So we just don't try and accept we're not winning or challenging and be fine with top 4 and CL group stage maybe with a cup win if we're lucky. Are we just Arsenal now? Do people even have other more realistic option for us than the guy managing our biggest rival? Shouldn't go for the option more likely to compete because our ideal manager is at liverpool?
No, but we don’t just go for the one who is available. If our board was actually competent enough to plan for a suitable manager then we wouldn’t be in this “mess” (with that I mean not competing for the league for 8 years) anyway.
But then if the board was competent enough to find us a good manager, then they would have probably also been competent enough not to hire Mourinho, not to buy Pogba, Di Maria, Sanchez, past it Matic, etc. for huge money and wouldn’t be handing out big long term contracts to DdG, Jones, Bailly, Matic, etc.
We will either be successful with Ole or by luck (again, like Liverpool) manage to get a great manager. But the last thing I want is a manager whose ego is that big that he just looks at his CV and wants to add any trophies at any cost. Some of the mediocre but expensive players he then buys and who will outlast him is then of course not his problem, but United’s.
And it does not matter what us fans might suggest as options. We can only guess what our board’s thinking is. And based on what I have witnessed with the Glazers so far and especially since the man who kept winning trophies despite them retired I believe this is what their thinking is (regardless of what fans think):
- They have hired two top class managers in the past who failed. Both managed to finish outside top 4 in one of their full season despite spending enough money. One was intolerable in his last season/year before being sacked.
- The current guy has finished top 4 in both of his full seasons while spending money
- We were 3rd last season and 2nd now.
- As long as this continues and we don’t strengthen our starting eleven this will be the target.
If we fail to qualify for top 4 he will be sacked
- The only scenario where I can see the Glazers sacking Ole for not properly challenging for the league title is if the Glazers this summer actually strengthen big (Sancho + at least one out of DM/CB, ideally both)
- Fans can go on about tin pot cups all they want but they don’t bring money. CL qualification does.
- Glazers know about finances. So they will also know that City finished ahead of us last season and still strengthened their starting eleven with Dias. Chelsea finished on equal pointwith us and still went on to buy basically everyone.
Even the league winners bought Thiago (Jota I won’t count as he was probably not signed for the first eleven).
Whereas we made a last minute free Cavani signing, a player who could strengthen our first eleven when fit.
- As long as their transfer approach won’t change, their expectations beyond top 4 will also not change.