The Manchester United Thread

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.

I wasn't suggesting that Guardiola was old, just that Solskjaer is young :)
I'm still sceptical over Pep because he hasn't proved his managerial credentials at a club other than Barca, whereas Mourinho obviously has. I don't think he'd be a bad choice, but I just think it is more of a risk. SAF would have more influence over a Solskjaer/Giggs/Neville or whoever, and I think his guidance will be needed in the transitional period when he leaves his post.
 
I wasn't suggesting that Guardiola was old, just that Solskjaer is young :)
I'm still sceptical over Pep because he hasn't proved his managerial credentials at a club other than Barca, whereas Mourinho obviously has. I don't think he'd be a bad choice, but I just think it is more of a risk. SAF would have more influence over a Solskjaer/Giggs/Neville or whoever, and I think his guidance will be needed in the transitional period when he leaves his post.

Agree with the point about Pep not proven himself anywhere else but Barca, and people going on about his man management skills need to also remember he knew a lot of players for years through his involvement in the club before becoming manager, hence why he was such a popular choice. He wouldn't have that at United. Mourinho has already proven that, not only is a tactically brilliant, but he creates a tough mentality within the team, each player would die for each other and Mourinho.

Also, I've seen a few people mention Pep's burnout at Barca as a reason why he may not be capable of being a long term successor for Fergie. However, remember this: In Spain, there are 2 big clubs. Every other team are some way off Barca and Real. Therefore, you are expected to win every time against these other 18 clubs. And when it comes to play Real, you're expected to win, because they are your biggest rival. So basically, you're expected to win every game. In England, there isn't as much pressure. There are probably 5 clubs capable of winning the title (United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham) and many other sides capable of springing surprises, Newcastle, Everton and Liverpool amongst others. There is less pressure in England than in Spain, so Pep could probably manage longer in England than he did in Spain.

All in all, I think it will come down to Mourinho and Guardiola, I don't think Solskjaer has the experience for the biggest job in football. Personally, I wouldn't mind either of those 2, though if I had to choose, I'd probably go for Mourinho, due to his proven success all across Europe.
 
I do not understand the critics of Danny Welbeck at all, even some United fans have been slating him.

I think he is a very exciting player, although he does not score as many goals as you would like for a striker, he is a great link up type striker with a rounded game with some edges that need to be sharpened. He has good pace, movement, ball control and he drags defenders everywhere and I think that was really noticable when he came on against Southampton in the last match, we looked much more threatening when he did come on and he showed some nice ball control and passing.

Personally I think Welbeck is a classy striker who just needs to find a few more goals to his game to be a great striker, his link up play and movement is really good and he kept Hernandez out the side last season when he was back to full fitness simply because what he was offering to the team was more.
 
Last edited:
Agree with the point about Pep not proven himself anywhere else but Barca, and people going on about his man management skills need to also remember he knew a lot of players for years through his involvement in the club before becoming manager, hence why he was such a popular choice. He wouldn't have that at United. Mourinho has already proven that, not only is a tactically brilliant, but he creates a tough mentality within the team, each player would die for each other and Mourinho.

Also, I've seen a few people mention Pep's burnout at Barca as a reason why he may not be capable of being a long term successor for Fergie. However, remember this: In Spain, there are 2 big clubs. Every other team are some way off Barca and Real. Therefore, you are expected to win every time against these other 18 clubs. And when it comes to play Real, you're expected to win, because they are your biggest rival. So basically, you're expected to win every game. In England, there isn't as much pressure. There are probably 5 clubs capable of winning the title (United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham) and many other sides capable of springing surprises, Newcastle, Everton and Liverpool amongst others. There is less pressure in England than in Spain, so Pep could probably manage longer in England than he did in Spain.

All in all, I think it will come down to Mourinho and Guardiola, I don't think Solskjaer has the experience for the biggest job in football. Personally, I wouldn't mind either of those 2, though if I had to choose, I'd probably go for Mourinho, due to his proven success all across Europe.

Every play was willing to "die" for Pep. Thats the only way that kind of football works. Ask Sacchi. Yes he knew them, but he's done the same with players who were bought into the side and fit the system, he is also very tactically astute, brilliant actually.

Not tested outside Barca, but his ideals and skills definitely stand up to scrutiny.
 
I wasn't suggesting that Guardiola was old, just that Solskjaer is young :)
I'm still sceptical over Pep because he hasn't proved his managerial credentials at a club other than Barca, whereas Mourinho obviously has. I don't think he'd be a bad choice, but I just think it is more of a risk. SAF would have more influence over a Solskjaer/Giggs/Neville or whoever, and I think his guidance will be needed in the transitional period when he leaves his post.

But its not about SAF having influence. We shouldn't be thinking about him at all, that's the point. Jose is also a pragmatist, do you think he will be think about how the club is left after he leaves? No, take a look at Chelsea and Inter post Jose. Pep always had that in mind for Barca, the same way SAF does with United.
 
Both RVP and Kagawa are fit to face Wigan and Fletcher will be named in the squad tomorrow.
 
But its not about SAF having influence. We shouldn't be thinking about him at all, that's the point. Jose is also a pragmatist, do you think he will be think about how the club is left after he leaves? No, take a look at Chelsea and Inter post Jose. Pep always had that in mind for Barca, the same way SAF does with United.

You wouldn't want SAF's guidance at all? There is a reason that almost every manager in the premier league has phoned him for advise before, his guidance will always be there as a tool for any new manager to utilise. I agree re:jose, he's a short minded manager but I'm sure he would want to settle at a club long term. I think he would have at Chelsea were it not for Roman. He clearly loves England too, but he wouldn't be my choice anyway. Neither would Pep but I can see the logic in that choice
 
You wouldn't want SAF's guidance at all? There is a reason that almost every manager in the premier league has phoned him for advise before, his guidance will always be there as a tool for any new manager to utilise. I agree re:jose, he's a short minded manager but I'm sure he would want to settle at a club long term. I think he would have at Chelsea were it not for Roman. He clearly loves England too, but he wouldn't be my choice anyway. Neither would Pep but I can see the logic in that choice

We need start thinking about life without SAF. Any input he gives after he retires must be considered a bonus. The new manager needs to be able to do the job without constant input from SAF.
 
You don't put a club managerial legend in the wings and expect it to end well, either. Every loss with some formation/player change ends up with the media trying to engineer a divide between SAF and the new coach, you want the players and board confident in the choice. It may take a season or two where Utd don't quite "click" as everyone finds their new role within both the club and the manager's tactics, but that is what transition from someone such as SAF will take. Many clubs go through that change with detrimental results, so don't make it harder by trying a "half and half" approach.

Also, Jose as a long term manager? It's quite obvious he's in it to break records, not for any particular loyalty. He'll probably head off to another club just as soon as he wins the big trophies and then it's another transition time. Perhaps that's what Utd fans would be happy with, deliver another European Cup then let someone else take over. Perhaps if you said you could have the silverware and also try to build stability alongside it, then you'd find fans more skeptical about Mourinho.
 
We need start thinking about life without SAF. Any input he gives after he retires must be considered a bonus. The new manager needs to be able to do the job without constant input from SAF.

Agreed. You don't want a similar problem with what Liverpool faced after Shankly left and Bob Paisley became manager. Shankly was always hanging around Anfield and stepping on Paisley's feet after he left.
 
Agreed. You don't want a similar problem with what Liverpool faced after Shankly left and Bob Paisley became manager. Shankly was always hanging around Anfield and stepping on Paisley's feet after he left.

I dunno...Paisley did alright...
 
Van der Sar reveals RVP chat


Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar has revealed how he spent nearly an hour on the phone to Robin van Persie before his countryman decided to move to Old Trafford.


The former United goalkeeper spent six hugely successful years at Old Trafford before opting to hang up his gloves last summer.


He has now admitted that Van Persie did seek his counsel before completing his £24million move to United from Arsenal last month.


Van der Sar says they spoke about two of his former clubs in Juventus and United, both of whom were keen on the player - but United dominated the conversation.


"He called me up and said other clubs were in for him, but because I played for two of them, United and Juventus, he wanted to hear my thoughts about them," he is quoted by the Daily Telegraph.


"So we spoke for five minutes about Juventus and 55 minutes about United.

"He wanted to know how good United were, what he would find there, how the players are, what Ferguson is like, how they train, how the system works.


"He has shown his quality already. I read a statement from Ryan Giggs, saying that United have signed good players and good talent before, but that this one [Van Persie] has everything.


"He has the whole package already, but that doesn't always mean it will work of course. Look at Fernando Torres at Chelsea. His first year was difficult, but I think the signs with Robin are good, though."


Van der Sar reveals RVP chat | Manchester United News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers | Sky Sports
 
Getting used to see matches like this, so I'm happy with the scoreline. At least we didn't concede a header ( yet!).
 
Buttnerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.. What a goal.. He is superb in the final third, should improve defensively.. Superb debut for him.
 
Back
Top