Saudi Arabia. Not much of a difference, just a bunch of extra sand.
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Saudi Arabia. Not much of a difference, just a bunch of extra sand.
mccollio09
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Missing my point slightly - On a larger scale I believe Pep is unproven. Strange I know considering all he won, but he just continued what Frank had already laid the foundations for (very, very, very good foundations it has to be said).
Similarly, lots of supporters come on the Liverpool thread bashing Rodgers saying he won't be up to the job and that he largely had Martinez to thank for Swansea's progress.
To tie it all in, considering Pep has only been (albeit a massively successful stint) at one club, that he already knew inside out anyway from his playing days, I think taking him on would be a massive risk and could flop spectacularly in a similar vein to anyone of Rijkaards numerous stints in management afterwards.
Similarly, lots of supporters come on the Liverpool thread bashing Rodgers saying he won't be up to the job and that he largely had Martinez to thank for Swansea's progress.
To tie it all in, considering Pep has only been (albeit a massively successful stint) at one club, that he already knew inside out anyway from his playing days, I think taking him on would be a massive risk and could flop spectacularly in a similar vein to anyone of Rijkaards numerous stints in management afterwards.
The thing is you can be as good as your players are.Pep had the luxury of players who were and are still the best players in the world at what they do.All he had to do was keep the belief in the players and thats what he did with messi specially.United has the potential to be as good in attack but our midfield and defense is best average.Can the Pep create teams from scrach like Fergi ? Can we compete in the market like we used to ? The answer to both is no.Pep wont be given 2 years to 3 years to create a team because english fans are the most critical fans around the world and they will be after his head if he does not give the results we as a club are used to.Are best options are only 2 people Moyes or the Special one.Both have a similarity that they bring the best out of their players and are ready to play boring/negative football to take home a 1-0 win which we at united are used to and play the beautiful counter attacking football we love 
.
.I don't think Guardiola is world class in any way.I didn't like the excuse he made to get out of the Barca job. What in the name of god does "burnt out" mean? He is managing the greatest football team in the world and winning everything in sight then why the **** leave the job? Not comparing to Fergie(nobody deserves to be held in the same rank) but he is mentally weak then.About Mourinho if he can cut out his antics like against Barca then I don't think there is any other better choice.
And I agree with Sunil, every single united fan would want Ole to be the manager but not right away.I want him to be a successful manager not a failure like Wilf McGuiness was after Busby left.I seriously hope we wouldn't make the mistake that we made back in 1968-69.
It was not an excuse from Pep at all, it was a very courageous move actually, considering how much succes he has had and probably could of continued to of had there. The foundations were all laid out on a plate for him at Barca, I think he is ambitious and that is a great thing, he wants to prove himself at another club in another league.
He's mentally weak for leaving a job where he has nothing left to achieve, citing a common complaint amongst people in high pressure jobs? If you say so.
I think you underplay his player development and tactical nous.
Pep took those foundations and made them into one of the best clubs sides in history, while getting the next generation ready.
People are talking as if he has to remake Man United. He will have Smalling et al hitting their peak, still have Van Persie and Rooney. he will have that footballing keeper in De Gea.
As for those who think his reasons for leaving were an "excuse", tell Ralf Rangnick and Sacchi that burnout is an excuse.
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I was one of the few who used to say this, Pep continued Rijkaard's work but Pep is nothing but genius. He offloaded many players and changed Barca in many ways.
Pep is tactically lot brilliant than given credit for, in CL 2009 final Messi was played in the middle completely negating the point of playing Park as Messi played games as RW and Eto'o as CF, but in that final Messi was played though the middle. He made these sort of adjustments everytime whenever he had to.
Also one of the most important attribute of manager is to motivate the players and it's obvious thing to say Barca players were ready to do anything for him. His man management was not his best attribute but he is a superb manager who knows how to promote young players from the academy.
Pep is certainly not given enough credit for what he has done at Barcelona. He transformed them into a team that is still widely regarded as the best in the world.
Pep is a scholar of the game. His man-management skills are top notch. These played a huge part in the success he has had and I would take him at Chelsea within a second
Pep is a scholar of the game. His man-management skills are top notch. These played a huge part in the success he has had and I would take him at Chelsea within a second
The burnout is due to the way he worked. There have been interviews with Xavi and other senior players who say that Pep invites you to "buy into" his philosophy, and that is a requirement of his, or the team doesn't work. When you see Messi running about tackling defensive midfielders and bouncing off, that is why, he believed in the concept of a team as greater together than individuals, and not just strut about saying 'pass it to me'.
The problem Pep had was his coaching style was obsessive. He would stay up until late watching previous matches, devising tactical systems which would involve the entire team playing a specific way against a certain opposition - and not just the big games, for every single opponent. Xavi in fact stated that he was never happy, always wanted to change something, studied the opponent's tactical systems to the finest detail and pushed himself to achieve, to have his system work - the mirror opposite to complacency. At the end in his final season he just stated that the fire and passion fuelling him had dimmed and his perfectionism would not allow him to feel he was doing anything he considered up to his standards, so he walked away until he felt that again for another project, when his method of working and the pressure of managing a club like Barca in his way would be different - manageable. From what I understand this is not mainly the pressure from outside, but the pressure he put on himself. Perfectionists by nature are either obsessive or lethargic, and the pressure was clearly too much to maintain year after year, season after season.
I wonder if he will have the same "impact" on another club where he was not club captain and played there for his entire career, where the fans and the players believed him because he "was the club" in some ways, and if they didn't believe in a former legend's view of how the club should play, it is akin to not believing in themselves, and throwing the faith he had in their ability back in his face. The reason he seemed to get so many good youth prospects is because he seemed to instil that belief in them, that belief that nobody is bigger than the team. And if players as good as Iniesta, Xavi, Messi & Alves (regardless of what you think of Alves, at the role he has in that side I can think of few others able to do it) buy into that, then the 18-year-old kids of course give everything.
Incidentally, this does demonstrate how remarkable it is that SAF has managed at the highest level for this long and is still going, and regardless of what one thinks if United and Ferguson as a club and a person, you have to admire that dedication to coming back at the end of each summer and to have that desire to win still there, even after winning everything he's able to win.
The problem Pep had was his coaching style was obsessive. He would stay up until late watching previous matches, devising tactical systems which would involve the entire team playing a specific way against a certain opposition - and not just the big games, for every single opponent. Xavi in fact stated that he was never happy, always wanted to change something, studied the opponent's tactical systems to the finest detail and pushed himself to achieve, to have his system work - the mirror opposite to complacency. At the end in his final season he just stated that the fire and passion fuelling him had dimmed and his perfectionism would not allow him to feel he was doing anything he considered up to his standards, so he walked away until he felt that again for another project, when his method of working and the pressure of managing a club like Barca in his way would be different - manageable. From what I understand this is not mainly the pressure from outside, but the pressure he put on himself. Perfectionists by nature are either obsessive or lethargic, and the pressure was clearly too much to maintain year after year, season after season.
I wonder if he will have the same "impact" on another club where he was not club captain and played there for his entire career, where the fans and the players believed him because he "was the club" in some ways, and if they didn't believe in a former legend's view of how the club should play, it is akin to not believing in themselves, and throwing the faith he had in their ability back in his face. The reason he seemed to get so many good youth prospects is because he seemed to instil that belief in them, that belief that nobody is bigger than the team. And if players as good as Iniesta, Xavi, Messi & Alves (regardless of what you think of Alves, at the role he has in that side I can think of few others able to do it) buy into that, then the 18-year-old kids of course give everything.
Incidentally, this does demonstrate how remarkable it is that SAF has managed at the highest level for this long and is still going, and regardless of what one thinks if United and Ferguson as a club and a person, you have to admire that dedication to coming back at the end of each summer and to have that desire to win still there, even after winning everything he's able to win.
That sounds exactly like Rangnick, and Sacchi, and why Ferguson started to delegate.
mccollio09
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Take this as a compliment of the highest order from a rival fan, I can't wait for Ferguson to **** off and retire.
juventus1980
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Agree so much with everything you've said here, Pep is a modern master and deserves his place in history amongst Sacchi, Michaels and Cruyff.
Just wanted to add: it was Tito who recommended playing Messi in the middle, and recommended evolving the 4-3-3 formation last season (to the 3-4-3 and 3-7-0 in a couple of games). I'm very impressed by him so far this season, and I admire Barcelona's bravery for appointing a lesser known coach from inside the club.
Pep was very open about how he and Tito were a unit, and that Tito knew almost as much about the systems as he did. He was adamant that Barca use him to continue their way of playing.
And Bielsa, in whose case we'll never know whether it's cause or consequence of his madness.
fuelledbypassion
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I still think it is a huge risk to take a manager like Guardiola, as much as I love the guy as a player and coach. We need continuity, loyalty and a continuation of the club's philosophy. I'd rather a dedicated, long term manager, who is young and will seek the guidance of Sir Alex, who knows the club and is a fan favourite. A former player like Solskjaer (who has taken great managerial steps in such a short space of time) would be under less pressure because the fans are unlikely to jump on his back too early.
If the board of directors decide that it's too early for Ole, I'd be happy with Mourinho as a short term option but I really don't like the instability that frequent managerial changes brings. Jose has done it at numerous big clubs, he pretty much guarantees that a club will compete at the highest level.
If the board of directors decide that it's too early for Ole, I'd be happy with Mourinho as a short term option but I really don't like the instability that frequent managerial changes brings. Jose has done it at numerous big clubs, he pretty much guarantees that a club will compete at the highest level.
Pep is like 38, hardly old. His philosophy about unity, loyalty, continuation, and the team isnt far off SAF's. Getting aformer player in for the sake of it is wrong, ignore the fans. Look how that worked for Liverpool. Get the right man for the job, and to be honest, I doubt may fans would complain about Guardiola. Rather have Pep than Jose. Solskjaer still has a fair amount to go.
Apparently RVP picked up an injury in the Holland friendly last night, he took a knee to the thigh and was taken off as a "precautionary measure" as described by Louis Van Gaal and "not too serious".
It is meant to be just a small bruise on the thigh, should be ready for Saturday?
It is meant to be just a small bruise on the thigh, should be ready for Saturday?
Hopefully. No Rooney, No RVP would be horrible.