January 15th 2024.
There's been a lot of talk about Erik ten Hag's future as manager of Manchester United lately. According to Manchester United legend Gary Neville, if Ten Hag is unable to establish a consistent style of play with the team, his position may become "vulnerable." This was evident in their recent match against Tottenham, where Ange Postecoglou's side dominated possession with 64%, despite missing several key players. Even though United had some good chances, they ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
The game was also notable for the presence of Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the Directors' Box. The 71-year-old, who just announced a massive £1.3bn investment in the club, was watching his first game in person. Along with Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, Ratcliffe will be involved in appointing a sporting director and head of recruitment. However, Neville believes that Ten Hag's position may be in jeopardy if he continues to struggle with establishing a clear playing style.
Ratcliffe even met with Ten Hag last week, and Neville stressed the importance of seeing a defined style of play develop in the coming months. As he put it, "the new owner will want to see how we're going to play, want electricity, want razzmatazz." He pointed out that both Manchester United and Tottenham have historically been known for their exciting, "box office" style of play, but United has been lacking in that department lately.
Neville emphasized the importance of having set patterns and combinations on the field, which players can rely on in tough moments. He believes that the last time United had this was under Louis van Gaal. As of now, Neville sees the team relying on individual passes, rather than cohesive team play. This is surprising to him, as Dutch coaching has been renowned for its masterful tactics for decades. Ten Hag's previous successes at Bayern Munich and Ajax also suggest that he is capable of producing a strong, well-functioning team.
However, Neville feels that United is currently lacking that signature playing style. He believes that it's crucial for the team to have a clear strategy and identity in order to achieve success. He also noted that other managers, like those at Brighton and Tottenham, have been able to deliver impressive results with less valuable players. Therefore, it's essential for Ten Hag to establish a clear playing style for United to move forward.
Neville also touched on the lack of attacking stats for United, which he believes is a result of not having a defined style of play. He pointed out that when he played for United, he knew exactly where the next pass was going because of the established patterns and plays they had in place. However, he doesn't see this same level of cohesion with Ten Hag's team, even though he has been with them for 18 months now.
In the end, Neville hopes to see United improve and progress in the coming months under Ten Hag's leadership. He believes that it's important for the team to have a clear strategy and playing style in order to succeed. As for the recent rumors of United's interest in signing Karim Benzema, Neville believes that it's crucial for the team to focus on establishing their identity and style of play before making any big signings.
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