New Man Utd Manager Search
- Thread starter Shamikebab
- Start date
I think the issue Utd are now facing is that they're probably going to have to take a step or two backwards before they can move forwards and while you say most sensible fans will acknowledge a process, lots of supporters aren't sensible and whoever your next manager is will come under huge pressure if results aren't there straight away. And the Utd board have shown that they either don't have a clear long term plan moving forwards or they're not brave enough to stick to a plan and make short term decisions.
Whoever the next Utd manager is, is going to have a rebuild on his hands. While Utd have lots of talented individuals, their squad looks all over the place and for one reason or another, there's huge doubts over the futures of so many of them. Ronaldo & Cavani probably won't be there next season, Rashford looks completely lost right now, Greenwood has his issues and who knows if or when he'll play again, Pogba's almost certainly leaving and there's massive decisions to be made with your entire back line. There's actually very few players at Utd that you could say are good enough and a new manager could plan to build around.
If I'm a manager looking at the Utd job, I'd rather be the guy that follows the next manager, not the one that's going to have to carry out that rebuild possibly/probably without CL football next season. It's not an impossible task, Klopp took over a similar situation with us, but turning Utd around while having enough success to keep the natives happy in the short term is a challenge and a half.
Caporegime
We shall see in 12 months time. I'm sure this thread will still be available to quote back to
When we are top of the league and about to win the CL I will indeed quote this back to you. Sorry, I thought I was adam there for a second
In some ways, this is the ideal time to come in. So many "big" players are leaving that perhaps you have an easier job rebuilding and taking the club in the direction you want. The following should be gone at the end of the season.
Ronaldo
Cavani
Pogba
Lingard
Mata
Matic
Bailly
Greenwood (won't play for United or probably any top flight club again)
Potentially Rashford
Thats a lot of egos and trouble makers gone and might be the clean break that a new manager needs. There is still some dross and players who have no future at the club but I am happy to freeze them out if needs be. With some shrew additions we could start to build something decent next season. A good manager with buy in from the players could take this squad + some additions to a fairly comfortable top 4 next season I think.
If ETH gets the job and isn't capable of doing anything good then I truly believe that is the end of United even getting CL for a while. We will have tried pretty much every type of manager at that point. Honestly, the PL is competitive but with the amount of money United have, we shouldn't struggle too much to "buy" top 4 with a half decent manager.
I agree that Utd need to lose a lot of those players you've mentioned but I struggle to see how you can make such a big transition, in a short(ish) amount of time, while remaining competitive on the pitch and that's the issue a new manager is going to face. Will scraping into the top 4 be enough to keep Utd fans happy over the next couple of seasons before Utd are in a position to genuinely challenge?
Given the sheer volume of changes Utd are faced with, a couple of seasons before Utd can challenge is probably optimistic too. I don't think Rashford leaves this summer however the next 18 months or so are make or break for him. If he cannot kick on then his days are over. You're still needing at least a couple of forwards and at least a couple of CM's to replace Cavani, Ronaldo, Greenwood, Martial(?), Pogba, Lingard, Matic & Mata though and they're going to be needed right away. I fail to see how any front foot, progressive manager lives with AWB or Maguire either. That's 6 players before you even look at Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay etc. Utd's success rate with transfers hasn't been the best over the past 10 years or so, so to successfully replace that many players, probably without CL football next season is a monster task. To do it in 3 seasons would be impressive. I'm not convinced your supporters or board are prepared to wait that long though. If not next season, there will be an expectancy within two seasons for Utd to be closer to the top than I think is possible for them.
There are many moving parts to this and it won't be straightforward. However, surely appointing someone like Ten Hag and then supporting him with the right structure and funding is our only option here. I don't think anyone will care if it's a bit hit and miss for a season or even two, as long as there's clear progression. Klopp at Liverpool being the obvious example.
Rangnick in his advisory role will also now be aware of how the club is being run, Woodward is gone, so there's hopefully positive signs in those areas too.
I hope that's what happens. The fact the fans are almost unanimous in wanting Ten Hag is a good start, and that does matter when we're looking at a serious rebuild like this (rightly or wrongly).
The fact is, nobody can say let's just go and appoint manager X, because there isn't a truly obvious candidate. Simeone is probably the most formidable manager who could be an option, but he's not an ideal fit for many reasons.
Rangnick in his advisory role will also now be aware of how the club is being run, Woodward is gone, so there's hopefully positive signs in those areas too.
I hope that's what happens. The fact the fans are almost unanimous in wanting Ten Hag is a good start, and that does matter when we're looking at a serious rebuild like this (rightly or wrongly).
The fact is, nobody can say let's just go and appoint manager X, because there isn't a truly obvious candidate. Simeone is probably the most formidable manager who could be an option, but he's not an ideal fit for many reasons.
Caporegime
I honestly think they would. Next season we will be in Europa League so it will give plenty of game time to get it right. I do not think we are that far off. It was only last season we got to the Europa League final and got 74 points which is a top 4 points haul. (We also gave up once we knew we couldn't win the title and had zero competition for the second place). We also dropped silly points like losing to Sheffield United. The big games we performed well not like the gulf it is this season.
Losing Greenwood has been a massive loss and the whole management disruption has been a big issue. Yet we are still in with a small shout of top 4 despite having one of the worst goals against. I guess that goes to show how poor everyone else has been bar the top 3.
If ETH is the new manager they need to announce it pronto so he can get straight in and going. Not wait till the middle of summer.
I would expect a top 4 finish and a final in the Europa League next season as Chelsea will be battered with everything that is going on. Arsenal will struggle with European football and Spurs are Spurs.
Last edited:
It's going to be a 2 year rebuild minimum, there is simply no chance of doing all the activity we 'need' this summer. So I can see positions which are lower priority but still required like RB and the Rashford issue will be postponed until next year.
Caporegime
Its not like we are on the cusp and asking people to take a hit for a better future. Things are ****. Things have been **** for a while. Even a top 6 finish next season won't exactly be a massive downgrade on recent times. Play good football and show that we are moving in the right direction and he will get plenty of time. If we have a coach that can get the team playing good football then we have the money to back them to compete for trophies. There are plenty of teams in the PL who play good football but don't have the players or budget to actually compete. We do. It shouldn't be impossible.
Tuchel seems pretty clear that he's staying and Enrique is on the shortlist but he won't be available until after the world cup which means writing off another season and a summer of uncertainty.
Caporegime
The problem is we just cant play football.
Sure we can ping a hopeful ball 65 yards and hope that some quality gets on the end if it and scores.
I haven't seen much of ETH but if he brings on a 5th defender to secure a 2-1 win against bottom of the league then it's a no from me.
Sure we can ping a hopeful ball 65 yards and hope that some quality gets on the end if it and scores.
I haven't seen much of ETH but if he brings on a 5th defender to secure a 2-1 win against bottom of the league then it's a no from me.
It's not though when you look at the quality in the squad. The problem is the owners (happy for the odd trophy plus chimps league football so long as they can leech cash from the cash cow), the aimless management structure within the club from chief exec down and the expectations of the fans and media.
Fix the owners (good luck there as they aren't going anywhere soon); identify a long term manager and put in place the sort of management/recruitment/scouting/backroom team City did under (interim) manager Pelligrini ahead of Guardiola's arrival; take the hit on being mediocre for a couple of seasons and rebuild while ignoring the media/Class of '92 banging on about how big United are and how they should be winning everything.
Fix the owners (good luck there as they aren't going anywhere soon); identify a long term manager and put in place the sort of management/recruitment/scouting/backroom team City did under (interim) manager Pelligrini ahead of Guardiola's arrival; take the hit on being mediocre for a couple of seasons and rebuild while ignoring the media/Class of '92 banging on about how big United are and how they should be winning everything.
Im not saying ETH isnt the right manager but i was responding to someone saying that he can potential reach Pep etcs level.
I do think that you need bigger changes but i guess we will have to see how the fella who replaced Woodward will do.
Soldato
is there any truth to the Luis Enrique news being one of the favorites?
the media will say a different person is favourite every day, got to get them clicks.
Caporegime
Yeah, I don't think there is anyone else they want as much but lets be fair, the United board are somewhat incompetent so I don't hold out too much hope for the next appointment currently