BBC: United hold talks with Mourinho

[Loon]

Agreed....except @Acquire Me

 

[Rado_N]

I must have missed it but when did Mendes get a reputation for always talking to the press. He does interviews once in a while and to my knowledge that has always been the case. He's certainly not a Raiola or a Seluk. Touting his clients here and there.

Maybe not always, but he certainly knows how to use them. Things are just too quiet for Mourinho to be looking for work.

 

[JPRouve]

I must have missed it but when did Mendes get a reputation for always talking to the press. He does interviews once in a while and to my knowledge that has always been the case. He's certainly not a Raiola or a Seluk. Touting his clients here and there.

Which Raiola doesn't really do either, he sometimes say that one of his young player is a futur top player like he did with Lukaku and that's about it.

 

[2 man midfield]

It's almost like the board need to be coerced in to doing what's good for the club. I don't get what they're seeing if they're desperate to keep Van Gaal on.

 

[Loon]

I don't think I've ever wanted a season to end as much as this one.

 

[VP89]

So if the pre-contract reports are true, we have less than a month to sign him before being hit with a 5m fine?

After our final game in April (20th), we'd have 4 Premier League games left. LVG will presumably still be in a tight race for 4th place and possibly in an FA Cup semi final. Announcing his pending departure and Mourinho's arrival at that stage might have an effect on the team surely?

 

[Adisa]

I just can't imagine the club allowing LVG to tailor preseason to his liking and deciding when the players are available for commercial arrangements if it has already signed a contract with Mourinho to take over.

 

[Zoo]

Just read this snippet in the Guardian. Not exactly encouraging.

This club’s academy, run at huge expense, has a fine reputation. Its coaching staff, with its sprinkling of stalwarts from Chelsea’s past, is extensive and impressive, the talent all too evident in the trophies the junior teams hoist every season and in the numbers who emerge to be rewarded with loan spells in first-team setups away from Stamford Bridge.

Yet the relationship between Mourinho and the academy rather broke down towards the end of his time at the club, a sense of “us and them” developing which was rather unhealthy and even saw the youth-team’s coaches having their initials removed from training gear.

 

[Phil Osophy]

So if the pre-contract reports are true, we have less than a month to sign him before being hit with a 5m fine?

After our final game in April (20th), we'd have 4 Premier League games left. LVG will presumably still be in a tight race for 4th place and possibly in an FA Cup semi final. Announcing his pending departure and Mourinho's arrival at that stage might have an effect on the team surely?

There's no need to announce anything, I think. The doubt at that stage if we're still fighting for a CL spot and the FA, will be if the club decides to sign him, or they want to see how it ends before making a decision.

But I don't believe there's any kind of clauses, it's a nonsense. We don't need to commit with Mourinho when he's going nowhere, as he doesn't have any decent option. We can talk with him and reach some verbal agreement, but he's in a weak position and we don't need to commit with him in February in any sense, it's absurd.

 

[Leftback99]

I could be entirely wrong, but isn't the most logical explanation for the lack of activity that:

We may have agreed a deal with Mourinho when we looked like we wouldn't finish in the top 4. For whatever reason he was to take over at the end of the season and not immediately. It then became apparent, mostly through our rivals being rubbish, that we weren't out of it yet. Obviously, in those circumstances it makes no sense to destabilise the side by announcing a new manager mid-season. The renewed hope probably gave Woody et al pause for thought and, in an ideal world, they'd prefer to stick with the devil they know, albeit if he missed out on the CL then they might be forced to bin him. So now it's a case of either seeing whether LVG can keep his job by scraping into the CL, see out his deal and potentially hand over the reins to Giggs or whether we'll take up the 'agreement' we have with Mourinho. Woodward and the rest would prefer the former, I'm sure, as it allows them to claim that the succession plan they devised has been a success.

I can't see anything happening until CL is decided one way or the other. If we qualify I imagine we'll write off the media coverage of the last few months as fabricated nonsense.

That's how I see it and why the rumoured clauses make sense. For those saying why is Mendes staying quiet, he'll get his pay day either way.

 

[Porco Rosso]

You talk like Moyes never happened.

You talk like you still believe the "Ferguson chose Moyes" story, even though we've since learned that he was a long way down the list of candidates.

Of course the club would want its departing legend to sign off on the new guy, but the truth is surely that none of the big hitters wanted us, we were not then so desperate as to consider the poison that is Mourinho, and Moyes was out of contract and relatively cheap, as well as being sufficiently dour and Scottish to inspire the illusion of continuity.

I don't think Ferguson will have much if any say in the next appointment, just as I very much doubt he had as much say as has been suggested in any previous appointment.

 

[Pexbo]

You talk like you still believe the "Ferguson chose Moyes" story, even though we've since learned that he was a long way down the list of candidates.

Of course the club would want its departing legend to sign off on the new guy, but the truth is surely that none of the big hitters wanted us, we were not then so desperate as to consider the poison that is Mourinho, and Moyes was out of contract and relatively cheap, as well as being sufficiently dour and Scottish to inspire the illusion of continuity.

I don't think Ferguson will have much if any say in the next appointment, just as I very much doubt he had as much say as has been suggested in any previous appointment.

To be fair, we only learnt that when Fergie started leaking that narrative when he was washing his hands of Moyes following his suggestions that Fergie left him a shoddy squad. If you follow the story from outside sources (other managers that were in contention and journalists who have been privvy to leaks) the selection of Moyes seems to fit the club and Fergie's original narrative of him being the first choice because he's cut from the same cloth as Fergie.

 

[Grylte]

I liked yesterdays tweet about Mou, and that he is working on transfers, alot better than today's rumours.
So i chose to believe in the tweet and ignore the other.

 

[sunama]

The leading Dutch newspaper (not terribly reliable, but moreso than those in England usually) reports that Van Gaal has been promised a warchest of 100 million for the third season to be used for attacking talent, with Lukaku the main target estimated at 70 million.

Dude, why would any attacker join us?
LVG will "reduce" him and make him look worse than he really is.
Unless we get some youngster (like Martial) a player who is in his prime, who is in demand, is unlikely to come.
Last Summer it was reported we offered World record transfer fees for attackers, but the deals did not materialise.
Here is a question: if you are an attacker in your prime, wanted by many clubs, would you choose to play under LVG? Do you not think that a potential player/signing will look at what happened with Di Maria.
And lets not forget that LVG has a reputation of taking the fun out of football. Numerous players have stated this.

 

[Cassidy]

It would be absurd, as he doesn't have any decent option out there. It's clear that he wants to manage us, and he doesn't have any potential alternative to put pressure. That's the main reason why I can't believe he's signed since months ago, when we can sit patiently to see how things evolve, if any miracle happens in the team (unlikely, I know), or maybe some other alternatives appear on scene.

I can believe we've been talking with Mourinho and we've got the 'button' ready, if we decide to press it. But it's ridiculous to suggest that he's signed months ago when there's no reasons to act fast, leaving ourselves without margin to be flexible with months of competition ahead.

If we avoid his signature as I think we'll end up doing (just a personal feeling, no evidence), I guess he'll be offered to some different clubs, or maybe a national team. In any of these cases I see the sense of going out to claim anything in public.

If stories are to believed Real Inter and Valencia want/wanted him

 

[Adisa]

Just read this snippet in the Guardian. Not exactly encouraging.

The people who think he will give youth a chance are clutching. As we were discussing in the Conte thread it's just not in his agenda.
If we appoint him it's because we as a club, have decided to shelve giving young players chances for three years.
Can I get a link to the article please?

 

[Loon]

You talk like you still believe the "Ferguson chose Moyes" story, even though we've since learned that he was a long way down the list of candidates.

Of course the club would want its departing legend to sign off on the new guy, but the truth is surely that none of the big hitters wanted us, we were not then so desperate as to consider the poison that is Mourinho, and Moyes was out of contract and relatively cheap, as well as being sufficiently dour and Scottish to inspire the illusion of continuity.

I don't think Ferguson will have much if any say in the next appointment, just as I very much doubt he had as much say as has been suggested in any previous appointment.

Ferguson did choose Moyes. This has been established by those involved. The list of candidates is irrelevant.

What you state as "the truth" is merely your opinion.

The problem with this thread is people selectively pick reports and heresay as "truth" when it suits their opinion.

 

[Cassidy]

One thing that is not hearsay is that the BBC reported that we met with Mourinho about the Job, and that Mourinho has said he expects to be in work from July.

The rest is conjecture but I don't see why we would have been meeting with him if we didn't want to hire him. We also very quickly denied the Pep meetings and briefed that we expected him to join City. Our silence is saying a lot.

 

[Robbie Boy]

I think some on here are just trying to convince themselves that this is 100% happening without there really being any substantial evidence. I want LvG gone as much as the next fan (normal fan that isn't the milkybar kid), but I still think he might be here next season. He doesn't look or sound like a man that believes that he will be gone next season. Maybe the club are waiting to see if we get top 4; who knows? I just don't seen where all this massive amount of over-confidence is coming from, from some posters.

For all we know, the club might not have fully decided who will be in charge next season. It seems that some of the journos that were ever so confident of Mourinho being here next season have taken a step back which would lead me to belive that absolutely no-one really has a clue. Speculation is great and all but I won't be getting my hopes up until there is some sort of announcement from the club.

 

[Zoo]

The people who think he will give youth a chance are clutching. As we were discussing in the Conte thread it's just not in his agenda.
If we appoint him it's because we as a club, have decided to shelve giving young players chances for three years.
Can I get a link to the article please?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/apr/04/antonio-conte-chelsea-head-coach-minefield

The last passage.

 

[Loon]

Just a question, don't bite my head off, but anyone wonder why Ferguson is publicly backing Van Gaal?

Is he distancing himself from the Mourinho appointment or pushing for Giggs?

 

[2 man midfield]

Just a question, don't bite my head off, but anyone wonder why Ferguson is publicly backing Van Gaal?

Is he distancing himself from the Mourinho appointment or pushing for Giggs?

I don't think he did, he just gave his opinion on why the season was so poor. It is true we've had a lot of injuries.

 

[Adisa]

Just a question, don't bite my head off, but anyone wonder why Ferguson is publicly backing Van Gaal?

Is he distancing himself from the Mourinho appointment or pushing for Giggs?

Could be both.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/apr/04/antonio-conte-chelsea-head-coach-minefield

The last passage.

Thanks.

 

[Porco Rosso]

He's been pretty quiet for a man who loves the press.

Why would Mendes need to use the press to lobby on behalf of Mourinho? - There are only a handful of clubs worldwide that Jose would consider going to, and most of those don't want him.

Seems a lot of hassle to start briefing journalists when he could just ring Ed Woodward and the Chairman of the Italian FA and have a chat to them directly!

 

[Loon]

I don't think he did, he just gave his opinion on why the season was so poor. It is true we've had a lot of injuries.

Right. He was asked, he had to say something?

 

[glazed]

Just a question, don't bite my head off, but anyone wonder why Ferguson is publicly backing Van Gaal?

Is he distancing himself from the Mourinho appointment or pushing for Giggs?

Buying time for Giggs.

 

[#07]

 

[Jed I. Knight]

Why would Mendes need to whore Moutinho out in the press?

Mouthinho, he's still stuck at Monaco ffs!

Mourinho, probably not necessary.

 

[R'hllor]

People wonder why SAF came out with support to LvG...i mean if he decided to say anything,what people want him to say? "He is rubbish,sack him asap!"? We are one point behind City,what positive on earth we would gain if they all come out and have a go at him now? For those asking,why say anything? Well why not? Their support to current manager and squad cant do any harm,can it?

 

[Pexbo]

Just a question, don't bite my head off, but anyone wonder why Ferguson is publicly backing Van Gaal?

Is he distancing himself from the Mourinho appointment or pushing for Giggs?

I think it's his genuine opinion. He's fully aware of how difficult this league is and of the fact you can't just spend some money and expect everything to click.

We've had 8 fullbacks out at times this season. Our best left back out the whole season, our first choice right back from last season out all year, our backup left back (and centreback) out for most of the year, we had a period when Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Herrera were all out injured (which coincided with our poor run of form), our Captain main striker out for 3 months as he was hitting form amongst many other injuries.


It's been nigh on impossible to actually settle a team and build some understanding and form between partnerships over the field. The wingers are playing with a different fullback each week and the centrebacks are trying to form an understanding with a different fullback and DM every week.

Mix that all into a cocktail with 4 of our 6 signings being new to the League and not even joining a settled squad (with experienced veterans to lead the way) like Ferguson always enjoyed.

I think Fergie probably geneuinely believes that we'd be better off steadying the ship with some continuity and organic growth within the squad than throwing the baby out with the bath water and starting from scratch again with a new man who will upset thing once again and require a settling period (along with the new signings he makes).



I personally don't think another season with Van Gaal will potentially set us back much at all. Worst case scenario, we'll be in the same position we are now, only with players who have had an extra year to settle into the club and league. I think a few of those players could kick on and prove their value in their second and third seasons with us.

 

[SteveJ]

Given that SAF has been hinting that Poch is 'the best manager in the PL', along with other compliments, perhaps MP is the one he really wants at United. *smokescreen cliché ahoy* Maybe all the LVG/Mou/Giggs stuff is a smokescreen.

 

[Porco Rosso]

To be fair, we only learnt that when Fergie started leaking that narrative when he was washing his hands of Moyes following his suggestions that Fergie left him a shoddy squad. If you follow the story from outside sources (other managers that were in contention and journalists who have been privvy to leaks) the selection of Moyes seems to fit the club and Fergie's original narrative of him being the first choice because he's cut from the same cloth as Fergie.

You may be right - Moyes may have been the clubs first choice - that after a good deal of consideration and discussion of the available candidates the Board chose David Moyes, fair enough - but that's very different from the seemingly widely held idea that 'Ferguson picked Moyes'. I'm sure he was one of those at the table giving his opinion and I'm sure it would have been a greatly respected opinion, but to read some posts in this forum you'd think that Sir Alex just picked someone and everyone else rubber-stamped the decision, which was surely never a plausible scenario.

 

[Cassidy]

You may be right - Moyes may have been the clubs first choice - that after a good deal of consideration and discussion of the available candidates the Board chose David Moyes, fair enough - but that's very different from the seemingly widely held idea that 'Ferguson picked Moyes'. I'm sure he was one of those at the table giving his opinion and I'm sure it would have been a greatly respected opinion, but to read some posts in this forum you'd think that Sir Alex just picked someone and everyone else rubber-stamped the decision, which was surely never a plausible scenario.

The very odd thing is that you have to go back and remember what Gill said about the credentials and criteria of the new manager. Moyes didn't fit it at all, then you have Moyes confirming that Ferguson told him not to sign a new contract as early as Christmas.
I am convinced not everyone on the board wanted Moyes, Gill probably one of them and another is certainly Woodward.
I think its fair to say Ferguson had a awful lot of sway and influence on the decision.

 

[Loon]

I think it's his genuine opinion. He's fully aware of how difficult this league is and of the fact you can't just spend some money and expect everything to click.

We've had 8 fullbacks out at times this season. Our best left back out the whole season, our first choice right back from last season out all year, our backup left back (and centreback) out for most of the year, we had a period when Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Herrera were all out injured (which coincided with our poor run of form), our Captain main striker out for 3 months as he was hitting form amongst many other injuries.


It's been nigh on impossible to actually settle a team and build some understanding and form between partnerships over the field. The wingers are playing with a different fullback each week and the centrebacks are trying to form an understanding with a different fullback and DM every week.

Mix that all into a cocktail with 4 of our 6 signings being new to the League and not even joining a settled squad (with experienced veterans to lead the way) like Ferguson always enjoyed.

I think Fergie probably geneuinely believes that we'd be better off steadying the ship with some continuity and organic growth within the squad than throwing the baby out with the bath water and starting from scratch again with a new man who will upset thing once again and require a settling period (along with the new signings he makes).



I personally don't think another season with Van Gaal will potentially set us back much at all. Worst case scenario, we'll be in the same position we are now, only with players who have had an extra year to settle into the club and league. I think a few of those players could kick on and prove their value in their second and third seasons with us.

I'm kinda done with Van Gaal, but excellent post.

 

[Loon]

The very odd thing is that you have to go back and remember what Gill said about the credentials and criteria of the new manager. Moyes didn't fit it at all, then you have Moyes confirming that Ferguson told him not to sign a new contract as early as Christmas.
I am convinced not everyone on the board wanted Moyes, Gill probably one of them and another is certainly Woodward.
I think its fair to say Ferguson had a awful lot of sway and influence on the decision.

Yup, it had been reported (again, unconfirmed) Gill wanted Mourinho.

 

[RedDevil@84]

I think it's his genuine opinion. He's fully aware of how difficult this league is and of the fact you can't just spend some money and expect everything to click.

We've had 8 fullbacks out at times this season. Our best left back out the whole season, our first choice right back from last season out all year, our backup left back (and centreback) out for most of the year, we had a period when Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Herrera were all out injured (which coincided with our poor run of form), our Captain main striker out for 3 months as he was hitting form amongst many other injuries.


It's been nigh on impossible to actually settle a team and build some understanding and form between partnerships over the field. The wingers are playing with a different fullback each week and the centrebacks are trying to form an understanding with a different fullback and DM every week.

Mix that all into a cocktail with 4 of our 6 signings being new to the League and not even joining a settled squad (with experienced veterans to lead the way) like Ferguson always enjoyed.

I think Fergie probably geneuinely believes that we'd be better off steadying the ship with some continuity and organic growth within the squad than throwing the baby out with the bath water and starting from scratch again with a new man who will upset thing once again and require a settling period (along with the new signings he makes).



I personally don't think another season with Van Gaal will potentially set us back much at all. Worst case scenario, we'll be in the same position we are now, only with players who have had an extra year to settle into the club and league. I think a few of those players could kick on and prove their value in their second and third seasons with us.

Good post. Even though I would like LvG to leave, if he stays on it won't be the end of world. Though I think some players would want to leave if LvG was staying.

 

[Adisa]

Given that SAF has been hinting that Poch is 'the best manager in the PL', along with other compliments, perhaps MP is the one he really wants at United. *smokescreen cliché ahoy* Maybe all the LVG/Mou/Giggs stuff is a smokescreen.

Neil Ashton who I think is reasonably reliable with London clubs has been banging on the Woodward- Pochettino drum for a while. I'd be stunned if the club weren't at least looking at him to see if he'd be willing to come. Could be a consensus candidate among the board.

 

[Cassidy]

I think it's his genuine opinion. He's fully aware of how difficult this league is and of the fact you can't just spend some money and expect everything to click.

We've had 8 fullbacks out at times this season. Our best left back out the whole season, our first choice right back from last season out all year, our backup left back (and centreback) out for most of the year, we had a period when Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Herrera were all out injured (which coincided with our poor run of form), our Captain main striker out for 3 months as he was hitting form amongst many other injuries.


It's been nigh on impossible to actually settle a team and build some understanding and form between partnerships over the field. The wingers are playing with a different fullback each week and the centrebacks are trying to form an understanding with a different fullback and DM every week.

Mix that all into a cocktail with 4 of our 6 signings being new to the League and not even joining a settled squad (with experienced veterans to lead the way) like Ferguson always enjoyed.

I think Fergie probably geneuinely believes that we'd be better off steadying the ship with some continuity and organic growth within the squad than throwing the baby out with the bath water and starting from scratch again with a new man who will upset thing once again and require a settling period (along with the new signings he makes).



I personally don't think another season with Van Gaal will potentially set us back much at all. Worst case scenario, we'll be in the same position we are now, only with players who have had an extra year to settle into the club and league. I think a few of those players could kick on and prove their value in their second and third seasons with us.

Some good points made.

However being in the same position again next season is actually a very big problem for the club. Missing out on the UCL 2 seasons in a row activates the clause in the Adidas deal. From the clubs perspective it is a very big risk, both for our reputation and financially too.

We can be sure City and Chelsea and likely Liverpool will improve next season as well as the continuation of Spurs and Arsenal we cannot afford to be behind all of those clubs next season that would put us 6th.

 

[Adisa]

I think it's his genuine opinion. He's fully aware of how difficult this league is and of the fact you can't just spend some money and expect everything to click.

We've had 8 fullbacks out at times this season. Our best left back out the whole season, our first choice right back from last season out all year, our backup left back (and centreback) out for most of the year, we had a period when Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Herrera were all out injured (which coincided with our poor run of form), our Captain main striker out for 3 months as he was hitting form amongst many other injuries.


It's been nigh on impossible to actually settle a team and build some understanding and form between partnerships over the field. The wingers are playing with a different fullback each week and the centrebacks are trying to form an understanding with a different fullback and DM every week.

Mix that all into a cocktail with 4 of our 6 signings being new to the League and not even joining a settled squad (with experienced veterans to lead the way) like Ferguson always enjoyed.

I think Fergie probably geneuinely believes that we'd be better off steadying the ship with some continuity and organic growth within the squad than throwing the baby out with the bath water and starting from scratch again with a new man who will upset thing once again and require a settling period (along with the new signings he makes).



I personally don't think another season with Van Gaal will potentially set us back much at all. Worst case scenario, we'll be in the same position we are now, only with players who have had an extra year to settle into the club and league. I think a few of those players could kick on and prove their value in their second and third seasons with us.

Good post. And a reason why I think the club is hesitant in pulling the trigger just yet.
I also don't believ him staying another year if the club can't get a suitable candidate is that much of a disaster that everyone thinks. I'd like him gone but if we can't find the right man, it's better to keep him. What I do think will be a disaster is Giggs taking over from LVG.

 

[Porco Rosso]

Ferguson did choose Moyes. This has been established by those involved. The list of candidates is irrelevant.

What you state as "the truth" is merely your opinion.

The problem with this thread is people selectively pick reports and heresay as "truth" when it suits their opinion.

When I say "surely the truth is..." then the fact that it's my opinion is pretty clearly implied I'd have thought, but never mind!

In any case, this is an internet forum, populated almost entirely by people who don't know the truth behind any of the topics up for discussion and are simply offering their opinion. Your opinion, (which, by the way, you have stated sufficiently categorically as to be at risk of falling foul of your own warnings about truth and opinion) seems to be that the richest and best supported football club in the world just told the outgoing manager to find someone to take over as his successor before he left! My opinion is that this doesn't seem very plausible, but hey! you may be right - Christ we're lucky we didn't end up with Darren Ferguson as the manager aren't we?

Anyway, since I doubt that either Sir Alex, Ed Woodward or David Moyes could be bothered to work their way through the Newbies on this forum, we'll just have to forgo the truth for now and stick with our respective opinions won't we?