Thread by @EBL2017

With the Manchester United job up for grabs, there's only one direction the club should look in, & that's towards sunny Amsterdam!

Erik ten Hag is an *ELITE* coach who's 4-3-3 showcases elements of Guardiola's on-ball style & Klopp's off-ball style. Scary good.

COLLOSAL-THREAD.

ten Hag's Ajax set up in a 4-3-3 with the two #8's between the lines in the half spaces & the fullbacks pushed on high & wide with the wingers stretching the play on either flank. However, they're not rigid. It is a fluid system BUT rigidity of positioning is key.

Let me explain

ten Hag's team are rigid in the sense that the occupation of each lane on the pitch between the lines is constantly covered. The players can interchange at will within those zones, but each zone must be occupied. There are many examples we can use to demonstrate this.

Here, Gravenberch drops into the half space allowing the fullback to push onto the flank with Tadic coming inside to combine, much like Pep does with Cancelo, Gundogan & Sterling or Arteta does with Tierney, Xhaka & Martinelli. It's all about maintaining good angles to combine in

Here, Blind (the left back) finds himself in the left half space between the lines and Mazraoui (the right back) drops deep to create an angle to play out on the right-hand side. However, Blind does this to increase the quality of the passing lane to the wide player (Tadic).

This type of movement from Blind epitomises this Ajax team - a run into space to A) create a passing angle to the isolated wide player but also B) to maintain the occupation of the zones across the pitch.

It's elite coaching.

This type of fluidity but rigidity of positioning is fantastic because it means the structure in which the team play in is always present. The players understand the importance of maintaining team shape, thus suggesting that ten Hag is a fantastic coach. The structure is superb.

Both fullbacks regularly find themselves in central areas which A) creates a free passing lane for the wide players to receive in isolation before combining or using the 1v1 they have but also B) maintains compactness in defensive transition when play breaks down. Look at them!

Much like Arteta at Arsenal, Pep at City, or Xavi at Barca, the left-hand side of the pitch is primarily used for combinations whereas the right is used for isolation and 1v1 situations. Blind often inverts, but not as often as Mazraoui.

Look at the angle he creates for Antony.

This is a situation we see Saka, Mahrez and Adama receive at constantly for their respective clubs, and it's no different at ten Hag's Ajax thanks to the usage of the inverted fullback and emphasis he puts on positional play.

It's the perfect position for a 1v1 specialist.

Alternatively, Antony can combine with the player in the right half space between the lines or the right back who has license to overlap or underlap where possible. Then, within those situations, the #8's, CF and far side wide player attacks the box to offer a goal threat.

This type of attacking structure is absolutely fantastic, particularly when considering that Mazraoui inverts or the conservative Blind stays back to keep the unit compact if the attack breaks down. The structure enables sustainment of attacks, penetration & top chance creation.

However, although what I have just described is incredibly similar to Arteta, Xavi, & Pep's 4-3-3, where ten Hag's philosophy differs is in relation to fluidity. Mazraoui has more offensive license than a Walker or a Tomiyasu does at their respective clubs.

Ajax's build-up is very much so a 2-1 with high and wide fullbacks whereas Tomiyasu and Walker are often slightly deeper and each teams build-up can resemble a 3-1 shape as opposed to a 2-1. In settled attacks, Mazraoui is regularly as high up the pitch as Antony.

However, as I implied, this isn't a big issue because of Ajax's fluidity. They still build with a 3 at the back on occasion when Blind/Mazraoui drop deep to create extra passing angles, and the far side fullback drops to keep sufficient players behind the ball in d. transition.

The key to success of any team that attempts to dominate the game with the ball is compactness as soon as possession is lost i.e. the ball can be regained as quickly as possible and attacks can be sustained.

Ajax take risks with their fluidity, but largely remain compact.

However, what is key to note is that the teams that Ajax play against are regularly incapable of exploiting them in defensive transition. This is because of A) a lack of quality and B) Ajax primarily have sufficient players behind the ball to prevent counter attacks.

So, ten Hag's team have a big advantage in that regard, but let's not act like their only dominant because of their superior quality. Ajax have only conceded 7 league goals in 24 games whilst scoring 71 themselves. They also walked a tricky CL group with ease - that's coaching.

So, it's absolutely clear that ten Hag is a special coach in possession. His teams are compact so can sustain attacks, constantly occupy each zone on the pitch so attack amazingly well thanks to their rotations, and are balanced in terms of "to feet" players and direct runners.

However, what makes or breaks coaches at the *highest* level is the off-ball game. Ajax are expected to be good in possession because they dominate the ball in virtually every domestic game due to the sheer disparity in quality in their league. buttt.. they're elite off the ball.

As explained, ten Hag's men are compact in defensive transition thanks to the inversion of their fullbacks. However, settled defensive play is where the very best teams get tested - every PL team is good enough to keep the ball for periods, so you've gotta be compact as hell.

In settled defensive play, Ajax press in a Liverpool-esque narrow 4-3-3. The two wide players invert, the midfielders match-up man-for man in midfield, and the fullbacks push on to support the press. They attempt to collapse the play on the ball side flank.

The 4-3-3 is such a hard pressing system to implement because it requires a lot of moving pieces to be in sync. Where teams fall down is by A) defending in a 4-5-1 & failing to pressure the CB's sufficiently or B) defending in a narrow 4-3-3 with no support from the fullbacks.

The optimal solution is the narrow 4-3-3 with aggressive fullbacks because each area can be pressurised, and that's how Ajax defend.

Below, Antony and Tadic are narrow and as Benfica use the fullback, Mazraoui pushes on and condenses the play with Timber covering the winger.

That requires special, special, coaching. ten Hag's Ajax play like Pep Guardiola's Man City on the ball and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool off the ball, and that's not an exaggeration. The style and execution is very, very similar (with slight tweaks) in each facet of play.

Wow good.

Alright, so, with all that in mind, how does ten Hag fit in with Manchester United Football Club? Well, tactically and coaching wise, he's elite, that much is very clear, but management is more than that, and particularly at such a big club.

How will he deal with pressure from the big personalities in the club? How will he deal with scrutiny from the media and the fans? Is he mentally strong enough to deal with difficult times? How good is he in the transfer market and with more money than he's ever had?

Listen, ten Hag ticks all of the tactical and coaching boxes, but the psychological factors within the role combined with transfer market dealings means there's a lot of question marks surrounding the fit, but they're questions the Dutchman has earned the right to answer.

Tactically, at Manchester United, ten Hag has also implemented a superbly balanced 4-2-3-1 at Ajax, so that could be a short-term solution for the club whilst he signs players that are suited to his ideal 4-3-3 system. The likes of Fred & McTominay are more suited to a d. pivot.

However, again, that alone opens up a whole new line of questioning. How does he rebuild a team with big personalities? How does he manage players like Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo if they aren't adhering to his system?

Time will tell and reveal all!

All in all, despite the question marks surrounding the appointment, Manchester United would be crazy to appoint anyone other than Erik ten Hag. He's elite tactically and a proven winner. The only question marks are questions he deserves a chance to answer!

Thanks for your time.