Zidane or Rodgers - If we hired a new manager immediately who would you prefer?

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croadyman

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Zidane is free and he is a very well proven successful manager in a short time, even huge names with amazing squads couldn't win a back to back C.L, let alone 3 in a row., not anybody can do that. And we are desperate to get a new manager so as a club like us it is expected to do everything to lure him and get him now. But our board can feck all our expectations just right off, and they still trust Ole it seems.
The only way I could ever remotely believe in this was if the usual suspects starting talking it up seriously which they haven't at all
 

Real Name

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Jose and LVG did not flop as badly as Ole has. Jose had 3rd season meltdown and was sacked after a bad run, that Ole has had 4-5 of over the past 3 years.

LVG was sacked after winning the FA cup and finishing level on points with City despite playing world class academy players like McNair, Blackett, Jackson, Love…

In total they won 3 trophies.

In 3 years.. Ole has spent £450m, been given every player he’s asked for. Won nothing, overseen several dreadful runs and lost 5-0 to liverpool and had City beat us 2-0 without even trying.

So let’s end this myth that others have failed. No they just didn’t meet exceptionally high standards that we had as an elite club.., but the disgusting thing is that if today ole achieved what LVG or Mourinho achieved Ole would be called a success that is how much he has lowered standards and expectations.
Fantastic post. Best post ever in this place overall. Finally someone has said things nobody has said in this place ever. Great post. This has to be repeated from now on in every thread possible.
 

stoinz

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I don't have a good feeling about either of them. But it is not like we have much options right?
 

lex talionis

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I don't have a good feeling about either of them. But it is not like we have much options right?
Right.

But Zidane may be a brilliant option. We know his dream is to manage France. After the WC in 2022 — in November/December — Deschamps will step down and Zidane can take over. There would be no need for Zidane to take over immediately so if it works for all parties he could leave United in May, regardless of whatever his trophy haul may be. With that knowledge, we can scout the field of potential replacements with proper deliberation.
 

Nytram Shakes

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I guess Zidane has a history of getting results from a team of individuals which really is what we need in the short term while we have players like Ronaldo and Pogba. but really longer-term i think we need a manager who can actually blend this squad into a team so I would say, Rodgers as that's what the squad needs over the next few seasons.

I don't think either is ideal candidates though and wouldn't think either appointment would be great.
 

glazed

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Can Zidane coach in English?
No he doesn't speak English so his brilliant man management will be useless . And he doesn't want the job. The whole thing is a performance so that when Bodger comes they can say they tried. But Bodger is who they want if they have to make a change. He won't make demands.
 
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peridigm

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Zidane. Neither are what we need long term and we know Zidane would be short term, 2-3 years max which gives us a chance to continue looking while Zidane gets us away from Ole. Rodgers would be short term as he's not good enough and we'd be int he same exact situation we're in now.
 

red woppit

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Jose and LVG did not flop as badly as Ole has. Jose had 3rd season meltdown and was sacked after a bad run, that Ole has had 4-5 of over the past 3 years.

LVG was sacked after winning the FA cup and finishing level on points with City despite playing world class academy players like McNair, Blackett, Jackson, Love…

In total they won 3 trophies.

In 3 years.. Ole has spent £450m, been given every player he’s asked for. Won nothing, overseen several dreadful runs and lost 5-0 to liverpool and had City beat us 2-0 without even trying.

So let’s end this myth that others have failed. No they just didn’t meet exceptionally high standards that we had as an elite club.., but the disgusting thing is that if today ole achieved what LVG or Mourinho achieved Ole would be called a success that is how much he has lowered standards and expectations.
Interesting post.
Now I guess that this season has been pretty poor after the initial few games, so in that sense Ole has failed I suppose, but to say that both LVG and Jose did not fail is a bit red tinted specs. Both were supposedly top managers in their own right, Ole is not, and has never been regarded as a top manager, who were going to do great things, but under LVG United played some of the direst, most boring football I have ever seen, in fact it's the only time in recent history that I stopped watching United's matches on TV.
Yes he did win a trophy, but we were fortunate to get to the final, winning several matches right at the death, and De Gea saving a penalty against Everton in the semi, with Martial scoring a great goal to win it near the end, and even the final went to extra time.
Mourinho's reign was littered with lots of instances of throwing the players under the bus, complaining about referees, the board and anyone else to deflect any criticism from himself. The fact that he never found a home, always living in a hotel whilst at OT speaks volumes to me, and the general feeling around the club was certainly becoming quite toxic.
When Ole joined it seemed like a breath of fresh air, and for a while we seemed to be on the right track, but despite moving a number of players on, there are still a few that need to go, Mata, Matic, Lingard, Pogba, Jones are all surplus from what I see, and although I can see why Ole bought Maguire and AWB, they most certainly can be upgraded.
I was always hopeful that Ole would develop as a top manager, but I feel that, unfortunately, he has gone out of his depth, and is now struggling to stay afloat. For me, a very experienced coach coming in would have helped a lot, but that boat has sailed, and from my perspective, Ole probably needs to move on. Some of his reign has been very good, but I think some of the signings, especially recently, show that there is a lack of joined up thinking, and by keeping the likes of the players mentioned earlier, he has denied the opportunity for Hannibal, Elanga, Amad and Shoretire to get some valuable minutes in first team matches.
I would prefer Zidane out of the two mentioned, but Potter I like, and Ten Haag would be interesting.
 

Red Rash

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I would definitely go with Zidane

  • Much better pedigree having won the CL and La Liga
  • Already worked with a number of players like Ronaldo and Varane
  • Wanted Pogba and Van De Beek so would find a way to keep them and get the best of them
  • Much more attractive proposition for new players coming in
  • Seems like the kind of manager to not take any rubbish from the board
  • Based on his standing as a player and manager, the players would respect him
I wouldn't be completely again Rodgers but I think its mostly due to how bad a coach Solskjaer is rather than really wanting Rodgers. Either way given the choice between Zidane and Rodgers there is no contest really.
 

lex talionis

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Zidane > Rodgers, obviously, but there is nothing in the public record to suggest Zidane has any interest in coming to PL, let alone managing United.
 

el3mel

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Zidane easily.

Rodgers is a good manager but he's a step down from what I want from a United manager. He'll be a disappointing appointment for me.

If Rodgers ends up here next season for whatever reason, I hope he doesn't get anything more than 2 years contract at most.
 
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Devolving what argument? You're quoting me as if I was responding to you when I wasn't, this had nothing to do with whatever argument you've come up with in your mind. There's been plenty of people who basically reduced Zidane's success to luck, you can find some of those comments on here, but it's been in quite a few places, and I'll very humbly maintain that it is a dumb and ignorant opinion.

Can you see how dumb the bolded part would be to question when he has consistently gotten the best out of managers in the big games, or taken apart Barcelona which was a juggernaut still when he became the coach of Madrid? There's nothing wrong with the technique his team displayed, and he consistently found ways to tweak his tactics to his opposition. This is why he's sitting on three CLs and the poster boys for 'technical' management are at one combined since Zidane's been a manager, and that one came while he went on his sabbatical.

Finally, the last argument you made would be interesting if Zidane didn't prove himself with his second stint at Madrid, taking over a team most people thought didn't have much of a shot at doing much and ended up winning La Liga and ending with a semi-final run to the CL.

There is no valid argument to doubt Zidane at this point. I have more doubts about managers like Pep or Klopp than I do about Zidane and the results will tend to agree with me so far.
Yeah, this is bang on really.

I was on the fence about Zidane myself for longer than I should have been - even managed to downplay the third consecutive CL, which they'd won while putting up a thoroughly embarrassing title defence in the league. But then he only came back and won another title with a much weaker squad - the same players as 5 years ago, except most were past their best and he no longer had one of the best players ever. And at that point I had to conclude I was out of arguments.

You can win things without necessarily being a great coach, especially knockout competitions - as we've seen with Di Matteo, Roberto Martinez, or the likes of Valverde. But you don't win as many big titles as rapidly as Zidane has by just lucking into a good squad. Worth pointing out as well that the Madrid squad that people give all the credit for his success won just 3 titles in the last decade, and he was responsible for 2 of them in essentially 3.5 seasons. So he wasn't exactly playing on easy mode in a one-team league.
 

George The Best

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Rodgers was a Utd supporter in his youth - apparently. The Northern Island connection, possibly.. If he really has strong feelings for the club, allegedly, then I’d go for him or Poch. No indication that Zidane is even remotely interested.
 

minoo-utd

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The only way I could ever remotely believe in this was if the usual suspects starting talking it up seriously which they haven't at all
Yes agree. Ole staying and Glazers wants him at least for the end of the season it seems. Shame.
 

Maniron

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Zidane, every day of the week.
Agreed, I don't think Rodgers would command the same respect from the players as Zidane and I think he would be on the back foot from day 1. Zidane is globally recognised as a great player and also has a very decent management cv with one of one of a handful of clubs that can genuinely rank alongside Utd as one of the biggest in the world

I also think that the pressures on a Utd manager to succeed are immense and it takes a great self belief and a very thick skin (along with tactical knowhow and motivation skills) and I think Zidane is better equipped than Rodgers to deal with the pressure.
 

croadyman

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Agreed, I don't think Rodgers would command the same respect from the players as Zidane and I think he would be on the back foot from day 1. Zidane is globally recognised as a great player and also has a very decent management cv with one of one of a handful of clubs that can genuinely rank alongside Utd as one of the biggest in the world

I also think that the pressures on a Utd manager to succeed are immense and it takes a great self belief and a very thick skin (along with tactical knowhow and motivation skills) and I think Zidane is better equipped than Rodgers to deal with the pressure.
Yeah I think so too but everything you keep hearing from Romano, Laurens and the Utd journos suggest he has no desire to manage in England let alone for us, still think he is prepared to just wait it out for the French national job however long it takes
 

MrBest

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I'd take zidane over Rogers, purely because Rogers has been at the enemy. I think Rogers could do a job but i have serious reservations about having a former Pool manager, who is considered by some Liverpool fans, as being a flop even though it was Stevie G who tumbled when the going got tough. Rogers has also said that he was young and naive back then, only really focused on playing with the ball but he claims he is more balanced now. I like him, he manages my second team and has done a brilliant job there but United are number one so no thanks.

I am not a fan of Zidane, he brings success, titles, players seem to love him but there is something about his style that puts me off. I know i cannot read into personal judgements so other thing that puts me off is I really do not think he is interested in this role.

Personally, if we can, grab him as an interim until the summer, he can then go off into the sunset and manage France whilst we throw the kitchen sink and Mr Beans car at Ten Haag. He is the only manager I like out there after the new Bayern coach, who 100%, will not come.

All i am sure of, the longer Ole is here, the more points we drop, the more pain we suffer and my eyes become drier so I'll probably have to do another eye test.
 

hobbers

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I'd take Zidane managing us entirely remotely by Zoom calls from Spain over Rodgers.
 

Red the Bear

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I'd take zidane over Rogers, purely because Rogers has been at the enemy. I think Rogers could do a job but i have serious reservations about having a former Pool manager, who is considered by some Liverpool fans, as being a flop even though it was Stevie G who tumbled when the going got tough. Rogers has also said that he was young and naive back then, only really focused on playing with the ball but he claims he is more balanced now. I like him, he manages my second team and has done a brilliant job there but United are number one so no thanks.

I am not a fan of Zidane, he brings success, titles, players seem to love him but there is something about his style that puts me off. I know i cannot read into personal judgements so other thing that puts me off is I really do not think he is interested in this role.

Personally, if we can, grab him as an interim until the summer, he can then go off into the sunset and manage France whilst we throw the kitchen sink and Mr Beans car at Ten Haag. He is the only manager I like out there after the new Bayern coach, who 100%, will not come.

All i am sure of, the longer Ole is here, the more points we drop, the more pain we suffer and my eyes become drier so I'll probably have to do another eye test.
If would be fine if that slip was the only instance of such bottling but he also managed to lose ucl qualification from positions where he had everything going his way and a forgiving fixture list not once but twice

To be honest that title challenge run and that fa cup win is the only things going for him and it ain't much considering that its much easier to fluke your way into one (not considering his Celtic days as a scarecrow would won titles in that league)

Add being a former scouse manager and the odds really mount against him

I guess the only positive is that if the going goes tough he won't have the good will of us fans the way ole has so we could get him sacked faster
 

Theonas

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Engage with the argument a bit better than that...Zidane was managing a team with an incredible ceiling and home stadium and pedigree and experience and had the best player in the world playing for him. His achievements are still incredible but let’s not pretend that Brendan should have been able to get a similar return on Scott Brown and co. or a Leicester squad who are completely ordinary beyond the first 11.

I would not prefer either tbh. But they really are not comparable in terms of ability. Their careers have been too distinct from each other to say one is clearly better than the other.
Yeah, it's a bit like saying to Liverpool fans back in 2015, do you want a bloke who won multiple league titles in different countries and two CLs or a bloke who won 2 Bundesligas and who was once bottom of the table in his last season?
 

fluxx

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Zidane is a football god, Brendan seems like a good manager tbf...but we have elite players and need elite coaching, no question about it.
 

therealtboy

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Zidane aka The bald and the beautiful, he can definitely come here and build another dynasty and give us the best days of our lives.
 

FriedClams

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When considering these two, I think about what they might do to individual players to get more out of them. I think Zidane would turn Bruno into a much better #10, and I think Rodgers would probably find a way to make Mctominay a better midfielder on the ball. But there’s pretty Minimal chance of either coming to the club.
 

croadyman

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Rodgers was a Utd supporter in his youth - apparently. The Northern Island connection, possibly.. If he really has strong feelings for the club, allegedly, then I’d go for him or Poch. No indication that Zidane is even remotely interested.
Would people feel any different about Rodgers IF he got the job and talked about always having a real passion for the club when he was younger.
 

croadyman

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If would be fine if that slip was the only instance of such bottling but he also managed to lose ucl qualification from positions where he had everything going his way and a forgiving fixture list not once but twice

To be honest that title challenge run and that fa cup win is the only things going for him and it ain't much considering that its much easier to fluke your way into one (not considering his Celtic days as a scarecrow would won titles in that league)

Add being a former scouse manager and the odds really mount against him

I guess the only positive is that if the going goes tough he won't have the good will of us fans the way ole has so we could get him sacked faster
Yeah at least with him we know there will be no more of the sentimental FC claptrap
 

Nikelesh Reddy

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I would pick Zidane,but it doesn’t seem like he wants the job,so it’s a futile discussion…
 

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A bit of a weird parallel to draw perhaps, but us coercing a clearly hesitant and unconvinced Zidane to manage us has shades of the Di Maria signing. Yeah it looks great on paper, if they're really not set on it then it doesn't really work out and they piss off with haste.

I would have thought the prospective candidate being actually interested in the job would be a good start.
 

adkb

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Zidane will be a hit or a miss kind of a manager. How well he adapts to the PL, Man Utd will really be stressful thing to predict.

Rodgers will play exciting football that is for sure. Players like Sancho, Rashford, Ronaldo, Greenwood, Bruno will have an absolute field day.
 
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Bebestation

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The One thing I don't really believe is Zidane being tempted to manage United due to Ronaldo and Varane. Sure I can imagine them trying to tempt the Glazers to get him, but not really that Zidane is excited to work with the same exact players again.

He got to manage exactly those players before and I'm not sure why he would be excited to do it all over again just in another country - especially when they are now significantly older.

I can imagine him wanting to manage Pogba but he isn't exactly looking like he is staying either.
 

RedBanker

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Jose and LVG did not flop as badly as Ole has. Jose had 3rd season meltdown and was sacked after a bad run, that Ole has had 4-5 of over the past 3 years.

LVG was sacked after winning the FA cup and finishing level on points with City despite playing world class academy players like McNair, Blackett, Jackson, Love…

In total they won 3 trophies.

In 3 years.. Ole has spent £450m, been given every player he’s asked for. Won nothing, overseen several dreadful runs and lost 5-0 to liverpool and had City beat us 2-0 without even trying.

So let’s end this myth that others have failed. No they just didn’t meet exceptionally high standards that we had as an elite club.., but the disgusting thing is that if today ole achieved what LVG or Mourinho achieved Ole would be called a success that is how much he has lowered standards and expectations.
This post should be pinned.
 

Daengophile

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I don't have a good feeling about either of them. But it is not like we have much options right?
This is true - and is why it may make more sense to wait. For sure the pressure is on OGS and his coaches. Let's see if they can respond
 

stoinz

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This is true - and is why it may make more sense to wait. For sure the pressure is on OGS and his coaches. Let's see if they can respond
Yes, I prefer to wait and get the right one too. Best case scenario if Ole stay is for him to get some help with regards to tactical input while we wait for summer. I think likelihood of Enrique or Ten Hag or even Poch would be higher during the summer than now.

Maybe Rooney may fancy coming in as caretaker until the summer.
 
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