General Premier League Thread 2023-24 Mod Note in op 27/6/23 And 21/05/24

So many words to say absolutely nothing. It's quite clear you're just looking for a way to get as many digs in at Utd as possible "a cup manager for a cup team"

For all you've said, how many Manchester United managers have INEOS sacked? How many have they hired? So because there was no forward planning under the previous regime, that have all been replaced as I'm sure your aware of considering how on top of all things Utd you are, that means the new footballing management team also won't plan in advance and speak to managers, agents, coaches to feel people out, get their opinions etc.

Also there was no revolt or anything like it re Arnautovic but for the LOLs I'm sure you can show me some proof of this revolt.

Man Utd absolutely are a cup team now. That's not a dig, it's just realism.

You were on about trophies earlier. It's all domestic cups that Man Utd are winning since Ferguson left. When is the last time Man Utd were actually involved in a title race, versus how many cup runs have they been involved in the last decade?

5 cup wins (4 domestic) in the last 12 seasons. 2 other cup finals. 4 more semi finals. That's a fair chunk of cup runs, basically one every season. How many realistic league challenges have been in that time? Finishing 2nd but 19 points away from 1st place doesn't count as it wasn't really a title challenge. I'd say 0.

1 cup run vs 0 league challenge every season. I've every right to say Man Utd are a cup team now.

No INEOS haven't hired or sacked a manager, yet. But that won't last long IMO. Is Ashworth even allowed to work yet, or is that his role to sort it out? Is it Wilcox or what's his role? Why is there constant talk of a new manager? Why did Jim avoid questions on ETH's future after the FA cup final? Why have the club not briefed their local journos that ETH is staying, definitely? Maybe it's because he banned them all, or maybe cos he is not. Ye seem to think it's all fake news about ETH leaving, so who knows.

As for Arnautovic, there are quotes here from the Bologna sporting director about Man Utd's bid. I'm sure you can remember the potential transfer at the time, and how Twitter was rife with criticism from Man Utd fans at the time. Di Viao actually mentioned in another interview that Man Utd didn't pull out of of the deal because of the fan backlash, it was because Arnautovic felt more valued at Bologna.....But why even mention that without some sort of simmering element of truth to it in the first place.

And then Reddy mentions that it was a combination of the fan revolt and Man Utd deciding to not increase the offer.

The BBC also reported the same here

That's exactly it. Who is else can win the league over the next few years. People can say Arsenal but it won't happen. City are too good. That may change if Pep leaves but until then everyone else will be second best. Even if they are pipped you just know it will be just a one off title win

In the last 7 years, they’ve been the only team to stop City.

Utd have been a cup team for the last few years. No shame in it. We are at our lowest point in a lot of fans living memories.

Anyone under 40 this is basically the worst period they have seen and Utd have still picked up trophies. 8 trophies won since Fergie left but no league title. Utd have been a cup team.

There are designs to get back to winning leagues but until we are in that league title battle going into the final few weeks we aren't league title challengers. Simple as really.

No need to get upset about a Liverpool fan calling us a cup team.

No need to be so kind

Here we go with the United v Liverpool crap again.

Can we not just start up a thread for this childish nonsense?

I saw some of the Villa pages mentioning this earlier and thought it was a mad one.

As long as the guys above him are making the decisions on transfers from now on then there's not much risk keeping him on. Even if they have another shocking season they shouldn't go below 8th but it'll give them time to weed out another few "bad egg", underperforming and overpaid players. At that stage then a new manager can come in to a fresher squad if ETH doesn't do well and is moved on.

I think it’s a strange one to keep Ten Hag on, especially when Tuchel and Pochettino were available. I can understand why they may have passed on Tuchel though, he doesn’t seem to like working under a structure such as Man Utd are now operating in. But Pochettino should hold his ground now for a while. I think either Liverpool or United will be before long and he’ll be a good option.

I think Pochettino would be. Ten Hag won’t see next season out, in my opinion.

100% agree re Poch. Nobody believes he's capable of winning the PL. Seems like a nice guy and a fairly good coach but I'd be confident that ETH would win more silverware if they hypothetically had the same squad over 3,5,7 years etc.

As a non-United fan, Poch is the one I was worried about rebuilding them. Might not have had immediate success in the way Tuchel might get with a cup or something, but I think 2 years from now they'd be back to square one with Tuchel, while I think 2 years from now with Poch they'd be in a much better more cohesive place. He's a good man to push things in the right direction and build an ethos and ethic in his team.

Sticking with ETH just kinda feels like pushing a decision further down the road in the hope a better option becomes available (like the longer term version of Ireland giving JOS the friendlies to buy time!).

When you look at the United, we'll for me anyway I see the full backs and defensive midfield as the major issues. At centre back Martinez looks a really good one if you can keep him fit. I thought Maguire did an admirable job when he got injured. If Varane is going then a replacement for him is needed.

The full backs are really poor though. Shaw is another who can't seem to stay healthy.

Defensive midfield is a mess and needs sorting.

Up further there's Bruno, Hojlund and Garnacho. You've got Rashford too if he can get back to his best.

So two full backs, a defensive midfielder, one wide forward and potentially a centre back is what's needed I think. Improving the bench is another thing although it looks like they have a few decent players coming through the ranks.

Always loved looking at the Turkish league too and being surprised at who's still playing. Guess it's the Saudi League for that now!

One player from La Liga I was surprised to see hasn't retired yet is Pepe Reina who is actively looking for a new club. Some people with rose tinted glasses saying he should be picked up for Liverpool this season.

Wouldn't surprise me to see him come back to England again. I still remember seeing his first game at Anfield, in the 2001 UEFA Cup Semi Final! He was playing for Barcelona as a teenager with the likes of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Frank de Boer playing that night too - all of whom have been managers for years while he's still playing, 11 appearances this past season and 32 the season before for a top 5 league club isn't bad 23 years later

Southgate was never in the running according to Talk of the Devils, The Athlethic podcast. Tuchel and De Zerbi got as far as talking financial packages with INEOS so I'd expect that if ETH goes at some point this season either of those guys will be next up. An interesting theory they threw out is that INEOS met with McKenna and all parties agreed now wasn't the right time but he's very much the long term plan. So if ETH gets another two or three years and McKenna is ready then they'd be happy with that. Some people won't like that and will **** on the idea that Utd are now putting in place succession planning but I'd be mightily impressed if INEOS are already looking that far ahead.

Is it unfair?

His Spurs team lost a title race to Leicester city when Spurs were near their peak.

His PSG team lost a title race to Lille.

He seems like he can build a good team over time but so far he hasn't really shown himself to be the man to then lead those sides to titles.

His only trophies won were at PSG as far as I know and winning at PSG is a given. But he even underachieved there.

7/8 seasons in England and he's had some very nice squads in that time and didn't pick up so much as a league cup.