Manchester United Rumours

14 Apr 2024 11:02:24
Rumours that EtH has lost the dressing room - a recurring theme at United since SAF.

Is it the manager and tactics or the players or the whole club? One things for sure is that after spending a billion pounds we are a mid table team

I’d don’t trust my judgement with this lot.

14 Apr 2024 12:18:29
The dressing room is too big, has too many players, and has too many cliques.

It's impossible for any manager to keep a group of players this big and disjointed together and pushing in the same direction. While the going is good it works. But the moment things get tough this squad turns on itself and they eat eachother.

I don't think it's possible to have 36 first team players and to not have a group of them dislike or become disenchanted with the manager as simple there there too many players to get regular minutes. Meaning there is always a core group of players who don't play regularly and as such won't buy into the manager or his tactics.

They will be the first ones to turn on the manager when things get tough as they never really bought into him in the first place.

You then have those who are regulars in the first team but who have close friends or are in cliques with players who aren't. Players who maybe have fallen out with the manager.

For example is it a coincidence that Rashford's form went completely out the window around the same time that Sancho (a close friend) had a very public fallout with the manager?

It could be a coincidence or it could be linked.

The same happened when Jose turned on Shaw, the form of several of the players close to Shaw dropped.

These players who have torn loyalties between the manager and friends who don't like the manager will be the next to turn against him.

Then there are the ones who have no particular strong feelings either way, but they tend to go with the crowd as they have no reason to fight against it.

This tends to leave the manager with a few close loyalists, often the players they have brought with them or have worked with before.

But by this point it isn't enough to save them, they don't have enough players to put out a team that is truly playing for them.

14 Apr 2024 12:50:24
Rinse and repeat. Too many toxic players that have done this under multiple managers. Right now my biggest issue with talk of replacing ETH is that it could further delay moving these players on. We only have 4 or 5 players good enough to start for any team with aspirations of challenging for the league. We need 3+ new starter level players in and a whole boat load out.

14 Apr 2024 14:50:12
Also doesn’t help if the manager has no emotional intelligence and no people skills.

14 Apr 2024 15:08:20
Spot on utd Road. If I was a player I wouldn't trust him.
He is only 5 mins away from his next fall out.
Ignore tashfords non effort for 6 months a call out garnacho was dumb but to be expected from eth.
Its not even up for debate now he is on his way out no doubt about it.
Some players will go with him and that's a good thing.

14 Apr 2024 15:36:06
The dressing room lost us a long time ago. Ship turn all out and star again.

14 Apr 2024 18:58:37
You would think after 2 years at the club he should be able to remember where the dressing room is.

Perhaps this explains why he keeps picking Rashford. He keeps forgetting how bloody awful he was in the previous game.

14 Apr 2024 20:25:35
Rumours that [insert manager name] has lost the dressing room.

Of course he has, the only surprise is that it took almost two years.

14 Apr 2024 20:52:15
The Utd dressing room must be the most pathetic and tedious working environment on the planet. You can just picture the moaning and bitchiness.

15 Apr 2024 09:41:41
Lol wazza.

Apparently he has no personal skills or emotional intelligence. Jesus, lads on here really have no clue 😂.

15 Apr 2024 14:04:32
Angel, it's hilarious. Rumours that he can be "difficult" to get along with surface and the a couple of weeks later some sections of the fanbase are suggesting we've hired Rain man to manage us 🤣🤣🤣.

15 Apr 2024 21:09:51
You'd have thought after no renovations in the ground, the dressing room would be in the same place it always is.

16 Apr 2024 00:34:23
Yeah I’ve totally misjudged EtH boys.

The players are so motivated they’d run through walls for Eric it’s plain to see. Not to mention how he’s got the best out of Ronaldo, Sancho, Maguire, Van der beek and Varane and increasing their market value.

You can’t argue that he doesn’t get the very best out of his footballers and never have I seen such fitness levels and resilience to injury before.

It must be so inspiring for the team to see how uses the media to show his unwavering defence of his players and takes total accountability for his decisions.

Give him £400m to rebuild this team in his image and new long term contract. There definitely aren’t any managers capable of surpassing these elite levels.

11 Apr 2024 07:33:10
looks like benny mccarthy not being renewed will be gone. surprised taken this long.

11 Apr 2024 08:27:45
Ahmad, doesn't Dwight rate him?

11 Apr 2024 09:15:50
I thought Benny was supposed to be a good coach?

Not renewing would save money if they’re changing coaching set up in the summer.

11 Apr 2024 10:40:29
It's time for another yorkie porky. m.

11 Apr 2024 12:25:26
Fizz, of course he does!

11 Apr 2024 12:41:57
Rumours were he never turned up on time?

11 Apr 2024 14:44:44
Last seen eating from a lunchbox on his own.

11 Apr 2024 14:55:04
I mean he was brought in as an attacking coach, someone to help improve our forward play. let's be honest, we've been shocking in attack all season.

11 Apr 2024 17:48:17
Said months ago there are problems. ken wind your neck in and go play with your toys in the bath tub.

11 Apr 2024 17:54:34
Shappy

The striker/ wingers group don't like him and there have been many of issues. its been a lingering thing within the squad, they will be happy to see him gone.

11 Apr 2024 18:13:48
Very touch ahmad. 🤣🤣 who is replacing him? What's the word on the street?

11 Apr 2024 18:36:09
Oi ken you 🎣🎣🎣? Bad man so you are and no mistake. 😂.

12 Apr 2024 00:02:13
I propose we change the page name to Man Utd Conjecture.

12 Apr 2024 09:26:52
No word he is gone even if eth is here next year. they should have gotten rid of him this year but financials has something to do with it I suspect.

12 Apr 2024 11:42:40
Oh I see that explains everything thanks ahmad. Keep your ear to the ground for us.

12 Apr 2024 13:42:18
OP - McCarthy contract not being renewed and will be gone.

Final post - No word he is gone even if ETH is here next season.

Well don’t know about anyone else but that’s as clear as mud! Can anyone post a good I drink in a pub with a mate who’s postman’s mate delivers to SJR rumour please to restore some faith in good old fashioned rumours!

07 Apr 2024 14:35:44
Rumours potter is close to the ajax job.
May only leave Southgate available.

07 Apr 2024 15:26:49
Oh God, No.

07 Apr 2024 16:22:21
Or is this an indication that EtH could be given a further year?

07 Apr 2024 18:45:43
Hasn't Southgate got a job?

07 Apr 2024 18:54:47
Eth going no where and boy if Southgate comes i ain't supporting the club no more.

07 Apr 2024 19:07:31
Really good move for Potter if true.

07 Apr 2024 19:08:28
That being said, I’d have thought Potter might be on the FA’s shortlist if Southgate moves on? Any insights into that Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Sure, he will be an option.}

07 Apr 2024 20:01:18
I agree Eric, I think he Is a much better manager than his Chelsea spell showed, whilst I don't think er should go for him, I do think he has the potential to be very good and Ajax should help him regain his rep.

07 Apr 2024 20:45:48
More chance of David moyes managing united again than Southgate.

07 Apr 2024 20:51:37
Singh if that's the case you won't be missed. More fickle than our players.

08 Apr 2024 05:27:26
Lollll I don't need your validation. Ill b bk once southgate leaves lolll.

08 Apr 2024 08:54:50
ETH will be our manager next season. Mind Big Sam was in the directors' box with SJR. Careful what you wish for lol.

08 Apr 2024 09:20:46
Apparently Potter turned down Ajax offer. Probably has better options for next season.

08 Apr 2024 09:39:00
Old Trafford being one dev1l.

On Southgate, if we have a decent Euros, I’ve no idea why he’d leave the England post. We’ll paid, high profile, and has cultivated a good culture with a very exciting influx of top young players.

08 Apr 2024 10:27:04
Southgate has done a brilliant job for England if he has a good euros again then I agree EricI'm not sure sjr he would leave that post. It's a great job to have and one he is doing really well.

08 Apr 2024 11:17:02
It depends on how you judge Southgate. England have always struggled at international tournaments due to a lack of belief and an inability to work together.

On that front Southgate has totally turned that around, there is no bad blood, controversy or personal issues in the England camp. They all believe they can win major tournaments and the whole squad gives 100% every time they go out on the pitch.

For that Southgate should be commended, and to be honest given the United dressing room issues over the past decade, this is something that maybe Southgate could be good at resolving. Although club football is a very different beast to international football due to the fragmented time international football has compared to the day to day grind of club football. Could Southgate be as effective at keeping the dressing atmosphere in the right place at club level. Especially as it's much harder to remove a bad influence in club football compared to just not selecting them at international level.

Case in point Southgate just not selecting Sancho for England was an instant fix, whereas EtH has had to send him to the under 21's for a couple of months before him leaving on loan. Meaning that 6 months later Sancho is still an issue for EtH and the club to resolve.

Where Southgate has let himself down is his tactical acumen and his decision making in the key moments.

He plays with far too much caution, typical maybe of a manager who was a defender during his playing career. Maybe he doesn't know the best way to attack, or maybe he feels safety first is a better/ more consistent approach.

Either way for a club like United that is known for playing with attacking flair, even a cavalier, risk it all style of play, that seems a poor fit. As previous managers have found out, a defensive style of play will only be tolerated for so long by the United fanbase, typically that is while we are winning. Boring football and no trophies will only lead to the sack.

His in game management also seems poor, with him rarely making an impact from the bench. Or at least a positive impact. Be that trying to see out the Euro final for 80 minutes after Shaw's early goal, or an inability or reluctance to make an attacking change to try and claw back a game. Too often it seems he zigged when he should have zagged.

He tries to shut up shop with 30+ minutes left of the game. Or he waits until the 80th minute to make an attacking change when a goal behind from the first half.

I don't know whether it's a lack of tactical intelligence to be able to see what is happening in real time and being able to think up the solution to make the changes, or whether it's a lack of confidence to make those changes. Either way, it is that part of his managerial makeup that has stopped him lifting silverware with England rather than a lack of talent or because the squad has issues.

Maybe that is where the Gary O'Neil as an assistant manager type role is coming from.

Are they fully aware of Southgate's weaknesses and are looking to hire him alongside someone like O'Neil to add that tactical intelligence to the backroom team. Southgate to lead and create a harmonious and driven atmosphere along with his experience of dealing with big players and the press. With someone like O'Neil to take the majority of the training sessions and be the tactican on match days.

That is a model that has previously worked at United with SAF being the leader and his assistant managers running the majority of training sessions and having a big input into the tactics.

It's not what I'd go for but it's about the only way I can see Southgate having any chance of working at United. Given the way INEOS have started their running of the club, the changes they are making and the sensible hiring they are doing it doesn't make much sense to hire Southgate. Unless they have him fitted up for the role of getting the players mentally in the right place and making the dressing room atmosphere conducive of what you need to challenge for and win major titles, with someone whose a tactician and top class coach who has proven his ability to get the players playing good football and improving them to work alongside Southgate to mitigate his weaknesses.

That might be the solution as it's difficult to find someone who has both the ability to get the very best out of the players and create a winning mentality/ atmosphere at a club as well as having a tactical intelligence to be able to adapt to the modern game and the constant tactical changes that happen in it.

Those managers are rare, and to be honest if there are any like that available this summer then we will face an up hill battle to get them.

The club has also shown an ability to go and find top people like Jason Wilcox and convince them to take a sideways or even backwards step in terms of their job title/ responsibilities to come and work at United. Could they do the same with convincing someone like O'Neil to leave a managers position at an EPL club to become an assistant at United (albeit one that might have far greater impact/ responsibility than most assistant managers) . Maybe.

Like I said Southgate isn't someone I'd personally consider as a good choice for Manchester United, yet he might be the one we end up with.

If he wins the Euros this summer and comes in on the back of that success, and has a top class assistant manager like a Gary O'Neil or similar to run the training sessions and tactical side of the team then maybe it could work.

08 Apr 2024 12:07:31
I don’t believe any Premier League 1st team manager would want to go to be an assistant regardless of the club stature. Wilcox role at a football club is not comparable with O’Neil’s IMO.

08 Apr 2024 13:06:37
I think intl football suits Southgate shappy.
I would not be a fan but I respect the job he has done with England. He has made them competitive.

08 Apr 2024 14:38:39
Ken, I'm not sure if you're taking the Mickey or not.

But england, with the talent he has, have been poor IMO. They haven't beaten anyone they weren't supposed to. When they came up against a big team, they have failed.

07 Apr 2024 19:08:28
That being said, I’d have thought Potter might be on the FA’s shortlist if Southgate moves on? Any insights into that Ed?

{Ed002's Note - He would be an option.-}

08 Apr 2024 17:30:38
Ken, I tend to agree. Some managers are just better suited to international football. I think Jose Mourinho could be a phenomenal international manager. His style of play is well suited to knockout football, and he has always been more successful in cup competitions as opposed to league football. I think the ability to drop players who don't work in his system, along with the reduced contact time (making his intensity less draining for players), along with his pragmatic style all suit international football. Plus he has the ego to carry a nations hopes on his shoulders.

I think if Southgate just had that person with some real tactical nous in his ear and part of his team then he could have won something. Someone who can see how a game is going and think of the best solutions to developing issues. That's my one real hang up with Southgate as England manager, he is far too cautious and slow to react to a changing game state.

08 Apr 2024 17:47:49
No I'm not taking the mickey at all.
England have only once won anything they are minnows in intl football.
Italy France Spain Brazil Argentina Germany are the intl powerhouses. Lots of other countries have also won since.
Only 2 managers have ever got them to a final and Southgate is one.
English players are fine under forgien coaches and alongside forgien team mates.
Put an all English team together they have never won anything for 60 odd years. Put a bunch all in one room together without their forgien teammates and they can't cope.
Southgate has a few talented players at the moment that's true but he doesn't have a top keeper or top cb imo and take kane out and they miss him badly.
I'd argue that every England manager for the past 30 years has had top talent but they never even got to a final. Becks Scholes Gerrard Adams walker Robson shearer Pearce Cole barnes all walk into this squad imo.
Why on earth the English think they should be beating the likes of France Germany Spain Argentina Brazil etc is preposterous imo. They are not beating them now Angel but when did they ever? So if you think his failure is not being able to beat better teams then I suppose that's fair but it's a stick that's unfair to beat him with imo.
I think this euros he has built a team that could compete as France are the only other standout team at the moment and he has got them competing against the best better than England ever have since the 60s.
I'd like to see them win something but it will be a monumental achievement if they do.
It's also not easy to manage a team that not only the opposition want you to lose but also pretty every other neutral in the world wants them to lose too🤣🤣.

09 Apr 2024 09:16:14
Steve Holland.

04 Apr 2024 00:03:57
Hey ed002,

Hope all is well and sorry to bother you as i know you are very busy. Just on the manager front, do united still have a chance in hiring Ruben Amorim or is he definetly off to liverpool? Who do you think would be a good fit at united? I feel if he goes to liverpool our options aren't good. It feels as though the structure is being set up for an english manager though whuch in my opinion is a bad idea. Thanks in advance.

{Ed002's Note - He is not definately off to Liverpool but Manchester United still have preferred options.}

04 Apr 2024 11:48:50
There are definitely options when you look around, I'd imagine they will be looking for a younger more progressive manager whose ideas match that of the clubs (whatever those are now) .

Managers like Ruben Amorim, Xabi Alonso, Thiago Motta, Roberto De Zerbi, Arne Slot, Simeone Inzaghi, and Julian Nagelsmann are probably the most obvious options.

Although if Amorim is a serious option for Liverpool then I'd imagine he'd choose to go there over coming to us this summer. While Alonso has ruled out leaving Leverkusen this summer (I actually think that is the best option for him right now) .

Motta seems to be the hipsters choice, while Nagelsmann is probably the best option available all things considered. That is if he is to leave the German national team, if they win the Euros this summer then he might want to stay. While he might also have other better options than us this summer.

You then have the outsiders like Tuchel who is available (although he is linked with Real Madrid) and some of the younger British managers like Potter (outsider in terms of who the fans would want, but seems well in the running with those who will actually make the decision), O'Neil and McKenna.

I've even heard whispers of Ole being potentially considered. Although I'd imagine that would be a challenging appointment to sell to the fans.

The problem is that while there are some potentially very good options available, there are a number of top jobs open this summer, Liverpool, Bayern, Real Madrid and possibly Chelsea as well. Three of which would definitely be more appealing to many of the potential candidates. Meaning we might have to take our 2nd, 3rd or even 4th choice option if the others choose to move elsewhere.

So it might not be a case of is our 1st choice option a better option than EtH, but is our 3rd choice option a better fit than EtH.

04 Apr 2024 13:17:42
OMG, the return of Solksjaer? That is mind blowing. Surely you're on the wind up Shappy?

I'd go for Arne Slot, just on the name alone.

04 Apr 2024 16:37:02
MancMan, that's the rumour, how accurate it is who knows. Personally I'd be very surprised if INEOS thought Ole was the right man. Although there is a small part of me that wants to see that just for Ken's reaction 🤣🤣🤣

Of those I've listed above my opinion is that Nagelsmann would be the best option. Great record everywhere he's been, tactically astute, good communicator, experience at a top club. The only things that count against him is that he apparently rubbed a few people up the wrong way at Bayern (particularly in relation to his new girlfriend), and he has never managed outside of Germany, so we don't know how he adapts to different leagues/ counties.

After that it'd probably be between Amorim and Inzaghi.

Slot I don't think has enough experience, Alonso won't move, I like De Zerbi, but there is something about him I can't quite put my finger on that makes me feel like he isn't ready for a top job. Thiago Motta is an interesting one, tactically he is out on his own, doing things no one else is doing. While it would be interesting to see if he could get his style to work in the EPL or at a top club, it very much is his style and if it didn't work then we would have started to rebuild the squad again to suit a manager who does things so differently that there isn't someone similar to step into his shoes if he left.

I think he'd be great at a club just outside the elite sides in Europe, somewhere with a little less pressure. Where he'd have more time and freedom to pursue his style without demands of immediate success.

He could be similar to Simeone at Atletco Madrid, someone who has success by bucking the trend and doing things differently to the top clubs, but doing it so well that he is successful with it. I'd like to see him at a club of that level.

I'm not as against Potter as most, I still think he's a very good manager who can be very successful. I don't think he had the support or was given the time at Chelsea to be successful. The problem is that failures like that hang around your neck and heal the pressure on to prove them wrong despite the context or reasons for why you failed.

Pochettino has a near identical record in terms of results this season to Potters at Chelsea. Despite having a more settled club than the one Potter was having to deal with.

I would back the club if they decided to go for Potter, but would appreciate that he would probably be given less leeway by the fans who will likely be skeptical of his appointment.

I really like O'Neil and McKenna and think they are doing great things, it might just be a little too soon in their careers for the step up to United, especially at a time where the club will be in a state of flux. Maybe in the future with a settled backroom team, and the club running as a well oiled machine, then we might be able to take a chance on those inexperienced up and coming managers who look to have great potential. I'm not against the idea of hiring a manager like O'Neil or McKenna and giving them the space to develop, while also helping to mould them into the ideal Manchester United manager. But to do so we would need much more support behind the scenes for that manager. Experienced people for them to lean on, and who can keep the pressure off when things aren't quite going to plan.

04 Apr 2024 18:22:24
Weirdly enough, I’d not be against OGS. Not sure why, it think he did a decent job. Also very much not against Erik being given a chance next season under the new structure. If he fails in year 3, time to go.

04 Apr 2024 18:40:44
Ed, if you don't mind me asking. Do you still expect ETH to be moved on in the summer?

Sly sports reported Ineos planned to keep him, but I'm not sure if that's just lazy journalism as 24 hours before they did a story on Southgate.

{Ed002's Note - I think that there is a strong chance that he will be replaced and the club options. Right now he is not the solution that the club need.}

04 Apr 2024 22:18:05
Shappy seems strange that Real are looking to offload Ancelotti a couple months after giving him an extension no? Are Barcelona not also looking for a manager after Xavi announced he’s leaving at the end of the season?

Out of the managers you listed, Amorim, Alonso and Motta are pretty much 100% not options for Utd. Think the list is Tuchel, De Zerbi, Potter and Nagelsmann. Some outside shouts of Zidane, Southgate and maybe OGS.


Think De Zerbi is top of the list for Deco at Barcelona also high up for Bayern I believe. Nagelsmann could end up staying with Germany. So realistically think it’s Potter and Tuchel as the front runners.

05 Apr 2024 10:48:03
Shappy’s whispers are as reliable as the game in primary school where you try get the kids to pass the same sentence the whole way round the circle 😂😂😂.

05 Apr 2024 11:21:43
What's that song the cranberries had zombie.
It's in your head
It's in your head
Zombie zombie zombie hey hey hey.

05 Apr 2024 13:52:52
Who would be your choice to succeed him Ed2?

{Ed002's Note - Arne Slot would be a great option.}

05 Apr 2024 14:12:20
Thanks Ed. Let’s hope the club are considering this.

05 Apr 2024 15:19:11
To stand any chance of success the next Utd manager has to be a rare beast indeed. A good coach and a sound tactician, sufficient experience at the top level and with a strong personality without being a bit of an arse. Oh, and they need to have an attacking football philosophy and a commitment to developing youth.

That all sounds like Ange at Spurs.

06 Apr 2024 14:15:44
Mancman

Spurs have spend 385 million in 3 windows on 13 players and no loan deal and all proper buys. They have no european football this year and were out of both domestic cups early on. They had a bit of injury issue with Maddison and Van der ven but nothing major. Their fullbacks are really good imo and have made a big difference.

He knows how to charm the press and talks a big game but let's see how they do next year with european football a congested schedule which will bring injuries and how he deals with first signs of real adversity. They are The Newcastle of last year for me.

06 Apr 2024 22:56:02
You might be right Ahmad and when you put it like that perhaps I'm one of those who has been charmed.

Like you say, it's perhaps too early to say for sure

However, I do admire his approach to the game and he has brought in some excellent players which I think will gell into a really good team given another season.

01 Apr 2024 19:06:16
Wilcox resigned apparently.

01 Apr 2024 22:47:11
It sounds like he's the solution to the delay over Ashworth starting. Someone with the ability to "sub" the role short term this summer, until Ashworth is fully in place, then drop back into another role. Or at least something to that effect, or so I've heard/ read.

02 Apr 2024 07:56:25
He’ll do a job on the left wing.

02 Apr 2024 16:09:35
Imagine a winner that crossed the ball. Rasmus wouldn't know what to do with himself.

03 Apr 2024 09:16:44
The only way Højlund is going to get service from Rashford is if he signs up for his free meal programs 🤣🤣🤣.