Manchester United [2012-2013]

[clash]

Was just thinking who would fit to replace Fergie once he retires, from those, who have been already involved with the club as a player. Although there are few potential guys to take the job, each have something that would make us doubt...

Solskjaer - First job as a manager was for the United reserves, since that he joined the club he played for until 1996 - FK Molde. He has since won the league twice in a row. Those were also the clubs first two titles EVER. Aston Villa made an offer to him in the summer, but he decided to stay at Molde. He's also looking confident and energetic as fuck on the sidelines, I personally thought he'd be too soft as a manager but years under Fergie has give him a clue about how to keep things running. He'd be a total fan favorite at United but maybe a bit too much - the guy is such a legend he has openly supported MUST/Shareholders United, saying things that will not make the Glazers happy.

Blanc - Now without a job, he built a new French NT from the ruins of whatever the fuck happened in 2002-2010. France at the EURO's wasn't a laughing stock. Before taking over France, he was a manager at Bordeaux, winning both the league and the league cup with them in 2009. This summer Tottenham checked him out but decided to hire who they did in the end...

Cantona - Six years as a manager of the French beach football team, now a director at NY Cosmos, so no real expirience as a coach. Also I'm afraid he might have some trouble re-adjusting to doing just football, not movies or commercials or political puns...If he does pick up a real job as a manager of some sort, though, maybe we would think differently. Definately needs some expirience before getting considered for United.


Berg - Currently a manager of Blackburn Rovers, he has been there for just 6 or 7 games and has lost most of them, winning only one. Then again, it's a good ground to gain expirience with an absolute shit team. Before going the the Championship, he had two jobs in Norway, one for Lyn and Lilleström. The highlight was the 3rd place with Lyn on the first season. Got sacked after failing to achive anything better than a 10th place with Lilleström. Right now, it seems like he won't manage a more glamouros club than he is doing at the moment.

Keane - The man Fergie himself said would replace him. Sadly his spells at Sunderland and Ipswich weren't too promising, althought we should take into account that a young manager probably WON'T get Ipswich into the CL. He did get Sunderland into the EPL though and left not because he didn't live up to expectations but because he didn't get along with the board too well. That might very much be the reason why he won't get anywhere as a manager, his attidude hasn't changed much and although I do like him for that, most of the board members of any club wouldn't. Was sacked by Ipswich and is currently not managing anyone.

Then there's bunch of players still playing or those who haven't started as managers yet - Scholes, Giggs, van der Sar. And some legends, who have been horrible as managers - with getting sacked more than winning shit - Ince, Bruce, Hughes.

A special mention would always be Brian McClair, who can't stay away from United. Currently he's the director of the youth academy, doing an absolute shit job. Did win the reserves league as a manager back in 2002.

Also, assistant managers from the past Steve McClaren and Carlos Queiroz, have had decent carreers as managers. McClaren is currently in charge of Twente and doing a pretty solid job there. Queiroz currently at Iran, we all know what he did before that...

Current assistants Meulensteen and Phelan shouldn't even been mentioned here, I'm just doing it, so you wouldn't think I forgot about them (I almost did, though).

 

[1966+2006]

Really good post!

McClaren set Wolfburg back about 5 years within 6 months and missed Euro qualification with England. No way he has the quality.
To be honest, I don't think anybody can cut it who you have mentioned. Solskjaer has potential but I'd like to see him at a top club handling big players before he comes to United.
That's one mistake I hope we don't make when we select a new manager. We need someone who has been at the top and knows how to win big titles. There are too many times where a manager is selected because he has done well to keep a mediocre club punching above its weight. Winning titles and Champions Leagues is a whole different story.

 

[kp41]

I think only big names like Mourinho can handle the pressure and expectation to replace him.

 

[clash]

"Like Mourinho", yes, but I wouldn't like himselg at United. He might get bored with 2 seasons and then leave. Should be someone who knows what loyality means, that one (and pretty much the only) reason why ex-players MIGHT do a good job.

I do agree that a proven manager, able to win bigger trophys than the League Cup should be prefered. If we go for the "next big thing", we might fail e.g look where Paul Le Guen is now. Another dangerous example, who has also been linked to us, is Martin O'Neill. Absolute legend for Celtic but was in difficulties with bringing Aston Villa their usual mid-table position with first seasons there.

Let's just get Klopp?

 

[kp41]

United had dark years after Sir Matt Busby run, that makes me worried.

 

[coach]

What about Pep Guardiola?

 

[Pogba4Now]

Out of all those you mentioned, Solskjaer looks like the best choice. I would prefer if an ex-United player takes over TBH. Someone who has trained under Fergie and knows the true Man Utd spirit.

Ferguson himself was not at a big club before joining Man Utd but the SPL is certainly a more competitive league than the Norwegian league.

Out of the current players you mention, Giggs looks like the best candidate. He's always been a mature and responsible player and has been under the guidance of Fergie for longer than any other players.

I think Mourinho would do an excellent job and could potentially win us another UCL but he would be just a temporary fix. Most teams go behind when he leaves. Look at what Inter or Chelsea have become after he left.

EDIT: I don't think Guardiola would be a good candidate because his style doesn't suit Man Utd at all. If he plays with his Barca style, we will end up like Arsenal. i.e. pretending to be Barca then fail miserably. I could be wrong about Guardiola though. Hard to tell because he has only managed 1 club.

 

[Arnau]

There's no such thing as "Barça Style", every system is its players and Guardiola is smart enough to train a football their players feel. Guardiola is the best thing it could happen to United if SAF retires.

 

[Theodorakis]

replacing fergie.. if it does mean putting an equally qualified man, then you'd be dreaming.. fergie is unique and irreplaceable for man utd.. so you have two options.. one is to give him more than one option and let him tutor his successor for the coming years while he's been managing, or two you bring a person outside the club who already established himself.. and no I dont mean mourinho.. Klopp is a good choice.. his training techniques are stunning.. guardiola might be..

but for me, it's more like having giggs, scholes, solksjaer, van der saar, mcclair, no cantona under his wings in different positions for at least four or five years and let him decide.. unfortunately it's too late for keane since he's unlikely to step down to a assistant or a coaching role..

 

[yoyo913]

Once Ferguson retires Man Utd will become like every other big team. They'll have managers trying to win whilst getting fired every few years.

 

[Arnau]

With the exception of Chelsea, managers last longer in the EPL.

 

[Pogba4Now]

Liverpool also, because they are absolute shit.

 

[Mandieta6]

Why would you want an ex-player as a manager? Have you not seen RDM at Chelsea? Maradona at Argentina? Why mess with your fond memories of players. If you think the board wouldn't sack the new manager, no matter who it is, if things go wrong, you're kidding yourselves. Get someone new, someone with proper qualifications that aren't 'got spat at by an old guy with an oral fixation'. As David Luiz would say "fucing geezer". He wouldn't though, because he is too cute and cuddly for that.

 

[1966+2006]

Watched that freekick about 20 times...Still gives me goosebumps

 

[Mus]

Liverpool also, because they are absolute shit.

He said big not mid table

 

[clash]

I forgot to mention how Molde did in Europe this year.

They lost in the CL qualifiers against Basel (0-1, 1-1), after that in the Europa qualifiers, they beat Heerenveen (2-1, 2-0) and got drawn into a group with Stuttgart, Steaua and Copenhagen. Lost both games against Copenhagen 1-2 and to Steaua (1-2, 0-2). Somehow managed to win both matches against Stuttgart (2-0, 1-0). Came last in the group with 6 points, Copenhagen and Stuttgart both got 8 and Steaua won with 11. Pretty good run actually for Molde. It doesn't prove anything, just bringing this up as we don't know much about the Norwegian league, comparing it with other European leagues might help.

 

[1966+2006]

Hadn't noticed Molde's progress in the EL.
Apparently Nani is rumoured to be on Arsenal's radar. It's a testament to the diminishing rivalry between Arsenal and United that moves between the two appear more likely nowadays. If they pay enough then I don't mind. I'd prefer to see him go abroad, but if 20m is paid then it doesn't really matter.

 

[adedawson]

load of rubbish that, Nani wants more money. I think the figure was 130k when united want to keep him at 90k.

Hes not going to move Arsenal when there highest paid player is on 90k. Not to mention leaving a club that wins what we do to a club that wins what they do.

Cant wait to get him back and on form from that injury.

 

[poet11]

I think Podolski earns a bit more than 100k but I'm not sure.

Nani to Arsenal is 100% unlikely I agree. We could do with him for sure but its very very unlikely. Bebe on the other hand.....

 

[clash]

I still love you, Patrice!