The Official Manchester United Thread (Vol 12)
Discussion
Gordon Hill said:
According to Sky sports we've met with McKenna.
There's too much noise about Ten Hag going for me to not think he will be gone in a few days time. It seems depending on which news outlet you read it's one of Poch, Tuchel, McKenna, Frank.
I don't fancy Poch personally, but it appears he's the favourite.
I think we'd need to shift some egos for McKenna to work.
The likes of Rashford, Casemiro, Sancho, etc won't give him a chance.
You could see him building around the young lads, bringing youth through and if we adopt our transfer policy perhaps it could work. But it's a hell of a gamble!
The likes of Rashford, Casemiro, Sancho, etc won't give him a chance.
You could see him building around the young lads, bringing youth through and if we adopt our transfer policy perhaps it could work. But it's a hell of a gamble!
I agree, it's a gamble. It depends how the players viewed him when he was at Utd. If he commanded respect back then, then there should be less of an issue. If he is properly backed by sporting and football directors, assembled a good coaching team to support then I think it would work.
Poch and Tuchel don't represent a long-term strategy for me, and seem to follow the same approach as before of hiring big name coaches with differing styles.
I'm not even discussing Southgate as an option.
Poch and Tuchel don't represent a long-term strategy for me, and seem to follow the same approach as before of hiring big name coaches with differing styles.
I'm not even discussing Southgate as an option.
StuTheGrouch said:
Poch and Tuchel don't represent a long-term strategy for me, and seem to follow the same approach as before of hiring big name coaches with differing styles.
Yes that's a very valid point. Tuchel you could see coming in and us getting top four a couple of seasons, but then him falling out with everyone and leaving. Kind of like a Mourinho type appointment.
Poch - I don't know. Spurs were quite Spursy under him, he fell out at PSG, and Chelsea then sacked him. If it wasn't for the run of 5 games at the end of the season the narrative around Chelsea would be completely different. It's not long ago they were drawing against Sheffield Utd and Burnley, shipping 4 at home vs Wolves etc. Palmer has been amazing, but has he carried Poch in the way Rashford carried ETH last season, and what if that purple patch drops off? All that aside, he left because he wanted more control over transfers and the board wanted a set piece coach which he refused. How does that fit in with our new structure?
McKenna and arguably De Zerbi (whose name has fallen away from the conversation now) represent more of a "project", and ultimately that's what INEOS see us as.
simon800 said:
Yes that's a very valid point.
Tuchel you could see coming in and us getting top four a couple of seasons, but then him falling out with everyone and leaving. Kind of like a Mourinho type appointment.
Poch - I don't know. Spurs were quite Spursy under him, he fell out at PSG, and Chelsea then sacked him. If it wasn't for the run of 5 games at the end of the season the narrative around Chelsea would be completely different. It's not long ago they were drawing against Sheffield Utd and Burnley, shipping 4 at home vs Wolves etc. Palmer has been amazing, but has he carried Poch in the way Rashford carried ETH last season, and what if that purple patch drops off? All that aside, he left because he wanted more control over transfers and the board wanted a set piece coach which he refused. How does that fit in with our new structure?
McKenna and arguably De Zerbi (whose name has fallen away from the conversation now) represent more of a "project", and ultimately that's what INEOS see us as.
I think we're on the same page on Poch and Tuchel. I don't think either fit.Tuchel you could see coming in and us getting top four a couple of seasons, but then him falling out with everyone and leaving. Kind of like a Mourinho type appointment.
Poch - I don't know. Spurs were quite Spursy under him, he fell out at PSG, and Chelsea then sacked him. If it wasn't for the run of 5 games at the end of the season the narrative around Chelsea would be completely different. It's not long ago they were drawing against Sheffield Utd and Burnley, shipping 4 at home vs Wolves etc. Palmer has been amazing, but has he carried Poch in the way Rashford carried ETH last season, and what if that purple patch drops off? All that aside, he left because he wanted more control over transfers and the board wanted a set piece coach which he refused. How does that fit in with our new structure?
McKenna and arguably De Zerbi (whose name has fallen away from the conversation now) represent more of a "project", and ultimately that's what INEOS see us as.
Of McKenna and De Zerbi, McKenna is more known to Utd and has a longer track record in the English game. He is also renowned for being tactically brilliant. De Zerbi is interesting, but I can't quite put my finger on why he would be much more of a gamble.
Frank is another manager we're being linked with. Just seems a bit meh.
For me, it's McKenna or stick with Ten Hag for another year. Not what I think should happen, necessarily, but I think Ten Hag will go after tomorrow's game, win or lose.
Chris Stott said:
Clearly the various styles of traditional coaching United have tried haven’t worked, so I guess there’s no harm in trying hypnotism next.
"Now Alejandro, When I click my fingers you will wake up... and you will pass the ball to Rasmus more often"There is a lot of noise, but I can't help suspect some of that is just the usual grifters making headway because we're the biggest show in town, FA Cup final is coming and they know they will get a lot of views from it right now. The fact they all seem to have different versions on the theme of who is favourite suggests nothing concrete to me. It can be not much more than agents and s
t stirrers fuelling this.While I know it goes with the territory around us, I have to feel a bit for ETH and the players. Going into a big game tomorrow and with all this noise going on around it - it can't be helpful. You would hope that they would be immune to it by now, but it's everywhere.
FWIW if we do part ways with ETH then I'd prefer a long term choice that everyone is willing to get behind for the years it might take. It's a gamble each time, of course, but it needs to be someone with the same aim, the same goals and the hunger to make it work. McKenna probably fits that more than the other names, but he would need a lot of support with keeping (some of) the players in check I imagine, and certainly patience from the supporters as he learns his way.
Whilst I have huge admiration for McKenna and what he's done for Ipswich, it is a massive massive step up to manage United and everything else that goes with it. I don't buy the "he's already been at the club so know this and that"....nope, being the No.1 and decision maker is completely different than being an assistant to the then manager. If he hadn't got promoted last season, would he even be in the conversation? No, not a chance he would and that says it all to me.
If EtH goes, then I really hope he goes on to win a champions league and do well, then stick the v's up to all the EtH out United fans.
If EtH goes, then I really hope he goes on to win a champions league and do well, then stick the v's up to all the EtH out United fans.
GTO-3R said:
If EtH goes, then I really hope he goes on to win a champions league and do well, then stick the v's up to all the EtH out United fans.
If EtH goes and does well elsewhere I will be very happy for him. Him being an appalling manager for us doesn't mean he can't do well elsewhere. Sometimes it's just not the right fit or the right time and that's clearly the case with Ten Hag. It happens on the pitch too - look at say Diego Forlan.
Interestingly Ten Hag is one of many Dutch coaches who have been had relative success elsewhere (admittedly a farmers league for him) but failed in the PL. Van Gaal was horrible for us, De Boer (4 successive Eredivise titles), Koeman, Meulensteen etc.
That is the thing with this sport, it sometimes just doesn't gel. Look at Emery at Arsenal - didn't work out, now he's flying with Villa. I guess the starts just need to align and when they don't, well...
I have no ill will to ETH at all, if he stays I'm ok with that (provided a few things are worked on / improved) and I'm certainly confident he has tried his very best for us. Part of me still thinks if he stays on it will come round, for some reason. If it doesn't work out that way then all the best to him wherever he goes next. If it's true he ruled out Bayern to stay with us and we were always planning he would go then that's bad from us (again).
Anyway thats for the future. Can't wait for the game tomorrow now, really hope we pull off a bif of a surprise and have a sneaking suspicion we will.
I have no ill will to ETH at all, if he stays I'm ok with that (provided a few things are worked on / improved) and I'm certainly confident he has tried his very best for us. Part of me still thinks if he stays on it will come round, for some reason. If it doesn't work out that way then all the best to him wherever he goes next. If it's true he ruled out Bayern to stay with us and we were always planning he would go then that's bad from us (again).
Anyway thats for the future. Can't wait for the game tomorrow now, really hope we pull off a bif of a surprise and have a sneaking suspicion we will.
bstb3 said:
If it's true he ruled out Bayern to stay with us and we were always planning he would go then that's bad from us (again).
I think the PR machine works both ways. That version certainly makes Ten Hag look better than the alternative, which is that Bayern prefer a novice who managed 5 wins all season to him
bstb3 said:
Anyway thats for the future. Can't wait for the game tomorrow now, really hope we pull off a bif of a surprise and have a sneaking suspicion we will.
Similarly, I think we might sneak it and have no idea why. I had the same feeling ahead of the 2-1 home vs Liverpool last season (and said as much). Martial off the bench to go out in a blaze of glory! I'd personally like McKenna, I don't get the hype with Tuchel and Poch, they'd both want another £400 million that we don't have, I don't think that this reset is going down that route.
So a clear out, a couple of mediocre seasons (no change there) and a focus on home grown talent and good scouting.
So a clear out, a couple of mediocre seasons (no change there) and a focus on home grown talent and good scouting.
Gordon Hill said:
I'd personally like McKenna, I don't get the hype with Tuchel and Poch, they'd both want another £400 million that we don't have, I don't think that this reset is going down that route.
So a clear out, a couple of mediocre seasons (no change there) and a focus on home grown talent and good scouting.
McKenna is the hot new thing certainly and it would be a bold long term move.So a clear out, a couple of mediocre seasons (no change there) and a focus on home grown talent and good scouting.
Looking at Poch's history it's probably only PSG where he's been to a club and the fans don't think highly of him. Which says quite a lot.
bstb3 said:
Yep - great.I’ll nail my colours to the mast and say I’d prefer Poch. He’s experienced, still young at 52. No idea why some don’t see him as a long term option, 10 years is a lifetime in football management and he’d still be young compared to many in a decade. McKenna is purely emotional IMO. He was part of Ole’s management team (plus short stints with Mourinho & Rangnick) and that really didn’t cover itself in glory. His recent results have been superb, but as others have said so were Kompany’s and he didn’t exactly deliver in the PL, albeit with a terrible Burnley team. I just see it as a too much of a huge step to United and the PL from Ipswich and the lower leagues.
Gordon Hill said:
I'd personally like McKenna, I don't get the hype with Tuchel and Poch, they'd both want another £400 million that we don't have, I don't think that this reset is going down that route.
So a clear out, a couple of mediocre seasons (no change there) and a focus on home grown talent and good scouting.
So a couple of mediocre rebuilding seasons under McKenna is ok but not with EtH? Doesn't make sense!So a clear out, a couple of mediocre seasons (no change there) and a focus on home grown talent and good scouting.
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