02 Feb 2016 13:25:40
Hi all,
Thanks to the Eds as always.
Well I for one found the news yesterday (albeit in some people eyes inevitable) a real wake up call.
I've read plenty here over the past 6-7 months from fans, readers, Eds about who United were and what the realistic expectations should be now in comparison to old. The announcement yesterday of Pep to City not only highlights how far they have come but also how far we have fallen. Before I say anymore, this is NOT meant to be a moan, this is my view on a) how we got here and b) what I think needs to happen next.
Firstly, the world of football is a place of business. So, how does the biggest club in the UK, one of the biggest in World football fall this far having dominated for so long? The short answer is, they allowed themselves to. I'm not suggesting we are now a bottom half side but top 4 is now an uncertainty for us which in itself sounds ridiculous. SAF and David Gill are the main people responsible for this. I do not believe for one minute that DM or LVG can have the majority of the blame attached to them, it is crazy to even suggest that. Partly for team performances yes but ultimately the people that were/ have been at the club for many many years allowed the club to get into this position. What's followed is a square peg in a circle hole (EW) who doesn't understand football and two managers who are trying to move on from times a club refuses too.
The reality is that the previous board took their foot off the gas. An attitude of, "they will never achieve what we have" clouded their judgement and now we are the second best team in Manchester, in terms of current squad, league position, and expectations, these are facts. We are becoming the new Liverpool!
For the first time yesterday I realised something, the current 'plan' isn't working. An announcement has just been made for crying out loud that funding to our youth set up is being cut.
Ed002 suggested some united fans fail to recognise the work going into place for the future and up until yesterday I agreed with her. However now I honestly believe their is only one answer to this problem, Jose. If we don't appoint Mouriniho (putting my neck out here) we lose any chance of winning the league for the next 3-4 years. I am not a Jose fan, not at all, I have regularly criticised him, but City in a way have made our minds up for us. Jose wanted the Chelsea job for the long haul, I say let's see what he can do here. I don't blame Moyes or LVG for the current situation, it feels like the club is lost in translation so to speak. Jose would certainly break that vicious circle if nothing else, plus he will be determined to prove his capabilities. With Wenger, Pochettino, Klopp, Martinez to name a few and now Pep, we need someone who can cut it at the highest level.
So there you have it, that's my view. Look forward to all the comments, arguments, criticisms and hopefully some words from those who agree.
02 Feb 2016 14:34:55
King Giggsy
A portion of the blame for our present predicament must be laid at SAF and Gill's feet. After SAF previously announcing his retirement surely that should have promoted a full plan for transition, yet instead it appears SAF was given carte Blanche to retire when he felt like it. Almost indicating the thought process was, don't worry we will just appoint someone else, who will carry on as was, bad things can't happen to us can they. This led to both key senior figures leaving at the same time, something most businesses would avoid at all costs. That isn't down to Woodward or LVG, I would also say Woodward has leeway on Moyes as he inherited that situation with the firm push from our great legendary manager. So now we appear to be trying to recover, almost scrambling around, behind others.
Now Pep has gone to City, it looks like too much balance has been given to attaining commercial partners and not enough into a strategic long term planning which should have been in place for five to ten years. What is galling is that in all the noise of the last 24 hours we forget that we also missed out on Ancelotti.
Maybe there is a plan, yet why include such a painful process as part of it, ignoring the best managers in the process? The immediate reaction is for Mourinho, outside that perhaps Simeone or as a reach Pochetino. I don't get the Conte and Allegri consideration. As for Giggs, how could we appoint someone with two failures as a No2? Club legend as a player, doesn't mean legend as a manager, Sir Bobby should know that.
What ever the board do, they should have been fervently drawing up a strategy, one option, like Mourinho, could be a short shock to keep us up there, because dropping out of contention to "rebuild" is what we did in 70 and Liverpool did from 90 and for a club our size it isn't acceptable and risky. City have caught a march on us and right now we look flat footed, now is when Woodward earns the money and he needs his decisions to be good from here or the clubs commercial partners will be questioning their investment.
02 Feb 2016 14:52:36
Red man,
Nice to hear from someone who sees the situation similar to me. I just don't think Jose is a risk anymore, maybe if we went for him back in September but the man wants to build a legacy somewhere. He ticks most of the boxes for me now given the situation, isn't it strange how my own opinion can change so much in 24 hours.