Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)

[Adnan]

From 0-2 down to 3-2 up before ending 3-3.

So he still didn't win, I can show you even more capitulations and not necessarily against the big clubs either.

 

[endless_wheelies]

Can I borrow your crystal ball when you're done with it?

If not, I'll have to stick with focussing on the here and now. Where Arsenal have started a season in the sort of form that is absolutely fecking streets ahead of anything we've seen in the post-Fergie era.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42061044

2017/2018
1. Man City
P 13 GD 34 Pts 37
2. Man Utd
P 14 GD 24 Pts 32


2018-2019
1 Man City
P 15 GD 38 Pts 41
2 Liverpool
P 14 GD 22 Pts 36
3 Chelsea
P 14 GD 19 Pts 31
4 Arsenal
P 14 GD 14 Pts 30

 

[el3mel]

So he still didn't win, I can show you even more capitulations and not necessarily against the big clubs either.

Yes 0-2 to 3-3 isn't comeback at all. You love arguing right ?

 

[EwanI Ted]

The manager/coach is always up for debate. They come and in do what they can but I never like to see any manager get loads of abuse. Behind every bad manager there is a bad board and owners. And the board and owners are much harder to get rid of or be held accountable.

I'd like to think people have looked at Mourinho now and thought maybe the abuse they gave Van Gaal was too much or Moyes before.

They all failed because of the structure around them IMO.

What elements of the surrounding structure are you alluding to?

 

[Adnan]

Yes 0-2 to 3-3 isn't comeback at all. You love arguing right ?

Is this the same Wenger that took a team to Newcastle and squandered a 4-0 lead? I can give you many more examples. The problem with Wenger was that his teams were too soft and the game you mention was a exception not the norm.

Emery is a better tactician than Wenger and he's already proved that with Sevilla. Currently he's getting much more out of the players than Wenger ever did, which is my point.

 

[el3mel]

Is this the same Wenger that took a team to Newcastle and squandered a 4-0 lead? I can give you many more examples. The problem with Wenger was that his teams were too soft and the game you mention was a exception not the norm.

Emery is a better tactician than Wenger and he's already proved that with Sevilla. Currently he's getting much more out of the players than Wenger ever did, which is my point.

I never said Arsenal didn't collapse several times under Wenger to give me examples. You claimed they never made comebacks, I brought videos, done ! Just admit you were wrong and move on, happens to the best of us!

Anyway away from this point (which is done for) still results wise this is exactly a routine Wenger season, great start and and competing for top 4 only thanks to their spending budgets. Wenger's team usually collapsed in Feb by getting away from top of the league and crashing out of CL, but they always started and finished the season great, even when they missed on top 4 the season before last (and they can still miss on it this season too btw). Last season was the only example, when they were ultra shite the whole season.

Anyone saying otherwise either has pretty short memories, talking on behalf of last season only or didn't even watch Wenger's Arsenal of the last decade. That's their routine season, we can talk when they're competing for the league again which will be the new thing.

 

[Roboc7]

The manager/coach is always up for debate. They come and in do what they can but I never like to see any manager get loads of abuse. Behind every bad manager there is a bad board and owners. And the board and owners are much harder to get rid of or be held accountable.

I'd like to think people have looked at Mourinho now and thought maybe the abuse they gave Van Gaal was too much or Moyes before.

They all failed because of the structure around them IMO.

Moyes failed because he was completely out of his depth and has already peaked, LVG was just looking for one last pay day, was out of touch and again had already peaked. Mourinho has snapped at some poor earlier in his career and best days are long gone.

None should have been employed, all were given plenty of backing and under achieved. All three managers have got away pretty lightly in terms of reactions, they have been given way more support than they would have got even at smaller less successful teams.

Woodward shouldn’t be allowed to recruit the next manager and the structure could clearly be improved. But all three managers failed because they weren’t good enough and have been left behind in modern football.

 

[MackRobinson]

And there's me thinking it was a forum, my mistake

Your mistake was thinking @CA1 and @shamans can have nuanced opinions beyond "Glazers out". I cringe every time I read their posts.

 

[shamans]

Your mistake was thinking @CA1 and @shamans can have nuanced opinions beyond "Glazers out". I cringe every time I read their posts.

1) quoting me for having a glazers out opinion
2) I have no history of specifically saying that
3) logic.

 

[Adnan]

I never said Arsenal didn't collapse several times under Wenger to give me examples. You claimed they never made comebacks, I brought videos, done ! Just admit you were wrong and move on, happens to the best of us!

Anyway away from this point (which is done for) still results wise this is exactly a routine Wenger season, great start and and competing for top 4 only thanks to their spending budgets. Wenger's team usually collapsed in Feb by getting away from top of the league and crashing out of CL, but they always started and finished the season great, even when they missed on top 4 the season before last (and they can still miss on it this season too btw). Last season was the only example, when they were ultra shite the whole season.

Anyone saying otherwise either has pretty short memories, talking on behalf of last season only or didn't even watch Wenger's Arsenal of the last decade. That's their routine season, we can talk when they're competing for the league again which will be the new thing.

I said I h

I never said Arsenal didn't collapse several times under Wenger to give me examples. You claimed they never made comebacks, I brought videos, done ! Just admit you were wrong and move on, happens to the best of us!

Anyway away from this point (which is done for) still results wise this is exactly a routine Wenger season, great start and and competing for top 4 only thanks to their spending budgets. Wenger's team usually collapsed in Feb by getting away from top of the league and crashing out of CL, but they always started and finished the season great, even when they missed on top 4 the season before last (and they can still miss on it this season too btw). Last season was the only example, when they were ultra shite the whole season.

Anyone saying otherwise either has pretty short memories, talking on behalf of last season only or didn't even watch Wenger's Arsenal of the last decade. That's their routine season, we can talk when they're competing for the league again which will be the new thing.

I never said they didn't make come backs. What I said 'I doubt' they would've under Wenger. Big difference...

Emery has already won a European final coming from behind to defeat Klopps Liverpool. Something Wenger never managed in his entire career.

The point is Emery is getting far more out of players like Xhaka than Wenger ever did and most Arsenal fans are in agreement.

 

[Bojan11]

Any competent CEO would have sacked Mourinho.

I’m not going to blame Mourinho because a normal club would have sacked him by now.

 

[Adnan]

Any competent CEO would have sacked Mourinho.

I’m not going to blame Mourinho because a normal club would have sacked him by now.

He can't sack him until the owners give him the go ahead. But I won't be surprised if he's currently in discussions with someone regarding the position of manager here.

 

[Isotope]

He can't sack him until the owners give him the go ahead. But I won't be surprised if he's currently in discussions with someone regarding the position of manager here.

Yeh. I think if you, I, and thousands of people can see this is not working, I strongly believe that Ed knows this also. Even if he can't think so, he must have people advising him on footballing wise.

Ed is a CEO of multi billion worth company. I refuse to believe the majority of us are smarter than him and his people.

 

[Adnan]

Yeh. I think if you, I, and thousands of people can see this is not working, I strongly believe that Ed knows this also. Even if he can't think so, he must have people advising him on footballing wise.

Ed is a CEO of multi billion worth company. I refuse to believe the majority of us are smarter than him and his people.

I don't like getting into arguments over the board normally but Woodward without a doubt is a very intelligent man. I do believe he will get the DoF in before too long aswell.

 

[Isotope]

I don't like getting into arguments over the board normally but Woodward without a doubt is a very intelligent man. I do believe he will get the DoF in before too long aswell.

It's about time. Although I don't know how much difference it will make, if he keep choosing the wrong manager and persist with them. Spurs is doing well because they're ruthless with managers, and eventually picked the right man. So are many other big club, like Barca, Madrid, and Bayern.

 

[Adnan]

It's about time. Although I don't know how much difference it will make, if he keep choosing the wrong manager and persist with them. Spurs is doing well because they're ruthless with managers, and eventually picked the right man. So are many other big club, like Barca, Madrid, and Bayern.

Woodward is a intelligent man and will have learned a great deal in what he's seen thus far since SAF retired. I believe he will opt for a manager that will surprise alot of people. The best thing that could happen to us is that there isn't anyone obvious available. So I hope people like Zidane get snapped up by Bayern so we can focus on managers who I believe would be a better fit like Eddie Howe, who is a brilliant young coach and would understand the traditions of the club better than most.

 

[devilish]

Woodward is a intelligent man and will have learned a great deal in what he's seen thus far since SAF retired. I believe he will opt for a manager that will surprise alot of people. The best thing that could happen to us is that there isn't anyone obvious available. So I hope people like Zidane get snapped up by Bayern so we can focus on managers who I believe would be a better fit like Eddie Howe, who is a brilliant young coach and would understand the traditions of the club better than most.

I think its between Zidane or the Pochs.

 

[Isotope]

I think its between Zidane or the Pochs.

Pochs would be my pick. He's like a typical lovely and sweet neighbor girl that's suitable as long-term gf/wife, while Zidane is like that super model girlfriend that fulfill your wildest dream but you just know she will eventually leave you shortly. Imho.

 

[Escobar]

What a clueless idiot. He has no idea how to lead this club and whenever we're in a crisis, he stands still in shock

 

[CA1]

Phil Brown and Andy Mitten on a recent podcast have confirmed what I've heard a few times that Alderweireld was available for just 30 million days before the window shut but Woodward said no.

Google Beyond The Pitch

 

[spiriticon]

It doesn't matter if Alderweireld joins for 10, 30 or 100 million.

If he joins Mourinho he'd be shit.

 

[Judas]

Of course CA1 is ITK, didn't see that one coming.

 

[Stacks]

Am I the only one who remembers how convinced all the Arsenal fans were that their board/owners were a cancer at the club and they were doomed without a massive overhaul at the top?

Turns out that hiring a manager who gets the team playing well and winning football matches completely changed that narrative. Go figure

Yes. Oh the difference a competent manager makes. I mean its not as if Woodward hasn't backed his managers more than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Real Madrid, Everton, Bournemouth etc

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Yes. Oh the difference a competent manager makes. I mean its not as if Woodward hasn't backed his managers more than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Real Madrid, Everton, Bournemouth etc

Thing is mate, Arsenal's owners had a chance to switch managers and got it right first time.

It's Woodward who keeps appointing the wrong ones... and in this case, then gave them a contract extension before not backing them...

 

[Reddy Rederson]

To be fair they divided Wenger's former duties when they hired a DOF. That's the issue with our board and owners, they are not making the necessary changes. Liverpool are a better example of a manager changing everything within the same structure.

Didnt I read that klopp demanded some changes in regards to how transfers worked before he signed on?

 

[Stacks]

Thing is mate, Arsenal's owners had a chance to switch managers and got it right first time.

It's Woodward who keeps appointing the wrong ones... and in this case, then gave them a contract extension before not backing them...

true. he is definitely not blame free

 

[JPRouve]

Didnt I read that klopp demanded some changes in regards to how transfers worked before he signed on?

The press said that he demanded complete control but since it's never a thing, you can safely say that it's BS.

 

[Reddy Rederson]

The press said that he demanded complete control but since it's never a thing, you can safely say that it's BS.

Fair enough.

 

[JPRouve]

Fair enough.

Though, I forgot that Edwards role was changed and that they formally introduced the DOF role. So my statement was wrong anyway.

 

[sunama]

You're seriously underestimating how strong the Manchester United branding is thanks to years of winning understand Sir Alex. He's not even getting us the best deals around, he just happened to get all the deals in just right at the start of the money boom and other clubs in Europe are all getting similaf dealsthat you're praising Woodward for .

Main difference between us and other clubs is that we get way more numbers of sponsors thanks to our stature, nothing to do with Woodward.

This is actually a very good point you made. I never thought of it this way.
He is basically getting similar deals to what other clubs in the top 4 are getting. The difference being that because we have a bigger fan-base, he is able to bring in more sponsors and when convincing sponsors, he can use the fact that we have a bigger fan base and have more eyes watching our games.

To be fair, the guys who are trying to get sponsors for clubs at the bottom of our league deserve more credit (as they have a harder time making the "sale"), than a club who is well known and in big demand.

If SAF had not done the hard work (turning us into serial winners), then Woodward would definitely not be getting the deals done, like he is doing, today.

 

[sunama]

Thing is mate, Arsenal's owners had a chance to switch managers and got it right first time.

It's Woodward who keeps appointing the wrong ones... and in this case, then gave them a contract extension before not backing them...

Anybody could make the mistake of hiring a manager who ends up failing, but giving a contract extension, then not backing that manager in the Summer is mind-boggling.

Phil Brown and Andy Mitten on a recent podcast have confirmed what I've heard a few times that Alderweireld was available for just 30 million days before the window shut but Woodward said no.

Google Beyond The Pitch

That wouldn't surprise me.
Woodie was trying to save money (probably to balance the books). It doesn't take a genius to work this out.

 

[sunama]

We are still £487million in the hole. Finance charges on that alone were £24 million in 2017-18. According to the Guardian:

The six Glazer siblings who collectively own 97% of United’s voting shares were paid approximately $23m (£18m) in dividends, the third year dividends have been paid. The total paid to them and the other financial investors was £22m, following £23m in 2016-17 and £20m the previous year, a total of £65m out of the club. The salary packages paid to directors and senior executives, which includes the six Glazers, was £13m, following £12m in 2016-17 and £11m the year before. A year ago, the Glazers’ holding company, Red Football, sold 4.3m shares in Cayman Islands-registered United, for $17 per share. That is a further $73m (£56m) made by the Glazers from their heavily leveraged acquisition of a football institution.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/04/glazers-manchester-united

And you have the nerve to call me intellectually dishonest? This club serves now to make the Glazers rich. The club is so far removed from its traditional fan base, it might as well play home games in Miami. The Glazers don't care whose arse is on a seat as long as it's an arse.

I keep saying exactly this.
There are some people on this forum who say, "we should not let Jose spend £XM in the transfer window.
Why not? Any money saved will more than likely end up The Glazers' bank account and Woodie will take a bonus.
At least if the money is spent on players, it means that that money is invested in the team and it may help us on the pitch. It also means that for a certain duration of time (until the player is sold), that money won't end up in the account of the The Glazers.

I don't support the Glazers. I don't support a business. I support our on-pitch performance which is why I want money spent on our team and also the stadium infrastructure.

I am convinced that the money saved last Summer will somehow end up in the Glazers' pockets.

 

[Josep Dowling]

Yes. Oh the difference a competent manager makes. I mean its not as if Woodward hasn't backed his managers more than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Real Madrid, Everton, Bournemouth etc

I keep reading that Arsenal are doing so much better under Emery. The only difference is the fans are on side this season. They are still 5th and lets bare in mind they have no Champions League to worry about. Emery has played second fiddle line ups in the Europa League so their best players are fit and ready every weekend. Their problem under Wenger was they couldn't beat the top 6, they have managed a win again Spurs at home again top 6 opponents this season. Other than the fact they press the ball I see no difference with them this season.

It's the same thing with Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool. There is a media love in with all of them because of the way they play but the fact remains all of them won't win anything at the end of season bare maybe the FA cup.

 

[red thru&thru]

I keep reading that Arsenal are doing so much better under Emery. The only difference is the fans are on side this season. They are still 5th and lets bare in mind they have no Champions League to worry about. Emery has played second fiddle line ups in the Europa League so their best players are fit and ready every weekend. Their problem under Wenger was they couldn't beat the top 6, they have managed a win again Spurs at home again top 6 opponents this season. Other than the fact they press the ball I see no difference with them this season.

It's the same thing with Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool. There is a media love in with all of them because of the way they play but the fact remains all of them won't win anything at the end of season bare maybe the FA cup.

Difference is, under Jose, our football has never been good. Yess we've had a few good halves a season but never consistent. The likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea etc have improved their football. Yes they may not win every game, at least you can see the type of football they're trying to play and where what they're trying to achieve. 2 plus years on, I still have no clue what football Jose is trying to achieve with us, to make us win titles again?!

 

[Raees]

There has been much speculation about why Woodward seems to keen to keep Mourinho until the end of the season and whilst most people would argue that it is for financial reasons - is there any possibility that he just buys into the argument of back the manager at all costs until they have mathematically ruled themselves out of being allowed to stay and therefore is basically one of our own (from a matchday goers perspective)?

Would any of our fans actually do a better job than him in terms of handling the managerial affairs of the club on the pitch or would they too be stuck in this prolonged cycle of being hesitatant to pull the plug and thinking it’s just a case of underperforming players?

The only sign of dissatisfaction on behalf of Woodward has been the refusal to sign a extra CB in the summer and older players but in general he’s backed the manager beyond what most people would consider reasonable.

So is it conceivable he is just a Top Red or is it really just all about the penny pinching for Woodward. What is his overall vision and purpose for the club and for this season?

 

[Rhyme Animal]

I keep saying exactly this.
There are some people on this forum who say, "we should not let Jose spend £XM in the transfer window.
Why not? Any money saved will more than likely end up The Glazers' bank account and Woodie will take a bonus.
At least if the money is spent on players, it means that that money is invested in the team and it may help us on the pitch. It also means that for a certain duration of time (until the player is sold), that money won't end up in the account of the The Glazers.

I don't support the Glazers. I don't support a business. I support our on-pitch performance which is why I want money spent on our team and also the stadium infrastructure.

I am convinced that the money saved last Summer will somehow end up in the Glazers' pockets.

Stellar post. Hats off to you, Sir.

Totally agree with every point.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Top red? More like a top clown

 

[Paxi]

Top bellend.

 

[Samid]

Top cnut.

 

[Minimalist]

I think the most likely scenario is he feels the pressure on himself more than ever and doesn't know who to turn to now (which manager to bring in). I would imagine that's what the delay is about more than anything else.

I don't think the penny pinching part is as important as people think. It's probably just a convenient time to pull the plug in the case of Moyes (who was out of all competitions), whereas Van Gaal had the final to come. He's probably just a stubborn git who refuses to worry about 'wasting a season' like we do as supporters.

Wish he would just consider a caretaker until the end of the season to put Mourinho behind us.