Erik ten Hag has got to be WAY better… we know Angeball but Man Utd boss’ system is still a mystery
I NEVER know from one week to the next what Manchester United are trying to do, what their system is or how they play.
That was the case a few weeks after Erik ten Hag had taken over — I’m really none the wiser now and we’re 18 months on.
GettyErik ten Hag is under more pressure than Ange Postecoglou for Sunday[/caption]
RexMan Utd face a striker in Dominic Solanke who is adjusting well for Spurs[/caption]
And that’s one of the reasons why there is far more riding on today’s game for Ten Hag than for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou.
Ten Hag seems to be under pressure all the time. They get one good result, then a bad one. There’s no consistency at all.
This week it was the Europa League and a draw against little FC Twente.
At the start of the month it was getting smashed up at home by Liverpool.
It is difficult when you are not winning.
If you are winning, you can keep a consistent team. In Sir Alex Ferguson’s time, the team pretty much picked itself every week.
When you’re losing, it’s very different. You are looking for that formula, so you are chopping and changing players or even altering systems of play.
Of course, Man United and Spurs both have traditions of playing attacking football. But in the end, it’s all about winning.
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Let’s not kid ourselves that everyone is so educated and just wants to see this incredible style of football.
Winning games and being up near the top of the league is the only thing that will keep people happy.
It’s no good playing good football and getting beat 3-0 on a Saturday.
If you’re not playing good football AND you’re not winning, you’re bang in trouble, of course.
Which is where Ten Hag and United are still.
We know all about Angeball and when Spurs are playing well, they are great to watch. It’s a very open, attacking style.
They have some excellent forward players. Dominic Solanke seems to be settling in now that he’s got a couple of goals.
Postecoglou can’t really play any other way with the players he has. They don’t have a lot of workhorses.
The two full-backs can’t defend. You couldn’t turn that squad into something else.
If Spurs are winning games and playing like that, the fans will love it.
Having said that, a draw at Old Trafford today would be a decent result for Tottenham.
But not for United. They have to be winning their home games.
Ten Hag keeps making a point about winning a trophy in both his seasons at the club so far.
But at United, you expect more. If you’re a Man United fan, you’ve been spoilt. You’re used to winning league titles and European Cups.
Incredibly the way Ten Hag wants to play is still unclear
He needs to do more, he needs to be back up there challenging.
The cup wins, well done — but still not good enough. They need to improve, big-time.
Both sides will be looking to get back into the Champions League as a minimum.
You’d put your shirt on the top three being Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal in whatever order.
But it’s going to be a real dogfight for that fourth spot.
Villa are in the Champions League this year and that could be a distraction.
Spurs and United are in Europe but their fixtures aren’t anything like the same level.
Chelsea are starting to come together and they could be a threat.
I still think Spurs have the players to just about take that last spot.
And Ten Hag has it all to do at United.
A lot of people were surprised he survived the summer, really.
It was very strange. All the talk was that he would be going. I still think Gareth Southgate could be lurking on the radar.
I can see the former England boss being of interest to the people who run the club if United’s form does not improve.
Ten Hag needs results — and quickly.
Gareth Southgate could still be on United’s radarRex
Hold-up even left our Ron in a rage
THE travel nightmare that Qarabag had on the way to their game at Tottenham reminded me of the worst journey I ever had.
As a player at West Ham, we had a League Cup semi-final replay against Stoke at Hillsborough in 1972.
We were stuck in horrendous traffic and going to be really late.
I’d never seen Ron Greenwood lose his temper but he was going crazy at the driver.
He was in such a state that he was trying to get through gaps that weren’t big enough and ended up hitting six cars on the way.
They all followed us to the stadium and then the drivers got out and started having a row.
It was like the Keystone Cops.
Was it worth it? No. The game ended 0-0 and then we got beat in the second replay.
Sam was a write one
EVERYONE’S banging on about dark arts — or whatever people want to call them — after Manchester City and Arsenal’s 2-2 draw last weekend.
It’s nothing new, all that verbal and physical stuff.
But Wimbledon chairman Sam Hammam once found an amazing way to stir up some trouble.
GettySam Hammam had a cheeky way of inspiring Vinnie Jones and Co[/caption]
Before one game against them with West Ham, I got to Upton Park about 12 o’clock and my groundsman said: “Harry, their chairman has been in their dressing room for an hour and he’s got a big bag of pens.”
I opened the door and all over the walls he had written “Fashanu, you t***er”, “Vinnie, you . . . ”, all that kind of thing, in big writing.
It was as though we’d done it, so that when Wimbledon came in, they would get the raving needle and want to kill us.
Man Utd player ratings vs FC Twente
MANCHESTER UNITED’S Europa League campaign got off to a less than ideal start with a miserable 1-1 draw against FC Twente at Old Trafford.
That result dealt a big blow to their chances of finishing in the top eight and avoiding two extra fixtures.
See how the players rated on an underwhelming night at Old Trafford.
Andre Onana – 6
Good save to push a free-kick from Sem Steijn to safety but might be disappointed to be beaten at the near post for Twente’s goal.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Early mistake near the corner flag could have been costly but he caused problems at the other end in build up to Christian Eriksen goal.
Harry Maguire – 6
Missed his tackle to put United on the back foot for the equaliser but almost won it late on with a header cleared off the line.
Lisandro Martinez – 7
Made several important clearances but one wild challenge on edge of his box could have proven costly.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6
New boy looks solid. Vital early tackle and another one later to stop Twente going in front.
Christian Eriksen – 7
Fourth successive start – and the veteran still looked sprightly. What a strike to give United the lead but then spoiled it with mistake for equaliser.
Manuel Ugarte – 6
A few good tackles from the new boy but might be disappointed not to clear his lines as Twente broke away for equaliser.
Marcus Rashford – 8
Much improved display in front of watching England interim boss Lee Carsley. Full of energy, a few tricks and a couple of dangerous crosses. More like his old self.
Bruno Fernandes – 6
Skipper had a hand in the opening goal and was so close to winning it with curler from the edge of the box.
Amad Diallo – 6
His pace was too much to handle for the visitors at times but not much of an end product this time and made way for Alejandro Garnacho midway through the second half.
Joshua Zirkzee – 5
A few good moments and forced a flying save from the visitors’ keeper after nice link up with Diogo Dalot – but then hooked for the fit-again Rasmus Hojlund.
