Again the calls ring out for a change in manager. And again the name being bandied about most frequently is Mauricio Pochettino.
Would the Argentine be prepared to step into the breach and become our fifth 'permanent' manager in seven years? And is he the most suitable for the job?
In the post-Fergie era, the executive board have managed to appoint (in permanent roles):
1. David Moyes, a defensively-proficient, naturally reactive coach, tactically all about positional discipline, who has his players playing with two banks of four with width width width!, favours the 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 and 4-2-3-1 setups, and likes to see a direct transition delivering a high volume of positive outcomes (shots and crosses).
He likes unfussy listeners in his squad, discipline, determination, pace, power and strength.
2. Then Louis Van Gaal, an active coach who likes to see his side set the terms of the game, tactically all about dominating possession, about winning the ball back quickly and working out from the back with extreme care in the transition, about working the ball back and forth and back and forth making the opposition chase and lose their shape, and about waiting for and choosing the right moment to strike with clinical efficiency.
He isn't interested in the physical side of the game, and likes technically proficient players, with vision, quick feet, pinpoint passing, and exceptional ball retention skills. In the final third, he wants deadly finishers.
3. Then Jose Mourinho, and back to a reactive and a more physical approach. He'll study the opposition in depth, and then work out how best to exploit their weaknesses. In doing so, he'll be prepared to try literally anything to win a football match, including very happily letting the opposition control possession and the middle of the park, and exploiting high lines to unleash counterattacking situations or flooding the midfield for an all-out physical scrap. His teams have not been renowned for adopting high and active press approaches off the ball.
Mourinho absolutely requires of his players high tactical intelligence, absolute focus on tactical adherence, high game intelligence, physical commitment and dominance, care with the ball, and, in the final third, creativity and flair.
4. Then Solskjaer, another active coach who isn't interested in utilising a wide array of tactical approaches. He'll set up in a 4-2-3-1 and play out from the back with two defensive midfielders who will pivot their way upfield. He's happy for his players to carry the ball and won't be upset if they lose possession, provided they win it back quickly. As such, he prefers a relatively high energy, high press higher up the pitch. In his own half, he'll happily sit with a deeper line to draw the opposition up the pitch so he can hit them on the counter with a quick break. In doing so, as with his insistence for playing out from the back, he's hoping to create overloading situations.
Solskjaer doesn't need players with high game intelligence. And lumbering brutes are no use to him. He wants a squad of nimble players with a direct mentality, ball-carriers with a desire for the ball, pace and acceleration, high levels of fitness, good movement and quick feet.
5. And Pochettino. What would he make of this Frankenstein squad, cobbled together in support of four different managers with four completely different managerial approaches?
Well, we know that like Mourinho, he likes players with high tactical intelligence who are (or can get) used to approaching games with completely different tactical approaches. Do we have that?
He has become keen on playing interchangeably with two or three at the back, with defenders with high tactical intelligence. Do we have that?
We know that he likes proficient attacking fullbacks/wingbacks who can add not only numbers but also creativity in the final third. Do we have that?
He likes to see his out-and-out number nine linking closely with a hard-working and technically-gifted number ten with quick feet (or even two narrow attacking players) who can get in close to and support him. Do we have that?
(Cont.)
18 months of Pochettino
posted on 23/1/20
the fact our squad cost £180 million shy of 1 billion and is still nowhere near good enough is hilarious in a if you dont laugh youll cry type of way
.......
We all know this.
posted on 23/1/20
My bad. We all know this apart from RDD.
posted on 23/1/20
comment by Robb Fernandes (U22311)
posted 2 hours ago
You gotta give it to Stretty. Takes a special kind of guy to open an account and not be suspected of being RDD
Welcome back champ 👍
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Oh ffs. Stretty and RDD, this site is bad enough with just you, let alone all three of you.
posted on 23/1/20
comment by Mason The King Greenwood (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Robb Fernandes (U22311)
posted 2 hours ago
You gotta give it to Stretty. Takes a special kind of guy to open an account and not be suspected of being RDD
Welcome back champ 👍
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Oh ffs. Stretty and RDD, this site is bad enough with just you, let alone all three of you.
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You love me really 😽
posted on 23/1/20
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 3 minutes ago
Rosso,
Cut the nonsense and just tell us who you want as the next manager, okay?
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Skimmed the article and I think he wants Woodward to have a crack at it.
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Somebody with roughly the same ideas on rebuilding as Solksjaer, but who is utterly offensive, outspoken about what's going on at the club and absolutely disastrous results-wise.
Basically somebody who will hasten the sacking of Woodward without facking up any kind of direction we might have in shaping a coherent squad.
Keane?
posted on 23/1/20
We have to see the club torn apart to see it rebuilt. It's the only way it'll happen now, IMO.
posted on 23/1/20
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 3 minutes ago
Rosso,
Cut the nonsense and just tell us who you want as the next manager, okay?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Skimmed the article and I think he wants Woodward to have a crack at it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Somebody with roughly the same ideas on rebuilding as Solksjaer, but who is utterly offensive, outspoken about what's going on at the club and absolutely disastrous results-wise.
Basically somebody who will hasten the sacking of Woodward without facking up any kind of direction we might have in shaping a coherent squad.
Keane?
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I thought you'd say Lingard
posted on 23/1/20
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 34 minutes ago
We have to see the club torn apart to see it rebuilt. It's the only way it'll happen now, IMO.
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Mourinho round 2?
posted on 23/1/20
comment by Mason The King Greenwood (U10026)
posted 52 minutes ago
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 34 minutes ago
We have to see the club torn apart to see it rebuilt. It's the only way it'll happen now, IMO.
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Mourinho round 2?
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https://i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/df/5b/dcdf5b42acb95fa3551faa23a2f1e9e4.jpg
posted on 23/1/20
I’d rather stick with Woodward.