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Manchester United Thread

Steve-O21 said:
I would love to see a club -- not just United -- take a stand and actually do that. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it would be good reminder to any player currently playing for the club or looking to join it that the club, its traditions, and its fans are to be respected and cherished above all else.
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I'm definitely with you to a point. There are countless examples of excellent players basically not doing enough to earn their pay checks. But in this case, almost every single player has proven that they're excellent professionals, and almost every one of them has a healthy trophy count to their name. Further, lots are young and this time last year 'on the up'.

That so many players, in all positions on the pitch, in a range of ages all seem to have fallen apart suggests something systemic, rather than greedy, lazy footballers.

Next year will be the telling one I guess.
 
I guess it all stemmed from the Moyes - Giggsy fallout. This is why I mentioned this in here before. This creates instability and division among players and it sure looks like it. The Glazers didn't act on it though until he's officially had the CL participation part unfulfilled.

Poor Moyes, it didn't work out well for him here. I hope he does better at a different club where he's given more control over unspoilt kids.
 
Lami said:
Poor Moyes, it didn't work out well for him here. I hope he does better at a different club where he's given more control over unspoilt kids.
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If I were the chairman at one of Norwich, Sunderland, or West Brom and my club retains their Premier League status, I would jump at the chance to land someone like Moyes. He would provide the managerial stability those clubs have severely lacked over the last couple of seasons.

I wonder if Giggs (if he replaces Moyes) will be a permanent appointment? I have no idea how good of a manager he will be. Gary Monk is having a difficult time at Swansea, despite being "one of the guys". Could Giggs be on the receiving end of similar in-fighting and dissent?

That brings me to my next question: What is United's long-term plan regarding their managerial position? If the rumors are to be believed, Giggs will take over for the interim; van Gaal will take over during the summer. Van Gaal is not a permanent solution. He will be a stop-gap until a relatively young, ambitious individual becomes available.

Which top-flight managers fit that profile? The following list is composed of managers 55 years old and younger:

  • Benítez - won CL, already managing a CL team for next season, ex-Liverpool, rotation policy is as good as it is bad
  • Blanc - CL experience, MU ties, already managing a CL team for next season, tactically not dynamic
  • Conte - CL experience, most underrated manager in Europe, one of the most tactically astute managers in the world (e.g., easily switches between 3- and 4-man defenses), rebuilt Juve into a dominant force in Serie A after Calciopoli, has struggled in the CL w/ a team that should make quarter-finals every season
  • de Boer - CL experience, prioritizes youth, overly confident in domestic ties (probably because Ajax will most likely lift their third successive league trophy)
  • Donadoni - CL experience as a player, attacking football, will he have the command of the MU dressing room (e.g., Euro 2008?
  • Garcia - CL experience, a possible Mourinho in the making?, identifies bargains in the transfer window (e.g., Benatia, Gervinho, Strootman), consistently gets Totti to track back
  • Guardiola - won CL, will be better prepared to adapt to English football now that he has managed in Germany, speaks English, wedded to attacking football, but tactically plays to the strengths of his teams, he is the trendsetter for European football ATM
  • Klopp - CL experience, speaks English, too intense to sustain success at an English club for multiple seasons?
  • Martínez - no CL experience, attacking football
  • Montella - CL experience, attacking football, ability to gel w/ senior leaders on team (e.g., Totti), thriving at a club with good administrative stability
  • Simeone - CL experience, has created a true sense of camaraderie from board to fans at Atleti, will his passion carry over to an English-speaking side?, can he get the best out of his players season after season like Ferguson, or is he a 3-4 year project where both he and the players burn out by the end?
  • Spalletti - CL experience, adapts his tactics to his personnel, maybe he can get the best out of Rooney?
  • Tuchel - no CL experience, attacking football, prioritizes youth, Klopp-lite
  • Valverde - CL experience, attacking football, prioritizes youth, clubs consistently get results against Barcelona and Madrid
 
Moyes has been poor but some of the players do need to be questioned as well as Fergie for even appointing him.

Moyes changed far too much instead of just steading the ship for his first full season at united.

He should have kept most of the backroom staff and just tell the staff and players to continue as you were last season.

Why o why did they appoint him in the first place is bizare though. a club like united needs someone like guadiola/morinho. Not a Moyes.

If i was moyes i would have played it safe and adopt same tactics and training scheme as fergie and then slowly change and tweak things .

Why diddnt Moyes do this?
 
Although i have a certain degre eof amdmiration for Van Gaal (i admired him, but since i read the book about Enke, i like him less), I'm not sure if Van Gaal is the best solution for Man Utd.

There are a couple of reasons:

- he is a teacher who has the tendancy to interrupt training sessions in order to teach about the fundamentals of football. This works with young players, but i wonder how certain older United players will react...

- Van Gaal is a crusader who goes for his version of total football and who is not a person to tone down his vision.

- He knows what he wants and he comes over as a rather arrogant person.

-He has a history of clashes with the media, since the British press i among the worst in Europe (the tabloïds), i wonder how this will work in practice.
 
The only mistake Moyes made was to accept the job right after Ferguson left. It was written in the stars that Ferguson's successor would fail. If Moyes would have accpeted the job now (i.e. after the sacking of Ferguson's successor), i don't think he would have been seen as a failure...

On second thoughts, that was not his only mistake, it was his biggest.
I agree with jonny: he shouldn't have gone for a new backroom staff.
 
Agreed. He should've at least kept them and transitioned them out slowly if he wanted new staff. It's usually the norm though managers bring along all their baggage with them.
 
Someone gave me 6 long years . I would change everything I'll remove to make sure they were serious. All Moyes had was being ,Scottish and looked like a younger SAF.
 
Steve-O21 said:
If I were the chairman at one of Norwich, Sunderland, or West Brom and my club retains their Premier League status, I would jump at the chance to land someone like Moyes. He would provide the managerial stability those clubs have severely lacked over the last couple of seasons.

I wonder if Giggs (if he replaces Moyes) will be a permanent appointment? I have no idea how good of a manager he will be. Gary Monk is having a difficult time at Swansea, despite being "one of the guys". Could Giggs be on the receiving end of similar in-fighting and dissent?

That brings me to my next question: What is United's long-term plan regarding their managerial position? If the rumors are to be believed, Giggs will take over for the interim; van Gaal will take over during the summer. Van Gaal is not a permanent solution. He will be a stop-gap until a relatively young, ambitious individual becomes available.

Which top-flight managers fit that profile? The following list is composed of managers 55 years old and younger:

  • Benítez - won CL, already managing a CL team for next season, ex-Liverpool, rotation policy is as good as it is bad
  • Blanc - CL experience, MU ties, already managing a CL team for next season, tactically not dynamic
  • Conte - CL experience, most underrated manager in Europe, one of the most tactically astute managers in the world (e.g., easily switches between 3- and 4-man defenses), rebuilt Juve into a dominant force in Serie A after Calciopoli, has struggled in the CL w/ a team that should make quarter-finals every season
  • de Boer - CL experience, prioritizes youth, overly confident in domestic ties (probably because Ajax will most likely lift their third successive league trophy)
  • Donadoni - CL experience as a player, attacking football, will he have the command of the MU dressing room (e.g., Euro 2008?
  • Garcia - CL experience, a possible Mourinho in the making?, identifies bargains in the transfer window (e.g., Benatia, Gervinho, Strootman), consistently gets Totti to track back
  • Guardiola - won CL, will be better prepared to adapt to English football now that he has managed in Germany, speaks English, wedded to attacking football, but tactically plays to the strengths of his teams, he is the trendsetter for European football ATM
  • Klopp - CL experience, speaks English, too intense to sustain success at an English club for multiple seasons?
  • Martínez - no CL experience, attacking football
  • Montella - CL experience, attacking football, ability to gel w/ senior leaders on team (e.g., Totti), thriving at a club with good administrative stability
  • Simeone - CL experience, has created a true sense of camaraderie from board to fans at Atleti, will his passion carry over to an English-speaking side?, can he get the best out of his players season after season like Ferguson, or is he a 3-4 year project where both he and the players burn out by the end?
  • Spalletti - CL experience, adapts his tactics to his personnel, maybe he can get the best out of Rooney?
  • Tuchel - no CL experience, attacking football, prioritizes youth, Klopp-lite
  • Valverde - CL experience, attacking football, prioritizes youth, clubs consistently get results against Barcelona and Madrid
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Van Gaal on a three year contract whilst remaining in contact with Klopp to join in 2018.
 
Well Martinez, Rodgers, Pellegrini I hope you're happy. Taking six points off United this season, it was inevitable that he'd get the sack. Only Wenger had the foresight to lose and draw to United in an attempt to keep him in the job as long as possible.
 
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This is the worst thing that could have happened to the rest of the Prem league. United are going to change everything now, they'll focus on tactical managers, bring in better players and basically go on to dominate again - they are simply too huge a club not to.

I really fear we'll land Moyes. I hope Levy doesnt even consider him :(
 
Klopp isn't leaving Airjoca, He's committed to Dortmund for the remainder of his contract that lasts till 2018.

The wise move is to sign Van Gaal on a three year deal whilst remaining in contact with Klopp.

I mean he ruled it out for now yet said "Man Utd is a great club and I feel very familiar with their wonderful fans."
 
Yes, Klopp already said that he won't break his contract with Dortmund. I think Van Gaal would be awesome! He has a lot of experience and that is what MU needs in my opinion.
 
Klopp won't come sadly. I'm really not sure who will come replace him. All great managers all seem to be tied up already....

I hope a miracle will happen though...
 
Man Utd will get in Giggs until summer, then Van Gaal will take over and establish a base, structure like he did at Barca.

Then Klopp or Guardiola will take over in 2/3 years. This has all fallen perfectly into place for Man Utd :(

It's really going to effect us and probably Arsenal too. The top 4 for next few seasons will definitely be:

Man City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Man Utd
 
Why do people have so much faith in Van Gaal? Other than some brief success (before blowing up) with Bayern, he's doing nothing for 15 years.

If it was 2002 I agree his CV would be up there with the very best in world football, but he's not really been delivering since then.

His CV is quite similar to Sven's...

Klopp is the dream, won't happen and I love him even more for it.

Who knows what the hell the Glazers will do though. Probably bring in their favourite dog walker.
 
Van Gaal Managerial honours

Ajax

Eredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
KNVB Cup: 1992–93
Johan Cruijff Shield: 1993, 1994, 1995
UEFA Champions League: 1994–95
UEFA Cup: 1991–92
UEFA Super Cup: 1995
Intercontinental Cup: 1995

Barcelona

La Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99
Copa del Rey: 1997–98
UEFA Super Cup: 1997

AZ

Eredivisie: 2008–09

Bayern Munich

Bundesliga: 2009–10
DFB-Pokal: 2009–10
DFB-Supercup: 2010

Awards and achievements

Rinus Michels Award: 2007, 2009[44]
Dutch Sports Coach of the Year: 2009[45]
Die Sprachwahrer des Jahres (3rd place): 2009[46]
German Football Manager of the Year: 2010[47]
 
Listening to TalkSport at the moment and Steve Evans was on there (Rotheram manager), saying how Moyes needed lots more time etc etc.

Steve Evans is Scottish and grew up with Moyes. What is wrong with the old stalwart kind of manager? Are they really that blinkered?
 
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