As a Dutch, Ajax fan and avid Erik ten Hag follower it hurts to see all the hate towards Erik. This man was considered to be an absolute genius at Ajax. He made that team into an unstoppable machine far beyond what the players themselves thought were capable of. Ten Hag is very capable of becoming a successful premier league manager, I never have and still don't have doubt he can do it. The fanbase is legit toxic and can't be compared to the hate he received during his spell at Ajax. Everything going on inside the club has turned the supporters mad. The players have to deal with both. You can just see it draining their energy. All the shit going on inside the club and then the fans demanding high standards while the players are caught in a turmoil. It sucks to be manager and player of Manchester United right now. I really hope and I think the new directors are smart enough to let Erik ten Hag do his thing. With the second round of reorganization to the salary house, there should be more room for proper scouting and integrating of new players. Keep Erik ten Hag. All people calling for his head are missing the bigger picture

Naming Casemiro the best midfielder in the world around 2018 when Modric quite literally won the balon dor that year is crazy to me

Totally agree, a rational analysis of the situation! 👹👊🏼

Finally, a united fan (influencer) speaking sense. No point in changing the manager but it looks like the English media wants it most

Totes agree with last point. Getting new manager is fucking pointless at this point. Players first.

totally agreed. There is literally 0 need to sack ETH. It's all on the players. It's these injuries every season. Can Rashford finally leave us alongwith Martial? That will be a solid start. Same story. Zero new stuff.

Agree 100%. Its completely pointless to change managers now. I cant believe some of our fans arent seeing the patterns. The club has been allowed to rot thanks to the Glazers, now the rot is finally being treated and a proper structure being built. We spent money blah blah. Yes but on alternative players, not the ones he wanted. And we overpaid which is the clubs fault and feeds into the previous point. We saw signs of what is possible last season and I like the fact that he taking a chance on the youth. A new manager could come in and throw all that out the window. Needs another season and proper backing imo. If nothing changes, then we look at replacing him.

I agree with almost everything you said. Here's my 2 cents: First off, Garnacho is far better on the left. I've noticed that he plays more freely and creates more chances when he's on the left. So ETH should drop Rashford and let him warm the bench till the end of the season. Antony's form has improved recently, so why not start him? Even Amad deserves to start. Garnacho starts as LW, if he needs to be subbed later on, Rashford can come on. CDM is THE real issue. Casemiro is finished. Eriksen isn't a CDM and he's finished too anyway. Amrabat is not the same player we saw in the world cup, he has no presence, he loses the ball too much. McTominay is only good as a clutch player who comes in late. He's bagged quite a few goals for us coming in late. Mainoo can do defensive work but he can't cover for everyone's mistakes and contribute in forward plays at the same time. Who else do we have in the squad in that CDM position? No one! That's why we have absolutely no control of the midfield, that's why Utd gets bullied in every game, that's why we concede so many shots on goal every game. We're currently stuck with this bunch of useless CMs till the end of the season, with all the injuries who won't make it back soon. So I find it very difficult for Utd to win many of the remaining games. The games will remain chaotic because we don't have a proper CDM. There's a huge gap in front of our CBs and this makes them vulnerable. So I say we write off this season and focus on building the squad for next season. Here's a not so crazy idea: We need a couple of solid CBs to replace Varane and Lindelof (both are toast) and at least 1 CDM as backup, and play Licha as CDM behind Mainoo. I think Licha can fulfil that role perfectly. He is a fighter, he has that "thou shall not pass" mentality needed to stop counters and close down long range shots on goal. I think you're right about Mount and Amad they deserve to start games. And we need another stiker. I also agree that there is no need to sack ETH right now. Ineos have said they are planning next season with ETH, so my feeling is that although things look muddy at the moment they will give him another chance next season, hopefully with some new players, but they will assess him closely during the first 6 months and if he doesn't deliver he will be sacked.

My stance/position is I want us to keep Ten Hag rather than always falling in to the same trap every single time. The players get away it & that's what creates player power & complacency. I rather be patient weather the storm, endure the bad times as Ten Hag with the backing of the club gradually works towards improving the team. Soldier it out rather than stay stagnant by repeating the cycle every few years. *However* at the same time Ten Hag isn't helping himself therefore I would understand if the club made the decision to sack him if the bad results/performances continue. I know Utd fans too well they will be screaming the very same things about the next manager when things don't go to plan or how they expected. If you go back & watch Utd fans starting from the Van Gaal era all the way up to now with Ten Hag - it's uncanny how they all are repeating the very same things that they were from back then. "No patterns of play" ✓ "No style of play" ✓ "No identity" ✓ "No coaching" ✓ "Poor management" ✓ "Can't score" ✓ "Can't defend" ✓ etc.. uncanny ain't it 🙂 I see beyond the surface-level because I know that the poor running of the club, years of incompetence has set us so far back so every manager that comes in is playing catch-up, cleaning & dealing with the mess from the previous manager whilst also dealing with the aftereffects of a poorly run club, years of incompetence built up. Proper chaos this morning, this is why I always say the fans are the biggest issue at Utd alongside the Glazers. There are people with big platforms that are impressionable who should be more responsible, they create anger by riling up the fans, creating a divide between players & manager by adding more fuel to the fire, making things worse. They justify their behaviour by saying it's free speech. It's not about free speech, it's about being responsible. GGMU 🔴

Well said Ste

ETH needs to remain at the club. This shit is tough, people act as though Di Zerbi wouldn't end up as Uniteds very own Potter. Allow the man to build something long term.

To see every other team back on track an Manchester united still can't get it right is horrendous, Barcelona winning back their first la Liga title last season now they're in champions league quarter final an about to go to semi final when they haven't made it out of group stage so long. Real Madrid wining titles after titles when they had to rebuild, leverkusen just won they first league title going unbeaten in 43 games. It's very sad that Manchester united is so far behind

You hit the nail on the head Steven, (Man United supporter since 1955!) (With my Dad)

Your final point is absolutely spot on Steve - we have been through 5 [and it will possibly be 6 managers if we sack ETH] and NOTHING has changed! There are two constants throughout this past 10+ years of misery and frustration - that the infrastructure is not in place and the players are not good enough and are mostly stealing a living. It makes absolutely no sense to keep changing managers until those two major issues are addressed first. Although I am not convinced ETH is the right person - he needs to be given the opportunity to show his ability with the proper recruitment and management team in place. Besides - who would you replace him with? The majority of these players need to go also. Why we keep persisting with under-performing players and expecting a different outcome I simply do not know. It's clear that ETH does not want to play many of this current crop of players but has no choice. We don't have enough quality in our 'best 11/12' and we certainly don't have a good enough squad.

Totally agree on your Point 5. Root cause is the lack of structure in place. Sir Jim himself said this way back in his BBC interview (but of course the media instead picked up on him not explicitly backing E10H!). E10H is a very good coach with a proven record. He has been successful working within a clear, working, football-oriented organisational structure! Let Ineos get that structure in place and let E10H coach. Let the new management team try to get the right type of players in to suit the style of play E10H wants (which hopefully Ineos also wants) and replace those that do not fit. I do not want to see yet another manager ‘reset’ and repeat all the last 10 yrs mistakes.

Bruno plays in the middle for portugal he doesnt play at 10 he plays in a midfield 3

100% Steve. Totally agree with your comments. Well done mate.

100% agree Ste. Foundations need fixing first instead of killing very good and successful managers

With united and other the teams the main difference is the board look at deadwood as assests instead of being an issue to the success of the team. Look at pep at city buys bravo to replace hart doesn't work buys ederson to replace him. Buys multiple first choice cbs and when they don't work he buys more to replace them, bought kelvin Phillips doesn't work out then goes and gets kovicic and nunes to bolster the midfield while we can't offload phil Jones and recently mctomminay yes we spend money but the terrible direction from the boad over the years means we spend more money on players ETH needs a chance under the sir jim and the new board to try and change the fortunes at old Trafford

100% agree with Ste on the manager, let’s have a bit of patience

This is the best video I’ve seen in Ten Hag. Thank you Ste

Spot on mate

That was the best introduction I have ever heard. Thanks Steve. Our club and players aren't worth our engagement or financial outlay.

Thanks Stephen for your realistic view on ten hag

Yes I totally agree with you

Hey Ste, first time commenting here, thanks for the work you’re doing , your reviews are always relevant to me as I am 100% with you about structure before bringing new manager but just one point, this team is training every day every week since preseason right? Why does it look like no one is improving all this time ? Why does it feel like they barely know each other aside sharing a coffee in carrington canteen ? It’s so awful to any team in the world to show nothing week in week out let alone Manchester United ! It does not feel right to be at the end of the season and we are just showing in games as individuals who have no clue what to do and the results are the least of their concerns ! We may win we may lose or draw … you can expect anything to happen ! But what you’re definitely sure to expect is no football will be played no matter the players involved ! Peace cheers !

Can't disagree with one word of any of this. Spot on.

Well said. Spot on.

Love your take i agree wholeheartedly any new manager will fail the same as they all have for the past decade plus when its ran like it has been. The biggest thing i will watch for from ineos is player sales. That will be the key to being able to move forward.

Well said. All very sad, but true.

Europe is probably detrimental to performance, this is true. But it seems for us that the extra preparation time from being out of Europe has been of absolutely zero use to us too. May as well be in Europa next season

Love your heartfelt honesty, buddy. We need to start playing 3 5 2 we got no defence so pack out midfield

Could not agree more Steve. Especially on point 5. Spot on Mr H. If we fire him as is Nothing changes the problems run deeper than any manager.

Great final point. I totally agree with it.

100% agree with you Ste!

Well said

Thanks for a totally honest opinion

I take your point on who we get in, and all the upheaval going on. However, I don't understand the current plan. Pressing high and playing a low block, it just doesn't make any sense. Anyone can see it.

I love your point 5 analysis... That's absolutely the truth and on United not ETH or the previous managers that suffered. Many don't want to admit it and keep all the blame on the managers

100% agree. Ten hag this season is a symptom; glazer mismanagement is cause. If ineos can fix the structure and the culture then we give the manager a chance to succeed

Agree - on all points completely.(apart from retaining ETH). ETH doesn't try new ideas/strategies enough. Team just keeps performing poor, consistently. Doesn't give chances to some new /academy players. Just waits for some on first 11 to get injured & as last option gives chance to new players, Why ? If main team failing, might as well try some new players. He was given backing with lot of funds to get players of his choice, There he chose very expensive players, instead of few around 10-20 M range too & build squad around them. Favourism for Antony for over a year. We could have bought Kovacic, MacAllister, Maddison in 40 M range. All these are doing well in their new teams under new coaches & system. He chose Mount(with Bruno exactly same profile). Mount aroung 55 M the most expensive i think in these Midfielder players.

Always balanced, always on point, keep the faith Ste, I agree we need to see him do something different and stop running on auto, I think he is in trouble too, I just want to see the issues we keep seeing on field Looking like they're getting worked on, yet still believe he's the man to fix the team, with the right players

I fully agree with you on every aspect of united

Totally agree. 1. These players need to shape up or get shipped off. INEOS needs to come out and support the manager and let these players know player power at this club has come to an end. After seeing Garnacho and Amad's post yesterday it's clear to me that this player power thing is a cultural thing and the youngens are now inheriting it. Gotta stop. 2. INEOS couldn't fix the structure of the club any quicker. They gotta get the ball rolling because wtf

Stephen i totally agree with all your points, my only question is why can ETH not see it, we cannot keep playing the same formation

If Eric drops Rashford and Casemiro and at least tries Amad and Mount or even Amrabat at Wembley next week then I'm with him,but I just know he'll make no changes following the Bournemouth match.

I really want to see even Eriksen coming in to try control tempo, Amad come in as game changer, Amrabaat given 3 games maybe to work form and Mount to get up to speed for next season

Rashford carried every single week. Fernandes taking all free kicks in opposition half. Hojland not getting supply from Rashford. Hojland not holding up the ball. Erikson on the bench.

Wise words mate

It's a pity that you didn't start with the end. It was spot on.

I am with you on this one Ste

Spot on.. fix the structure and test run it with this manager. Sad thing the structure won’t be in place for the summer transfer window. Someone will be sacrificed and it can only be the manager.

Very well said prime! 👏👏👏

My worry is that Radcliffe seems to be a listener. He listens to the fans, and kind of sides with them…. Rejigging of COO, director of football ect… redo or rebuild stadium. If the fanbase start turning on Ten Hag, he could chop him too, which would be a massive mistake. Look at our youth teams. His finger prints are all over them. They are dominating games and scoring at will. He is starting to bring those players through. Both klopp and artea took 4 years to change their entire teams and both didn’t finish as high as TH in his first season. You are right, we can’t change again and take this team in another direction. In the summer get rid of rashford, varane, cassimerio, Maguire, martial… even Shaw. Either bring through kids or hit the market. Not for super signings, but people who are gonna bleed red. You don’t need to break the bank, and then one decent striker so we don’t put all our eggs in the 21 year old striker basket.

At present we're only at least a couple of years behind the top 3 but we should be only 1 year or equal by now but due to EtH over spending & not bringing in the players to give us the necessary depth to deal with a 65 game season. This is what Ronaldo wanted the club to have a chance to succeed but EtH is the reason why we've lost so many games at the half way point cos he was hanging his players out to dry & he's at fault for 6 out of the 12 losses due to poor summer transfers where we want 6 players & only got 3, poor decisions making, poor preparations, poor assessment, poor team selection, poor squad usages & poor In-game management so his Job is definitely under review due to his underperformance as Manager of our Club. Conclusion We recruit EtH to come to our Club as an Approved Coach cos he definitely isn't a Manager in our books so he deserves the Sack so It's best for EtH & his team to pack their bags & go back to Ajax to reinvent himself & bring back Ole & his new management team (Ole & his 3 wise men)! Keep it in the family!

Brillant start to the video... 5 things we dont learn every week 😂

Facts ! we never learn from our mistakes , top to bottom .

Casemiro the best midfielder in Europe 🤣🤣 pull the other one. The little Croatian who used to be next to him has been the best in Europe for 7-8 years. Casemiro was a top player, but Modric has been in a league of his own.

Mount partner Mainoo. At least he has legs and can pass

Hey Ste, any chance it’s possible to analyse the work rate of each player relative to our games against Liverpool? Not sure whether data is available for this kind of analysis, eg. sprints per 90, km run per 90, presses per 90. Would be interested in particular to see rashford’s work rate compared to games where there is more of an ‘expectation’ to work hard (like Liverpool games). The eye test seems to indicate we don’t work as hard as we do v Liverpool, but would be cool to have data verify this - cheers :)

I agree with garnachos performances this season but you can understand his frustrations. He's playing rw to facilitate a rashford who hasn't had a single good performance this season and imo is our worst player.

At this point I’m less concerned with trying something different, and more bothered about players being dropped for these performances. It’s insane that Rashford and Casemiro in particular keep getting picked; they need to be sold

I agree that changing a manager isn’t going to solve everything. The type of play ETH wants is high intensity and this squad isn’t able to carry that out. Even allowing for injuries you need to adapt and change. But to keep doing the same things week in and week out and getting the same results is unforgivable. The manger and his staff need to adapt the play to the ability of his players. There’s other basic stuff like defending set pieces that’s not getting sorted. Makes you really wonder what’s going on in training?

Agreed; agreed.

Bang on with ALL your points. The club is a managerial death trap.

It's necessary to ease off on criticizing Ten Hag. He should be given the chance to shape the squad and implement his strategies. Reflect on how Ole initially outshone Arteta, but Arsenal's patience paid off in the long run. Let's support Ten Hag without constant complaints. The success of Arsenal and ManUtd post-Wenger and Sir Alex highlights the importance of patience from fans.

Casemiro, Rashford, Maguire, Antony, Sancho, Mctominay. All should go

We had a bad season for many a reason. We will return much stronger and IMO too ETH deserves to at least run out his contract. That said ETH is also a living learning person and I hope he listens to some of the tactical critique that great minds put forward.

Fix the style of play. Bring in a new manager with a clear plan then sort the squad. U could even give him next season to first set it up then make major signings. That's what last season was supposed to be for EtH

I don’t get the Amad omission. I know it’s popular to shout for whoever is not playing to be the saviour but not giving Amad a chance is just confusing at this point. Especially after the Liverpool game when he came on he not only got the winner but he looked electric and a different option to what we have. I know he was suspended but he’s been able to play last couple of games so why ignore him??? Mount I feel the same way about but you can argue his minuets could still be being managed due to injuries but Ten Hag has to mix this up a bit

5:30 “he’s playing extremely selfishly, extremely direct & nothing is coming off” - could copy & paste that for Rashford all season but you clearly aren’t ready to have that conversation. Unbelievable how you can slam Garnacho & brush over Rashford as just “oh Marcus is having a tough time”. Well he’s been having that tough time for almost a year now as people like to forget his form fell off a cliff back end of last season so at what point do you plan on facing reality that this has gone well beyond a run of poor form & he’s now a serious, serious problem especially given he’s on 350k a week.

The failure to capitalize argument doesn’t really make that much sense to me. The very reason any team is scrapping it out for 5, 6 and 7 is because they are very inconsistent. If they were capable of capitalizing on another teams inconsistency they probably wouldn’t be in the position that they are in. At that level it’s a bit of a who can be slightly less flakey competition and that’s very unpredictable. It’s been a terrible season and I don’t see it really turning around until about 70 plus percent of current team are gone. If you look at clubs that have made that kind of leap and compare the team at the start of the transition with the team in place when they start doing well again it’s usually unrecognizable and takes many years. I also agree don’t change manager until new team in place - I don’t want the players to get another chance and a new start.

I don’t understand how you’d let ETH see out his contract? It was last year before he set a team up that didn’t concede 15+ shots in the league, and when asked in a press conference, HE DOESNT SEE THAT AS AN ISSUE! As you said in the video, he keeps playing the same midfield and front 6, and we are still easy to beat and create very little, how can that be justified? He doesn’t change formation, doesn’t change personnel, even when we are getting battered, yet still expects good results? Definition of madness “doing the same action over and over again expecting a different outcome” Literally ANY other manager would do better or at least try to change tactics to make us more solid, his failure to do his job will be why Ineos get rid of

Personally I tend to think that Casemiro's decline is down to the PL refs and VAR, the media, and the supporters who do not understand the notion of actually 'supporting'. I feel sorry for the lad. He now finds himself just going through the motions of remaining visible in the shop window and make it to the end of the season injury free to secure his end of career Saudi bonanza along with Varane. These are the kind of mistakes that we cannot make anymore as far as signings are concerned. Old heads on young shoulders like Licha is the only way to go.

As frustrating as united have been this season, I have to agree with the last point

Ste, Marcus hasn’t just been performing bad atm. He’s been mud all season long and looks like he’s barely going through the paces. It’s diabolical

Absolutely agree about the manager, for me no point whatsoever changing manager, Yes he has made mistakes but players get excused sometimes and we say we have to let them make mistakes, let Ten Hag make some mistakes. Let him have time to try to turn it round. Every time we get into the champions league it turns bad for our managers. If we keep just sacking them pretty soon managers won't want to come to be our manager, why would they? Imagine your crack at a top club in your career comes along and you choose to be United manager, your dream job, and then you see Marcus Rashford walking about the pitch. Managers are at the mercy from these players, I think we need to back Ten Hag as our manager and any player who isn't happy, academy product or not, can go

“Louis’s were always weird” made me laugh out loud. Man, I miss his press conferences! His football, not so much but his press conferences were box office

Great video Ste, well argued points there. Although ETH is all over the place right now, the whole club is in turmoil. Many players need shipping out alongside a fair chunk of the backroom staff, before we become a modern, functional club. Giving him that extra year may help us in many ways, but he needs to really lose that faith in mediocre players.

Bit of an odd idea but given Antony’s aggression, ETH says he’s quick over the first 10 yards, and his work rate. Could he play the Casemiro role? I know he’s used to only having to watch half the pitch playing out wide but he has the attributes to do the dirty work. Other than Martinez and Antony nobody really seems to have any nastiness in this squad he could potentially give the midfield some bite.

We're United supporters (I do when I can) & love the club & love is emotional, but sometimes it's better to step back, say nothing & think through the issues; anyway totally agree, Ten Hag stays until we sort all the other issues that need sorting! 😐👍

Yup! Changing the manager is building houses on sand. Support ETH

In your previous video you said that ETH's inability or unwillingness to change tack was indefensible. Now you say that it's not his fault. Every time he picks that front six I know it's going to be the same crap over again. Every time I see Rashford in the team my heart fails me. ETH's inability to see that Rashford (and Casimiro) does not deserve to be in a United shirt demonstrates that he is not the manager to sort out United's problems.

I genuinely believe that Casemiro commits to tackles early because he doesn't want to run that far with defence. It's a genius idea innit

There are many MU platforms, Stephens is by far the best, keep up the work

THE FAN BASE TURNED ON ETH WHEN HE BENCHED CASEMIRO earlier in the season for MC TOMINAY, We have seen ERIKSEN got nothing to offer.. Maybe Mount isn't exactly the player he was getting 🙎🏻‍♂️ The real facts here is WE NEED ETH TO SUCCEED more than he needs this JOB! ANOTHER MANAGER WILL TAKE US TWO YEARS BEHIND regardless of if it's PEP or KLOOP...! Our biggest problem as a club is to let go of the snakes in the dressing room AND ETH GOT THE LIST!!!!

When you watch almost any other Premier League team the thing they have pretty much all got which United lack is athleticism/pace. In defence and midfield we are second to every ball. Changing the manager is not going to change that.

I keep having to remind myself progress is not always linear. If your house needs a new roof there will come a point where you need to remove the old one. In that moment when your house has no roof things will seem to have regressed. Maybe that’s where we are now, it’s raining we have no roof and we’re all getting wet. Still it’s a necessary step in order to build a new and better roof.

To unwind from the Glazer-Woodward-Arnold era will take 2 seasons. We need Ineos to take full control in the time being. We will get better. Have faith in ETH.

I 100 percent agree Stephen, question is, do ineos see the sense in this analysis wgich i think has reached their ears or ate they going to do whatever they want to do

I feel like a really top manager would adapt to the circumstances, park the bus or just play awkward football to be difficult to play against

If I was ETH right now, Id try something new. What ever the plan is the squad cant deliver. So nothing to lose by trying something new. Give Mount a proper go, try Amrabat. Maybe even switch formation so we can actually control possession. Nothing to lose at this point.

I don't understand your opinion on Garnacho, but your 100% right on building a house on sand

I think its 50/50 whether he goes or stays, what I think may be significant, is that he has been included in the tour and preseason arrangements, also rumour says he has been included in ideas for players for next season. Hardly the recipe for a sacking. Then throw in a 12m payoff if you sack ETH, then you have to find another manager, during the Euros. In all likelihood, another manager will cost 15 to 20m to get in, then we are back at square one, very firmly. Get the foundation in for a top notch recruitment team, sort the medical side out and give him some top quality facilities, get rid of the lazy and over the hill players. If he cannot sort the team with that. Then time to swap manager and move on.

I said it back in October he was done when he turned up for the first team with a double chin at the highest level this would not be acceptable at an elite club

Erik Ten Hag's problem has been not sticking to his guns and constantly compromising which has led us to where we are currently injuries haven't helped but still it's his and the staffs responsibility to sort out weaknesses in our performances we don't seem to learn from any mistakes even results that we've had are performances have been below par

I agree with the idea of letting ETH see his contract out along with the point of a clearout. I think almost everyone can agree you can’t have one or the other. Manager with this squad or this squad with a new manager will achieve nothing. Question is, is that realistic? Under the Glazers the answers is “No” and “the manager is sacked”. Under Ineos…? People want to believe in a new start but the rules and financials are what they are. Ineos don’t forget haven’t negotiated the way through Ashworth and we don’t know if Ashworth is worth the trouble yet. I suppose we have to be fair and give Ineos the benefit of the doubt at this point but nothing in life is perfect and Ineos are certainly not going to be the exception

Our goalie seems to be our major playmaker

Agree 100% Sadly it won’t happen

It doesn’t matter WHO is on the board/upstairs, etc. The COACHING is horrendous. Tactical setup in and out of possession doesn’t require a sporting director/technical director.