14 Nov 2021 08:53:19
So it looks like Brendan Rodgers is the favourite to replace Ole according to the press. With some even suggesting that he is currently house hunting in Cheshire.

If true then the question seems to be when not if.

Supposedly he has a clause in his Leicester city contact that allows him to leave for a fee if a UCL club comes in for him. Again I wonder what the wording of such a clause would be. For example would we still be considered a UCL club during this season if we got knocked out of it? For example could finishing 3rd in our group actually prolong Ole's stay at the club by making a deal for Rodgers more difficult? . If so does that mean the club might be forced to act sooner to secure their preferred manager.

Rodgers apparently would prefer to take over at the end of the season. Although I doubt that would stop him moving, he jumped ship at Celtic mid-season abandoning his attempt at the treble-treble to take over Leicester city. So I'd imagine he'd be happy to do so to jump from Leicester city to Manchester United.

I wouldn't be against Rodgers, he is a good manager. It will be the ultimate test for him. I do wonder how some of the things he has done in the past would work on players like Ronaldo who have been managed by the likes of Sir Alex, Jose Mourinho, Ancelotti, Zidane, Allegri and Sarri.

Yet in truth all managers have some flaws, it's not about finding the perfect manager, but about finding the manager who is a perfect fit for our club.

Is that Rodgers? I don't know.

For me the bigger concern isn't anything about Rodgers management. It's more to do with the assertion that one of the factors for why the club have Rodgers as their first choice is because he doesn't make waves and just gets on with it. If he doesn't get the player he wants, or feels aggrieved by the club he just grins and bares it. While that in itself isn't a terrible quality to have. The concern would be why the club value that so highly in any potential manager.

Rodgers over Conte due to playing style is fine.

Rodgers over Conte due to developing young players is fine.

Rodgers over Conte as he seems a better fit for the squad we have is also fine.

Rodgers over Conte because he won't demand the best or argue the toss about what is best from a footballing perspective is NOT fine.

1.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 09:43:09
Shappy, it will be interesting if Rodgers does indeed come in.

The current requirement is to have someone who can get the best out of this squad and if Rodgers can do that and get us playing attractive football to start with that would please everyone involved at the club especially the fans.

And if he can get the players and fans on his side then I hope that the people above do back him as they did with Ole. But the people we are talking about are one of a kind and don't know what they will do.

He could be a good stop gap to get the footballing aspects on the pitch right before we get someone who the board would like to have.

2.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 11:22:56
I think it’s boiled down to Poch or Rodgers (given Southgatenis about to extend his deal) . Neither of which are available this week without some serious negotiation to be done.

3.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 11:59:57
I don't really care the style of the next manager, I think it is irrelevant. What we do need is a manager who can organise and get our defence to defend, tighten the midfield and have the attack to be a part of the system, rather than just waiting for scraps. Certainly Ole and his band of unproven and failed coaches can't.

4.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 12:01:47
Eric79, you just killed the excitement with the word "negotiation" there ?.

United are well known for that and I fear our negotiators have got the skills to mess things up.

5.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 12:34:54
Shappy - I’m not convinced by Rodgers. I could go into detail but basically the Liverpool connection will be hard to swallow for many Utd fans, he’s not won enough at the highest level, he has no pedigree in European competition and I have reservations about his ability to handle the big personality’s in our dressing room such as Ronaldo, Varane, Pogba and Bruno et al.

In my opinion we need to move away from this long term vision the Club seem to be obsessed with. What they crave is stability and consistent top 4 finishes but they gravely underestimate the fans yearning for success. Without success there is no longevity and if the decision makers think the fans will tolerate top 4 finishes for more than a couple of seasons it’s yet more evidence that they don’t understand this football club, it’s traditions, it’s standards or its fans.

In my opinion the best option would be Zidane. I wouldn’t expect him to rebuild the Club or define the culture but to get the best out of a very talented squad for the next couple of years. Whilst we have Ronaldo, Varane, Bruno and Pogba we need a strong personality, a proven winner, somebody that would instantly command the respect of the entire squad and has the pedigree to challenge the likes of Pep and Klopp over he next couple of seasons. I see Zidane as the ideal replacement to get the best from Ronaldo over the next 18 months which I believe will be the key moving forward. We’ve brought Ronaldo back to the Club and we need a two year plan to get the best out of him and help us win otherwise he’ll cause problems in that dressing room.

I don’t know if Zidane even wants the job but it’s certainly worth asking the question! He’d certainly be my preferred option.

6.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 13:16:43
DLIB, whilst Zidane has pedigree I have concerns about his ability to replicate what he has done with Real Madrid at another club where he does not have the same level of understanding and connection.

Zidane apparently has no interest in the job and I wouldn't be a fan of the club trying to convince him to take the job.

We complain about players signing contracts just for the money but with no ambition to actually play for the club.

If Zidane needs convincing that the Manchester United job is a job worth having then he simply isn't the right candidate.

Apparently he wants either the PSG or the French national job.

As for his coaching style, it's not really a set style. He is a reactionary manager who constantly changes his set up depending on the game. He doesn't have a recognisable style. That more pragmatic approach tends to work better in tournament football than it does in league football. Where you have weeks to scout and plan an approach to a game and spend weeks preparing for it. As opposed to league football where you have a week between games and maybe 2-3 days training specifically for any individual match. Having a set style a default way of playing means you don't have to alter much between the weeks to prepare for the next game.

Zidane's approach is why only 2 of his 11 trophies are league wins. He has won 2 of the 6 league titles he has competed for as a manager, despite managing one of the two best teams in the league by some distance.

A 1 in 3 chance of winning effectively a 2 team shootout for the league title is poor.

This looks even worse when you consider the troubles Barcelona have had over the past 3-4 years since they lost players like Alves, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez etc and replaced them with subpar players.

In La Liga the manager of either Barcelona or Real Madrid should be winning the league at least 50% of the time just to make par.

In the EPL I think Zidane would struggle, it's a much more competitive league with at least three other sides capable of winning it.

I think he could win the UCL with this United side, while he'd do well in the cups.

All of this is academic though as he simply doesn't want the job.

7.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 13:33:31
Never seen any indication Zidane wants the job - via any media outlet. Question marks over all possible candidates. Ten Hag hasn't managed any big names compared to United s. Poch is doing that now now but French league is a strange one and unless he wins CL with PSG will he get much credibility for winning an "easier league" with Messi, Neymar Mbappe, Veratti

Rodgers has his failings, but I like his approach to football and if he can step up a level he could be good. Again, an experienced, respected DOF with a 3 year and 5 year plan should really be making the call on who takes the managers role.

8.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 13:34:17
Shappy - I agree if he doesn’t want the job I don’t think we should be trying to convince him plus he doesn’t speak English. I just wonder about Rodgers or Ten Hags (assuming they are the two favourites) ability to manage the big personalities at our Club.

I’d take a Champions League title over the next couple of years though! Like I say I wouldn’t see him as a long term replacement but to guide us through the next 18 months whilst we have Ronaldo.

If he doesn’t want the job it’s a non starter I’m not sure why I wasted my time ?.

9.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 14:02:21
I think every manager will have some kind of drawback. There is no such thing as a perfect manager.

I also don't think you can hire a manager with the intention of them being here for a long time. Longevity should be earned through success. That said hiring a manager who if successful could have a level of longevity would be useful. That doesn't have to be 20 years, but Klopp is in his 7th season at Liverpool now, while Pep is in his 6th season at City.

Hiring a manager who you know will blow up in 2 season's time regardless of success seems very shortsighted and not a good idea unless your club is set up to deal with that.

The problem we have made is trying to set the club up around the manager. Making them too central to everything. It means a huge upheaval when they leave. Which can then restart another 3-4 year cycle of rebuilding the squad for the new manager.

The club should have its own identity. A recognisable style. Not so much in a style of play, although something that is played on the front foot should be identifiable. But in how the club does things. A commitment to developing youth players, a clear transfer strategy, a clear type of manager the club looks to employ.

In an ideal world I'd like to see the club set up to play dominating offensive football. However with a strong emphasis on developing youth players and a transfer strategy that focuses on signing players between the ages of 22-25 who are ready to step up and become first team regulars. The signing should be to supplement the players coming through the academy and not the other way around.

At the moment the biggest issue with our youth set up is they are used to fill holes in the first team squad rather than having a specific plan for our young players to work their way into the first team. If those players then don't make that step up then we should then look to sign someone.

Take for example RB in the first team atm. Should we be looking to sign someone to challenge AWB with Dalot and Williams deemed not good enough. Or should we not make a signing there and instead give Laird a season in the first team squad to try and force his way in?

If Pogba, Matic and Donny leave how many players do we sign in midfield? Do we go out and buy 2-3 players to replace them, or do we make one key midfield signing and give Garner a chance?

Same at CB, Jones, Bailly and Tuanzebe leave. Do we sign another CB to be 4th choice behind Varane, Maguire and Lindelof or do we give Mengi a serious chance?

Same up front. Cavani leaves in the summer. Now do we sign another CF. Or do we give Greenwood more minutes up front and bring in one of Amad, Pellistri, Elanga or Shoretire to play wide in rotation with Sancho?

10.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 19:24:18
Couldn’t care less if Rodgers has been in charge at Liverpool before. My biggest concern is his inability to organise a defence. Our key weakness.

11.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 20:28:07
Zidane has no interest In United. He can go anywhere he wants. And that looks to be France national manager. Any rumours linking him to us are just that.

Rodgers - United is a step-up for him. Plays a great style in fairness but he has not got the CV to manage United, notwithstanding he'd be a step up from Ole.

Pochettino - again not won anything but his style would suit.

My fear of both of them is are they going to be 'nearly men'.

If we wanted to be treated seriously as a major club we should be writing Ajax a cheque for whatever it takes to the secure the services of Van der Sar, Overmars and Ten Hag.

I see us 'defaulting' to Rodgers after next few poor results from Ole. It is a big step up, will improve us no doubt, but deep down that still leaves us behind, I think in order, Tuchel, Guardiola and Klopp.

12.) 14 Nov 2021
14 Nov 2021 21:06:52
What happened to Rodgers going to City?

13.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 08:00:20
I totally agree with Eric and Halesini.
Rodgers is a good manager and I think he'll handle our players, however, his teams are not well organised defensively.
If I was the man organising the future at United, I'll sack solskjaer now, get Ralf Rangnick till the end of season, then bring in Ten Haag, VDS and Overmars to change the lazy culture of our players and to introduce a modern style with the onus on high pressing recovering the ball high up the pitch and using width in attack.
I will never give Zidane the job as he too plays an old style.
United are stuck in the past, manager, coaches all have old connections with the club, its time this club moves on from Fergie, Solskjaer and their mates.
Sadly, I can't see the decision makers doing the right thing.