Man Utd Thread:

[Armagh18]

What in his coaching cv points to inspiration as a strength?

One other major failure at Sunderland was signings. He won't be able to sign players United release like he did there

His whole time as a player at Utd routinely cited as the best player, biggest influence, leader, best captain by some of Man Utds greatest including SAF, Muster Heineken Cup 2005 involvement (look it up), Sunderland promotion, assistant to MON with Eire, MON described him as an inspirational figure in the role ... to say he doesn't inspire people is like saying Kieran McGeeney doesn't inspire people, come to think of it there was wans had McGeeney down as clueless and a beat docket prior to Armagh winning in 2024

Utd don't need signings, they have 16 senior internationals to fit into 11 slots, and some excellent development prospects coming though, and its not like they have an excessive number of games to plan for, they need to start by getting the best out of what they've got

Are you simple or winding or both lol

Are Utd objectively any worse on paper than Villa Chelsea Newcastle Brentford? No. Therefore they don't need signings at this time, they need to deploy effectively the talent they have in the building. The most recent urgent signing they needed was a GK and they now have a good one, they have 20 quality players vying for 11 places, its not rocket science

Look at their midfield options. Ugarte- a dud, Bruno- super player but clearly a number 10 and not a midfielder. Casemiro- legs aren't there anymore. Mainoo- talented yes but also hasn't really played in a year, not convinced he's the man. Not sure there's many worse midfields in the league is there? Outside of that the rest of the squad is probably passable for now.

[Armagh18]

That's basically my point.

Elite players rarely make good managers. Cruyff. Maybe Pep. That's pretty much it.

There may be an argument that he could be an effective assistant,the bad cop. But he hasn't managed in 15 years. He isn't getting offers.

The day of a brutal manager is over. If Amorim was considered too blunt, Keane wouldn't have a hope.

And the rest ... Dalglish, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Ancelotti, Deschamps, Luis Enrique, Simeone off top of the head, jez

Probably as many failures of top players trying to manage, Rooney, Lampard, Gerard etc. Looks to me that theres not really a correlation- Keane being a brilliant player isn't that relevant to his managerial career.

[tiempo]

The MF has been badly mismanaged, they aren't that bad

[Look-Up!]

Which mother f****r you talking about?

[Ethan Tremblay]

United have literally tried every manager 'type' under the sun.  Premier league experience, premier league winner, international managers, up and coming managers, managers "who understand" the club.  There is no manager with a background that is going to turn things around in 2 years, and fans are not patient enough to put up with that. 

So there would be no danger in taking on Keane, as anything else they have tried has failed. 

It would be box office to see.  I don't think players would openly challenge his authority as they know what they would get back, it would be too much hassle for them.  But you could rest assured he would be out the door in no time scrapping with the higher ups like Wilcox and Ratcliffe. 

[Armagh18]

United have literally tried every manager 'type' under the sun.  Premier league experience, premier league winner, international managers, up and coming managers, managers "who understand" the club.  There is no manager with a background that is going to turn things around in 2 years, and fans are not patient enough to put up with that. 

So there would be no danger in taking on Keane, as anything else they have tried has failed. 

It would be box office to see.  I don't think players would openly challenge his authority as they know what they would get back, it would be too much hassle for them.  But you could rest assured he would be out the door in no time scrapping with the higher ups like Wilcox and Ratcliffe. 

100%. Ole's nice enough that he'll do what he's told by the clowns upstairs.

[Captain Scarlet]

Man United are a soap opera so Keane would make sense in that sense...

He is not up to taking it on full time, and to be honest he has a great gig with Sky and then he'll be off to the World Cup with ITV. Dealing with higher ups is the most important thing with Jim and the lads, that's why I think it'll be Southgate.

The way the season is going a few steady wins and Champions League is a real possibility. But then a couple of losses and you are mid-table. Sesko might actually have a player in there somewhere it turns out.

I mentioned ages ago about Arsenal picking up lads at good value, but it was rightly pointed they bought plenty of duds but shipped lads out. United never seem to be able to get rid of lads.

[seafoid]

https://x.com/cyp_toon/status/2009391644513300604

[Armagh18]

Man United are a soap opera so Keane would make sense in that sense...

He is not up to taking it on full time, and to be honest he has a great gig with Sky and then he'll be off to the World Cup with ITV. Dealing with higher ups is the most important thing with Jim and the lads, that's why I think it'll be Southgate.

The way the season is going a few steady wins and Champions League is a real possibility. But then a couple of losses and you are mid-table. Sesko might actually have a player in there somewhere it turns out.

I mentioned ages ago about Arsenal picking up lads at good value, but it was rightly pointed they bought plenty of duds but shipped lads out. United never seem to be able to get rid of lads.

In fairness that's improved a bit in recent times, I think even the new lads aren't on mad money so if they'd turned out to be duds it wouldn't have been as tough to get them away. Hopefully things keep going in that direction and they'll be fit to get fees for players they dont want anymore

[Look-Up!]

I'd agree that they have got the inflated contracts under control more in recent times though still a problem.

On the next manager they need to stick with the fresh approach. No way is Keane an option so pointless talk. I would defend his record with Sunderland though. No way is it worse than OGS with Cardiff or Van Nistelrooy with Leicester. But they need to move away from the circus.

But I wouldn't rule out any appointment. Seems to be two trains of thought and two different philosophies, both in a financial and footballing perspective, running the show and in constant tension with each other. Maybe that's what scuttled the promises to Amorim. So could be a bumpy ride yet. Still very much the feel of a rudderless ship or maybe a more accurate description, two captains fighting over the wheel.

[tiempo]

If hiring anyone with a previous association adds to the circus then in my view

Interim: Joachim Löw, first game of 26/27: Tuchel

Löw could also stay in a support role post handover, he had previously been assistant manager at Germany, doesn't seem like an ego maniac and would have Tuchel's back as well as providing occasional sage advice

[Baile Brigín 2]

That's basically my point.

Elite players rarely make good managers. Cruyff. Maybe Pep. That's pretty much it.

There may be an argument that he could be an effective assistant,the bad cop. But he hasn't managed in 15 years. He isn't getting offers.

The day of a brutal manager is over. If Amorim was considered too blunt, Keane wouldn't have a hope.

And the rest ... Dalglish, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Ancelotti, Deschamps, Luis Enrique, Simeone off top of the head, jez

I'll give you Beckenbauer and Enrique.

Dalglish was a mixed bag of a manager, but ok.

That's 5. Ever.

Zidane hasn't achieved in management and has been out of work for 5 years.

Were the rest elite players? They were excellent and successful, but the best of the best?

It's a known thing in soccer that the pinnacle players very rarely make it in management. Take any list - lets go with the FIFA 100 best ever players.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_100

Remarkably few went onto to any level of management, never mind being successful.

There are two theories. One is unlike journeymen players like Ferguson, Klopp or Clough or non players like Wenger or Mourinho, they made their money and don't need the hassle. Another is they can't relate to or deal with inferior players. But this isn't something I thought up here and now.

Back to the point. Keane, or anyone, being a great player does not mean they can manage, nevermind successfully.

[Baile Brigín 2]

That's basically my point.

Elite players rarely make good managers. Cruyff. Maybe Pep. That's pretty much it.

There may be an argument that he could be an effective assistant,the bad cop. But he hasn't managed in 15 years. He isn't getting offers.

The day of a brutal manager is over. If Amorim was considered too blunt, Keane wouldn't have a hope.

And the rest ... Dalglish, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Ancelotti, Deschamps, Luis Enrique, Simeone off top of the head, jez

Probably as many failures of top players trying to manage, Rooney, Lampard, Gerard etc. Looks to me that theres not really a correlation- Keane being a brilliant player isn't that relevant to his managerial career.

I think Simon Kuper wrote about this. There is a correlation- a negative one.

The overwhelming majority of top managers were decent or mediocre midfielders or attackers often whose careers ended early.

It's quite rare a top, top player manages successfully.

On paper 4 or 5 out of every 11 managers should be defenders. They aren't, and other than Zoff, name a goalkeeper who managed?

[NAG1]

That's basically my point.

Elite players rarely make good managers. Cruyff. Maybe Pep. That's pretty much it.

There may be an argument that he could be an effective assistant,the bad cop. But he hasn't managed in 15 years. He isn't getting offers.

The day of a brutal manager is over. If Amorim was considered too blunt, Keane wouldn't have a hope.

And the rest ... Dalglish, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Ancelotti, Deschamps, Luis Enrique, Simeone off top of the head, jez

Probably as many failures of top players trying to manage, Rooney, Lampard, Gerard etc. Looks to me that theres not really a correlation- Keane being a brilliant player isn't that relevant to his managerial career.

I think Simon Kuper wrote about this. There is a correlation- a negative one.

The overwhelming majority of top managers were decent or mediocre midfielders or attackers often whose careers ended early.

It's quite rare a top, top player manages successfully.

On paper 4 or 5 out of every 11 managers should be defenders. They aren't, and other than Zoff, name a goalkeeper who managed?

Nuno

[Baile Brigín 2]

That's basically my point.

Elite players rarely make good managers. Cruyff. Maybe Pep. That's pretty much it.

There may be an argument that he could be an effective assistant,the bad cop. But he hasn't managed in 15 years. He isn't getting offers.

The day of a brutal manager is over. If Amorim was considered too blunt, Keane wouldn't have a hope.

And the rest ... Dalglish, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Ancelotti, Deschamps, Luis Enrique, Simeone off top of the head, jez

Probably as many failures of top players trying to manage, Rooney, Lampard, Gerard etc. Looks to me that theres not really a correlation- Keane being a brilliant player isn't that relevant to his managerial career.

I think Simon Kuper wrote about this. There is a correlation- a negative one.

The overwhelming majority of top managers were decent or mediocre midfielders or attackers often whose careers ended early.

It's quite rare a top, top player manages successfully.

On paper 4 or 5 out of every 11 managers should be defenders. They aren't, and other than Zoff, name a goalkeeper who managed?

Nuno

Correct. Google says there are a handful, and we have named the two most successful ones.

It's interesting though.