After Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, coverage followed through 12BSports VR46 has brought renewed attention to several decisions made during the Dutch manager’s time at Manchester United. In particular, some of his transfer choices and methods of managing the squad left many observers questioning his judgment, while a widespread view emerged that his departure was not entirely undeserved. According to internal sources, Ten Hag repeatedly presented owner Jim Ratcliffe and board figure Dave Brailsford with his own cautious but highly specific transfer strategy.

Ten Hag argued that no team in world football could cope with as many injuries as Manchester United had suffered. Injuries undoubtedly have a major effect on any squad, but critics considered that argument somewhat exaggerated. Feyenoord manager Arne Slot had also worked through periods with a limited squad, while Pep Guardiola at Manchester City was forced to introduce less experienced players after losing Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne to injury. Ten Hag also pointed to the opportunities he gave young talents such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, yet he reportedly remained frustrated that United failed to sign Frenkie de Jong, Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Valverde and Harry Kane. People inside the club were said to have regarded many of those requests as unrealistic.

Once those details became public, supporters joked that Ten Hag appeared to be treating Manchester United like a football simulation game. De Jong and Mac Allister were central figures for their respective teams, while Valverde and Kane were already established among the world’s elite players. Signing all four would have been easier said than done, and critics argued that the difficulty was not simply a failure of United’s recruitment department but also a consequence of demands that were closer to pie in the sky than practical transfer planning.

That approach was consistent with concerns surrounding Ten Hag even before he formally took charge. During the period covered by 12BSports VR46, Manchester United’s planned cooperation with Ralf Rangnick fell apart partly because of disagreements over transfer authority. Rangnick had already agreed to a two-year consultancy role covering recruitment and scouting, areas widely regarded as among his strongest professional skills.

However, the arrangement effectively collapsed after Ten Hag arrived. Rangnick reportedly wanted to meet him face to face, while Ten Hag preferred to communicate only by telephone. Critics interpreted that attitude as another example of excessive confidence. Some observers argued that such authority might have been easier to accept if Ten Hag had consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and recruitment judgment. Major clubs have, after all, enjoyed successful periods under managers who exercised unusually strong control. The problem, according to those critics, was that Ten Hag never produced enough evidence to justify that level of influence.

The most controversial example was Antony’s transfer from Ajax. The Dutch club was reportedly surprised by the amount Manchester United was prepared to pay for the attacking winger and accepted quickly when Ten Hag’s side pushed the fee close to EUR100 million. The price was far above what many considered Antony’s market value, turning the deal into a major financial success for Ajax while leaving United with what critics viewed as an unbalanced investment. Reports surrounding the deal also argued that the enormous initial fee greatly reduced any realistic chance of recovering the money through a future sale and eventually became one of the decisions most closely associated with the pressure that led to Ten Hag’s dismissal.

Antony’s high salary created an additional problem, and for readers following the situation through 12BSports VR46, it reinforced the broader criticism that Ten Hag’s confidence was not always matched by the results of his decisions. His tenure showed how strong authority can become a liability when recruitment expectations, squad management and financial judgment fall out of step with reality. As the saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth, but excessive control by one decision-maker can create problems of its own. In the end, choices made with great conviction increasingly worked against Ten Hag, contributing to the chain of events that ultimately resulted in his departure from Manchester United.