Bang on. He’s a disciplinarian and while he’s strict with his standards if you show contrition and work hard, he’s happy to bring you back.
You cited Maguire, AWB and McTominay - All seem to be playing better now under Ten Hag after time out as other players were performing better. I’ll also toss in when he did the same thing with Garnacho (criticised him as not training to the required standard which is why he was dropped) and Rashford (dropped him to the bench for a game last season for oversleeping and arriving late at a team meeting, Rashford accepted it and when the Boss sent him on he tore the game up).
You’ve also got what happened with Ronaldo, he gave him every opportunity and it got tossed in his face, so they cut him loose. Arguably one of the top 2-3 players on the planet for the last 15 years, and the boss told him to not let the door hit him in the arse on his way out. It’s back to the days of “noone is bigger than the club” and Sancho right now is suffering the consequences of his own actions.
Hell, if he was like Eden Hazard where he trained like shit but was golden during matches, he’d probably get away with it. But he doesn’t.
Haven’t tried it since release because I’m play the Finnish top flight, but in my beta save the intermediaries couldn’t find me buyers for Martial, Erikson, Hannibal, and a few other players.
Erikson was pissed because I wasn’t playing him every game (why would I when Mount fit my system better and Bruno has a strop if you don’t play him for every minute he’s available), and Martial got upset that I pulled a Fergie Hairdrier on the team when we lost to Everton. Apparently him, Hannibal, Garnacho and Pellistri all thought I was too harsh.
The only one who didn’t drop the concern was Martial and his agent nor intermediaries could find a buyer outside of Watford who wanted him on loan for nothing.