Manchester United should not be an entry-level job (and if you need training wheels).

[LazyRed-Ninja]

That was a quote from bilionair Bloomberg in a recent interview about his candidature and ambition to become president of the United States. I immediately thought about this club and its quite fitting considering the situation this club is in. Think about it, at any job, if you want a higher function you usually have to work for it so you earn the credentials (you obviously have nepotism, but thats not really the point here).

A club with the stature of Manchester United should never be a training ground for a manager, it should be a logical step up from a manager who has a ‘proven’ track record? (Even if it means you keep sacking the ‘proven’ managers if they dont meet the objectives).

Would this cycle be more productive in the long term? Or is it as destrucive as sacking a proven manager and giving another ‘younger’ and less experienced manager a chance? Is it a case of pick your poison or should the thread title become the ethos of the club?

 

[sdb4884]

It was a massive mistake to give Ole the job even after his great start, it all started turning the other way once he got it.

 

[meamth]

The bigger picture would be how a big company should run.

We should operate like the elite club of the modern day, ie: Real Madrid/Barcelona/Bayern Munich.

They don't care what the feck the coach wants, they just sign the best players available out there. What we need is someone planning these signings, so any shite manager can get the best squad possible to work with.

 

[calodo2003]

That was a quote from bilionair Bloomberg in a recent interview about his candidature and ambition to become president of the United States. I immediately thought about this club and its quite fitting considering the situation this club is in. Think about it, at any job, if you want a higher function you usually have to work for it so you earn the credentials (you obviously have nepotism, but thats not really the point here).

A club with the stature of Manchester United should never be a training ground for a manager, it should be a logical step up from a manager who has a ‘proven’ track record? (Even if it means you keep sacking the ‘proven’ managers if they dont meet the objectives).

Would this cycle be more productive in the long term? Or is it as destrucive as sacking a proven manager and giving another ‘younger’ and less experienced manager a chance? Is it a case of pick your prison or should the thread title become the ethos of the club?

Should the position be an appetizer level job then?

 

[bonothom]

The bigger picture would be how a big company should run.

We should operate like the elite club of the modern day, ie: Real Madrid/Barcelona/Bayern Munich.

They don't care what the feck the coach wants, they just sign the best players available out there. What we need is someone planning these signings, so any shite manager can get the best squad possible to work with.

Man utd are as far away from them 3 clubs as they have ever been. Those clubs are run like they are 3 of the biggest clubs in the world where as United are run with the ambition of a League One club.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Man utd are as far away from them 3 clubs as they have ever been. Those clubs are run like they are 3 of the biggest clubs in the world where as United are run with the ambition of a League One club.

What's tragic is that both Bayern and Barca will tell you they modelled themselves after United of the late 1990s.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Big Sam and Rafa are the only managers qualified for entrée level jobs.

 

[Bojan11]

People are stuck in the old ways. Yes it’s great having young players coming through. But look at City and Liverpool they signed players in their primes.

Where as we stuck with the United way where if one average footballer comes from the academy he should be here for the lifetime.

We not just a training ground for managers, we a training ground for coaches and players too. Bayern and Barca bring players through but they don’t force it like we do. They still make improvements to the squad. They don’t say oh we got Rashford let’s not sign another striker.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

 

[calodo2003]

Big Sam and Rafa are the only managers qualified for entrée level jobs.

Well played.

 

[Waynne]

Like I said before. This club will continue to plummet from its once dizzying heights and it would take a miracle to save it.

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

Insightful and a top comment! Deserves a like from any rational United fan.

Re: class of 92
To be fair, Ferdinand did say that the decline is remarkable and that there should be a change. I personally think that the class of 92 boys are divided in their opinion, but because of their connection to Solkjaer they wont call him out publically. Keane publically stated that he would give Ole atleast one year. Gary seems to be specifically calling out the board now even more definitifely and Phil’s statements are unfair and unreasonable in my opinion. Other than that, i think your great post will resonate with a lot of United fans. Nepotism unfortuntaly is very common in business, sports, politics etc. In fact, it has been a common tool used by the wealthy ‘elites’ to ensure that the accumulated wealth stayes within the family. As you stated Woodward is indeed the tool used by the Glazers to ensure that.

Your point about emotionalism hits the nail on it’s head. That has influenced policies for far to long, such as keeping players to long at the club and hiring ‘United people’ who when you objectively scrutinize their experience, you’d come to the conclusion that they are are unqualified for the position they were asked to take.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

That was a quote from bilionair Bloomberg in a recent interview about his candidature and ambition to become president of the United States. I immediately thought about this club and its quite fitting considering the situation this club is in. Think about it, at any job, if you want a higher function you usually have to work for it so you earn the credentials (you obviously have nepotism, but thats not really the point here).

A club with the stature of Manchester United should never be a training ground for a manager, it should be a logical step up from a manager who has a ‘proven’ track record? (Even if it means you keep sacking the ‘proven’ managers if they dont meet the objectives).

Would this cycle be more productive in the long term? Or is it as destrucive as sacking a proven manager and giving another ‘younger’ and less experienced manager a chance? Is it a case of pick your poison or should the thread title become the ethos of the club?

Have you ever heard of Pep Guardiola? How about Zidanne? The only mistake we made with Ole was offering him the job too soon. I firmly believe that was done out of respect to Molde. At the time, technically he was on loan from them and their season was starting a after the announcement was made that Ole was given a long term contract. We should have waited until the season was over to make a decision. Either way though, if clubs didn't give their players a chance to manage then those first two managers that I mentioned may only be household names for their playing career and not all of their achievements as managers for the two biggest clubs in Spain and quite possibly the world...

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

Have you ever heard of Pep Guardiola? How about Zidanne? The only mistake we made with Ole was offering him the job too soon. I firmly believe that was done out of respect to Molde. At the time, technically he was on loan from them and their season was starting a after the announcement was made that Ole was given a long term contract. We should have waited until the season was over to make a decision. Either way though, if clubs didn't give their players a chance to manage then those first two managers that I mentioned may only be household names for their playing career and not all of their achievements as managers for the two biggest clubs in Spain and quite possibly the world...

Yes the names you listen are indeed players who managed to win almost all trophies possible in football, but are these types of managers the norm or an exception in the grand scheme of things? You have great players like Ancelotti, Guardiola, Conte, Simeone who did great at their clubs, but in the other end you have not so great players like Mourinho, Sir Alex, Wenger, Klopp,Van Gaal, (and many many more) who reached the pinnacle at their clubs.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Yes the names you listen are indeed players who managed to win almost all trophies possible in football, but are these types of managers the norm or an exception in the grand scheme of things? You have great players like Ancelotti, Guardiola, Conte, Simeone who did great at their clubs, but in the other end you have not so great players like Mourinho, Sir Alex, Wenger, Klopp,Van Gaal, (and many many more) who reached the pinnacle at their clubs.

The names I listed (Pep and Zidanne) aren't just players who managed to win. They are players who were given manager jobs at the two biggest clubs in Spain without having anything of note on their managerial CV. The OP questioned why we would "let a manager learn on the job" as we should be signing big name managers. We've been there. We signed LVG and Mourinho and they did nothing. We tried something different this time just like Barca and Real Madrid did with Pep and Zidanne. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out for us. Mind you, we could have the best manager in the world at our club right now and I don't really think we would see much better results. The squad is too thin and a big part of the squad just aren't good enough...

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

The names I listed (Pep and Zidanne) aren't just players who managed to win. They are players who were given manager jobs at the two biggest clubs in Spain without having anything of note on their managerial CV. The OP questioned why we would "let a manager learn on the job" as we should be signing big name managers. We've been there. We signed LVG and Mourinho and they did nothing. We tried something different this time just like Barca and Real Madrid did with Pep and Zidanne. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out for us. Mind you, we could have the best manager in the world at our club right now and I don't really think we would see much better results. The squad is too thin and a big part of the squad just aren't good enough...

Zidane and Pep both inherited a team with players who won multiple ballon d’ors (or would go on to win multiple ballon d’ors) and defenders/midfielders who won (would go on to win) europan & world cups. Furthermore, the point i (genuinely) raised is wether succes stories like Zidane and Pep are exceptions rather then the norm?

Would you give Ole a year extra or would you take Poch if he became available come next season?

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Zidane and Pep both inherited a team with players who won multiple ballon d’ors (or would go on to win multiple ballon d’ors) and defenders/midfielders who won (would go on to win) europan & world cups. Furthermore, the point i (genuinely) raised is wether succes stories like Zidane and Pep are exceptions rather then the norm?

Would you give Ole a year extra or would you take Poch if he became available come next season?

As much as I love Ole I think it's clear that he isn't the man for the job. With that being said, I like his vision. So whatever happens, I hope who comes in next has the same ideals as Ole does when it comes to signing players. But regardless of who is here starting next season, none of this will be possible with Woodward pulling the strings and without the full backing of the board...

 

[PieCrust]

Nothing will change until the Glazers fire Woodward and hire a real DOF, the Glazers sell the club, or the club continuous to be ran into the ground until the cash flow stops and then the Glazers sell. That's when the real re-build can begin.

It doesn't matter who the manager is with the current structure of the club as has been proven with every manager since SAF. You can have an unqualified candidate like Ole or one of the most decorated managers in the history of the sport in Jose, and the results stay the same.

We can't even execute basic transfers ffs.

 

[NinjaZombie]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

Very good post.

 

[Skills]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

This is a fantastic post.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

This is what SAF had to do to succeed. Unfortunately, we have a coach,CEO and others who aren't capable of doing so.

 

[Enigma_87]

Many of the fans are at fault too accepting mediocrity and coaches like Solskjaer at helm.

Can't think of any other top club that has such a deluded bunch that is going to sit down and clap doing nothing.

Bayern kicked Kovac to the curb winning them the league, but as soon as they realized they are going nowhere and there is a possibility of losing the title this season.

Our top reds on the other hand...

 

[montpelier]

It's not explaining failing to sign enough or good enough players now, in this window.

Moyes was useless, LVG was past it and a bad fit. Jose had too much baggage.

Whatever you say, we've made a mess that cannot be cleared up overnight while still finishing 3rd.

 

[Judas]

I want this to change the fanbase for good, I want this to be a lesson to everyone to never accept or willing go along with mediocrity again. This Ole experiment could be setting this club back years, as if we hadn't already been going in the wrong direction already.

 

[montpelier]

I want this to change the fanbase for good, I want this to be a lesson to everyone to never accept or willing go along with mediocrity again. This Ole experiment could be setting this club back years, as if we hadn't already been going in the wrong direction already.

I don't think it is going to get much worse, although we are a few places too high atm, imo.

As I say, 7th-10th going into next season is where we are. 3 players now would improve that.

I'd give OGS the 3 players and a BIT more time. If you don't him to have the players, he might as well go.

Then we get hysterical about the next bloke not being right or good enough after a year in the job.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

The stuff about fans being entitled is now ricocheting over social media. Other fans calling United fans gloryhunters (as if there has been any glory to be hunted here for a long time...) and it starts with the two Nevilles who have adopted the attitude that United weren't a good side when they were growing up, so it's fine that we're not good now, and it is to be accepted.

The fanbase has been passive and patient whilst overseeing a 7 year downward spiral. Such a rapid and continuous decline wouldn't be accepted at any other elite club. The match going support has rarely turned on managers. Hell, they were singing Moyes' name at his last home game before he got sacked after Everton away. We are this far down the line where fans are starting to walk, and now they're entitled? Nonsense.

Xavi said: "Juan Mata told me a story last year. He said that when Manchester United finished seventh (in 2013-14), the fans applauded the team at the end of the season. Seventh! If that happened to us in Barcelona, they'd want to kill us in our cars

That was 2014. The atmosphere hasn't changed much. It's still passive and respectful. A few chants aimed at the owners, but the match going support still seems fairly positive compared to forums and social media. A fair few fans were leaving early, but if you're 2-0 down with 10 mins to go, this happens everywhere. If we finish 7th or 8th this season, the team will still get applauded off the pitch, no doubt. There'll be no noticeable revolt anytime soon, IMO. This talk of fans being entitled is hot-air. Neville accepting mediocrity and decline and expecting everyone else to fall in line is delusion.

 

[passing-wind]

Yes the board and Solskjaer are equally as incompetent and a joke

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

The names I listed (Pep and Zidanne) aren't just players who managed to win. They are players who were given manager jobs at the two biggest clubs in Spain without having anything of note on their managerial CV. The OP questioned why we would "let a manager learn on the job" as we should be signing big name managers. We've been there. We signed LVG and Mourinho and they did nothing. We tried something different this time just like Barca and Real Madrid did with Pep and Zidanne. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out for us. Mind you, we could have the best manager in the world at our club right now and I don't really think we would see much better results. The squad is too thin and a big part of the squad just aren't good enough...

I don't get how this opinion is accepted everywhere on this forum now. Moyes got 7th place with the exact same team that Fergie won the title with. Rogers with Leicester. How does having a better manager not automatically translate in to better results.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

I don't get how this opinion is accepted everywhere on this forum now. Moyes got 7th place with the exact same team that Fergie won the title with. Rogers with Leicester. How does having a better manager not automatically translate in to better results.

Because our squad is thin and it's shite. With all the players leaving and very little replacements coming in, most on here said we would have trouble getting into the top 6. Turns out we are actually doing a little better than most thought we would...

 

[Canadianred17]

People are stuck in the old ways. Yes it’s great having young players coming through. But look at City and Liverpool they signed players in their primes.

Where as we stuck with the United way where if one average footballer comes from the academy he should be here for the lifetime.

We not just a training ground for managers, we a training ground for coaches and players too. Bayern and Barca bring players through but they don’t force it like we do. They still make improvements to the squad. They don’t say oh we got Rashford let’s not sign another striker.

Unfortunately, our fans have a fetish for overrated youth players. Someone called Brandon Williams "Baby Maldini"!

 

[Adam-Utd]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

100%

The fans are being far too patient and accepting of pure mediocrity put in front of them. We like to act like we're better than other clubs, but this pride is causing us to fail even more.

We should have been booing and jeering months ago.

Ole has lost more league games than he's won, but the board are happy to continue with this? Yes he's had some bad luck with injuries recently, but it was hardly any better with them fully fit anyway.

 

[billybee99]

Because our squad is thin and it's shite. With all the players leaving and very little replacements coming in, most on here said we would have trouble getting into the top 6. Turns out we are actually doing a little better than most thought we would...

Who's fault is that? Ole inherited the same squad that Jose had - the EXACT same squad; and he has done worse than Jose. He sanctioned the sales; he sanctioned the loans; he splunked 80 million on an average centerback; he entrusted the youth; he entrusted Martial. If the squad is thin, that is his fault. Don't sell and loan out half of your squad if you are not 100% sure replacements are coming!

 

[Vidyoyo]

It's Nepotism, that is the problem at Utd.

Giving people jobs not based on achievements that they've had to grind out the hard way - but based on who they are, and who they know.

The Nepotism that has become blatantly apparent in recent years at Utd is at this point a far bigger problem than the drinking culture that Sir Alex Ferguson needed to weed out to get Utd winning again...

Ironically, it's Fergie's reign (and ex-players) that are helping to cause it.

There was a time not that long ago when there were basically no Utd pundits - now, we've got a footy media literally full of CO92 members and ex-Utd players who, whether you Loved them as players or not (and I certainly did), are mostly daft when it comes to what Utd need to move forward... in some cases, they seem outright idiotic.

They're an old-boys network who apply pressure to the weak Utd board and pathetic CEO and it has culminated in them getting exactly what they wanted - one of their own in the hot-seat at OT...

They pushed for Giggs and nearly got it, and they've now got their wish with Ole - and we're now seeing what happens when Nepotism and visionless sentiment are allowed to govern - or even influence - the decisions in a highly competitive arena.

And it goes right through the club like a culture -

Woodward's appointment as CEO / DoF is Nepotism from the Glazers - he isn't qualified to be doing that job

Solskjaer's appointment as manager of one of the biggest football clubs on Earth is Nepotism from the board, the Utd pundit network and the fanbase - he isn't qualified to be doing that job - he got the job because of who he is and who he knows, not what he's capable of doing!

Contract extensions and huge wages for under-performing squad players - they aren't qualified to be earning that much

Captaincies handed out to players who aren't qualified to Captain Manchester United

Boardroom appointments based on who Woodward went to school with

The board and the old-boys network have at this point all revealed themselves to be utterly useless at knowing what Utd needs, and they have shown - from top to bottom - that the club is utterly riddled with Nepotism.

As difficult as it appears to be for a lot of supporters, this really does need to be weeded out, and to do that a hard-line needs to be taken.

This kind of thing, for example, isn't ok - this is fecking cretinous -

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

These people need to know that the fans have had enough and the easy ride for them is over - you can't sit there (either on the board or in the supposedly 'objective' pundit's chair) using your position to usher in jobs for the boys and then brush it away and suggest that this loyal fanbase needs to 'suck it up', and 'stop complaining'.

After Fergie's emotional retirement, this fanbase has been too good to the people that stepped into the void left by his great influence.

We've been a fanbase guided by sentiment and Love for the past for too long now.

We need to think of the CLUB, and the future of the CLUB.

And if we want to help guide our club back to where it should be, we need to accept that our club is absolutely rotten to the core with Nepotism, and to move past it, we will need to become genuinely ruthless as a fanbase.

The board won't do it, the ex-players / old-boys pundit brigade won't do it - if it's gonna happen, it'll be the fans that force it to happen.

Man Utd need to abandon the thing that is weighing them down at every turn, the thing that is leading them to make idiotic decision after idiotic decision...

Man Utd need to abandon the past.

Insightful and a top comment! Deserves a like from any rational United fan.

Re: class of 92
To be fair, Ferdinand did say that the decline is remarkable and that there should be a change. I personally think that the class of 92 boys are divided in their opinion, but because of their connection to Solkjaer they wont call him out publically. Keane publically stated that he would give Ole atleast one year. Gary seems to be specifically calling out the board now even more definitifely and Phil’s statements are unfair and unreasonable in my opinion. Other than that, i think your great post will resonate with a lot of United fans. Nepotism unfortuntaly is very common in business, sports, politics etc. In fact, it has been a common tool used by the wealthy ‘elites’ to ensure that the accumulated wealth stayes within the family. As you stated Woodward is indeed the tool used by the Glazers to ensure that.

Your point about emotionalism hits the nail on it’s head. That has influenced policies for far to long, such as keeping players to long at the club and hiring ‘United people’ who when you objectively scrutinize their experience, you’d come to the conclusion that they are are unqualified for the position they were asked to take.

Really good posts these. Kudos chaps.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Who's fault is that? Ole inherited the same squad that Jose had - the EXACT same squad; and he has done worse than Jose. He sanctioned the sales; he sanctioned the loans; he splunked 80 million on an average centerback; he entrusted the youth; he entrusted Martial. If the squad is thin, that is his fault. Don't sell and loan out half of your squad if you are not 100% sure replacements are coming!

I have no problem with those players leaving (mind you, I would have given Sanchez a chance in the #10). The problem I have is that noone came in to replace them. And for that, I look at Woodward, not Ole...

 

[adexkola]

One day I'll see a pinned post on the Caf summarizing what qualifies someone to be a manager of Manchester United.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

They showed the bench last night and my mother, who has a passing interest, just said "oooh its like jobs for the boys isn't it" - she didn't necessarily mean it in a derogatory manner, it was more observational but she is spot on.

 

[sunama]

I don't think it is going to get much worse, although we are a few places too high atm, imo.

As I say, 7th-10th going into next season is where we are. 3 players now would improve that.

I'd give OGS the 3 players and a BIT more time. If you don't him to have the players, he might as well go.

Then we get hysterical about the next bloke not being right or good enough after a year in the job.

To clarify.
You think we will buy 3 players in January?

 

[montpelier]

To clarify.
You think we will buy 3 players in January?

Doesn't look like it.

 

[montpelier]

To clarify.
You think we will buy 3 players in January?

I meant to say, if we don't let him have the players he might as well go.