18 Oct 2021 07:23:41
Good morning everyone.
Ed, if the club were to sack OGS, who are the possible replacements?

{Ed002's Note - Obviously anyone is possible but I don’t think the club will want to make a change during the season unless pushed in to a corner. If that happens options will be far less than they would be if they planned a change at the end of the season. That would give the club time to take an informed decision rather than end up with an interim manager/coach. The issue will be if they push for Gareth Southgate as he would not be available until January 2023.}


1.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 09:24:09
Hi Ed002,
Would Conte, Blanc or Zidane be interested if they are approached?

{Ed002's Note - Conte would be an excellent choice but I am not sure if he would be interested. Zidane might well be interested if the timing was right. I think Laurent Blanc would have made a good choice previously but I doubt the club will be thinking about him.}


2.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:19:12
Southgate, what a surprise ?.


3.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:35:43
Southgate…. That would be an appalling decision by the club.


4.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:38:55
We could bring in Teddy Sheringham as caretaker manager until the end of the season and then if he wins a few games, lose the plot and give him a three year contract .

It's the United way!


5.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 09:51:17
Thanks for reply Ed002!

Have United been interested in Southgate before/ do you think there would be interest please?

I really hope not - he’s far too similar to Solskjaer in terms of style / formation and has never achieved anything as a club manager. He seems like a really nice guy - like Ole - which is probably what you need with the sporadic management of International footballers, and he’s restructured the England set-up (as Ole has with United) so just think he’s too similar and too limited.

Sorry to push this one, Ed002, but if results continued to be abysmal and/ or he lost the dressing room, and United were pushed into a corner, who do you think would be the leading contenders please?

Thanks for any info you can afford to divulge.

{Ed002's Note - I think there would be interest in Southgate. It is not a simple case of the club picking a replacement, it is a case of the trust the club has in the Director of Football. They should have sorted that out properly and then have found a long-term pick as a manager. I would not be surprised if an approach were made at sometime for Brendan Rodgers but if they could hold on until Southgate becomes available he would be a good option. Mauricio Pochettino is not available, else he might be of interest. Perhaps Michael Carrick could fill in on an interim basis until Southgate or someone else becomes available.}


6.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 09:55:53
Thanks Ed, very grateful of your time. Is Ten Hag in consideration?

{Ed002's Note - I cannot imagine he would be interested.}


7.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:53:40
Hi Ed002, thanks as always for all info provided!

Conte would be a great choice for immediate impact.

Out of interest though how do you rate Zidane as a manager please? Know he won lots at Real but not much experience elsewhere.

Do you think he would do well at United if this came about please? (Ie is he sound tactically, great coach etc? )

Thanks for any input!

{Ed002's Note - The problem with Antonio Conte is that he is a rather complex individual and the structure at the club does not seem something that would be suitable. Zidane, as I said, may well be interested but there would be some level of risk because of his coaching career has been exclusively at Real Madrid and his English is pretty poor. If he were to move to Manchester United it would be about the other coaches and overcoming language barriers etc.. I can not see it as an ideal solution.}


8.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 12:39:25
Ten Haag please, Ed 002 kindly wave your magic wand and abrakadabra it for us (me) .


9.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 15:13:36
Ed002, why is it that you say Southgate would be a good option for United? isn't he too similar to Ole as far his style of play is concerned? Rodgers on the other hand i think is a better choice although with the amateurs i am less than hopeful to make a good choice.

Your inputs as always are much appreciated.

{Ed002's Note - Southdate is well respected as a coach and players like him. It would be a younger coach for Manchester United who could stay some years.}


10.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 15:29:04
Fair enough Ed002, thanks for the info. Not my first choice but as long as Ole is gone.


11.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 16:14:59
anyone is better than ole, least south gate would have a style something to build on and why not give him a chance to prove again at club level.


12.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 16:06:51
Thank you so much for the detailed replies to several posts, thank you very much.

{Ed002's Note - Thanks.}


13.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 16:25:00
Peronally southgate would be a step backwards no club coaching its easy to be liked when you bareley have the players he has them for what 1 week every 4/ 6 weeks and 2/ 3 months every couple of years. His tactics are exactly the same if not worse he has better options but doewnt use them and plays favorites even more than ole. I personally think something has to change but could 2 experianced coaches be a better option? Someone more tactical and knows how to attack rather than phelan and someone to help the young coaches. I think something has to give atm but i don't see a coach that suits us zidane and conte too defensive for me, i just don't like rodgers, potter possibly but is he just flavour of the month like eddie howe was? Would potter be and option for us ed?

{Ed002's Note - I don't see Potter as an option at all for Manchester United.}


14.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 05:39:23
What is funny is almost a year ago now I first mentioned that Southgate could be Ole's replacement. That was met with condemnation and shouts that I was "fear mongering".

Now it turns out that the club would consider Southgate and suddenly he isn't that bad and he must be better than Ole.


15.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 10:51:55
Honest to god i can't see why people would swap ole for southgate. Southgate has shown nothing to say he would be any different to ole, except he doesn't have a connection to the club. He pulled 2 players off a bench with a minute to play to try win pens at the euros and he bottled it to lose to croatia at the world cup (and england had the easiest path to a final they'll ever have) like ole against villareal, also his football is just as bad with better options.


16.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 12:09:44
Dbrooks, how long until fans would start calling him the "failed Middlesbrough manager" after all he was manager when they got relegated. While unlike Ole who took over Cardiff halfway through a doomed season, Southgate managed Middlesbrough for three seasons taking them down in his third season. That was definitely his team, no excuses.

I appreciate that since then Southgate has clearly grown and improved as a manager. For me there are three key markers we should be aiming for with any potential new manager.

1. Proven track record of developing players, particularly young players.

2. Proven track record of playing progressive, offensive football.

3. Proven track record of winning things, creating a winning mentality.

If any manager falls short on one of those things we could in my opinion overlook that if they were outstanding at the other two. But if a manager doesn't tick at least two of those boxes then they should probably not be considered. They will be on a hiding to nothing with our fans who not only expect the club to win things, but to do so in a certain style and to continue the club's proud tradition of developing youth players.

If you're not doing all three of those things the fans will get on your back the moment the results start to go against you. Lose the fans and you lose your job.


17.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 12:16:42
May be an unpopular opinion but I think Brendan Rodgers should be a serious candidate for the job. I understand that many may not want him due to his ties with LFC but put that aside and assess what he could offer. Ok he hasn't delivered "major" silverware but he sets his teams up to play attacking football. He's tactical, has shown he makes tactical decisions in and during games. I also think its important we look to appoint a manager like Brendan that would want to be in the role for a long period of time which is what Utd need and not move on within a year or two. Taking in to account those requirements mentioned above, who else would fit the mould?


18.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 12:51:10
Shappy that is exactly what would happen with southgate it would happen so much quicker than it has with ole as well as fans won't have hope he'll turn it around he'd have to hit the ground running and win from the start and he isn't the man for that. The first 2 points are the ones in most interested in now I've had enough of managers who are "winners" and have "a winning mentality" i just want us to play some decent football it feels like we are a few months to going back to where we were before solskjaer i think the main cause of a lot of issues around the club is the whole pogba issue. No one has taken control of the situation and moved him on signed him up or stopped himplaying/ having such and influence on the team. he's on so much money he's got 8 months left on his deal and he's often at fault not because he's done something wrong just because he isn't trying hard enough. he's still never dropped and they apprently have offered him a bigger contract its an awful example to set, but no one at the club has taken control of the situation and i feel its gone through the team. Its the club an staffs problem as they have just let the situation fester rather than dealing with it, they need to speak to psg/ madrid try and get 5/ 10m in january but i doubt they will.


19.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 13:09:24
Lee, I wouldn't be totally against it. I think he ticks all the boxes I said are key. Plays good football, has developed players, worked well with youth players, has won things with Celtic. My only concern is his history with transfers is difficult to see if he has a good or a bad record due to the club's he's been at.

But that said I don't think there are many who tick all the boxes. I like Erik Ten Hag, but then you could argue his transfer history is just as unclear.


20.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 17:17:59
Not keen on Southgate. Judging by his performance in the final against Italy I can't see him being much of an improvement on Ole. We certainly don't need a sentimental choice.

When you listen to Guardiola, Klopp or Tuchel you realize that these are managers with enormous technical knowledge which they are able to apply on the field of play, given the right support from the club itself. The England job, where the top players for ones country are largely obvious and do not involve the transfer market or money, is not a good grounding.

If we're not going to look for one of the top European technical coaches then Brendan Rogers is probably the best choice. The fact that he was once LFC's coach is of no concern. In fact it would be most enjoyable to watch him knock Klopp of his perch.

{Ed0666's Note - No comparison between klopp and Rogers regardless of how much money you have mate. The earliest you appoint Rogers will be the summer. Then he needs a year rebuilding so klopp will have an 8 season head start on him. I agree with you I don’t think he’s ex Liverpool will matter to United fans if it means Ole stops driving that bus


21.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 19:58:47
Yes, Southgate is terrible, because before he was appointed, England was playing finals in every world and euro cup!

Oh wait.


22.) 20 Oct 2021
20 Oct 2021 00:13:31
This whole thread is terrifying.


23.) 20 Oct 2021
20 Oct 2021 01:28:28
Hiring Southgate would lead us right back where we started within two seasons. Far too negative, lacking experience at the highest level and tactically inept. Really hope he’s unavailable when Ole finally leaves the club.

Gasperini remains my pick. His brand of football, when combined with the talent within our squad and the money that would be at his disposal, would lead to success. I’ve no doubt in my mind.


24.) 22 Oct 2021
22 Oct 2021 10:43:19
Lacking experience at the highest level? World Cup semi finals and European Championships final, they feel like a pretty decent level to me.


25.) 25 Oct 2021
25 Oct 2021 01:11:42
Thinking today might have been them being pushed into a corner.


26.) 26 Oct 2021
26 Oct 2021 23:14:02
If you think Mourinho used to throw players under the bus then wait til you have rodgers and you lose a match. He will do it with much less justification. He does have a good record with coaching players but i'm not convinced he is any better at tactically making changes within a match. He prob has a better idea of what style he wants to play but does he have a plan B for when things aren't working? And will his ego being able to handle being in the same dressing room as the egos you already have in there?