Basically agree, not everything is about England and English football, there’s a whole world out there. However re the best player/manager, I do think Cruyff was a better player and a better manager. Looking at it from a pure trophies standpoint though, ZZ does have that World Cup, which is major.
Beckenbauer got nothing on Deschamps.
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It's nice but it's not how things work when you are targetting the best. Clubs and companies will have to convince those people because they are in demand.
Where are we on the bullshitomoeter on this Castles story?
You're probably right and in fairness I'd still take a half-arsed Zidane over Rodgers.
Just to the end of the season would be perfect, he’s clearly not interested long term in living in the UK but he sets up his teams well and that’s genuinely all I want right now.
Ultimately, if he takes the job it means he wants it. He's not going to take the job if he doesn't want to, so saying "yeah but does he really want to be here" is a bit pointless when he's chosen to sign the contract despite having all the other options that involve not joining us.. This is not like a player being forced out his old club and being given no option.
Relieved to be reading more about Zidane links and not Rodgers. Sorry, I can't ever want an ex-Liverpool coach at my club. Especially not over a three time Champions League winning coach.
Don't get me wrong, I'd still jump at the chance of Zidane coming here tomorrow. I just don't like the idea of him (reportedly) having the idea of managing us sold to him and his wife not wanting to live here. It is a concern but certainly not a deal-breaker.
Does that sound like something we wouldn’t do?
In the outer stratosphere.
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Cant see him coming if his wife is dead set against living in england and Manchester specifically.
I wouldn't say Evra is a friend of Zidane, Zidane retired in 2006 before Evra was a regular in the France squad. I don't know anything that would point to Zidane confiding this information to Evra. Maybe Cantona, Varane or Ronaldo/Mendes himself but never Evra.
The only former teammates he is definitely friend with are Barthez and Lizarazu.
I was mentioning in terms of the United connection, the only players that have a relationship with United and also may have a relationship with Zizou are Cantona, Varane/Ronaldo and as you mentioned Barthez (who I forgot about).
Realistically, if Castles has the connections to get the inside track on Mendes clients as people on here tend to accept, it's not hard to believe he has sources in other camps whether that be players managers or agents. He regularly reports on Raiola clients in a similar fashion like Haaland, Pogba, De Ligt etc.
I don't doubt Castle's connections, I just doubt this particular story. If it's true Zidane wants us and we want Zidane, we just had the best chance to complete and get the deal over the line. Now we're stuck in a really messy fixture list that get's worse and worse until mid Jan. Don't see us changing managers during that sticky fixture list. Maybe they're talking about taking over during the summer, would make more sense. Who knows.
Now that I think about it, it sounds like exactly the sort of thing these guys would do. Probably ask him how many zero's he wants to convince him and tag on one more for good measure.
Yeah this one is definitely dead in the water if that's true
You're out of your mind.
At least we won't need an interpreter!
Arguably? I'd say it's pretty clearly better. Hell, it would be better than what we have right now if not for the fact Benzema and Vinicius are two greatest players of all time now
Honestly, Manchester is a hard sell to anyone that’s lived on the continent. Unless you fancy a piss up and some football, it doesn’t have much to offer, especially when you factor in the European opinion of the British.
True, Manchester weather has long been an issue, especially in past when players had the option of Spain or (more so in the past) Italy. No top manager with ambitions/ options will be keen to join United. Woodward is seen as a joke in the football world, depsite the spin our scouting and player acquisition strategy is still a mess, etc. The recent renewal for Ole further screams amateurs running the club.
This is actually not a fact and his roles at the ECA tells a different story. United is an attractive destination for 99% of people in Football, the issue is that the 1% has many options some of them are better suits for their families/lifestyles and if you really want them, you will have to convince them.
Quality on paper means shit if the players don't do it on the pitch.
