I don't know how true that is, to be honest.
The Mourinho Thread: Should he stay or go? | Sacked
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I don't know how true that is, to be honest.
That Summer tour in US was one of the worst advertisement of United "brand". And it's all down to the manager approached.
Everything thats happened suggests the board won't be content with just top 4
Didn't Woodward say off the field stuff won't be damaged as long as we get top 4? I bet if we finished 4th, we'd probably have Jose for another season.
Yes because willian crossing in for Lukaku is what's going to get us streaming back on the US 
So the chances we created were exactly the same as the season before, only this time we converted more? You do realise that stats like that can't be used as evidence of anything, since every chance is not equally difficult. And nothing else changed in our play with Matic even though he was arguably our best player for a big part of the season?
You marginalise our 2nd position in the league and claim we had a better season because we won the EL the season before.
Honestly, this is probably the worst case of interpreting stats in a way to suit ones argument I've ever seen.
Also, it's hard to take your previous post seriously when you claim he should have kept Blind. Let me guess, Pep would have turned him in to a world beater.
We had better chances in 16/17. We literally missed more big chances than any other team in the league that season. In 17/18 we managed less chances overall and less big chances. Don't hate the facts just because they contradict your personal opinion. Speaking of facts Herrera was literally our player of the year in 16/17, Matic wasn't the following season. None of this is marginalising our 2nd place finish, just explaining why it happened. Attributing it to Matic (when he statistically contributed a loss less than Herrera) is dumb when the evidence clearly shows it was mostly because our attacking players dramatically improved their chance conversation rates.
Re: Blind. No manager would turn Blind into a 'world beater', that wasn't my point and sarcastically pretending it was isn't going to help your argument. The issue is that the CB pairing Mourinho inherited of Blind and Smalling was better than the starting CB partnership we have now despite us spending £60m on CBs. There's no way to spin that that doesn't make Mourinho's team building look extremely questionable especially when it's part of a pattern of him buying new players that perform worse than the players we already had.
Good for him and why should we care as long as it is not in EPL? United fans can and should only care about managers and players with how they perform when being with the club generally.
Making tackles is actually an important thing for a defensive midfielder to do. Herrera making a lot of them is one of the reasons why he was our player of the year in 16/17, the only player not called De Gea to have won that award in the post-Ferguson era.
It's painful to watch him because if he was just not bothering then I'd find it easy to dislike him and write him off. But he tries so damn hard and I'm very sure there's still a quality player there if he's used right, but it's just not working out.
Besides Italy, I don't see where else he could go.
We've had this discussion back in February when we were playing bad last season, you disappeared for months and now you're back because things aren't going well again. You have a Jose out agenda, so lets not go down that path again.
Our players have to start taking responsibility for their poor performances, end of.
He could go for the continental septuple while he's still young.
Maybe those who defend Jose think that he is still one of the very best managers around (because of his past achievements). Therefore, they think that it's the players/the board who are responsible for the situation at the club and not Jose himself. The problem with such a position is twofold.
First, even when he was at his best Jose wasn't great in his 3rd season at a club, e.g. Chelsea 06/07 and Madrid 12/13, not to mention Chelsea 15/16.His methods seem to work short-term.
Second, there are signs that he is past it. He wasn't all that at Chelsea 2. Won the title in 14/15 when there was no serious competition and flopped in Europe. He is two years at United and doesn't look like competing for the big trophies, let alone win them.
The worst sign is that the team has no identity and struggles both in defence and attack.
First, even when he was at his best Jose wasn't great in his 3rd season at a club, e.g. Chelsea 06/07 and Madrid 12/13, not to mention Chelsea 15/16.His methods seem to work short-term.
Second, there are signs that he is past it. He wasn't all that at Chelsea 2. Won the title in 14/15 when there was no serious competition and flopped in Europe. He is two years at United and doesn't look like competing for the big trophies, let alone win them.
The worst sign is that the team has no identity and struggles both in defence and attack.
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One could convince me that Klopp and Guardiola have surpassed Jose with their more modern approach to the game, but neither manager is available. So some of you want us to replace Jose with an inferior coach simply because you are frustrated that we aren't playing as well as City or Liverpool? Maybe Zidane could be a superior motivator and man manager but this is a huge risk, especially considering that Jose seems to be trying to adjust and take the players and fans feelings into consideration. We can't just keep changing coaches every three seasons putting a gun to their heads, telling them to win the league or else. In fact, I'd say if star players know this, they can use it against the manager knowing if they haven't won by the third year then they can play at half effort and get him fired. The management should let the team know they are stuck with Jose, then maybe they might listen instead of their agents floating rumors whenever they aren't happy.
What's the point in persisting with Jose when we know it's not going to pay off? Might as well take a risk.
Secondly, what makes you think likes of Zidane and Jardim are inferior at this point in time? Jose is obviously one of the greatest managers of all time, but that doesn't mean he is the best now. Case in point, Klopp won't ever enjoy even one-third of the success Jose's had in his career even if he wins a couple of leagues and a CL, but he is the better manager at this point in time.
Like Sarri with Chelsea, Jardim or Zidane could be good for us. Jardim is the better choice - tactically flexible, won a league, has CL experience while Zidane is no slouch with 3 CLs and a league on his CV.
You can't change your basic undestanding of the game when you are 55 y.o. Those who expect Jose to become an attacking-minded manager are being naive imo.
It's a far bigger risk to keep Jose longer and waste the whole season. Besides, when has Jose acheved something at a club beyond his 2nd year there? Why believe he will be different here?
When Barca hired Guardiola, he hadn't achieved anything. It's a bit too simplistic to think that because Jose's CV is better than that of the joung managers out there, he is better than them. It doesn't work like that. Benitez was a top top manager 10 years ago. Now he isn't. Things change.
I can only see Mourinho as a win. If we keep him then we will become shitter and shitter every season until we are so shit we will be looked at as a project club which a billionaire can revive by playing real life football manager and get some fame. In turn we will be bought out, sign every world class player on the planet and every potential >90 rated youth player on fifa and win the league for years to come. The end.
But if at that point Mourinho is still manager then we are completely fecked no matter what.
But if at that point Mourinho is still manager then we are completely fecked no matter what.
I'm torn on this, I don't think he's done bad enough to be sacked but at the same I feel we'll never compete for top honours while he is here. Who honestly could replace him? I keep seeing Zidane as a suggestion but I'm very sceptical he can replicate such success elsewhere.
It's an difficult one. If we are well of the pace for even Top 4 by Christmas he will go then. If there is still a chance of Top 4 they will keep him until the end of the season. If we don't get Top 4 he will be gone, even if we do he might still be gone, because I do think they want more than that.
Gotten past the point of anger with him and his management.
Now its just general apathy. And thats probably even worse.
Now its just general apathy. And thats probably even worse.
Is it a coincidence that every player we bought or had before Mourinho's arrival went down in form under JM, except one player, De Gea that technically JM does not coach?!
Unpopular opinion but I think Eddie howe would be an interesting choice
Honestly think we should sack Mourinho and let Carrick and McKenna take over for the rest of the season.
If they do well, then their contract should be extended.
Honestly think we should sack Mourinho and let Carrick and McKenna take over for the rest of the season.
If they do well, then their contract should be extended.
me too, Ill drink to that.
Not if you replace him with Zidane. He'll quit himself after less than 3 seasons and having doubled your CL trophies.
I like Zidane and loved him as a player but Lopetegui still has Real Madrid in first. Guardiola also inherited a great team but then was allowed to buy what he wanted on top of this.
Maybe Jardim is legit, hard to tell because Ligue 1 is an inferior league, but I wouldn't be upset if we hired him. The manager who has been the most transformative has been Klopp... but I had wanted him to begin with and the timing just wasn't right to get him. Jose has been generally good, if he has a weakness it's more that he's been wasteful with some of his purchases... and although we need center backs, I don't get spending that type of money on Lindelof and now trying for Maguire. Other than the Spurs game this team with luck easily could right in the thick of things, and we should be top four at least. I want to see the head to head matches with City and Liverpool before I write Jose off.
Let's see what happens when he plays Klopp and Guardiola... I blame the players for underperforming more than I blame Jose. He adds Matic, Pogba, Fred to the midfield... adds Alexis to the attack... he shores up the defense last season and allows the second least amount of goals... tries to sign Boateng... brings Shaw back to form... I don't know what more he can do? I still think Lukaku is the weak link, as I felt Rooney was towards the end of his career... brilliant scorers who don't have the technical ability of the rest of the side, so they constantly kill the momentum of the attack with untimely heavy touches. I still think Rafa is a good manager, btw... think of how Pep would look working for Mike Ashley.
Forget Zidane, I'd even take a risk on Nuno Santo . He has proved he can take championship team to the PL playing an exciting brand of football and holding their own against bigger clubs. If we can see progress i don't really mind who the manager is. Jose has had enough time to put his stamp on the team and it's not working. And if it's not working you make a change. Jose is living off his name only. If we were being managed by David Moyes and we had the same results we're having now there would be uproar.
I am all for giving him time, but his persistence of playing the focal point approach with Lukaku is wearing thin.
Right now, its either:
Persist with Lukaku - Out
Drop him (Not Fellaini as replacement) - give him more time
Right now, its either:
Persist with Lukaku - Out
Drop him (Not Fellaini as replacement) - give him more time
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Dude I never hid that I didn't want Mourinho here in the first place, but once he was manager elect I was prepared to give him a chance. Now that is out of the way again, tell me is anything I've said false or make no sense? BTW things never went all that well ever as witnessed by the huge division among fans even seen he came here, for anyone other than few die hard Mourinho fans.
Also what responsibility? Has Mourinho ever taken responsibility? Fellaini apologising for not being better in bringing the hoofball down? Or Pogba, Smalling and Lindelof for not hoofing the ball better?
They're all following managers instructions and after all he is the one picking the starting 11.
I like the 3 pm kickoff, because they mean a nice 10 am game for me. But..........I went looking for the game on tv yesterday, and it wasn't there!
For a while I assumed the games were on stream because the sources wanted all the Man Utd fans to buy in, now I think we're just has-beens. Watching a bit of Arsenal today, where they had wing players zipping up and down the field...kind of wish we'd bought one of those. (or 2)
CL quarters.
The pokal win was very nice of course, but it papered a lot of cracks. Tuchel's 2nd season with us caused a lot or problems off the field - hence he was sacked, and on the field we where inconsistent away from home to put it kindly. The football was a big let down after his first season too.
Tuchel has a way to go till he's considered top class, he must have a very good agent though! He is clearly talented, but still a few major question marks.
Maguire is no Rio.
Far be it for me to defend Mourinho, but in terms of how we play I didn't think it was bad at all, Pogba and Fred were pushing on, Shaw got down his flank, we approached the game with the right attitude IMO, but when you have a striker that can't hold onto the ball and two wide players that offered nothing it's very difficult to build attacks, and yes I know we are not a well coached offense, but even the basics escaped Lukaku and Sanchez yesterday.
Interesting - I still wouldn't mind him here every manager has their flaws. What kind of off the field problems was he having? I know there was some issue after the bus attack.
How do you think he would do with this current united team?
There was a lot of problems regards transfers - a lot of differing opinions. He was unahppy at losing Gundogan, Hummels and Mkhi in one summer, even though he was ok with losing 2 of the 3, he seemed assured that Mkhi would be allowed to run down his contract with us, but of course, when Utd offered a good fee for him, he was allowed to leave. So he was unhappy with that. And then Tuchel wanted money invested on players already at their prime and ready for the first team. But Dortmund wanted to go down the route of buying young players to develop. So there was a lot of discontent and unrest over that. In the end there was a compromise - he got some more experienced players and the team also bought young players. It sort of ended up really causing a big inbalance in the squad.
He had big problems with our the head scout Sven Mislintant (now at Arsenal) to the extent he banished him from the training ground. There was the big fallout over the bus thing too, where our CEO Aki Watzke basically accused him of lying to the press, saying that he'd not been communicated with regards the postponement and rescheduling of the game, when indeed he had been spoken with. Just in the end there was so much distrust amongst him, Zorc and Watzke and those within the club, that his position became untenable. Few fallouts with senior player too didn't help.
How he'd do with United squad? He is a perfectionist and very controlling, which means he wants full control of every movement the team makes. When it works it's great, when it doesn't, it's not. He is very demanding, and wants to be at the very top, and to work with the best players. He'd get plenty out of your players I am sure - especially the forwards - his problem for me is longevity at clubs, be interesting to see how long he lasts at PSG.
Will be interesting to read the excuse laden gymnastics if Utd contrive to finish outside of the top 4. City were a wonderful shield for any criticism directed towards Mourinho last year, couldn't be expected to match them, wonder how hard it would be to sell the idea that Arsenal have a better squad than Utd if we somehow finish below or even trail them for long periods this season.
"Arsenal have a world class striker duo while we have to settle for Lukaku Lingard and Sanchez" maybe.
I think it's not hard to make a case for United having the second strongest squad in the league, so us trailing anyone other than City will be a tough one for anyone to make excuse for, let alone Arsenal.
Imagine the fallout if the lot from down the East Lancs won it?
The problem is, he doesn't either. I don't have a problem with his signings, but he can't get the best out of them. Being a manager is about doing a bit more than buying new players. I don't see his fingerprint on the team after more than two years of work. That's on him, not on Pogba or Lukaku.
We're not even playing as well as Wolves...
Would sacking Mourinho mean getting a manager with an inferior CV? Yes. Would he be an inferior coach? Not necessarily. The Mourinho I've seen in recent years is not one of the best in the world so replacing him with someone better isn't as impossible as it might seem.
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