Why the negativity against Ed and the Glazers? Sorry I don't follow

[vidic blood & sand]

The club has generously backed two managers, and allowed them complete freedom to govern football related matters.

I think the problem we have here is that there are too many United fans who jumped on the fairytale bandwagon in the 90s and 2000s, and now simply cannot handle what is happening at the club at the moment, while at the same time having to endure watching two of our biggest historic rivals flourishing. These spoiled united fans are desperate to stick a knife into an object of their dissatisfaction.

We're in a valley of shite right now, but it'll make it all the more satisfying when we return to the top, which will happen. Personally I think Mourinho is the problem with us right now. I think he's all wrong for us, but it's understandable to give him another season to try and either adapt to the traditions of the club, or go somewhere else.

 

[charlenefan]

The club has generously backed two managers, and allowed them complete freedom to govern football related matters.

I think the problem we have here is that there are too many United fans who jumped on the fairytale bandwagon in the 90s and 2000s, and now simply cannot handle what is happening at the club at the moment, while at the same time having to endure watching two of our biggest historic rivals flourishing. These spoiled united fans are desperate to stick a knife into an object of their dissatisfaction.

We're in a valley of shite right now, but it'll make it all the more satisfying when we return to the top, which will happen. Personally I think Mourinho is the problem with us right now. I think he's all wrong for us, but it's understandable to give him another season to try and either adapt to the traditions of the club, or go somewhere else.

As they should because outside of a couple of directors none of them have a clue about football

Woodward and the Glazers have allowed us to stand still during this summer transfer window, at a time where City were already streets ahead of us and Liverpool have spent tons and all because the players the manager wants didn't make commercial sense

 

[Raw]

Likely because they limited Mourinhos spending last summer. And that they don't seem at all interested in restructuring the club to catch up to the modern game (DoF, etc).

 

[flappyjay]

As they should because outside of a couple of directors none of them have a clue about football

Woodward and the Glazers have allowed us to stand still during this summer transfer window, at a time where City were already streets ahead of us and Liverpool have spent tons and all because the players the manager wants didn't make commercial sense

That's because Bailey, Matic, Fred, Lindelof made a lot of commercial sense right?

 

[noodlehair]

Woodward:

- spending the summer pretending to sign fabregas, waiting all summer to sign fellaini so he could pay OVER Fellainis buyout clause to sign him, then making a fumbling attempt to get at left back in at 11.30pm on deadline day. Waiting so long to move for Herrera that we had to wait a whole extra year to get him.

- stories when LVG took over of him telling players to fight for a place only for Woodward to go behind his back telling their agents to find them a new club, so Woodward would then have funds to bring in players like Falcao who LVG never asked for, resulting in LVG spending half his first season complaining about how "imbalanced" our squad was. Then come the second season LVG is moaning about the club not signing the players he actually wanted, or the "profile" of players he wanted. Mentioning Pedro constantly for some reason.

- Mourinho right from the off being shocked at how terribly organised everything at the club was, including our pre season schedule, and now seemingly being in the same position LVG was in where Woodward decides to "back" him by making his own decisions about what players we need.

- this idiotic situation we have where we deliberately let half our squad run their contracts down as if this won't cause any kind of unrest or problems down the line.

- I don't care which kitchen company is our official sponsor, I care how well the team is managed and run. We did perfectly fine with money before Woodward was on the scene. The main difference he's coincided with is the football side of the club suddenly being run embarrassingly badly year after year. It has reached a point where it is no longer possible that he isn't part responsible.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

As they should because outside of a couple of directors none of them have a clue about football

Woodward and the Glazers have allowed us to stand still during this summer transfer window, at a time where City were already streets ahead of us and Liverpool have spent tons and all because the players the manager wants didn't make commercial sense

Don't you think that paying massively over the odds for players that will only marginally improve us is irresponsible?

 

[devil in me]

The shite state we are in right now is down to making an utter ballsup of the transition after Fergie retired and a total lack of vision/understanding of where the club should be going on a footballing level. Thats down to the big cheeses at the top.

I will also say that the 'commercial deals/sponsors' is actually something that he woodward has done well considering thats part of his job and the financial situation we are in, and I dont actually blame him for not sanctioning £75m for Harry Maguire etc.

 

[charlenefan]

That's because Bailey, Matic, Fred, Lindelof made a lot of commercial sense right?

Well 3 of them were at the so called 'right age' so yes

 

[charlenefan]

Don't you think that paying massively over the odds for players that will only marginally improve us is irresponsible?

Isn't that a matter of opinion?

 

[vidic blood & sand]

If there were hugely talented players available that would be an obvious upgrade to what we have, I'm sure we'd be signing them.

 

[JG3001]

The club has generously backed two managers, and allowed them complete freedom to govern football related matters.

I think the problem we have here is that there are too many United fans who jumped on the fairytale bandwagon in the 90s and 2000s, and now simply cannot handle what is happening at the club at the moment, while at the same time having to endure watching two of our biggest historic rivals flourishing. These spoiled united fans are desperate to stick a knife into an object of their dissatisfaction.

We're in a valley of shite right now, but it'll make it all the more satisfying when we return to the top, which will happen. Personally I think Mourinho is the problem with us right now. I think he's all wrong for us, but it's understandable to give him another season to try and either adapt to the traditions of the club, or go somewhere else.

They allowed the club to stagnate in the transfer market in Ferguson's last years, on the basis the manager could see them through, which obviously he did. When Moyes was appointed we signed Fellaini last minute as fans were outraged at the lack of movement, in the market, then panic signed Mata in January when we were lagging in the league. They've subsequently thrown money about trying to win the league again as they realised they messed up badly post-Fegie.

It's rather funny if it weren't so sad. If they had given £300/400m to Ferguson in his last season i doubt we'd have been in such a mess now, and they would have saved in the long run. Complete lack of foresight for a club/business of this size is disturbing.

 

[goin4glory]

The club has generously backed two managers, and allowed them complete freedom to govern football related matters.

I think the problem we have here is that there are too many United fans who jumped on the fairytale bandwagon in the 90s and 2000s, and now simply cannot handle what is happening at the club at the moment, while at the same time having to endure watching two of our biggest historic rivals flourishing. These spoiled united fans are desperate to stick a knife into an object of their dissatisfaction.

We're in a valley of shite right now, but it'll make it all the more satisfying when we return to the top, which will happen. Personally I think Mourinho is the problem with us right now. I think he's all wrong for us, but it's understandable to give him another season to try and either adapt to the traditions of the club, or go somewhere else.

The reason our squad needed an overhaul is because the failed to do any investment for almost a decade beforehand. Our net spend from when they arrived until SAF left was lower than Stoke, that's a fact. While Madrid were out buying Ronaldo/Bale/Benzema and every other world class player available we replaced Rio/Ronaldo/Scholes with Smalling/Young/Cleverly.

As long as United are in the top 4 and have the european money rolling in the Glazer's don't give a feck about trophies and this summer window proves it. As long as we're top 4 they have zero intention to compete with the likes of City even though we have the resources to do so.

I never undnerstand why fans like you feel the need to bend over and grab your ankles for the Glazers. They're a cancer on the club.

 

[TsuWave]

Woodward didn’t buy pressing, build-up play, cohesiveness and urgency for Mourinho. That’s why

 

[Schmiznurf]

Ed knows nothing about football yet feels he is in a position to make football decisions.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

They allowed the club to stagnate in the transfer market in Ferguson's last years, on the basis the manager could see them through, which obviously he did. When Moyes was appointed we signed Fellaini last minute as fans were outraged at the lack of movement, in the market, then panic signed Mata in January when we were lagging in the league. They've subsequently thrown money about trying to win the league again as they realised they messed up badly post-Fegie.


It's rather funny if it weren't so sad. If they had given £300/400m to Ferguson in his last season i doubt we'd have been in such a mess now, and they would have saved in the long run. Complete lack of foresight for a club/business of this size is disturbing.

Ferguson never complained about a lack of funds, and was always been supportive of David Gill.

 

[shaky]

If there were hugely talented players available that would be an obvious upgrade to what we have, I'm sure we'd be signing them.

The manager's job is to identify the players he think will improve us. If the board are using their own football knowledge (which is probably no greater than the average punter's) to decide to overrule him, then that is very worrying.

 

[Bojan11]

The club did back the managers. But they had to.

How else do you replace Scholes, Giggs, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick and even Fletcher? Then you had Rooney and Van Persie leaving. Big investment was needed with those players retiring. That’s why I don’t like these net spends or comparing our net spends to other teams. We let 7 players retire or leave on a free.

Sadly it seems we wasted the money been spent.

 

[Kostur]

Ferguson never complained about a lack of funds, and was always been supportive of David Gill.

Shame the support wasn't repaid to Ferguson then and in our last years we've had a midfield duo of Cleverley and Anderson, with Scholesy coming back from retirement.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

The manager's job is to identify the players he think will improve us. If the board are using their own football knowledge (which is probably no greater than the average punter's) to decide to overrule him, then that is very worrying.

If the defensive players mentioned were ovious upgrades to what we have already, I'm sure the funds would have been made available.

 

[shaky]

Ferguson never complained about a lack of funds, and was always been supportive of David Gill.

Here's a excerpt from a Fergie book. You can be sure that he faced the same rubbish now and then, but rightly didn't stand for it.

 

[crossy1686]

The club has generously backed two managers, and allowed them complete freedom to govern football related matters.

I think the problem we have here is that there are too many United fans who jumped on the fairytale bandwagon in the 90s and 2000s, and now simply cannot handle what is happening at the club at the moment, while at the same time having to endure watching two of our biggest historic rivals flourishing. These spoiled united fans are desperate to stick a knife into an object of their dissatisfaction.

We're in a valley of shite right now, but it'll make it all the more satisfying when we return to the top, which will happen. Personally I think Mourinho is the problem with us right now. I think he's all wrong for us, but it's understandable to give him another season to try and either adapt to the traditions of the club, or go somewhere else.

You don't understand why the Glazers are bad for United? Seriously? The fact you think swapping Mourinho out for another manager will fix all our issues means you should probably stick to playing Football Manager.

 

[ErranMorad]

The whole management team has to take responsibility if things are not going as planned. 6th year since Sir Alex's departure and it look like another manager is on the cusp. Laying it all on the manager's doorstep is a bit too simple. What they should have done from the beginning is lay grounds work for changing the football structure at the club. We cannot have a man with limited knowledge of football making decision in unison with a manager and having the power of vetoing them. Either Eddy is simply a money man who trusts the manager completely or he gets a go between who understands football better and decides on a direction of the club.

The three managerial appointments since Sir Alex's retirement shows that the club is rudderless. We went from 'cut from the same cloth' to a football philosopher to a grumpy winner who left the last two clubs after huge bust ups. All three of them having different football philosophies and approaches. Eddy's approach is to appoint whoever is the best available if the previous manager fails to provide us champions league football. That's no way to go about things. It shows, that despite spending tons of money, there is little concern for the quality of football or the traditions of the club or winning big trophies. The aim is to have us in a position where the revenue stream is not affected much.

Eddy and the owners can't go scot-free because Jose is a dull football playing cantankerous cnut. They are the ones who appointed him and then gave him an extension. They should have prepared better for the eventuality.

 

[FootyGirl88]

For me its not even about the signings so much, Woodard has failed to set out a long term plan/strategy for this club since he joined 5 years ago.

3 managers have now been here under his watch, none of them have nothing in common and none of them match the club's philosophy I.e Entertaining/attacking football, youth development.

There's a lack of direction at this club at the moment and it because Woodward hasn't done his job and set one out.

 

[coolredwine]

Ed knows nothing about football yet feels he is in a position to make football decisions.

Ed is making a commercial decision and buying the likes of Toby and/or Maguire for 60M and 75M is a very, very stupid commercial decision.

 

[JG3001]

Ferguson never complained about a lack of funds, and was always been supportive of David Gill.

I didn't say he did complain, but the amount of times the "no value in the market" line was trotted out was laughable. You don't think that was Ferguson selecting his words? Most of the fans did.

I don't think David Gill had full control of funds when the Glazers first came in, as their priority was to save/make money on the back of a leveraged buyout (which should be illegal when you really look at it). If you think the Glazers haven't been a drain on the club then that is your opinion, but when you evaluate the full 13/14 years and not just the last 3/4, you'll find you are wrong.

 

[Bojan11]

For me its not even about the signings so much, Woodard has failed to set out a long term plan/strategy for this club since he joined 5 years ago.

3 managers have now been here under his watch, none of them have nothing in common and none of them match the club's philosophy I.e Entertaining/attacking football, youth development.

There's a lack of direction at this club at the moment and it because Woodward hasn't done his job and set one out.

You mean two managers.


Fergie effectively appointed Moyes, so I’m not sure why Ed is getting stick for that. It would have been a brave man saying no to Fergie in your first day as CEO.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

You don't understand why the Glazers are bad for United? Seriously?

Seriously.

The fact you think swapping Mourinho out for another manager will fix all our issues

Where did I say that?

means you should probably stick to playing Football Manager.

Haven't played football manger since this.

 

[shaky]

If the defensive players mentioned were ovious upgrades to what we have already, I'm sure the funds would have been made available.

What does Woodward know about spotting "obvious upgrades"? Players like Di Maria and the like who are just big stars? That's the Abrahmovic style of running a football club, playing football manager with absolutely no clue as to how the actual manager wants to build a squad to suit his system.

 

[Jcrossley94]

Ed is making a commercial decision and buying the likes of Toby and/or Maguire for 60M and 75M is a very, very stupid commercial decision.

You honestly don’t think a transfer is also a football decision??

 

[Revan]

Shame the support wasn't repaid to Ferguson then and in our last years we've had a midfield duo of Cleverley and Anderson, with Scholesy coming back from retirement.

So, he lied?

 

[Smores]

I agree with the second paragraph to some extent in that we do need to be patient, however even the most patient of us can't be happy when it's strategic direction holding us back.

I genuinly just feel the club have written off this season, they've spotted man citys dominance and decided it'll cost too much to compete so they're waiting it and plan to compete in 3 years when the team has matured. Might make sense to them but it sucks as a fan

 

[vidic blood & sand]

Interesting how people regarded Ed particularly back in 2015

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/ed-woodward-interview.406733/

 

[Andersons Dietician]

We don’t know what ED doesn’t or does know about football.
We don’t know what the Glazers have or have not green lit.
We do not know why Fergie wasn’t spending in the final years.
We do not know who Jose’s targets were.
We don’t know what Jose promised the board when he joined/re-signed contract.
We don’t know what the board told Jose when he signed.
We don’t know Jack about the inner workings of the club and most of what many are posting is speculation or conjecture.

There have been stories about the modernisation of the inner workings of the club since Moyes took over followed with LVG and Jose, supposedly been an ongoing process for years now, but again none of us know the truth.

This Ed knows nothing about football thing is really annoying tho, is there a university degree or something I was unaware of or are only people who have played the game at a high standard seen as knowing the game? Chelsea might want to sack Sarri based on that, Jose didn’t play at a high level either.

 

[SteveW]

I agree with the OP to a fair degree. After signing an expensive CB two summers in a row our chances should not hinge on signing Harry fecking McGuire. That's on Jose.

 

[kafta]

I personally see the blame falling on both the owners/ Woodward, and Mourinho.

The owners have to fix the blatant flaws in the club. The structure is old fashioned and has cost them lost of money and caused the team to stagnate. A director of football and maybe a technical director need to be assigned to oversee the general direction of the club on the pitch. We've wasted so much money with this scatter gun approach to transfers, and this needs to stop. It is absolutely unacceptable for a club like ours to have no football identity.

While the first point is sufficient for us not to challenge city, there is definitely no excuse for not being comfortably the second best club in the country and playing a watchable brand of football. I know we finished second last year, but i feel Jose has to get more out of what we have, our squad is better than its being made to look. There is no excuse for being outplayed by teams like brighton, huddersfield and stoke.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

For me its not even about the signings so much, Woodard has failed to set out a long term plan/strategy for this club since he joined 5 years ago.

Neither did anyone else in the premier league.

3 managers have now been here under his watch, none of them have nothing in common and none of them match the club's philosophy I.e Entertaining/attacking football, youth development.

The vast majority of fans were happy with the appointments of Van Gaal and Mourinho.

There's a lack of direction at this club at the moment and it because Woodward hasn't done his job and set one out.

That's nonsense.

 

[FreakyJim]

We don’t know what ED doesn’t or does know about football.
We don’t know what the Glazers have or have not green lit.
We do not know why Fergie wasn’t spending in the final years.
We do not know who Jose’s targets were.
We don’t know what Jose promised the board when he joined/re-signed contract.
We don’t know what the board told Jose when he signed.
We don’t know Jack about the inner workings of the club and most of what many are posting is speculation or conjecture.

There have been stories about the modernisation of the inner workings of the club since Moyes took over followed with LVG and Jose, supposedly been an ongoing process for years now, but again none of us know the truth.

This Ed knows nothing about football thing is really annoying tho, is there a university degree or something I was unaware of or are only people who have played the game at a high standard seen as knowing the game?

We don't but we very well may guess. I'd go with feck all.

 

[redIndianDevil]

Ed knows nothing about football yet feels he is in a position to make football decisions.

He has worked closely with the club for about 5 years, he probably has people who has experience in the field advising him. If people like us who watch the game can understand things easily, then Woodward knows too.

 

[SteveW]

I agree with the second paragraph to some extent in that we do need to be patient, however even the most patient of us can't be happy when it's strategic direction holding us back.

I genuinly just feel the club have written off this season, they've spotted man citys dominance and decided it'll cost too much to compete so they're waiting it and plan to compete in 3 years when the team has matured. Might make sense to them but it sucks as a fan

Or maybe Jose's targets weren't worth what was being asked? Perhaps they don't trust his judgement anymore. Perhaps they are reluctant to invest heavily in a manager that looks likely to capitulate at any moment and seems a bad long term fit for the club?

Sometimes it makes sense just to hold back a little and assess things. If he's good enough he should be able to get decent performances out of the current squad. If he can't he has no business here and the money should be given to his replacement.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

I personally see the blame falling on both the owners/ Woodward, and Mourinho.

The owners have to fix the blatant flaws in the club. The structure is old fashioned and has cost them lost of money and caused the team to stagnate. A director of football and maybe a technical director need to be assigned to oversee the general direction of the club on the pitch. We've wasted so much money with this scatter gun approach to transfers, and this needs to stop. It is absolutely unacceptable for a club like ours to have no football identity.

While the first point is sufficient for us not to challenge city, there is definitely no excuse for not being comfortably the second best club in the country and playing a watchable brand of football. I know we finished second last year, but i feel Jose has to get more out of what we have, our squad is better than its being made to look. There is no excuse for being outplayed by teams like brighton, huddersfield and stoke.

The structure is that the manager tells Ed what players he wants, and Ed tries to get them for him if he can.
Other people here who are miserable with ED, say that he should do everything Mourinho tells him to do. You obviously think that's unwise.