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Erik ten Hag’s administration of Manchester United has come underneath huge scrutiny this season after he completed 2022/23 wanting just like the messiah who would lead the membership again to glory.
An abysmal first half of the marketing campaign noticed United smash nearly each “unhealthy” document of their historical past, together with most targets conceded, most video games misplaced at Previous Trafford, worst begin to the season and worst Champions League efficiency.
Many followers have been baying for supervisor Erik ten Hag’s head and it has been extensively reported that the approaching takeover of soccer operations by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS might have saved his bacon, as a result of they wish to completely consider what’s going on on the membership earlier than making any main adjustments comparable to sacking the supervisor.
Nonetheless, some followers – the writer included – have remained behind Ten Hag, acknowledging the large difficulties he has confronted this season, with an damage disaster the likes of which have by no means been seen earlier than, in addition to off-pitch dramas with Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and the takeover itself.
All of us have eyes. We have now all seen some weird tactical choices and questionable staff alternatives and substitutions. However the circumstances are extenuating. Allow us to see how he does when he has most of his squad again and every thing has settled down, we mentioned. Let him be judged on that.
Quick ahead to final evening, Thursday 1st February 2024. INEOS scenario in hand – examine. Absolutely match first selection XI – examine. Coming in on the again of a win – examine. Within the lead, 5 minutes into damage time – examine.
At this level, United get a nook. Up into the field pile the defenders Ten Hag introduced on as substitutes, presumably to carry on to the lead, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. They’re joined by Scott McTominay, introduced on to bolster the midfield, and full again Luke Shaw. Raphael Varane is pushed up deep into the Wolves half. defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo can be ahead.
The truth is, United, with a objective result in defend and deep into damage time, have left only one outfield participant, Diogo Dalot, in their very own half as they go in quest of a very pointless objective.
After all, Wolves, a staff recognized for his or her counter-attacking prowess, retrieve the ball and shortly create a two in opposition to two scenario, breaking ahead to attain a dramatic equaliser.
Kobbie Mainoo went on to spare United’s blushes with a winner two minutes later, however allow us to not neglect what we noticed there. As a result of that was certainly one of the vital idiotic tactical choices ever to be seen on a soccer pitch, at any stage. Even a Sunday league staff wouldn’t have been so silly.
Even when Evans and Maguire had the velocity of cheetahs, which they don’t, they might not have gotten again in time.
If that is the extent of set piece teaching at United, then it’s a actually unhappy indictment of Ten Hag, a supposed stickler for element, a supposed perfectionist. Set items have been a difficulty all season and nothing appears to have been achieved to repair it. However this plunged it in realms past incompetence. This was farce.
The Telegraph’s Sam Mather asks “So why then did they throw so many gamers ahead for an injury-time nook? Why have been Ten Hag’s centre-backs not interested by their major process? It smacked of naivety, of a scarcity of management.”
It’s potential, after all, that the gamers merely ignored the play e book and did their very own factor. However as Mather additionally notes, “Ten Hag stood stationary on the fringe of his technical space, arms deep in pockets, woolly hat protecting his head.”
Why was Ten Hag not yelling on the likes of Evans, Maguire and Shaw to remain again? Why was he standing silently in his technical space doing nothing? It suggests he was complicit within the insanity.
And even when the gamers have been flagrantly disregarding teaching directions on the nook, you continue to should query Ten Hag’s administration. If he can’t get his troops to comply with his orders, then that, too, is a giant downside.
Method above every thing else that has gone fallacious for United this season, this Wolves objective is the most important, smoking gun piece of proof that Ten Hag is just not managing Manchester United competently. Whether or not he can put that proper, solely time will inform – if he’s given it.
