Fan Talk with Al Greenwood: Ten Hag must win silverware to be a success

Manchester United fan and drummer for English rock band Sports Team Al Greenwood believes that Erik ten Hag must win regular silverware at the club to be considered a success. 

Pre-season positivity

There have been some really promising signs [during pre-season]. It was Bruno Fernandes' first captaincy and he looked to completely step into the role. And that gives me loads of hope.

The players have been taking the opportunity to play games against top opposition and showing what they can do.

We have seen a far more open game of football and now with Onana at the back, it's going to really offer new options in terms of playing out from the back that held us back with David de Gea.

I feel excited about the system that Ten Hag is bringing into Manchester United.

Trophy troubles

The reality is that United as a club, you've got to be winning trophies. 

A top-three finish in the Premier League would be successful for a club of our nature and with our stature.

And I could see us getting knocked out of the Champions League and then try going all the way in the Europa League. That would be a good season, I'd say.

Hopefully we'll see a lot more new faces on the squad this season and some more outgoings.

You don't want to have players in the prime of their careers wasting time if they're not getting the game time and they're not happy at the club, sometimes it is fairer to just let them go.

Ten Hag's talent

What's nice [about Ten Hag] is that he's been given time and trust. I think post Sir Alex Ferguson, we've seen so much short-termism and giving managers one season. 

I do think that he has got real potential. I think he seems to command the dressing room in a way that we haven't seen for a while.

He's just a bit more of a character that you can get behind. All of my mates who support the club seem to have really bought into what he's doing and feel excited about the system that he's bringing in.

Making Fernandes captain is a testament to Ten Hag's leadership as it's obviously it's a difficult decision. 

It's an awkward one. And it's not nice for Maguire. But to be honest, I don't think he's really been performing at club level, so I'm really happy to see Fernandes take the armband.

Dealing at the top

Ten Hag's got his system and it's something that he's been building at the club.

Having Onana could be completely transformational for the whole system and fluidity of our game. It offers so many new link-ups and we will hopefully see some of our full-backs being able to push forward a bit more.

Mount wouldn't have been my first choice, to be honest. But the proof will be as we get into the season, I think you've got to give players time to settle, give them a bit of a chance to get into the routine and the training ground.

You just have to trust again that there's a system of play as to why he was the right player for Ten Hag and see how he gets on this season.

Al Greenwood is part of Hope FC, who have released their Women's World Cup single Call Me A Lioness, available to stream and download here.

Al Greenwood was talking to Mitchell Fretton