The Premier League Thread

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Seriously, I agree it’s a no-brainier for Poch to go to United. They are one of the biggest sports clubs in the world, and have won everything. They are in the doldrums now because they have had a bad recruitment policy for managers since Ferguson retired. A manager like Poch, given their current players and their Academy, plus a very few additions, would have them vying with their blue neighbours in a year or two.
 
Sure, but Woodward *loves* Poch. Hard. He’d be able to dictate his terms, and I don’t mean in terms of money. Given a couple of years he takes them back up to where they believe they should be. Ferguson rates him as the best in the PL too. That carries a lot of weight. Next season transition, then the following he has them challenging again. No doubt (in my mind).

I don't doubt that Poch would have an ally there, but they're a publicly-traded company with a ginormous debt, dodgy owners, and a share price that has tumbled recently; they're always going to have a penchant for the big splash so long as the Glazers are in town. There's no question that Man Utd has a better chance at silverware than Tottenham, I'm just less sure that they have a better chance than some of the other job openings which might appear in the next year (for which Poch, if they have any sense at all, ought to be at the top of the list).
 
I don't doubt that Poch would have an ally there, but they're a publicly-traded company with a ginormous debt, dodgy owners, and a share price that has tumbled recently; they're always going to have a penchant for the big splash so long as the Glazers are in town. There's no question that Man Utd has a better chance at silverware than Tottenham, I'm just less sure that they have a better chance than some of the other job openings which might appear in the next year (for which Poch, if they have any sense at all, ought to be at the top of the list).

I get that. But you take (or at least look at) the options that are there. He’s still young. If United come calling properly, and he still isn’t getting the financial clout from Levy....

He’s ambitious. He’ll want to test himself, and this is one of the world’s biggest clubs. What would be interesting is if it’s a battle between Real and United for him. Of those two, I’d go to United.
 
I get that. But you take (or at least look at) the options that are there. He’s still young. If United come calling properly, and he still isn’t getting the financial clout from Levy....

He’s ambitious. He’ll want to test himself, and this is one of the world’s biggest clubs. What would be interesting is if it’s a battle between Real and United for him. Of those two, I’d go to United.

Tbh, I think that the Bayern job is the one he ought to be holding out for. Consistently well-run (a bit of personal corruption aside), not far adrift financially from Utd/Real/Barca, increasingly likely to be in the market for a manager within 8-10 months. The Bundesliga is also growing by leaps and bounds; it's adrift of the PL, but seems to be gaining more international cachet than La Liga or Serie A (the America-to-Germany pipeline isn't hurting its overseas revenues, that's for sure). He could entrench himself there for a fair while.
 
Tbh, I think that the Bayern job is the one he ought to be holding out for. Consistently well-run (a bit of personal corruption aside), not far adrift financially from Utd/Real/Barca, increasingly likely to be in the market for a manager within 8-10 months. The Bundesliga is also growing by leaps and bounds; it's adrift of the PL, but seems to be gaining more international cachet than La Liga or Serie A (the America-to-Germany pipeline isn't hurting its overseas revenues, that's for sure). He could entrench himself there for a fair while.

£££££
 
£££££

Money for Poch personally, or for wages/transfers, or overall? If transfers, Bayern's more modest expenditure is offset by spending money well, and I suspect that a bad year could result in them spending much more freely...walking the Bundesliga annually created something of a false sense of security, but they're in a real dogfight now, and their past practice has been to spend whenever someone threatens their position of dominance (usually by raiding their competitor, heh). Overall revenues, the gap isn't all that large; Deloitte pegs Man Utd's revenues last year at about 15% above Bayern, but their financial position is far more stable overall.

Now, Poch's wages? That's certainly an area where Man Utd has a defined advantage, though Bayern certainly could theoretically compete (German managers are weirdly underpaid, though). On purely football grounds though, I'd probably go Bayern/Man Utd/Real in that order.

I'd also note that Utd being less than enthralling isn't just a Mourinho third-season syndrome thing, as much as I loathe him. This year isn't really the outlier; last year's 2nd place was. Their average table position over the preceding five years is actually level with Liverpool as the worst of the big six...but with fewer CL appearances:

City: 2.2 (5x CL)
Chelsea: 3.6 (3x CL)
Spurs: 3.8 (3x CL)
Arsenal: 4.0 (3x CL)
Liverpool: 4.8 (3x CL)
Man Utd: 4.8 (2x CL)
 
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Just been watching the youtube videos of THAT CL final again. Not a Man U fan in anyway, but boy what a moment. Absolutely incredible.

Moments like that is what makes football worthwhile.
 
United aren't going to win the league...neither will they be relegated, so I can see why they would bring in a very popular person as interim manager....got to get rid of that toxic feeling round the club. Who else would they bring in? One of the usual suspects...hardly likely to raise morale. The interim manager has to be available...most managers in jobs would want a longer contract and would cost money to release. Appointing Solksjaer smacks of appeasement in a season they are willing to write off*....whilst they wait for the right appointment....which is possibly already in place.

*Not saying it will be a write off...they are still in Europe and will probably climb the league with a more positive attitude from the players.
 
United aren't going to win the league...neither will they be relegated, so I can see why they would bring in a very popular person as interim manager....got to get rid of that toxic feeling round the club. Who else would they bring in? One of the usual suspects...hardly likely to raise morale. The interim manager has to be available...most managers in jobs would want a longer contract and would cost money to release. Appointing Solksjaer smacks of appeasement in a season they are willing to write off*....whilst they wait for the right appointment....which is possibly already in place.

*Not saying it will be a write off...they are still in Europe and will probably climb the league with a more positive attitude from the players.

He’s never managed at anything near this level before , I mean I know a bit about cars but you wouldn’t let me work on your Ferrari would you. Strikes me as a crowd pleaser appointment as he’s a club legend, wonder how long thatl last when they realise he’s out his depth and miss out on European football next season .
 
That appointment makes no sense whatsoever! Like to the extent it makes my head hurt.

Makes perfect sense to me.

A bloke steeped in United, what the club stands for and what the fans want. A good coach to hold the reigns with a good squad that will be ok and keeps the seat warm for the man they want in the summer. If he’s brilliant and they win every game, then great he takes the job. Added bonus is the fans love him.
 
A very wise man indeed told me yesterday that the Hütt apparently turned down Bayern Munich because he doesn't feel ready for a big club.

As the wise man was our own DaveCG, I feel we need to take this as gospel and stop worrying about the Hütt leaving for Spurs.

Vin

“Wise man” - :emoticon-0136-giggl:emoticon-0136-giggl:emoticon-0136-giggl:emoticon-0136-giggl

Not sure I’ve been called that for a very long time ..... if ever! :emoticon-0103-cool:
 
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