18 Dec 2018 09:57:21
It has happened!

Ed002, are you as surprised as I am?
And I understand you were more in the Jose Camp then in the Club Camp, but do you know whether there is a plan or whether it was panic?
And if so is the plan going to be beneficial or is it just going to be more of what we have seen since SAF left and Woodward came in?

Thank you for your insight.

{Ed002's Note - I am not surprised he has gone but in terms of a plan it would not be a surprise to see the club wait until the end of the season before there is a permanent replacement, unless a move for someone like Zidane strikes them as a sensible idea. Zidane would be far more suited to a Director of Football role in mainland Europe. I will see if there is anything in the background that I can find out. Timing wise there are a couple of jobs that might be suitable for Mr Mourinho after a little break.}


1.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 10:28:17
Inter milan would be a good fit for him next season. The club where he probably had his most successful spell and got on with the most.

{Ed002's Note - Right.}


2.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 10:30:05
I wonder if ZZ comes in until the end of the season then they move him to DoF and appoint a new manager then?

{Ed002's Note - Why? His English is poor, he has no Premier League experience and there are better options available.}


3.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 10:38:54
"His English is poor, he has no Premier League experience and there are better options available". Well sounds like the perfect candidate for United bosses.


4.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 10:47:51
Hi ed002.
I tend to agree with you there must be better options available.
Who do you think those better options are?

{Ed002's Note - It is really the same as I have said before, but I would not try and separate it from the Director of Football issue. And the club need to be very clear going forward, they cannot employ someone that they don't completely trust or have confidence in - and that was the case with Mourinho and a couple of people from day one did not want him at the club.

The wildcard but best option for me is Laurent Blanc. Laurent is available, knows the club and has the perfect skill set. There are numerous other coaches who could do the job perfectly well but the club will have to think about availability, cost, desire etc.. They also need to think about the level of risk there would be involved. It is easy to argue that Max Allegri could do a good job, but he is already at Juventus and has been messed around in the past by Manchester United and turning down Real Madrid shows he is not looking to move. Carlo Ancelotti could do a fine job but his has just joined Napoli. Antonio Conte has had repeated success and could do a good job but may not be interested in a return to England and there are others already looking at him and a couple have spoken with Chelsea - but I would certainly not rule him out, and he would bring discipline. Pochettino would be of interest but perhaps not available. Simeone has been taking English lessons for three years and could do the job - but I am pretty sure would not be interested.

I would say putting the likes of Giggs, Butt or Carrick in charge on a full time basis would be a disaster and will end in tears. Perhaps the club would do better simply to put Woodward in charge of the team?}


5.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 10:48:10
I think Ed Woodward told Jose he wanted top 4 by end of the year and Jose then made that statement last month. Jose has wanted out and seemed to have used the same exit plan he did at Chelsea. that's my opinion.


6.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 10:55:19
Ed, you say better options available, is it for the post of the manager or DOF.

Who would you pick, if you had to?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - See above.}


7.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 11:00:41
Don't know why fans would want Zidane, he has quite a defensive style like Mourinho did.


8.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 11:14:23
Thanks ed002. I said in aug i thought jose should have resigned in Aug when the window closed. He was not aligned with the board on too issues.


9.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 11:15:03
ed do you see Blanc as a interim manager or permanent? from what we are being told by the media the club will be going with an interim appointment.

{Ed002's Note - If the club do the sensible thing he would be given the job and the backing full time.}


10.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 11:55:06
But the question is, who has the power to sack Ed Woodward? This has all the hallmarks of Liverpool’s desperation to end the longevity without success and only now 30 years later showing the signs of proper title credentials. Too vague a plan, bad leadership at the top and spending in the wrong areas at the wrong time. The club needs proper direction before any true success will be achieved again. Blanc may aid with some sort of stability, if hovering around 7th to 4th is acceptable, but then it’s a poisoned chalice for whomever takes charge. Good luck guys, your going to need it.


11.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 12:59:48
I think Conte would be a good appointment if he is given full backing. He certainly seems someone who can bring discipline and has a very good track record. He succeeded at Juve and Chelsea, knows the language, the league but does he want to manage in England.

Also ed, does this bring forward the hiring of DoF or pushes it further back (if it is even possible for you to answer) . As an outsider looking in, our club doesn't seem to have the structure to succeed so I don't think any managerial change is going to bring too much long term success, and eventually result in regression only.

{Ed002's Note - Conte would needed to be persuaded back to England and there are two other sides keen, one of which has very recently spoken with Chelsea whilst in Milan. Conte knows this so I would think it less likely for now. It makes no conceptual difference in respect of the DoF - as I have said before it is an important role for the club to fill and he or she needs to bele to work with whichever manager is in charge.}


12.) 18 Dec 2018
18 Dec 2018 15:14:38
But ed2 wouldn't it be better for the club if the DOF chooses/ recruites the permanent manager. Whatever may happen, the fact that the club has been unable to appoint a competent DOF for more than 2 years for whatever reasons might they be means something significant is wrong at our club.
I remember one of the eds (probably ed2) mentioning that the manager role at our club was veiwed as poison chalice by some. Maybe same goes for DoF who knows.

{Ed002's Note - No, that is not how it happens.}