Manchester United 18/19: finishing second best

[Dandred]

Cardiff are going to want to prove a point, if they win it would be hilarious. Solskjaer's managerial record isn't great.....

 

[Patteran]

The return of Phelan also points in the same direction, can't imagine Woodward coming up with him either. As for the director of football it would be better if he was picked on his own merits rather than because of any links to Ole's possible successor. Pochetinno is not a given after all. Utd need to go back to the core philosophy. And so a heavyweight in his own right, ideally ex-United, who has an instinctive understanding of what is required is the priority.

Mitchell was touted a few weeks back, before Jose was sacked - the planned summer replacement may have been accelerated by events. Possibly relevant, Gill was spotted/presented at Carrington this morning.

I don't know how United's core philosophy would work anymore. What was it? Busby's 'Just get out there & enjoy yourselves' prerogative to entertain succeeded by drawing on atypically large talent pool of players, crowds & local media that had been created by Mcr's early industrialisation. It was replicated under Ferguson, driven by a mad proletarian/presbyterian work ethic, then with added Prem & tv funds. Mcr's geographical/historical advantages have gone - the talent pool is global, the tv money gets everywhere, sugar daddies pop up all over, & the players are no longer driven/humbled by 50,000 dads & lads off the docks - & the commonality & solidarity of shared experience that unified the crowds has also gone. United was a weird popular front - a successful alliance between the parochial working class & the provincial business & media classes. And as long as turnstiles provided key revenue, a balance was maintained. Supporters have been replaced with global customers - that leverage & influence has gone, & won't be coming back. And can you even play two wingers anymore?

Maybe? Fucked if I know, my old pal. Get Keane in, that's what I think. Keano, & relegation. Doc's Red Army Part 2.

 

[Wilf]

i am very happy with the man utd board, and with the caretaker manager they have selected

Hang on a minute, could I just check you out with my brand new Sincerity Meter?

 

[Joe Reilly]

Can't help thinking that things would look a whole lot better at the moment if they'd kept Van Gaal.

A quick look at his signings and - where they are are now - tells a different story.

 

[Wilf]

Cardiff are going to want to prove a point, if they win it would be hilarious. Solskjaer's managerial record isn't great.....

Oh! I'd forgotten it was Cardiff next.

 

[Wilf]

To be honest, all of the post-Ferguson sackings were justified. Don't mean just in the logic of 'modern football', more that there were no signs of improvement, they were playing shit football and the manager seemed to have lost the dressing room.

 

[Johnny Doe]

Even as a united fan I'm enjoying the lolz over this. Loathsome distant owners, hopeless chief exec, what could possibly go wrong type stuff. Same time, hope it goes well for Solskjaer and he just manages to get a bit of feelgood and swagger back, a bit of positivity at least. LVG and Mourhino, in their different ways were egotistical twats and poor old moyes wasn't exactly Mr Fun. Be just nice to have someone in charge who isn't a cunt.

Yes, I can imagine as a Utd fan, acceptance and amusement, is your only option. Bizarrely, even as a Gooner, I'd hoped Ferguson would have stepped in and restored you, and football generally, to former glories. Sadly, I think those days are gone. Utd have become a Brexit-like shit-show and the world has moved on past a point of possible return. Same for my beloved Arsenal - the margins for error don't exist anymore, once you're behind, you're not coming back

 

[Joe Reilly]

Mitchell was touted a few weeks back, before Jose was sacked - the planned summer replacement may have been accelerated by events. Possibly relevant, Gill was spotted/presented at Carrington this morning.

I don't know how United's core philosophy would work anymore. What was it? Busby's 'Just get out there & enjoy yourselves' prerogative to entertain succeeded by drawing on atypically large talent pool of players, crowds & local media that had been created by Mcr's early industrialisation. It was replicated under Ferguson, driven by a mad proletarian/presbyterian work ethic, then with added Prem & tv funds. Mcr's geographical/historical advantages have gone - the talent pool is global, the tv money gets everywhere, sugar daddies pop up all over, & the players are no longer driven/humbled by 50,000 dads & lads off the docks - & the commonality & solidarity of shared experience that unified the crowds has also gone. United was a weird popular front - a successful alliance between the parochial working class & the provincial business & media classes. And as long as turnstiles provided key revenue, a balance was maintained. Supporters have been replaced with global customers - that leverage & influence has gone, & won't be coming back. And can you even play two wingers anymore?

Maybe? Fucked if I know, my old pal. Get Keane in, that's what I think. Keano, & relegation. Doc's Red Army Part 2.

Core philosophy? When Rugby chief Clive Woodard was preparing for what turned out to be a successful World Cup campaign he brought his entire squad to train with the Marines. Part fitness part team bonding. However the Marines also assessed his squad psychologically. The results shocked him. Eight out of the squad were identified as lacking in one vital area. They were not individuals the marines would ever want to share a trench with. When the chips were down the one back they were looking out for was their own. Woodward didn't identify them, but cleared them out, and won the WC.

Now look at Utd's purchases since Fergie departed and ask yourself how many would have passed the test? Then when you assess the Ferguson selection, you instantly realise the question would have to be reversed - with the focus on the handful that wouldn't pass muster. So in terms of core philosophy, systems have little to do with. Character comes first.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yes, I can imagine as a Utd fan, acceptance and amusement, is your only option. Bizarrely, even as a Gooner, I'd hoped Ferguson would have stepped in and restored you, and football generally, to former glories. Sadly, I think those days are gone. Utd have become a Brexit-like shit-show and the world has moved on past a point of possible return. Same for my beloved Arsenal - the margins for error don't exist anymore, once you're behind, you're not coming back

Yeh once you're behind you're an arse

 

[Dandred]

Taken from another site.

Solskjaer at Cardiff:

Hired January 2nd with Cardiff on 18 points after 20 games, sitting 17th in the Premier League:

Cardiff 0 v 2 West Ham
Man City 4 v 2 Cardiff
Man United 2 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 2 v 1 Norwich
Swansea 3 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 0 v 0 Aston Villa
Cardiff 0 v 4 Hull
Tottenham 1 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 3 v 1 Fulham
Everton 2 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 3 v 6 Liverpool
West Brom 3 v 3 Cardiff
Cardiff 0 v 3 Crystal Palace
Southampton 0 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 1 v 1 Stoke
Sunderland 4 v 0 Cardiff
Newcastle 3 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 1 v 2 Chelsea

P18 W3 D3 L12 GF17 GA42

Finished 20th with 30 points.

Then in the Championship before getting sacked September 18th, sitting 17th:

Blackburn 1 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 3 v 1 Huddersfield
Cardiff 1 v 0 Wigan
Wolves 1 v 0 Cardiff
Fulham 1 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 2 v 4 Norwich
Cardiff 0 v 1 Middlesbrough

P7 W2 D2 L3 GF8 GA9

So basically, he took them from 17th in the Premier League to 17th in the Championship within 9 months. Now he is going to managing Manchester United.

 

[tommers]

yeah but he's won the Norwegian League with Molde 2 seasons in a row.

6 years ago.

 

[Steel Icarus]

yeah but he's won the Norwegian League with Molde 2 seasons in a row.

6 years ago.

Ah, edited

 

[Wilf]

Taken from another site.

Solskjaer at Cardiff:

Hired January 2nd with Cardiff on 18 points after 20 games, sitting 17th in the Premier League:

Cardiff 0 v 2 West Ham
Man City 4 v 2 Cardiff
Man United 2 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 2 v 1 Norwich
Swansea 3 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 0 v 0 Aston Villa
Cardiff 0 v 4 Hull
Tottenham 1 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 3 v 1 Fulham
Everton 2 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 3 v 6 Liverpool
West Brom 3 v 3 Cardiff
Cardiff 0 v 3 Crystal Palace
Southampton 0 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 1 v 1 Stoke
Sunderland 4 v 0 Cardiff
Newcastle 3 v 0 Cardiff
Cardiff 1 v 2 Chelsea

P18 W3 D3 L12 GF17 GA42

Finished 20th with 30 points.

Then in the Championship before getting sacked September 18th, sitting 17th:

Blackburn 1 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 3 v 1 Huddersfield
Cardiff 1 v 0 Wigan
Wolves 1 v 0 Cardiff
Fulham 1 v 1 Cardiff
Cardiff 2 v 4 Norwich
Cardiff 0 v 1 Middlesbrough

P7 W2 D2 L3 GF8 GA9

So basically, he took them from 17th in the Premier League to 17th in the Championship within 9 months. Now he is going to managing Manchester United.

Or, to put it another way: 'Look Jose, this is the bloke United prefer as their manager to you'.

 

[Patteran]

Core philosophy? When Rugby chief Clive Woodard was preparing for what turned out to be a successful World Cup campaign he brought his entire squad to train with the Marines. Part fitness part team bonding. However the Marines also assessed his squad psychologically. The results shocked him. Eight out of the squad were identified as lacking in one vital area. They were not individuals the marines would ever want to share a trench with. When the chips were down the one back they were looking out for was their own. Woodward didn't identify them, but cleared them out, and won the WC.

Now look at Utd's purchases since Fergie departed and ask yourself how many would have passed the test? Then when you assess the Ferguson selection, you instantly realise the question would have to be reversed - with the focus on the handful that wouldn't pass muster. So in terms of core philosophy, systems have little to do with. Character comes first.

'Caption this'
'Under fire from the enemy, his first instinct is to plead with them about which members of his own side they should shoot.'

(I don't really think of football in such extreme militarised terms, but I know what you mean - old fella who sat behind us used to make us laugh/groan with his weekly roar of 'No shithouses in my team!')

 

[tommers]

When people turn up for interviews at work I take a few potshots at them from my sniper nest on the roof.

Got to be made of stern stuff if you want to supply office stationery to the Greater Slough area.

#woodward

 

[The39thStep]

Happy players, attacking, entertaining football and hungry (ideally local) youth.

That's all I want in the short term

You'll be switching to Spurs or Chelsea then ?

 

[RD2003]

A quick look at his signings and - where they are are now - tells a different story.

Doesn't necessarily mean that Van Gaal-no mug, as his record shows-wouldn't have made something of them. Keeping him would have brought stability. It must be 30 years since I can remember the United fanbase (the real one, not the plastic one) being so disunited (Ferguson out!, 'I'm not going again until he's gone...')

 

[LiamO]

Solksjaer's favourite song is ac/dc's 'down down', which he listens to before every match

Is that not a Status Quo 'classic'?

 

[Pickman's model]

Is that not a Status Quo 'classic'?

 

[Pickman's model]

Is that not a Status Quo 'classic'?

You're quite right I was thinking of go down. Although solksjaer is a great Quo fan too

 

[Badgers]

Is Pogba going to stay now?

 

[Dandred]

Mourinho & Man Utd: The Inside Story of the Inside Stories - Football365

Jose’s Travel Tavern
Jose Mourinho’s isolation in Manchester is a recurring theme. His 895-night, half-a-million-quid stay at The Lowry has become the stuff of legend. Multiple studies have shown it is literally impossible for any mildly successful football twitter account to resist the obvious Alan Partridge jokes. We too are only human.

While the state of his Corby trouser press remains, alas, a mystery, the picture painted is clear. ‘Mourinho cut an isolated figure in Manchester and was often spotted sitting alone in the restaurant at the Lowry Hotel in Salford, his home in the city for two-and-a-half years,’ writes ESPN’s Rob Dawson, negligently failing to confirm the diameter of Jose’s plate.

‘Wearing cream chinos and a black jacket, the sacked 55-year-old sipped a cup of tea while looking out of the window,’ Dan Browns The Times’ Paul Hirst. ‘Behind him stood a grand piano, but alas Alexis Sánchez was not there to tinkle the ivories for his manager before he checked out of the hotel that he has called home for the past two-and-a-half years.

‘After a while Ricardo Formosinho joined Mourinho at the table, but his former boss barely spoke to him. Instead, Mourinho’s erstwhile assistant coach just sat as his compatriot’s phone pinged incessantly. According to those present, Mourinho fielded call after call, then he was replying to WhatsApp messages from those comforting him after his sacking.’

Just going for a walk. To the petrol station. Get some windscreen washer fluid. Anyone… anyone want to join me? Breath of fresh air??

 

[chilango]

Solskjaer is definitely saying the right things so far.

 

[heinous seamus]

Should have gone with Keano for a laugh.

 

[The39thStep]

Solskjaer is definitely saying the right things so far.

He's said about everything tbh , we'll have to see if the he walks the talk. What would be his target in your opinion CL ie top 4 or Europa top 5/6?

 

[chilango]

He's said about everything tbh , we'll have to see if the he walks the talk. What would be his target in your opinion CL ie top 4 or Europa top 5/6?

For me?

A happier squad, playing better (attacking) football. Give the FA cup a real go.

 

[Pickman's model]

Solskjaer is definitely saying the right things so far.

I'm looking forward to him doing his talking on the pitch

 

[Patteran]

Core philosophy? When Rugby chief Clive Woodard was preparing for what turned out to be a successful World Cup campaign he brought his entire squad to train with the Marines. Part fitness part team bonding. However the Marines also assessed his squad psychologically. The results shocked him. Eight out of the squad were identified as lacking in one vital area. They were not individuals the marines would ever want to share a trench with. When the chips were down the one back they were looking out for was their own. Woodward didn't identify them, but cleared them out, and won the WC.

Now look at Utd's purchases since Fergie departed and ask yourself how many would have passed the test? Then when you assess the Ferguson selection, you instantly realise the question would have to be reversed - with the focus on the handful that wouldn't pass muster. So in terms of core philosophy, systems have little to do with. Character comes first.

You heard this from Keane?

'They're not just weak players, they're weak human beings'.

 

[The39thStep]

For me?

A happier squad, playing better (attacking) football. Give the FA cup a real go.

Re happier: found it intersting that only three players , Lingard, Bailly and Dalot posted on social media thanking him.

 

[Joe Reilly]

You heard this from Keane?

'They're not just weak players, they're weak human beings'.

I concur.