Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:27 pm  

Is Van Gaal really the man for United. I'll admit when it was announced he was in line for it, I had him down as one of the uber-coaches, a guy with a list of trophies as long as his arm. I thought he'd won a few Champions Leagues, but he's won 1.

In 23 years he has won 7 league titles and four of those were in Holland, 3 with Ajax, which is only one step up from winning trophies in Scotland. He then moved on and won 2 La Liga's with Barcelona, again not exactly the hardest thing to do as a manager as it would have been no more than a 3 horse race. After Barca he took over as coach of Holland and failed to qualify for the World Cup and was sacked. He moved back to Barca and lasted 8 months with them hovering about the relegation zone when he was sacked. He was then appointed as Ajax's DOF but sacked within 12 months due to internal complaints. Back to management with AZ where he won 1 league in 4 years, then onto Bayern where he won 1 league and 1 cup before being sacked again.

His career seems to follow the same path. Poor start, recovery, title, internal conflict, decline, sacked. His one big achievement is the Champions League with Ajax.

He's definitely experienced. Clearly won much more than Moyes. But it's not like the guaranteed success the media seem to be suggesting. He's just as likely to cause a row and be sacked as he is to return them to glory.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:12 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Is Van Gaal really the man for United.

No. But he's 10 times better than Moyes, which is a start for them.

I think they should be approaching Borussia Dortmund for Klopp and a few of their players at possibly exaggerated fees. Build links between the two clubs so that BD can willingly allow Klopp to step up to the big stage.

My worst fear is that they do turn their brains on and try and get Mourinho. The only reason I think they can't get him now is that we wouldn't allow him to go under any circumstances. And I think Man United are so up themselves they wouldn't admit they screwed up by not going for him in the first place.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:36 pm  

United job seems very complicated. The club don't look capable of making the correct decision. There also seems to be the issue that there are very few 'elite' coaches about, with the list being very short, and most of the varying wildly in their styles/personalities.

Will United stick to picking/begging from the very small elite crop, or do they take another punt on an 'up and comer' that could simply be ready, without having made the step up already.

There are many issues to come, I find it hard to believe United will just appoint one man and allow this man to spend £150m-£200m on players to get them back into Europe. Surely the owners can't take such a risk?!

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:54 pm  

I thought Hiddink was awesome during his time with us. He's wasting his time taking over from van Gaal. Man United should be going for him rather than van Gaal.

On another forum Marcelo Bielsa is worshiped as the greatest tactician in the world. There's a Columbian Man United fan who rates him and a few South American's who rate him as the best manager in the world. I look at his record and ask why the greatest manager on earth has such an awful record. But they love him, so I kind of wish United would appoint him just so he can crash and burn and shut his acolytes up.

United job seems very complicated. The club don't look capable of making the correct decision.

But what is the correct decision though? What do you think they should do?

I think the Glazers know NOTHING about football and have been allowed to coast until now under SAF. I think if they could find a buyer right now they'd sell up and let the new owners worry about what to do.

Appointing Moyes was a Ferguson decision. It was a terrible one. I don't know whether Fergie sanctioned Moyes's sacking or the Glazers have made their first major decision, but IMO it's a correct one. Who they bring in now will be a huge decision.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Apr 24, 2014 5:43 am  

Stevie Bruce and Giggsy as sidekick

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Apr 24, 2014 5:29 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

United job seems very complicated. The club don't look capable of making the correct decision. There also seems to be the issue that there are very few 'elite' coaches about, with the list being very short, and most of the varying wildly in their styles/personalities.

Will United stick to picking/begging from the very small elite crop, or do they take another punt on an 'up and comer' that could simply be ready, without having made the step up already.

There are many issues to come, I find it hard to believe United will just appoint one man and allow this man to spend £150m-£200m on players to get them back into Europe. Surely the owners can't take such a risk?!

They also cant afford to repeat last summer's transfer window flop. And with the World Cup restricting the time available to do deals, they need to get the new manager appointed quickly.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Apr 24, 2014 5:50 pm  

I see Barcelona's transfer ban didn't last long....

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:43 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

My worst fear is that they do turn their brains on and try and get Mourinho. The only reason I think they can't get him now is that we wouldn't allow him to go under any circumstances. And I think Man United are so up themselves they wouldn't admit they screwed up by not going for him in the first place.

United wouldn't touch him simply because they know the fans wouldn't put up with the negative, turgid rubbish that the bloke gets his sides to play.

From a results perspective, Mourinho is a great manager, but he is a relic from the past with his dull defensive tactics, which are a throwback to the Italian sides of the 70's and 80's, who bored the ar$e off 99% of football observers.

There is no way that Mourinho would be allowed to spend shedloads of cash on seemingly world class players and then have them play in the manner that Chelsea did on Tuesday night.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:53 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

But what is the correct decision though? What do you think they should do?

I think the Glazers know NOTHING about football and have been allowed to coast until now under SAF. I think if they could find a buyer right now they'd sell up and let the new owners worry about what to do.

Appointing Moyes was a Ferguson decision. It was a terrible one. I don't know whether Fergie sanctioned Moyes's sacking or the Glazers have made their first major decision, but IMO it's a correct one. Who they bring in now will be a huge decision.

Well it's a tough one. A lot/most of the European coaches operate under a DoF of some kind, be it a 'Director of Football' or a 'transfer guru', either way, not many of them manage in the traditional British way. But can United appoint a DoF? Who would interview the DoF and decide whether he's right for the club or not? Do the owners even have a clue what their aims are? Are they after somebody to start an empire but not run it? Are they going to become a club like Real Madrid, who simply go through top coach after top coach, back them with players but expect nothing but victory and style? As you say, they've piggy backed of SAF for years, with no plan seemingly in place for when he left. Our owners came in and found a club in a bit of a mess, they made their mistakes but decided to lead an interview process with a 'committee' in place. We nearly appointed Martinez and appointed Rodgers, so we seemed to take some decent steps in marking our targets and the choice has been right. There's no doubting United could try something similar to find their right man, but who at the club is capable/knowledgeable enough to appoint the right guy? I don't know who was responsible at our club, maybe it was pure luck.

Moyes found the step up nearly impossible, but should that mean United now ignore all similar level/reputable managers? It's tough because the best managers available are seemingly settled, so you'd think they'd go out and find the 'next great' manager, but they don't seem to have anybody in place capable of leading such a task.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:58 am  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

United wouldn't touch him simply because they know the fans wouldn't put up with the negative, turgid rubbish that the bloke gets his sides to play.

Like the fans didn't put up with the useless rubbish that Moyes delivered this season?

From a results perspective, Mourinho is a great manager, but he is a relic from the past with his dull defensive tactics, which are a throwback to the Italian sides of the 70's and 80's, who bored the ar$e off 99% of football observers.

As Man United manager that reputation would quickly be forgotten. There were plenty of seasons where Man United played pretty poor football. Both of Ferguson's CL final wins were pretty poor in truth, but no one cares because the trophy was brought back. The notion that Man United always play in a great way and Mourinho is always defensive is just moronic drivel that people are told to think because they can't form their own opinions.

There is no way that Mourinho would be allowed to spend shedloads of cash on seemingly world class players and then have them play in the manner that Chelsea did on Tuesday night.

Fans of Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal would have accepted the performance on Tuesday night in an instant.

Did Arsenal fans complain about their horrid 2005 FA Cup final win? Did they slag off their penalty shoot out win against WIGAN ATHLETIC two weeks ago? Of course they didn't, because a win by any manner is better than a heroic defeat.

"Attacking" Alex Ferguson won 2 CLs in 19 campaigns. Those wins were a 2-1 win where his team were losing 1-0 for 83 minutes, were outplayed for the whole game and then stole the trophy with two goals in injury time. The other was a 1-1 draw and a penalty shoot out win when up against the managerial genius of Avram Grant.

"Defensive" Jose Mourinho has won 2 CLs in I think 9 or 10 campaigns. He won the finals 3-0 and 2-0.