Manchester United

Only 40? Shit, Briatore went through that many in 4 years at QPR..... ok, it was only 17.

This is very similar to what happened after 24 year serving manager Mat Busby retired in 1969, Wilf McGuiness (exactly - Wilf who?) took over and lasted half a season (Moyes was luckier) before he was sacked and Busby stepped back in for the second half of the 1969 - 70 season and the whole 1970 -71 season. Then Frank O'Farrell lasted only June '71 - December '72 after finishing eighth in his first season.

Followed by ignominy of relegation to Div. 2 in 1974 under Docherty.

Then 14 years of minimal achievement (only the three FA Cups) under Docherty, Sexton and Atkinson before Ferguson took over in 1986.

The board will be scared of declining as much as the team did in the early '70's. Unless they find the right manager and sign the right players, they know a very steep decline is possible. 

Be interesting to see how Moyes bounces back - he'll be crushed but I see him returning to management in a year or two. Could be successful again at another club. But very few British managers are up to the standard for winning things in the EPL and Moyes just confirms that. Brendan Rogers is Northern Irish so technically qualifies as "British" and seems to be proving himself very much an exception.

Ha. had totally forgotten about this.

Worth a change in member title.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/26/alex-ferguson-ryan-giggs-manchester-united-manager

how'd that work out last time?

Giggs needs to go a manage a lower league team for a few years if he is serious about managing. I wouldnt give fergie any say in appointing a successor.

Hope this is true.

http://talkofthedevils.com/van-gaal-reaches-agreement-manage-manchester-united/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=van-gaal-reaches-agreement-manage-manchester-united

I'm sure Giggs will be happy with that result. Should have been 6/7. Utd played some good football for a change but two players that have to go are Cleverley and Young. Ever since Bryan Robson touted him years ago as the real thing I have watched and waited. He must be the most overrated player in English football. Was the worst player on the pitch and even Giggs finally saw that and dragged him.

Leggy - do you think the players just did not bother to turn up for Moyes? 

What's your take on it all?

Cleverley is just not clever and to keep Mata on the bench is unbelievable. Young is just a diving cnut that should never have been signed by United. That he goes down quicker than a $2 hooker is well known. Robben and him along with Drogba and occassionally Rooney are the worst offenders.

So what you had an off season, welcome to the same world the rest of us live in. Instead of sacking Moyes certain egotisitical players should have been sacked. They certainly did not do Uniteds reputation any good nor their own reputations.

Cor, Ryan Giggs, you know? Giggsy, isn't it? Mmm? Giggsy-wiggsy? Mmm? Oh! Ryan-y Giggsy-wiggsy. Isn't it? You know, marvellous.

I'm a bit worried about the drums beating for Giggs. I would love him to become manager down the line but he needs to improve himself first.  Juan Mata is the player we need to build the team around so him being on the bench makes zero sense unless injury related.

It is interesting Mata and Rooney. Both prefer to play in basically the same position and probably the highest remunerated. Maybe Welbeck, Rooney and Kagawa, or another mobile forward, could all take turns in the different front 3 positions and then can accommodate Mata behind them.

Interesting that Real Madrid are able to accommodate3 recognised wingers (Ronaldo, Bale, Di Maria) behind Benzema - which obviously suits their counter attacking game. Also nice to have Modric and Alonso sitting behind that. No way would Ancelotti want to leave that lot for our lot!

Whilst I'm sure LVG will add key players, he is also astute enough to accommodate good players who can play his brand of football. If they can't they'll move on.

If you were Giggs who better to do a manager's apprenticeship under than LVG?

"His first decision as manager, to remove Sir Alex's coaching staff and transplant his Everton backroom team to Old Trafford, was a  sign of his determination to do things his way, but it was the first of many decisions that left players and staff at United confused and concerned. It suggested he wasn't prepared to step out of the comfort zone he had earned at Everton. Early rumblings of dissatisfaction among the players as a result of his training methods were dismissed but they failed to go away. Players accustomed to sharp sessions with the ball under Ferguson were now being asked to improve their fitness in much more demanding training routines, where lengthy and often tedious sessions practising shape and defensive drills replaced the possession work favoured by Ferguson. Yet rather than produce a fitter team United appeared lethargic and increasingly incapable of passing the ball. Tactically, Moyes also left players bewildered. ... He would be indecisive over everything from team selection to travelling arrangements...." etc. etc.

Mark Ogden - UK Daily Telegraph (my italics)

Some of that is interesting. I think if I was doing this, then I would just to keep on most of the previous staff and bring across the ones from Everton that are prized. In the end, you have to look at 'They consistently win, I never have so the existing staff have something over me straight away' and you make the most of the learnings out of that and hope to mold them into what you want them to be and learn from them. A far more successful formula.

Sounds like the players want Giggs to stay on, especially as van Gaal has said he's going to do a Moyes and bring over his whole coaching staff from Holland if he gets the job - i.e. Giggs, Butt, Scholes etc. get the boot from the training ground.

see latest on www.stuff.co.nz

Tell me one (sane)Club where they have appointed the managers assistant without the manager choosing him? The gaffer MUST be the one who chooses his team. I couldn't imagine many top qaulity managers wanting to have to work with Giggs, in that capacity. Sure make him a first team/academy coach, but dont force him into the #2 role. It will end in tears.

The Story Continues

Blunderland won? Explain that one. No doubt a nothing game, can't climb the table, can't be passed.

Any thoughts that some had about Giggs being manager have well and truly put to bed. Picking the likes of Young and Nani who are going to be dumped shortly was laughable. He realised his mistake by dragging them both but was too late. Then taking off Mata ( who had been the best player) for RVP just about summed it up.

Sunderland could have scored a couple more except for the bar and the post.Unt could have won that by a mile if they  had taken their chances and Carrick and Fletcher had not kept giving the ball away.

I reckon at least six of the players today will be gone very shortly.

FFS I hope we appoint LVP this week and put this season to bed.

LVG

Hull City fans chanting "Stand up if your in Europe". Brilliant.

Have been watching James Wilson with the U18s/21s on MUTV. He's prolific for those sides but I was still surprised to see a brace on senior debut. Wonder if they'll loan him out next season