08 Feb 2026 13:58:52
The big issues at the end of the season, obviously getting top four adds money and attracts better players. Get a manager in really early, Carrick or other has to happen. We need to get any new players in early to adjust fit in etc.
This waiting until 10 games in is silly. Identify the targets Plan A and get them or Plan B. Get your squad and manager sorted early and transfers too, we need to be ready at the start of the season.
08 Feb 2026 14:54:30
The club took a step last summer after appointing RA as head coach rather than manager towards moving the primary responsibility for acquisitions to the back room. I think it would be fair to say it was the best summer window we've had in a long time. So I expect that approach to continue and would imagine they're already hard at work planning their strategy and making enquiries as to interest and availability for the upcoming window. Of course much will depend on whether we have European football. The club will have more money at its disposal, ambitious players will have a chance to shine on the top stage, existing players as well as new ones will be on bonuses.
If we can succeed on the pitch and we can finally get a longer term coach in place then I would expect him to get more input and authority regarding transfers as he establishes himself. Good managers make the best of their squads. RA was so wedded to his system that he was unable to achieve that primary goal. He left, but instead of departing and leaving a squad of misfits behind, the new coach/manager will inherit some very good players. not necessarily ones that were top of RA's list.
08 Feb 2026 15:01:05
Tuchel got a World Cup first… he probably the plan.
08 Feb 2026 15:28:18
Agree on this which is one of the reasons why i think Carrick has more chance of getting the full time job.
Most of the managers we would be targeting (Enrique excluded, who knows if he even wants to come) are at the world cup (Tuchel, Carlo and Nagelsmann) .
Realistically wouldn't be available untill Mid/Late July, doesn't give much time to plan/coach the team for the upcoming season.
08 Feb 2026 16:59:25
It really is a very different situation this time around I really can't think of any outstanding candidate and at this point I don't have a strong preference for anybody in particular.
Im moving from hopeful to confident that we will secure a cl position.
If we do them Carrick and his coaching team will have strong claims to be very high on the list of options.
I think a lot will depend on how much momentum they have until the end of the season.
As said above any wc manager under consideration does leave no time to prepare for next season.
Other candidates outside of Iriola have not been looking as steady recently. Glasner trying to manage a dwindling squad and difficult owner. Howe has not replaced the goals of issak and they can't get a run going. Emery also looking shaky under pressure and frank having a hard time at spurs Di zerbi a little volatile again at marsaille and southgate hopefully a non starter those with epl experience don't look any better than Carrick to me.
Or any less risky.
Poch tuchel Carlo naigalsmann are mentioned if tuchel has a bad wc in bit sure the press will give him too smooth a ride at united. I think if he has a poor wc with England then the epl is the last place for him. He can be very abrasive and outspoken and will be under pressure from the get go.
On the flip side if he has a good wc then he will get a little more rope from the media perhaps.
Enrique is on the radar i'm sure but I think he will stay at psg. Those owners don't lose to many people they don't want to lose.
Simione has no English, part of me would love to see him at united for all the madness and passion he'd bring but I think his pragmatic approach and style goes against him a little.
So no big standout from the epl proven coaches and wc coaches with obvious drawbacks finish strong in top 3 and it could be the perfect storm for Carrick to get another Season to prove he can sustain and continue to improve it.
08 Feb 2026 17:34:11
I'm not convinced we would be an attractive proposition for Enrique. I'd see him more at Liverpool if Slot doesn't recapture last season's form.
08 Feb 2026 19:04:07
I think Enrique was very dismissive of utd last time round. It's a bit like covering the girl who humiliated you by refusing to dance. No thanks. Move on.
We don't need to decide right now. Agree that there is no stand out. Personally, if Carrick continues this run - with his coaching staff, I would like to see him continue but with a better director of football above him. How about anchelotti to mentor him?
In all seriousness, no need to rush now while Carrick is steadying the ship. This summer players and coaches will be distracted by the world cup, it is why I wanted a midfield in Jan, to take some pressure off the summer window.
08 Feb 2026 19:28:19
I listened to Andy Mitten DVB, apparently he knows him and has interviewed him many times. I think he knew it wasn't the right time.
I do however, think that this summer is a perfect time for a big manager to come in.
08 Feb 2026 19:30:37
It’s not just the best manager but the best fit for us.
08 Feb 2026 20:38:36
We owe a fortune in transfer instalments so unless we make some really big sales I can't see us signing many top players. The extra revenue we might get from champions league is offset to a large extent but the increased wages we would have to pay players in performance related bonuses.
This might very well reduce the attraction of managing Utd would be to top managers.
08 Feb 2026 21:37:39
Salford,
We buy players in instalments, so you’ve kind of missed the point there, we can buy expensive players in instalments and would have the money to be able to do so. Getting CL would be huge.