Please read this and you'll realize what a superb job he did at Barcelona.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barca-Making-Greatest-Team-World/dp/0956497152
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Ashwin @AR87 are here to discuss two "on-paper" not great results for United over the last week, but are there positive signs of progress despite what the ex-United pundits are saying?
They also preview the big game Europa League game against Lyon.
Please read this and you'll realize what a superb job he did at Barcelona.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barca-Making-Greatest-Team-World/dp/0956497152
There's no way I'm reading a book about Pep. Try me, I am easily convinced.
The German guy on Sky Sports being interviewed just basically slipped that he will be going to City.
I don't have a major issue with the idea he inherited a quality group of footballers, but the idea he inherited the best team in the world at Barcelona is wrong. United were the best team in the world in 2008 having won the league and the Champions League, while Guardiola inherited a team that won nothing in Rijkaard's last two seasons, and in the last season under the dutchman we (Barcelona) finished third, 18 points behind Real Madrid. No arguments from me about Guardiola inheriting an excellent Bayern Munich team.
Haha what did he say?
Just been watching Sky Sports News and it does seem pretty obvious Guardiola is wanting to go to City, to be expected with his old bosses being there and the setup they have but a shame for us. Can't see him wanting to take on the United job now unfortunately, it's probably going to be offered to Giggs and does look like Pep has already decided on his next club. Considering he pretty much guarantees silverwear and will likely end up at our main rivals with an unlimited transfer budget for the next few years at least, there's worrying times ahead with us likely having to go all in with Giggs.
Devils Advocate, if/when City rent Pep for 3-4 years, we could just grow our team in the background with Giggs in that period of time, he'd play United football, play our youngsters, Wilson/Januzaj/Pereira etc and build on what we have you'd presume, we wouldn't likely win the PL often in those 3-4 years with Pep at CIty regardless of whomever we have as manager.
Signing Pep almost guarantees that City will achieve their owners goals of winning the CL and becoming a dominant force in the Europe and the PL.
I expect them to give him an unlimited transfer funds. Expect the very best in Europe to be heading there.
feck.
I expect them to give him an unlimited transfer funds. Expect the very best in Europe to be heading there.
feck.
So we shouldn't even bother trying to compete whilst Pep is in England? He's THAT far ahead of any other coach in World football?
Please. He's great and I'd love him at United but, come on, there are so many variables at play there is no instant-fix guarantee that he'll dominate the league.
Nowhere near a guarantee of winning the Champions League. He'd definitely make them a force, though.
Perhaps the attitude is a little defeatist, I mean't basically, if we were to hire say... Mourinho to compete with Pep & City, whom brings with him a short term degree of success before leaving behind a smoldering corpse and several burnt bridges, we could alternatively build longterm with Giggs.
I don't know Im trying to find positivity of the realisation we could be looking at Pep at City and Giggs for us.
Yeah, that's fair enough. I think the last couple of years have taught us, if nothing else, that we need the 'right' person in charge for the long term good of this club, even if that person doesn't stay for more than a few years.
I'm not sure I would entrust Giggs to keep the ship steady for 3/4 years quite yet but agree we need to ensure we don't lose our heads in a desperate clamour for parity with "Pep's City".
One other thing from that press conference that has to be highly significant. He knew he was leaving (and the club knew) from the start of the season. That means surely that a lot of groundwork has been done quietly in the background. Doesn't tell us his destination, of course, I for one think he might still be playing a couple of clubs off each other. (To be honest, I don't see him at City; the fecker is all about image and City don't shine enough for that). When did he say that stuff about liking MUTD? Here is the quote and in German for the better scholars of that language.
“From the start of the season I have said to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that it might be best for everyone if this was to be our last year together. We have then only on occasion said that we can talk about that later. But I wanted to give the club enough time to look for a new coach. That is why we spoke in September, October. At the Christmas party, the final decision was made. "
"Von Anfang der Saison habe ich Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gesagt, dass es vielleicht das Beste für alle ist, wenn wir das letzte Jahr zusammen sind. Wir haben dann erst mal gesagt, dass wir später darüber sprechen. Aber ich wollte dem Verein genug Zeit geben, einen neuen Trainer zu suchen. Deswegen haben wir im September, Oktober schon mal gesprochen. Bei der Weihnachtsfeier ist dann die Entscheidung gefallen."
“From the start of the season I have said to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that it might be best for everyone if this was to be our last year together. We have then only on occasion said that we can talk about that later. But I wanted to give the club enough time to look for a new coach. That is why we spoke in September, October. At the Christmas party, the final decision was made. "
"Von Anfang der Saison habe ich Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gesagt, dass es vielleicht das Beste für alle ist, wenn wir das letzte Jahr zusammen sind. Wir haben dann erst mal gesagt, dass wir später darüber sprechen. Aber ich wollte dem Verein genug Zeit geben, einen neuen Trainer zu suchen. Deswegen haben wir im September, Oktober schon mal gesprochen. Bei der Weihnachtsfeier ist dann die Entscheidung gefallen."
Think he will cement City at the top should he go there. What would be funny is if he lets his wife rule him and ends up living in London managing Chelsea and Jose goes to City whilst we go into a third year with the unsackable one.
Isn't Pep to MCFC the worst kept secret in football?
I mean, this deal was done a while ago and once Bayern found out about it, they hired Ancelotti.
We on the other hand will probably try and go for unattainable targets and then end up with a mid-table Scottish manager, saying that he was always our choice and World class managers like Mourinho are not good enough.
We need to win trophies, to stay in the game, we need a proven trophy winner, right now.
I think its pretty obvious who we need, but our board don't have the balls to make the decision.
I mean, this deal was done a while ago and once Bayern found out about it, they hired Ancelotti.
We on the other hand will probably try and go for unattainable targets and then end up with a mid-table Scottish manager, saying that he was always our choice and World class managers like Mourinho are not good enough.
We need to win trophies, to stay in the game, we need a proven trophy winner, right now.
I think its pretty obvious who we need, but our board don't have the balls to make the decision.
I hate it when fans say that Pep is overrated because he took over 2 teams that had fantastic players. So why don't we give him all the funds he needs to bring us this success. I'm pretty sure that City don't have the best team but are willing to give him what he needs to make him the best team. I'd rather he came and won things, even if he meant he left after 3 years. Look at Barca and Bayern, I don't they will get bored if winning post Pep. For those thinking that Pep will fail at City, they have won titles under Mancini and Pellegrini, how much more with Pep and unlimited funds?
What exactly qualifies Giggs as someone to build "long term" though? There seems to be an assumption that just because Giggs played for United for decades he'll be a successful long term manager. Even if he is able to do the job well, why would he not want to manage elsewhere after a period of time? It's not beyond the realms of possibility that a man who didn't get to play elsewhere would fancy a move to manage in Spain, Germany, France, Italy or wherever. He, like all others will be on a finite contract which I suspect wouldn't be any more than the 3 or 4 years managers usually get. In some senses it offers little more long term stability than any other managerial appointment.
The suggestion that Giggs should get a chance at arguably the most difficult job in world football (given the context and where we are now) with zero managerial experience is based seemingly on a romantic notion that it's destined to be. I think it's fanciful and the board will be far to pre-occupied with the bottom line to let that happen.
I suspect the original "ideal scenario" was for Van Gaal to get us back challenging before handing over to Giggs a solid squad with World Class talent. But the fact is, if there's a chance the club fails to make top 4 a couple of years in a row, or slips well behind the top sides, whoever is in charge will be sacked and a quick fix will be looked at because financially the club can't afford for it to happen.
I personally think that United still believe Guardiola might be a possibility - even if he's agreed in principle to join City, until a contract is signed then nothing is certain. I suspect if they don;t get him then Van Gaal will be gone at the end of the season regardless, and other options looked at - one of which will no doubt be Mourinho.
Great attitude mate. You are in the 1% on the Caf who think positive.
Pep is a great manager, but it's naive to assume that he's guaranteed to make an instant top european force out of city, same for united if we end up signing him.
The premier league is a difficult competition, you have at least 4 clubs expecting to challenge every year and few others not far behind. Pretty much all those clubs are strong financially now. As for europe, he hasn't won the CL with this great bayern team yet so why would anyone think he's surely going to win it with city? It's a cup competition, anything could happen.
I want pep here, but i don't think our future is dependent on him, nor is it all over if he joins city.
The premier league is a difficult competition, you have at least 4 clubs expecting to challenge every year and few others not far behind. Pretty much all those clubs are strong financially now. As for europe, he hasn't won the CL with this great bayern team yet so why would anyone think he's surely going to win it with city? It's a cup competition, anything could happen.
I want pep here, but i don't think our future is dependent on him, nor is it all over if he joins city.
Not reliable. Actually a fraud of a journalist that one. Probably still likely that he ends up at City though.
I am not going there...
He is going to City.. 99,5% City, 0,4% United, 0,1% Chelsea....
Get used to Giggsy or Mou!
He is going to City.. 99,5% City, 0,4% United, 0,1% Chelsea....
Get used to Giggsy or Mou!
He definitely didn't improve Bayern. They were by far and away a dominant force and he hasn't taken them to that same level they were at before.
If he does end up at City as expected, we absolutely HAVE to get Jose Mourinho in, it's so obvious, it's painful....
They won CL the season before but remember they faced Barcelona team with a lot of injuries and in a really bad form. The last two years they got outplayed in CL semifinals by two in form sides while being decimated by injuries last year against Barca as well. In the league they are better than before.
We'll respond with Giggs. Just watch. Feels like Moyes all over again.
Real Madrid were not so much in form. They scraped by Dortmund in the quarter finals and finished 3rd in La Liga.
Bayern were quite poor against Real Madrid and last season fair enough he had a lot of injuries against Barcelona.
To be honest, we'd deserve everything we get if it goes stupidly wrong with Giggs. Absolutely stupid risk when we are not in a position to do so
Giggs being written off with such force is laughable. He would nuture young talent (which we have plenty) play the United way, he has Unites DNA. If he had very good financial backing there is no reason he can't be extremely successful - he has had plenty of time to learn being a manager in his career.
I can understand the concerns though in regard to where we are now. It would be better Ryan taking over with us in better shape rather than having just scraped or missed out on the top 4 which is where bpoody Van Gaal seems to be taking us.
The real nightmare is if he is still in charge next season.
I can understand the concerns though in regard to where we are now. It would be better Ryan taking over with us in better shape rather than having just scraped or missed out on the top 4 which is where bpoody Van Gaal seems to be taking us.
The real nightmare is if he is still in charge next season.
He would nuture young talent (which we have plenty) - He would try, nothing to indicate he can be successful at it.
Play the United way, he has Unites DNA - Again he would try, but what exactly is the united way, getting it wide and putting in crosses? Nothing to indicate he would be successful in implementing attacking football with flair as a coach whilst winning games.
Now that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a success at United, however at this stage is it really worth the risk after 2 failed managerial appointments and a fat Adidas deal which means UCL qualification failure would put a lot of that income at risk?
Kudos if we do that and it pays off, I think the issue is right now is that this is probably not a wise gamble/risk to take.
I agree.
The thing is an appointment like Zidane at Real is a risk they can take because they will probably only drop to 4th maximum if it goes wrong whereas if we give it Giggs who has literally no experience or reason other than he's an ex player could drop to bottom half of the table.
I really hope that these so called great business men and owners aren't that stupid, we've taken a hit post Ferguson and it looks like it's getting worse (even after the WC winning performance against Chelsea) and giving it to Giggs while missing out on a proven winner would be ludicrous.
It's bad enough having to start from where we are nevermind where we could be if Giggs gets it, if it was as easy as that to become a manager good enough to manage us there would be a lot more top managers than there is.
I really hope that these so called great business men and owners aren't that stupid, we've taken a hit post Ferguson and it looks like it's getting worse (even after the WC winning performance against Chelsea) and giving it to Giggs while missing out on a proven winner would be ludicrous.
It's bad enough having to start from where we are nevermind where we could be if Giggs gets it, if it was as easy as that to become a manager good enough to manage us there would be a lot more top managers than there is.
I thought you hated Jose Mourinho?
My post from another thread -
"It's more the case that Giggs is just a relative idiot compared to most top managers. You can usually listen to someone talk and make a (fairly) accurate estimation of their intelligence. You can't manage a top top club and not be pretty intelligent. Jose Mourinho - intelligent. Pep Guardiola - intelligent. Zinedine Zidane - intelligent. Sir Alex Ferguson - intelligent. Frank Lampard (though not yet a manager) - intelligent. Ryan Giggs - myyyehh. Perhaps he can go on to be an Alan Pardew tier manager but that's his limit."
Yep, there's definitely a "question mark" which he needs to tick IMO. And we would represent him with such an opportunity.
No one is saying that he needs to go and manage Sunderland or anything, but I think coming to England will definitely give him the opportunity to answer those questions. More us than City IMO.
No I don't hate him at all. I didn't want him as our manager as he didn't ticked a lot of boxes I want ticked in a United manager, but the options after Pep and Carlo aren't great, so given our recent slump and seemingly disappointing season, one of the most successful managers of this generation has to be a major contender.
It does feel like everything they've done at city has been with the ultimate aim of enticing Pep with the changes to their academy structure to their on pitch play style to employing his best pals from Barca. It's almost as if they've tried to establish things and keep it ticking over for when he's ready to join them. It may well have been the long term plan all along.
IF we're interested tho, you'd like to think that we've given him the hard sell on the history and romanticism of our club. SAF introduced exciting, attacking football at United but maybe didn't win enough CL titles. Is that a challenge for Pep to match and supersede the great man? There is nothing city have got that we don't have or can't get so it would be a surprise for me if we couldn't persuade him. IF we're interested of course.....
One extra thing, beyond what Pep would actually bring as a manager including attracting a better class of player, is the kudos of landing the (sic) "best manager in the World ever". With the mentality of that club and their fans, you just know they would dine out on that for years.
IF we're interested tho, you'd like to think that we've given him the hard sell on the history and romanticism of our club. SAF introduced exciting, attacking football at United but maybe didn't win enough CL titles. Is that a challenge for Pep to match and supersede the great man? There is nothing city have got that we don't have or can't get so it would be a surprise for me if we couldn't persuade him. IF we're interested of course.....
One extra thing, beyond what Pep would actually bring as a manager including attracting a better class of player, is the kudos of landing the (sic) "best manager in the World ever". With the mentality of that club and their fans, you just know they would dine out on that for years.
Pep to City was obvious. Anything else would have been a mindf*ck.
Our question was always going to be who we can get to counter/nullify them a little.
Our question was always going to be who we can get to counter/nullify them a little.