Yeah it was officially announced on the day he signed the new deal. You just know that owners don’t care enough to explore other options.
https://www.manutd.com/en/amp/news/...one-year-contract-extension-with-united-women
Marc Skinner
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
Yeah it was officially announced on the day he signed the new deal. You just know that owners don’t care enough to explore other options.
https://www.manutd.com/en/amp/news/...one-year-contract-extension-with-united-women
Considering Chelsea and Arsenal have squads valued to almost double the value as United, and with City also way above United, how can you demand that United should get 3rd? I just dont get it. The other clubs have more experience and higher paid squads. And you are also saying that should be the bare minimum. If we were to get 3rd in the league and get to a final that would be performing better than our squad is!
City just added Kerolin and also looking to add german sensation Jules Brand. 4th place is where United is supposed to finish with the resources we have. Arsenal and Chelsea we should not be able to touch atm with the resources they spend and City we might be in competition with as they had so many injuries (hence why they are on a buying spreed in the transfer window)
This Skinner is the devil and is guilty for all our problems and shortcomings mantra and should be mocked and attacked on every social media after every game (even after the 4-2 win Vs City) is getting very annoying! Some of the leaders behind the "Skinner out signs" should be banned from attending United games tbh as they are reaching new lows all the time by making stuff up about Skinner and spreading it around poisoning the minds of others! I have actually stopped following the womens team for a while because I was so fed up with the same culprits insinuating things about Skinner!
I am not a fan of Skinner myself, but I dont like fake news or fake facts being spread to influence fans and the club to get rid of Skinner!
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I agree that Skinner is chastised far more than he should be. That being said last season was properly dire and the buck stops with him. This season, results have been a lot better, but many of the same issues still exist. I think he has done overall a good job, and history will look back on his performance very kindly but I very much believe he has taken us as far as he can.
I have no answer for a replacement mind, apart from trying to tempt the boss of whoever wins NWSL, Ligue 1 or Barcelona (because obviously they win)
If we continue this recent style and form through to the end of the season, do we think the general consensus will change? I've been in the don't renew-camp, but I'd be willing to change my mind.
The good signs are that he's discovered the concept of subs and rotation. Losing Zelem and some other regulars may have been an advantage to him in that sense - his comfort zone bubble burst!
I'm still not convinced by his player development skills - which seems to consist of sending them out on loan. Then hoping they come back so ready to play that they can be a like for like replacement/upgrade on an existing player.
I also have real doubts about his person management skills. Basically if he comes across as badly in one to one discussions and team meetings as he does in press conferences - he sucks
Player confidence and team spirit are the kind of x-factors that turn good teams into winners. The winning mentality, that sees a team get results that it shouldn't get, is a real thing. I'm not sure he's got that, so I'm not sure that he can inspire it in others. Hopefully the squad are looking after each other in that respect.
Difficult to say. We had a brilliant season under him already in 2022/23, but failed miserably last year.
If he guides us to the CL group stage, a lot will be forgiven.
I agree with most of what you have said, but on this particular point I don't. Surely sending a young player out on loan (Clinton) is all about player development? She went to a half decent WSL side, established herself, I think she won Young Player of the Year, got her England call-up. None of that would have happened if she had stayed at United. The same applies this year to Watson, Newell, Simpson - their loans are all about player development.
We had a poor league campaign but to say he/we "failed miserably" is going a bit far when we won the FA Cup.
I am not totally defending Skinner - there's plenty I don't like about him and have often said that I thought he had taken us as far as he can - but he has surprised me this season. His interviews are still shit though.
Failed miserably in the league. That is the bread and butter of a football season. Happy with the cup win but that doesn't erase a shit league season.
Yes but can he develop them further when they are at the club?
Which players have taken big steps forward individually during his time?
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I'm guessing that Riviere, Le Tissier, George, PTJ, Miyazawa have all developed whilst being at United. So yes. The players out on loan are developing.
Miyazawa didn’t really play early on. Judging by her performances for Japan this quality was always there.
Jayde yes.
George was injured for a large chunk. Difficult to say if she’s developed.
MLT was brilliant immediately when she joined and had a much worse season 2023/24.
Tullis-Joyce didn’t play last season, so who knows. If she’s developed surely the credit goes to Ian Willcock. Not much the head coach does regarding keepers, if anything.
We don’t know if the current particular loans develop them. The proof will be there when they return and feature for us. If they have developed that is naturally down to the loaning club’s staff.
The destination of the loans is probably down to Matt Johnson much more than Skinner.
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I don't want to sound too negative - I do see value in loans. Playing every week at a senior level is a good thing for young players. It's the when they come back element I'm dubious about. Most young players don't do the Clinton leap and go directly from loan to fill England international and starter, they need time to bed in.
Rivière, Miyazawa and George were already full internationals. Maya le Tissier was right on the verge of an England callup (which is basically where she still is) and arrived as an automatic first choice. Miyazawa had a great WC in 2023. Rivière had won an Olympics' gold medal and like Maya was seen as a top prospect and as a starter.
It's a leap to get from the bench to automatic starter (or from one role to another) but without rotation and regular sub appearances it's too big a mountain to climb. I see hope in the fact that we're seeing more of it.
https://theanalyst.com/2025/02/manchester-united-flying-under-radar-wsl-marc-skinner
Nothing here we haven’t really known or discussed, but found the predictions at the end interesting, have us most likely third, but second is more likely than fourth. Which is nice!
Nothing here we haven’t really known or discussed, but found the predictions at the end interesting, have us most likely third, but second is more likely than fourth. Which is nice!
To be fair he deserves it.
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Agreed. I have not been his biggest fan, but he is doing and saying the right things. It's a big YES from me.
I've said it before but I think history will look kindly on Marc Skinner (unless he turns out to be a wrong 'un like a disturbing number of women's coaches). We still worship Casey Stoney for the work she did getting the team off the ground and I often see calls for her to return whenever she's unemployed, but you have to say that Skinner has done better (outside of last season's league performance anyway).
Definitely deserving of a manager of the month award, but presumably Bompastors mops up everything in the end.
Definitely deserving of a manager of the month award, but presumably Bompastors mops up everything in the end.
I can understand that. It's a results business and whatever I think about his flaws the results have been good (especially compared to budget) and he's never critical of his employers.
Plus, as I've commented before, he's discovered the concept of subs so there has been progress. Being forced to leave his comfort zone and rework the midfield, has done us good as well, even though it frustrates me that it took senior players leaving for him to act.
All in all? Not surprised. I'm still dubious about his people management skills, but I doubt the people managing a renewal are bothered.
Plus, as I've commented before, he's discovered the concept of subs so there has been progress. Being forced to leave his comfort zone and rework the midfield, has done us good as well, even though it frustrates me that it took senior players leaving for him to act.
All in all? Not surprised. I'm still dubious about his people management skills, but I doubt the people managing a renewal are bothered.
Fair play to him - he has exceeded my expectations this year. In fact, I'm quite warming to him.
The Guardian's review of the FA Cup quarter finals annoyed me a bit today. Amber Whiteley at Liverpool is justifiably praised, whilst Slegers is excused for defeat because she is "a young coach."
Bompastor essentially got a free pass because Chelsea are still on for the quadruple. The City review was simply about Bunny Shaw.
With United though it was basically about Skinner's lack of rotation and how this might cost us and affect team harmony.
Bompastor essentially got a free pass because Chelsea are still on for the quadruple. The City review was simply about Bunny Shaw.
With United though it was basically about Skinner's lack of rotation and how this might cost us and affect team harmony.
New contract until 2027. Thoughts?
Pleased with that! Think he’s doing a good job.
Given the progress we’ve seen this year, it’s difficult to argue that Skinner hasn’t earned a new contract.
He’s not the most likeable person, and he clearly rubs some people the wrong way, including some players. But despite the social media bandwagon against him, I genuinely don’t see how we could be doing that much better in the league under a different manager, seeing as we’re up against Chelsea who have just been hoovering up the best talent for years. And things could definitely get worse, the grass isn’t always greener.
He’s not the most likeable person, and he clearly rubs some people the wrong way, including some players. But despite the social media bandwagon against him, I genuinely don’t see how we could be doing that much better in the league under a different manager, seeing as we’re up against Chelsea who have just been hoovering up the best talent for years. And things could definitely get worse, the grass isn’t always greener.
I'm not convinced Skinner is the one to take us to the next level but until the club invests in the players necessary to properly compete with Chelsea he is doing a good job keeping us competitive in the top 4.
I've mellowed. I think he has done a good job this year and his recent interviews have been watchable. So I see no problem with a contract extension - but the club need to back him and make sure that this squad stays together. I've said it before - the transfer policy has to be reinforcements rather than replacements.
Agreed that if the club ever steps up to support the team enough to make it possible to compete with Chelsea, Skinner might not be the coach to take us to that "next level." Until then, though, no one can deny that he's done a damn good job with the hand he's been dealt, and surely deserves the contract extension.
Berrada being at LSV, and his interview, have given me a bit of encouragement. Maybe, just maybe, the women are going to get the financial support they deserve.
How do we know Skinner can not do that when he has us competing with Arsenal and City who spend almost twice as much as on player salaries? Or we just assume that having as good squads as Chelsea and Arsenal wont make any difference? I am not disagreeing in the assessment but I think its hard to judge before the scenario unfolds!
Or alternatively, maybe he was looking for more people to fire? And do they actually need benches in the dugout at the LSV? Can’t they just stand?
This is a very good, often overlooked point. Chelsea are not the only ones whose spending far out strips ours - both Arsenal and City have significantly higher budgets than we do.
Not overlooked by me! I give a ton of credit to Skinner precisely because of what he has accomplished with this team given the budget he has to work with. IMO we've been punching above our weight class this year and am thrilled with the results so far. As long as we don't collapse during the final run-in and miss out on a top-3 finish, he more than deserves the contract extension.
That said, I agree with @AmarilloMike's previous post saying that Skinner might not be the guy who could bring us to the "next level" should Chelsea-like resources ever become available. To be clear, neither of us said that he isn't that guy; we both just expressed having some doubt. I'll let A.M. speak for himself, but my thinking is that getting the most out of a pretty-good team is a very different problem than managing a roster two layers deep with superstars. I'd point also point out that when the U.S. national team was looking for a new manager recently they hired Emma Hayes; I'm not sure if Skinner was ever even in the conversation. Elite teams need elite coaches to be at their best, and we simply don't know whether Skinner can be an "elite" coach or not.
I think we are all more or less saying the same thing: Skinner has done exceptionally well with comparatively slim resources, and that's to his credit. We don't know if he is capable of that next level, but he fully deserves a chance to show us.
You make an interesting point about Chelsea's "roster two layers deep" and whether Skinner could manage that. Personally, I hope he doesn't have to. I like the smaller squad that we have - it makes the team seem more personal and connected with the fans. Chelsea have a huge squad - This year alone they let 13 players go, bought a further 11, and have loaned out 18 players. I don't want that scale of turmoil at United.
I’m all for more standing areas!
I think to a degree it’s a matter of tastes as well. Speaking of results, you can’t knock Skinners output if he secures 3rd place this season. Breaking up the three biggest economies twice in three season, and one FA Cup to boot (maybe two?
) is very good stuff by anyone’s standards.Saying that, United have also dug in and served up some very good players for Skinner to dig from, from Jackie Groenen, Olga Batlle, Mary Earps, Alessia Russo, Katie Zelem, Ella Toone and Leah Galton, to Maya Le Tissier, Jayde Riviere, Vilde Bø Risa, Irene Guerreiro, Geyse, Lisa Naalsund, Hinayata Miazawa, Dominique Janssen, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Elisabeth Herland and Grace Clinton. There is a lot of talented players to pick from there, and Skinner has gotten a song out of several of them, but not all.
What grinds my gears with Skinner, is probably the superficial fact that he is anti-charismatic, which is really to his credit, and the more relevant fact that most of his success is built on grinding out meagre wins against lesser teams, playing flashes of exciting football with long bouts of unadventurous stuff.
Seeming not to get a tune out of some of the more exciting players have added to that frustration, but I think this season has been a srep in the right direction in that regard. Thus I agree that we should stick by him for next season regardless.