Zidane with the class of 92 as his assistants.
Future Manager Speculation
- Thread starter Moiraine
- Start date
I think Zidane would be interesting, but I don't feel like the PL is on his agenda at this point in his career.
Poch is probably the realistic option.
Poch is probably the realistic option.
The attack & midfield are decent - it’s the defence that gets my goat. SAF signings started in the back 5 in the cup final. Each of those signings are about 6 years or more at the club. It’s embarrassing that a club as big as United have retired wingers in the fullback positions.
If we get specialists and much more talented defenders, Jose would risk much more attacking play but none of our CBs are good in possession. When we are out under pressure in our box area, the next thing is hoofing the ball to Fellaini’s chest or Lukaku.
Ask yourself, which of our defenders would start games for any of the European elite clubs? Would Jones or Valencia start for Barca, RM, Juventus or Bayern?
I know Poch has won feck all but when Mourinho leaves thats the man I want. He is a very humble man and has that kind of personality that would fit this club perfectly. During his time at spurs its also been proven he gets everyone aboard on his way of playing and he is that type of maanager who creates a good environment around the team and builds up a great team spirit. I think he would be the right man to make us compete again, but then again i'm just a supporter and know feck all, it could all go to hell if we appointed him, but I don't see a better choice out there.
Of course he is humble, he cant brag about anything.
I’d rather finish 8th and play good football than finish 2nd and it be unwatchable shite. Not saying that’s the “right” view to have, but it’s my preference.
Woodward will never go for that, it would mean him putting the club first and also he would have to relinquish some power.
He should never be in a position where he is making footballing decisions, he is an investment banker.
It’s time to say what we’re all thinking, or at least what I’m thinking. This allows everyone to say what I’m thinking, and from there it’s a pretty easy step to think what you’re saying, at which point everyone will be thinking the same thing. This unity of direction should allow us to streamline the forum extensively, possibly even enough for it to wear cycling shorts.
The only choice for this club is Big Sam. In the following meta-narrative I will prove this beyond any vestige of doubt. Firstly: why is ‘Big’ Sam so big, and is he even big? A combination of meditation and Google searches has informed me that Samuel (I’m using the bigger form of his name) is six foot three. I prefer the slightly bigger number version of 191 cm, or if you’re feeling really ambitious: 1,910 mm. Someone once tried to tell me that all these numbers actually meant the same thing because of the letters after them, but I’m not so stupid as to think that 191 can be the same as a number ten times its size, and neither are you. I consider it proven beyond doubt that Big Sam is physically big.
I believe that one may also refer to Allardyce as big in a number of diverse figurative ways. Big Sam played for nine different clubs in his playing career, a pretty high number. He has managed twelve, an even larger number. The corruption allegations which brought his England managerial reign to an end (this – admittedly – was not a big spell in charge) were very serious, or big (if you will). It would seem that whatever Big Sam turns his hand to, the ever-present leitmotif is bigness.
This segues naturally into a discussion of the magnitude of Manchester United. United are the most successful English football club, playing in the biggest stadium and with big players like Fellaini and Lukaku (a natural fit for Allardyce’s long-ball tactics, which I refer to as big-ball). Our players hit the ball hard, making it travel far at high speeds. We also have big amounts of money, which we spend from time to time on various projects.
Appointing the biggest manager possible would indicate that we as a club finally understand our own stature. Onwards to bigness is what I say (loudly).
The only choice for this club is Big Sam. In the following meta-narrative I will prove this beyond any vestige of doubt. Firstly: why is ‘Big’ Sam so big, and is he even big? A combination of meditation and Google searches has informed me that Samuel (I’m using the bigger form of his name) is six foot three. I prefer the slightly bigger number version of 191 cm, or if you’re feeling really ambitious: 1,910 mm. Someone once tried to tell me that all these numbers actually meant the same thing because of the letters after them, but I’m not so stupid as to think that 191 can be the same as a number ten times its size, and neither are you. I consider it proven beyond doubt that Big Sam is physically big.
I believe that one may also refer to Allardyce as big in a number of diverse figurative ways. Big Sam played for nine different clubs in his playing career, a pretty high number. He has managed twelve, an even larger number. The corruption allegations which brought his England managerial reign to an end (this – admittedly – was not a big spell in charge) were very serious, or big (if you will). It would seem that whatever Big Sam turns his hand to, the ever-present leitmotif is bigness.
This segues naturally into a discussion of the magnitude of Manchester United. United are the most successful English football club, playing in the biggest stadium and with big players like Fellaini and Lukaku (a natural fit for Allardyce’s long-ball tactics, which I refer to as big-ball). Our players hit the ball hard, making it travel far at high speeds. We also have big amounts of money, which we spend from time to time on various projects.
Appointing the biggest manager possible would indicate that we as a club finally understand our own stature. Onwards to bigness is what I say (loudly).
Come out the threasd then. It wasn’t made for you.
Yeah agreed. We also told Moyes not to renew with Everton so it's not as if we only go for free agents.
The board are probably hoping Mourinho lasts the season and then they can go for whichever flavour of the month emerges from the PL or Champions League this year. As others have said, the pool of available talent is particularly small at the moment and has been throughout the post-Ferguson period.
Haha very good.
Living in France, for ages with regards to Zidane, I heard : "he is too shy", "not a vocal leader", "not a tactician", "can you imagine how bored the players would be"....Never seen (or read) it, just have the impression that many make up their minds about these things without really having a clue
Of course you can guess half of them changed their tune, some of them just nod and a few remain adamant the talent at his disposition took care of itself lol...
Personaly I'd rather be excited by an unknown entity than one I know I dislike. I mean how hard would it be for a random manager to come in and NOT make us play kick-n-rush football?
If I would want anyone here it would be Zidane. Hes a good man manager and because of his reputation in the game he would attract the best players to the club IMO.
We should be doing everything to bring him and Mbappe to the club. The way City planned ahead to get Guardiola we should be doing exactly the same kind of planning for Zidane.
We should be doing everything to bring him and Mbappe to the club. The way City planned ahead to get Guardiola we should be doing exactly the same kind of planning for Zidane.
Just because he hasn’t won anything doesn’t mean anything. The very fact that he has taken his team to the heights that they have is great - when you consider their net spend compared to the rest of us.
What the....
do people not realise how good some of the players we have are. Heck Fergie would love this squad, he won more with less.Personally think if worst should happen and Jose was eradicated half way through the season Woody would probably panic and just go for the first available big name, although might be best just to bring in a stop gap for a few months and see about getting Poch at the end of the year. Although I’m all for a revolution of getting a Dof and going for someone like Nagelsmann
Why do everyone want Zidane, do we really want to see Zidane breaking crossing record with us? I don't want another Moyes, thank you.
Jardim seems to be the right option.
I was thinking of making a new thread for this, but what are the Caf's thoughts on Southgate as a potential Jose replacement?
So far our policy of "big name" managers hasnt been working out. We look on at the likes of Pochetino and Zidane who have broken through and shown themselves as exciting, fairly young managers, whilst we seem to be persisting with the old guard...the previous generation.
Southgate has a settled system (which I think would actually suit the current playing squad quite well), as well as known credentials as a coach and am emerging reputation after the World Cup. We could even consider switching to a Head Coach/DOF system.
Additionally, Southgate would come with some in depth knowledge of good English youngsters, based on his time with the English national youth teams, and has shown he is happy to give chances to young players.
So far our policy of "big name" managers hasnt been working out. We look on at the likes of Pochetino and Zidane who have broken through and shown themselves as exciting, fairly young managers, whilst we seem to be persisting with the old guard...the previous generation.
Southgate has a settled system (which I think would actually suit the current playing squad quite well), as well as known credentials as a coach and am emerging reputation after the World Cup. We could even consider switching to a Head Coach/DOF system.
Additionally, Southgate would come with some in depth knowledge of good English youngsters, based on his time with the English national youth teams, and has shown he is happy to give chances to young players.
Yeah....What the....
Personally think if worst should happen and Jose was eradicated half way through the season Woody would probably panic and just go for the first available big name, although might be best just to bring in a stop gap for a few months and see about getting Poch at the end of the year. Although I’m all for a revolution of getting a Dof and going for someone like Nagelsmann
Let’s see Fergie try with Pep’s monster squad then we can all talk. We all saw how Jose’s monster squad of 04-06 blew Fergie’s side away until the club had to do some smart business.
Southgate would be too much of an unknown quantity - he has introduced some long overdue sanity to the England set up but he has very limited credentials at club level. I am not advocating we continue the policy of hiring only experienced, won it all managers but Gareth is too much of a leap in the dark for me. Let’s see whether he continues to improve England first.
This is not true.
United’s expectation is different from Spurs. Spurs have never won the league so there is little or no big expectation from Poch to win it. They can play all the sexy football they want and they will always be media darlings. Every cnut in the country loves an underdog.
It’s a different case for United. Man Utd are the biggest club in the country. Anything less than winning the title is a failure. You can play the sexiest football that is way beyond Brazil ‘70 or ‘82 teams and you would still fall short with the media if you don’t win the PL.
So stop listening to your cohorts who feel sexy football > results for Man Utd. Man Utd will always be judged by the results. Who cares about sexy football? If we had won the league last season, would anyone have cared we put 10 men behind the ball at Anfield?
Give it to McKenna and Carrick.
Utter rubbish - Ibrahimovic came in & we as a club did worse that season that we did we did with Rashford & Martial who as strikers were were fresh & raw (having hardly 6 months each upfront). They did better than Ibrahimovic solely upfront - never mind the fact that Martial & Rashford didn't even get to work on a partnership together considering that is where their strengths lie rather than playing as sole target men for Jose mourinho. Luckily we managed to K0 the teams at Europa league level that season to get ourselves back in to the CL.
Fast forward the next 2 years - the 2 central stickers have been made to be left wingers trying aimlessly to supply for a further new target man who plays upfront by himself
. To this day we haven't had a single striker who delivered 26-30 games a season & we have yet to still win a title - ultimately as a club that appreciates their younger players; not winning a title whilst bypassing your younger players development should be considered a significant waste of time.
Jose has said the moment he signed through his own mouth that he likes target men & he said that Martial & Rashford are not his type of strikers - ie not target men - almost instantly dropping them to makeshift roles the moment he entered the training ground.
For sure Rashford & Martial won't be able to provide 26-30 games a season by themselves playing individually as target men but to think that coming up to the 3rd major trophy less year that with 3 seasons experience - Martial & Rashford in partnership playing football on the ground couldn't have the same or more attacking prowess we saw solely from ibrahinpvic or Lukaku by themselves is completely wrong.
Rashford & Martial together have the ability to be strikers in partnership that can compete with Lukaku & Ibrahimlvic by themselves because as seen by the latter two - they require the whole team to provide a significant level of service & support to be clinical.
Martial & Rashford would be deadly together right now if it wasn't for Jose. Add Lukaku to the mix - the pure reasoning behind not having a partnership between combinations of those 3 upfront is a complete hoax.
I’d imagine the same way he dealt with Jose’s “monster squad” which was win a title. I guess 06-07 doesn’t fit in with the story you’re trying to spin hence why you cut short at 06. Heck that season Chelsea only lost 3 games and Drogba was top scorer.
The talent in this squad is of a very very high standard, it’s just not playing to it’s ability we do not have a poor squad, that is just insanity.
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Major argument against Mourinho is that though results might be acceptable but the way we play is highly defensive and we aren't creative enough, if you think about it though Southgate did well with England result wise but England hardly played great attacking football ,only created few chances relied mostly on set pieces to get result but thats all ignored because Southgate talked a good game Infact England were similar to how we were under Van Gaal so no to him we actually need genuine progressive manager who plays attractive football when Mourinho goes.
After 2 seasons of being blown away by Jose. Let’s not forget Jose complained about class A/B eggs at the start of 06/07 season too hinting Chelsea’s lack of investment where it mattered.
Pep does not have such constraints. There’s no way Fergie would manage this current side to beat Pep’s team. Hell, Fergie’s “best team” got molested by Pep on 2 occasions in the past so you simply have no evidence other than emotions to claim Fergie would manage the current bunch of United players to win the PL.
Stop fantasising....
Martial & Rashford are too inconsistent to even lead a club like United anywhere. They have been tested time & time again, they simply don’t have what it takes. Let’s stop hyping average players ....they have the talents but they aren’t ready yet.
Luckily we managed to K0 the teams at Europa league level that season to get ourselves back in to the CL.
Fast forward the next 2 years - the 2 central stickers have been made to be left wingers trying aimlessly to supply for a further new target man who plays upfront by himself
To this day we haven't had a single striker who delivered 26-30 games a season & we have yet to still win a title - ultimately as a club that appreciates their younger players; not winning a title whilst bypassing your younger players development should be considered a significant waste of time.
Jose has said the moment he signed through his own mouth that he likes target men & he said that Martial & Rashford are not his type of strikers - ie not target men - almost instantly dropping them to makeshift roles the moment he entered the training ground.
For sure Rashford & Martial won't be able to provide 26-30 games a season by themselves playing individually as target men but to think that coming up to the 3rd major trophy less year that with 3 seasons experience - Martial & Rashford in partnership playing football on the ground couldn't have the same or more attacking prowess we saw solely from ibrahinpvic or Lukaku by themselves is completely wrong.
Rashford & Martial together have the ability to be strikers in partnership that can compete with Lukaku & Ibrahimlvic by themselves because as seen by the latter two - they require the whole team to provide a significant level of service & support to be clinical.
Martial & Rashford would be deadly together right now if it wasn't for Jose. Add Lukaku to the mix - the pure reasoning behind not having a partnership between combinations of those 3 upfront is a complete hoax.
As good as Rooney/Ronaldo were then, it took them time and perhaps the guidance of Ruud, Saha to forge them into formidable forwards. Martial/Rashford aren’t even as good as the Rooney/Ronaldo so saying they would have gone on to become Messi/Aguero is just fantasy.
Personally, I would have sold Martial to a continental club. He’s got talents but the man is a sloth. All kinds of excuses have been made about him. Play him on the left, play him in the centre, play him on the right. Fact is - a good player is a good player anywhere he plays. Rooney/Ronaldo played in many positions and still destroyed opposition.
This is nothing to do with Jose or some weird tactical methods he deploys. These guys aren’t just consistent enough. Have you forgotten Martial’s shitshow at the Toon last season? You mean Jose’s weird tactical approach is why Martial missed big chances against Benitez’s men? Martial that had already fallen out of favour with Deschamps at Euro 2016 is who you want to blame Jose for?
Please - get some perspective.
Giggsy. He can do both. Wales ain't a big deal.
[1] Not true? It was a personally held opinion and clearly offered as such, I'm not sure they can actually be true or false???
[2] Finishing 2nd does not get you a trophy any more than finishing 8th does.
[3] I honestly couldn't give a feck about the media. What I do care about is whether my Saturday afternoons are spent enjoying football or suffering it, its been too much of the latter with our last 3 managers. As i said in my original point, im not pushing for Jose to leave, just that when he eventually does i'd like to see a change in approach.
We was winning titles with better football than now though that's the difference
Jardim only takes care of the first team, he doesn't organize transfers, scouting or promotions. And he is very pragmatic, if his best players are attackers he will ask his team to attack and if his team is mainly made of good defenders he will defend. He is good with young players but also veterans.
I'll sponsor the cab ride to take him out of OT to nearest airport
You are highlighting players that could play in multiple positions.
Rooney was a CF/CAM player who players as a ST, CF, CAM, LAM, and when he lost his legs CM.
Ronaldo was a RW who was able to progress by utilising his stronger foot on the other side. He was able to play occasionaly as a striker.
These players were playing in these positions but were world class in one or two positions only - positions that were correctly made for them.
I am not comparing Martial & Rashford to these players (one you bought was Ronaldo considered the greatest football player of all time) - but neither have they had a manager like SAF who attempts to get them to play football in their best positions.
Playing Martial and Rashford as LW is the same as playing Rooney or Ronaldo as RW for a whole season - it just is stupid and would have a significantly worse season that adapting the tactics to allow them to play in their best positions. Sure they might have done it for one or two games a season but did they do it for 2 seasons on a row and met expectations playing as a RW primarily supplying crosses for a target man. I dont think so
There is no perspective needed. As I have said already - look at Sterling for England and look at him for city. That is the difference when tactics are adapted to get the best out of players and if Sterling is knocking them in for City then there is absolutely no reason why I should not believe that martial & rashford cannot do that for united under a different manager.
Martial and Rashford for city under Pep would be right in that position where sterling and gabriel jesus is doing the exact same thing - the difference in quality is absolutely minimal & id even argue we have the better players. so to say that they do not have the ability to lead a line of United's is wrong.
City managed to play with 3 forwards last season not 2 wingers and Aguero - thats something to remember. If they could do that with the likes of sterling and Sane playing like forwards there is no reason why we cant. Its simply why we cant; its because jose is simply incapable of playing football without a target man and as i have said before - playing football in this day an age being a target man is easily easily replaceable by two forwards playing in partnership that can take their men on.
There is no overrating of Martial and Rashford as a striking partnership if the whole team was built to play that way. Yet as we saw with Sanchez and mata playing in partnership - the team is functioning consiquently to play target man football and they struggled to reach the balls that were hoofed up to them.
Under the right manager, under a different club Rashford and Martial would be deadly; we are currently under a manger who does not care for their weaknesses nor strengths. The same goes for Lukaku who is purely made to play as a target man due to his physicality - not due to his footballing ability. A managers role is to unearth the best abilities of players and amplify them by various footballing methods, partners and tactics - what we get is absolutely not even closely comparable to SAF's role in Rooney and Ronaldo's development. It's more similair to if SAF would have continured to play RVN upfront and let Rooney and ronaldo just play criss cross all over the pitch to their target man.
No perspective needed.
I wasn't a big fan of the appointment of Jose.
I'd be surprised to see him leading us into a fourth season.
Never a big fan of sacking through the season, unless its a complete disaster and we're in the bottom half of the table or something.
I would hope the club has a plan for life without Jose. I can only see Jose staying for a 4th if we win the league. And a big a fan as I am, I cant confidently say at this point we look likely to win the league.
I'd take Poch, won much or not he gets the players playing for him and is good with youth. With a step up to a club our size, he could be brilliant for us. This whole "he wasn't won anything" is a bit tired. If we win nothing next season, that's 2 seasons with nothing under Jose playing bland boring football? Would Poch be worse than Jose boring us to death with his moaning?
I'm intrigued with the clubs plans, we're hardly breaking the bank and splashing out on the targets Jose wants right now. If the club was 110% behind Jose, we'd have more transfers done. We cant even sell Darmian at the minute
I'd be surprised to see him leading us into a fourth season.
Never a big fan of sacking through the season, unless its a complete disaster and we're in the bottom half of the table or something.
I would hope the club has a plan for life without Jose. I can only see Jose staying for a 4th if we win the league. And a big a fan as I am, I cant confidently say at this point we look likely to win the league.
I'd take Poch, won much or not he gets the players playing for him and is good with youth. With a step up to a club our size, he could be brilliant for us. This whole "he wasn't won anything" is a bit tired. If we win nothing next season, that's 2 seasons with nothing under Jose playing bland boring football? Would Poch be worse than Jose boring us to death with his moaning?
I'm intrigued with the clubs plans, we're hardly breaking the bank and splashing out on the targets Jose wants right now. If the club was 110% behind Jose, we'd have more transfers done. We cant even sell Darmian at the minute
Guess what, neither do you.
Except anyone with an ability to use reasoning can see we have a very good team not performing to the best of its abilities. Lesser teams beat Barca that same year we failed in one off games your logic is flawed.
I’d quite happily wager Fergie would do a lot better with this current crop of players he has, we’ll never know.
The grass always looks greener on the other side.
If you were in any way objective in your views re Jose, that sentence there should have had the alarm bells ringing for you. This wasn't Glazer era Utd, or plucky Spurs with Levy in charge. It was Abramovitch at his most giddy. If even he, wasn't liberal enough in his spending for Jose; then quite frankly no one was, is, or will ever be.
I think he is a good manager. But with Moyes we learned that the incoming manager should have some gravitas or have some nous in man-management. That's my only concern with Jardim, it will be the communication with the players. He'd have been good post Van Gaal considering the age of the group.
Still, despite that I'm edging towards being for this gamble, it will be a leap from the "safe" choices we made so far.
Why are people falling for the "He's unhappy" crap? That's all rubbish the media are spewing out, he's not happy in the press conferences because he doesn't like doing them, it's that simple.