1.) 02 Dec 2018
02 Dec 2018 17:25:44
Red Man

I agree with your conclusion, I think it reinforces that the owners see United as a money making machine where revenue is more important than trophies.

However, the other salient point is how atrocious our recruitment has been. Whether we have bought badly, or we have bought good players but dropped them into a difficult situation I don’t know, but the list of players who have arrived and under performed in recent years is staggering. Park posted an excellent view yesterday (it’s on the others page) where he highlighted the quality we thought we were buying vs the reality of what we got. That is a real conundrum.

As for Woody, I’m not sure how he gets to have a view on squad quality having no experience in the game but it seems he wields absolute power. He delivers the deals that drove the revenue so the owners are happy. We all knew that final title was something of a fluke, delivered by the incredible RVP and most of us said it was the worst United team to have won the League. Fast forward to post SAF, Moyes has said he wanted some big players but ended up with Fellaini, ADM smacked of a statement signing, and since then, there is an ever increasing list of players who have arrived and disappointed. Who is making the decisions, who is deciding who we sign?

You and I will disagree about Jose. I respect and understand your view and I agree that theplayers need to be smacked back into line. However, I think Jose was also a statement signing by EW, but I’m with Sir Bobby on this one.

The fact that there was no preparation for SAF retiring, with Gill allowed to go at the same time, that Moyes was appointed, that Moyes was allowed to get rid of the whole back room staff, it has been poor decision after poor decision. Ed has mentioned the Allegri plan but surely if that plan fails, a new plan needs to be developed. I thInk Jose is trying to get himself sacked right now. He appears unhappy, his comments are often ill thought through, his selections can be baffling, it is only a matter of time before he departs. But that doesn’t solve everything. A new Manager might get more out of our current squad but if we continue to buy badly, or allow EW to decide if we need strengthening, then we are simply putting lipstick on a pig.

We’re of a similar generation, I think you are probably about 10years older than me but we’ve been round the block so to speak. I don’t see a quick solution to this, hopefully we don’t descend into a Liverpool type drought.

2.) 02 Dec 2018
02 Dec 2018 17:27:01
I always find myself agreeing with what you write Red Man and this is no different. Whatever new manager takes over I expect an upturn in performances from the players. It's only natural because this side is underachieving in a lot of games, but we have to be honest with ourselves and say this current boardroom don't particularly care if we're Champions or 4th.

3.) 02 Dec 2018
02 Dec 2018 20:47:00
Red Man, I completely agree. Ed Woodward has brought about so much of the turmoil we currently face on a weekly basis. He has been responsible for what will be two failed managerial appointments by the summer. He has been responsible for our decline, no vision or even an idea about where the club is going. He has prioritised the wrong things, big name signings which help sponsorship deals, he has been focused on growth in every area apart from on the pitch.

But as you point out, what more could we expect from a money man, a man who deals with figures.

My concern though is that he is a loyal Glazer man, and I see no reason why they would demote or sack him. He was elevated to maximise the value of their asset, and he has done so with aplomb. So if he isn't going anywhere anytime soon then I don't see a way out of this. We could bring in a DoF, but my gut says that Ed Woodward has a large ego, and that he isn't likely to hire anyone for that role who will disagree with him or challenge him. So does a DoF really solve anything or would they effectively just be another puppet for the blame to fall on while Woodward avoids the backlash.

We disagree on Jose, and that's fine. But on Woodward I think we are in total agreement. The guy is a serious problem, and he will remain at our club until the Glazers sell up. Which I don't see happening anytime soon. Also, as much as I hate what the Glazers have done with our club sometimes its better the devil you know. I would not be happy with the club being owned by some of the people who have been credited with an interest in buying it.

4.) 02 Dec 2018
02 Dec 2018 20:58:55
Shapps, (and Red Man)

I guess if we start to fail badly then the money will stop rolling in. If we are outside of the top 4 that is tens of millions lost, if we slip in the Leage then the global appeal starts to fade, just look how City’s revenue is quickly rising. Fortunately, some level of success is needed to keep the money rolling in.

5.) 03 Dec 2018
02 Dec 2018 22:14:08
The global appeal is fading, the money will slow, only when reality bites will the Glazers finally question him. My worry is that it is a pack of cards and by the time the owners and some fans wake up to this mess it will be too late.