Daily Archives: October 6, 2024

Dissecting Manchester United’s ‘game model’: What is Erik ten Hag hoping to achieve?

“What are Manchester United hoping to achieve this season? An underwhelming start to the new campaign has left those around the club trying to ascertain what Erik ten Hag wants from his squad. Things are not helped by the United manager’s cagey approach to press conferences, where he prefers to discuss previous successes than talk about tactical details at length. Ten Hag believes United will be successful at the end of 2024-25, but figuring out how that success will come about is proving difficult. A clue might be found in Ten Hag’s use of the phrase “game model”, which has steadily increased in recent weeks. But what is that? And how will it affect his team in the coming weeks? …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
The Times: Erik ten Hag does have a plan – so why are United still in disarray?
NY Times/The Athletic – Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 0: Evans gamble, lucky Rashford, what now for Ten Hag?

Celtic’s humiliation exposes the miserable state of Scottish football


“The sniggering from Dortmund to Durness has been unmistakable. The intensely tribal nature of Scottish football combined with Celtic’s dominance of the same scene means results such as the 7-1 trouncing by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday are widely celebrated. Petty, parochial but perfectly understandable. The trouble is, yet another harrowing night for Celtic provided the latest snapshot of Scottish football’s miserable state. There is no point in revelling in Celtic’s scenario because the pickle they continually find themselves in against serious opposition tells all about the standard in Scotland. …”
Guardian

Monaco mark their centenary in style as young talents point to bright future

Adi Hütter
“There was just cause for Adi Hütter to feel a little intimidated on Saturday evening. Not because of the calibre of opponent that awaited his Monaco side, but on account of the onlookers in the stands. Between the club president, Dmitry Rybolovlev, and Prince Albert II in the VIP box and Hütter on the touchline sat a cast of managerial club legends, including Arsène Wenger, Gérard Banide, Claude Puel and Leonardo Jardim – the latter being the last to win the Ligue 1 title with Les Monégasques. …”
Guardian