Manchester United are close to finalising a deal for Ewan Sharp to become an assistant coach and analyst.
The former Toronto FC coach is set to arrive from Lokomotiv Moscow, where interim head coach Ralf Rangnick was working before his arrival at Old Trafford.
Rangnick first encountered Sharp at New York Red Bulls where he worked as a performance analyst - and the move bolsters United's backroom team following the departures of Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna.
The Toronto Sun once described how Sharp played an important role in "opposition scouting, match planning, in match and post-match analysis. He also assisted the scouting department in identification and recruitment".
Sharp was a member of Chris Armas' coaching staff at MLS side Toronto FC for a six-month spell earlier this year prior to the head coach's sacking in July after just two wins in 15 games.
Rangnick appointed American Armas as his assistant earlier this month, following the departure of Michael Carrick after his three-match spell in caretaker charge.
Rangnick confirmed Mike Phelan remained part of the coaching set-up at United despite the appointment of Armas.
No idea who any of these new coaches are tbf, I'm sure they wouldn't have been Ralfs first choices but they were all in contracts this season, still makes sense for him to get people on board who have worked under him before and know his methods already.
Another addition to Ralfs coaching staff
posted on 22/12/21
comment by All Mike wants for Christmas is SIUUUU! (U1170)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 37 minutes ago
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 minutes ago
Ralf hasn’t really done very much in his CV to suggest he will be successful at the club. I like his approach so far though but I’ll reserve judgement until the end of the season.
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Did you have a read of the article I posted a while back that was on the BBC? I think that it give an interesting insight into the bloke and also showed how success can/must be measured differently at different clubs. I don't think that anyone can deny that he has been a success with what he has done at his previous clubs. Of course, at United his success will be measured in trophies and it remains to be seen as to whether he can win things with a big club.
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Yes I remember and I agree with your points raised.
I hope it works out, because Old Trafford has been pining for this style of football even since the Fergie days.
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This.
How good would it be to go to games and regularly be really pleased with how we played?
Sounds fckin insane.
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Maybe the Universe has finished balancing out the Fergie years for us
posted on 22/12/21
I hope that by the end of the season Ralf will be worthy of the number 42 on his track suit (a la Hitchhikers Guide).
posted on 22/12/21
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 22/12/21
comment by United we win (U19958)
posted 46 seconds ago
Up to the players to take on board his message and they need to be intelligent enough to do so. For example I wasn’t encouraged my Mctominay when he got annoyed about doing too many sideways passes: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.sportbible.com/football/news-scott-mctominay-gets-shirty-after-square-passes-question-20211209.amp.html
I think we will need a few new players to replace some of the very average midfielders we have to get the style working. Players like Fred and Mctominay don’t have the capacity to play forward thinking football.
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They might have if uncle Ralf manages to reprogram them with his alien-like technology.
posted on 22/12/21
comment by United we win (U19958)
posted 2 minutes ago
Up to the players to take on board his message and they need to be intelligent enough to do so. For example I wasn’t encouraged my Mctominay when he got annoyed about doing too many sideways passes: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.sportbible.com/football/news-scott-mctominay-gets-shirty-after-square-passes-question-20211209.amp.html
I think we will need a few new players to replace some of the very average midfielders we have to get the style working. Players like Fred and Mctominay don’t have the capacity to play forward thinking football.
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I thought it was just the lack of training?
posted on 22/12/21
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 22/12/21
Two players who were conspicuous in playing a lot more direct, progressive passes between the lines than usual in Rangnick's very first game in charge were Maguire and Fred. The latter had been one of our better players over the last few weeks but in a system that vastly reduces the amount of space the midfield two have to patrol and ensures a lot more passing options, I think Fred is going to look a hell of a lot better than he ever did under Mourinho and Solskjaer. He is a first choice player for Brazil these days, so it shouldn't be that much of an eyebrow raiser.
I agree that McTominay's place looks a lot less secure, but he's another player whose deficiencies have been magnified by being given an impossible job defending the chasm between defence and attack, in addition to which he was often required to drop back and plug gaps between defenders - in a team with shaky confidence - which is always going to make him more cautious on the ball than he'd be in a side coached by Rangnick. In short, we do need an upgrade but I suspect he'll become a lot better (as a squad player) than he has been so far.
posted on 22/12/21
Boubacar Kamara rumours seem to be getting stronger. He looks more suited to being one of the 2 number 6s than McT
posted on 22/12/21
Obviously there's going to be more of a spotlight on coaches and their CVs when the manager himself is lacking in that department. With a top manager, people are less bothered.
posted on 22/12/21
comment by Der Post Nearly Mann. Rangnificent (U1270)
posted 44 minutes ago
Boubacar Kamara rumours seem to be getting stronger. He looks more suited to being one of the 2 number 6s than McT
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Why is he? Never heard of him.