone and a another striker come in. We are financially unable to do a lot of things the average fan wants and that is not lost on eth and his coaches.

Finally its not his job to negotiate player sales. I would assume the clubs executives with the owners approval make the decisions on that stuff. The manager job is to tell them and get their buy in on who is surplus to requirements or who he would like replaced.

Its not 500 million spend and look at transfermark and gives you all the numbers.

27.) 05 Sep 2023
05 Sep 2023 11:38:12
Forgot to mention

Whilst we have improved the team so have all the other top 6 teams. its not a binary thing where other have stood still, whilst we have improved. Imo we are/ have closed the gap even with all the negativity surrounding the club and the ownership charade.