15 Nov 2021 10:01:31
This whole manager thing is a bit of a mess. Much like every time we need a new manager or just about any situation at the club it seems the fans cannot find a consensus.

The truth is every potential candidate has at least one drawback that makes you question whether they would be successful.

Conte was too firey and played a defensive style. Yet he had by far and away the most proven success. He's by the by now as Spurs manager.

Zidane has a phenomenal record in tournament football, particularly the UCL. Yet he has no clear style of play, is pragmatic, doesn't speak English and ultimately doesn't want the job.

Erik Ten Hag has a great record with Ajax and has firmly re-established them as a European club making the Europa League final and the UCL semi-finals with a club that has a 10th of the budget as most European top clubs. However, the support and structure that enables him to perform so well at Ajax is sorely lacking at our club.

Rodgers plays the attacking style we want to see, has developed players and has EPL experience and has won things. Yet defensively his team's are often not well organised which is the key problem with our side currently. While his link to Liverpool is difficult for some fans to look past.

Pochettino has EPL experience, plays good entertaining football, has previously developed players, and feels that developing academy players is an important aspect of being a manager. Yet he hasn't won anything in his managerial career despite having opportunities on more than one occasion. There is a suspicion that he can't cultivate the mentality to get teams over the line. While there are rumours that he focuses too much on player physicality over technical ability, particularly in potential new signings.

Name any manager you want and there will be more than one question mark over at least one aspect of their management that makes you wonder if they could succeed at our club.

Ultimately I think the biggest issue is that the club isn't set up to support managers. Until it is every manager is going to be fighting battles that they shouldn't be in order to try and keep the club on track.


1.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 10:29:46
I don't understand what it is about the Liverpool past that is screwing up some people. Do they not consider Matt Busby a legend? 9 years at Liverpool he spent and to make it worse 8 years at City. If tomorrow Klopp wanted to come here, people would say no thanks? Its just nonsense and a stick to use for people who are against Rodgers.


2.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 10:54:09
United Addict, I agree. Rodgers is a good manager, can he be a great one? I don't know, but we'll never know if he isn't given the chance.

My only real concern about him is that from a defensive point of view his team's are the best. Which considering that it is our defence that needs the most work isn't ideal. But then like I said in my original post, who is the perfect manager?


3.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 11:06:00
Shappy you say, "Ultimately I think the biggest issue is that the club isn't set up to support managers. " How much has the club laid out for Ole or even how much since Fergie retired?

Ole has brought in every coach he's wanted, we probably have a coach on how to tie your laces. He has spent so much and has modelled the club how he has wanted and we are awful and all over the place.

You say in an earlier post that "Joel Glazer is the only one who has any sort of even semi-regular contact. " I believe he is in daily contact and also watches every match, so how is that semi regular?

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not pro Glazers but also I'm not anti Glazers. They have spent a lot of money and have funded the purchases the board have signed off on.

Maybe just maybe, Woodward and Co are under intense pressure to explained what is going on, as Ole is clearly not working out and Woodward and Co do not know what to do, as Ole has his new contract, plus his coaches.


4.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 11:35:02
Shappy, I'm sure if you ask any manager the two most coveted things they would want is time and money. If the minimum goals are met you will get time and we've always spent money. When you boil everything down it's not the boards fault our current manager is abysmal at organising a team. It's not their fault he's a terrible coach. It is their fault he's still here but hopefully that will change too.

A top quality manager could do wonderful things with this team. There will be question marks as you say but if the next manager fails you wash rinse a repeat. There seems to be some sort of hang up on here about sacking managers. The one manager for a quarter of a century is never going to happen again. We should not be afraid of evolution.

Maybe it's because the last few years we've been served up abosutle dross week in week out, any one of those managers would be a breath of fresh air.

I agree with you that the board are an issue but they're not the issue. Ole didn't fail because of them, he failed because he's a fraud. There's enough there for the next manager to challenge for major trophies.


5.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 11:42:19
Jrred, most of the Glazers have rarely ever been to Old Trafford. Darcie I think has only been once when her father first bought the club.

All the people put in charge to run the club have been put their by the Glazers and remain in their positions despite from a footballing aspect many mistakes have been made in terms of hiring managers, and in terms of contacts given out and which players have been signed.

The fact that these people stay in their roles suggest that their employers (the Glazers) are happy with what they are doing.

While money has been spent that isn't the only thing that a manager needs to be supported.

Having to deal with a bloated squad because the club won't allow an asset to leave below its spreadsheet value creates issues for a manager. Keeping that number of players happy and motivated, while finding minutes for academy players in the first team becomes much much harder.

While not all the money spent has been spent on the players or even on the positions the manager wants.

Jose wanted a CB, ideally Maguire but was given Fred.

Ole wanted Grealish but got Donny.

LvG was "given" Herrera and Shaw as the club had already worked on those deals. While Martial was famously a signing not for him but for his successor.

Numerous managers have wanted certain players sold but have seen the club block that. Forcing them to work with a player who isn't really in their plans.

Managers also need a plan to work towards. What is the managers remit? How detailed is that remit?

Is it just get top four and try and win something.

Or is it develop players, promote youth, play entertaining football, challenge for all trophies.

LvG seemed shocked at his dismissal despite winning the FA cup. Why? Was he just so arrogant that he didn't see it coming, or had he actually met the club's demands but they felt the need to make a change regardless?

For me I don't think the Glazers are bad people, I don't know them. While I'm unhappy with how the club was bought, it wasn't illegal and was something we left ourselves open to by going public. While in fact the Glazers have allowed a huge amount to be spent on transfers and the wage bill. So they could definitely be worse.

However, they seem mostly detached and have very little impact. If the people at the top don't really care how things are done, or have any aims or ambitions then what filters down the rest of the club.

How can they hold people accountable for a lack of ambition, focus or drive when they themselves show very little if any. Do they even notice the slide in the club's footballing pedigree? The spreadsheet looks as good as ever, they get a juicy dividend. What is wrong in their little world with United? Probably nothing.

If the club isn't run as a football club, with footballing ambitions and footballing targets then it won't succeed as a football club.

Manchester United football club has been a huge success under the Glazers in terms of profitability, but an abject failure in terms of footballing success. The fact that they are happy to keep the status quo indicates what they value in our club.


6.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 12:06:27
Mumbles, are you being intentionally obtuse?

Sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, get him gone. He isn't the right man to take us forward and nothing should stop his removal from his position.

I'm starting to wonder whether you are one of Woodward, Judge or Arnold the way you will do everything to try and deflect criticism away from them and the decision makers at the club.

My concern is that the next manager will also struggle to meet our expectations and everyone to follow will while the club continues to be run as it is.

How do you feel about the rumours that the club never seriously considered Conte because he would be too demanding? Is it a good thing the club won't consider a prolific winner because they would demand the best. Why are the club scared of a man who knows how/ what is needed to be successful on the pitch?

How can we be sure that we aren't being sold false hope with the next manager just to keep us emptying our pockets into the club's coffers?

The next manager will almost certainly be a better manager than Ole, but that is no guarantee of success when the club isn't set up to be a footballing success.

The feeling is the club would be happy to continue with Ole. The only reason they are considering sacking him is because the fans and media backlash to our current form. That's probably why he's still in a job now, their reluctance to sack a man who hasn't got us close to challenging for anything, but consistently gets top four and keeps the money rolling in.

Ole's inability is one thing, the club's stance on him and intent to try and keep a man unable to win things shows you were the real problem is.


7.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 12:45:28
I’m a bit confused Shappy.

I get that previous managers haven’t been backed. But Ole has.

You say that he wanted Grealish but got Donny. Grealish plays on the left wing. Did we really need another player for there when we had Rashford, Martial and Dan James at the time?

Donny might not have been Ole’s choice, but he has spent more money than any other manager in the league building his squad.

For me the big issue is that Ole has been backed, he has been bankrolled to build a squad without any grand scheme for how to transform individuals into a team. I’m not one to defend the club, but this current mess is of Ole’s making.


8.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 13:42:33
Danny, a lot gets made of Ole's spending at United, yet if you look at how much he has spent compared to other past United managers it's pretty similar.

According to Transfermarkt Ole has spent 400m over 3 summers, averaging 133m per summer spend.

Jose spent 387m over 3 summer windows averaging 129m per summer spend.

LvG spent 242m over 2 summer windows averaging 121m per summer spend.

So yeah Ole still comes out on top with around 4m a year more than Jose and 12m a year more than LvG. Although I suspect if you corrected those figures for inflation they will all come out pretty much exactly the same.

So pretty much all managers have been backed. Arguments can be made that Jose and LvG in particularly bought poorly.

But all have also suffered from the club seemingly thrusting signings on them.

LvG had Herrera and Shaw signed because they were already agreed. While LvG himself said after Martial signing that Martial was bought for his successor more so than for him.

Jose had Bailly and Pogba signed as players the club had already agreed. While he says he was told it's Fred or no one in his final window.

Ole got Maguire and AWB, two players the club started scouting under Jose and had plans to sign them before Jose was sacked. Jones had his contact extended while the club didn't have a manager. While it was supposedly Grealish Ole wanted but got Donny for half the price. Then the signing of Ronaldo doesn't seem to be about football but more about either stopping him going to City/ appeasing fans/ or boosting share price ahead of a sale.

Will the next manager get his own targets next summer or the one's Ole and his team picked out due to those deals already being partially negotiated?

How long until the next manager gets a player they didn't want trust on them because they are cheaper or to boost the brand image?

Ole not being able to get a tune out this squad is the reason he will be sacked.

But let's not pretend that our club is set up to aid a manager to be successful. We aren't.


9.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 14:01:53
I'm not being obtuse nor have I got my head in the sand over the club's issues. I just don't think it's the baron wasteland where success goes to die. I think the problems will always be there with the current owners and structure but I don't think success on the pitch is unobtainable.

I find it weird the arguments you put forward as points to prove that the board are inept are ones you yourself have held not so long ago.

You were vehemently against Conte taking over. Jose 2.0, will come in cause problems and leave in a year or two, will change formation and need players we don't have. Sound familiar? Getting the knives out early in case he did join? Funny now he's gone elsewhere it's used to prove your point that the board are incompetent even though you shared the same views.

Also it was only a month ago you would have been backing Ole. As someone who in your own words "have held the tide" against the shouts of Ole Out. As the commander in chief of the Ole brigade surely you of all people will give the board an extra months grace period as you yourself have spent 3 years defending him?

Even though you write "Ole should go" there seems to be this undertone that you're laying blame solely at the feet of the board?

We're closer to same page than you think Shappy. Where I see the clouds departing over Old Trafford when Ole leaves, you see bigger ones above them. But when you've spent so long in the rain, a little reprieve is all you need.


10.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 14:37:44
With every passing Shappy post, he ties himself up better than a butcher's knot.

I think the club have backed Ole more than any other manager post Fergie, they have made some very astute signings, made some very poor choices but all in all over the last 3 and a half years have backed him in every dept.

We know the board are not perfect, and never will be but right now, the most important thing to do is, to get rid of the manager, bring in someone that knows what they are doing and I believe everything else will dissipate because we will actually start to compete.


11.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 14:42:19
Jesus shappy, take a break lad.


12.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 15:10:16
So in summary, all three managers have been backed with considerable sums of money and have not delivered any real success (champions league or premier league) .

Give klopp or pep that level of backing and its pretty much guaranteed they deliver a premier league or champions league in my opinion.

Both relatively young, progressive modern managers who can coach as well as man-manage modern footballers to work as team.

Maybe we should try that instead of old and out of touch (LVG), doesn't gel with modern footballers (Jose) and unable to coach (Ole) .


13.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 15:50:35
So in all the managers have been backed, even Moyes but he did not want the players who had been previously scouted, he wanted Fabrgas but ended up with Fellaini!

It is just they were not good enough, Moyes was well out of his depth (at the time), LVG slow turgid football, Jose might have, with his pragmatic style but came over as the worlds most miserable person plus he lost the dressing room and he was cheaper to bin than several players. Ole bought in a feel good factor initially but has been found wanting.

God help the next manager!


14.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 15:56:33
Exactly dsg.


15.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 15:57:57
Mumbles, I don't think Conte would have been a good manager for us for all the reasons I have previously mentioned. Yet that isn't what I have an issue with. It's not that we didn't hire Conte that concerns me, it's the supposed reasoning behind why we didn't consider him.

Not hiring Conte because he doesn't suit the squad, or because his style of management wouldn't work well at our club is one thing. Not hiring him because he would demand the best from those above him is another thing completely.

Jose was bad fit for the club, but he knew how a top club should operate, and he demanded that. When he realised he wasn't going to get what he thought was needed to succeed he threw his toys out the pram and it all predictably went down hill. The way he reacted was probably wrong, or at least not helpful, but his assessment of the club wasn't.

Your assessment that there are undertones of me trying to lay blame for Ole's failures at the feet of the board is totally misinterpreted by yourself. That is a case of you reading something that just isn't there due to your opinion on what I am likely to say rather than what I am saying.

Ole has failed because simply he isn't good enough. He has built a squad capable of challenging for the title but is a million miles away from doing so. That's on him. His style of management seems to work better with a club that is the underdog. He performed better with a worse squad, his best performances and results have always been when his back is to the wall or the club is the underdog. While he has always struggled in the games that we are favourites to win. I'm fairly confident that if we were up against a side like Barcelona, Bayern Munich or PSG in the Europa League final that we would probably have won it. As we could have set up to sit deep and hit on the counter, which has always been the best way we got results under Ole.

Ole has had his shot, he's no doubt done his best but he has come up short.

People have a fear of us going the way of Liverpool. Of spending 30 years in the wilderness, yet few realise why Liverpool spent so long struggling.

In the early 90's Liverpool had become an old boys club, hiring ex-players and anyone associated with the club from the glory years. Promotion from within and not taking an outside perspective. Sound familiar?

They never got their structure right, hiring the wrong people, not having a clear idea. Different owners came and went but no one managed to get it right.

Until the last takeover. Then the club created a plan, it had a desire to get the club back challenging for the biggest prizes again. They made a plan for how they would do that. Outlined the style of play Liverpool football club should have, they hired managers to suit that style (pressing, front foot, offensive managers) . You could see the logic in going for Klopp after Rodgers. Although Klopp has definitely taken it up a couple of notches. They planned out what sort of profile the players they targeted should have.

That structure, hiring the right people for the right roles, having a clear plan, that created an environment where managers could be successful.

You see the same thing over at City, when their owners came in they set about having a clear plan to get City to the top. They hired top people, they planned their succession of managers, they had a clear profile of players to sign at certain stages of their growth.

The same thing happened when Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea. He hired the best people from within the game for key roles. Had a structure and a plan. They buy loads of younger players and send them out on loan. If they make it then great, but if not the club can sell them at a profit to keep the club within the FFP rules.

It doesn't matter at these clubs when they have to sack a manager, because they are set up to be able to operate like that. Sack one manager then bring in the next, someone who'll suit the squad and the profile of the club.

It doesn't matter whether it's Mancini, Pellegrini, or Pep. Or indeed whoever follows Pep. They will be at a club set up to succeed, giving that manager the best chance of success.

Same over at Chelsea, where pretty much every manager wins something with the club.

I expect the same thing to happen at Liverpool after Klopp leaves.

People who think a manager will come in and wave the magic wand and fix everything are the ones who can't seem to move on from Sir Alex. A manager who's sheer force of will and determination will get the club back on track.

There is a saying, "horse before the cart" managers are employees, frequently for shorter and shorter period, of the club. They don't lead or direct the club, they shouldn't be making long term changes as its unlikely they will be there to see them through.

Our club still seems to think that the only person who knows anything about football at the club needs to be the manager. Yet as we have seen if no one at the club understands football other than the manager then who can accurately judge whether that manager is succeeding or not?

Also I take it back Mumbles, you don't appear to work for the club. That seems to be Angel ?.


16.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 16:51:16
But shappy you are making assumption upon assumption you have no idea why conte was not considered.
You don't know Zidane did not want the job.
Has an approach been made to Zidane? What was discussed?
Stop being concerned and stop fantasising about scenarios that may or may not happen.
The manager thing may not be a mess like you say in your opening post.
Just because something appears one way didn't necessarily mean it is so.


17.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 17:42:14
Shappy did you forget your med’s? ?.


18.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 17:54:39
No come on Ken, shappy obviously does know what is going on at the club ?.


19.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 18:23:20
Here he goes again spouting absolute rubbish. Zidane has no clear style of play? Yeah you win two league titles, 3 champions leagues and the rest without a clear style of play.


20.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 18:37:40
RedWhiskey, so what is it?


21.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 21:02:43
Mostly 4-3-3, with lots of possession, playing out from the back. One holding midfielder, 2 playmakers in front of him.
His teams keep the ball, slow build up play with lots of possession.
Doesn’t have to have a fancy name to be a style Shappy.


22.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 21:29:00
Add the reliance on attacking fullbacks to that 2toms. With that you see quite a narrow attacking three. The two CMs generally press when out of possession.

Just because it isn't klopps gegenpressing or peps tiki taka football doesn't mean he doesn't have an identity to his teams.

But then again i'm sure with the amount of sun shining out of Oles Ass for you, you'd find it hard to see that.


23.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 21:32:42
2toms, that's not quite accurate though. He has played many different formations, 433, 4222, 4321, 4231, 4312, etc. He adapted and changed shape almost on a game by game basis.

Does he play a high pressing game, or does he look to play a mid or even a low block?

Ole gets slated for having no patterns of play, so what patterns of play does Zidane look to use?

Does he look over overload centrally or out wide, does he look for switches of play?

Does he play counter attacking football, does he look to have movement on or off the ball to break the lines?

The truth is he has no set style, formation wise he has tended to steer clear of three at the back systems (although has played with them on a few occasions), but that might be as much to do with the squad he had available to him as it is a preference.

Other that that he has set up to play multiple different ways with not clear defined style of play. He is a chameleon manager, constantly altering and adjusting his team's set up depending on the surroundings (opposition) .

I'd find it odd if people who slated Ole for having no defined way of playing to champion a manager who also has no defined way of playing.


24.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 23:11:47
Difference is shappy, we are championing a manager who's actually won something unlike the borewegian fraud.

Regardless of your opinion on zidanes style of play or perceived lack of, he's still a winner.

The man has 3 champions leagues and 2 league titles with the so called lack of playing style. He had constant battle with one of the best Barcelona sides ever. Ole fails to outwit relegation fodder in the premier league.

Oles lack of playing style has led to relegation at Cardiff, a few titles in a crap Norwegian league, and some insane belief that he is somehow worthy of the United job whilst serving up the worst football the clubs ever seen after massive investment.

They are not of the same ilk in any way shape or form.


25.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 06:44:33
Stop trying to complicate it all Shappy. He predominantly used a 4-3-3. If he adapted and changed tactic to counter the opposition then good! He did win 2 league titles and 3 champions league’s .
Ole does neither of them. He roles out the same rubbish week I week out with the same underperforming players.
I want to pay to watch a team who are competitive. If Zinedine Zidane can do that then I’m all for it.


26.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 07:58:12
Zidane doesn't like coffee because he drank tea one day. ?
Shappy you have keyboard diarrhoea.


27.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 08:31:02
Too much time on your hands shappy ?.


28.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 10:12:19
RedWhiskey, when did I say Ole was a better manager than Zidane?

Just another case of a poster assuming something and making an arse out of themselves.

Zidane has won things, no doubt about it. I'd agree that he didn't do so against the best Barcelona side ever. That great side had started its decline around the time Zidane took over, Xavi who was the heartbeat of that side had already retired by the time Zidane took over at Real Madrid. He won the UCL back to back to back, admittedly with the best side in the tournament and with Ronaldo at the peak of his powers.

I'd like to see him repeat some of that success elsewhere before hailing him as one of the best managers on the world.

He won things, but had no clear defined style, and he didn't develop players or improve them. In fact you could argue that Bale, Isco and Asensio went backwards under his management.

He's very good at getting top players to play consistently. But has he got the skills to develop young players like Greenwood, Sancho, Rashford etc? What evidence is there that he could?

Zidane reportedly didn't want to manage us and no fans wanted him while the more successful Conte was available. Now Conte has gone elsewhere suddenly Zidane has a lot more support. It's almost like fans just want the biggest shiny name available. They don't really care about style of play, or suitability for our club.


29.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 10:26:54
2toms, a formation isn't a tactic. It's a rudimentary shape designed to give the average fan a rough idea of what areas on the pitch which players will play in.

Supposedly Ole plays a 4231, yet many would consider the No.10 as a part of the midfield so would consider that a 433 as there are 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards.

However in our line up Bruno really tends to play very high up, almost like a second striker. Meaning really we play a 4411 type shape.

There are teams that play a low block in a 433 starting shape, while some play a high press in a 433 starting shape.

Saying Zidane's style of play is 433 is like saying his style of play is to play with 11 players, with 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards.

When Zidane plays a 433 what shape are they in attack? Do the full backs stay deeper and two midfielders push up with the wide forwards staying wide for width?

Or do the full backs push forward and provide the attacking width with the wide forward tucking into the half spaces and the midfielders staying deeper?

Or does he use a lopsided system where one full back goes forward for width and the other tucks into the midfield line allowing a midfielder to push up and join the attack?

433 might be the shape at kick off, but what is the defensive shape? Or the attacking shape? How do they transition between them?

You say you want to see a competitive team and you think Zidane would give us that. But how? What players at our club suit the way Zidane wants to play? How would Zidane look to set us up? What tactics would he use? What players might he need to sign to make it work?

There are no guarantees in football, successful managers have gone to clubs and failed, while some with no success have gone to top sides and succeeded.

If you're going to say Zidane would be a good appointment and be successful at our club then say why he would. What about Zidane and his style of management would make him a good fit at United?


30.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 10:54:31
Simply not true Shappy. Lots of people have zz as a choice above conte.
Look up your post on hyperbole the other day and cross reference it against this thread to highlight your absolute double standards.


31.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 10:58:45
Shappy I just think a few of these posters are posting against what you said just because its you. Anyone who has watched football and understands it can that Zidane has no style in-fact he very OLE like in his set up let the players win games for them type of manager his record is good in the champions league I watched almost every game he managed for Madrid and I wasn't overly impressed with his management ability, at that time for me he played worse football of any sustained Madrid manager in the last 8-12 years or so. Personally after what I seen I though Roanldo basically won him those 3 trophies and his record in the league isn't very good either finishing 3rd in a 2 horse race, don't all the posters bash Pochettino for doing the same thing?


32.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 11:32:13
Ken, or even better I could just look at the two manager polls held on this site on the 27/ 10/ 21 as a more accurate gauge for what fans felt a week before Conte got the Spurs job.

A quick glance shows that in the first poll that looks like rival fans mucked around with:

EtH 96 votes
Conte 38
Zidane 8
Rodgers 25
Poch 36
Martinez 53
Southgate 45
Queiroz 11

Obviously rival fans voting for Martinez and Southgate.

But Zidane had the least number of votes.

Later on that day a new poll was run with 4 options.

EtH 157
Conte 59
Rodgers 53
Zidane 14

Repeatedly Zidane was the least favourite option with Conte often having 4 or 5 times the number of votes.

Most didn't want Zidane, this shift towards him in sections of the fans seems like it's just because Conte isn't available anymore.


33.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 12:17:20
I'm making an arse of myself because I don't lap up everything you say as fact? And willing to challenge your opinion?

You spouted that those looking at zidane are the same who say ole has no set style of play. I'm saying I disagree and that he has a style of play and ole does not. That one has won what he could and the other is a clown.

Just because you don't think he has a pattern of play doesn't mean your right. And the sooner you get to grips with the fact that your opinion isn't fact then maybe as many posters wouldn't jump down your throat.

Far too much time on your hands lad.


34.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 13:03:55
So shappy look at your post hyperbole you state once again as fact nobody wanted Zidane before conte. Not true by your own admission 2 posts later.
Your being a silly lad again. It's OK to admit your were exaggerating and lying you'll be forgiven by your invisible army of agreer's.


35.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 13:09:08
RedWhiskey, you aren't making an arse out of yourself by disagreeing with me. But by throwing out assumptions about what I wrote that are just not true.

At no point did I suggest Ole was a better manager than Zidane.

Yet you felt the need to say this:

"Difference is shappy, we are championing a manager who's actually won something unlike the borewegian fraud. "

I wasn't championing Ole. You have completely made that up. You're more than welcome to look back over my replies to this post to find a quote from me to prove I was. If you can't find one then you'll be forced to admit you made an assumption that wasn't true. That is what I refer to making an arse out of yourself.

Too many people read my name and assume it's a defence of Ole. They then read things that just aren't there. Then try to argue a point I simply didn't make. That is making an arse of yourself.


36.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 13:15:03
Haha it’s not that important to me mate. I want to watch the team performing better than they currently are. He could play with 11 goalkeepers for all I care, as long as I’m enjoying the football being played.

You’re obviously a bright guy who studies football tactics and formations. I don’t, nor ever will study each formation for every manager. I attend matches and want to see my team perform. Something that isn’t happening under Ole. Zidane might or might not be a success but he surely couldn’t do any worse than our current management.


37.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 14:11:22
Ken, you said "Lots of people have zz as a choice above conte. "

Yet in those polls only 3% and 5% of the votes went to Zidane.

Judging by the comments on the site over the past few days do you still think it is somewhere between 3-5% of people wanting Zidane?

It seems most people are like seals at a water park. Throw them a fish and they'll bark happily. Or maybe seagulls if you ask Eric.

Several weeks ago it was widely reported that Zidane had no interest in the job and the biggest name available was Conte. As such between 3-5% of people wanted Zidane.

Fast forward to now, and Conte is gone, Zidane is the biggest name available and there are reports that he either may be interested or could be convinced. Now suddenly significantly more than 3-5% of people want Zidane.

Just like transfers most fans don't know a great deal about these managers we are being linked to beyond what's on their Wikipedia page or has been printed in the gutter press. Yet suddenly this is the man to fix all our problems and lead us back to glory.

Much like the summer of 2020, with the club linked to Grealish. Many fans suddenly piped up that they wanted him and how great he'd be for us. Ignoring the fact we had Rashford playing LW and Bruno playing No.10 the two positions Grealish plays best in.

It's a shiny big name, and because of that the masses just follow blindly.

Rodgers isn't as popular but is clearly a better fit. He has a clear style of play, he plays offensive football, he develops players, he has EPL experience and he actually wants the job.

Rodgers isn't my first choice for the job but I'd take him every day of the week ahead of Zidane.

Zidane suits both the France job and the PSG job. He is better at handling a group of top class big ego's and his pragmatic style suits tournament football far more than it does league football. Obviously with France that's all they compete in, while at PSG they have no competition in the league and only gauge success on UCL performances. Something Zidane has excelled in. While PSG's squad is a little reminiscent of Real Madrid's when he took over. Big stars in the forward line, classy midfielders who aren't prolific scorers but more creators, and a defence that is solid centrally with full backs who can play either as wing or full backs giving him adaptability in shape and tactics. They don't need many if any signings which is good as Zidane has a pretty awful record with transfers during his time at Real Madrid.


38.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 15:03:46
2toms, for me it's not about hiring a manager "who couldn't do worse than the current one" but about hiring the manager that seems like the best fit for the club and the squad we have, in order to give them the best chance of success.

Looking at our squad I think we need a manager who'll get the best out of all or at least most of our attacking players. As long as they defence is as solid as it can be with what we have that is fine.

A defensive manager will rely more on his defence than his attack, with an offensive one vice versa.

If you had to bet you house on either:

1. Ronaldo, Cavani, Rashford, Bruno, Sancho, Greenwood etc scoring enough goals to win you things.

Or

2. Maguire, Varane, Lindelof, AWB, Shaw etc keeping enough clean sheets to win you things.

Which would you bet on?

At the moment we are a team set up to try and mitigate our weaknesses and by doing so we invite more pressure on our weakest area while weakening our ability to use our best strength.

We would be much more advised to work on being able to dictate and score as many goals through our strong attack, than focus on protecting our defence. If we are attacking then our defenders won't be defending. In the case of our squad attack is the best form of defence.


39.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 17:27:44
Call me old fashioned Shappy, but I wouldn’t mind a manager and coaching team who focused on defence and attack. What ever happened to a nice balanced team.