25 Aug 2023 21:22:59
Into what level of disrepair must our scouting system have fallen that we seem to be unable to locate and acquire talented young players without having to pay an arm and a leg to the club that beat us to the punch? Is it the case that we're so completely out of the loop that Ten Hag is basically being forced into tapping his own resources, which as a coach must surely be limited. It seems to me that he knows exactly how he wants the team to set up, and what qualities he needs, but there isn't actually a single person at the club who knows how to help him fulfill that vision. And, of course, the club's resources have been largely tapped out as a result of a decade's worth of bad decisions.

1.) 26 Aug 2023
25 Aug 2023 23:09:27
United aren't looking for projecrs in general and probably shouldn't be right now.

We need players who have developed enough to improve the first team and that includes being able to deliver in the cauldron of the United media glare.

There has been criticism of United scoutinng network in that it is vast, trying to get info on everone bit its also a waste of resource as United aren't shopping for projects. Instead they need to be much more focused on select targets.

Remember United have been flip flopping styles with theblast few coaches so the next coach is saddled with a big expensive squad not suited to his football style.

What United really need to do is pick a sporting director who will implemwnt a system across the club, then have youth reserves first team play that way. Pick coaches at each levek including the managerwho play that way and the dedicate the resource to finding players to suit.

If you change a manager or staff your new guy plays the same or very similar system so there is continuity and you don't need constant wholesale change.

2.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 01:04:29
I think in his first season like most managers they want players they have used before. Ten Hag raided Ajax because he'd get players that knew his system and he trusted, it's not his fault the club paid over the odds for both Martinez (though now looks like a good deal) and Anthony.

He's gone back to Onana this year because he wants the team to evolve. He had a good season at Inter and was obtainable. Mount was done very quickly and according to Mason himself, he talked to Ten Hag who talked in depth about Mount's style and how he would be used. He's 100% who the manager identified.

Hojlund seems like a Ten Hag choice too. The striker market is quite bare at the moment but it seems like his choice.

I'm sure if we could have offloaded more of our fringe players, we'd see maybe Pavard and Amarabat already at the club. Regardless how the club has handled the business side of things and the fees we've paid, I think the manager now has had a few decent windows getting players in he wants.

I agree that half our scouts don't seem to have passports but the club could never have signed Caiciedo for a few million years ago and have him get the chance to develop whilst staying competitive.

I think he's been well back since joining. If he's only going for players he's used before, that's his choice. If he was stuck for players to sign, he could also join here and ask Shappy.

3.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 06:56:13
I think it's laughable we are only targeting players he has coached before. Can he not coach anyone else? I think it's right and fair to be questioning our recruitment which is led by the manager. Would we not be better playing hannibal mejbri and using any money we have on attacking options. Scoring goals is a big thing in football yet we don't seem to be able to do that, or have our analysts missed that aswel.

4.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 08:23:20
My concern is he coached Antony before, so supposedly made him better, just how bad was he, when he first arrived at Ajax then! Was he at Ajax 1 or 2 seasons now with us for 1 season going into 2nd season, still he only got one foot still he can’t cross a ball, that’s a worry, he is the perfect example of a one trick pony, now that’s not even working because premier league bosses have just nullified his game, or at least what game he had…. that’s a worry for me, that Ten ever thought he was good enough! After all he knew him well….
Mount good player but a strange buy, continues to try Rashford as number 9, he just can’t or don’t want to play there, played Sancho sort of there in pre season now not at all…. Surely one of the youngsters would put in more effort as a number 9, so he does make some strange choices.

5.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 08:32:19
What an unusual post.

“It seems to me that he knows exactly how he wants… but there isn't actually a single person at the club who knows how to help him fulfill that vision”

Onana
Martinez
Malacia
Anthony
Eriksen
Mount
(Amrabat)

All ETH signings, most of which have played for him or have been scouted by him at his former clubs.

We’ve also signed Casemiro, and the striker he wanted in Hojlund.

I get the frustration with the Glazers ownership, a couple of poor performances to start the season, and Maguire still hanging around.

But to say the club has not helped the current manager couldn’t be further from the truth. The club has funded almost a new first 11. Most, if not all of which, are the managers choice, and appear to be first choice options, not 3rd and 4th choice options as previous managers wanted.

We’ve else got rid of 9 players this summer. Some last summer and winter. More need to leave granted. But that only tells you how bad the squad was before the manager arrives.

I want the glazers gone and some of the dead wood gone as much as the next guy, but it’s impossible to say the club aren’t delivering for this manager. They’ve done more for this manager than any other manager post Fergie. It would be very blinkered to think otherwise.

6.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 09:23:46
Wazza - it’s impossible to say the club aren’t delivering for this manager?

In january, the owners refused to spend any money, so we had to get two loan signings, but we still finished 3rd. The recruitment department failed to sell any players of value.

7.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 12:11:25
The club has spent over 400 million in 2 windows.

Add terrible transfers from the past with high wage structure and inability to move players to fund some further spending. Then when you consider Maguire, Sancho, Antony, we have invested 250 mill on 3 players that are hardly influencing the teams performance without even going into some of the other players who have contributed nothing like dvb.

A lot of teams get it wrong on a player, which cost a lot but we have done that consistently for a number of years and we are where we are.

it will take more than a window or 2 to fix things and get what most want in terms of ideal players and squad quality.

I listened to ETH press conference yesterday and have nothing but respect for him. He is a no non sense real guy who does not have to say it but i get what he is talking about and will change the culture of the club, the style and quality of our play for the better but needs time.

8.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 12:42:33
I agree with wazza, like the Glazers or not it’s impossible to say Ten not been backed, last winter OK he wanted a striker, but that was only really because he spent a fortune in the summer and did not buy anyone who could score goals, so it’s a bit of Ten future planning that caused the problem, same as appears to be happening again, he bought Mount, when his position is probably one that did not need urgently addressing, (what ever his position is supposed to be) certainly not before a decent striker, when all we had was Martial at that stage, and that’s what wins games…goals. We’re now pinning hopes on Arambet who let’s be fair is only even recognised for a good World Cup and no one beating the door down to buy him. Ten does seem a bit stubborn and blinkered in his views and for some reason only likes a player that he coached before and can we say one of them been outstanding, Casermiro was someone he not coached and at 31 he miles ahead of anyone he bought! So that’s a worry. I keep hearing great coach is Ten I am having my doubts, if after 3 years you can’t coach Antony to cross a ball, then either he not a great coach or Antony is rubbish, either way he should be benched but then Ten stubbornly says nope he plays!

9.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 13:03:46
I saw that press conference too. I agree it's silly to judge this season already, after all we made a much worse start last season and went on to have a very good season.
But I do admit to having a couple of question marks over a few things for the first time since EtH arrived.
The constant need for only players he's worked with. Martinez has been outstanding. A few have hardly sparkled. Antony is the prime example. I'm sure there will have been similar, better value available who should have been considered but as he knew him he insisted on this player. The club can't be accused of not backing him in that double Ajax raid.
More strangely were a few of his remarks re: player fitness and the midfield questions he faced. He insisted the team's fitness was what it should be. More baffling that the goals/ performance vs Spurs in particular weren't down to midfielder form/ positioning. OK, I'm no manager but it didn't take a genius to see that the combination of midfielders in that game, and the individual positioning of Casemiro throughout, weren't an issue.
Just my thoughts - I love EtH so far in terms of how he presents himself and how he changed a few aspects of the club so quickly. But just a few minor question marks for me.

10.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 13:12:41
Ahmed, so can you honestly that any of Ten H purchases have been world beaters and can you see what direction we are going? the purchases this year so far and the ones being mooted are not exactly world beaters and able to walk into any top sides in EU. I thought we would kick on from last year, but some strange signings again, where is Mount even supposed to play in Ten world? I’m hearing his best position is back up for Bruno, ok fair enough, but should we not be buying back ups, but first 11 players then those players they replace become the back ups, as we already know they not good enough, I don’t understand the logic behind the thinking, not as if we buying 10-15 million players we paying fortunes for mediocre players that I question are any better then some of the rubbish we had or got…. is Antony any better then Sancho, who is rubbish anyway, is Mount any better then McT or Eriksen (who’s legs have gone) probably not, the list goes on, I would say that only 2 of his buys are any good Cas, but he looks tired and looks a bit pd off now Martinez good player but is he great. not really but least better then what we got, Varane excellent player but can you rely on him to be fit, probably not…. I don’t care what we spend (not my money) and on who, but I think you should buy the best if you want to be the best, we seem to buy average at best players…. Onana we have to wait and see, New striker. again we have to wait and see… Strange to me, yes I support Ten he is better then what we had since Fergie, but is he great…the jury is out, but if he keeps buying players he coached before, I worry for him and us.

11.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 13:24:09
I agree with Trafford; I am far from convinced that Ten Hag is the guy.

Utd are better under him than with Solksjaer but that's not saying much.

His narrow mindedness in the transfer market, strange selection choices, slowness to react in games, blindness to some players failings/ ineffectiveness; all worrying signs.

12.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 13:37:47
He isn’t just buying players he coached before and we aren’t only linked with players he’s coached before, some are, some aren’t, that’s quite a sensible way to start imo.

13.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 13:44:59
Trafford, what a ridiculous post. You worry that a a manager wants players he knows and trusts to do the job. He’s in the middle of a massive rebuild and the pressure of playing for United is immense. Ten
Haag knows this and is going after players with big personalities as well as talent who can turn this club around. How many “world beaters” as you say have joined us in the last 10 years and flopped badly? There’s not a single signing so far that I think Ten Haag has gotten wrong. Have some patience from crying out loud. 18 months ago we were in the middle of the worst season we’ve had in decades and the club looked a complete mess, Ten Haag comes along and wins the league cup and gets to the FA cup final and 3rd in the league after the complete shambles the season before. The squad is clearly in a transistor period and you’re questioning the manager after 2 games 1 win and 1 loss. Honestly I despair at this fanbase sometimes. Unbelievable.

14.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 14:15:32
Je. I’m judging 40 odd games not 2…. Who are the great buys then
Antony . poor
Striker…none
Martinez although been good does he get in City or Liverpool or Arsenal…nope
Varane. great player, but can’t play twice a week
Malacia…. not top 4 club level
Casermiro. best player he bought by a mile but now 31
Mount…. not sure where he supposed to be bought for
Onana, only had 2 games so benefit for him

400 mil later and although won quite a lot of them, but you can’t say any of them been convincing and taken a few hammerings in there.

15.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 14:17:30
If he likes them and trust them, he should also know what they can bring to the team, just because you know someone and trust them don’t mean to say they are good enough
Look at how unhappy Cas is this season, he must be thinking Jesus what is this in front of me!

16.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 16:19:20
AlexJames we all wanted a striker in January and I personally still think we need one now.

But it’s not fifa 23 you can’t adjust the slider to create more budget.

The money spent to bring in players for this manager is ample.

I’m sure everyone on here agrees the squad he took over was garbage. It’s therefore unrealistic to expect 20 players to be sold and another 20 to be brought in over the course of 15 months.

Our performances so far this season have had zero to do with the glazers. Players have brought in, and if the squad looks leggy, that lies entirely with the managers and coaching team, not the owners.

Glazers out.

17.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 17:36:52
If ypu are going to hammer Ten Hag ovwr transfers then Murtagh has to take as much blame.

Its been published that all transfers are agreed by the pair of them, so he green lighting every move.

For me this highlights once again why you need a sporting director in total charge of the football side of things.

He dictates the system played with, picks the manager to fit the system, ensures the people employed to find and buy thw players are finding the right players to fit his vision.

To answer the point Trafford made, yes i can see why he has bought the players he has as they fit his system and what he needs. I get that some people might not want us to go down the route he will take us stylistically. I get that not every transfer has worked as we would like but i can see why he has bought them in terms of skillset and where they fit. I am not saying that the are all nailed on or that from some we don't need to see a lot more, i do however strongly disagree there is no plan, i think there clearly is with each, but some may just have not worked or been as good as they thought they would be. Most of them will have a season or more to improve.

18.) 26 Aug 2023
26 Aug 2023 19:45:53
Oakbark you’ve hit the nail on the head tbf. We need a proper sporting director who sets the vision, mission and values. Any coach and player we bring in should fit with that. I’m right behind this manager but he’s not without his faults. We’ll run out of players he’s coached eventually, and then what happens?

19.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 09:06:26
Well said Jess some posts on here are living in La la land.

20.) 27 Aug 2023
27 Aug 2023 10:57:27
Regardless of whether you have worked with a player before, it doesn't guarantee it will work at your next club, but it seems a sensible strategy in the short-term.

Our main problem for the last few seasons is scoring. So far this season we have had 71 shots on goal and scored 5 times, not one of our front players has scored and that isn't good enough.

Start converting the chances and the pressure is taken off the midfield and defence, Hojlund when he is fit will be a massive difference.