The Manager

[Treble]

in reality whoever we end up with, it will be like drawing lots. Because none of the candidates have remotely any experience of the pressure of managing a club like Utd. I just don’t mean the size or global popularity but the scrutiny and flack that are thrown by the media, press or social media including ex pros after each setback.

Very much this.

I also think the task of turning things around is bigger than at any other club. And that's compounded by what you said.

Just on the thing about not wanting a manager who's managed another PL club, can you think of any big PL club where that's brought success? United, Livpl, City, Chelsea etc? The successful ones have always come from outside the league.

 

[cytrax]

in reality whoever we end up with, it will be like drawing lots. Because none of the candidates have remotely any experience of the pressure of managing a club like Utd. I just don’t mean the size or global popularity but the scrutiny and flack that are thrown by the media, press or social media including ex pros after each setback.

Word! Every ex-player has an opinion even though many of them didn’t make the cut as good managers. They continue to milk their past association with the club which has a psychological knock on team at every turn.

Well no it doesn't remind me of United.

The point Balague was making was the whole club is riddled with problems (as stated above certainly not the ones we have) and that has an impact on the players in terms of the ethos within it and that includes how they respond to the manager.

You really don’t think this statement describes United? Isn’t that the summary of our problems over the last decade?

Only thing that differentiates United is that wrong non-footballing men take longer wrong term views, e.g. given Ole three year new contract at the end of last season. Not immediately acting on getting rid of players that are problematic in the squad. In the end, the description of the club still matches how Balague describes PSG - a top-down problem.

 

[Chief]

This is just meaningless fluff really but I suppose it's on topic;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60810072

 

[glazerfodder]

This is just meaningless fluff really but I suppose it's on topic;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60810072

I read that too and quite how these so-called analysts arrive at these conclusions is beyond me. Most of it is snake oil and guesswork but people pay a pretty penny for stuff like this. How anyone can 'predict' that manager A will get us higher in the league than manager B is utter crap. So many factors come into play, you could be the best manager in the world but if you don't speak the language and can't therefore communicate with your squad etc etc etc.

 

[cytrax]

I read that too and quite how these so-called analysts arrive at these conclusions is beyond me. Most of it is snake oil and guesswork but people pay a pretty penny for stuff like this. How anyone can 'predict' that manager A will get us higher in the league than manager B is utter crap. So many factors come into play, you could be the best manager in the world but if you don't speak the language and can't therefore communicate with your squad etc etc etc.

They can add Pep to that list and still wouldn’t be able to predict where we would finish. I think City were fourth in his first year in charge of a relative strong team.

 

[glazerfodder]

They can add Pep to that list and still wouldn’t be able to predict where we would finish. I think City were fourth in his first year in charge of a relative strong team.

Don't forget that the mystical Pep had the happy knack of turning up on the doorstep of either championship winning clubs just after the previous management had done all the hard rebuilding work before joining oil lottery winning City. I admire his achievements but seriously wonder what he could achieve without zillions in a 4th place club - us for example, given the available talent or lack thereof.

 

[cytrax]

“Declan Rice is now worth MORE than £150million, says West Ham boss David Moyes as Hammers try and price big clubs out”

Poor Declan! He must be livid!

 

[cytrax]

It is looking more likely that the deal with ten Haag is done. But we probably won’t announce it until the season with Ajax is done to not destabilize what he’s doing there.

 

[Christiansmith]

It is looking more likely that the deal with ten Haag is done. But we probably won’t announce it until the season with Ajax is done to not destabilize what he’s doing there.

yes. It looks like Ten Haag. Reasonable choice as long as the club has done its due diligence. But why wait until the end of the season and let this horrible drift continue ? If at all possible we should negotiate with Ajax to let him come here asap and sort out the team. The players have clearly lost faith with Rangnick as they’ve done with Ole. Once appointed and announced publicly he should assume command of team affairs.

 

[Diego]

yes. It looks like Ten Haag. Reasonable choice as long as the club has done its due diligence. But why wait until the end of the season and let this horrible drift continue ? If at all possible we should negotiate with Ajax to let him come here asap and sort out the team. The players have clearly lost faith with Rangnick as they’ve done with Ole. Once appointed and announced publicly he should assume command of team affairs.

You just don't do that with so few games left in the season (unless you are bringing big in Sam to stave off relegation).
Any new manager needs to be brought in during the close season so that the players come back on first day of training with a clean slate and a bit of trepidation as to whet to expect.
Any new manager will have a full report from Ralf on his observations of the players (which he was brought in to do, not be a manger)
We need to get it right this time. New manager, full pre-season and a group that have some understanding of how they will be playing and what is expected from them on a personal and collective level.

 

[Christiansmith]

You just don't do that with so few games left in the season (unless you are bringing big in Sam to stave off relegation).
Any new manager needs to be brought in during the close season so that the players come back on first day of training with a clean slate and a bit of trepidation as to whet to expect.
Any new manager will have a full report from Ralf on his observations of the players (which he was brought in to do, not be a manger)
We need to get it right this time. New manager, full pre-season and a group that have some understanding of how they will be playing and what is expected from them on a personal and collective level.

I can see your point and it’s unlikely that Ajax will release him with the Dutch league title still in play anyway. But Rangnick’s position as a manager will be in name only. It’s a bit like the sitting US president just after a new one has been elected. Lame duck would be an understatement.

It already feels that the team has given up with a quarter of a season still to play. Some thinking of the beach, others striving to find a new club. What a waste!

 

[cytrax]

I can see your point and it’s unlikely that Ajax will release him with the Dutch league title still in play anyway. But Rangnick’s position as a manager will be in name only. It’s a bit like the sitting US president just after a new one has been elected. Lame duck would be an understatement.

It already feels that the team has given up with a quarter of a season still to play. Some thinking of the beach, others striving to find a new club. What a waste!

The team has been done for over 18 months, Christian. Let’s not even belabour that point.

Also, why would we bring in a new manager with 8 games to go? What exactly are we looking to gain from that. Next season is a complete restart. First getting rid of the bad apples in the squad, working on the culture and team first mantra, and bringing in players that are hungry to play for the club.

 

[glazerfodder]

I'm OK with Ted Haig coming in as manager, but WTF is Steve McLaren's name being bandied about for?

 

[Solid Air]

I'm OK with Ted Haig coming in as manager, but WTF is Steve McLaren's name being bandied about for?

probably lazy journalism as Ten Haag was a great help to Mclaren when he managed Twente in the Netherlands and Mclaren was in the Telegraph gushing about Ten Haag very recently.

 

[glazerfodder]

probably lazy journalism as Ten Haag was a great help to Mclaren when he managed Twente in the Netherlands and Mclaren was in the Telegraph gushing about Ten Haag very recently.

Thanks. Some journo adding 2+2 to make 5.

 

[Viva_Giggsy]

Thanks. Some journo adding 2+2 to make 5.

Tbf he Steve mclaren **** manager but he was a good coach before he tried management.

 

[glazerfodder]

Tbf he Steve mclaren **** manager but he was a good coach before he tried management.

But most of the roles he took involved him being manager/head coach - I think his tactics were well suited to the time but what relevance they might have in the modern era. I would have thought that ETH would have his eye on bringing some of his backroom staff with him - I'd even be delighted if he prised Van der Sar away too, he'd make an ideal DoF.

 

[cytrax]

Erik ten Hag has been warned about becoming Manchester United’s next manager, with Ruud Gullit claiming it is a ‘terrible job’ due to the level of scrutiny and pressure from Old Trafford legends.​

Fricken nailed it!! Those talking heads week in, week out! Most of them failed managers too. It is tiresome hearing then open their mouth about the club every single day!

If we are talking about why it could take the club another decade to get anywhere near the title, the psychological pressure from external ex players that are always flaming the fire is a major factor which unsettles the team. As much as this team has turned into a disgrace, the so-called legends milking their old association are just as disgraceful.

 

[Treble]

Gullitt's been on about Ten Hag taking the job for ages. He seems to be infatuated with the club atm.

Tbf any new manager has to deal with the pressures of the job, and that comes from all directions and in all forms.

The legends are a distraction at times, and tbf they'd be far more useful inside the club than outside it. But either way the manager has to deal with it.

 

[Christiansmith]

Utd is currently a parody of a team. Pathetic, hardly playing for each other, falling apart once a goal is conceded. The dressing room is completely divided. That’s obvious. IMO (and there’s been many leaked reports about this) a major part of it is senior players including CR unhappy at Maguire being captain.

Rangnick is doing an awful job but he deserves some sympathy. He was never cut to be manager of Utd even as an interim. Recruited from a director role at a relatively small club. The previous manager was a player’s friend and this fell apart when conflicts started arising and the job proved too big. This one is just acting as a bystander and an observer unable to bring any spirit or sense of unity to his squad. What a ****ing mess. It is like the Augean stables. The whole place is full of **** and needs cleaning from top to bottom. Not even the best manager in the world can sort this on his own.