Ex players giving their opinions in the media happens at every big club. I don't know why so many on here get worked up over it. They've earned the right to have an opinion on United.
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You wonder if some want to still appear relevant at the club, rather than being a bunch of pundits who at times show how limited their footballing knowledge really is. Hopefully the board will give it proper thought about if they want what most, including these ex players would be the safe option in Poch or if we want to take a risk, change the club from top to bottom and look to the future. It will be easy to get rid of Poch, but ETH might do a SAF and start dismantling the structure of the club to rebuild it from top to bottom. It would be a lot harder bringing in another manager willing to carry that on.
It wouldn’t surprise me if these pundits who occupy media positions which pay handsomely considering the low effort involved, don’t actually watch football outside of Top 6 Premier League teams. I bet they couldn’t even name the Norwich starting XI or the Brentford starting XI if you asked them too, probably not even a Soton starting XI. I’ve long suspected they get fed talking points by some scrub analyst they hire to find stuff for them to talk about and make them look good on TV.
So when it comes to managers and you present them with ‘Pochettino or Ten Hag’, they‘ll say Pochettino almost at a default because they’ve heard of Pochettino and then roll out all the fecking cliches, and then they’ll say they’ve never really heard of Ten Hag and give the most rudimentary of information.…Some fecking football expert you are
So when it comes to managers and you present them with ‘Pochettino or Ten Hag’, they‘ll say Pochettino almost at a default because they’ve heard of Pochettino and then roll out all the fecking cliches, and then they’ll say they’ve never really heard of Ten Hag and give the most rudimentary of information.…Some fecking football expert you are
I hope it's ten Hag but if the ex players have a differing opinion to mine, then it's not a problem and we shouldn't criticize them for having a opinion.
They shouldn't be criticised. Part of the reason is , "we know this guy, we don't know that guy".
The problem is they are talking from a dated, cliché perspective and clearly know nothing about any of the other candidates, they're talking up Puppettino because he managed in the PL, nothing more, Sheringham's comments in particular were laughable, he doesn't even know how Puppettino plays.
Unfortunately that's how our club is run so it's understandable these biased 'jobs for the boys' opinions cause outrage among fans.
You're right they do have a right to an opinion as does everybody, but when that opinion is based on only one way to praising Pochettino then it's the wrong one. They need to have a pro and against opinions on both of the managers, they don't seem to do that from what I've seen and read.
I'd say a majority watch the PL and that is it. Only watch European games involving our clubs. That is why I would rather listen the likes of Honigstein etc who have a far wider knowledge of football.It wouldn’t surprise me if these pundits who occupy media positions which pay handsomely considering the low effort involved, don’t actually watch football outside of Top 6 Premier League teams. I bet they couldn’t even name the Norwich starting XI or the Brentford starting XI if you asked them too, probably not even a Soton starting XI. I’ve long suspected they get fed talking points by some scrub analyst they hire to find stuff for them to talk about and make them look good on TV.
So when it comes to managers and you present them with ‘Pochettino or Ten Hag’, they‘ll say Pochettino almost at a default because they’ve heard of Pochettino and then roll out all the fecking cliches, and then they’ll say they’ve never really heard of Ten Hag and give the most rudimentary of information.…Some fecking football expert you are
Which way is the wind sailing, are we losing Erik?
Honigstein is working for Rangnick right now so he would obviously be more interesting to listen to!
One of these days someone who phones into one of the radio stations will have the courage to call the so called pundits out about their lack of footballing insight. Their attitude is I played football so I know more than you. Well a lot of lads who phone in have played football at some level and know a darn sight more than them. It is more that they think knowledge is I know a load of other footballers and managers. That is not the same thing, it just means you have well known mates. We all feel like we know Harry Redknapp.
I agree they're forming their opinions on what they've witnessed. So it's understandable their response would be to pick out Pochettino. And Sheringham to be fair to him, has admitted he doesn't know a lot about ten Hag.
And as much as I would like ten Hag, Pochettino isn't someone i'd describe as a puppet. He's actually a very demanding coach and when he was at Spurs he wanted to control the recruitment as the manager. And Levy changed the football structure at the club to appease him.
The reason I want ten Hag over Pochettino is actually very simple and that's due to me preferring ten Hag's approach to coaching positonal play with a mix of verticality and high tempo.
I'm starting to question who's in charge of hiring managers at this club. The board or the media? Seems to be a real push from Fleet Street to get Poch the gig.
The funny thing is, I expect they know just as much about ETH as most of the posters on here that think he is the only option. These guys also have contacts in football and probably hear more than we know. Yet we all sit here posting like footballing gods saying "this is how Manchester United should play and ETH is the man to carry it out in our vision", or declare that people actually within the game don't know what they're talking about Not only that but I bet most posters that are fanatically pushing ETH have barely seen Ajax play.
Also, if they know Poch then perhaps they know he's genuinely a very good coach or the right man for this job. All of these players have been coached by Alex Ferguson, so I would like to think they know a thing or two about good qualities in a coach.
I'm myself leaning more towards ETH for different reasons, but the way posters on here discount Poch or belittle the opinions of people that probably know a lot more than them is absolutely laughable. Hell, people even downplay the fact that Fergie likes him. Once upon a time every United supporter trusted every decision that man made and now he's painted like a senile has-been by idiots on here.
The thing for me is they shouldn't be saying who they think should be chosen from the four candidates if they only know anything about one of them, it's pointless noise that is driving frustrating media.
To me he's got the personality of a puppet, he's not strong enough at PSG, plays on the counter against any team of quality and will always be the mild mannered line tower when the club pulls it's bullshit, along with not caring about trophies, just top 4, he'd complete our full transition into latter day Arsenal under Wenger, only with bland football.
I remember them taking the game to us. I remember Southampton taking the game to the likes of City etc. PSG took the game to Real Madrid and didn't sit back and play pragmatic (they arguably should have to see out the tie).
Who the feck is this guy and why does he care? It's pretty obvious, neither are proven big trophy winners but one is a proven bug club failure and one has a playing identity, the other doesn't. I see his twitter banner is with Fergie, so he's got the agenda.
Regardless of the animosity towards the players, a large part of managing does seem to be being able to engage with the team and get them onside and into the right mindset. Are Poch and Ten Hag generally considered good in that regard?
If the Glazer's are gauging general sentiment right now i wonder if they're looking more at what the fans are saying or ex players are and weather it will influence their decision.
It wouldn’t surprise me if these pundits who occupy media positions which pay handsomely considering the low effort involved, don’t actually watch football outside of Top 6 Premier League teams. I bet they couldn’t even name the Norwich starting XI or the Brentford starting XI if you asked them too, probably not even a Soton starting XI. I’ve long suspected they get fed talking points by some scrub analyst they hire to find stuff for them to talk about and make them look good on TV.
So when it comes to managers and you present them with ‘Pochettino or Ten Hag’, they‘ll say Pochettino almost at a default because they’ve heard of Pochettino and then roll out all the fecking cliches, and then they’ll say they’ve never really heard of Ten Hag and give the most rudimentary of information.…Some fecking football expert you are
You started off by making massive assumptions and then finish by concluding that they are therefore shit pundits. Sums up the cult-like PR job being done for ETH on here.
Let's just look at facts. Me, you and everyone else on here are just random cnuts that have nothing to do with the football world. We just like to post on a message board our opinions. Yet we feel like we can just write off opinions of people that have been within the footballing world since they were kids, have been at Manchester United for decades and likely still have great contacts, work in coaching or as pundits, analysing games domestically and in European competitions. They have played with team mates who, through contacts or directly, may know these managerial candidates and have conversations about them. Yet you are here saying they probably know feck all and get all their knowledge off some random analyst so that they never have to watch football.
You need to pull your head out of your backside.
Yes, both seem to excel at this.
The United job is a near-impossible one even if you have the fanbase on your side.
Poch does not have even 5% of the fanbase on his side. I doubt very much he will accept this job if offered.
This saga is just postering in case Ten Hags turns the job down or for economical reasons.
Poch does not have even 5% of the fanbase on his side. I doubt very much he will accept this job if offered.
This saga is just postering in case Ten Hags turns the job down or for economical reasons.
I think everyone is being asked the question on the next appointment and they're giving their thoughts.
It's not that he plays on the counter but rather that he is a counter pressing coach. So what Sheringham described him as stylistically was close to what he showed at Espanyol, Soton and Spurs for a few years. He was a high pressing coach that wanted to play in a compact high block with heavy emphasis on verticality.
And out of ten Hag and Pochettino, I get the feeling that Pochettino will be the more demanding coach as far as transfers go. Ten Hag will happily work with what he's got and likely won't push for transfers imo.
Have to hope that the delay is our general ineptitude at doing things swiftly. However, the longer it stretched on, the more likely we are waiting for PSG to make a stance on Poch.
I just don't see the club opting against the opinion of several ex-players, and apparently SAF. It's very surprising how unanimous they've been and the logic being applied.
Is this really too farfetched?
I'm hoping this saga is mostly about United getting clicks for their soap opera and that Ten Hag is done, that we're briefing all these talks and interviews to get everyone onboard with the decision since it's not one taken lightly in the heat of the moment etc.
If this is all a show to keep us entertained until Poch is sacked they can expect an outrage among the fanbase and the Glazers Out protests will likely grow for each passing game. Surely they can't be THAT stupid?
If this is all a show to keep us entertained until Poch is sacked they can expect an outrage among the fanbase and the Glazers Out protests will likely grow for each passing game. Surely they can't be THAT stupid?
They are all so anti ten hag 
Never knew the media cared for united so much. They are all pro poch like it’s prime Pep. They are almost on the verge of calling ten hag names or something. They are all so riled up why aren’t we hiring poch. I don’t want to imagine if we hired ten hag what they gonna do to him. The guy is better off staying away from us for his own sake given the stick that’s gonna be coming his way from the ex players to the media. Bloody hell. Forget talking about his football, system, philosophy etc they ain’t even acknowledging that he is a good manager. They are having none of it. Beggars belief.
Never knew the media cared for united so much. They are all pro poch like it’s prime Pep. They are almost on the verge of calling ten hag names or something. They are all so riled up why aren’t we hiring poch. I don’t want to imagine if we hired ten hag what they gonna do to him. The guy is better off staying away from us for his own sake given the stick that’s gonna be coming his way from the ex players to the media. Bloody hell. Forget talking about his football, system, philosophy etc they ain’t even acknowledging that he is a good manager. They are having none of it. Beggars belief.
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That's a load of bollocks right there. Pochettino literally made no signings for years at Tottenham never calling out Levy and the owners. Paul Mitchell left because of restricted spending and Poch couldn't understand his decision..
Could easily be extended to the ex-players, they are the 'Legends' at the end of the day. I'm sure that helps their own business endeavours. More likely is they think he's a sound bloke and have done next to no research on Ten Hag.
This is my worry too, all an act to look like a diligent process: stall, stall, stall, Poch available, deal done.If this is all a show to keep us entertained until Poch is sacked they can expect an outrage among the fanbase and the Glazers Out protests will likely grow for each passing game. Surely they can't be THAT stupid?
It's a ludicrous notion. I doubt Fergie is even involved.
I genuinely can’t remember such an absolute circus about which manager a club is appointing in the history of football.. this is the entire problem we have at the club, every single tiny decision is dissected within an inch of its life until everyone is drained from it all, I actually blame the club tbh, media briefings etc just make it all so unnecessary, when Man City appointed Pellegrini, nobody blinked an eye.. we didn’t see months of build up and ex-player pundits dedicating entire evenings of analysis to each potential candidate, the club just went about their business and appointed a manager.. after the god awful period we’ve all just witnessed since sir Alex left, I think everyone at the club from board room downwards would be well served to keep their heads down and get on with the job, until we start actually start seeing some semblance of a football team again
Yes, no one will ever come even close to matching Fergie's legacy, he doesn't need to "protect" it.
This term doesn’t even mean anything. People have simply started to refer to anyone they think is an idiot as a top red.
It was actually Spurs that made no signings and Pochettino made his feelings clear about that during several press conferences.
Erik ten Hag on the other hand doesn't want to get involved outside of coaching the team unlike Pochettino. He actually takes pride in attempting to implement his body of work, which entails playing the game in the opponents half by controlling the five horizontal spaces in the opposing half. Which in-turn would lead to positional and numerical superiority.
This doesn't make any sense. Surely being involved in appointing the wrong the manager time after time does his legacy no favours? The fact some fans are beginning to turn on him is testament to that. Its ludicrous to suggest he's deliberately sabotaging the club
It's quite common in business for departing CEO's who have performed phenomenally well to pick inadequate successors.
I still think some are in the mindset of picking the best face for the operation, rather than manager who would develop a footballing philosophy/identity on the pitch.
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