Ralf Rangnick | ex-interim manager | does anyone rate him?

[Wednesday at Stoke]

I don't think this will work with McFred in midfield and I think Ralf has enough of a sample size now to make that change. Donny has to play if he wants more legs until Pogba returns or Matic should be starting and maybe replaced around the 60 minute mark when he loses his legs. We invite so much pressure on ourselves because we struggle to shift the ball out from the defence. Its not a coincidence that even bog level teams like Newcastle and Norwich suddenly look like Liverpool running a press at us when we play them.

I quite honestly don't see what McTominay provides if the team is being outmuscled by relegation level competition.

 

[Moriarty]

Not sure the tone of this, but that's fine, and I'm very much on board, I said when he came there will be some painful performances until we get any consistency.

Only slight concern for me is if he will be able/willing to drop big name players if it's not working, and if we have enough capable players that will learn fast enough or be willing to buy into what he he wants them to do quickly enough for a CL place next season, but if he can move a couple of players out and get at least a midfielder he wants in January then that would be a very good sign.

You surmised correctly. Ralf has his work cut out for him all right. Hopefully, the club have identified the new manager and Ralf is doing the groundwork so that the transition is a smooth one.

 

[Dominos]

Just waiting for Pogba to return. My current viewpoint is that this midfield is bottom 3 tier. Mcfred is absolutely pathetic for a club who thinks they should be 'winning'

My hypothesis is with Pogba we will regain some control in midfield and that can help the lazy front 4 who can't do shit without the ball. Then if that's the case, Pogba alone can't do it, it would require another CM that can hold the ball, controll the play etc.

If thats wrong and that doesn't happen then I don't even know. Start from scratch yet again

Amazing anyone could think the answer to our problems is to put Pogba in a 2 man midfield. Like that's going to stop teams tearing through us. Have we learnt nothing in the last 6 years? Keep Pogba away from any sort of disciplined midfield role.

Fred and Mctominay can't do anything about Bruno, Sancho, Rashford, Ronaldo and Greenwood losing the ball every time it's passed to them.

 

[Pronewbie]

Looks like the blind faith in Rangnick is clearing up. Alternative voices are being heard now. Just hope it doesn't swing to the opposite end of the spectrum too quickly.

I am slightly concerned by how out of touch Rangnick was in his pre-match interview on Sky regarding the team's preparedness and confidence. Hopefully it's an anomaly.

 

[AndySmith1990]

Looks like the blind faith in Rangnick is clearing up. Alternative voices are being heard now. Just hope it doesn't swing to the opposite end of the spectrum too quickly.

I am slightly concerned by how out of touch Rangnick was in his pre-match interview on Sky regarding the team's preparedness and confidence. Hopefully it's an anomaly.

What do you mean by blind faith? The man is experienced and well respected in football, his credentials speak for themselves. Any sensible person would be fully behind him for the 6 months he's in charge.

Blind faith is a more apt summary of the support our previous rookie manager received despite doing sod all of note at this level.

 

[Jezpeza]

Looks like the blind faith in Rangnick is clearing up. Alternative voices are being heard now. Just hope it doesn't swing to the opposite end of the spectrum too quickly.

I am slightly concerned by how out of touch Rangnick was in his pre-match interview on Sky regarding the team's preparedness and confidence. Hopefully it's an anomaly.

I think people are very excited given his CV and the coaches he has mentored. I think the reality I have seen so far is yes he has steadied the ship but its boring football and we are struggling to create and score. Defence doesnt look that great still either.

With limited time on the training pitch and a 5 month tenure I can see it mainly being these sort of performances and us just trying to grind out results. I think anyone expecting to see our players running 16k a game and pressing the life out of opponents and scoring for fun by mid january is going to be a bit disappointed.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Ole would have just accepted that last night and in the post match interview driveled on about how we never gave up, or United DNA, or something like that, all the while with a daft grin on his face, and finishing it off with "the great thing about football is we have another opportunity to put it right in the next game" after drawing or losing for the umpteenth game in a row.

So I'm happy at this point that Rangnick called called it out for the gash that it was. Full marks.

we might be the worst team in the league at present, but good that rangnick is saying things that you like

 

[ooeat0meoo]

It's not their fault. They were never bought to function as a team with complimentary strengths and weaknesses. And we haven't coached them that way. We won't deconstruct years of bad club policy in a week or a month.

They're football players. It doesn't matter if they had been poorly coached for years. Its a team sport. That concept should be something they have or don't have within their DNA.
I don't accept that it 'should take years' as it probably will because most of these guys are spoiled turds.

Great example... Martial wants to leave and NOBODY wants him. All our players have been poisoned with the idea that they can do whatever they want.
Mostly, I blame that Glazer family for not having any clue as to what it means to own a European footy club. Next I blame Bob Woodward, but the players should not go without blame, not with the money they're taking away from the club

 

[JebelSherif]

Ronaldo in 2021 is nowhere near 1st or 2nd best player in the world.

He's probably a top 10 player in the world more accurately.

Fair comment.

However, when Utd. persuaded him to return (on £450,000 per week) did they think they were buying a top ten in the world player or a top 2 in the world player - my guess is the second of these.

 

[Pronewbie]

I think people are very excited given his CV and the coaches he has mentored. I think the reality I have seen so far is yes he has steadied the ship but its boring football and we are struggling to create and score. Defence doesnt look that great still either.

With limited time on the training pitch and a 5 month tenure I can see it mainly being these sort of performances and us just trying to grind out results. I think anyone expecting to see our players running 16k a game and pressing the life out of opponents and scoring for fun by mid january is going to be a bit disappointed.

His managerial CV is far from impressive. He has mostly influenced, not mentored, the big names. This is a big difference.

I expect us to be more cohesive and entertaining to watch than what Carrick produced in 3 games come end-Jan, which really isn't much. The past 2 matches have been more akin to Ole's 4-2-4 mess.

 

[wolvored]

It might be that if we dont get top 4 RR will be manager for at least another season. Would Ten Hag come if no ch lge? Would any top manager?
It might happen that RR finds us a young up and coming German/Austrian manager like Nagelsmann of 5 years ago, but maybe thats wishful thinking.

 

[RedIan]

Judge him in March… he’s had an Unfortunate start. Half the team struck down with covid and it seems fans not allowing for any likely ongoing effect of the disease on the players in Training or on the pitch. Hopefully the energy returns soon.

 

[dpansheth]

They're football players. It doesn't matter if they had been poorly coached for years. Its a team sport. That concept should be something they have or don't have within their DNA.
I don't accept that it 'should take years' as it probably will because most of these guys are spoiled turds.

Great example... Martial wants to leave and NOBODY wants him. All our players have been poisoned with the idea that they can do whatever they want.
Mostly, I blame that Glazer family for not having any clue as to what it means to own a European footy club. Next I blame Bob Woodward, but the players should not go without blame, not with the money they're taking away from the club

isnt this the symptom of the last decade.
none of our players or coaches are “on to better things”.

 

[Blood Mage]

Starting to have doubts that he's up to the job as our manager. He'll still be a fantastic consultant/director for us going forward though.

 

[tomaldinho1]

The more I think about it the happier I am that we planned the interim into consultant gig. By now a normal manager would probably be starting to worry, he’d probably already start sacrificing the great ideas he he for the team to fit certain players in and even start to revert to a safer less risky approach out of fear for his job. RR doesn’t give a feck, he’s an interim who wants to be DoF or in some kind of Sporting strategy role, the players can’t get him sacked because he’s already going to leave but remain affiliated with the club.

He’s sticking with 4222 and if players don’t like it or can’t do it, they are gone. We have the biggest summer window ahead of us I can think of; Pogba, Martial, VdB, Cavani, Mata, Matic, Henderson likely all going…there’ll also be players he doesn’t rate who might go. Probably Ronaldo as well.

 

[GledTheRed]

First four games and we've scored four against Palace, Young Boys, Norwich and Newcastle, the latter three should have beaten us.

Terrible start.

 

[MrSingh2002]

I like that he is holding the players accountable for their shortfalls.
In the time given its all he can do. Point it out and try and address it with coaching.

I wish we'd just gave him the job full time so the players know to really buy into the tactics and ideas.

 

[croadyman]

Starting to have doubts that he's up to the job as our manager. He'll still be a fantastic consultant/director for us going forward though.

Yeah looking very much like he will be moving upstairs to appoint a permanent manager as planned

 

[ForeverRed1]

7 out of 9. A fairly ok run coming up. Chelsea and Liverpool play each other next. If we can win our next 3 games and they draw, for example, it puts us 4 points off them, which considering how good they have been and how shite we have been, it’s not a bad return.

 

[RedDevilQuebecois]

I hope the players understand that they will have to endure Ralf for 2 more years after his interim stint. If they don't perform, then you can be sure he will lead the overdue purge from behind the scenes.

 

[croadyman]

From what I have seen so far we are going to be playing Thursday night football next season.

Will Ten Hag or Poch fancy that?

This football club is broken beyond repair. Glazers out.

Yeah we will need to pull of a miracle champions league win to play in it next season looking at current league form

 

[glazed]

Next I blame Bob Woodward

I blame Carl Bernstein as well.

 

[copen1945]

United looked so much more dangerous when Cavani came on. Ronaldo was something else all game. I wish Rangnick has the cojones to drop Ronaldo in favor of Cavani. Dropping Fernandes for a game or two will also be good. Along with tactics, gegenpressing, and others, making these big calls will tells us whether he is someone to be rated highly. Otherwise, I will just count the days until his interim period runs out. I imagine the players would think the same. This lot has survived multiple managers already.

 

[Ali Dia]

Even the stupid owners must surely, finally, be thinking we are paying 250 million per year for this?

Hopefully they give Ralf the juice to do a proper clear out. Any cry babies or sulkers can leave. Let’s put a fire under their arses.

 

[André Dominguez]

He's an interin who's going to be a part of the board when the contract ends. Let's hope he does the foundations well before our permanent manager signs.

 

[Pscholes18]

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[tenpoless]

At least with him, he wont sugarcoat. If he thinks Ronaldo is a problem or any other players he'll most likely say it to the board knowing how he's going to be part of it someday.

 

[Bebestation]

7 out of 9. A fairly ok run coming up. Chelsea and Liverpool play each other next. If we can win our next 3 games and they draw, for example, it puts us 4 points off them, which considering how good they have been and how shite we have been, it’s not a bad return.

That doesn't sound too bad. We really need to get in to a goalscoring bit of form though.

 

[ExoduS]

We can blame coaches and managers till end of time, but our problems remain bigger. Much bigger. Our football club needs proper football structure and until that happens no manager will make a major impact. Rangnick is no magician. Hard to make a tasty pie from pile of crap.

 

[Freak]

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Aww the poor overpaid bastards cannot adapt to a different style of training. Bunch of spoilt cnuts if true.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

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No coaching, problem. More coaching, problem. None of these wanna win.

 

[Pscholes18]

No coaching, problem. More coaching, problem. None of these wanna win.

This

 

[Nobby style]

It’s the players and was under Ole too.

We’ve entrusted the completely wrong kind of players over and over. Cavani James Fred Bruno Herrera, we need more players with industry to make things happen for the more skilful ones. The balance is all wrong. We are still carrying far too many prima donnas. Getting out fought every second week is no fun.

Erm, who are all these prima donnas we're carrying??? Maybe you see Rashford that way, ok. Ronaldo? If he is, he's putting a lot of balls in the auld onion bag, and has basically carried us to where we are in the Prem and CL. Bruno? Mayyyybe one could say so, but seems more like a frustrated captain-ish talent pissed off with his and our fall in form. But who else? Harry for all his faults this year is certainly not, nor anyone in our back line, especially not Varane nor Lindalof nor Shaw nor Bisaka nor Telles nor Dalot. Our midfield? You can't possibly consider Fred nor McTominay nor Matic. If you're referring to Pogba, he's hardly played for us. And no way Cavani nor Greenwood nor De Gea nor Sancho. Who else plays much for us who you would consider a prima donna?

Who are ALL these mythical "far too many" prima donnas United are carrying?? I keep hearing punters comment on this and I don't get it. It's not like we're full of these handwaving, class-oozing Berbatosses.

 

[Ali Dia]

Erm, who are all these prima donnas we're carrying??? Maybe you see Rashford that way, ok. Ronaldo? If he is, he's putting a lot of balls in the auld onion bag, and has basically carried us to where we are in the Prem and CL. Bruno? Mayyyybe one could say so, but seems more like a frustrated captain-ish talent pissed off with his and our fall in form. But who else? Harry for all his faults this year is certainly not, nor anyone in our back line, especially not Varane nor Lindalof nor Shaw nor Bisaka nor Telles nor Dalot. Our midfield? You can't possibly consider Fred nor McTominay nor Matic. If you're referring to Pogba, he's hardly played for us. And no way Cavani nor Greenwood nor De Gea nor Sancho. Who else plays much for us who you would consider a prima donna?

Who are ALL these mythical "far too many" prima donnas United are carrying?? I keep hearing punters comment on this and I don't get it. It's not like we're full of these handwaving, class-oozing Berbatosses.

Rashford, Ronadlo. greenwood. martial, Lingard, Pogba and possibly even Sancho although I think he looks a good player. Shaw DDG AWB Donny. Most are on the meek side. They are good players but If we want to play pressing football with maximum effort and energy our recruitment strategy is way off. In fact it couldn’t be any further from what we’ve suddenly decided we want to be now. We have the lowest working group of players in the league on by far the biggest money. Go figure.

 

[Nobby style]

Rashford, Ronadlo. greenwood. martial, Lingard, Pogba and possibly even Sancho although I think he looks a good player. Shaw DDG AWB Donny. Most are on the meek side. They are good players but If we want to play pressing football with maximum effort and energy our recruitment strategy is way off. In fact it couldn’t be any further from what we’ve suddenly decided we want to be now. We have the lowest working group of forwards in the league on the biggest money. Go figure.

We're certainly not carrying Ronaldo, and Martial, Lingard and Pogba barely get a sniff of football, so their gegenpressing and work rate don't really matter. I would certainly not consider Greenwood a "prima donna." Think this lot is more confused than refusing to work and getting all prima donna on us.

 

[Waynne]

Are there people genuinely getting the pitchforks out after 4 matches? Good lord.

Yep. Not even a month at the club and already the fans and media are on his back. Some 'fans' in here need to go support other clubs. Disgusting.

 

[DRJosh]

If Ralf struggles to get results, I think we can confidently say the problem runs deeper into the overall structure of this club and the general culture beyond what is said at the training ground. Something hasn’t been clicking for the past 10 years or more.

It is worrying.

 

[Norman Brownbutter]

Did anyone really think he was going to turn it around overnight?

 

[MasterCode]

No I personally feel this Ragnick approach will end in tears. Midseason IMO he has tried to change too much too quickly.

This season is becoming a write off for me (hopefully I am wrong). Funny how his post match interview sounded pretty much like Ole's in his assesment of what was lacking. I don't hear the same uproar towards RR about it.

I do feel self doubt in the presence of Ronaldo's Varane etc plays a big part for some of the other players; and I've felt that for a while. The fact Ole kept telling players "believe in yourself" didn't miss me. They seem over critical of one another lack belief and togetherness on the field. Every player in that squad can play two or three levels than what they are currently showing, even some of my least favourite players.

Best thing Ralf got was the sports psychologist. I really couldn't give a monkey about his philosphies. Systems won't fix the mind, I hear people nowadays say the games "about space now". Nonsense as someone who has played the game to an okay level the game has been and always will be about what's going on in your head.

 

[RedPed]

I'm thinking that Solskjaer's legacy is only going to strengthen over time. History will be kinder to him as time goes on. This United team is just not making any sense.

Rangnick's undoing will be sticking with players that don't deserve their playing time at the expense of form players.