Anyone who thinks Amorim was the problem is part of the real problem. It's been the same old same old of poor backroom leadership and ownership decisions especially recruitment and players contracts since the day Fergie left. Nothing will change until the owners are changed.
Both things can be true. Amorim was unquestionably a problem, but he is just one problem of many.
The Glazers have been poor owners for a long time, but I do genuinely believe INEOS are more well-meaning, they've invested money and seem to want things to improve, but there appears to be some serious confusion around the football operation. In my view they've appointed an untested CEO in Berrada, and an untested football director in Wilcox. Both appointments look highly questionable at present.
We need a manager who is -
- Highly pragmatic and adaptable, but with a focus on playing on the front foot
- A master of manipulating the media, who are often out of control and need to be kept on-side
- Has a real authority about him and is widely respected
- Needs to be completely aligned with both Berrada and Wilcox, and they both need to tell Ratcliffe to **** off and stop interfering!
Aside from the attacking football, I think Southgate actually ticks a lot of boxes, but I appreciate it's not ideal in many ways either.
Scholes for example seems keen on Tuchel after the World Cup, ok yes, he's a good manager, but he is not particularly positive and he will 100% fall out with Ratcliffe & co after a year.
Iraola could make some sense, I know Bournemouth are struggling but they just constantly lose their best players. He wants to play attacking football and is used to operating in a system where he isn't necessarily in control of transfers entirely. On the flip side, he might end up wilting under the pressure here.
I feel Glasner is naturally more defensive and so far he hasn't managed a club of this size, or where the expectation is to win pretty much every game. I know that sounds silly after last season but that will always be the expectation here from fans and the media. Before Amorim I'd have taken Thomas Frank for example, but based on his time at Spurs, he'd be struggling here too.
Emery I feel wouldn't want to work under INEOS. Luis Enrique is probably the standout name but there's no indication he's leaving PSG. I think Maresca is better equipped than Amorim was, but it's a gamble.
It'll be very interesting to see what route they take.
