21 Nov 2021 09:15:50
I would now argue we are in a far worse position than when Mourinho left. The team are disjointed and demotivated, all the support team assembled to solely support Ole with no thought it might not work. It looks like they threw all their eggs in the Ole basket and built from there. They built the foundations after they put the roof up. It appears they sat there, listened to Ole saying you only need good players and believed every word he said, they never questioned his credentials at all. Molde, Cardiff and playing as a sub were the credentials they set up everything on, everything. Quite incredible.

Three weeks ago Conte was available, yet many have been available in the last 8 years and ignored. One constant has been Woodward. It was painful after the City game but someone would not even budge two weeks ago. It was like watching Titanic where they refused to believe it could sink. I have no idea if true but it seems according to rumours Woodward was the one refusing to budge recently, almost can't accept another failure. Yesterday the performance and result was always likely after two weeks ago, the players haven't believed in the manager for a while. They didn't know what they were meant to do with the ball, the players own comments are utterly damning.

Now we have a board who clearly don't know what they are doing, a structure built to support Ole, a coaching team that as recently listed are clueless and if the press are to be believed one of the owners Joel, telling them to get Zidane, who doesn't speak English or even want the job and whose wife doesn't fancy Manchester. They will likely expect him or another manager to work in this ridiculous amateur structure. Why on Earth would the owner be directing the club to get Zidane when he hasn't a clue about football? It can only be a r3commendation come from someone they trust and that will be from within the structure that is already failing. Zidane is not a good choice, better than Ole, then everyone was, but it looks like another poorly thought out decision.

I said on here before SAF announced he was retiring we needed to learn from Busbys retirement, which I saw first hand, we didn't. 8 years on it still looks like SAF has too much influence. It is a mess.

We shouldn't be looking at Zidane, or Rodgers until we look at the decision making structure, get someone in to restructure it all. Where is the Director of Football in all this mess? Silent.

Where to start,
1) Retire SAF away from the club
2) Woodward should not be here on Monday, gone
3) Murtough, Phelan, McKenna plus other failed coaches out the door
4) Look at hiring someone like Rangnick to both advice on a restructure and possibly interim manager. He not Murtough would be a good DOF.

It's an old boys club now, like it was in the early 70's, and whilst Ole has to go, it is far more than that. Sadly I expect it won't happen, whilst things on the pitch will improve, without overall change we will not dominate again.

1.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 09:25:50
Excellent post Red Man. Whatever Ole’s failings, the structure around him remains so it feels like rinse and repeat. I expect another knee jerk reaction with no proper process and no review of why it isn’t working.

SAF should have no say at all now and we have to bring someone in who understands football, it is clear that Woodward and I’m guessing Arnold don’t, their strengths lie elsewhere.

If Ole goes then I hope there is a pause whilst a proper review is undertaken but I fear it won’t be, so we will likely be back here in 2 or 3 years.

2.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 09:34:42
Red Man,

I would say it is similar to when Jose left in terms of the team and the majority of the fans having lost faith in the manager. The only exception is Jose's fallout with almost everyone at the club.

One positive outcome of Ole's reign is the current squad we got which is way better in comparison to when Jose left although we can argue he wasn't as well supported as Ole has been.

The rest I agree with and unfortunately the Glazers aren't in a hurry to restructure anytime soon it seems.

3.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 09:58:44
Ragnik for 6 months and then moved to a directing role would be to sensible for the powers to be to put into place.
Like you say Zidane having money thrown at him seems to be all our club can manage.
Julen lopetegui apparently an option on the back of the fag packet passed over to woodward and Co. I wonder who else has made the shortlist put together last night?

4.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 10:05:51
I agree on all the structural points but one big difference between mourinho and now is the quality of squad we have.

Any competent manager should be able to come in and hit the ground running with the quality of players we have.

5.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 10:19:56
I think the DOF issue is key to understanding the club.

The role of the DOF is to shape the football side of the club. They should identify a manager and coaching team that fit their vision, who, in turn, go about developing a playing style and building a squad to fit this.

Ole was given the full time gig as a means to avoid bringing in a genuine DOF. The DOF role at the club is now purely ceremonial, a slight of hands to the fans to pretend it’s a professional structure.

Now we can see that it’s a meaningless position at the club. The DOF seemingly has no role in the Ole decision or in who his replacement should be. An amateur set up that thinks throwing money at recruitment will compensate for the complete lack of footballing vision.

6.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 10:28:39
AJH

I said we needed the restructure when SAF was due to retire, perfect time, kept and keep repeating it, said it again before they appointed Ole. I said repeatedly the DOF should report to the board otherwise they are just a Woodward puppet.

7.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 10:29:06
It seems appointments are made without any proper consideration or selection process. One of the biggest clubs in the world has one of the least experienced backroom teams.

8.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 10:51:34
Now he has officially gone, it is interesting they have gone for Carrick, but then will look for Interim to end of season! Let’s hope it’s Rangnick and changes will be made.

9.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 11:05:54
Perhaps they will take some time now and not knee jerk. We can only hope.

10.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 11:28:51
AJH and Red Man,

You guys along with others have been supporting the club a lot longer than me so who do you think should be our new manager who can really take us forward?

11.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 11:36:49
Followed United through the end of the Busby era and the shambles that followed for 20 years. This is just the same and with theses owners and Woodward involved in footballing decisions, nothing will change. It could easily be a long time before we win the league again. What a sad state of affairs for OUR great club. -.

12.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 11:49:27
The issue is the whole structure sono would like a full review and understand which other clubs do it well. Sideline SAF and bring in an experienced DoF who understands the game.

As for a Manager my preference is Ten Haag and hopefully some of the Ajax philosophy. If not him, then Poch at the end of the season.

I'd ship out all the old players as none of them seem qualified and I'd bring on top level coaches.

Zidane is a sexy name but doesn't speak English and doesn't want to come. I remain unconvinced by Rogers who was successful in Scotland when it was a 1 team league. Potter is too inexperienced for me.

So, Ten Haag for me but I doubt we will even go for him

or me.

13.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 11:51:18
I think it depends on how you want to look at it. Is the club structure worse now than when Ole took over? Absolutely, it does seem like they have built the club around a man whose head they just chopped off.

Fletcher and Murtagh were choices made with Ole in mind. That's just terrible planning and shows a real lack of understanding.

On the other side I actually think the group of players available to the next manager are much better than the one's available when Ole took over.

How much of that is Ole's doing is anyone's guess.

I certainly feel like a new manager could get this side competing without the need of any signings. While depending on how the new manager wants to play 2-3 key signings could give him a genuine chance of winning things.

I didn't feel the team Ole took over were able of competing, or were 2-3 players away from genuinely winning something.

On the pitch I think the club is closer to meeting it's aims than before Ole. However, off the pitch major surgery needs to be done to the structure in order to make the club a viable long term challenger.

14.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 12:13:47
AJH,

Putting yourself in the shopping window? ?

Unfortunately the board don't like people who make sense and want a drastic change at the club's structure.

Ten Haag does seem a great choice and admired by most fans but as you say the board will probably be overwhelmed with the changes that he might demand.

Poch does look a real possibility though.

15.) 21 Nov 2021
21 Nov 2021 12:56:39
LetsPlayUnited

In answer to who, the structure is a mess, the planning a shambles, the club have dithered appallingly. Ten Hag has good points but needs a structure around him that is not there, he needs a culture and I suspect it may not be in place by next summer. The club would need to make structural changes to give him a chance.

I don’t want Zidane

If I was guessing, I would guess at Zidane to PSG in summer and we may take Poch.

Who do I want. Well I want a restructure, plus not have our main aim that the manager has to be there long term, that long term comes from success on the pitch. I would demand a top level Director of Football and I would ask Pep if he fancies leaving City a year early and cross the City.