Why Man United's Biggest Problem Is Erik Ten Hag 

To confuse your enemy you must confuse yourself first. - Tsu Zu

That Bruno hojlund clip sums it up

Best football tactics show there is out there and I don’t mean just on RU-vid.

Don't let mark goldbridge see this 😂

Not a mu fan so I’m so wholeheartedly glad to see some MU fans still supporting him ☺️

I still can't discern if it's ten Hag being poor tactically or the players having zero tactical intelligence. Most diplomatic answer will be somewhere in the middle. But I trust ten Hag is a tactically astute coach with his proven record at Ajax (people were drooling over his Ajax and often remarked that's how Man Utd should play). The players, well, they've proven record of frustrating 3 previous managers and 1 current manager.

INEOS should give him lifetime extension

Ten hag ball has always been like that. People are finding this now bc most of them only watched Ajax at ucl but it was the same there. The only difference was Ajax offence were very good and their technical floor was way higher than uniteds. This way they could control games and transition quickly plus the technicality.

You know it's serious when it's Clery blaming a manager

The weird thing to me is that last season Ten Hag turned Man U around and they got 3rd place and Champions League when all the pundits (and me) said it would take years to sort out the mess. Now that he has actually been able to bring in a few of his desired players, they are actually playing worse.

Excellent analysis as always Adam, great watch

Spot on analysis Adam. United fans are 50/50 on whether the issue is Ten Hag or the players. But when the players are instructed to vacate the midfield, it causes chaos and confusion! Also, he never changes tactics during games. Look at the Liverpool thrashing. Did nothing. Great vid as always Adam 🔥

Been waiting for this video all weekend! **sips tea** Ah! One thing that did strike me was the lack of shouting/instructions from the touchline, ETH just stood there with a glaze(r)d look in his eyes.

This sort of content is what makes RU-vid outstanding. Absolutely love your work🎉

Spot on analysis as usual Adam. Seeing the same thing every game with complete stubbornness from ETH has been exhausting. I don't see how he can stick to his guns so consistently and see the things everyone can see, without doing or trying anything else. Its baffling, and it will unfortunately lose him his job eventually. I dont want an endless cycle of sacking managers but it isn't working.

My first time watching. Finally a channel that tells it like it is. Not only Ten Hag but most of the players must be gone as well. Keep up the good work 👍

Ten hags chaos end to end football tactics in the premier League is crazy he could do that at Ajax because Ajax and PSV are miles ahead of all the other dutch teams but in the premier league playing with no midfield is madness.

What I can't understand is how the players on the field could not work it out themselves. Lack of leaders.

The thing for me is. This "problem" isn't explicit to Ten Hag. We have seen this with other managers. I think the problem runs a lot deeper.

Those defensive lines got me cracking up every time.....brilliant!!

This is the first football strategy video i understood to some extent. Thank you.

Excellent analysis as always. Countdown cutaway 😂😂

Last year we had the best defense in the league, you could say we overperformed in most departments. This year we could almost never field our 1st team from last year (at least at the back). Not to mention the reluctance of certain players to put in a shift. The manager was cooking something until he ran out of ingredients and until some of them decided to spontaneously rot prematurely. There's only so many things a manager can fix, think about it, we've been in this position at least two more times under different managers. Not even Mourinho survived it, what makes you think whoever we'll bring in next miraculously fixes everything? Players need to go way before the manager, and history has shown us that.

Brilliant analysis again mate! Seeing it put the way you have there's only one option. Laters ETH👋😅

I find it mind bending that these are ETH’s deliberate tactics when it’s been clear all season (from opening game v Wolves) they don’t work. What is going on in his head??

Oh also great video as always

Thank you he should've played Ronaldo and he is not ready for this type of club. Ten Hag is built for Ajax. The biggest problem is he is supposed to implement style regardless of results but then he ends up trying to be a manager who trying to get results. Because of that reason he should be sacked but I am willing to say give him 1 more chance next season. After 2 chances and this continues next season a manager deserves the sack

It's absolutely pathetic that Viktor Gyökeres, a player that went from COVENTRY to Sporting, is better than the entire Man United roster. What happened to this club?

Don’t know how many times we have to keep saying this but he plays this way because of the centre backs. If we had centre backs who were quicker then he’d play a higher line and the space would be in behind not between the defence and midfield. Imagine playing a high line with Casemiro and maguire at centre back..

He’s been doing everything himself for almost 18 months and already won a trophy as well as getting into his 3rd final. Arteta started with back-to-back 8th place finishes. I think he deserves till Jan under INEOS

Good analysis

Spot on Adam. Been saying it for a while. Doesn’t give the players a free pass either but I think Erik has become a larger concern over time

Ah yes, the Manchester United RW known as "Garncho". Sounds like a pokemon

There is a mismatch between what the manager wants and what the available players are capable of

Ill stand by the fact that Chelsea have been better than United all season. Would genuinly be top 4 with a quality finisher. United have been shit in every game I've watched and STILL have negative goal difference

You say Ten Hag is the problem but also admitting the players are incredibly undisciplined. The back 4 don’t play far enough up the pitch and our best CBs have been injured most the season.

Changing the Manager does nothing. It has been this way for years. Let ETH see out his final year on his contract and go from there. The players are to blame as much as the Manager. The whole team needs to be gutted.

Great video. Really helpful explanation of Coventry changes & good to point out that players not knowing where they should be is the responsibility of the manager. I think you’re very unfair to Casemiro and Eriksen at 11.07 in the video though. You say they’re not doing anything but they clearly are, esp. Eriksen. Eriksen has just won the header, goes to chase the ball, sees Dalot going to the ball ahead of him so starts to run to Dalot’s previous man and then when the Coventry player gets around Dalot, he stops where he is to be a block to the player who is now on the ball moving towards goal. And if Casemiro wasn’t standing where he is, there would just be loads of open space in front of United’s goal.

Love this video. So insightful. Can you please do an analysis of what has changed between last year and this year? I don’t understand why it is so s@@t now

Life-long United faithful, you’re 101% spot on! Been talking about this for 14 months. Nobody knows what they’re supposed to do on the pitch. No transfers, no lucky wins, no individual moments of brilliance can change that. Ten Hag is out of his depth and he should walk. The sooner the better. With him, we have become a joke. And his pressers are just unbelievable. After this game he said he must "teach his players" how not to lose 3 goals in 20 minutes in a cup semi. After almost TWO YEARS at the wheel!! EtH OUT!

Love the Countdown clock soundtrack!

Don't agree with you in full. The players at his disposal change from week to week (what was our back line at the weekend again?). How can anyone be expected to produce consistent results relying on the players left with some of those players clearly not upto it? Maguire won't defend a high line, he AWLAYS retreats (for example). Can't think how spaces open up when your senior defender (apparently a 1st choice for his national side) doesn't stick to the game plan. Martinez out, Shaw missing for large chunks, Mount perma-crocked, Martial the same, Malacia unavailable, Varane susceptible, Sancho throws his toys out the pram, Antony not upto it but fit. McTominay offers little with (look up how many passes he makes per game from centre midfield) and without (see Coventry's 2nd) the ball except a late run when Hojlund's taken the defence the other direction. Then the injury carousel featuring the rest of the defence. Did you miss him instructing Dalot to go forwards and provide an overlap in the first half, just before Dalot ran forwards and provided an overlap and a cross for our first? Dalot then pointed towards ten Hag during/post celebration? The options out there aren't much better, the fact that another manager is experiencing difficulties 2 years on from joining for the 3rd time should tell us all something. But some think a manager controls the minds of the players on the pitch who shit the bed and disregard instructions. I'd rather we keep ten Hag over keeping a lot of the players. I like he's brought in Garnacho and Mainoo. I expect we'll see another one or maybe two next season come up and get chances. I would like to see these players move on: AWB (too prone to errors and not great on the ball) Malacia (better using his spot for a young player earmarked to replace Shaw) Maguire (too slow, not great on the ball, poor communication & awareness, high wages) Varane (injury prone, as good as he is still, high wages, probably off on a free anyway) Lindelof (not gonna be better than an option off the bench, prone to errors) Casemiro (form has fallen from a cliff, still looks off the pace, high wages) McTominay (see 2nd paragraph) Eriksen (offers so much on the ball, but little off, wants to play frequently and won't get that here) Antony (high earner, mentality isn't right, ability for the prem/europe isn't there) Sancho (see Antony) Martial (already gone) At this point we might as well do an Everton/Forest and sell them all on for whatever and spend big take the points deductions.

I very much enjoyed your presentation, to my surprise (don't usually like match analysis).

Class video, as a united fan the football and been difficult to watch to say the least. Would be cool to see what similarities, if any, exist between their current style and the final days of Solskjaer's reign. There's been a lot of chat on whether this is ETH's doing or the consistent thread of the players being absolute rockets.

Bravo 👏🏻 very well said. Southgate in!!’

Not a United fan but this guy is cherrypicking examples. The fourth example was a backline shape when Coventry were on the counter which throws the bacline shape off completely.

This man u season has been goals galore

Do you not think the 60+ injuries matter though? If they had Varane and Martinez then the defence don’t have to play so deep. Glazer’s inability to be smart in the transfer window has hamstrung him. An example would be them being offered Antony for 40m in June but deciding to wait till the end of august and panic buying him for 90m. How is it possible for any coach to succeed under this incompetence. INEOS are professionals, he deserves some time under them.

Totally agree it’s shocking. I do think players are just not capable of playing the way ETH wants to which means other players are trying to cover the missing ground. We need quick CB’s to move the back line up. We need a CDM or 2 with legs. Also some players who can keep possession. Then I’ll be judging him and not the players.

1:23 Good heavens...I haven't seen a subbuteo pitch for 40+ years. Loved that game as a kid and teen.

Love the analysis, gamewise it is spot on. What somewhat isn't said is what did you expect ten hag to do? You mentioned that they need to control more games, that's exactly why erkisen has been subbed on. (He could have come on 10 min earlier) Don't you expect the experience of Maguire, Casemiro, Erisksen and Bruno to kill the game at that point. This video seems to insist that Ten Hag keeps telling his players to play this chaotic way even with a 3-0 lead. The only reason he would do that is because the players are incapable of doing that even against an 'on paper' easier opponent. So how can you blame the incapacity/inmaturity of his available players on him?

Scott Mctomminay and Harry Maguire are very much tactically an issue. If a cdm/cm pushes forward, the RB or LB should fill that space and you shift to a 3 back with two CDMs filling the vertical gaps. ALWAYS have a solid CM/Def base to strangle your opponents and keep the ball and progress and probe up the pitch to shift the opposition. 5 defenders and 5 attackers with 3 on either side being out and out versions, leaving 4 players to create a strong shape in midfield.

100% agree with every point.

I've been saying it for ages. None of Ten Hag's men really know what they should be doing in the 'system' they are playing. That's partially on the players, but mostly on the manager. It's his job to make sure they have a clear idea of their role and their responsibilities, and if that needs tweaking like stopping players from exploiting space, then the manager needs to effectively communicate that. He's just not a good manager.

To me the biggest crime is there is no learning. This has been happening all season. Every other manager in the league knows that they will have space in front of the defence. Even Burnley go to Man Utd and get 15 shots. It is so obvious and he still does not fix it. How many chances have to be given away to realise there may be a problem to be fixed. You are absolutely right about the complete lack of control. People talk about Man Utd being inconsistent. But they are very consistent in leaving gaps and not controlling games at all.

Great rundown. So frustrating being a United fan these days. I don't dislike ETH, for what its worth, but I do feel he lacks an alternate plan beyond "this is my way of playing" and because he lacks that plan, this monstrosity is what we're left with. Deep playmaker and a ball-winner as two options for the pivot in midfield, bring in someone like a Todibo or Branthwaite who can actually pass a ball, and finally sign a RW player (Sancho likes left, Antony doesn't possess braincells) and we'll start to click back to looking like a Ten Hag side of old - if he's still here ofc. Personally I'd give him his final year. One chance to turn it around, no payout when contract ends, and time to allow more managerial candidates to be available. I think he can succeed, but I think he's really missed out by not having INEOS til now and the structure to allow him to spend his time developing his own skillset rather than being a jack of all trades.

thank you for expressing our frustration, give him a year with better players , hard working players.

Depressing but accurate analysis

I was very frustrated as a cov fan that we started with a back 5 and showed utd so much respect, they've done nothing to deserve it. Also, first half, Bruno was man marking josh Eccles which was an insane to see from my perspective but it really impacted on our capacity to play into our forward players on the ground which is a feature of our play, direct passing on the ground

Totally, spot on

Great analysis! I completely agree with the conclusion, however I think that he did attempt to control the game by bringing in Eriksen. Not defensive side of the game, but my understanding is that ETH believed that with Eriksen they are going to dominate the ball, which did not happen. Now question is why it did not happen, and to me the answer is twofold. First, Eriksen is not concentrated enough, currently just sucks both on the ball and off the ball. Why, would be an interesting question. Considering how many players have became worse after coming to United, despite managerial changes suggests something about club culture. Second, poor decision making by offensive players. There was Antony’s unnecessary loss of the ball where he went for glory and achieved nothing. Rashford has been doing that for the whole season. The team is unable to control the game on the ball as well. And I think, that is what ETH wanted and failed. But if experienced players are unable to understand their responsibilities, I cannot reallly comprehend how many things must have gone wrong.

Give him a 10 year contract

Okay, let's list the games Ten Hagg's tactics have thrown away this season Arsenal: 1-0 to 3-1 Tottenham: 1-0 and 2-1 to 2-2 Nottingham 1-1 to 2-1 Fulham: 1-1 to 2-1 Liverpool: 2-1 to 2-2 Wolves 3-1 to 3-3 back to 3-4 because of Mainoo Galatasaray: 2-0 and 3-1 to 3-3 AND 2-1 to 2-3 Copenhagen: 3-2 to 4-3 Coventry: 3-0 to 3-3 Brentford: 1-0 to 1-1 Every single game listed above had United leading/drawing in the 80+ minute before conceding City: 1-0 to 3-1 Newport: 2-0 to 2-2 back to 4-2 West Ham: 0-0 to 2-0 These games, we had the advantage at halftime before giving away the lead The only games we've won late into the game due to these "tactics" are the following (no Wolves does not count): Nottingham: 2-0 down after 4 minutes to win 3-2 Brentford: 2-1 in the 90+ minute Villa: 3-2 It doesn't work, and if Ten Hagg can't see that he should be sacked.

There were really few options for subs, but still when you consider the left side problem, taking Rash out and sending Garnacho there would probably allow AWB to stay back and would do more than just swapping Garnacho for Anthony. Also why not take off Bruno for Erikssen and send Mctominay up, lowers the quality but actually leaves 2 CM that stay back. Watching them nearly bottle the game was quite entertaining though

Adam giving out strong Jon richardson vibes during the countdown thing!

Broadly agree with Limmy here, though I would argue that some of the big name players should move on too. Bruno, Caseimero, Maguire, Erickson. I doubt very much they’re the future of this team.

Please take this video down till after the season is over. We still have to play them.

Thank you for noticing Cov made substitutions that changed the game

I love seeing Man U continually press with 5-6 players only, with the entire defence way behind them, leaving loads of space for other teams to play through. I'm not sure how long it'll take before it stops being funny. Keep Ten Hag please :)

There's literally zero reasons to watch this FA cup final. How shit this competition has gotten.

At this point one has to wonder, has anyone even checked if ETH actually completed his badges 🤷🏽‍♂️😂

I am waiting with glee for Gareth Southgate to take over Man United. I cannot imagine a better sequence of events. Truly, truly. I bet he will be appointed manager, and then Southgate will be the groundbreaker that selects a member of the Women's team on the matchday squad and even bring her on as a substitute a few weeks later.

As a Utd fan, I think ten Hag should stay, for one reason alone. Currently, the structure, starting with Ashworth, that will need to work with the new manager isn't in place yet. There's absolutely no sense people like Ratcliffe and Brailsford making crucial football decisions like who the new manager will be, and wasting another 2 years of a mismatch between who they get and who the director of football thinks we need. Leave ten Hag in place until Ashworth and the rest of the structure are in place, and have assessed who they think is the right fit.

That bit with the countdown music and background had me dead on the floor with laughter and im an arsenal fan by the way

Arsenal gonna rip Manu at old Trafford if they offer this much of space.

as a fan i pretty much agree with all you said

I'm just about hanging on to keep him. Just. If we get two pacey CBs, and we can play a higher line, I want to see if compressing the pitch solves the issues. Doesn't solve Rashford unfortunately but...I think he's in the middle of transistioning his system, and it could click with that higher line. If Nagelsman was available, it would be a different story.

I was only able to see the highlights so maybe I'm missing something but how the heck was that last goal offsides

As an Arsenal fan, I want the old United back. The Wenger vs Ferguson era was elite. I feel like Man U and Arsenal fans love to hate each other, but there’s always respect. I can’t stand Liverpool and City…

nah mate let him try again next season (city fan)

His tactics baffle me.

Man United's defensive and set piece coaches have been stealing a living for years. Lots of injured defenders this year but a team full of internationals should still be able to see out a game when 3-0 up after 70 mins. It's going to be an interesting summer.

Some teams have a tight defence, others a loose defence, United have a prolapse. They are never drilled well to defend on the back foot only to press and panic if that doesn't work.

Buenos dias, guutentag and areet wor kid is the best multilingual intro ive ever heard

And also I don't think that is really eth grand plan fr I think he says it coz it's part of his own rules he implemented, he doesn't bad mouth the club or the players

About time you took Gary Neville’s job. Perfect description of the shambles currently called Man Utd. ETH - never believed he should go until that semi final.

They need two managers, Ten Hag for the attack, and Southgate for the defence 🤪

This just shows that its the players more at fault than ten hag.

that was entertaining, and not as exactly a pro-observer, damningly well told. Their back four is certifiable. Those crazy paving lines for the back four were bananas.

Someone send this to Goldbridge.😅

I dont think ETH wouldn't have been telling them to be more structured or compact... I just think there aren't any leaders on the field that call out instructions or manage the game. Like Telling Arron to get back etc. Players being in random position isn't something a coach would be telling them. Its things like McTominay don't doing his defensive work, AWB not being aware or calling for cover when he needs it from Rashy... And Rashy just doing what he wants and no defensive work.

Villa fan here, I would love for him to stay at united

Bro that united make me laugh every time a watch their game 😅😂

I'd just like to see how Utd play when/if we get players back from being injured. We saw a fleeting glimpse this season and it looked promising. If we play as poor at the point as now, then I would agree EtH should go. But for now, I think we should stick with him.

re: the Erikson sub. Who else could he have brought on though? There were no other senior players left.

I've been saying this since ten Hag came to United!!... so thank you!!... if you look at United last year they did the same thing!... you can get away with it at times but you'll never win the League or Champions League, guaranteed!!... there are other major problems at United but the way the play is awful in my opinion.... thanks for the video, spot on!!

Not exactly. ETH's not doing great, but much bigger problems are the ownership, lack of any structure and some of these players. I think they all need to go, but if they're about to fire ETH and keep most of the players, it simply wouldn't change anything. Glazers gone would be the perfect start.

Surely good players and good managers change sytems throughout the game depending on score,situation etc but utd dont they just plough on

for me, yes, the substitutions made no sense and this has been the most embarrassing win for man utd in their entire history. as for whether eth should stay or go, i’d still want him to stay. here’s why - 1. i know injuries are no excuse, but the situations coventry exploited were a result of us having to play players out of position - no where near ideal replacements for the one who should’ve started 2. now i also strongly believe that taking off two teenagers & replacing them with international players should in no way still have them in the situation where they found themselves - and for me, that’s down to the players equally 3. which brings me to my main reason: sacking another manager gives loads of players (who are completely unworthy of wearing that shirt) not just a 2nd but rather a 4th/5th/6th chance to ‘prove’ themselves to whoever comes next. and then the cycle repeats 4. also, there’s no real viable option in the market for a top manager anyway that’s my reasoning - stick with him for one more season, let there be a clear out in the summer, the incomings are going to be according to the new dof & head of recruitment(so no more 100m on the likes of antony) and let the fit ones return to the squad under the new system. see how he performs then, with absolutely 0 possible excuses for inconsistency & lack of play style. if it still doesn’t work, then at that time we’ll probably have better options than rn

McTomminay never knows where to be in his own half when United are in and out of posession. His best attribute is his ability to be a threat in the final third. But that is because he was a youth team striker. The wide attackers always look to shoot, so there is no threat as everyone knows where they are going and what they are going to do.