He'll be gone before the season is out.
Mike Phelan signed a contract extension in late 2021
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I bet that deep down, Solskjaer, Phelan, and Carrick couldn't believe their luck. Almost three years of being given a free ride at one of the world's biggest clubs. Jobs for the boys; sub-standard employees learning on the job, with no accountability for their failings. They even got cheered and applauded by fans for doing a job that essentially amounted to spending vast sums of money and being best mates with the players.
I'm not surprised Carrick left after Solskjaer, he realised the three year long jolly boys outing was over and Ralf would see through anyone who isn't upto the required standard.
If Ralf had his way he'd have binned Phelan on day two in the job. He's nothing but a relic from the past who was brought back for no purpose other than to hold Solskjaer's hand.
I'm not surprised Carrick left after Solskjaer, he realised the three year long jolly boys outing was over and Ralf would see through anyone who isn't upto the required standard.
If Ralf had his way he'd have binned Phelan on day two in the job. He's nothing but a relic from the past who was brought back for no purpose other than to hold Solskjaer's hand.
Some of you need to look up the meaning of the word delegation. There is way more than just ‘train the first team’ to running the worlds biggest football club. SAF controlled EVERYTHING at the club by having key support staff in key roles, and taking an overview himself. Ole clearly took a similar approach. We’ve seen him watching training, but he doesn’t need to lead it necessarily. Why get a dog and bark yourself?
Our coaching staff included Carrick, McKenna, Ramsey, Hartis, Fletcher (occasionally) and Lee Grant seems to be coaching too. I’m sure there are more that aren’t named, plus reserve/youth coaches too. At one point we had 3 first team GK coaches until Davids mate left and we had a reshuffle. How many first team coaches do we really need?
Just because Phelans role isn’t on the training pitch doesn’t mean he is doing nothing or stealing a living.
Our coaching staff included Carrick, McKenna, Ramsey, Hartis, Fletcher (occasionally) and Lee Grant seems to be coaching too. I’m sure there are more that aren’t named, plus reserve/youth coaches too. At one point we had 3 first team GK coaches until Davids mate left and we had a reshuffle. How many first team coaches do we really need?
Just because Phelans role isn’t on the training pitch doesn’t mean he is doing nothing or stealing a living.
He's doing his best, just like Ole was.
I'm also wondering if Phelan provided oppo research to Ole & will continue to do so with RR, because if he does these things then who wouldn't be needed on the training pitch, RR, Armas & McKenna alongside other coaches will be the ones on the training pitch
but I'm guessing here, I could be wrong.
I think you should see the writing on the wall
A- Rangnick signs a contract as interim with 2 other years as a consultant. That suggests that he sees the job long term
B- Rangnick comes in and Carrick ends up leaving immediately with no plans whatsoever on what he will be doing next. TBF its normal for assistant managers to leave with their own manager (ex Round leaving once Moyes was sacked etc), however Carrick predated Ole and was more of a product of the club then Ole's man.
C- Rangnick makes it obvious that he is not comfortable with the interim job and he wants his managerial role to last 1 year.
D- Ralph took an interview were he praised his players about their ambition. He liked it to his own.
E- Prior to yesterday's press conference rumours start circulating about an exodus of players leaving United either on loan or permanently. Martial's agent ends up breaking ranks by confirming that his client wants to leave ASAP.
F- He is asked about Phelan were he goes in detail on what Phelan doesn't do without even bothering explaining what he does.
G- Finally he takes a dig to the previous administration for letting Pogba go to Dubai while recovering from injury
The old fox is known for his love of discussing football matters in detail. Jon Murtough visited him once and they spent 8 hours talking about football. He's clearly wants to remain manager for a year, he is not happy about how the previous administration used to run things and he has enough experience to know that he had just threw Phelan under a bus. Anyone who had followed the guy know that Ralph is a sporting director first and a manager second. He sees things from a holistic view. He's very public about it in his three Cs interview a while back. Coach competence is key to his ideology and he won't compromise on that.
I just sit a number of rows behind a multitude of coaches and subs. It seems from Phelan's face he would rather be back in Australia. Guessing his contract is just keeping him at the club.
Ferguson was the greatest manager of all time by the time he stepped back and delegated. When he was at same stage as Ole was when he was here he didn’t manage like he did when he was 65.If you’ve achieved nothing you work hard to achieve. Managers like Ferguson and Clough who as they aged took a backseat role in day to day training isn’t the same as someone having nothing of note on their CV deciding to do the same
Young Fergie was up to his elbows working to turn this club around. He didn’t sit in his office smoking a cigar because it’s what Sir Matt did. You earn the right to delegate you can’t start a job and manage like you’ve already won 38 trophies and been there for 27 years.
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It's nice to have the body language experts back.
His face, not his body. Does he look happy to you?
Sounds perfectly feasible to me.
The commentator on my stream noticed he seemed distant on Tuesday. That he barely spoke to his colleagues and wasn't really involved.
Why would he not be watching those videos or at least be on the training pitch if he's part of the group?
That's just weird. You'd rather do something to look busy than to sit not knowing what to do, looking suspicious like an oompa loompa among humans.
That's just weird. You'd rather do something to look busy than to sit not knowing what to do, looking suspicious like an oompa loompa among humans.
I love how he mentioned what Phelan isn't doing without saying what Phelan is doing. It's even more confusing now.
Phelan is probably concerned that his role as court sage is not required because the new manager already knows about football stuff.
Nice sensible post after all the crap that's been spouted on here. We as fans have no idea what's involved with running a huge organisation like United. Football clubs aren't run like other businesses. There must a myriad of jobs that are involved of which we have no awareness or experience.
I do not think Phelan wants to be disengaged and is here only for a pay check. He does not seem to be that kind of a guy. He was assistant to SAF and we all know he does not tolerate people bumming off him. He was rarely on the touchline when Ole was here and as others have said the did not look happy. I do not know whose idea it was to bring him back? Could have been Woody?
Now RR has said that he never was involved in the coaching when Ole was here and is not now either. Not being involved now, I would understand but I wonder what he was doing for three years?
Now RR has said that he never was involved in the coaching when Ole was here and is not now either. Not being involved now, I would understand but I wonder what he was doing for three years?
Phelan said years ago that Ole called personally and asked him to join.
Yeah he doesn't look involved at all. The Athletic reported that he was even being used less under Ole.
Now I really wonder why? I mean according to RR he does not do any coaching or even see them train. Maybe some reporter would find out exactly what Phelan did at United?
Does Phelan at least chip in with a bit of banter? I'd keep him around for that
Because of his experience. He was number two to SAF and part of a successful set up for years.
Intelligent contribution.
Doesn't take a body language expert to realise something is not well with their facial expressions. I am sure you'll have noticed this from your day to day interactions with your family and colleagues.
Context is key here.
What if the question put to him was something like "why is Mike Phelan still here when he was partly responsible for how poorly the team was playing under Ole?"
What if the question put to him was something like "why is Mike Phelan still here when he was partly responsible for how poorly the team was playing under Ole?"
Probably for the same reason Rangnick has reportedly asked his 75year old mentor to join. Probably just guidance on not tactical but squad related matters. Like some kind of Consigliere role.
Absolutely love all these wastes of space getting called out. Collecting a wage for doing feck all. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
We still don't know what Phelan does!
He's been really rubbing me up the wrong way ever since he posted the below after the PSG win. As if he's somehow instrumental in any success that we have.
Been stealing a living certainly ever since Ole brought him back, appears not even Ralf knows what he does! Hopefully he'll be gone soon. Appointments like him have been part of the problem, Ralf won't be carrying any passengers, either you contribute or feck off.
Been stealing a living certainly ever since Ole brought him back, appears not even Ralf knows what he does! Hopefully he'll be gone soon. Appointments like him have been part of the problem, Ralf won't be carrying any passengers, either you contribute or feck off.
Grow up
Really? What exactly did I say that's not true? He doesn't contribute, not in a positive way at least. Even Ralf doesn't appear to know what the hell he does.
I said it repeatedly, having a happy squad with poor results is not something to be proud of. Losing and praising the coaching staff and players, of course they'll be happy about it. But shows absolutely no autocritic at all.
Yes, because Phelan is comparable to family and coleagues on the level of interaction I have with them.
Carrick's comments about long hours and needing a break make a lot more sense now, he's basically had to run the entire football side himself along with McKenna, with Phelan just lounging around and Solkjaer roleplaying as Fergie in his office.
The feck do you know?
Quote taking out of context. Bunch in here have clearly no experience in leadership and delegation.
Bunch of weirdo's posting in this thread
He’s the guy that every local team has on a Sunday morning . He’s just there without actually getting involved in anything.
“Ah that guy is here every Sunday “
“Ah that guy is here every Sunday “
Just as the Mondays had Bez, the Beatles had Magic Alex and that lad from Entourage had a tortoise, so too Ole had Mick.
Or maybe I don't have a clue what anyone at the club actually does, but it's nice to just sit here reminiscing about Entourage. I bet that show has aged well.
Or maybe I don't have a clue what anyone at the club actually does, but it's nice to just sit here reminiscing about Entourage. I bet that show has aged well.
What would you be getting involved in in a pub on a Sunday morning?
It's amazing how the body language experts always manage to interpret things exactly in line with what they're hoping for. It's even more amazing that they can establish such firm interpretations from a few photographs or two second long clips of footage. Hats off to them, they have a remarkable skill set.