Ten Hag

[plasticninja]

I think this guy deserves his own thread. If I was a Utd fan I would be quite pleased. Some people might say he lacks experience managing a big club but I would disagree. Ajax are one of the most successful clubs in world football and have actually won the European Cup more times than Utd, and their academy is probably second to none. He served his apprenticeship under Pep at Bayern and has done an excellent job at Ajax. I think he is ready for this mammoth task. Ruth_NZ will probably do a deeper dive into his background but in the meantime it would be nice to hear what others think.

[Bob Newhart]

Ruth_NZ will probably do a deeper dive into his background but in the meantime it would be nice to hear what others think.

I have my reservations, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

[plasticninja]

What about Ten Hag, what's your view on him?

[forestfan]

It’s perhaps the toughest job in top-level football, which nobody would be anywhere near guaranteed to succeed at. But he seems as sound an appointment as any they could realistically have made - a rising star manager, despite being in his 50s, with European pedigree and none of the baggage associated with some of his recent predecessors.

He seems to have strong views on how to turn things in the right direction, which is a positive sign. A lot depends on how the fans and players take to him, and his methods and style of play, which is hard to predict in advance. I hope he will be given a bit more rope than some of those who came before him, as it’s clear a major rebuild is needed even to get them to third best behind the two all-time great Premier League teams just down the road. Is the job too big for him? Is it too big for anyone on this planet? Time will tell, I suppose.

[blahblah]

Piece of piss job: just get Roy Keane in for training once a week and the Dressing Room after every match

[plasticninja]

It’s perhaps the toughest job in top-level football, which nobody would be anywhere near guaranteed to succeed at. But he seems as sound an appointment as any they could realistically have made - a rising star manager, despite being in his 50s, with European pedigree and none of the baggage associated with some of his recent predecessors.

He seems to have strong views on how to turn things in the right direction, which is a positive sign. A lot depends on how the fans and players take to him, and his methods and style of play, which is hard to predict in advance. I hope he will be given a bit more rope than some of those who came before him, as it’s clear a major rebuild is needed even to get them to third best behind the two all-time great Premier League teams just down the road. Is the job too big for him? Is it too big for anyone on this planet? Time will tell, I suppose.

Time will tell indeed.
I have been watching his Ajax team on Youtube and Total Football springs to mind.
I know Guardiola is a big fan, being a Cruyff disciple himself.

[blahblah]

Modern football is pretty much Total Football with a high press?

[plasticninja]

Modern football is pretty much Total Football with a high press?

It was made famous under Ajax manger Rinus Michels, who Cruyff played under, and Guardiola played Cruyff.
Ten Hag has links to both.
Rinus Michels is the architect of the modern game.

[forestfan]

One or two seem concerned that they’ll get Van Gaal-ball instead of the more direct attacking style they believe is the “United way”…

[plasticninja]

One or two seem concerned that they’ll get Van Gaal-ball instead of the more direct attacking style they believe is the “United way”…

He has three pictures hanging on his office wall, Michels, Cruyff and Van Gaal.
Looking at his Ajax team they play more like Pep's city.

[blahblah]

Modern football is pretty much Total Football with a high press?

It was made famous under Ajax manger Rinus Michels, who Cruyff played under, and Guardiola played Cruyff.
Ten Hag has links to both.
Rinus Michels is the architect of the modern game.

Didn't the Hungarians have something to do with that?

[blahblah]

One or two seem concerned that they’ll get Van Gaal-ball instead of the more direct attacking style they believe is the “United way”…

He has three pictures hanging on his office wall, Michels, Cruyff and Van Gaal.
Looking at his Ajax team they play more like Pep's city.

It depends on the interpretation of direct - it certainly won't be hoofball

[plasticninja]

Modern football is pretty much Total Football with a high press?

It was made famous under Ajax manger Rinus Michels, who Cruyff played under, and Guardiola played Cruyff.
Ten Hag has links to both.
Rinus Michels is the architect of the modern game.

Didn't the Hungarians have something to do with that?

The Austrians were the first and then River Plate, followed by Hungary and Burnley

Rinus Michels without a doubt though made it famous with his dominant Ajax team of the early seventies.

[blahblah]

Modern football is pretty much Total Football with a high press?

It was made famous under Ajax manger Rinus Michels, who Cruyff played under, and Guardiola played Cruyff.
Ten Hag has links to both.
Rinus Michels is the architect of the modern game.

Didn't the Hungarians have something to do with that?

The Austrians were the first and then River Plate, followed by Hungary and Burnley

Rinus Michels without a doubt though made it famous with his dominant Ajax team of the early seventies.

A lot of inventions are like that eg Stevenson and the Rocket...

[forestfan]

Surprising nobody compiles “coaching trees” as per NFL really.

[blahblah]

Surprising nobody compiles “coaching trees” as per NFL really.

Chuck Hughes probably banned them with his POMO garbage, which trashed British football for decades.

[forestfan]

Surprising nobody compiles “coaching trees” as per NFL really.

Chuck Hughes probably banned them with his POMO garbage, which trashed British football for decades.

Would be Europe-wide or even worldwide though, certainly not UK-specific (the British coaching tree has been of the bonsai variety in the last 30 years, really… even Ferguson and Clough proteges have been almost invariably shite.)

[Darbyand]

..... behind the two all-time great Premier League teams just down the road.

two of the all-time great etc

[blahblah]

Britain doesn't really have that history of promoting from within, with only Lpool in the 70s being of note?

Would Bobby Robson get Jose et al?

[forestfan]

..... behind the two all-time great Premier League teams just down the road.

two of the all-time great etc

Yeah, not implying they are definitely the best two of all time (didn’t say greatest…) United ‘99 are certainly up there, along with perhaps the Cantona era team (‘94?) and the Ronaldo/Rooney/Tevez (‘08?) teams. Arsenal’s Invincibles and maybe Mourinho’s first Chelsea side qualify as well.

None of the above managed the relentless 90+ point seasons we’re seeing from Pep and Klopp’s sides, but the financial disparities within the league are greater now I suppose.

[plasticninja]

Britain doesn't really have that history of promoting from within, with only Lpool in the 70s being of note?

Would Bobby Robson get Jose et al?

Liverpool's tree started with Paisley in 74 and ended with Roy Evans in 94, that was some run.

[blahblah]

Britain doesn't really have that history of promoting from within, with only Lpool in the 70s being of note?

Would Bobby Robson get Jose et al?

Liverpool's tree started with Paisley in 74 and ended with Roy Evans in 94, that was some run.

Surely they glow from Shankley?

[forestfan]

Britain doesn't really have that history of promoting from within, with only Lpool in the 70s being of note?

Would Bobby Robson get Jose et al?

Liverpool's tree started with Paisley in 74 and ended with Roy Evans in 94, that was some run.

Well, Dalglish came back, briefly…

[plasticninja]

True but the chain was broken.

[forestfan]

As the Americans do it, it’s not just about direct succession, anyone who was an assistant or even player under one of the greats would be in their coaching tree. So both Jose and Pep would be under Sir Bobby’s, for example.

[Guppings]

Britain doesn't really have that history of promoting from within, with only Lpool in the 70s being of note?

Would Bobby Robson get Jose et al?

Liverpool's tree started with Paisley in 74 and ended with Roy Evans in 94, that was some run.

Surely they glow from Shankley?

WOW I agree He got them up from Div 2 & built a method of play that was the foundation to their amazing success. As a club Liverpool's history, in my view, wont be equaled. In fact, it cant be. 3 European Cups won before it was dumbed down from the champions of a country to playing 4th placed in a league

I effin hate'm

[forestfan]

Yeah, it was much tougher when we had to play the likes of Malmo, Hamburg and Munchin’ Flapjack in the finals

[plasticninja]

Britain doesn't really have that history of promoting from within, with only Lpool in the 70s being of note?

Would Bobby Robson get Jose et al?

Liverpool's tree started with Paisley in 74 and ended with Roy Evans in 94, that was some run.

Surely they glow from Shankley?

WOW I agree He got them up from Div 2 & built a method of play that was the foundation to their amazing success. As a club Liverpool's history, in my view, wont be equaled. In fact, it cant be. 3 European Cups won before it was dumbed down from the champions of a country to playing 4th placed in a league

I effin hate'm

Of course Shankly started it but he came from outside of the club. Paisley was the first manager to follow from within.
Shankly in my mind is the greatest manager ever.

[plasticninja]

Yeah, it was much tougher when we had to play the likes of Malmo, Hamburg and Munchin’ Flapjack in the finals

It was a lot more exciting though, playing teams you had never heard of before. Partizan Belgrade shocked a few people at the time with their style of play.

[blahblah]

Yeah, it was much tougher when we had to play the likes of Malmo, Hamburg and Munchin’ Flapjack in the finals

It was a lot more exciting though, playing teams you had never heard of before. Partizan Belgrade shocked a few people at the time with their style of play.

Ah, the days of Red Star, Steua etc