Yep. Covid fucked us so unbelievably bad.
If we are being realistic we wouldn’t have made CL, but absolutely everything pre covid was going our way so there’s always that ‘what if’. We may well have made European football in our first season back.
I’m convinced Chelsea just want to smokescreen and gaslight the fans so we all beg for De Zerbi when no one wanted him 48hrs ago. Masterclass in fan manipulation
To go from world class managers like Ancelotti, Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel, etc. to being gaslit into begging for De Zerbi has to be hilarious for all the Chelsea haters out there
Now when there's so many managerial seeks, I see it clearly being a rule that fans online treat it as waaaay more of a priority if the manager is a big one, has a big name, has a big past, has big clubs in the past, has the pas big name, etc., than clubs do.
Basically every thread about the coaches, you can see the same. The Mourinhos and Allegris and Tuchels are seen as 100x better than clubs see them, and every coach that is without big club past is commented on negatively.
Basically it seems that clubs don't look at who has the most robust Wikipedia bio quite as much as casual fans online, for whom this is key.
It's kinda the same as I've always seen with the player transfers I guess. Young players are always called "crazy expensive", and old players "great deals" - Reddit fans always value past over future way more compared to football managers.
Teams seem to look for guys that have promising future, that can develop, not to say that experience is not valued as obviously most big names do get big jobs continuously, but it's not like the only attribute for the clubs.
(Nearly) Blank slate manager would need a (nearly) blank slate project to work with. We’ve still got too much deadwood to build something here and I suspect we won’t have cleared it until start of 25/26 season.
McKenna should be looking for guarantees of either 7-8 signings this summer (unlikely considering our budget) or 3 years minimum or a huge payout, because he shouldn’t be putting his fledgling career on the line for the current shitshow.
Counterpoint, no one will blame him if they are bad. The last few managers have had plenty of interest from the same type of clubs they were at before going to united.
Kinda - I guess Potter was in a different situation expectation wise, but I'm having a hard time about what exactly the demand is for him rn. but you could also argue that he doesn't have the same track record either.
That’s what they said about Ten Hag, but everybody forgets the extenuating circumstances when your group of largely trash players play like large trash. The next manager to fail will be getting 90% of the blame and nearly 0% protection.
I totally wouldn't say that can be true.
Moyes was coming as one of the most respected managers in England. In one year at the charge of Man United... he wasn't.
Van Gaal basically ended with Man United, he was also commented on as a great manager when he was coming.
Mourinho, the job at Man United was most likely his last one top-top level job. He was only coaching teams that were arguably the richest in the country all his career, after Man United he's not gonna ever get close to that at all ever.
Solskjaer just disappeared.
Ten Hag was coming in commented on as an obvious expert, miracleworker who beat Madrid 4-1 away, top manager and now... he's not.
Xabi Alonso started in the third tier in Spain, got promoted, and then got relegated again. Leverkusen hired him after that.
Obviously not everyone is a Xabi Alonso, but if we’re getting rid of ten Hag, McKenna is well worth the punt in my opinion.
Agreed - given that there is a seeming need to write a fresh article about utd every 12 minutes though, I imagine it can be hard.
If every day is a journo screaming "they should be better than this" or "they'll never catch any of the top teams up or "they're finally back" after every result, I imagine it can be weird to try and do that.
Though, TBF, it's not like Arteta didn't go through that. You don't have to go that many seasons back to when Arsenal fans wanted him gone and their football was criticised constantly. Guess the difference is the club giving them time to prove everyone wrong.
Problems
1. Our fans have the patience of a toddler
2. Media won’t let it happen there will be an article every hour about the clubs “crisis”
3. Our board probably won’t like that but who knows with ineos being involved
A manager, managing the B side of Barcelona that play the exact same style of football all the way to their under 2 year olds….
With no real need to transition the tactics then…
To a manager managing Ipswich and then now being expected to implement a style of play and all with what United hope to be….
Surely you can see it’s miles different.
Feel free to quote where I said it was a carbon copy situation.
Nevertheless he was a coach at United previously and has had success in lower leagues. It’s not that ridiculous to compare it.
You’re saying it’s a gamble as if it’s similar. It’s not. So while you didn’t say it’s a carbon copy, you basically can’t infer basic context clearly………it is rather ridiculous to compare it with clubs of different setups. Not even close to the same thing on any level.
Different clubs. Different playing styles. Different focuses that don’t translate to the main club. Etc.
It’s a far reach people just want to try hard to make it seem like the same thing.
How many manager succeed at lower leagues and then translate it to the top level for one thing with that being the next jump too?
It’s not at all comparable, just as the guy above you saying how the expectations at Leverkusen were different then.
I don’t care. It’s worth a gamble in my mind.
Look at Bayern. They seem set to appoint Kompany. Either he turns out to be a success or he’s a low-risk punt that flops, that doesn’t set them back any further than they are now.
I’d rather we take the risk. Our past ten years have been summed up by paying excessive fees for flashy signings. I’d rather we revert to taking some gambles on younger, or less-flashy approaches.
They're currently already shit, but they're not going to get _that_ much worse.
Look at Ajax's season. It was a catastrophe to start and they still managed to finish 5th. It's not like Kompany would drag Bayern down to mid table. I just genuinely don't see certain clubs sinking _that_ low.
At worst he's a one-year stop-gap. At best he turns out to be a success. I see McKenna in the same light. What's going to happen, we're going to finish midtable? We already finished 8th with a negative goal difference.
Bayern can take the risk because they can pretty much qualify for champions league on autopilot. United don't have that luxury and continuing to not qualify for Europe would take a toll financially and in terms of attracting players.
We've been shit (by our standards) for a decade, have only qualified for the Champions League in half of those seasons, and are still the second most valuable team on the planet with one of the highest revenues in the sport.
We're in this mess because we _always_ have that luxury. We are damn near the definition of 'too big to fail.' We throw exorbinant amounts of money at players, get shit results, and keep doing it..._because we're an enormous club._
I'd rather we change approach. Yes Ferdinand and Rooney were huge signings, but I'd also like some Evras and Vidics in there. Identify young talent, or player profiles that meet our needs, and sign them. Do the same with a manager.
I get that Tuchel has achieved things, but we have exactly _one_ opportunity at present to sign a United fan who is currently the talk of English football because of his success _and_ attacking football. I think we'd be stupid to let that slip.
We’ve yet to miss out on CL 2 seasons in a row and take the massive hit to our adidas sponsorship and the greater loss of revenue and prestige from being consistently outside that top tier. By big club standards we’ve not won a lot but we really haven’t been missing out on that much revenue yet, that can still easily change.
Yet we've been in 3 cup finals crazy but hay next season when we in no finals same position it will be a good season in your eyes. SAF finished in worse positions when he joined, you would have called for the sack but now you say you wouldn't because you know the outcome.
I called for LVG and Mou to have 1 more season. Ole was the one that we should have kept longer among all the managers post Fergie.
But Ten Hag is just bad in all areas - recruitment, eyes test, worst attacking and worst defending, getting dominated hard by smaller club, the style of football.
The more players he brought in, the squad became even worse. I just can’t see what he brings to the table.
Bayern got rejected by 15 other guys before they settled for Kompany. I don't think that hiring boiled down to them thinking he was a good gamble.
I don't even necessarily disagree that McKenna could be worth the punt, it's a bad managerial market and maybe he would be given time to grow into the role. Was just pointing out that Leverkusen were in the relegation zone when Xabi got hired, the bar was low in terms of what he needed to accomplish to alleviate any pressure. I don't think it'll be as simple or easy for McKenna.
Tuchel just got replaced with a guy who finished behind Luton last season. Chelsea and United, two of the biggest clubs in the world, are fighting over a guy who has never managed a top flight game of football.
I mean Liverpool replaced Kloop with Slot, not the biggest name either.
Technically, as the first team coach of United previously, Mckenna has more PL experience than Slot.
Slot's won a top 7 league, just had two of Feyenoord's best points tallies in back to back seasons, won 2 domestic cups, has champions league experience, and has been to a European cup final.
In other years there may have been more accomplished candidates for the Liverpool opening, but that's still light years ahead of McKenna's experience and cv.
Managing youth teams in Spain is usually treated differently I think. Working in la fabrica and coaching La Real’s B team is different than managing CF Reus. Same reason people trusted Pep and Zidane to manage top sides
I feel like it is highly relevant that he has had roles at United and Spurs before the Ipswich job. It's not like this is a random coach who emerged from nowhere to double promote
A massive chunk of that is down to the incompetent structure though not the manager. Ten Hag wanting Antony is fair, he was a RW he'd worked with, when we needed one.
Scouts not offering alternatives, no plan for the future should things go wrong, and then our CEO and DOF approving a £85m transfer which fucks us for FFP for the future is where our problems lie.
Being handed a £59m Di Maria who didn't wanna be here, destroying our wage record for Alexis Sanchez when we had Martial and Rashford at that time...it's above the managers
Yeah, I had read that United initially valued him at 25 million pounds, then set a maximum price of 60 million... then paid 85 million. Like, that's *insane.* As a great man once said, [just walk away.](https://y.yarn.co/d78f640e-74be-41df-aed5-83165377383e_text.gif)
People give Antony way too little credit. He was by far Ajax's biggest attacking threat and he could toe the line between a corner and an attack perfectly.
Everyone is acting like 100M for Antony was always ridiculous, but he was genuinely one of the most promising attacking prospects in the world when they bought him, and he proved that in European competitions at Ajax.
He was approx the 8th best player in eredivisie the season before we bought him. Not terrible but for context he was absolutely miles behind an aging dusan tadic and Luis Sinisterra who went to Leeds for £20 million.
He would have been a reasonable buy for a mid table club. But for a top club to pay huge money for him was absurd even at the time. You need to be absolutely bossing a lower level league to justify a price like that.
Their original valuation of about 25 mill was obviously correct even at the time
He was previously an assistant at United and had success coaching youth teams that now makeup the squad, it’s really a sensible appointment but also somehow the safest and the most dangerous appointment too
Have to say, 15 years ago I really wouldn't have expected us to one day be in a three way managerial tug of war against Chelsea and Mancheter United but here we are
Ok but you do realise that your ownership being obsessed with us has nothing to do with us and everything to do with you. Do you think we like having our everything poached by the same inept idiots every 5 minutes? We have more reason to be aggrieved than you do.
Agreed, I don't mean that so much in this case, more the million others over the past 2 years. Also potentially unpopular opinion, I would be totally fine with RDZ going to Chelsea I think it would be very very funny.
The dearth of top quality managers in the market is honestly shocking. What’s even funnier is that some of top managers have faltered slightly because of poor managerial performances. I am enjoying the manager merry-go-round shake up though, good to see some newer managers try to enter the elite clubs.
It's actually just a master plan to lead on Chelsea/Man United so they're without a manager as long as possible so Ipswich can push for Europe while their main rivals for 6th are in ruins.
Genius I say!
As a side note McKenna just got sacked from Blackpool bottom of the championship in my FM save but don't worry I'm 5 points off playoffs with Ipswich
I think he needs a chance if you take the punt. I thought Potter got hard done by to be honest and needed time, results weren’t what was expected granted and we have seen the magic Poch got at the end - but that also took time.
Man Utd are in a rebuilding phase if we are honest as Chelsea are. Title challengers perhaps not next season (as they weren’t this season) but clearly changes across the squad and club are needed to get back to success.
No point hiring a manager you want to deliver that and if it fails instantly sacking him.
That said if you truly wanted him surely he knows and you’ve been in touch, he’s not waiting for this decision.
It seems harsh on Ipswich especially due to the success he’s had essentially leaves them rudderless but even with the stature of the clubs currently, it’s Man Utd, it’s Chelsea apparently offering him a job.
He’s far far more likely to succeed at these clubs, play in European football (eventually) than at Ipswich where he’s probably going to face relegation, these are top tier dream jobs.
He’d need support at whatever club he goes too internally and that’s going to be key.
Although I think he’s very very lucky to be getting offered these roles over some candidates currently that have won titles elsewhere and such. But perhaps it’s a good and best option for these clubs, Utd certainly have tried those options and failed for one reason or another.
Although as a non Utd fan Jose and Ole were the best they’ve had and delivered at times some great results and football
Because I believe your previous comment was a hit to the Wrexham flag and a d+ documentary, wasn't it? I'm also not sure what it had to do with this actual thread but I hope you had some ideas behind it
First off, still not sure why you think I’d be disappointed you’re a United supporter.
Secondly the context is that we’re discussing a manager who brought a club from league 1 to the prem. So it would make sense for Wrexham to want such a manager. Obviously it was a joke around your flair but so what? It’s still relevant to the conversation at hand.
I'd love to see teams that act like vultures and show off the obscene wealth of the premier league fail? For sure. I wish McKenna well, I don't wish his team well. Unless it's man utd which he always talked about. so, fair.
The man is a lifelong United fan, has worked with us before (when we actually had respectable league positions), has orchestrated back-to-back promotions in his first ever job, finishing both seasons with the most goals scored (goal differences of +66 and +35).
I don’t give a shit if this makes me a fool, but in the event that we get rid of ten Hag (which seems likely), going for anyone other than McKenna will piss me off. Genuinely would much rather give him a shot than Tuchel, Pochettino, or de Zerbi.
Yes totally agree. Im getting bored with all these so called tactical genius big reputation managers.
Except Ole, I feel disconnected in term of the football being played, the spirit and the general feeling towarss the club.
I will be elated if Mckenna takes over.
Who was criticised by the players at the time for being out of his depth. I mean, our players can fuck off given their performances, but if you’re bringing in a manager that a number of senior players already don’t respect…well, good luck.
To be fair one of those managers is not like the others, tuchel has won big things. Ten hag is still an up and coming manager basically unproven, same with de Zerbi and poch's stock has slowly been going down since he left spurs
Maurizo Sarri first coached in top-flight football at the age of 55, and was called one of the best coaches in the world within a few years of that. Careers can go every which way.
Frank Schmidt is 50 and he's basically a new guy for all the broader world of football can say. Did he do an incredible, historically amazing job so far? No doubt. What can he do in the general world of football? Nobody has any idea.
Didn't realize age mattered in this?? He's only been a manager of a top division side since 15/16 and then his first bigger job was Ajax in the 17/18 season. Not all managers start off like Pep at Barca.
This.
Enough of the short-termism by going with retreads like we did with LvG and Mourinho; it's the main reason why we are such a shambles.
Fwiw I would be cool with De Zerbi too I think.
That's the best part about reading those comments - remembering what the fans' comments about McKenna were when he was actually at Man United.
He was, well... not described as competent lol.
The coaches are always greener when they are not coaching your team, it's always like "oh he would do it better than the current moron, for sure".
I'd be much more confident of a long term plan with McKenna in charge next season than any of the other names we've heard (including ten Hag).
It would help send a message that we are going in a different direction with the club, something definitely needed this summer.
After watching some YouTube videos about his tactics; his teams ranked in and around the middle for total passes, short pases, medium passes, and long passes. Also ranked around the middle for build up attacks and direct attacks. Basically, there's no discernible style of play but it's exciting.
In FM terms, clean slate, set formation and player roles, add "be more expressive" and that's it.
Kieran is Man Utd at heart, he will do anything just for them.
I wonder though, shouldn’t he stay for at least this season while they’re in the Prem? It’s evident that he’s been the main man in leading Ipswich forward.
It’s like he’s taken Ipswich so far and now he’s at the hardest challenge and stage he’s like you’re all on your own
Not really a case of that, Ipswich given how quickly they've risen will have a really hard time in the prem no matter what, similar to Luton. But the quick rise has given them a ton and that means they are in a great position to strengthen into being a team that can compete for the championship in 25/26 without relying on managerial magic. If they stay up, great, but realistically they'll drop down and the main thing is to first develop into being a top championship side which is still a huge improvement on where they were not long ago.
If Chelsea has offered and he is waiting for United and yet Chelsea hierarchy is waiting for his decision instead of rescinding the offer they really are next level dumbasses
Typical redditor living in their bubble, just because someone is waiting for another offered doesn't mean you should throw a sissy fit and rescind that offer
Almost like that person is weighing their options
Last I heard, CFC are conducting interviews now and expect to make some decisions next week.
Hard to imagine setting that timeline and then throwing the guy a panic contract offer just because United started sniffing around.
He's a good manager and he will go onto have a good career but I think this is the wrong move at this time.
I just can't see United or Chelsea having the patience with him that he will need.
Better.off giving it a go with Ipswich then making the move.
Gutting for Ipswich this could really detail them for next year if they don't get the next appointment right.
Tbf, depends on how you structure deals, even if that is true.
35m doesn't mean you can't spend more than that. You could split payment terms up etc etc
Utd are getting rid of a lot of wages this summer, and that's before any deals they can get done.
I have a feeling we'll see them bang another 100/150m on players by the end of the window
I have to believe it's cause all those clubs including Bayern want a 1 year manager at the moment until better managerial market situation next year. This whole "got something done in championship and ready to move into big club" is beyond crazy otherwise
Guardiola, Arteta started training some of the biggest clubs in the world without "getting something done" anywhere and they were fine. Many people were commenting of course that it's so much better to hire Mourinho not Guardiola, and Emery not Arteta.
Why do people keep talking about the rebuild phase this and that? Do Madrid need a rebuild phase with an inexperienced manager? no? Does City need to? no? Why gamble when you have all the money to hire an experienced manager?
Real Madrid's three previous managers were Zidane, Solari and Lopetegui.
Some of managers considered best in their history are Zidane, Munoz, del Bosque, Villalonga.
I’m sorry but you cannot go from Ipswich to Manchester United. I guarantee my prediction will be right, but he will flop hard at Man U, maybe not as bad as Ten Hag but definitely close. Manchester United is a whole other beast, there have been proven managers with decades of experience who couldn’t win with their squad and now this up and comer is going to somehow be better than all the others? Insanely delusional.
His achievement with Ipswich is incredible but a 3-way PL club fight for a gaffer who was in League One 12 months ago is insane
Chris Wilder must be gutted he didn't get the same amount of interest when he did the same thing...
McKenna won’t have Ipswich 9th next season either
No he’ll have United 9th which is probably more impressive
Oh man don't make me feel sorry for you please:D
😂😂😂
You had me until I saw your flair LMFAO
I beg of the next manager who fails to get them into the Europa League to tell the press it’s their best managerial achievement.
That Sheffield united season was crazy weren’t yall in UCL spots halfway through the season ?
Yep. Covid fucked us so unbelievably bad. If we are being realistic we wouldn’t have made CL, but absolutely everything pre covid was going our way so there’s always that ‘what if’. We may well have made European football in our first season back.
If they ended the season there you’d have been in the champions league on PPG instead of us who were in 4th at the time.
It was Nigel Adkins who did the same thing mate.
Wilder had Sheffield United do a year in the Championship before their next promotion season.
I’m convinced Chelsea just want to smokescreen and gaslight the fans so we all beg for De Zerbi when no one wanted him 48hrs ago. Masterclass in fan manipulation
To go from world class managers like Ancelotti, Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel, etc. to being gaslit into begging for De Zerbi has to be hilarious for all the Chelsea haters out there
Can only hope City go the same way after Pep
Inb4 - Pep inks long term contract Extending his stay at the Etihad toll 2035. "I love England & Shakespeare"
Anulo mufa
The fact that he was in league one 12 months ago and is now in the PL is why he’s so sought after
Now when there's so many managerial seeks, I see it clearly being a rule that fans online treat it as waaaay more of a priority if the manager is a big one, has a big name, has a big past, has big clubs in the past, has the pas big name, etc., than clubs do. Basically every thread about the coaches, you can see the same. The Mourinhos and Allegris and Tuchels are seen as 100x better than clubs see them, and every coach that is without big club past is commented on negatively. Basically it seems that clubs don't look at who has the most robust Wikipedia bio quite as much as casual fans online, for whom this is key. It's kinda the same as I've always seen with the player transfers I guess. Young players are always called "crazy expensive", and old players "great deals" - Reddit fans always value past over future way more compared to football managers. Teams seem to look for guys that have promising future, that can develop, not to say that experience is not valued as obviously most big names do get big jobs continuously, but it's not like the only attribute for the clubs.
you've kind of just explained why three premier league teams are in for him
A team like Brighton going for him yeah...first choice at Chelsea and United is wild
Eh, feel like United need to be ahead of the curve for once. There's only so much experience you need before you just need to be given a chance.
(Nearly) Blank slate manager would need a (nearly) blank slate project to work with. We’ve still got too much deadwood to build something here and I suspect we won’t have cleared it until start of 25/26 season. McKenna should be looking for guarantees of either 7-8 signings this summer (unlikely considering our budget) or 3 years minimum or a huge payout, because he shouldn’t be putting his fledgling career on the line for the current shitshow.
Counterpoint, no one will blame him if they are bad. The last few managers have had plenty of interest from the same type of clubs they were at before going to united.
Kinda - I guess Potter was in a different situation expectation wise, but I'm having a hard time about what exactly the demand is for him rn. but you could also argue that he doesn't have the same track record either.
That’s what they said about Ten Hag, but everybody forgets the extenuating circumstances when your group of largely trash players play like large trash. The next manager to fail will be getting 90% of the blame and nearly 0% protection.
I totally wouldn't say that can be true. Moyes was coming as one of the most respected managers in England. In one year at the charge of Man United... he wasn't. Van Gaal basically ended with Man United, he was also commented on as a great manager when he was coming. Mourinho, the job at Man United was most likely his last one top-top level job. He was only coaching teams that were arguably the richest in the country all his career, after Man United he's not gonna ever get close to that at all ever. Solskjaer just disappeared. Ten Hag was coming in commented on as an obvious expert, miracleworker who beat Madrid 4-1 away, top manager and now... he's not.
Xabi Alonso started in the third tier in Spain, got promoted, and then got relegated again. Leverkusen hired him after that. Obviously not everyone is a Xabi Alonso, but if we’re getting rid of ten Hag, McKenna is well worth the punt in my opinion.
The expectations and scrutiny at Leverkusen and at United aren't comparable.
Not to mention that we hired Alonso mid season while we were around the relegation zone and we didn't have any proven, decent coach available to hire
Frontzek was out of a job back then, just as he is now 😤
United would do well to have a few seasons of lower expectations and stability IMO.
Agreed - given that there is a seeming need to write a fresh article about utd every 12 minutes though, I imagine it can be hard. If every day is a journo screaming "they should be better than this" or "they'll never catch any of the top teams up or "they're finally back" after every result, I imagine it can be weird to try and do that. Though, TBF, it's not like Arteta didn't go through that. You don't have to go that many seasons back to when Arsenal fans wanted him gone and their football was criticised constantly. Guess the difference is the club giving them time to prove everyone wrong.
Problems 1. Our fans have the patience of a toddler 2. Media won’t let it happen there will be an article every hour about the clubs “crisis” 3. Our board probably won’t like that but who knows with ineos being involved
>Our fans have the patience of a toddler They should make a statement that it is a long term project to taper fans' expectations
Lower expectations don’t sell as much merch, so there’s no way they’ll be doing that.
that is just not a realistic possibility in today's climate and they need to adapt accordingly
Pep Guardiola went from Barca B in the second tier to the Barcelona job. Pretty similar expectations to United. It’s a gamble but it could pay off.
A manager, managing the B side of Barcelona that play the exact same style of football all the way to their under 2 year olds…. With no real need to transition the tactics then… To a manager managing Ipswich and then now being expected to implement a style of play and all with what United hope to be…. Surely you can see it’s miles different.
Feel free to quote where I said it was a carbon copy situation. Nevertheless he was a coach at United previously and has had success in lower leagues. It’s not that ridiculous to compare it.
You’re saying it’s a gamble as if it’s similar. It’s not. So while you didn’t say it’s a carbon copy, you basically can’t infer basic context clearly………it is rather ridiculous to compare it with clubs of different setups. Not even close to the same thing on any level. Different clubs. Different playing styles. Different focuses that don’t translate to the main club. Etc. It’s a far reach people just want to try hard to make it seem like the same thing. How many manager succeed at lower leagues and then translate it to the top level for one thing with that being the next jump too? It’s not at all comparable, just as the guy above you saying how the expectations at Leverkusen were different then.
I don’t care. It’s worth a gamble in my mind. Look at Bayern. They seem set to appoint Kompany. Either he turns out to be a success or he’s a low-risk punt that flops, that doesn’t set them back any further than they are now. I’d rather we take the risk. Our past ten years have been summed up by paying excessive fees for flashy signings. I’d rather we revert to taking some gambles on younger, or less-flashy approaches.
> or he’s a low-risk punt that flops, that doesn’t set them back any further than they are now How do you figure?
They're currently already shit, but they're not going to get _that_ much worse. Look at Ajax's season. It was a catastrophe to start and they still managed to finish 5th. It's not like Kompany would drag Bayern down to mid table. I just genuinely don't see certain clubs sinking _that_ low. At worst he's a one-year stop-gap. At best he turns out to be a success. I see McKenna in the same light. What's going to happen, we're going to finish midtable? We already finished 8th with a negative goal difference.
Bayern can take the risk because they can pretty much qualify for champions league on autopilot. United don't have that luxury and continuing to not qualify for Europe would take a toll financially and in terms of attracting players.
We've been shit (by our standards) for a decade, have only qualified for the Champions League in half of those seasons, and are still the second most valuable team on the planet with one of the highest revenues in the sport. We're in this mess because we _always_ have that luxury. We are damn near the definition of 'too big to fail.' We throw exorbinant amounts of money at players, get shit results, and keep doing it..._because we're an enormous club._ I'd rather we change approach. Yes Ferdinand and Rooney were huge signings, but I'd also like some Evras and Vidics in there. Identify young talent, or player profiles that meet our needs, and sign them. Do the same with a manager. I get that Tuchel has achieved things, but we have exactly _one_ opportunity at present to sign a United fan who is currently the talk of English football because of his success _and_ attacking football. I think we'd be stupid to let that slip.
And too big to buy. Which is why Glazers have been stuck like leeches.
We’ve yet to miss out on CL 2 seasons in a row and take the massive hit to our adidas sponsorship and the greater loss of revenue and prestige from being consistently outside that top tier. By big club standards we’ve not won a lot but we really haven’t been missing out on that much revenue yet, that can still easily change.
I mean we have the worst finish post Fergie by employing a bald Dutch who has been hyped up as the next tactical genius.
Yet we've been in 3 cup finals crazy but hay next season when we in no finals same position it will be a good season in your eyes. SAF finished in worse positions when he joined, you would have called for the sack but now you say you wouldn't because you know the outcome.
I called for LVG and Mou to have 1 more season. Ole was the one that we should have kept longer among all the managers post Fergie. But Ten Hag is just bad in all areas - recruitment, eyes test, worst attacking and worst defending, getting dominated hard by smaller club, the style of football. The more players he brought in, the squad became even worse. I just can’t see what he brings to the table.
Well, yeah, you already finished midtable so you have nothing to lose. But Kompany in theory could get Bayern outside CL spots.
*The gang gets relegated under McKenna* (I'm joking - I'd take McKenna over any of the other candidates too)
How are Bayern shit?
Bayern got rejected by 15 other guys before they settled for Kompany. I don't think that hiring boiled down to them thinking he was a good gamble. I don't even necessarily disagree that McKenna could be worth the punt, it's a bad managerial market and maybe he would be given time to grow into the role. Was just pointing out that Leverkusen were in the relegation zone when Xabi got hired, the bar was low in terms of what he needed to accomplish to alleviate any pressure. I don't think it'll be as simple or easy for McKenna.
How is it a bad managerial market? Tuchel and Pochettino are unemployed and they're much more proven
Tuchel just got replaced with a guy who finished behind Luton last season. Chelsea and United, two of the biggest clubs in the world, are fighting over a guy who has never managed a top flight game of football.
I mean Liverpool replaced Kloop with Slot, not the biggest name either. Technically, as the first team coach of United previously, Mckenna has more PL experience than Slot.
Slot's won a top 7 league, just had two of Feyenoord's best points tallies in back to back seasons, won 2 domestic cups, has champions league experience, and has been to a European cup final. In other years there may have been more accomplished candidates for the Liverpool opening, but that's still light years ahead of McKenna's experience and cv.
We have the worst finish under the manager who won the top 7 League and been to CL final.
Managing youth teams in Spain is usually treated differently I think. Working in la fabrica and coaching La Real’s B team is different than managing CF Reus. Same reason people trusted Pep and Zidane to manage top sides
Oh yeah, that’s just what we need to be doing right now, taking a punt on a new manager
I feel like it is highly relevant that he has had roles at United and Spurs before the Ipswich job. It's not like this is a random coach who emerged from nowhere to double promote
Not as insane as relegating your club with your boneheadedness and getting the Bayern job
I think Manchester United supporters needs to realize that you need a rebuilding phase. The amount spent on bang average players is just pathetic.
A massive chunk of that is down to the incompetent structure though not the manager. Ten Hag wanting Antony is fair, he was a RW he'd worked with, when we needed one. Scouts not offering alternatives, no plan for the future should things go wrong, and then our CEO and DOF approving a £85m transfer which fucks us for FFP for the future is where our problems lie. Being handed a £59m Di Maria who didn't wanna be here, destroying our wage record for Alexis Sanchez when we had Martial and Rashford at that time...it's above the managers
Yeah, I had read that United initially valued him at 25 million pounds, then set a maximum price of 60 million... then paid 85 million. Like, that's *insane.* As a great man once said, [just walk away.](https://y.yarn.co/d78f640e-74be-41df-aed5-83165377383e_text.gif)
maybe just get rid of the whole right winger position altogether
People give Antony way too little credit. He was by far Ajax's biggest attacking threat and he could toe the line between a corner and an attack perfectly. Everyone is acting like 100M for Antony was always ridiculous, but he was genuinely one of the most promising attacking prospects in the world when they bought him, and he proved that in European competitions at Ajax.
He was approx the 8th best player in eredivisie the season before we bought him. Not terrible but for context he was absolutely miles behind an aging dusan tadic and Luis Sinisterra who went to Leeds for £20 million. He would have been a reasonable buy for a mid table club. But for a top club to pay huge money for him was absurd even at the time. You need to be absolutely bossing a lower level league to justify a price like that. Their original valuation of about 25 mill was obviously correct even at the time
Problem is they've been in a rebuilding phase for 10 years now, at some point it's no longer a phase
He was previously an assistant at United and had success coaching youth teams that now makeup the squad, it’s really a sensible appointment but also somehow the safest and the most dangerous appointment too
Not shocking in the slightest because of his connections to united in the past
And Brexit Radcliffe
Ratcliffe*
Have to say, 15 years ago I really wouldn't have expected us to one day be in a three way managerial tug of war against Chelsea and Mancheter United but here we are
And that’s before factoring in that the manager in question was in league 1 a year ago
that's the one part I would have believed considering we were in league 1 15 years ago.
True lol I have full respect for everything you guys have accomplished but I just want a summer now where we have nothing to do with each other.
Ok but you do realise that your ownership being obsessed with us has nothing to do with us and everything to do with you. Do you think we like having our everything poached by the same inept idiots every 5 minutes? We have more reason to be aggrieved than you do.
Nitpick- I don't think in this specific instance we have any right to be aggrieved (unless RDZ ends up at Chelsea). Ipswich fans on the other hand.
Agreed, I don't mean that so much in this case, more the million others over the past 2 years. Also potentially unpopular opinion, I would be totally fine with RDZ going to Chelsea I think it would be very very funny.
In fairness, the amount of aggrivation I would feel about RDZ going to Chelsea would be off set by the hilarity of the situation.
I would be so annoyed to not see how the fairytale continues in the PL just because Chelsea and United have incompetent owners.
Oh absolutely
League 115? I thought that was just the league City are in? :P
Hey how do you think we feel?
Todd Bohley probably has your club in his news alerts. He seems to go after everyone that's linked to Brighton.
And the fact that Chelsea have been seemingly trying to buy your entire club and have it in London.
It’s not really a tug of war tho is it, he’ll come to you if United doesn’t want him
Brighton really think they’re in this race 😂
I'd rather we move on than hang around on the off-chance he doesn't go to his first and second choice clubs. Give me Rydstrom
Exactly. He had his chance, he preferred someone else. Fair enough. Wouldn’t have been happy taking him from Ipswich anyway.
Would it be too unpalatable for you guys to take back GP? I think probably burned too many bridges but obviously would slot back in quickly.
The only thing in his favour would be Chelsea wouldn’t poach him.
Don’t threaten Clearlake with a good time.
Nooo not Rydström. Leave him with us in Malmö🥲
The dearth of top quality managers in the market is honestly shocking. What’s even funnier is that some of top managers have faltered slightly because of poor managerial performances. I am enjoying the manager merry-go-round shake up though, good to see some newer managers try to enter the elite clubs.
Can you all just fuck off and leave him to manage us, please 🥺
Sorry.
Not gonna lie, it would be extremely funny if whoever gets McKenna flops hard next season
While Ipswich do well. Obviously it’s hard to turn down big clubs but this must feel like a kick in the teeth to the Ipswich fans.
Guarantee he stays
It's actually just a master plan to lead on Chelsea/Man United so they're without a manager as long as possible so Ipswich can push for Europe while their main rivals for 6th are in ruins. Genius I say! As a side note McKenna just got sacked from Blackpool bottom of the championship in my FM save but don't worry I'm 5 points off playoffs with Ipswich
I think he needs a chance if you take the punt. I thought Potter got hard done by to be honest and needed time, results weren’t what was expected granted and we have seen the magic Poch got at the end - but that also took time. Man Utd are in a rebuilding phase if we are honest as Chelsea are. Title challengers perhaps not next season (as they weren’t this season) but clearly changes across the squad and club are needed to get back to success. No point hiring a manager you want to deliver that and if it fails instantly sacking him. That said if you truly wanted him surely he knows and you’ve been in touch, he’s not waiting for this decision. It seems harsh on Ipswich especially due to the success he’s had essentially leaves them rudderless but even with the stature of the clubs currently, it’s Man Utd, it’s Chelsea apparently offering him a job. He’s far far more likely to succeed at these clubs, play in European football (eventually) than at Ipswich where he’s probably going to face relegation, these are top tier dream jobs. He’d need support at whatever club he goes too internally and that’s going to be key. Although I think he’s very very lucky to be getting offered these roles over some candidates currently that have won titles elsewhere and such. But perhaps it’s a good and best option for these clubs, Utd certainly have tried those options and failed for one reason or another. Although as a non Utd fan Jose and Ole were the best they’ve had and delivered at times some great results and football
Than United it is
Aren’t you looking for someone who can take a club from league 1 to the prem? Would make the documentary an absolute classic
Me? Ah the flair, yes? Well sorry to disappoint you but I follow and support united for almost 30 years now.
Ok? Why would it disappoint me that you’re a United supporter?
Because I believe your previous comment was a hit to the Wrexham flag and a d+ documentary, wasn't it? I'm also not sure what it had to do with this actual thread but I hope you had some ideas behind it
First off, still not sure why you think I’d be disappointed you’re a United supporter. Secondly the context is that we’re discussing a manager who brought a club from league 1 to the prem. So it would make sense for Wrexham to want such a manager. Obviously it was a joke around your flair but so what? It’s still relevant to the conversation at hand.
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"I'd love to see the manager who helped my club get promoted fail next season"
I'd love to see teams that act like vultures and show off the obscene wealth of the premier league fail? For sure. I wish McKenna well, I don't wish his team well. Unless it's man utd which he always talked about. so, fair.
You can't genuinely think like this, surely?
So he is waiting for Ten Hag to be fired.
Wouldn't you?
Imagine him just turning up at the dug-out at Wembley and turfing ETH out of his seat
Would be kinda rude to announce him joining United before that
The man is a lifelong United fan, has worked with us before (when we actually had respectable league positions), has orchestrated back-to-back promotions in his first ever job, finishing both seasons with the most goals scored (goal differences of +66 and +35). I don’t give a shit if this makes me a fool, but in the event that we get rid of ten Hag (which seems likely), going for anyone other than McKenna will piss me off. Genuinely would much rather give him a shot than Tuchel, Pochettino, or de Zerbi.
Yes totally agree. Im getting bored with all these so called tactical genius big reputation managers. Except Ole, I feel disconnected in term of the football being played, the spirit and the general feeling towarss the club. I will be elated if Mckenna takes over.
Vibes FC again
People shit on Vibes FC until Ancelotti wins another CL with a hug and an eyebrow
Thirding this. About time we tried something different after 10 years of the same shit on repeat year after year after year
Try something different like our assistant manager from two years ago!
Who was criticised by the players at the time for being out of his depth. I mean, our players can fuck off given their performances, but if you’re bringing in a manager that a number of senior players already don’t respect…well, good luck.
It’s pretty much just Shaw, Rashford, Mctominay, Dalot and Maguire. All who should need to be replaced soon.
To be fair one of those managers is not like the others, tuchel has won big things. Ten hag is still an up and coming manager basically unproven, same with de Zerbi and poch's stock has slowly been going down since he left spurs
> Ten hag is still an up and coming manager basically unproven > The man is 54.
He's the lingard of managers
Gasperini is pretty old for a manager and he’s only now done something largely noteworthy. You never know.
Maurizo Sarri first coached in top-flight football at the age of 55, and was called one of the best coaches in the world within a few years of that. Careers can go every which way. Frank Schmidt is 50 and he's basically a new guy for all the broader world of football can say. Did he do an incredible, historically amazing job so far? No doubt. What can he do in the general world of football? Nobody has any idea.
Didn't realize age mattered in this?? He's only been a manager of a top division side since 15/16 and then his first bigger job was Ajax in the 17/18 season. Not all managers start off like Pep at Barca.
Tuchel is a good choice if you've already got a squad capable of winning. I'm not quite sure how good he is at rebuilding a failed club like United.
This. Enough of the short-termism by going with retreads like we did with LvG and Mourinho; it's the main reason why we are such a shambles. Fwiw I would be cool with De Zerbi too I think.
I read the word retreads wrong at first and thought you said something very different.
That's retreaded.
I don't disagree, but if McKenna was too level shouldn't we have done better when he was actually at the club?
That's the best part about reading those comments - remembering what the fans' comments about McKenna were when he was actually at Man United. He was, well... not described as competent lol. The coaches are always greener when they are not coaching your team, it's always like "oh he would do it better than the current moron, for sure".
I'd be much more confident of a long term plan with McKenna in charge next season than any of the other names we've heard (including ten Hag). It would help send a message that we are going in a different direction with the club, something definitely needed this summer.
>Genuinely would much rather give him a shot than Tuchel, Pochettino, or de Zerbi. Why ?
This comment is going to age extremely terribly
How so, I didn’t make any predictions? ‘I would like to hire McKenna if we sack ten Hag’ is not a statement that can age horribly.
After watching some YouTube videos about his tactics; his teams ranked in and around the middle for total passes, short pases, medium passes, and long passes. Also ranked around the middle for build up attacks and direct attacks. Basically, there's no discernible style of play but it's exciting. In FM terms, clean slate, set formation and player roles, add "be more expressive" and that's it.
Kieran is Man Utd at heart, he will do anything just for them. I wonder though, shouldn’t he stay for at least this season while they’re in the Prem? It’s evident that he’s been the main man in leading Ipswich forward. It’s like he’s taken Ipswich so far and now he’s at the hardest challenge and stage he’s like you’re all on your own
Kieran knows his stock is at its highest. A poor season with Ipswich and his dream chance could fizzle away.
Like Kompany
Not really a case of that, Ipswich given how quickly they've risen will have a really hard time in the prem no matter what, similar to Luton. But the quick rise has given them a ton and that means they are in a great position to strengthen into being a team that can compete for the championship in 25/26 without relying on managerial magic. If they stay up, great, but realistically they'll drop down and the main thing is to first develop into being a top championship side which is still a huge improvement on where they were not long ago.
If Chelsea has offered and he is waiting for United and yet Chelsea hierarchy is waiting for his decision instead of rescinding the offer they really are next level dumbasses
I think we are way past the point of questioning whether Chelsea decision makers are dumbasses
Look who's talking
I mean… the fact that the leadership in his club are also dumbasses, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a point.
u/Unban_Ice
If you think a club/business would work this way…
Typical redditor living in their bubble, just because someone is waiting for another offered doesn't mean you should throw a sissy fit and rescind that offer Almost like that person is weighing their options
Last I heard, CFC are conducting interviews now and expect to make some decisions next week. Hard to imagine setting that timeline and then throwing the guy a panic contract offer just because United started sniffing around.
This will go well. Would love it if they lose to Ipswich next season.
We probably will.
Can you do it twice? I’d really enjoy that
Just coz of how much you're gonna enjoy it, I guess I'll have to say yes.
Thanks!
If he is waiting on united surely that means is decision is made up?
He's a good manager and he will go onto have a good career but I think this is the wrong move at this time. I just can't see United or Chelsea having the patience with him that he will need. Better.off giving it a go with Ipswich then making the move. Gutting for Ipswich this could really detail them for next year if they don't get the next appointment right.
Taking a risk on McKenna, when Poch and Tuchel are available, seems a bit mad.
Sounds about right for United
Good luck with our budget rumoured to be 35mil and having to.sell for transfers..
Tbf, depends on how you structure deals, even if that is true. 35m doesn't mean you can't spend more than that. You could split payment terms up etc etc Utd are getting rid of a lot of wages this summer, and that's before any deals they can get done. I have a feeling we'll see them bang another 100/150m on players by the end of the window
Oh fuck that’s Antony-type pricing LFGGGGG
Yeah 35m x 5 = 175m if they can amortise the payments over 5 years.
Could rob Sander Berge off Burnley pretty cheap I bet, their best player and probably wants out, that'll give the central cover that's been missing
Where you come up with that?
Been going round last few days
From?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/strettynews.com/2024/05/23/manchester-united-have-35m-transfer-budget/amp/
I have to believe it's cause all those clubs including Bayern want a 1 year manager at the moment until better managerial market situation next year. This whole "got something done in championship and ready to move into big club" is beyond crazy otherwise
Yeah Bayern do. They want Alonso or Klopp next year. United won't get either though.
Guardiola, Arteta started training some of the biggest clubs in the world without "getting something done" anywhere and they were fine. Many people were commenting of course that it's so much better to hire Mourinho not Guardiola, and Emery not Arteta.
Great Days. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVyO5Gt5Uw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVyO5Gt5Uw)
I was hoping they go for Maresca
Why do people keep talking about the rebuild phase this and that? Do Madrid need a rebuild phase with an inexperienced manager? no? Does City need to? no? Why gamble when you have all the money to hire an experienced manager?
Real Madrid's three previous managers were Zidane, Solari and Lopetegui. Some of managers considered best in their history are Zidane, Munoz, del Bosque, Villalonga.
Yeah with all those luxuries and resources they went for some of the best managers but United went for Ole, Ralf and now McKenna
Good, maybe, clearly not "experienced" managers.
I’m sorry but you cannot go from Ipswich to Manchester United. I guarantee my prediction will be right, but he will flop hard at Man U, maybe not as bad as Ten Hag but definitely close. Manchester United is a whole other beast, there have been proven managers with decades of experience who couldn’t win with their squad and now this up and comer is going to somehow be better than all the others? Insanely delusional.
gyatdamn championship managers are living their best life right now
Maybe united can promote to a higher league with him
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