Reading a lot of the comments on here from last night and today and on twitter, it's fair to say that there are mixed feelings about whether Pep Guardiola would be the right man to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Now I'm not here to discuss whether it's likely to happen, I'm here to discuss the reasons why he would be good for the job and reasons why he wouldn't.
Firstly, the fact that he's leaving Barcelona after being in club management for only 4 seasons has sort of put me off him. Who says that he won't do the same in 4-5 seasons when he's been in charge of another club? With the intense scrutiny of the English media and the pressure the supporters of whichever club he joins will put on him because let's face it, he'll be expected to bring instant success, it may well happen. That's one thing I'd be worried about.
His record in the transfer market isn't exactly great because he brought in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dmytro Chygrynskiy for big money and both flopped and were later sold. Letting Eto'o go and bringing in Ibrahimovic was probably one of the worst transfers in recent memory to be honest. Alex Hleb cost Barcelona 15 million euros. He was loaned out to Stuttgart, Birmingham and Wolfsburg before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in January. Martin Caceres cost 17 million euros but due to injury and falling out of favour he was moved on. Keirrison cost 14 million euros and has never played for Barcelona. Since he was signed in 2009, he's had 5 loan spells. Henrique cost around 8 million euros but hasn't played for the club and has been sent out on loan to both Racing Santander and Palmeiras.
I'm wondering if the club he eventually goes to next would have to appoint a director of football to oversee things like transfers, contracts and scouting etc, leaving Guardiola to coach the team which for me raises the question as to whether Guardiola can take control of a whole club like Sir Alex and not just the footballing side of things.
There's no denying that everything was in place for Guardiola at Barcelona because of his legend status, the respect everyone had for him and the fact that he inherited the core of a great team with the likes of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol and Abidal, however he made some very brave decisions in his first season in charge such as moving Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Deco on and also promoting the likes of Busquets, Pedro and Jeffren to the first team. He's taken that team onto a whole other level from what they were under Rijkaard. He made them gel and play a brand of football which was so effective due to the aggressive nature of the way they press the opposition and the way they dominate possession. A style of football which very few teams have had an answer to. He turned them into the best team of their generation and one of the best teams the world has ever seen and what he's achieved in his 4 seasons as manager of Barcelona, has been nothing short of spectacular.
One reason I would like Guardiola at United is because of the impact that he could have on our young players and youth system. His experience and knowledge of developing young players can't be questioned because he has been instrumental in the development of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Busquets and Thiago and everyone knows that under Sir Alex, we've had an emphasis on developing our own young talent. And just to clarify, I'm not suggesting for one moment that we'll have top young talent from the youth system springing up here, there and everywhere the moment Pep steps through the door if he ever took the job. Nobody should be expecting a miracle overnight.
The one thing I'd be interested in knowing is what style of play Guardiola would utilise at Manchester United. We've always been a team who play at a high tempo with a quick passing game and a team who relies a lot on the wide areas. Depending on who takes over from Sir Alex, we could be looking at a change in formation because the new man whoever it is will look to do things his own way. I do think that a change in formation wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing IMO because I think it would actually improve our chances in Europe if we we were able to adapt to different formations, whether it be , 4-5-1/4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. The only thing that really goes against Guardiola is that with Barcelona, he only ever played one way. He didn't have a plan B if things weren't going right like against Chelsea on Tuesday night or against Inter in 2010. I realise that Barcelona were incredibly unlucky against Chelsea because of the chances they missed. Had Villa been fit and playing, it might've been a different story but that's for another discussion. Chelsea do seem to have Barcelona's number though because you can't fault their record against them in the last 6-7 seasons as it's better than anyone's.
If anyone has anything else to add as to why you would or would not want Guardiola at United, feel free.
Pep Guardiola: Pros And Cons
posted on 27/4/12
The points people make are valid.
Its too much to expect another 21 year reign at a club. That is so rare these days, and i suppose what utd can do is have someone in the role of long term planner [sir alex], but coaching will mean a new manager every 4-5 years. Pep would perhaps take utd forward following from sir alex's work, a style of play not really seen in this country, and utd have the resources to make it work.
posted on 27/4/12
Smalling_Jones (U13432)
I think if Jose and Pep were in the PL, players would soon come flocking.
I'm sure if you asked 100 players who they'd love to play for, these two would take most of the votes between them.
posted on 27/4/12
Of your criticisms.
The pressure at Barca, greater than any English club though he is a god at Barca and so evens itself out.
European managers aren't usualy in charge of signings.
The main problem would be how he would do elsewhere. He was a god at Barca, knew everyone the system etc. Elsewhere without that status and knowledge would he do so well.
posted on 27/4/12
"Pep would perhaps take utd forward following from sir alex's work, a style of play not really seen in this country, and utd have the resources to make it work."
Don't quite agree here. United are not a passing team, you have very few players who I would say are comfortable on the ball - Carrick, Scholes, Rooney, and Rio, mainly.
Your strength has always been pace on the counter, with a lot of focus down the wings. Pep's style is completely different to that.
posted on 27/4/12
The gap between Mourinho, Guardiola,Ferguson and Mancinin, Dalglish and Wenger is huge.
posted on 27/4/12
I'm sure if you asked 100 players who they'd love to play for, these two would take most of the votes between them.
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Id say Fergie would get a fair share of the votes but I take your point although Im not sure it would make too much of a difference
At the moment, Barca and Real are the teams of the moment although that could all change if Mourinho follows Guardiola out of La Liga.
I fully expect Barca to drop a level or two next season with Guardiola gone and if Mourinho left Real, I am 100% sure they will decline too which could pave the way for the enlgish teams to dominate the CL again
posted on 27/4/12
Very fair analysis that I broadly agree with. Couple of quick thoughts:
4-5 years is a decent stretch in top-flight management. I don't have the figures but suspect that four years is longer than the Premier League average. We'll never see anyone do a Fergie (even a Wenger) again.
On transfers, you're right but I have no problem with the next manager being a just a 'coach'. The pressures involved in running a club the size of United are inconceivable to us mortals. Even Fergie has loosened the reins and delegated significantly in recent years.
On the 'only plays one way' charge, I'm not sure that's true. The style remains similar but the formation often alters (eg. switching between a back three and four). If anything he's been guilty of tinkering a bit too much. This restlessness is seen in the transfer policy as well; Guardiola is clearly terrified of staleness and complacency setting in so he changes formations and adds players to keep things fresh. An admirable strategy but one that exposes him when it doesn't quiet work.
Overall, I like him - he's dignified, serious, diligent and smart and I think would be a good fit for our club.
posted on 27/4/12
You have all good points, but there's another pros about hiring Guardiola: he can bring Barca experienced players as well as Barca youngsters to his new club, to help quickly deploy his tactics.
He has great relationship with Barca players as well as La Masia. And I'm sure some of them will want to follow him to a new experience, even if they're Catalan through and through, I expect some (even Xavi) will like something new after a long spell at Barca (and not really to retire like Raul), or the young talents of Cuenca, Fontas, Thiago ... or even some happening to be not favoured anymore (Masch, Sanchez, Afellay...)
Overall, he's a smart guy, great personality and technically/tactically wonderful.
posted on 27/4/12
Good article. But, we don't have a quick passing game.
posted on 27/4/12
The one advantage i see with having him manage the team is his dedication to youngsters is amazing and one of the highest in europe. it could lead to an arsenalizing of the club though (style and reliability on youngsters)
But we can do a lot worse than him (and sadly suspect will do so when fergie goes) Would love him managing united if it meant a complete change of the ideas of our team.
Good article by the way. His transfer record is woeful, Though i think he just spent because he had to.