The Premier League Thread

And of course Poch worked very successfully with Shaw before, who is still only 26.

 

The 'didn't win anything' thing is such a false flag though. What would he be expected to win at Spurs and Southampton? He took Spurs to the Champions League final. That's a HUGE achievement.

I think he'd improve Maguire. He'd probably ship out any of the 'superstars' that didn't want to put in a shift. He'd be an excellent choice (I think), much like it was blindingly obvious they should have got him when they signed up Solskjaer. It was an eye-wateringly stupid move.

 

Agreed. Pogba's off in January or the summer anyway. And I don't think Poch would have a problem with Ronaldo.

 

Yeah but my point is that he would be expected to win stuff at Utd and he hasn’t got a history of doing so. He obviously did very well here and at Spurs but that tag will always follow him round until it changes and the expectation will be to have United challenging almost immediately.

As I said I’d expect him to do well at Utd, if he is allowed to sign “unknown” players who fit his style. Whether he will be able to do that, and be given the time to let those players develop, is another matter

 

He would win stuff. I have no doubt about that.

 

Where Manchester United have gone wrong is trying to sign established stars. It is never what they did when successful because back when they were they were either still struggling in Europe or the Italian league was dominating the big signings followed swiftly by the galacticos

They got their pants pulled down by Ronaldinho. And as a result went and signed some “unknown”’ kid from Portugal. That worked out pretty well

They used to sign the top players from lower down the premier league. This is harder now but not impossible. They have tried it with the likes of Maguire and Wan Bissaka (and Zaha before that) and been mugged off. Only reason I can think why they didn’t go for Bissouma in the summer (if we assume his “social” activities were completely unknown)

But historically they signed established good players from rivals but never world stars - Cantona, Keane, Cole, Yorke, Ferdinand

And well scouted overseas players - Vidic, Evra, Schmeichel

That kind of model is something Poch could work with. But they have strayed quite far from it recently

 

Also, the idea that the only thing that is telling of a manager's ability is silverware is just nonsense. Getting to the freaking Champions League final, and picking up 3rd and 2nd in the league, is more of a managerial accomplishment than winning the League Cup.

 

Which is pretty much what I said earlier. Completely agree (obviously, because I said it!)

 

I wonder if he and Ralph get on. I mean, it's not like they don't have history with one taking over from the other, and back again at Leipzig.

 

I seem to remember that there was a falling out between them at the end there. In any case, it’s significant that United are going for him. It’s an acknowledgment that the club needs to make significant changes throughout the structure and organisation. I thought that they’d be too stubborn to deal with all that. Unfortunately it looks like they are indeed looking to fix it up and do a proper job of the whole football playing part of their marketing company.

 

As it's big business, I suspect that they will try to offload the football-playing, loss-making, part of their company, to League 2, or similar, and concentrate on the money-making aspect, namely commercial sponsorship and prawn sandwiches. After all, the Man U 'fans' don't actually need to watch the football, just wear the shirts (and the hats, and the scarves, and the pyjamas, and the...)

 

It's not even the commercial stuff that's the big focus at this point, it's doing things that excite people into driving up the share price, and then selling off ownership a sliver at a time. The commercial stuff just allows them to have the cash to do things that'll make the share price jump.

 

Come on Newcastle

 

Brighton are even worse at doing goals than we are. Shane Long may it continue.

 

Burnley P-P Spurs due to heavy snow.

 

Leicester 1 up.

 

That's a Brentford penalty for me.

 

Penalty?…….ref having a look ……and yes it’s given.
Ps, please let Toney take it as I have him first to score

 

Yep, had to be given. Caught him in the face.