United supposed to be still after Perisic but think could be more difficult with Inter now in Champions League

Oh brilliant stuff OD , hopefully the Boss will back at Old Trafford soon watching the Boys

Go on OD say what you want to say

nothing from the SAF camp at all PTB  .. a week ago still nothing .. no news is good news . ??  ..all leads are lost .. ?  wish them all well  .........hoping all is fine .
take it nothing your end either .

at time think it was mooted the reports to be via the club .. but might be wrong .. a lot of water under the bridge since then .. get asked ever day if heard anything .  . realise very much how difficult it is ..
on positive  ....really hope he makes it back like many others .   same us most on this  site .

Pete,

True we did all know how he'd play his teams but the appointment wasn't a considered one was it, if it was he would have been appointed when SAF retired, but back then in a more considered evaluation of him it was viewed that his style wasn't wanted.

Fast forward and after the failure that was Moyes and LVG and with Pep in place up the road the considered opinion on Mourinho's style of play that was once a primary concern became a mere side issue replaced instead by the necessity in many eyes to appoint a "face", someone who could (if not in the playing stakes) go toe to toe with Pep, someone who the fans could march into grounds on the back of and give them that shiver down the spine happy in the knowledge that we've got the bad boy and we love it

However after the razzmatazz dies away you're left with the evidence on the pitch that was the reason he wasn't appointed in the first place!!!

Let's see how it goes this time around and at least hope for a little more in the way of attacking play.

reports and rumours anx? feck 'em, they are usually fiction.....

Tonight we should hopefully see a fitter and more balanced forward line. Mitchell on subs bench and Martial replacing him out left whilst Sanchez comes in as striker. I'd be happy to see Fosu- Mensah right back and Valencia pushed up to right wing, with Mata moving inside as No10. I'm assuming McTominay will be doubtful after his head injury last game......

I'd also be happy if Tuanzebe played right back I'm sure either will do the job well for us......

Hopefully a few of the kids put a marker down tonight DeSS

Not sure DeSS but a couple of weeks ago there were rumours that McTominay might go out on loan to Celtic if we signed the players we are after

I reckon team tonight could be:

Pereira

Valencia
Bailly
Smalling
Shaw

Mata
Herrera
Pereira

Chong
Sanchez
Martial

It’s his agent doc. He told Mourinho that “they” wanted to move as they couldn’t see a future for Martial. United say they will listen to offers but reluctant to sell to an English club.

That was a couple of weeks ago.

If Martial himself has told Mourinho then I wouldn’t expect him to play tonight.

Mourinho really wants Willian so maybe he might consider Martial as part of a deal?

I hope not as I really like Martial despite him being a proper mardy arse.

I reckon the whole Pep to replace Fergie point is indicative of how Utd have fallen from grace.


I think firstly, you should ask why him? Yes, he was successful and played great footy but what were Utd doing behind the scenes in terms of a long term plan. Nowadays, a manager is not the be all and end all. Managers changes, usually only last 2-3 years. The key is that the club has a plan and a structure surely.

Utd are indicative of how to do it badly. You want Pep, he says no, you go for Moyes. Moyes ffs. I mean? At least go for Martinez or someone who tries to play football. But going for someone who isn't successful and doesn't play good football? What is the plan exactly?

You then realise Moyes is an error. Both for not being used to the magnitude of the task and for playing negative, pathetic football. So you replace him with LGV. A "safe pair of hands". Again, what's the long term vision? Where's the continuity planning? Giggs?

Again, more of the same. A cup win but fans are hating the football and you're not challenging for the top honours. So you get Mourinho. Someone who is a winner but is notorious for leaving a mess behind, and being interested in his own legacy not in building himself into a club institution.


Again, we're the Ghosts of Christmas Past again. You can look at the post-Kenny and post-Rafa decisions frankly. The game changed in the early 90s. Utd saw it and grew into a behemoth on the back of it. We didn't and fell behind. But when Kenny left we simply looked for someone with LFC stamped through  them and  who was doing well and Souness fitted the bill. That seemed to be enough. What were the conversations about how he saw the team developing and how he would re-build an ageing squad? Not much I reckon. Similarly, Rafa goes and we go for Mr Safe Pair of Hands. He fails and we again go for Mr Safe Pair of Hands. At least by Rodgers' appointment there's a sign that we're looking beyond the next 18 months. We actually interviewed some people, asked them what they'd do. We took a risk. At the same time we decided player recruitment could be improved. Ultimately this is where the two strands fell apart. And luckily a person who seemed, and looks like is, the ideal candidate was available and was able to slot in.


I think Utd have a similar crossroads to reach. They can carry on in their current fashion and essentially just be a northern Chelsea. You'll have some success but will not have a run and will always be looking at the neighbour's greener grass. Or you could look to re-structure from the top down. Make a decision on what you want to be and how you will achieve it, and then go about looking for the right people to do it for you.

Don't disagree it's easier to see afterwards, but to be fair people were scratching their heads at Moyes' appointment at the time, particularly when you learn Pep was first choice.

As much as Mourinho isn't a failure, there's no sign his appointment is indicative of any long term thinking. He's merely a punt that he'll bring his success with him and you'll deal with replacing him when you need to.

But going back the replace Fergie decision was a true debacle. It's not like they didn't have long enough to plan for it.

In what world are your top two Pep and Moysey?


City are evidence of forward planning. They got Beguiristan and some others, looked to emulate Barca's system and style, and then went and got the guy who headed it. And then they stroll it. I don't think it's just a simple case of Pep sprinkling his stardust on them.

I've heard that before Pete, and it sounds fair enough.

Still, to me it's the club abdicating responsibility to Fergie. They should have had some system in place of how they see the next 10 years panning out and working to that. God knows, Fergie's greatest strength (to me) was his adaptability. He wasn't a one trick pony but was capable of assessing the landscape and moving with the times, often by re-jigging his backroom staff.

God knows why he thought Moyes was a good #2, with a potential to replace still. Maybe a sign of sentimentality or just a good old fashioned mistake. But still, the club should have stepped up. If not then, at least when Moysey was making it obvious he wasn't the guy.

As I've said before, my worry is if you did get Pocch, as I think he could be a long term guy. I don't think anyone from this end of the East Lancs were really that bothered when you got Jose. Yes, his record is good but we know his game by now and he isn't going to actually restore you to greatness. He's pretty unlikeable and we'll make that clear, but we dislike him because he's vain and treats others badly, not because we're worried.

Question is who have they got pencilled in to replace him and how are they viewing it succeeding?

yes i would agree looking back that when Fergie retired it was not planned very well, replacing somebody who was there for 27 years and had fantastic success would be difficult for anybody

Forget trophies and think more of style of play as the primary goal to begin with, then hope for trophies after that.

Martial needs to leave for his own sake, he looks shot to bits.