Next permanent manager | Poll updated

[McGrathsipan]

Antonio Conte in negotiations with Spurs.

Whatever people may think of Conte, he is a world class manager. Conte‘s signature would be regarded as a massive coup for Spurs.

So what do we (Utd) do? …if anything. Here’s a few suggestions..….

Wait and see what happens until after the City game?

Contact Conte’s agents for dramatic last minute talks?

Pretend to laugh at Spurs?

Panic?

Sit on our hands and do absolutely nothing?

Other suggestions welcome.

Give Ole a contract extension

Fixed

 

[Water Melon]

What we do? We just wait and see. Our usual approach. No need to be proactive. If Ole gets top 4 - great. If he does not, well, he will be sacked. That is the level of standards and ambitions that the Board have set.

 

[TrueRed79]

Would be hilarious if Spurs took our CL spot and we finish 5th.

 

[matt10000]

Antonio Conte in negotiations with Spurs.

Whatever people may think of Conte, he is a world class manager. Conte‘s signature would be regarded as a massive coup for Spurs.

So what do we (Utd) do? …if anything. Here’s a few suggestions..….

Wait and see what happens until after the City game?

Contact Conte’s agents for dramatic last minute talks?

Pretend to laugh at Spurs?

Panic?

Sit on our hands and do absolutely nothing?

Other suggestions welcome.

How about just stick with Ole?

 

[Bebestation]

Allegri left his job at Juventus totally confident that United, PSG, Real and co would be fighting one another for his signature. He ended up back were he left in a weakened Juventus side. Conte has probably learnt from that and is in no mood of begging for his Inter's job back.

Yeah, do you think we could have been under talks with Conte and Conte put up his normal list of strict plans and then the Glazers got scared or something?

Or do you think we were completely blind towards Conte and just gave more blinded support to ole?

Obviously it's a guess but the timing of everything makes me feel like it's the first one.

 

[James35]

We plod on knowing full well we are not going to win jack shit under Ole and our owners are more than happy with it.

Hopefully in the summer, someone finally sees sense and Ole is let go. Until then just try to enjoy watching some of our football.

 

[devilish]

Yeah, do you think we could have been under talks with Conte and Conte put up his normal list of strict plans and then the Glazers got scared or something?

Or do you think we were completely blind towards Conte and just gave more blinded support to ole?

Obviously it's a guess but the timing of everything makes me feel like it's the first one.

According to Romano we didn't even made contact to Conte. Also the managers we were linked with aren't available mid way in the season. So I think that we planned to stick to Ole no matter what.

 

[Bebestation]

According to Romano we didn't even made contact to Conte. Also the managers we were linked with aren't available mid way in the season. So I think that we planned to stick to Ole no matter what.

Damn okay.

Also, I saw reports that Ronaldo didn't want Conte at Juventus.

Was these rumours true or made up at Juventus? I'm just asking because these rumours came up here at United that he didn't want Conte as manager either.

 

[Dec9003]

If you asked every Liverpool fan in the world whether they’d take back Rodgers over Klopp you would not find ONE who would. Surely that makes him a non-starter…

It would make United a laughing stock with the dippers…

You wouldn’t find a single one that would take Conte either, doesn’t stop lots of people wanting him here.

 

[Sky1981]

When Conte meets Levy he will say no.

You dont fly and meet in person just to say no. It's a done deal

 

[devilish]

Damn okay.

Also, I saw reports that Ronaldo didn't want Conte at Juventus.

Was these rumours true or made up at Juventus? I'm just asking because these rumours came up here at United that he didn't want Conte as manager either.

I cannot answer to that

Ronaldo had a nasty experience with Allegri who is seen by many as Conte's V2.0. I think it's a lazy comparison though. Allegri is more defensive, less flexible and a better man manager to Conte. Conte is far more tactical and a better manager as a whole. If Ronaldo truly worked against Conte then he made a mistake. The Italian brings instant success and at his age Ronaldo can't wait. Now we are left with a bottler and a shortlist of bottlers to succeed him (Pochs and the NI Ole)

On the other hand maybe he is playing the long game. He will back Ole with the guarantee that SAF and the class of 92 would back him first as Ole's no 2 and then as manager after Ole is out

 

[glazed]

See the season out under Ole but have Ten Haag lined up to take over from the moment the season ends.

This would be a good idea. But the Glazer business model though. Ole or someone very like him is actually what they want.

 

[K Stand Knut]

According to Romano we didn't even made contact to Conte. Also the managers we were linked with aren't available mid way in the season. So I think that we planned to stick to Ole no matter what.

i have heard that Conte was offered the United job but doesn’t trust Woodward to follow it through and get rid of Ole when he said he would.

Allegedly during the international break

 

[largelyworried]

See the season out under Ole but have Ten Haag lined up to take over from the moment the season ends.

This would be my favoured approach and have posted that for the last week.

Ten Haags style is what almost every United fan would want to see us transition to, every weakness in coaching ability we have now would be rectified

Move Ole sideways into a club role if he’s interested. The club will like that PR angle.

The problem with this is that there's only a very narrow range of results that would see this outcome. If we fail to make the top 4 under Ole, we've paid a heavy price for sticking with him. If we get as high as third, I think he'll stay in the job, as he'll have finished ahead of at least one of Chelsea, City or Liverpool & he'll be able to argue progress.

I think the only result that both makes it clear he can't stay and doesn't shaft us for next season is specifically 4th place, and that's a very narrow path to tread.

 

[Yakuza_devils]

Top 4 favorite (3 horse race for title):

1) City - Pep
2) Pool - Klopp
3) Chelsea- Tuchel
4) Spurs - Conte

Challenge for Top 4

1) Man Utd - Ole
2) Arsenal - Arteta

It's depressing, no world class manager available for us this season. Not sure about next season either. We have to stick with Ole?

 

[DULLAGHAN]

Spurs making 4th spot has to be a serious concern with Conte. That could leave us back in Europa wilderness and as bad off as 3 years ago when Ole started.

Watching the clubs complete apathy to success and progression is so difficult to understand.

 

[Smores]

Spurs making 4th spot has to be a serious concern with Conte. That could leave us back in Europa wilderness and as bad off as 3 years ago when Ole started.

Watching the clubs complete apathy to success and progression is so difficult to understand.

I'm not convinced even Ole is bad enough to take this squad outside the top 4. That really would be a feck up of monumental proportions.

Even the scaredy thread in the general where the Ole inners hide couldn't spin that one.

 

[devilish]

i have heard that Conte was offered the United job but doesn’t trust Woodward to follow it through and get rid of Ole when he said he would.

Allegedly during the international break

Not according to the likes of Romano. However these 3 games or time is up thing is pure BS. It's the sort of punishment threat a parent gives to a 4 year old. Coupled to the rumours that we are interested in two managers who would probably turn us down at the moment and you can deduce that we were not seriously considering sacking ole

 

[Coops73]

There are problems at this club that clearly go beyond the manager's personal performance. SAF held it together, but the cracks were showing even in his last few seasons. Whatever the exact nature of these issues are, it's clear that we've been stifled by them for about a decade now. Until that's fixed, I don't think it really matters who manages the players. Given the fact that we've seen all the same problems for the better part of a decade, with four different managers (five if you count the tail end of SAF's tenure), why would Conte's arrival suddenly solve it all?

I don't think Ole has a future here, and a better manager would probably bring a small bump to performances on the pitch, but I don't think it'll do much more than that if everything else stays the same. The toxic owners, the lottery-like wage structure, the incomprehensible transfer practices and the outdated club culture will all remain no matter what we call the guy who oversees training and picks the lineups. Until the actual board realizes that these things need to change, noone is going to be able to bring more than minor improvements to on-pitch tactics and such.

Couldn’t put it better. Until the owners change, nothing changes.

 

[Rash Decision]

Not according to the likes of Romano. However these 3 games or time is up thing is pure BS. It's the sort of punishment threat a parent gives to a 4 year old. Coupled to the rumours that we are interested in two managers who would probably turn us down at the moment and you can deduce that we were not seriously considering sacking ole

I’m convinced that this the case now. Initially the board was panicking that they’d have to sack Ole if he continued his losing streak or the fan unrest became too great, so they put out some PR about Ole’s job being under threat. Perhaps they did sound out Conte just in case. But it’s become evident that all they hoped for was for Ole to arrest the immediate slide so they could continue with him. Plenty of journalists have mentioned how the board are “desperate” for Ole to succeed and “determined” to plan long term with Ole at the helm. Now Whitwell has said that Conte went for Spurs because he realised the board’s faith in Ole had been reaffirmed by the single match against Spurs. I think they are right. We spurned a world class manager who wanted the job, not because we were holding out for someone else even better, but because we wanted to stick with the failing incumbent, who “reaffirmed” his credentials by beating a poor team whose manager immediately got sacked for that loss.

At some point it’s going to become apparent that nothing but a series of catastrophic losses will get Ole out of the hotseat and the board off their backsides. And even then they might just appoint Rodgers. Or perhaps if Arteta turns things around, the board might point at that and think that hey Ole can do it too, no matter how bad things seem to be.

 

[Highfather_24]

So what happens now if we sack Ole after Atalanta/City? Who do we go for? What manager can we get who will manage to beat Pep, Tuchel, Conte and Klopp?

Rodgers and Pochetino? Our club is doomed. Another season wasted. Our board made sure of that.

The fact that the board chose Ole over Conte. Insane.

 

[AshRK]

I seriously hope it is not rodgers. Yeah he is better manager than Ole but seriously it would be a shit appointment. Rather we go for Potter than Rodgers.

 

[JustAGuest]

Top 4 favorite (3 horse race for title):

1) City - Pep
2) Pool - Klopp
3) Chelsea- Tuchel
4) Spurs - Conte

Challenge for Top 4

1) Man Utd - Ole
2) Arsenal - Arteta

It's depressing, no world class manager available for us this season. Not sure about next season either. We have to stick with Ole?

In what world are Spurs favourites for top 4?

 

[Rhyme Animal]

I wonder if the Glazers are gonna end up regretting this one…?

With the way they’re ‘running’ the club, and the bizarre, comedy decisions they’ve been making for years, there has to be one that they end up really, really regretting - I just wonder if this could be it…

We all know how pathetically important Top 4 is to them, and they’ve just snubbed Conte, bruised his ego no doubt, and sent him to a direct Top 4 rival… leaving themselves now battling Guardiola, Klopp, Tuchel and Conte.

There’s no way a manager of Solskjaer’s level can hang with that group.

I think they’re waiting on Pochettino, but even then - is he THAT good now? He’ll be coming back to the PL with City, Liverpool and Chelsea firmly established and Conte probably bedded in at Spurs.

Is this one a bad decision too far for the Glazers and their Top 4 dreams…?

Genuine question. @devilish @pocco thoughts?

 

[Rhyme Animal]

In what world are Spurs favourites for top 4?

The one where Kane and Son are managed by Conte.

 

[Garethw]

In what world are Spurs favourites for top 4?

They are just about to announce a world class manager. One that’s been promised big funds in January. We’ve got Ole.

 

[RUCK4444]

This would be a good idea. But the Glazer business model though. Ole or someone very like him is actually what they want.

Yeah listen I hate the Glazers for how inept they are but to be honest we've spent a LOT of money, they are trying to be competitive with the top teams, I think it's hard to deny that now with our last transfer window.

It's not for the lack of ambition. If that were the case we would just spend less.

 

[Lukinho]

I know what I am going to do. On Saturday I had not much feelings for the game. But now no manager is available and I know Ole is not going to get sacked I have to back the team as much as possible and just hope Ole can produce something. I am really looking forward to the game today and I am way more hyped then Saturday. Who knows maybe this is what Ole and the coaches needed. I hope so atleast

 

[The Hilton]

Why are people so worked up over Conte going to Spurs? It doesn't really affect us at all - I doubt we were ever in for him in the first place, and there are plenty of other good managers around, who will likely suit us more too.

 

[Orc]

Top 4 favorite (3 horse race for title):

1) City - Pep
2) Pool - Klopp
3) Chelsea- Tuchel
4) Spurs - Conte

Challenge for Top 4

1) Man Utd - Ole
2) Arsenal - Arteta

It's depressing, no world class manager available for us this season. Not sure about next season either. We have to stick with Ole?

Unless Conte pulls off a Tuchel-like miracle I can’t see any way Spurs finish 4th this season. West Ham are a much better side than they are and United have WAY too much talent to finish outside the top 4 even despite having Ole as manager.

 

[Ondrej]

How us not making top 4 doesn't affect us?

 

[Rash Decision]

I know what I am going to do. On Saturday I had not much feelings for the game. But now no manager is available and I know Ole is not going to get sacked I have to back the team as much as possible and just hope Ole can produce something. I am really looking forward to the game today and I am way more hyped then Saturday. Who knows maybe this is what Ole and the coaches needed. I hope so atleast

What is “this” you refer to that Ole and the coaches need?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

What is “this” you refer to that Ole and the coaches need?

Presume he means the Liverpool result was a kick up the backside and has focused their minds on what to do. However Ole and Co's backside must be black and blue the numbering of kickings they have had.

 

[JustAGuest]

The one where Kane and Son are managed by Conte.

He's not a miracle worker. It seems he is being overrated on here.

For reference here are the current odds of getting top 4: https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/top-4-finish. Quite a difference between Spurs and us, despite them supposedly being favourites.

 

[Rash Decision]

Presume he means the Liverpool result was a kick up the backside and has focused their minds on what to do. However Ole and Co's backside must be black and blue the numbering of kickings they have had.

Ah yes that makes sense. I was too fixated on their impregnable job security.

If that’s so, guess they’ll meander along and scrape Top 4, then continue their perpetual “rebuild” and “cultural reset” next season.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

He's not a miracle worker. It seems he is being overrated on here.

For reference here are the current odds of getting top 4: https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/top-4-finish. Quite a difference between Spurs and us, despite them supposedly being favourites.

Let’s revisit those odds in January.

 

[Leftback99]

Why are people so worked up over Conte going to Spurs? It doesn't really affect us at all - I doubt we were ever in for him in the first place, and there are plenty of other good managers around, who will likely suit us more too.

Many have convinced themselves that he is the only man that can save us, with no possible downside.

60% who voted here didn't even want him a couple of weeks ago.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Ah yes that makes sense. I was too fixated on their impregnable job security.

If that’s so, guess they’ll meander along and scrape Top 4, then continue their perpetual “rebuild” and “cultural reset” next season.

You wonder though if he might have trouble signing players next summer if he is still here, the more great managers who come to the PL the more projects players will have to chose from.

 

[RUCK4444]

The problem with this is that there's only a very narrow range of results that would see this outcome. If we fail to make the top 4 under Ole, we've paid a heavy price for sticking with him. If we get as high as third, I think he'll stay in the job, as he'll have finished ahead of at least one of Chelsea, City or Liverpool & he'll be able to argue progress.

I think the only result that both makes it clear he can't stay and doesn't shaft us for next season is specifically 4th place, and that's a very narrow path to tread.

It depends how adamant the board want to be on the issue, I said yesterday, if the board identify Ten Haag as the next manager then the remaining period under Ole should have zero effect on that decision.

If it were me I'd be in contact with Ten Haag, put everything in place to ensure he transitions over to us as soon as the season is over. Inform Ole that he is seeing out this season and offer him a role in the club in some capacity.

Of course the worry is that Ole does well and they deviate from the plan, but this is where the board now require a clear plan, a line in the sand. If Ole does very well through to the end of the season but still accepts a sideways step into a club role then he leaves on a high, if he bombs and we miss top 4 then so be it, that should be a topic for discussion with Ten Haag. The risk on top 4 becomes even more likely with a caretaker manager imo, this way Ole would still have incentive to finish as strong as possible.

It's an unconventional approach but I think it's a viable one because Ole is a club man, he won't throw his toys out, the club would like the PR of not having to sack Ole but instead move him sideways as well. Could work if Ten Haag fancies the job.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Many have convinced themselves that he is the only man that can save us, with no possible downside.

60% who voted here didn't even want him a couple of weeks ago.

Think he would have given us something in the short term, but there would be a guaranteed fallout with the board in the end. However you do worry if this board have the skills to be looking for somebody who is actually right for the club. As someone said they just seem convinced Ole is right and will stick by him until we have sunk into being a complete nonentity.