25 Oct 2026 21:59:56
Ed001 - penny for your thoughts
If you were in charge at the club what would you do:
- executive level
- manager/coaches
- playing personnel
I suspect with new coach we will have enough of a bounce to get into the CL knock outs but I suspect league wise at this point the target from the ownerships perspective is Europa league to try and maintain some increased revenues next year (although another year with no Europe with a proper coach is really what's needed to reboot the squad (massive squad trim) and reestablish standards, fitness, etc).
We're a mess and having a peak at Liverpool, it's an unfortunate we didn't try for Iraola .looks like he is starting to build something tangible. I was pro-Amorim and thought we made a mistake moving him on after finally giving a manager enough time to try to reestablish standards and try to develop a modern playing philosophy. He maybe wasn't the long term answer but he was doing some of the work that was long overdue.
{Ed001's Note - the problem is that the main issue is the ownership and there is nothing you can do about them! But I would bring back Rangnick, let him deal with all the issues he sees, rather than kicking him out for noticing them.
The coach is easy - go one bended knee, if needed, and get Hurzeler from Brighton. They play scintillating football and he is not afraid to look to the youth system, which imo is a must for a head coach/manager at United.
Playing personnel is difficult, as you obviously need the coach in place to know what players to buy, but the main focus has to be overhauling that defence. Any team starting the season with Maguire playing is only ever going to be mediocre.}
26 Oct 2026 06:24:26
Thanks Ed - appreciate the response.
It was rumoured the club dumped Ragnick based on EtH not wanting him around .what a mistake that turned out to be! I'm guessing there is no chance he would come back nor the owners would accept the embarrassment of asking him back.
I couldn't agree more with you on Maguire. He is so slow on and off the ball that it severely impedes how a team can attack or defend. I feel similarly about Bruno - you get the best from him by playing chaotic counter attacking football which comes at a price (in addition the the whining and flailing) of zero positional discipline and neutering other attackers on the team. And I don't think that allows you to set up a sustainable/adaptable style of play. I really hope this public outburst leads to his deal not being renewed - we're well past the time of moving him on.
{Ed001's Note - I think Hurzeler could use Fernandes the way he uses Gross, but with the added basic ability that Bruno possesses he could be even better at running the game.}
26 Oct 2026 07:01:29
I think we're over complicating this. Why not sack Carrick, then appoint him back as interim? Seemed to work last time.
26 Oct 2026 08:46:25
ED001,
I still can't belive Maguire is still at the club. He is a hinderence. That said, he isn't the only one. Dalot is an awful defender too.
The club should have sold Martinez, Dalot, Maz in the summer. The rumours of the club turning down £30 million plus for Mount, if true is deeply concerning.
At least the fans acknowledged Carrick yesterday, whilst he walked down the tunnel. Whilst I was agaisnt him be appointed permanently, he was completely hindered over a lack of defensive signings this summer. However, he must shoulder some blame too. United haven't been good enough!
In many ways, it is a shame that the club were relegated during RA first season. Perhaps, now that is the only way to get rid of the Glazers and SJR.
{Ed001's Note - I don't understand the support for Carrick. The players are unfit & that is on him.
26 Oct 2026 10:30:26
If your getting rid of Carrick you have to get rid of Wilcox it's literally his job to recruit the manager and players to suit the style decided.
He also seems to fall out with people and cause more issues, look at Amorim and it seems like he and Vivell don't get on.
I like the idea of rangnick ed and I like the idea of hurzeler. I would also say Paul Mitchell and Naglesmann would be a team that could work together well along with Vivell, if either of your suggestions are not available.
{Ed001's Note - I am not a fan of Nagelsmann.
26 Oct 2026 11:17:58
Changing the manager will not change a thing. Ultimately, the fault lies with those who recruit the players. Before anyone says, 'You get what you pay for', they are right up to a point. Clubs such as Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford can buy quality players at decent prices. Are their scouting systems superior to United's system?
The other point I'd like to make refers to our youth system.
Why don't more underage players make it to the first team? Is it because the club has overspent on average senior players who block the paths of youth players or is it because we do not recruit top quality players at a young age?
26 Oct 2026 12:45:57
ED001,
I think it is more to do with that th3 players have given up.
That is true about being unfit, that is down to the coaching staff as well. He appeared to want United to play a high press at the beginning of the season. The players were clearly not fit enought for it nor good enough either.
It goes back to appointing an ex player who has achieved nothing as a manager. Then you get people talking about how they know the club, they understand the DNA etc.
Simply, the club needs to stop living in the past. I don't think much will. change, other than a continuous cycle of manager turnover.
{Ed001's Note - if he wanted to play a high press, he needed to get the players fitter! The players look lacking in morale and confidence to me, a number of them look overweight, which should never happen but Shaw is a repeat offender so that does have to be put at their feet. Clearly there are some that need to consider their lifestyle. I can see why the players got it, there is an excuse that the training is not hard enough so they are unfit, but when that happened at Bayern, the players went and did extra training on their own in the local park under Ancelotti. They should be putting in more effort and be out on their feet, but very few look like they are doing so.
The question is though, why is Carrick getting support from the crowd when he is the one allowing that attitude to prevail? He is the one not getting the fit enough, letting them get away with not running themselves into the ground etc.}
26 Oct 2026 13:44:29
Hi Ed001. I'm a big fan of the way Brighton operate, but is there a possibility that managers there will always look better because of the way the club operates. Almost 'putting it on a plate for them'?
I've no doubt him and de Zerbi are good managers to begin with, but maybe they look better at that particular club?
De Zerbi's hardly pulled up trees since leaving, and Potter has seemingly fallen off a cliff, even though I always rated him in his Brighton days.
Cheers.
{Ed001's Note - yes, there is a possibility though De Zerbi was crap and no idea why he was so highly rated there as he took them downwards. He didn't pull up trees because he is not very good at his job.
Potter just has a fragile ego and picked the wrong job that destroyed him with Chelsea. His methods take a long time to bear fruit and he wasn't going to get that there. He is doing ok with Sweden though, who will give him as much time and support as possible.
Back to the original questions - it is impossible to tell. Certainly Brentford managers are that way and I do think to a large extent that is the same at Brighton but he still has to coach the players to play his way and you can see the results of that on the pitch. The issue is more that United would need to give him more support and backing in terms of backroom requirements. But you are not in a position where you are bringing a manager in to continue to build, you need to rip up what was there, so bringing in a man who has knowledge of the BHA set up could help build something long term and settled.}
26 Oct 2026 16:41:35
Cheers for the reply, Ed001.
Unfortunately, we both know time is the one thing managers at our club won't get in its present state.
{Ed001's Note - sadly it is the same at most clubs these days.}