Erik ten Hag remains to be underneath severe strain at Manchester United.
In the event you have a look at Tottenham and their boss Ange Postecoglou, who solely joined in the summertime, he is been there about 10 minutes however already his gamers know what he expects from them and from watching the 2-2 draw with United at Previous Trafford, it seems like they know what they’re attempting to do. There is a plan there and everybody seems on the identical web page.
Alternatively, watching Man Utd, it is chalk and cheese compared to Spurs. At occasions it seems good, however most of the time there’s nothing there. On Sunday in opposition to Spurs, I hardly heard Bruno Fernandes’ title however he is their finest participant. He needs to be on the ball all the time. Why cannot United discover options to get him the ball?
It is all so scruffy from United.
‘One thing has to vary at Man Utd’
Ten Hag has misplaced almost half of his soccer matches this season. I do not care in case you are managing the underside facet in League Two, with type like that you just’d do effectively to maintain your job.
They’re such a good distance off the tempo. I wasn’t shocked they did not beat Spurs on Sunday. It is simply the place they’re as a membership. The fact is they’re eight factors behind Spurs and Arsenal, who even have a recreation in hand.
It is simply so stop-start. They get a win or two right here or there however that is it earlier than a few defeats or attracts comply with. It appears like Ten Hag will get the video games he wants at simply the precise time. He will get a recreation the place he can sneak a win and that simply retains his head above water.
The gamers are additionally so up and down. One minute they’re wonderful after which they aren’t. They’re going from 9 out of 10s one week to not even a 5 the following. Ten Hag has to discover a solution to get these gamers performing constantly, placing in seven and eights out of 10 week in week out.
The consistency is simply not there.
When do you begin anticipating higher issues from them? I personally suppose it is gone previous that. I am unable to actually see it getting higher any time quickly. For me, I can see them protecting going as they’re profitable a recreation right here or there to cowl over the cracks earlier than dropping a recreation right here or there.
One thing has to provide quickly. One thing has to vary at Previous Trafford.
‘INEOS should hit the bottom operating’
The brand new traders should hit the bottom operating.
They want change they usually began that with the departure of Jadon Sancho on mortgage to Borussia Dortmund.
With that deal, you need to imagine the supervisor is staying long-term and in equity, if you happen to eliminate Ten Hag, what number of managers are on the market who you possibly can get in as a alternative? Might you tempt a Carlo Ancelotti for a season or so? It is debatable.
What United do want is stability. They’ve executed the altering supervisor factor a lot of occasions since Sir Alex Ferguson left the membership. It hasn’t labored.
We have seen Mikel Arteta at Arsenal backed. When many had been calling for change, the Gunners gave him an opportunity to stamp his authority on the membership and look the place they’re now.
It is all effectively and good me questioning Ten Hag and speculating how he can preserve his job, but when another person is available in I do not suppose United’s fortunes flip round in a single day.
Nonetheless, the membership have no excuses now. The gamers and supervisor cannot stand behind the house owners. they’ve to begin profitable soccer matches.
‘De Bruyne was like a 20-year-old taking part in in an U12s league’
Away from Previous Trafford, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed everybody simply what Man Metropolis have been lacking.
He got here on at St James’ Park and appeared like a 20-year-old taking part in in an U12s league. He was head and shoulders above everybody else on the soccer pitch. Thierry Henry used to do the identical at his peak for Arsenal within the Premier League.
Doing what he did after the size of time he was on the sidelines, it was from one other planet. He wasn’t taking part in in opposition to a workforce backside of League Two within the FA Cup. He was up in opposition to worldwide gamers on an enormous stage. He stood out like a sore thumb.
There are ranges in soccer. De Bruyne is on the highest shelf of gamers within the Premier League. What he did on Saturday, no-one else can do. It is simply phenomenal.
It was a scary cameo for the remainder of the Premier League.
What’s extra, Metropolis could have Erling Haaland again too within the subsequent few weeks. They’ve £200m footballers coming again into what’s already a star-studded squad.
‘Metropolis are relentless’
Man Metropolis at the moment are in an excellent place.
They’re two factors off high spot they usually have not actually obtained into gear but. They have been with out two of their most influential gamers for a considerable period of time and they’re nonetheless there or there abouts. It tells you all the things you might want to find out about Metropolis and the energy of the membership.
I mentioned just a few weeks in the past that I assumed Arsenal would win the Premier League. They had been flying and taking part in rather well. Nonetheless, issues change shortly. The defeats in opposition to West Ham and Fulham within the league and Liverpool within the FA Cup highlighted their want for a ahead.
They nonetheless have an opportunity, after all. However the issue they’ve now’s you possibly can see Metropolis occurring certainly one of their trademark runs, reeling off 10 wins on the bounce. It is relentless.
They completely destroyed Newcastle. The second-half was completely relentless and we’re speaking about them in opposition to one of many supposed high groups. Practically each different workforce struggles at St James’ Park and in the event that they do handle a optimistic outcome there, we’re waxing lyrical about them.
Metropolis go there and simply dominate. It was mind-blowing.
Can anybody cease Metropolis?
Pep Guardiola’s facet are simply favourites to win a fourth straight league now.
We’re on the stage now the place there is no such thing as a room for error for any workforce attempting to wrestle the title from Metropolis. Liverpool journey to Arsenal in a few weeks and a draw isn’t any good for both facet. Often, you’d say a draw can be an excellent outcome for Liverpool on the Emirates, however not now with Metropolis on this temper.
Since a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in December, Metropolis have gained eight of their final 9 video games in all competitions. It is felt like they’ve executed that with out us even understanding.
They’ve gained their final three video games within the league and now with Burnley, Brentford twice, Everton, Chelsea at dwelling, Bournemouth, Man Utd at dwelling earlier than they journey to Anfield to face Liverpool, I can see them profitable all these video games and there is your run of 10 successive victories within the league.
We have seen this too many occasions from Metropolis. No-one can string wins collectively like they do.
I heard a stat on TV the opposite day about Metropolis and I almost fell of my chair. From the 2017/18 season, in video games from January till the tip of the season, they common dropping 10 factors a season. That is over a major chunk of time. It is unbelievable.
They’ve had their dangerous outcomes this season. That can give others hope however at this level of the season, that is when Pep will get them going and we have seen this story unfold time and time once more with Metropolis. Metropolis simply win, win, win and win, and win some extra. That is the distinction.