Why Ten Hag Should Continue With His OLD 4-2-3-1 (For Now)

In this Premier League Review, Statman Dave analyses Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, using statistical data & match analysis to explain why Erik Ten Hag should continue with his 4-2-3-1 from last season for the time being… Should Christian Eriksen be starting? Will Marcus Rashford continue on the left? Is Højlund the key? Find out on the Premier League Review.
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[@jamesdwright]

Dave sporting his new 'Foden' haircut...

[@georgeplatt3347]

Or Mason Mount!

[@danfromgossipgirl]

Finally someone backing Antony. He’s been nowhere near as bad as everyone is saying, especially his defensive work rate and positioning

[@ayub460]

It’s just his poor decision making other he needs to improve that

[@sp3949]

First 2 game, Garnacho was shit both defensively and offensively

[@2k8Spoon]

​@@sp3949he was way better than Sancho and rashford defensively, he's a teenager starting his first run of games, give him a break

[@DirkAndDestroy]

You don't pay 90 million for defensive workrate.

[@davidublin]

Anthony isn't a electric winger or a playmaker

[@NomadJoe0323]

Antony definitely played better the other day. Just hope he can put some of those shots on target more often. Some of his attempts are just too wild.

[@maklyram]

This system was waiting for Frenkie, luckily Mainoo arrived, but the Mount signing was not the right move at all.

[@danecadette4714]

Facts but I still like Mounts transfer as he is a good replacement for Fred to help see out games with his off the ball work rate and he can still rotate with Rashford and Bruno. Mount is a very good technical player, just that he cost way to much, should never have been given number 7 and should have been like 40 mill max including addons. I also feel that Varane should have been made Captain and Bruno Vice captain

[@iwantgoals1566]

Mount signing was scary man. That’s when Ten Hag’s Talent ID began to scare me.

[@alexs.818]

@@iwantgoals1566I don’t think Mount was ETH’s first choice. He, like LVG, hopes for greater caliber players like De Jong, Tchouameni, McAllister, Enzo Fernandez for cheaper, etc. However considering how things go on at United when it comes to transfer and signing negotiations, United literally gets absolutely nowhere to players like these in comparison to other teams. Liverpool and City are literally using data analytics and AI to look for suitable players. What are United using? Absolutely none of that and they instead rely on businessmen with absolutely no knowledge of the sport. Just google Manchester United negotiators and there are several articles that explain why they are the worst transfer negotiators in Europe. More than a billion spent and the only signing I only ever remember being ACTUALLY good was Ander Hererra. United are an absolute joke!

[@csl750]

I wonder if mount wouldn't be better as just cover for Bruno

[@almac9203]

​@@csl750you don't pay that much for a backup. Or a sane person would not do that. He must have known the budget so that move was stupid.

[@emmanuelonyono4517]

Great analysis bro, you blew my mind with Case Goal because I thought he was offside.

[@erinadeola8387]

Loving the new Trim Dave

[@dsj82]

The problem is that the other pkayers don't know how ti use Eriksen. They don't know jow to play simple but effective football. Real football

[@robinsimba3673]

Great haircut, looking Sharp Dave, always the topnotch statistics.

[@rankerfritz]

We need to point out the thoughtfulness of the Image Key at the left side of the screen 👏 👏👏

[@Jeff-fe9gn]

our progression was laregly due to Forest sitting back after their two goals. We do not have a press-resistant ball carrier. Amrabat is the minimum standard

[@user-dp7iw5fn7g]

Antony can’t use his head in the box, but he can shoot from outside, Rashford can shot better than his heading. Just a thought why they’re outside rather than inside the box.

[@OpaG]

Good episode!

[@Garycarlyle]

Good vid. We play narrow already so only having one DM makes us too weak on the flanks. If we had more Ten Hag own players we could make something more aggressive work but for now it makes sense to be more of a fortress at the back. It's class Rashford came shorter to support Antony isn't it.

[@thieflord08]

What app is that for the match analysis? With the heat maps and stuff

[@James-cz3sz]

Sofascore

[@claywandera2486]

erikesn makes the much needed double pivot for ball progression and hence man utd can attack easily. the down side comes with him not being athletic and dalot inverting helped in keeping the double pivot while in rest defense because casemiro is not athletic enough to cover the entire area alone. in future cases when mount is back, mount should be used in the double pivot so that he can play the box to box role whilst keeping bruno creativity forward. mount has high work rate and pace so he can carry the ball quite well as well as his tenacity can help defensively

[@wolfswinkel8906]

Bruno is very good in the double pivot though. United vs Everton last season, he was constantly splitting their defense from deep. Not sure about Mount's ability to spread play quickly before getting closed down.

[@charlieyertyr9961]

Mount as a double pivot???? He won't have the positional brilliance for that... dude like hoping into the box... We need a pavard that can invert from CB or RB or we act like arsenal get Amrabat to play like Thomas partey... We just don't have the right players

[@claywandera2486]

@charlieyertyr9961 well, it's all dependent on the manager. Man utd need a double pivot to progress the ball well against pressing teams that's why eriksen works well when in the team. They progress gthe ball with ease. I believe let the full backs play what they play best. Dalot and malacia are good at inverting but not at ball progression necessarily. While mount has played CM role before and hasn't been bad when he does. Hence the idea that he can play box to box

[@claywandera2486]

@wolfswinkel8906 yes u are right. Bruno would be the alternative in that double pivot. He has a long range of passing. He always wants to risk it hence being creative. Why I pick mount, is because bruno is a creative machine. So he is better in the 10 role. Bruno is not pace nor a dribbles and hence his progression is mostly passing. However mount does better than Bruno in ball carrying and also can pass. So I would choose mount because he runs faster and can carry better. But if mount I in the 10, he may not deliver much as Bruno in that area. Hence my preference for mount in the double pivot

[@charlieyertyr9961]

@claywandera2486 well we can try whether it will work I don't know... How we let Fred go, I just don't know... Ten hag was grooming mainoo for this as well... Man utd really are not ready to compete Dalot and mala can play but they can't defend properly like Shaw and bissaka... When they invert, it's even shambles, mala was a mess trying it out last season as he tends to lose concentration more while inverting... Go out and get proper players that's what good clubs do

[@nemboy1567]

Good video overall. But on that first goal, I don't care how the defense was set up...that Rashford isn't a defender is a lazy excuse. Rashford should be stopping Awoniyi on that first goal, he shoved him and them stopped, I thought maybe Onana was out which is why he stopped his run, even tho I thought the goalie could've swept that. Bht still, that was lazy defending. That first goal really pissed me off

[@srirampanth5233]

Zombie Casemiro is lethal in any zombie apocalypse 😂

[@jarzhinio]

I did NOT see massive improvements in United's performance. I saw a poor team beat another poor team after they went down to 10 men. I saw the 10 men finish the game in the ascendancy and United were hanging on to a narrow, barely deserved victory. I'm a United supporter. I've already given up on this season.

[@yashray731]

dave with the mason mount trim so we dont miss him

[@krugga400]

Nani was winger similar with Antony in the sense of inconsistency and he turned out great IMO

[@desfefe]

Don't compare Nani to this crap b level player. Nani could create and dribble. Antony cant do anything at the moment.

[@FOOTIATOR]

​@@desfefelol

[@danecadette4714]

Never compare Nani to Antony again lmao.

[@danecadette4714]

​@@desfefeI think Nani would easily cost 100 million pounds today if Mudryk, Sancho, Antony cost so much

[@desfefe]

@@danecadette4714 Ah I think no doubt. If anything the prime Nani we had in 2011 would go for 150m upwards, I have no doubt. What a crazy season he had then! Man, I hate how the quality of players we have is so shit now.., 🥲🙃

[@thepurplepanda1194]

i still see that we dont have a practiced pattern like brighton or city

[@shawn-ln4cr]

23 isnt young.marcus broke into the team at 17,saka is 21,martinelli 21 and who did antony beat one on one.l didnt watch whole game as l was also following arsenal,s game too on the phone.who the fuck is that bad that antony went past him.l dont believe it

[@Sparta155]

The criticism of Anthony so far is entirely justified. Sure he is improving, but for example not using his right foot has been a huge and obvious weakness, and he has needed to improve a lot.

[@ocarey2]

I’d argue the weakness of his left foot is a far bigger problem. The accuracy of those left footed curlers is woeful

[@DirkAndDestroy]

For Antony's price tag, he will never be viewed in the same way as Rashford (as an academy product). He is expected to be the finished product at 90 million, not a project that MAY come good in two or three seasons time. He hasn't improved since he got to United and the criticism is just so far. Producing a good performance every 5 games or so simply isn't good enough. Hopefully Amad will come back and compete because Antony shouldn't be a guaranteed starter. Not to say that there isn't a player in there, but he hasn't shown enough to warrant his place not being up for debate for a team like United. The good decision making he showed against Forest was the exception performance, not the rule.

[@JackTheStrippa]

Rashford is crap.. and the "academy" kid thing has made it so he has gotten away with ABSOLUTE MURDER

[@thexperimenter88]

I missed the second half but in the first half I was fuming. 90% of the ball was played on the Utd right wing and he kept losing the ball or passing the ball backwards. Seems like he does not have the confidence or the balls to take on the defender at least once and make a run for it. Zero footballing iq in my opinion

[@shawn-ln4cr]

rashford started firing in his first game at 17yrs

[@shango7942]

Bring back the Sweeper and stop with these Sweeper Keeper tactics. Just start using a Sweeper like back in the days. They're bringing back everything else like the WM formation. Having a Sweeper solves so many problems and has its advantages.

[@UCLVarane]

Do you think that mount can do the eriksen role in the old formation?

[@Matchesta]

mount barely drops to help casemiro

[@danecadette4714]

To me it's clear Mount is a number 10 behind striker or left half winger like Iniesta position bc he is poor in build up and does not make himself available enough in the 8 position

[@mediocremashedmattato5563]

I have my doubts. Look its only three games in, maybe he’ll surprise us, but I really wished we signed a different style of midfielder instead.

[@almac9203]

​@@mediocremashedmattato5563we needed a real CM. You replace Mount with Barella or Tonali or Caqueret and this team is so much better. A CM would play 85 percent of the games and you would only need the second defensive midfielder for tactical reasons or injury. It is nonsense that Mount can't even really exist against the likes of Wolves.

[@Michael.Koulibaly]

Very unlikely, but I'd love us to get Verratti into that metronomic role

[@hanif-pl5hd]

i hope mount can play deeper as an 8, he did that against spurs, and played well. the problem is in the 2nd half him and bruno both push forward like a 10 and leaves casemiro isolated and midfield wide open. same with against wolves

[@almac9203]

He isn't a CM. We should have purchased a CM but ETH thinks it is better to buy a 10 and convert them to the 8 position

[@hanif-pl5hd]

i was hoping united sign matheus nunes, very good ball carrier, good defensively, perfect casemiro partner

[@dayalsingh1000]

ETH is just doing a lot, he should go back to making it simple, like the formation you just discussed. Big ups

[@kevinfitz8516]

Dave lad it's only the ABU media that's saying its not a penalty

[@scapegoat1347]

In case anyone doesn't understand what Dave means whe he says like the video, he actually means Like that Goddamn Video!!

[@ltt1410]

personally i think Ten Hag should try to play 433 a more balanced form instead of 4231

[@Dave-di6vb]

Hi Dave, love the content, don't you think on the corner, if Martinez heads it away, instead of glancing it, the goal isn't scored?

[@Jykobe491]

Dave I love you, but this haircut isn't it

[@liamstubbins3000]

I want to see the dead possum become a regular football tactic 🤣

[@drtrevelisek9924]

Anthony is a great player a bit of heat but never at real bad levels... he does a ton. Many fans always see nothing but problems. He has been very one note for most of his time... yet it always drew players. Biggest issue is if he did break to the line who does he pass to. Martial is lazy on the line proving to me he's a winger. Sancho is a decent false 9 lately but he doesn't push the line. Hojlund will change everything. But give the lads a little more time. People will be singing praises by the end of the year.

[@zeeone4492]

He's nowhere close to great

[@victorelvickky8755]

Dalot fits Ten hag tactics more than Wanbissak

[@player-ty2sy]

The issue I would say we need to work on our defensive solidity before we can bring dalot into the team

[@ITzCHeeZee]

Most of the people criticizing Antony just want to be right about a playing being awful, but never watch the player just form opinions from Twitter memes

[@jonathanzulu7172]

Consider forest didn't press you like wolves or spurs

[@kermit63]

Your assessment of Rashford maturing last season is a bit of revisionism Last season's preseason was Rashford's first full pre-season in 3 years In the previous 2 years he played with more than one injury - including a career-threatening back injury that required surgery I don't have a bias against Antony and I have been watching football for 50 years. Stevie Wonder could be defending against Antony and know that Antony will continuously cut inside

[@koa972]

Lads gone for the 90s short back and sides 😂

[@jimgill37]

Love Statman but this weird call for blind support with Antony is a curious one. I don't need the gaslighting and told Antony uses his right foot enough. I watch and support every match. If he gets any unfair criticism, I guess you could say he doesn't get the credit he deserves for running hard and tracking back - fair play there. However, resources are finite. Anyone who says the transfer fee doesn't matter is being disingenuous. For starters, find me a club in the world who would pay the 100m we did for him today. I don't think you'd find any, including United. Second, we have been told all summer we have to "sell to buy" and we've missed out on plenty of star talent United should be pursuing, including wingers and strikers to scores goals. If we are basically broke, then telling me that fees are creating unfair bias for a player is silly. The player accepted massive wages to arrive here so our expectations are our expectations. On the other hand, if none of this mattered, why sell players for pennies on the dollar just to get their wages off the books? Again, very happy that Antony is improving on last year but spare me the lecture. There is literally a video to the right from The Atlantis saying, "How Antony's BAD DECISIONS are costing Ten Hag and Man United"....from EIGHT days ago!! Either way, love the channel and want Antony to succeed but had to say something. GGMU

[@hydry6317]

good comments on Antony. I think some people just look at the fee alone and think "well if we paid that much hes got to be amazing", when he was really not worth what we paid at the time (but could develop to be) and it was only our own faults we paid that much. hes still a young player, only just starting his second season in the prem. I pray a similar thing doesnt happen with Hojlund.

[@peterdonnellan]

Dave, your analysis is top notch again, but your love for rashford blinded you for the first goal. He was level with the goal scorer and didn't sprint back with him initially. It was as though he thought he had more cover behind him. It was a poor mental mistake. Rashford is quick enough to match anyone for speed. All he needed to do was shadow him back and wait for the help to arrive.

[@thepurplepanda1194]

many times -- after the dribble he made , antony got no idea to whom he need to play the pass -- sooo...he passed back

[@tobyscrimgeour7463]

You should be a premier league assistant coach or something

[@amiciamici7606]

United were down 2-0. So had to chase the game so your point is rubbish. Forest played with everyone back except one guy to protect the lead and let United play high. So dont use data without context please

[@stevenhickman1388]

He’s starting hojlund for sure

[@JackTheStrippa]

So ETH has.. 1. Bought Mount to replace Erikson because he had tired legs and it was problematic last season 2. Spent all of peseason playing the 433 to incorporate this 3. Bought Mount to play in that Erikson position, effectively forcing Mount to play in a position he is ok and learning in as opposed to buying a actual CM 4. Failed at this new formation/system after purchasing players based on it. 5. Gone back to Erikson (I don't believe the Mount injury one bit) 6. Gone back to 4231 7. Now were panic buying in the window with players suited to possibly varied systems ETH has shown me a few things, he doesn't have a philosophy and play based on who we have and the opponent, which is weird because we saw an Ajax system that challenged most of Europe He also shows fear and doesn't believe in his own tactics because, after two losses he has reverted, the same thing happened last year. He came in and tried implementing Ajax ball playing from the back and we lost two he started hoofing the ball then bought Weghorst.. We don't need an indecisive manager He is losing my trust and is on FRAUD WATCH THE BADGE IS TOO HEAVY AND THE CLUB IS TOO BIG FOR HIM..IMPOSTER SYNDROME SETTING IN!

[@traveladdict4884]

Yep been saying this

[@AJ-ry8qd]

Just say you're not a United fan and get out. You're a nuisance

[@anishwinger]

Then change the whole team for god sake you want him to play like ajax with the players we have

[@Paddythefriendlykiwi]

Nope. The finish last year tells us there's no imposter syndrome but, he is in transition and there will be pain before ge gets us where he wants us. Same with Arsenal and Liverpool. You need to be patient.

[@JackTheStrippa]

@@anishwinger learn football.. how man managers have come in and IMPLEMENTED THEIR SYSTEM. He's had a transfer window and bought Mount?

[@focusfanny]

Statman Mount???

[@mediocremashedmattato5563]

God I wish they signed a midfielder in the style of a Moises Caicedo instead of Mason Mount. One that’s comfortable sitting deep as well as pushing up. Would solve this problem instantly. Maybe a Gravenberch signing might solve this issue? I hope the rumours of a swap deal with McTominay are true but I doubt it.

[@almac9203]

Cacedio is a bit outside of our budget but Tonali cost the exact same amount as Mount. Both were £55m plus £5m add ons. Tonali is a very good defender plus he is composed on the ball

[@winstong7438]

That haircut is fire

[@MikeGames]

"Should be set on"

[@Jykobe491]

It's not

[@nix8260]

​@@MikeGameslmaoooooo 😂😂😂😂

[@trevg9450]

What? Wait. They spent 55mil for a new Midfielder and 47 mil for a Goalkeeper who according to United world , was going to Transform the way United played football. Why is this guy going back to last year's team. This is a new dawn here and our Host is suggesting going back to whatever they were doing last year. Is he suggesting that this summers signings were/are not working out? WHAT????????????????

[@airynod]

My feeling is mixed. It has been the core problem of United for the last 5 seasons. Should we try and train for something new or stick with the old tactics for the sake of the result. To be honest, I would rather to lose some game and have a better system and play style. Some players in the squad are too comfortable with the old style.

[@emmanuelpeter6894]

It's better to go back to your old tactics initially. Win some consecutive games, get some confidence flowing. Then you can slowly transition the team to the new formation through the season. Rather than from the start. Last season Pep didn't start with stones in the midfield... He slowly transitioned into it and by the end of the season it had become seamless... In cutthroat positions like being a Manchester United manager, you have to have a certain level of pragmatism. You can't be taking unnecessary risks... If he sticks to the new formation and we're 8th by December, people won't be saying show patience.. All you'll be hearing then will be "ETH out", we're already hearing it now. He has to become Pragmatic, let his players gain full fitness and get some confidence through a run of wins before trying that formation out again. But in the end I'd like us to be a 4-4-3 by the season's end.

[@airynod]

@@emmanuelpeter6894 I agree with you, I think ETH deserves the level of support that Arteta received. Some of us are too reactionary.

[@emmanuelpeter6894]

@@airynod Yeah. People can be reactionary sometimes. But that's what also gives our club the big team mindset. It's because we are one of a few select clubs that only see second position as a stepping stone. The expectations of immediate success is a good thing overall.

[@airynod]

@@emmanuelpeter6894 Depends. Just like Ole, many people like him for winning games at the time and being a club legend. However, I rate him lower than Moyes because he settled for result and result only. He is the reason our young players lack football IQ and tactical versatility. Most of us are spoiled by SAF, but more of us have never see how the empire built. At this moment, I still think Ragnick was right. ETH didn't get his 10 replacements yet. He deserves more patience from us.

[@LearningNeverStopsEx]

23 is not so young in football 😂 How old is sancho

[@caffeine_321]

WOW I'M SO SUPRISED THAT RASHFORD WAS BETTER ON THE LEFT WG

[@pakicassava]

SARCASM 😀😀, i see what you did there

[@Know_Clu]

MC Stat Grindah

[@joshwilliams2391]

Dave should continue with this new cut (forever)

[@akinyemiakintayo5530]

When is Rasmus going to be fit?

[@jameswoolford2698]

2024

[@thepurplepanda1194]

utd players always made first touch - think - than touched again - then made the pass. its slow and lack creativity

[@michaeldr6070]

We have a mediocre squad, of course we are going to have mediocre performances. Should be happy if we get top 6 this year

[@zinedinezidane4771]

Why ten hag should scrap the whole team and try again lol seriously nothing can help unless most of those players are sold

[@joanofarc708]

Because the new system is not working

[@craycray8950]

As good as Rashford is he hasn’t got the minerals or discipline to help Man United win a premier title and that goes for Martial Shaw AWB BRUNO and a few others who’ve shown there not the type of players to go a whole season fighting like dogs every week. You fans need to wake up cos I have

[@ocarey2]

Why you should continue with your old haircut

[@thexperimenter88]

I lost it when he compared Antony to Christiano..like wtf Antony is brainless, worse winger united ever had