I'm still a bit mystified by Ten Hag's current state because he's clearly shown he's a good manager in the very recent past, both before and with United. But for reasons specific to him and United it just doesn't seem like a fruitful relationship at all anymore. I know we all said this at the time, but United deciding to keep him because they were lucky enough to play us while we were all still a bit drunk from winning the league the week before was probably not the best course of action. Especially not after openly courting managers for weeks afterwards. Ten Hag had every right to slam the FA Cup on that table and dare them to get rid but...
Still think United's biggest issue since Ferguson left is being unable to find a manager who can set a team up to sustain attacks in home games. The fear factor at Old Trafford has gone because every team - literally every team that turns up - knows that they're going to get at least one big moment in each half, and probably one more after that if the first moment goes well and the anxiety ramps up in the home crowd. And it's never been as bad as it's been under Ten Hag in that regard, where teams know that, if they just wait, United's entire core is going to collapse at some point. That Twente goal the other week, in the 1-1 draw, was the most unavoidable avoidable goal I've ever seen them concede. The entire centre of the team just folded in on itself. And they could literally have conceded a goal per game exactly like that in every match they've played this season.
I watched the 0-3 Spurs game the other week and I was sat open-mouthed at the opening goal. Dalot just... casually watching Johnson run past him, completely in the clear, while Spurs' actual CB just ran 70 yards on his own with the ball. And then Dalot just stands there, knowing Johnson is already free, watches him score from about 15 yards away, and then just puts his arm up like, "Sorry"? Knowing Johnson was his man but choosing not to act, even though he could see the entire play happen in front of him? I know it's been a long time since United were all-conquering but I literally couldn't believe my eyes that they were allowing bloody Spurs to do that to them.
The most revealing time at United since Ferguson left (imo) was that amazing run they went on in away games under Solskjaer. Was it 28 games unbeaten or something, over a year in calendar terms? But in games where they're expected to have the ball and dominate - other than maybe the better times under Van Gaal and Mourinho - they never look comfortable or particularly settled with that expectation. Their ability to recycle the ball is really poor, for a side with big ambitions anyway. And I think that honestly comes down a lack of application and a lack of discipline, plus a lack of faith that the next attack is gonna be the one that works. City don't win every week but I never doubt that the lads give their all - I've never seen a City team work as hard as this one does for Pep, they'd run through brick walls for City. Whereas with United I'm questioning their effort every time the ball goes out play. Teams come to Old Trafford knowing that all they have to do is wait for the patience to drop, for Fernandes or Garnacho to sky one from 25 yards for some reason, and then move quick.
United can be a dangerous team on their day - anyone at Wembley in May can attest to that - but even going to Old Trafford, you never get the sense that they're going to suffocate you, or that they're going to keep coming at you until they break you down. Teams come to the Etihad fucking dreading the experience before they've even kicked off these days, praying that we're on an off-day, because we make it so fucking miserable for anyone. Even during their rough patch in the late 2000s and early 2010s, going to play Liverpool at Anfield was like bloody torture because their players were going to bust a gut to make it an awful experience for City. Even teams who win at our place these days - on the rare occasion that happens - have to suffer for long periods and have so much taken out of them that they inevitably lose their next game. We drain teams of life and strangle them into submission. Teams know that, if they miss an early chance at the Etihad, it's going to be a looooong fucking time before they get another. Our CBs spend the entire game in the opposition half. When have you ever seen United do that to a team since Ferguson left?
Still think United's biggest issue since Ferguson left is being unable to find a manager who can set a team up to sustain attacks in home games. The fear factor at Old Trafford has gone because every team - literally every team that turns up - knows that they're going to get at least one big moment in each half, and probably one more after that if the first moment goes well and the anxiety ramps up in the home crowd. And it's never been as bad as it's been under Ten Hag in that regard, where teams know that, if they just wait, United's entire core is going to collapse at some point. That Twente goal the other week, in the 1-1 draw, was the most unavoidable avoidable goal I've ever seen them concede. The entire centre of the team just folded in on itself. And they could literally have conceded a goal per game exactly like that in every match they've played this season.
I watched the 0-3 Spurs game the other week and I was sat open-mouthed at the opening goal. Dalot just... casually watching Johnson run past him, completely in the clear, while Spurs' actual CB just ran 70 yards on his own with the ball. And then Dalot just stands there, knowing Johnson is already free, watches him score from about 15 yards away, and then just puts his arm up like, "Sorry"? Knowing Johnson was his man but choosing not to act, even though he could see the entire play happen in front of him? I know it's been a long time since United were all-conquering but I literally couldn't believe my eyes that they were allowing bloody Spurs to do that to them.
The most revealing time at United since Ferguson left (imo) was that amazing run they went on in away games under Solskjaer. Was it 28 games unbeaten or something, over a year in calendar terms? But in games where they're expected to have the ball and dominate - other than maybe the better times under Van Gaal and Mourinho - they never look comfortable or particularly settled with that expectation. Their ability to recycle the ball is really poor, for a side with big ambitions anyway. And I think that honestly comes down a lack of application and a lack of discipline, plus a lack of faith that the next attack is gonna be the one that works. City don't win every week but I never doubt that the lads give their all - I've never seen a City team work as hard as this one does for Pep, they'd run through brick walls for City. Whereas with United I'm questioning their effort every time the ball goes out play. Teams come to Old Trafford knowing that all they have to do is wait for the patience to drop, for Fernandes or Garnacho to sky one from 25 yards for some reason, and then move quick.
United can be a dangerous team on their day - anyone at Wembley in May can attest to that - but even going to Old Trafford, you never get the sense that they're going to suffocate you, or that they're going to keep coming at you until they break you down. Teams come to the Etihad fucking dreading the experience before they've even kicked off these days, praying that we're on an off-day, because we make it so fucking miserable for anyone. Even during their rough patch in the late 2000s and early 2010s, going to play Liverpool at Anfield was like bloody torture because their players were going to bust a gut to make it an awful experience for City. Even teams who win at our place these days - on the rare occasion that happens - have to suffer for long periods and have so much taken out of them that they inevitably lose their next game. We drain teams of life and strangle them into submission. Teams know that, if they miss an early chance at the Etihad, it's going to be a looooong fucking time before they get another. Our CBs spend the entire game in the opposition half. When have you ever seen United do that to a team since Ferguson left?
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