07 Apr 2024 14:35:44
Rumours potter is close to the ajax job.
May only leave Southgate available.
07 Apr 2024 15:26:49
Oh God, No.
07 Apr 2024 16:22:21
Or is this an indication that EtH could be given a further year?
07 Apr 2024 18:45:43
Hasn't Southgate got a job?
07 Apr 2024 18:54:47
Eth going no where and boy if Southgate comes i ain't supporting the club no more.
07 Apr 2024 19:07:31
Really good move for Potter if true.
07 Apr 2024 19:08:28
That being said, I’d have thought Potter might be on the FA’s shortlist if Southgate moves on? Any insights into that Ed?
{Ed002's Note - Sure, he will be an option.}
07 Apr 2024 20:01:18
I agree Eric, I think he Is a much better manager than his Chelsea spell showed, whilst I don't think er should go for him, I do think he has the potential to be very good and Ajax should help him regain his rep.
07 Apr 2024 20:45:48
More chance of David moyes managing united again than Southgate.
07 Apr 2024 20:51:37
Singh if that's the case you won't be missed. More fickle than our players.
08 Apr 2024 05:27:26
Lollll I don't need your validation. Ill b bk once southgate leaves lolll.
08 Apr 2024 08:54:50
ETH will be our manager next season. Mind Big Sam was in the directors' box with SJR. Careful what you wish for lol.
08 Apr 2024 09:20:46
Apparently Potter turned down Ajax offer. Probably has better options for next season.
08 Apr 2024 09:39:00
Old Trafford being one dev1l.
On Southgate, if we have a decent Euros, I’ve no idea why he’d leave the England post. We’ll paid, high profile, and has cultivated a good culture with a very exciting influx of top young players.
08 Apr 2024 10:27:04
Southgate has done a brilliant job for England if he has a good euros again then I agree EricI'm not sure sjr he would leave that post. It's a great job to have and one he is doing really well.
08 Apr 2024 11:17:02
It depends on how you judge Southgate. England have always struggled at international tournaments due to a lack of belief and an inability to work together.
On that front Southgate has totally turned that around, there is no bad blood, controversy or personal issues in the England camp. They all believe they can win major tournaments and the whole squad gives 100% every time they go out on the pitch.
For that Southgate should be commended, and to be honest given the United dressing room issues over the past decade, this is something that maybe Southgate could be good at resolving. Although club football is a very different beast to international football due to the fragmented time international football has compared to the day to day grind of club football. Could Southgate be as effective at keeping the dressing atmosphere in the right place at club level. Especially as it's much harder to remove a bad influence in club football compared to just not selecting them at international level.
Case in point Southgate just not selecting Sancho for England was an instant fix, whereas EtH has had to send him to the under 21's for a couple of months before him leaving on loan. Meaning that 6 months later Sancho is still an issue for EtH and the club to resolve.
Where Southgate has let himself down is his tactical acumen and his decision making in the key moments.
He plays with far too much caution, typical maybe of a manager who was a defender during his playing career. Maybe he doesn't know the best way to attack, or maybe he feels safety first is a better/ more consistent approach.
Either way for a club like United that is known for playing with attacking flair, even a cavalier, risk it all style of play, that seems a poor fit. As previous managers have found out, a defensive style of play will only be tolerated for so long by the United fanbase, typically that is while we are winning. Boring football and no trophies will only lead to the sack.
His in game management also seems poor, with him rarely making an impact from the bench. Or at least a positive impact. Be that trying to see out the Euro final for 80 minutes after Shaw's early goal, or an inability or reluctance to make an attacking change to try and claw back a game. Too often it seems he zigged when he should have zagged.
He tries to shut up shop with 30+ minutes left of the game. Or he waits until the 80th minute to make an attacking change when a goal behind from the first half.
I don't know whether it's a lack of tactical intelligence to be able to see what is happening in real time and being able to think up the solution to make the changes, or whether it's a lack of confidence to make those changes. Either way, it is that part of his managerial makeup that has stopped him lifting silverware with England rather than a lack of talent or because the squad has issues.
Maybe that is where the Gary O'Neil as an assistant manager type role is coming from.
Are they fully aware of Southgate's weaknesses and are looking to hire him alongside someone like O'Neil to add that tactical intelligence to the backroom team. Southgate to lead and create a harmonious and driven atmosphere along with his experience of dealing with big players and the press. With someone like O'Neil to take the majority of the training sessions and be the tactican on match days.
That is a model that has previously worked at United with SAF being the leader and his assistant managers running the majority of training sessions and having a big input into the tactics.
It's not what I'd go for but it's about the only way I can see Southgate having any chance of working at United. Given the way INEOS have started their running of the club, the changes they are making and the sensible hiring they are doing it doesn't make much sense to hire Southgate. Unless they have him fitted up for the role of getting the players mentally in the right place and making the dressing room atmosphere conducive of what you need to challenge for and win major titles, with someone whose a tactician and top class coach who has proven his ability to get the players playing good football and improving them to work alongside Southgate to mitigate his weaknesses.
That might be the solution as it's difficult to find someone who has both the ability to get the very best out of the players and create a winning mentality/ atmosphere at a club as well as having a tactical intelligence to be able to adapt to the modern game and the constant tactical changes that happen in it.
Those managers are rare, and to be honest if there are any like that available this summer then we will face an up hill battle to get them.
The club has also shown an ability to go and find top people like Jason Wilcox and convince them to take a sideways or even backwards step in terms of their job title/ responsibilities to come and work at United. Could they do the same with convincing someone like O'Neil to leave a managers position at an EPL club to become an assistant at United (albeit one that might have far greater impact/ responsibility than most assistant managers) . Maybe.
Like I said Southgate isn't someone I'd personally consider as a good choice for Manchester United, yet he might be the one we end up with.
If he wins the Euros this summer and comes in on the back of that success, and has a top class assistant manager like a Gary O'Neil or similar to run the training sessions and tactical side of the team then maybe it could work.
08 Apr 2024 12:07:31
I don’t believe any Premier League 1st team manager would want to go to be an assistant regardless of the club stature. Wilcox role at a football club is not comparable with O’Neil’s IMO.
08 Apr 2024 13:06:37
I think intl football suits Southgate shappy.
I would not be a fan but I respect the job he has done with England. He has made them competitive.
08 Apr 2024 14:38:39
Ken, I'm not sure if you're taking the Mickey or not.
But england, with the talent he has, have been poor IMO. They haven't beaten anyone they weren't supposed to. When they came up against a big team, they have failed.
07 Apr 2024 19:08:28
That being said, I’d have thought Potter might be on the FA’s shortlist if Southgate moves on? Any insights into that Ed?
{Ed002's Note - He would be an option.-}
08 Apr 2024 17:30:38
Ken, I tend to agree. Some managers are just better suited to international football. I think Jose Mourinho could be a phenomenal international manager. His style of play is well suited to knockout football, and he has always been more successful in cup competitions as opposed to league football. I think the ability to drop players who don't work in his system, along with the reduced contact time (making his intensity less draining for players), along with his pragmatic style all suit international football. Plus he has the ego to carry a nations hopes on his shoulders.
I think if Southgate just had that person with some real tactical nous in his ear and part of his team then he could have won something. Someone who can see how a game is going and think of the best solutions to developing issues. That's my one real hang up with Southgate as England manager, he is far too cautious and slow to react to a changing game state.
08 Apr 2024 17:47:49
No I'm not taking the mickey at all.
England have only once won anything they are minnows in intl football.
Italy France Spain Brazil Argentina Germany are the intl powerhouses. Lots of other countries have also won since.
Only 2 managers have ever got them to a final and Southgate is one.
English players are fine under forgien coaches and alongside forgien team mates.
Put an all English team together they have never won anything for 60 odd years. Put a bunch all in one room together without their forgien teammates and they can't cope.
Southgate has a few talented players at the moment that's true but he doesn't have a top keeper or top cb imo and take kane out and they miss him badly.
I'd argue that every England manager for the past 30 years has had top talent but they never even got to a final. Becks Scholes Gerrard Adams walker Robson shearer Pearce Cole barnes all walk into this squad imo.
Why on earth the English think they should be beating the likes of France Germany Spain Argentina Brazil etc is preposterous imo. They are not beating them now Angel but when did they ever? So if you think his failure is not being able to beat better teams then I suppose that's fair but it's a stick that's unfair to beat him with imo.
I think this euros he has built a team that could compete as France are the only other standout team at the moment and he has got them competing against the best better than England ever have since the 60s.
I'd like to see them win something but it will be a monumental achievement if they do.
It's also not easy to manage a team that not only the opposition want you to lose but also pretty every other neutral in the world wants them to lose too??.
09 Apr 2024 09:16:14
Steve Holland.