18 Sep 2023 07:25:38
A pearl of wisdom from Gary Neville, who has an opinion on everything. Worried the manger has too much say in player recruitment.

hmmm show me a top manager who does not have absolute say on player recruitment and who comes into his squad.

1.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 08:28:20
Hes right in principle. There hasn't been a decisive solid structure within the club. We shouldn't have to heavily weigh on ETH to pick the players. To me, it shows that we haven't got that solid structure in place.

Pep will have a number of options in each position prior to giving his blessing. But the players presented will be suitable to the clubs overall ethos.

United for too long have had no clear overall plan in regards to recruitment which has meant each manager has inherited players they don't want or players that don't fit.

G Nev is right. Its all over the place.

2.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 08:51:16
The thing is it's easy to look at some of the signings and think that it's an obvious managers pick. But the truth is we don't know who else the scouting department suggested.

While let's be honest, based on the club's signings over the past decade how much confidence do you have in the scouting department?

3.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 09:12:10
Angelred

Every manager at a top club will bring in players he wants and get rid of players that do not fit what they are trying to do. Pep got rid of city's team in 2 1/ 2 seasons bar a very select few.
Klop did the same and took him 4 years to win anything.

When you change managers like airline bookings every 2 years the club never settles down and an incoming manager wants players to fit his vision and another round of incomings and outgoings and chicken soup of a squad.

if you believe you have the right manager with the qualities to win trophies, you allow him time and support them with a structure and funding to built a team. New players coming in also need time to settle down into a new team.

Just so much nonsense going on ATM with the news cycle and questioning everything.

Neville is no better than the rest of them and is questioning the manager but in his own way. Stealing a living by putting things out there and fickle like the rest of them.

4.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 09:31:24
Neville has far too much to say about everything. He was a Manager briefly and his time in charge was disastrous. He is now an owner and despite huge investment, Salford are now bumbling along.

He has an opinion on everything, I guess that's what he is paid for, but sometimes I wish him (and Carragher) would just STFU.

5.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 09:49:52
EtH hasn't gotten all of the players he's clearly wanted, whether the more public chases like Timber and de Jong or the ones we don't know about but has got about 10 players he's specifically asked for. Martinez and Casemiro were stellar last season, don't think there's been a spell where any of the others have coated themselves in glory though.
I don't know where this is all going but the manager has to be here to stay whilst we navigate this tricky phase, otherwise what's the point. Another manager comes in and gets an even bigger jigsaw of players except this time there's this bizarre ragtag mob of ten Hag players.
The old 'takes time' and 'stick to the plan' post-match interviews are getting a little worrying though as stylistically at least I can't say Utd are any more enjoyable to watch than anything we've seen post Fergie. Then Postacoglu can walk into Tottenham, lose his best player without replacing him, and have them pressing like demons and playing the best they have in years within a couple of months.
It's a United thing, not a ten Hag thing.

6.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 10:14:25
Lol AJH, he's literally paid to do what he does. You don't have to listen.

Ahmad, I appreciate that, but the club is a shambles with no clear direction. Players bought for 3/ 4 different managers in that squad. It's a joke.

7.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 10:27:30
Like I said in my many posts on this. There needs to be balance, the manager should have input but it should be part of the plan. A plan that the DOF is setting a course with the manager in agreement. If the Manager wants players he has worked with before, the DOF should understand what that means, what the risks are and move on that basis. I suspect the DOF was initially weak and to an extent this has continued. This new manager, probably like others has said I want this player and any plan, if there even was one, was totally disregarded. Buying Antony for £85m when the club had invested in Amad. Sancho and Pellestri made no sense except if you consider the keenness to help the new boss.

To an extent Neville is correct, maybe he has read what I posted in recent months. The concern here is that Neville is off on another knock the manager post, something he failed miserably to do when his mate Ole was in charge.

I go back to the apparent lack of a structured plan. If you are managing and ask for extra staff or a skill set, you have to justify it, fit in with the plan. I think weak DOF and CEO have contributed to the mess.

8.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 11:05:21
Spenno

He has not gotten all the players he wanted or players he wants gone and replaced?

During Saf entire tenure we did one loan deal.

We have done 5 loan deals in 14 months of eth tenure. Does that look like he is getting what he wants or plaster over things.

Lets wait and take stock at the end of the seasons and yes we need time. People hate hearing that as we want things today.

City spend 200 mill on a squad that won the treble. Liverpool spend 170 mill on a team that got to 3 finals and lost the league by razors edge two years ago.

Arsenal spend 200 mill on a team that finished second and looks quite settled even last year.

We are work in progress and are behind all our rivals in that process of having a squad I can call eth squad.

Its a bit of old unwanted and bunch of new people, who have hardly played yet and injuries everywhere and ATM putting a makeshift team on the pitch.

Booing a substitution of a player who we are trying to protect from further injuries is awful and embarrassing and its what you see at grounds like Arsenal or Chelsea.

I agree with AJH.

9.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 11:13:20
Ahmad, re-read the opening few words of my post, you have completely misread.

10.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 11:30:21
Oops my bad bud, I totally misread it.

Told myself after Saturday not to get wound up knowing a shi. storm of negative press was coming but not working as you can see:)

11.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 11:31:28
Who was the one loan Ahmad? I can see with a search that Fergie loaned a fair few more. Larsson and Tevez the most obvious and Prunier, who I don't recall but feel I should. A few GKs in that era too inc Goram, Crossley, Sealey, Digby and Kuszczak (initially) .

12.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 11:53:23
Hendrik Larsson. Tevez was a weird one and still don't understand that deal. some say it was a loan some say otherwise. The tevez transfer type deal is no longer allowed from what I understand.

13.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 12:03:28
The club needs a vision of how we want to play. The players and management should be recruited to fit in with that vision.

The manager should be chosen on the vision so realistically the players he chooses should play a certain way so if he leaves a similar manager with similar playing style should be able to come in and not have to clear half or more of the playing staff. If that does have to happen then the structure is all wrong.

We will see when Ten Hag is sacked if we get someone else we though was progressive to come in and build from the current vision or what i suspect based on the past with these owners we end up with a totally different manager and have to start again.

14.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 12:15:44
Red Man, I thinks that's fairly spot on. It should be a balance, where the manager has an input, and probably a final say seeing as it's his head on the chopping block. You don't see scouts or DoF sacked when the team are doing poorly due to bad recruitment.

However, in a well run club it should be pretty synergistic anyway.

The club should have a top down vision, which all recruitment fits into, including the hiring of managers.

Ideally I'd like to see something along the lines of a commitment to play a progressive, front foot style of play based around technically gifted players. That leaves plenty of scope for managers to have their own vision of how that plays out on the pitch, while allowing for hiring/ firing process of managers that doesn't mean throwing out the squad and buying a new one when you inevitably have to replace your manager (as long as you hire a manager who favours a progressive front foot approach) .

The problems comes when you go after the latest hot pick manager regardless of their suitability to work with the players you have. Most managers broadly fit into either a progressive approach (looking at how they can impose themselves on the opposition) or pragmatic managers (managers who look at how they can first restrict their opponents) .

Switching between managers with polarising ideas about style of play will only cause mass disruption.

However, if you get it right. You build a squad of talented, technically gifted players who are geared towards attacking, then you pair that with a manager who will look to play on the front foot then you get a synergy that gets the best out of both the manager and the players. It also means that the demands of the manager align with the wants of the club when it comes to recruitment. They both want players who fit a similar profile. Meaning that when that manager leaves, he leaves behind a squad that all fit one vision.

Personally, in terms of recruitment I'd prefer the club to look at technically gifted players over physically gifted, as they tend to be more adaptable. Although both are required. Age profile should probably be between 21-25, players who have a certain amount of experience already under their belt and ready to step up. Rather than older players who have already peaked, or young players lacking experience. That doesn't mean that there is no place for those types of signings but they should be the exception rather than the rule. We should also only sign players good enough to get into the first 11 and not squad players. True progress is made when your squad players are former first 11 players who have been replaced by someone better. Rather than bringing in a player who isn't good enough to start, meaning that when they do there is a drop in quality. While there should be a clear plan in place to create a pathway from the academy into the first team squad. With an emphasis on bringing in youth more regularly.

That's the dream anyway. If you like the sound of that and have a spare 7-10bn I can borrow to buy the club I'll make a proposal to the Glazers?.

15.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 12:28:23
Been watching comments around this topic from afar for a while, resisting the urge to chip in, but here goes.

1. Identify the core 6/ 7 players, who provide the approach United want (edge of your seat stuff)
2. Identify the next 9/ 10 players who bolster the squad AND align to approach from point 1 (these can be players from the reserve system and signings where shortfalls occur in youth setup)
3. Add a sprinkle of youth for the balance, say another 6/ 7 players, who will grow into the positions for points 1&2.

Blueprint.
Tweak where necessary each year.
Keep the momentum going within the squad.
Drop anyone looking to upset the applecart and promote from within, case in point, drop Sancho/ Anthony, play Amad/ Pellestri/ Garnacho in their place, bring in 2 youth players to fill the bench and get minutes where possible.

We used to excel at this, now we are rubbish house.
My tuppence.

16.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 13:40:26
Been reading this site for an age but feel it time to give my view, I do laugh at some of the so called posters who think they know every detail about football and even down to what player united should buy and how they should play damn even see some poster saying we improved from last season, perhaps you would kindly give your so called expert opinion on who that’s been purchased/ Loaned is actually of the standard required to lift this team to where it should be
I never agree with a word Neville says on anything, but he got a point because there needs to be plan players should be suggested and be able to play to the club’s identity, so when ETH gets sacked like he will at some point anew manager comes in and can work with what is in situ, the style and the plan progresses problem I see is a year later ETH been buying players that are not that good enough and we still have no actual identity or style of play, I would say he is bit out of depth and learning on the job, which really in itself is not good enough, he bought virtually half a team and to me the only good ones from them is Casermiro and possibly Martinez, both who already look this season like they are not buying into the plan of ETH and coaching staff.
Perhaps someone could also name the last Dutch manager that actually succeeded in the premier again to me it’s the attitude and aloofness that don’t work these days and actually not really worked in U. K. at all there are ways to deal with problems at at huge clubs/ companies it’s far different then the norm, you can’t go around upsetting everyone…. Ajax maybe a big club in Netherlands but it’s total different ball game at United I even see someone saying he done well ay Bayern, well come on, slightly different position then being Manager of a first team at huge club under total scrutiny 24/ 7 I heard someone describe ETH small man in big suit, that’s a great analogy really.
To all those happy with mediocre that’s great if that’s what you aspire too, but please don’t keep banging the same ol drum that we are improving when it’s plain as the nose on your face that’s not the case
No one saying ETH is all to blame but he is a cog in the wheel and it’s all the wheels that need changing including him and soon, it’s requires all or nothing in my view.

17.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 14:01:37
Paragraphs would help you sweet fa, I actually managed to get to the part about Dutch managers and found it to be a little discriminatory and potentially racist to be honest.

You want Ten Hag sacked because we lost a game at home for the first time in a year, just step back and think about that for a minute, it’s embarrassing.

18.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 14:26:56
There are only two things I can't stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch!

19.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 15:13:25
Mumbles that made me chuckle :D
Not sure what the point was with the Dutch thing, when was the last Aussie coach to win 4 out of 5 games in the Prem, does that mean Postacoglu is going to flop and we can say it was bound to happen because of the standard of football in his homeland?

20.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 15:58:03
Spenno,

All Dutch people are exactly the same I believe was the point, ridiculous.

21.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 19:02:03
LOL.
Last time I looked lost 3 out of 5 and should really have been 4 out of 5
That’s not taking into account poor end to last season.

It’s hardly Racist it’s called stereotyping plus I live in Rotterdam and come over for games FYI

It was explaining that the attitude they have, it’s just known fact even here by themselves, you only need to look at history of national team and history in general, just look at politics in Netherlands now they even all walked out of parliament now!

What is point in getting new owners new board new DOF new chief exec new staff and keeping the same manager, it needs the whole lot in one sweeping ideal world.

22.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 19:27:09
Absolutely ridiculous statement to say everyone from the same country has the same mentality, regardless of whether it’s racist and or/ stereotyping, it’s an uneducated sweeping statement which couldn’t be further from the truth.

Are ETH and Memphis Depay similar? Not by a long shot.
Is Anthony Martial the same as Patrick Vieira?

?‍♂️.

23.) 18 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 22:03:08
Sweetfa trying his hardest to downgrade his murder charge to manslaughter ?

Negative stereotyping is a form of prejudice.

Prejudice against a specific race, or group of people either on grounds of religion, nationality, culture or ethnicity is called racism.

Therefore, negatively stereotyping a group of people based on their nationality is in fact racism. I rest my case?.

24.) 19 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023 23:48:52
Johan Cruyff turning in his grave.

25.) 19 Sep 2023
19 Sep 2023 00:43:41
Trololo,

Doubt he is, too lazy to turn, they are all the same.

26.) 19 Sep 2023
19 Sep 2023 15:19:54
I thought it was xenophobia rather than racism? I can't keep up these days.

27.) 19 Sep 2023
19 Sep 2023 21:07:19
Some of the comments here you would think we are getting relegated.
We’ve lost a couple of games with a lot of players missing, be that through injury or being mates with Russell Brand, however we are short.
We’ve not seen the new midfield vision yet, let’s get our defence back and regroup. Long way to go yet.