16 Feb 2015 04:53:22
@Ed004

I read some of your replies on Klopp and Van Gaal further down the page.

I think the issue most, including me have with Van Gaal is that he is just scraping by with results, quite a few times we have had to depend on perhaps on De Gea and been lucky (by his own admission may i add) to get the result. Also the style of play is very poor. We weren't great in Sir Alex's last 2-3 seasons either but we did create quite a few genuine goalscoring chances every game and the "intent" to attack was always there and evident. That is what is missing with Van Gaal and combine that with certain tactical blunders, setting the whole club up for a 3-5-2, buying according to it and then later realizing that its just not working, we are left completely unbalanced, lacking any sort of vision or direction. I recognize that injuries have taken a toll, but they have been majorly in the defensive areas, but its our attacking that has suffered the most. In fact, I would like to credit Van Gaal for sorting out the defensive side since January.

Van Gaal has all the resources in the world, has a very good squad with the potential to play good football, yet is constantly failing to deliver. His man management has been poor and his previous record, although having titles on his resume, also has some spectacular failures and he has fallen out with players and club executives wherever he has been.

For Klopp, its been a terrible 6 months. Everything that could have gone wrong, has gone wrong. Their season looks as freakish as Moyes' at United last year, even worse in fact. But, and here is where it gets interesting, you can see a certain calmness and belief in the whole club that he will turn it around. And maybe they have turned a corner with back to back wins. Reus' injury and recovery, Gundogan's injury, Lewandowski leaving has indeed taken its toll.

Yet Klopp is a manager who in my honest opinion is one of the greatest tacticians and motivators in the modern game. I have never seen a Jose Mourinho side taken to task, pressed and dominated in a way that his Dortmund side did to Real Madrid. He is someone who has taken a side which in no way can compete financially with the big boys of Europe into the Champions League final, dominated Bayern Munich in the league for 2-3 years, has an unbelievable record on youth development and his prowess in the transfer market for unearthing gems is quite astonishing. Add to that his teams play an attacking style and counter attack with pace and ruthlessness, and has completely rebuilt a club, he fits in completely with the "Manchester United way". In no way should all of that be overlooked because of half a season of bad results. If he manages to turn it around for them this season and secure a European place, it will be an unbelievable achievement and signify that he has the ability to bounce back too.

With all of that in mind, IF Klopp is available in the summer, I would go for him rather than persisting with Van Gaal, especially if LVG has continued with his stubborn approach and the style of play that we have seen this season. Even Ancelotti could be a great option, with proven experience, tactics, winning ability and already having won in England. Also, he is known for working with what he is given and not stirring up trouble, which is always a good thing at a big club. He has managed the circus quite well at Madrid and also has had a calming influence on them.

{Ed004's Note - I was just putting the post into context the other day. I wasn't saying I wouldn't have Klopp as our manager. Personally I'm not sure who we could get out there who is garunteed to be better than LvG. Though the managers I would look at would be Ancelotti, Klopp and Koeman. I'm not sure about Simeone, is his style of play not similar to Mourinho who gets ridiculed for it sometimes}

1.) 20 Feb 2015
Good post.

Most managers will adapt to the club, some have the club adapt to them, some managers deserve this honour, others simply don't.

Klopp is in an unusual situation. Who has done well with mega money in the past? It's quite a unique scenario so there is no real blue print, some players fail, others flourish and you can't blame the manager for that in many cases.

Our next manager needs to adapt to what Man Utd stands for and incorporate that into their plan. Whoever does the ultimate hiring at our club (Collective, Woody or SAF), they need to ignore a lot about the past record, because every club has its own budgets expectations, ego's, and policies, most managers are having to handle unique scenarios out of their control so no two club scenarios are the same.

It's all in the due diligence and interview rather than their managerial record for the most part. That's why he should be young, ambitious, attack minded and confident - most importantly intelligent.

There are only a small handful of managers who you know exactly what you will be getting from their teams. Mourinho and Pep in particular.

I wouldn't go for either personally, we need to have our own version who attacks with pace and brings back that swashbuckling, cavalier approach we all love the club for.

{Ed004's Note - The one advantage of Klopp is that his side is entertaining and he's seems a nice bloke who the media like. His teams are energetic and quick with lots of movement. Something we have been missing this season}

2.) 20 Feb 2015
Yes Ed 004 and he seems very loyal, young and intelligent. He ticks a lot of my boxes without having met the guy. It's all in their plan and how confident/realistic it is to build that idea.

I'm slowly getting on the Klopp idea.

3.) 20 Feb 2015
20 Feb 2015 16:31:33
My personal preference is to give him the 3 years and then hand over to de Boer.

Probably not the most popular view point but I'm sticking to it.

4.) 20 Feb 2015
20 Feb 2015 16:52:13
I like Klopp and would prefer him to the other names being mentioned; but I honestly cannot see the current manager not being here next season. Not a chance if the man delivers this season which, IMO, he will.

5.) 20 Feb 2015
I disagree about getting rid of lvg. You said bd are standing by klopp despite the terrible season they've had and yet you're saying we should get rid of lvg. One moment you're saying bd are a great club as they are calm about the situation they're in, and the next moment you want United to rush into sacking lvg?
We have very good players, but we haven't got a balanced squad, we need a good Cb, right back, central midfielder, and a winger. Then we will have a balanced team that can attack with intent.
Sacking lvg will achieve nothing. For what's it worth, I love klopp and I wanted him before Moyes.

6.) 20 Feb 2015
Has kloop really had mega money in the past

7.) 20 Feb 2015
20 Feb 2015 17:14:31
I see klopp at arsenal at some point. I also think he struggles to cope with the pressure of being favourite whereas he thrives on being the under dog.

Simeone I think would be the worst choice.

8.) 20 Feb 2015
Nomid - Its simple for me, Klopp has earned time, LVG hasn't. I am certain had this been Klopp's first season at BD he would have been fired a long time ago!

Who's to say Moyes wouldn't have done better, AVB, Sherwood, etc etc. You earn time in football unfortunately. I just don't think the goal posts should be moved for LVG as he hasn't done anything to deserve it thus far.

Jred - No I don't think he has had mega money, if you are referring to my point it was a question really, "who has had mega money and done well?" not many, so its not a benchmark we should use to judge a manager, ie "They have spent well in the past", because not many people have had £200m to spend like LVG had.

9.) 20 Feb 2015
Beast I think with united in champions league spot and still in fa cup lvg has done enough to stay at present as Moyes didn't get sacked until cl qualification looked unachievable. I personally think our possession is a lot better than last year and there has been good performances but not ever in a full 90 minutes. Only my opinion but I think he will be successful but appreciate its difficult to see at times. I don't know if I know who are best 11 are because some players performances have been erratic.some players are new and take longer to settle but that reminds me of vidic who struggled at first but then went on to be a solid dependable cb(for every vidic I appreciate their will be those that fail to adapt)

10.) 20 Feb 2015
20 Feb 2015 19:05:49
I think LVG is the right choice to take the club back to the top of english football. He may not be the best man long term because his record at keeping clubs at the top is not too good. I would wait for his contract to run out before looking for a younger manager who can keep us at the top consisntently

11.) 20 Feb 2015
20 Feb 2015 21:46:56
Kloop or Simone for me after Lvg three years contract us up Mourinho is at Chelsea and frankly i don't like Guardiola his teams bore me to death

12.) 21 Feb 2015
21 Feb 2015 07:50:45
I must admit I am a huge follower of Borussia Dortmund. I believe they are one of only a select few major clubs that still belongs to the fans, the working class man and which puts its fan base before anything else.

I like Klopp he is tactically aware and is a fantastic character. I agree that it has been difficult for him and Dortmund over the past few years losing players to Rivals, long term injuries to key players and trying to maintain a chase on possibly the greatest team Germany has produced in recent years.

Having said that he may still be a little ripe to take on the challenge at United or a club of that ilk. He has struggled this year and has even admitted himself to cracking under pressure on occasions. I would hate for him to come to someone like United and fold because he is better than that.

A lot of folk compare Klopp with Simeone because of their age and achievements thus far but I belive the edge Simeone has is that he simply doesn't care and wants to win at all costs, he's ruthless. I think Klopp has to add that mentality to his arsenal before moving on.