News this week that Manchester United director Joel Glazer – or Bryan depending on the report – may have met Netherlands national manager Louis van Gaal comes as little surprise. While the club denies a meeting has taken place it is surely inconceivable that United’s executive management is not forming a contingency plan. After all, under David Moyes, United has lost 14 times across four competitions, crashing out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich last week to end hopes of a trophy under the former Everton manager this season. In truth, most elite clubs would have handed Moyes his P45 by now.
Indeed, so chaotic has the campaign become that the Scot is said to face a much divided dressing room, with two distinct pro and anti-Moyes camps having formed over the past nine months. It is amid this atmosphere of failure, in which United’s dressing room is no longer singing from a single hymnsheet, let alone one drafted by the 50-year-old manager, that the club’s owners are potentially considering change. There may well be a desire for ‘long-term stability’, but it is thought that some in United’s hierarchy recognise that stability is a factor of success; longevity the by-product of achievement.
Moreover, with United’s transfer budget potentially upwards of £100 million this summer, there is a growing feeling that Moyes is far from the right man to begin United’s rebuilding process. And in this spirit Rant reviews the potential candidates should Moyes get the boot this summer…
FRONT RUNNERS
Louis van Gaal, 62 – Netherlands
Make no mistake van Gaal is an outstanding candidate to replace Moyes should the Scot go this summer. Winner of seven domestic league titles, three domestic cups and two European titles, the Dutchman boasts the profile of an elite club manager in every sense. This is in stark contrast to Moyes those of a crueler persuasion might add.
van Gaal found fame as the 43-year-old manager of a young Ajax side that won the Champions League in 1995. In two spells with Barcelona, two with the Dutch national team, and a period in charge of Bayern Munich, van Gaal has built a reputation as a tactical innovator and a strict disciplinarian. Gravitas and respect is guaranteed.
Despite those high profile appointments it is perhaps his spell at AZ Alkmaar that bore witness to van Gaal’s most impressive triumph: the Dutch league title in 2009. With average crowds of less than 15,000, van Gaal led the provincial team to only its second title in the club’s 50-year history.
In the context of United’s recent fall from grace, van Gaal is committed both to development of the younger generation and to attacking football in the finest traditions of Total Football. At 62 the Dutchman is no long-term appointment, but then a safe pair of hands for three seasons might do United well.
van Gaal brings weight to a sometimes combative management style that precipitated conflict at Bayern. It is the van Gaal way or the highway; Sir Alex Ferguson would surely approve. That said, the impressive track record reads just two titles in the past 15 years, and dismissals at Bayern and Barça.
Tactics: van Gaal typically sets up in an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with two wide players and three central midfielders in the Dutch style. At United, using the current squad, van Gaal might deploy Robin van Persie as his number nine, use Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj as inverted wingers, with Juan Mata, Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley supporting from midfield.
Achievements: Ajax – Eredivisie 1994, 1995, 1996; KNVB Cup 1993; Cruijff Shield 1993, 1994, 1995; Champions League 1995; UEFA Cup 1992; Super Cup 1995; Intercontinental Cup 1995. Barcelona – La Liga 1998, 1999; Copa del Rey 1998; Super Cup 1997. AZ – Eredivisie 2009. Bayern Munich – Bundesliga 2010; Pokal 2010; Supercup 2010.
- Employment history: Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Netherlands
- Pros: Experienced, gravitas and a proven winner in three countries
- Cons: Combative, with a tendency to fall out with players, age profile
- Odds: 6/1
- Availability: free agent after World Cup 2014
Jürgen Klopp, 46 – Borussia Dortmund
Klopp has won many plaudits over the past four campaigns after building a distinctive, attacking, Dortmund side that secured two Bundesliga titles in succession and then finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the 2013 Champions League final. It is a period that represents the zenith of Klopp’s managerial career, yet one that may have already come to an end as Bayern use the club’s financial power off the pitch to dominate on it.
Six years after appointment at Dortmund many pundits believe that the German is ready for a move to one of Europe’s major clubs, although Klopp has reportedly turned down offers from Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid. It is an impressive demonstration of loyalty.
Klopp has shown little indication that he is willing to leave Dortmund this summer either, although there is a precedent: the 46-year-old moved on from Mainz in 2008 when he felt he could no longer take the club forward. He had been associated with Mainz as player and coach for nearly 20 years.
The German might represent a highly popular appointment at Old Trafford; one with a clear vision of both playing style and youth development. His Dortmund side has regularly featured locally developed players. However, there are obvious risks: Klopp has little experience recruiting at the top end of the transfer market, while he has never worked or played outside Germany. The first may endear Klopp to the Glazer family; the latter is unlikely to do the same.
Tactics: Klopp deploys a familiar 4-2-3-1 system, with an attacking hard-pressing style. His number nine is supported by a playmaker and two wingers. With United’s current squad, Klopp might use Rooney as a dynamic forward, with Nani and Januzaj in wide roles. Mata or Kagawa might float, with Carrick and Marouane Fellaini holding.
Achievements: Borussia Dortmund – Bundesliga 2011, 2012; Pokal 2012; Supercup 2013; Champions League runner–up 2013.
- Employment history: 1. FSV Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund
- Pros: Force of personality, attacking style of football, achieved much on meager resources
- Cons: No experience in England, with an élite club, or using a large budget
- Odds: 6/1
- Availability: contracted to Dortmund until 2018
Diego Simeone, 43 – Atlético de Madrid
Alongside Klopp, Simeone is the hottest managerial property in European football. Working with a budget a fraction of that enjoyed by larger rivals both domestically and on the continent, Simeone has created a dynamic Atlético side that threatens to take both La Liga and the Champions League this season. This is no flash in the pan: Atlético secured last season’s Copa del Rey and the 2012 Europa League. It is believed that Simeone is already on a long-list of potential candidates drawn up by United’s board.
Simeone enjoyed a storied playing career, winning trophies in South America, Europe and at international level with Argentina. And the tough-tackling midfielder has built an Atlético side very much in his own image, seamlessly blending touch with brawn; muscle and some of the most talented players in Europe.
Following retirement Simeone worked in Argentina with Racing Club and then won Argentinian titles with Estudiantes and River Plate, before suffering a difficult spell in a fledgling coaching career. Simeone spent a brief period with San Lorenzo, Catania in Italy and then Racing for a second time. He was appointed head coach by Atlético in December 2011.
Simeone led Atlético to the Europa League final against Athletic Club in 2012, and to a famous Copa del Rey final triumph over Real Madrid last year. It was arguably the greatest triumph of his managerial career.
Tactics: Simeone employs a narrow 4-4-2 built around hard work and intense pressing. The Argentinian typically employs two forwards, supported by a four-man midfield diamond. At United, Simeone might select both Rooney and van Persie, supported by Mata, Fellaini, Cleverley and Carrick in the holding role.
Achievements: Estudiantes – Torneo Apertura 2006. River Plate – Torneo Clausura 2008. Atlético Madrid – Copa del Rey 2013; Europa League 2012; Super Cup 2012.
- Employment history: Racing, Estudiantes, San Lorenzo, Catania, Atlético Madrid
- Pros: Built outstanding Atlético side on a small budget, hugely respected playing career
- Cons: Limited English, six jobs in eight years, little experience with large budgets
- Odds: 25/1
- Availability: contracted to Atlético until 2017
DARK HORSES
Ryan Giggs, 40 – Manchester United
There has never really been any doubt that Giggs would move into management once his playing days came to an end – it’s just that the Welshman has continued working on the field well into his 41st year. Many see Giggs as a future United manager in waiting, but could the former winger move directly from playing into the hot-seat? It’s possible, if a very long shot. Certainly, it seems as if Giggs will finally retire in the summer, whether by choice or Moyes’ instruction.
Giggs might be a universally popular choice as United manager, but his appointment is likely to be far too risky for the Glazer family. Moreover, while two decades under Sir Alex’ instruction might have rubbed off the same was once thought of Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce – a quintet with very mixed results.
- Tactics: unknown
- Achievements: none as coach or manager
- Employment history: none
- Pros: United favourite schooled in the ‘United way’ under Ferguson
- Cons: Inexperienced as a coach, let alone manager
- Odds: 12/1
- Availability: out of contract as a player in June 2014
Antonio Conte, 44 – Juventus
Juve’s two-time Serie A winning coach, with a third on the way, has built an impressive CV in a managerial career not yet into its eighth year. Conte has long been a son of The Old Lady, having played more than 400 Serie A games for the club, but spent plenty of time in managerial backwaters before receiving the call in 2011. After retiring in 2004, Conte coached at Arezzo – twice – Bari, where he secured the Serie B title, Atalanta and Siena – five jobs in as many years. It was a tough proving ground for the 44-year-old former midfielder.
In the past three years Conte has solidified Juve’s revival following the Calciopoli scandal, building a team around Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and the irrepressible Andrea Pirlo. Often deploying a 3-5-2 now popular in Italy, Conte has built an attacking home team, if one that can be circumspect on the road.
The Italian would represent a significant gamble even if he is willing to move on from Juve, which is by no means certain.
- Tactics: prefers a 3-5-2, using a narrow three man midfield and two wing-backs – the Italian way!
- Achievements: Bari – Serie B 2009. Juventus – Serie A 2012, 2013; Supercoppa 2012, 2013
- Employment history: Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Siena, Juventus
- Pros: One of Europe’s outstanding young coaches
- Cons: Has never worked outside of Italy
- Odds: 16/1
- Availability: contracted to Juve until 2015
Carlo Ancelotti, 54 – Real Madrid
It should surprise few, but Ancelotti may not have done enough to earn a second season at Real Madrid, leaving the Italian open to offers next season. Still, Ancelotti has few peers in the game, having twice won the Champions League, secured the Club World Cup, and won league titles in three countries. With Chelsea the 54-year-old secured the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010. Still, Real have not yet claimed La Liga and Ancelotti’s side was perhaps fortunate to scrape through to this season’s Champions League semi-final.
Whatever happens this summer, Ancelotti has enjoyed a storied career, making his name at Milan where he coached for eight largely successful seasons. He twice finished second in Serie A with Juventus before winning the 2004 title with the Rossoneri. The Champions League was secured twice with Milan, before Ancelotti claimed titles in England and France. He may yet win silverware with Real and would represent a very safe pair of hands.
- Tactics: Typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 system at Real Madrid after experimenting with a diamond
- Achievements: Juventus – Intertoto Cup 1999. Milan – Serie A 2004; Coppa Italia 2003; Supercoppa 2004; Champions League 2003, 2007; Super Cup 2003, 2007; Club World Cup 2007. Chelsea – Premier League 2010; FA Cup 2010; Community Shield 2009. Paris Saint-Germain – Ligue 1 2013
- Employment history: Reggiana, Parma, Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid
- Pros: Experienced, with an impressive ‘big club’ record, previously coached in the Premier League
- Cons: Sacked as Chelsea manager, barren spell with Milan in latter years, may not excite fans
- Odds: 16/1
- Availability: contract with Real runs until 2016
LONG SHOTS
Frank de Boer, 43 – Ajax
de Boer is a young coach with a strong future who is likely to be in demand across the continent this summer. The former Dutch international has led Ajax’ renaissance with four Eredivisie titles in a row, including that of the current campaign. Reportedly turned down an offer from Liverpool in summer 2012 before Brendan Rodgers’ appointment at Anfield, while Tottenham Hotspur’s approach is yet to be formalised.
- Tactics: Deploys a typically Dutch 4-3-3 system, complemented by a high-pressing game
- Achievements: Ajax – Eredivisie 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; Johan Cruijff Shield 2013
- Employment history: Ajax
- Pros: Young manager schooled in the Total Football philosophy
- Cons: Inexperienced with no ‘Big Club’ pedigree
- Odds: 25/1
- Availability: contracted to Ajax until 2017
Mauricio Pochettino, 42 – Southampton
Young manager who has built an impressive Southampton side that will comfortably secure a mid-table position this season. Would be attracted by an offer to coach at a higher level, although this summer is likely to be a job too soon for any of Europe’s largest clubs.
- Tactics: 4-4-2/4-5-1 with a very high tempo pressing game
- Achievements: none to date
- Employment history: Espanyol, Southampton
- Pros: Has built an attractive Southampton team on a reasonable budget
- Cons: Inexperienced at the highest level, poor English
- Betting: 25/1
- Availability: year-to-year contract with Southampton
RANK OUTSIDERS
Pep Guardiola, 46 – Bayern Munich
The man many fans believe Sir Alex should have anointed as the next United manager. Guardiola has enjoyed a fruitful first season with Bayern, securing the Bundesliga title with seven games to go, while his side is into the Champions League semi-final. Enjoyed a hugely successful four year spell at Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho, 50 – Chelsea
Arrogant, pretentious, controversial and brilliant in equal measure. One of the world’s finest coaches and a serial winner in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. Possibly the best strategist and in-game tactician of the modern era. Mourinho was overlooked for the United job due to a perceived lacked of loyalty and his controversial manner.
Fabio Capello, 67 – Russia
Veteran Italian coach has built a club career with very few peers, although the four year spell in charge of England has tarnished the former Milan manager’s reputation on these shores. Still, he has secured five Serie A titles and two in Spain. Vastly experienced and a very safe pair of hands if only for a short spell.
Resembles Bobby Robson.
he hasn’t even been fucking sacked yet. Not on. Disgusting behaviour.
Agreed disgusting behaviour, like trying to sign Lescott and unsettleing the team truely disgusting untill it suits him to offer a derisory bid for 2 top players, wouldnt sign a contract kept saying “wait and see” when all along saf told him not to sign, whilst being paid millions per year! Karma way out of his depth, will be at sunderland next season
the reality is that United have sold players under their value to Everton – Howard, Saha, Neville… all had significant Everton careers – and paid premium money for Rooney… then opened the bidding on players to be told that they had a bad attitude towards Everton… ridiculous idea. Moyes did very well on your behalf, now he seeks to do the same for Man U. Same scenario with Martinez – is it wrong for him to bid for Wigan players and try and get the best deal for Everton? What will happen to Martinez when he leaves, tries to sign Everton players then returns to Goodison? Those Everton fans who booed are a sad, cheap little lot
Couldn’t agree more.
I think you forgot to put Sadly at the beginning of your post
He’s going alright. I have put a bet on at the bookies at 100-1 that he will be replaced by a dog turd. Which would have a greater grasp of tactics, man management ,PR skills, and the transfer market.
If the dog turd turns the job down I think they may take an even bigger chance and offer the job to Phil the Gargoyle
Great photo of Giggs by the way. How about a caption competition. What is Giggs thinking.?
The three Stooges!! Put the fear of god into anybody those three!
Great look on the Gargoyles face Ha!Ha!Ha!
Hey what about Paul Scholes! 😛
No Gary Neville….with Giggs , Meulensen and Phelan………..So long as Alex MacLeish does not come…….
I’d take Pinky and Perky over Moyes!
Perky would do …….
no Guus Hiddink in that list? PL experience, available short and long term, experienced with big name teams/players.
disgusted at the lack of Gary Neville.
Van Gaal has 7 league titles, same as Mourinho. Agree his team won’t involve Rooney much. His frontman needs to be cerebral.
Can’t Rooney do cerebral? He can do all-over-the-place really well.
i would have preferred someone like Simeone, someone with incredible passion that is visible for all to see. thats the kind of manager i have always wanted to replace fergie.
but Moyes isnt going anywhere and as long as the club support him so will i
its idiots like you that will c us decline further. Blind faith to mediocrity. Get a grip man ffs
Wayne Rooney as player manager…..wait, that’s the same as now
Nice one!
Take a gamble on Biesla? Van Gaal impressive but might be past his prime. Simeone, Klopp, Conte, Beisla are my top picks. I think United needs to think outside the box, we cannot and should not try the “Lets try and replicate a ferguson.” Yes lets find someone who can replicate the successes and more, however there will only be one Sir Alex. United needs a major change as far as tactics and gameplans. The world of foodball has changed. We need explosive players who play explosive football. We have the money and resources to have the best players on the planet. Our youth system is rivaled by all, and no other club matches the output and numbers of professional players that come from our academies. Its time for United to play tomorrows football and look for a manager who can employ it.
Great post and agree 100%. My pick would be Jurgen Kloop because he’s young and has fresh ideas.
They can possibly replicate Ferguson. But no one could replicate Moyes. No incoming manager could emulate Moyes, achieving what he has in such a short time.
And it’s going to get even better… we are assured that with time, he will “come good’. Happy times.
I do enjoy your banter & angry rants but it’s all bollocks. Accept that he will be given time & he will get it right #UNITED
Why? Why must we accept this? Moyes will bring us 4th spot, maybe 3rd, each season. Getting to the QF of the CL, and hopefully a domestic cup run.
Why should we give him time?
if the powers don’t get rid of moyes,and make a move for klopp can see barca going for him.EVERY candidate better than moyes
gone from most of the premium clubs across Europe maybe. Name one other that would have given a 6 year contract?
Would go for either of the top two or Ancelotti with Giggs as assistant.
Giggs in all honesty would be no different then Moyes
Such a pity that Nora Battye is no longer with us.
“……….stability is a factor of success; longevity the by-product of achievement.”
Well said.
I’m no Moyes fan at all, but that is a crap article to be honest
High quality comment there Shanz. Real value add.
wow, he looks like shit
I am quite surprised you omitted Gary Neville from this list. He would pretty much be to us what Pep Guardiola was to Barcelona.
About time. Well done, Ed. Knew you could do it (c;
Personally, I’d move mountains to get Ancelotti. I expect, however, van Gaal to be offered the job should Moyes start off slow next season.
Good luck with that. Roosters and Gooners are looking for a new man and on a free Van Gaal is a wanted man. Waiting for Moyes to mess up and then replacing him when the season is ongoing is just plain stupid. There would be no one available. LOL
How is marcelo bielsa not on that list? he should be among our top five candidates to replace moyes.
Question to Ed
Why do you think the shares rising so fast??
+6% yesterday.
More sponsor deals happening and noise that Moyes is getting the sack. Van Gaal news was also great.
I expect Moyes to pack every single bit of bag or baggage he has at old trafford, and go far away from M16 never to return. . . and yes, a ‘shoot at sight’ notice to residents.
#Moyesout
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
LOL shoot at sight notice to residents hahaha
It’s always a risk to appoint Klopp or Simeone over Louis van Gaal…just because Klopp and Simeone do not bring that experience of handling big budgets and big names. But give me any one among the trio to replace Moyes and I will be excited, so will the majority of ManUtd fans.
Hopefully, it’s just a matter of time before we sack Moyes and appoint a manager worthy of ManUtd…someone who can give us some decent football to watch over that trite crap Moyes has been serving us.
Pep would have been the perfect one…cannot believe he is wasting his time in an one-sided league. Bayern will continue to rule Bundesliga as long as he is there…maybe, one day he might decide to come to the Premier League, preferably to ManUtd.
@Lucas_MUtd
This bastard will still be there next season #MoyesOut
If Guardian story on Kroos getting £260k/week to play for #moyesout, how much would he accept to play under, say, Klopp?
If United have to pay a premium salary to players to get them to play for #moyesout, then it’s not economical for him to manage.
Ed, this is an academic exercise you have embarked on. For a starter, we dont even know if Moyes will be fired. Secondly any one on this list of yours will struggle with this present United side. The last time i checked and as you rightly stated in your piece, Vaal Gal has only won 2 tittles in 15yrs. He was sacked as Baryern coach. Doing well at international level is quite not the same @ club level. Your no 2 on the list Klop has had mixed results this season. You could argue that he lost some players through sales and injuries but so also Could Moyes. How many times has Moyes had the full compliments of his squard this season? Injuries and lack of form to players has not been kind to him. In a league where Baryern is so dominant, it will be interesting for u to tell us what is the point gap between Baryern and Dotmund that is second and United in 7th and Liverpool @ the top of the table. The fact is these things are not clear cut as you made them. Was it SAF that said the “field is not always greener as you look from afar. Who would have thought Liverpool will be where they are today at this stage last season when they where struggling with the same set of players that are on the verge of history today. Liverpool stood by BR even when they came 7th. They are reaping the benefits now. What defines a supporter is the one who stands by his team at the darkest hrs not the one who cheers only when the team is winning. There are no guarantees that bringing Klop, Vaal Gal or anyone else will bring success. As G Neville wiil say, “we better mind what we wish for”
Rodgers didn’t take a title winning squad (who only lost on GD the year before) down to 7th.
How can u compare Rodgers to Moyes u idiotic fool? Moyes took over champions ffs and were now 7th as we have been all fucking season. There’s a reason for that! That’s his standard! Its ppl like u with blind faith in a moronic wanker that’s killing us right now. He wont get it right and that’s just a Fact of life. ..#MOYESOUT
Agreed.
very good piece
Ed, this is an academic exercise you have embarked on. For a starter, we dont even know if Moyes will be fired. Secondly any one on this list of yours will struggle with this present United side. The last time i checked and as you rightly stated in your piece, Van Gal has only won 2 tittles in 15yrs. He was sacked as Baryern coach. Doing well at international level is quite not the same @ club level. Your no 2 on the list Klop has had mixed results this season. You could argue that he lost some players through sales and injuries but so also Could Moyes. How many times has Moyes had the full compliments of his squard this season? Injuries and lack of form to players has not been kind to him. In a league where Baryern is so dominant, it will be interesting for u to tell us what is the point gap between Baryern and Dotmund that is second and United in 7th and Liverpool @ the top of the table. The fact is these things are not clear cut as you made them. Was it SAF that said the “field is not always greener as you look from afar. Who would have thought Liverpool will be where they are today at this stage last season when they where struggling with the same set of players that are on the verge of history today. Liverpool stood by BR even when they came 7th. They are reaping the benefits now. What defines a supporter is the one who stands by his team at the darkest hrs not the one who cheers only when the team is winning. There are no guarantees that bringing Klop, Van Gal or anyone else will bring success. As G Neville wiil say, “we better mind what we wish for”
Daryus – this isn’t a ranking or a list of personal preferences, rather an assessment of the various merits of each candidate. I took betting odds and applied my own categorisation. I fully expect Moyes to be United manager on 1 July 2014… but the Glazers are looking for alternatives should it go belly up (this is contingency planning as I understand it). So maybe it won’t be as academic as you think….
Could not agree more. I’ve been shocked that supporters haven’t shared the same sentiment. I thought a large majority of us were smarter than Chelsea or Spurs fans, but given the comments on here I would say I was dead wrong.
*whispers* “hymnsheet*
@zac lazari, since u started by insulting me, i think you are the biggest idiotic fool here. Out of your so called “Champions” he inherited, how many of them are playing like champions now? And what is thier age bracket? Rio 35, Evra 33, Vidic 33,Carrrick 33, RVP 33 Giggs 41.Scholes Rtd. That is a lot to take out of team. Whlie you are still suffering from your illusion you can take an age stats of the top 7 teams in the PL and you will be shocked that United is most ageing team.(most over 30s). Gerrard is only over 30 @ liverpool, Chelsea has 3, City 1 Arsenal 1, Everton 2 Spurs 2. The average of United ’99 and ’08 CL winning teams were less than 27yrs. These are facts not made up by Moyes. Mr Moyesout, can you explain why Barca is going through bad patches now?. Same thing. Neglect. They refused to invest thinking the Merci, Xabi Iniesta will continue to perform for ever. It does work that way. Pep would’ve stuggled with this Barca team just as SAF would’ve have struggled with this united team. Being wise men they are, they left for others to clean thier mess.
Mate, you need to hit “reply”, cos it looks like you’re ranting to yourself 🙂
I think you’re wrong anyway – the astonishing decline under Moyes isn’t simply down to an ageing squad. Fergie had this squad win 2 of the last 3 prems, and the one we lost was on GD.
Nobody expected Moyes to replicate this, but it’s scandalous that we’ve dropped so far. Remind yourself that Everton will finish comfortably above us, and it’s not even a cert we’ll finish above Spurs to get that coveted entry into early Europa qualification…
This isn’t simply down to an ageing squad.
There’s plenty of bright young talent at OT, notably Januzaj and (loaned out) Zaha,
The only thing you can say in Moyes’ defence really is that there’s been a lot of injuries this season. A worrying amount.
Get in Van Gaal for next season to steady the ship and get us competitive once again. Hopefully we’ll again be able to hold our heads high when we play City, Liverpool and Chelsea. Try and get De Boer in as his number 2 with a view to taking over in say 3 seasons. I’m sure top talent would want to come and play for those two – even if we cant offer them ECL football. Contrast that scenario with Moyes and his bunch of nonentities!
First, Moyes is unlikely to be sacked – UNLESS the owners decide that the “advice” from SAF/Sir Bobby is no longer warranted after this season’s colossal clusterfuck. What are the odds on that ?
Second, among the so-called LikelyLads, there is one guy who has the right mix of qualities – Jurgen Klopp. Two more – Ancellotti and Van Gaal -possess the gravitas that might steady-the-ship. Others like Simeone and Conte are just idiotic suggestions – both are domestic winners and I don’t think that either one speaks English. The sentimental suggestion that Ryan Giggs or Ole-Gunnar or Gary Neville will get so much as a by-your-leave is something worse-than-idiotic – why not Steve Bruce, who seems like a very nice man and has his team in the FACup final ? I thought not !
So, if Klopp is the best candidate what stands in the way of making such an appointment. First, see above – the owners need to change course and, second, Klopp has a contract with BVBDortmund until 2017 so it would be expensive to buy him out but the Glazers have previous since they were willing to spend big to get Jon Gruden for the Tampa Bay Bucs and he led them to their only Super Bowl, which they won.
Let’s get all un-realistic, Moyes is sacked and Klopp is hired. What then ?
First, the clear-out has to continue – we all know the names of the usual suspects.
Second, the central defence needs to be sorted: Vidic is gone and no manager is likely to keep Rio while the continual injuries to Jones/Smalling/Evans are troubling and provide no grounds for believing that these guys can be the platform for a NewUTD.
Third, “it’s the midfield, stupid”. The rumour (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/15/manchester-united-offering-toni-kroos-260000-a-week) suggests that there is a new policy. $pal$hTheCa$h and buy the best – bugger the cost. (For all the idiotic talk about “debt”, MUFC has huge revenue streams that are likely to be threatened by failure-to-perform on the field.)
Fourth, the attack needs to be modernized – we’ve all seen how the injury to AshleyBloodyYoung opened the door to something like a 4-2-3-1 with no touchline-hugging wingers and with a dynamic DarrenFletcherinho acting as a ‘water carrier’. For all UTD’s stumbles this season, it’s hard to overlook that this squad has a wealth of attacking talent that has been atrociously mis-used this season by an incompetent manager.
Finally, what to do with TheWayneBoy ? The huge contract for a great ‘street footballer’ might be an albatross if the new manager tries to implement a more disciplined approach. Here, I think, the parallel with StevieStarFish is apposite – it’s only been when the manager (Rafa in 2009 and Brenda this year) has been strict in controlling the street-footballer that the team has benefitted. To me, this is essentially the same dilemma that any new manager will face. Has the new contract bought off TheWayneBoy’s “ambition” ? Or, would playing him as the #9 (the “1” in the 4-2-3-1) provide an alternative way to short-circuit his in-discipline ? If so, what to do with RVP and Chicharito ?
Having gone through those five issues, we come back to square-one: whether (or not) the owners decide that the stewardship of SAF/Sir Bobby is out-dated and their advice is no longer needed. If so, then Jurgen Klopp is the best choice – and he would have been the best choice last summer, too – but either Van Gaal or Ancellotti would be excellent stop-gaps to help the team regain its focus and play with flair.
If the board are seriously considering alternatives and you are correct that in reality they probably are not, then the opinions of Fergie and Charlton may not be considered. They both may be directors but they aren’t board members. The question is, in the absence of the esteemed aforementioned legends who got us into this mess in the first place, who does the board turn to for advice on this? Independent professional head hunters or what they read in the press. Anyway, change us unlikely in the short term unless there ‘s more embarrassment before the season ends. Could the game against Everton be another reality check on the disaster that is David Moyes or will some type of result merely postpone the inevitable until sometime next season. Oh yes and there’s the little matter of paying Moyes out the balance of his contract as well as buying Klopp out of his. Could be expensive. Get in Van Gaal for three seasons then look at someone younger including Klopp who will be out of contract by then and whose managerial credentials might be further clarified and enhanced by then.
Interesting stuff. Moyes has reduced us to lasciviously ogling better managers like someone trapped in a bad relationship
Julian @ 3:41: “there’s the little matter of paying Moyes out the balance of his contract as well as buying Klopp out of his.”
So what ? If it costs 27 million that’s what was spent for MrBlowJob.
I really wish posters wouldn’t worry about UTD spending money – it’s not your money. We are all just pawns in this situation, kept in a kind of servitude by infantile loyalty to a footie-club which is, of course, a “property” owned by people who don’t give a tinker’s damn (or even a fiddler’s fuck for our opinions) for your opinions or your feelings or anything other than loyalists’ money.
For me, the key issue is what can be done with that vast $lu$h fund that the Glazers control. In that sense, it would be better to see TheLads win than not but, of course, it’s not a right or an entitlement for MUFC to be champions. And, it would be nice – and a damned-sight less painful – than blindly following TheLads in the hope that TheMoyessiah gets something (anything ?) right for a change.
We may have no “entitlement for MUFC to be champions”, but we have earned the right to always be challenging.
Spot on. Not sure what Denton Davey’s on about. There is money of course and United are currently in reasonably good shape financially. However, the money men will be conscious of paying out Moyes and buying out Klopp. As a result they wont jump into a decision to remove Moyes. A cheaper option is Van Gaal for the next three years followed by a younger manager eg Klopp – or De Boer maybe. I think Moyes will be here next season and the new “expectation” will be a top four spot and not the championship itself. Moyes is probably ideal for that type of scenario – promising quite a bit but delivering little.
giggyjon @ 11:06: “we have earned the right to always be challenging.”
I disagree – UTD have no “right” or “entitlement” to anything.
To be “challenging” or “champions” UTD have to be better than the rest.
Indeed, it’s because this season-of-horrors comes on the heels of twenty years of almost-perpetual success that it tastes like bitter ash in our mouths. Yet the fact is that this season has been a disaster from the get-go – only the false illusion of the 4-1 opening day victory in Wales gave us the impression that SAF was correct about “continuity” under TheMoyessiah.
The fact remains that this season’s team – especially the central defence and the midfield – isn’t good enough. And, of course, this season’s manager isn’t good enough to “challenge” for anything more than 7th – well, maybe 6th !
Disagree DD – this squad was good enough to command a top 4 finish. Injuries and Moyes dragged us down to 7th.
OK, 4th but not “champions”.
Even without the disastrous run of injuries to the central defence and the decline of MC16, this collection of players just wasn’t up to challenging the top-three this time around.
Maybe a really reckless, hell-for-leather strategy with a “you score three OK; we’ll score four/five/six” game-plan would have worked but that would hardly be feasible in the grand vision of TheMoyessiah.
Last year – 2012/3 – UTD won by scoring more than the opposition; even matches against Reading and their ilk were won by hell-for-leather goal-fests led by RVP’s heroics. That wasn’t on the cards this time around.
The odd thing is that Moyes’ UTD could have and possibly should have beaten Bayern if TheWayneBoy had his shooting-boots and if DannyTheLad hadn’t fucked-up his great chance in the OT match. It seemed to me that Bayern was a perfect opponent for Moyes’ “style”.
Agreed mate. Rooney shouldn’t even have been playing. He looked scared to kick the ball at times.
I also agree that we could (and should) have adopted The Keegan Method. Remember his strategy at Newcastle? Simply score more than you concede. They came 2nd to Utd.
In fact… I WILL LOVE IT if we did that 🙂
Informative article mates & many of us would want to see one of the mentioned trainers manage united. They are progressive,innovative & know how to get the best out of their players.
But lets be honest & admit that this remains a pipe dream & will never happen. With sir bobby in our hierarchy a non-British manager would never be allowed to manage Manchester. Its that sad.
Sir alex was ready to relinquish his position & endorse Mourinho or pep & its public knowledge that he met with both coaches separately earlier in the last season. On hearing this sir bobby & some members of the board were not for this & asked sir alex to at least recommend a British manager as a 1st choice & that’s why sir alex had to go with moyes cz he was the only one available. Sir alex is a very continental guy & it must baffled many with moyes choice that he but truth is some behind the scenes activities were taking place.
You can even see it it in Moyes tone of voice when he speaks regarding his future. He seems not worried at all that his dismal performances are jeopardizing his job. He looks stressed & helpless on the field when we are being beaten & dominated. When answering press questions he seems doggy in answering team related queries. BUT when it comes to his future he suddenly lightens up & start talking of how “he knows he has a job to rebuild”…”this job was for the future”….”he will bring in his players”…….
Its so depressing but mates its seems that we will be stuck with moyes for at least 5yrs before the board thinks of firing him
@mongolesti, at least we agrred on something. The injuries. But it will be a folly to discounted the ageing point. You also said we have a lot of “plenty talent” @ OT but could only mention two. And i ask, how many matches has Zaha started forCardiff?. Its not as if our youth/academy and reserve teams are doing so well @ thier respective levels. The last time i checked our reserve team was 6th on the log. For those of you who blamed everything on Moyes, i wish you could just have a balanced view. RM inherited a more balanced team that was improving but just needed a little tweak which the additions of Lukaku and Barry gave RM. In contrast, Moyes inherited a team past its peak which the only direction it can go is south. As you also agree with me injuries did not help matters. Even with injury free, could he have won the league? The answer is NO. But he wouldn’t be 7th.
I agree with your balanced view of this past season – too old and too slow, too many under-performers and too many journeymen, and too many injuries. That’s five inter-connected issues that crept up to haunt TheLads this time around.
But, saying that, TheMoyessiah did himself no favours by playing such a conservative style that essentially negated the team’s great strength in attack. The touchline-hugging-wingers/overlapping fullbacks bullshit was boring under Fergy but at least he could make it work with a central defence/MC16 that was on their last legs. This year was a-year-too-far for Vidic and Rio and MC16 who had been the heart of the team since 2006. This time around the core of the team was simply inadequate when it wasn’t beset by injuries.
So, it’s not just “the midfield” but also the central defence that needs an overhaul. It’s a big job and I’m not exactly convinced that the current manager is the guy to do it but he’s the guy who has the backing of SAF and Sir Bobby so we’ll just have to wait-and-see.
I’d still like to see Klopp-o but that’s a pipe-dream – just like Gundogan and Vidal and Kroos and Koke…..
@ Denton Davey, i agree with you that Moyes may not be the right coach for United. Back in the summer, i was one of the very few who believed Moyes wasn’t the right choice not because he is a bad coach but for the fact he hasn’t won anything as a player nor as a coach. He was coming into a dressing room full of winners. How will he command thier trust(not thier respect) to do things his own way rather than the way that has brought them success after success. A R. Giggs would have been more acceptable to the Players than Moyes just as Pep was acceptable to Barca players even when he hasn’t won anything. That is the only reason i fill Moyes does not fit the profile. Not because of tactics or anything like that.