Woodward has to come out and make a statement. Either back the manger or sack him. This way we are stuck in a situation where there will be zero progress.
The Mourinho Thread: Should he stay or go? | Sacked
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Totally agree. He needs to leave the football side of things, I really hope we appoint a director of football that's going to have power at the club and not some yes man for the Glazers. I also hope we appoint a manager who shares the same vision as the DOF and the board and we back him 100%
I'd love to know what the board is saying between them now.
I'm sure there'll be some who think a sacking is appropriate, but to think there is some who genuinely believe that Mourinho will turn this around is beyond me. We're a circus. We're in the news for the wrong reasons constantly.
I hate mid-season sackings, but it's only September and we're out of the title race and risking facing an uphill task to make up the lost ground on the top 4.
Maybe Woodward has caught wind that Zidane wouldn't be interested in taking over, and is left with thinking "I have no one to replace him, so I may have to keep him for now".
I'm one of the infamous "body language experts" who (to be fair) correctly thought that Di Maria wanted out of the club months before the Summer. If I'm going to put that hat on again - it's clear as day some/most of the players have lost faith in him.
If we don't get a good result against Valencia - then he really, really has to go.
I'm sure there'll be some who think a sacking is appropriate, but to think there is some who genuinely believe that Mourinho will turn this around is beyond me. We're a circus. We're in the news for the wrong reasons constantly.
I hate mid-season sackings, but it's only September and we're out of the title race and risking facing an uphill task to make up the lost ground on the top 4.
Maybe Woodward has caught wind that Zidane wouldn't be interested in taking over, and is left with thinking "I have no one to replace him, so I may have to keep him for now".
I'm one of the infamous "body language experts" who (to be fair) correctly thought that Di Maria wanted out of the club months before the Summer. If I'm going to put that hat on again - it's clear as day some/most of the players have lost faith in him.
If we don't get a good result against Valencia - then he really, really has to go.
It's clear to see the players are no longer playing for him and with his track record it isn't going to improve so for the sake salvaging something out of this season it would be prudent to get rid now rather than wait until summer.
1000% agree with this. Football has changed, more money more challengers. We cannot afford to sit back for 5 years and expect the next Fergie to come along. You either deliver from the start or you leave.
It's interesting to see how calm Jose was in yesterday's post match conference compared to Brighton/Tottenham.
Almost resigned to the fact that we have failed and he will lose his job. He knows what's going to happen he isn't stupid. The club just won't pull the trigger yet because a manager coming in now during CL qualification and being 3 months till the Jan window opens - what change will we really get?
When we sacked Moyes and Giggs/Scholes interim solution was given for the last 6-7 games, yes in our fantasy world we were happy to see our idols manage the club but I'm pretty sure the football still remained at a poor standard and we didn't win all of those games. So expecting Carrick/McKenna to see out part of the season or a Zidane to wave a magic wand and get us playing fancy schmancy football in the space of 2 weeks won't happen. The problems are bigger than this me thinks.
It would also make Woodward et al look really silly.
Jan 2018 - Extend contract by 1 year based on the fact that we believe Jose could deliver us a league title next season.
August 2018 - Don't back your manager in the contract in the window.
October - Sack your manager.
We all know Jose has to go for the league he said it himself that he's going for it but he's also going to use the CL as an example of progress/we are still in a big competition and that will buy him time as well.
He's got us playing kamikaze formations and tactics. Who even knows what our regular formation is? Who is our regular starting 11?
Why is a player who earns 450k not even on our bench? Why is Scotty T playing CB? Why are we parking the bus with 6 in the back line after the first couple mins at W.Ham?
Almost resigned to the fact that we have failed and he will lose his job. He knows what's going to happen he isn't stupid. The club just won't pull the trigger yet because a manager coming in now during CL qualification and being 3 months till the Jan window opens - what change will we really get?
When we sacked Moyes and Giggs/Scholes interim solution was given for the last 6-7 games, yes in our fantasy world we were happy to see our idols manage the club but I'm pretty sure the football still remained at a poor standard and we didn't win all of those games. So expecting Carrick/McKenna to see out part of the season or a Zidane to wave a magic wand and get us playing fancy schmancy football in the space of 2 weeks won't happen. The problems are bigger than this me thinks.
It would also make Woodward et al look really silly.
Jan 2018 - Extend contract by 1 year based on the fact that we believe Jose could deliver us a league title next season.
August 2018 - Don't back your manager in the contract in the window.
October - Sack your manager.
We all know Jose has to go for the league he said it himself that he's going for it but he's also going to use the CL as an example of progress/we are still in a big competition and that will buy him time as well.
He's got us playing kamikaze formations and tactics. Who even knows what our regular formation is? Who is our regular starting 11?
Why is a player who earns 450k not even on our bench? Why is Scotty T playing CB? Why are we parking the bus with 6 in the back line after the first couple mins at W.Ham?
Looking back, Guardiola was always going to win that battle. City gave him absolutely everything to succeed and they also had key figures on the board that shared the exact same vision as the manager and of course an owner that will do anything to win. The groundwork was there for Guardiola before he even step foot in the Etihad. We were the total opposite when transitioning from LvG to Mourinho. We've paid the price for our post Fergie scatter gun approach. Time to get a director of football and a manager in that are all on the same page and have the same ambitions.
He WAS a serial winner, but that Mourinho is long gone. He just doesn’t have that spark that made him loved by his players. Instead they now despise him. tactically we are awful and the team can hardly string 3 passes together. Nothing will get better, we either stick with this and accept it or change.
I do remember you, you're hard to miss.
Well realistically we need to find a replacement for the remain of the season first, and its long season ahead.
It's painful to watch this long painful ending, the blame has to be on the board after this week. We have an international break next week. We have Chelsea, Juve and City ect coming up. This could turn in to a bigger nightmare and embarrassment yet. In my opinion we should have sacked him last night, let Carrick and Mc Kenna see out Valencia at home and Newcastle. Bring someone in next week. United can salvage top 4 and some pride yet. If the board are going to be cheap and let it run to Christmas, we will be 7th or 8th. Maybe out of CL and only got FA cup left. Money is the only thing they understand. No Champions league means drop in revenue and we aren't getting it with Jose, no way.
The manager clearly has had enough and wants his payoff now. Let's get rid and get this side reunited and try to play the football we historically always have played. I want to look forward to watching United again, I don't want this mess to drag on. Even if we tried something new and didn't get top 4, the fans would be happy to see we are going towards a new direction. I don't want to be refreshing pages in January like Lvg to see if we sacked him yet. It's so obvious what needs to happens for the future of this team. Ed and the board have blame for the joke of a transfer window but can turn this one around by acting now. The team are in disarray, when poor Scott is playing in a back 3 you know there is massive problems. Jose needs to go now, it's best for everyone at this stage. It will be the board and on Ed if it gets worse now.
The manager clearly has had enough and wants his payoff now. Let's get rid and get this side reunited and try to play the football we historically always have played. I want to look forward to watching United again, I don't want this mess to drag on. Even if we tried something new and didn't get top 4, the fans would be happy to see we are going towards a new direction. I don't want to be refreshing pages in January like Lvg to see if we sacked him yet. It's so obvious what needs to happens for the future of this team. Ed and the board have blame for the joke of a transfer window but can turn this one around by acting now. The team are in disarray, when poor Scott is playing in a back 3 you know there is massive problems. Jose needs to go now, it's best for everyone at this stage. It will be the board and on Ed if it gets worse now.
You'll find most footballing fraternity will back their own and not advocate sackings.
I strongly believe that Jose planned to change the style of football toward the end of last season and he identified the players he needed to achieve this.
When he didn't get what he wanted and the disruptive pre season he lost faith in the club and as we know, when things don't go his way he can go off the rails.
Perhaps he should act in a more mature manner but for Jose it is all or nothing.
Mistakes on all sides - club, management and let's not exclude the players and we get to the current dire situation. NO ONE PERSON IS TO BLAME.
Anyone that still wants his is all about petty internet point scoring at this stage. They picked a side, were convinced they were right and now they refuse to back down. Sad.
Jose is no fool, he's well aware of the fact that his time as United manager up and he, just like the rest of us, is simply waiting for the inevitable sacking to arrive. The problem is the board and their reluctance in paying the ludicrous compensation fee that comes with his sacking, which is perfectly understandable if you ask me.
Imagine failing in your job only to be rewarded with a £15 million hand-out for your trouble. Logic.
It's really disappointing that we've reached another nadir for the club. While this season is likely a wash, we shouldn't wait until the summer to make changes. I don't think it's fair to cast all the blame on any one individual, especially not Jose. He has only ever wanted to bring successes back to the club. Nor Pogba, who's leaving United was so sour he made jabs thru his entire Juve stay and then decided to come back during a time of uncertainty. Nor Ed, who frankly, is running things the way you might expect an American businessman to. Best thing for the club is to not linger on the recent past , but rather take stock of our values, needs and resources and move forward:
- let Jose go
(it just isn't his true strength as a manager and asking him to rebuild that style and flair that was all but buried by Moyes and LVG while also making us defensively sound is too much. The latter is in place so time to move on for the former )
- let Pogba go
(symbol of everything wrong with our players. him leaving the first time and our club continuing to be successful was typical of the no player is bigger than the club. Him coming back and taking so many of the headlines while yet to deliver a truly consistent series of excellent performances is counter to our values. Moreover, I don't think Pogba has the maturity to play in a truly great attacking United side. He is a showboater, not enough grit and more often than not slows the game down. We don't have time for him to be our talisman and also learn the mental discipline to put his incredible talent to maximum use.)
- hire a DOF
(Woodward should be resigned to the commercial side. Don't let him touch the football decisions with a ten foot pole. Our transfer policy, new manager hiring decision, all has to be done consistently with someone that has a footballing mind and soul.)
There is more to it than just these three big decisions, but all three must happen.
- let Jose go
(it just isn't his true strength as a manager and asking him to rebuild that style and flair that was all but buried by Moyes and LVG while also making us defensively sound is too much. The latter is in place so time to move on for the former )
- let Pogba go
(symbol of everything wrong with our players. him leaving the first time and our club continuing to be successful was typical of the no player is bigger than the club. Him coming back and taking so many of the headlines while yet to deliver a truly consistent series of excellent performances is counter to our values. Moreover, I don't think Pogba has the maturity to play in a truly great attacking United side. He is a showboater, not enough grit and more often than not slows the game down. We don't have time for him to be our talisman and also learn the mental discipline to put his incredible talent to maximum use.)
- hire a DOF
(Woodward should be resigned to the commercial side. Don't let him touch the football decisions with a ten foot pole. Our transfer policy, new manager hiring decision, all has to be done consistently with someone that has a footballing mind and soul.)
There is more to it than just these three big decisions, but all three must happen.
If he meant that purely based on last season then he has lost all credibility.
I don't think the old Mourinho is gone - he is still there & made this team a title winning team in his second season - however we were overdone by a better team & manager with better players.
Saying that - it makes no difference. Whether we won the title or not - we would be where we are right now in his third season; that's why he needs to go.
Saying that - it makes no difference. Whether we won the title or not - we would be where we are right now in his third season; that's why he needs to go.
Ban this Scouser.
The way this team is going, with the chaotic nature of Jose mourinho, we could be fighting a relegation battle. People say that’s nonesence but if he’s fighting our best players, he’s got backing of players not good enough, where is the players to get him out of a hole? Forget top 4, we could be fighting for our PL survival the way things are going. It’s got so toxic to the point we are in a fallout situation. What top player wants to play for this narcissist individual? If championship teams are outplaying United at OT, anyone can beat this team. We got a pitch built for good football, and we playing a style that an old school relegation side would play. This board is so spineless and tight with money, they wouldn’t even dream of sacking him
@Livewire1974 created both threads. My guy doesn't waste time.
Also looking at my posts. It shows that although I thought we should sack LVG, I was more sympathetic with his situation than I am with Mourinho.
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So lukaku will gain a decent 1st touch if Jose is sacked ? If so sack him now
3 at the back seems attacking to be honest.Playing with 3 at the back against a team near relegation
We absolutely do not have to let Pogba go.
Even without a team as good as City last season we weren't really of a title-winning standard. Our points total would very rarely get you first place.
He was doomed the moment the club decided to offer Martial another contract.
A proactive club would have sacked him in the summer. Clear they lost confidence in him.
Anyone got a credible link for the public dressing down of Sanchez in training today?
The decision not to back him in the summer is the stupidest one the board have taken post-SAF, and that's saying something.
It's like they read too much into the "Jose's third season" pirate curse the media keep talking about even in pre-season and decided "ah okay, he's gonna fail, we're not backing him".
It's like they read too much into the "Jose's third season" pirate curse the media keep talking about even in pre-season and decided "ah okay, he's gonna fail, we're not backing him".
I agree with you - but as much as i can't stand Jose; I have to admit that he took this team a level above in terms of points more so than any manager could. He is a good second season manager at every club he has been at.
Problem for me the 2nd season was that even if we had got perisic, Willian & Alderweireld - Pep's team were better & more consistent whilst having nearly all the smaller teams rattled when playing against them. We on the other hand did well in the bigger games with Jose making minute in game tactical changes but would struggle against the some of the average teams in the PL. A smaller team that had to go against very tactically tough matches against Pep or Klopp weren't that worried about us - that for me was less down to the players we used or wanted but more down to the type of football we were playing.
The PL used to be called the biggest league in the world & people would bypass that comment but it's impossible to do that anymore simply due to the managers that have been here in the last 3 years from Jose himself to Pep to Klopp to sarri to Conte to emery hell down to pellegrini at West ham.
Jose will go on and win the title in his first or second season in another league - he has the capability to do that; but the PL has gone up a gear to the point where he can't just walk the league here any more playing the type of football that used to get him success.
In the business world, coming out to back an employee makes no difference. An employee's future is solely determined by results.
A manager is already in trouble when the employer has to publicly back him. Even if Ed did what you asked, Mourinho would be sacked if we continue losing, with the double whammy of the employer looking foolish.
He tried to play a power play to prove his authority on various aspects against WHU by leaving Sanchez out, putting Scott as a CB and subbing off Pogba and Martial when we were down 0-2. If he had won he would have restored some power in dressing room but it failed miserably and the players didn't look bothered to play for him. He lost on all aspects yesterday not just the 3 points.
There's no way after that unfortunately.
There's no way after that unfortunately.
With our points total last season we'd have tied with Leicester when they won the league and been off the place 5 points twice in 2 other seasons.
That's not title standard?
Confidence and enthusiasm can be the difference between a team looking like a top class outfit and a side that look like a bunch of amateurs.
Our players are much better than what you are seeing.
Not when it comes to Lukaku I'm afraid. Next manager will need to chop him off for good if we want to go forward.
Great point and what James Robson said yesterday. He took a high risk strategy and lost. Now he has nowhere to turn and nothing left.
Mourinho probably could have survived that, it’s just that the club simultaneously demonstrated its lack of backing for him by not going for Aldeweireld and then briefing journalists that it distrusted his judgment.
The players will have seen all that and concluded this guy’s on the way out: Those that hate him will have been emboldened, those who like him demoralised. We are seeing the results now.
In many ways this crisis is entirely of our own making.
He's not my cup of tea but people talk about him like he's Andy Carroll.
Don't worry guys, I've just had a nap and dreamt Zidane takes over us this season! He turns Pogba and Martial into beasts and best of all... we get Mbappe next summer! This is coming from a guy that dreamt Cantona would drop kick a fan a year before that happened!! Thank me later
He's not an unknown quantity. Everything he's criticized for were doubts and fears we had about him during Everton days. We tried to convince ourselves he'll take it to the next level but I can't see it anymore.
A manager who wants a free fluid fast attacking system won't play a striker whose first touch and close control are as shite as this.
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