Jose Mourinho to be named Manchester United manager

[SvN]

BBC are reporting it, so that's surely as close to 100% without the club confirming it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36351371

I don't hate van Gaal like Kiko and the majority of redcafe, so I'm glad he's going out on a high. But he hasn't really done enough this season to keep his job, so I think it's the right decision. We really should've gone for Jose after Fergie retired, but here we are 3 years later.

So, success or not?

[Dark Soldier]

Either great success, or a self imploding clusterfuck.

[Boydy]

I'll lol my arse off if he's just as shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He'll flop in the third year.

[Reg]

Not convinced he'll be a success. If he does succeed and win a title, it'll all come crashing down soon afterwards.

I think van Gaal was failed by the board. Muller, Ronaldo, all those players that they talked up never came.* The squad they ended up with was not better than Man City's, Chelsea's, or Arsenal's, and perhaps others. (Saying that, it was his decision to let Welbeck and Hernandez go, etc.)

*There is the possibility that one or more of those world class players were all happy and raring to go, ready to sign until van Gaal shook their hand and said, "Well, before we confirm anything, let's talk about pass completion rates."

[Yevrah]

Ultimately LvG plays shit football, which would be fine if results made up for that, but they really haven't.

[Magic]

Here's hoping he spunks a shit load of money, fucks it all up, doesn't get in to Europe for a third consecutive year and everyone panics. :drool:

[niko_cee]

Adios Rashford and co.

[Yevrah]

As for Mourinho, his stock, while still obviously very high, is about as low as it's been right now. If he goes all tin hat with this gig it'll probably be a one way route to the moribund French league after that.

[Kikó]

Fuck off van Gaal. Three seasons later than it should have been but I think he'll do well, he's a proper manager not completely out of his depth or past his best.

[Shindig]

He'll be at Chelsea once Conte's gone.

[Gray Fox]

I'm looking forward to him making a mockery of "Pep."

[Yevrah]

What happens to Ryan Giggs by the way? There's no chance Mourinho's going to put up with that shit, surely?

[Yevrah]

he's a proper manager not completely out of his depth.

The grief I got for saying that at the time....

[Dark Soldier]

Seems Mendes leaked the news, not United. Lol classy.

[Lewis]

Not convinced he'll be a success. If he does succeed and win a title, it'll all come crashing down soon afterwards.

I think van Gaal was failed by the board. Muller, Ronaldo, all those players that they talked up never came.* The squad they ended up with was not better than Man City's, Chelsea's, or Arsenal's, and perhaps others. (Saying that, it was his decision to let Welbeck and Hernandez go, etc.)

*There is the possibility that one or more of those world class players were all happy and raring to go, ready to sign until van Gaal shook their hand and said, "Well, before we confirm anything, let's talk about pass completion rates."

I agree with that, and have said that I would be happy for him to stay another season and piss another two-hundred million up the wall (especially if the alternative was Ryan Giggs), but Jose Mourinho mate.

[randomlegend]

Adios Rashford and co.

:(

Rashford's a proper talent.

[GS]

This appointment is fine as the replacement is demonstrably better than the replaced. It'll probably fall apart in year three again, though.

[CJay]

:sick:

I hope he fails miserably. It's funny that public opinion of Mourinho didn't fall much after this season, not only for the on-pitch stuff, but the off-pitch antics were worse than ever.

[GS]

:sick:

I hope he fails miserably. It's funny that public opinion of Mourinho didn't fall much after this season, not only for the on-pitch stuff, but the off-pitch antics were worse than ever.

I think most recognise he's a wanker, but it just comes with the territory of generally winning things.

[CJay]

I would also add that Van Gaal was treated rather nastily by the media over the last year or so. They were dying for him to go.

[Gray Fox]

There were apparently awkward scenes in the press conference then.

Van Gaal started to talk about the transfer plans he had for the summer while all the media present knew he's already gone. Left waving the cup in their faces by sounds of it.

[Jeet]

Replace one boring anti-football manager with another!

RIP to Man Utd's youth also.

[Manc]

I can't see Mourinho doing a thing with the current crop.

[randomlegend]

I can't see Mourinho doing a thing with the current crop.

I can imagine more big players being willing to join to play under Mourinho than LVG though.

[Manc]

Like Zlatan?

[Jeet]

Anyone saw the exclusive by SSN just where they talk to Jose,but Jose doesn't talk back :D

[Raoul Duke]

Probably the best appointment we could have made (after making a proper clusterfuck of missing out on Guardiola). Van Gaal's football is dreadful.

I guess that's Zlatan nailed on. Now to just get Ronaldo back :drool:

[Giggles]

Dour is about to get a whole lot dourer. Just with more wins.

[Lewis]

I bet Ronaldo could win even this United the league.

[Raoul Duke]

Seeing as there's no good defenders here, he'd probably mince in 60-a-season.

[randomlegend]

Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic would increase the average age of our front line by about 50% and the average wage by about 500%.

[Spoonsky]

The timing's a bit shit, isn't it? They could've given LvG have at least one good day as United manager.

[Baz]

I don't rate Pep at all but seeing Mourinho's United versus Conte's Chelsea ought to be very interesting.

Hopefully Klopp's Liverpool can make it a threesome. :drool:

[Kikó]

Fuck van Gaal in the arse.

[Pepe]

So all the 'top, top' managers are now in England? They will still get shafted by the binmnen in Spain won't they?

[Ian]

Based on the enormous meltdown he had at Chelsea it wouldn't surprise me if nothing drastically changed. Of course if this year is anything to go by it may not take much to propel a team in United's position into a title challenge if we don't make the traditional transfer window balls-up and Mourinho doesn't spend the whole time spouting conspiracy theories.

[elth]

I mostly feel sorry for the young players at the club.

van Gaal didn't do enough to deserve a third season. I can handle finishing 5th but not the football.

[Sam]

Rip all those 'promising' youth. Wonder where they will end up on loan.

I think he'll keep the usual cycle up, decent first two seasons before he implodes, crashes and burns in the third.

[Kikó]

I have no doubt Mourinho will play youth players. He's pragmatic and knows how important it is to the identity of the club.

[Giggles]

There's no club identities any more. There's just a few manages with their own egos and there's Jorge Mendes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is probably the worst squad he's ever inherited, so he'll have to go some to win a title as quickly as he has elsewhere. The crowd will also whinge about his horror football.

Actually, unless he changes his ways, he'll probably fall out with the hierarchy quite quickly. United is too big and too corporate to be a Mourinho ego vehicle (the same problem he had at Madrid).

[Yevrah]

And if he mongs this up, where next?

[Pleb]

PSG hopefully...

[Mike]

The United fans I know all moan not only about results but about the football they play.
Will be interesting if they start winning but playing the same kind of game under Jose if they keep moaning.

[Disco]

And if he mongs this up, where next?

Anywhere, look at how Benitez keeps rolling around Europe despite having done nothing for years.

[Giggles]

Anywhere, look at how Benitez keeps rolling around Europe despite having done nothing for years.

In fairness, his last job was Newcastle. That's one step from retirement.

[Disco]

True, but it's still a job in a top (top) league. Mourinho could walk into any number of big clubs across Europe or just take the Portugal job if this doesn't work.

[Lewis]

I have no doubt Mourinho will play youth players. He's pragmatic and knows how important it is to the identity of the club.

Plus it is a pretty decent group at the moment. He might well never promote another one, but why would somebody like Borthwick-Jackson not get any games (felt a bit sorry for him yesterday)?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea's 'group' was a lot better over the course of his second spell but he never even threatened to play one. He also binned off people like Lukaku - who a different kind of manager would be able to mould into a top, top player - because he wasn't instantly ready.

What Mourinho does well is he makes hardened men play with the sort of discipline to win titles. He doesn't improve players particularly. He'll need to sign four or five, but if he does then he should do top three really.

[Kikó]

This season, van Gaal managed the team to score less than Blackpool did when they were relegated. It'll take a superhuman effort to make us more boring.

[Manc]

You've got to hate the man to pull out that statistic. Can't wait for the Mourinho seethe.

[Max Power]

Big Jorge Mendes does it again. The man can't fail. Wonder what shite hell dump at Old Trafford this summer.

[randomlegend]

Falcao's second stint :drool:

[Spikey M]

I for one am looking forward to 2 seasons of United winning everything before he gets the religated. Rafa following him should get a good seethe out of the scousers n'all.

[Samadini]

Rafa is staying to take this MASSIVE club BACK WHERE IT BELONGS.



(17th in the Premier league)

[Disco]

He's already done that.

[Danny]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2559/rumours/2016/05/22/23818072/rumours-ibrahimovic-to-join-man-utd-as-assistant-manager?ICID=HP_BN_4

:lol:

Whoever said 'yep, lets put that out there' needs shooting

[Lewis]

This (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/22/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-players-near-mutiny) article about 'LvG' winding everybody up is good:


[H]e started sending the players individual emails detailing their faults and submitting video clips to highlight his dissatisfaction. Except by that stage a lot of the players were so disillusioned many ignored the emails or redirected them straight to their trash. Van Gaal suspected as much and had a tracker fitted so he could check if the emails were opened and for how long. It became a game of cat and mouse. Some players opened the emails on their mobiles, then left their phones on the side and wandered off for 20 minutes.

:cool:

[The Merse]

This (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/22/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-players-near-mutiny) article about 'LvG' winding everybody up is good:


[H]e started sending the players individual emails detailing their faults and submitting video clips to highlight his dissatisfaction. Except by that stage a lot of the players were so disillusioned many ignored the emails or redirected them straight to their trash. Van Gaal suspected as much and had a tracker fitted so he could check if the emails were opened and for how long. It became a game of cat and mouse. Some players opened the emails on their mobiles, then left their phones on the side and wandered off for 20 minutes.

:cool:

Daniel Taylor. Not familiar with IT capability I see.

[elth]

Yes, that's definitely the most interesting takeaway in that article...

[Giggles]

Van Gaal sacking looks like it's going to be made official shortly.

[randomlegend]

Imagine if they announced Giggs as manager. Smiffy would literally die of smugness.

[SincereTheRebel]

Bringing in mourinho and possible zlatan would be some signing.

[niko_cee]

Signing Zlatan and having the fatman activate his must be paid the most clause.

:drool:

[SvN]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36359063

The news of LvG's sacking has clearly changed his plans

[niko_cee]

It would be brilliant if this statement was that Big Louis was staying on.

[Lewis]

Ray Wilkins just described football managers getting sacked as 'the most horrible thing on the planet'. It's definitely up there.

[five time]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36359063

The news of LvG's sacking has clearly changed his plans

'The fundamental issue for Moyes is believed to be the drop down to the Championship'.

Did he only just realise?

[Kikó]

Rumours of Brian Kidd coming back as assistant manager. Let it be.

[Spikey M]

You can litterally make anything up when it comes to United. Ibrahimovic as Assistant Manager is top quality tabloid fodder.

[Reg]

This (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/22/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-players-near-mutiny) article about 'LvG' winding everybody up is good:


[H]e started sending the players individual emails detailing their faults and submitting video clips to highlight his dissatisfaction. Except by that stage a lot of the players were so disillusioned many ignored the emails or redirected them straight to their trash. Van Gaal suspected as much and had a tracker fitted so he could check if the emails were opened and for how long. It became a game of cat and mouse. Some players opened the emails on their mobiles, then left their phones on the side and wandered off for 20 minutes.

:cool:
Very enlightening article (with the caveat: is it all true?).

The Guardian have loads of stuff on Mourinho. It's just a load of alright really, but Barney Ronay did sum it up nicely: "it promises to be horribly watchable."

[Magic]

Could you imagine if they'd have tried to appoint Boreinho after whisky nose retired? There would have been furore. That it's got to this stage is absolutely :drool: and is surely the final nail in the coffin. No CL football for a third season plus massive expenditure this season to try and RECLAIM glory = doing a Leeds.

[Reg]

I don't think they'll get relegated...

[Magic]

That remains to be seen.

[Giggles]

That remains to be seen.

Or not. They won't.

[Kikó]

Very enlightening article (with the caveat: is it all true?).

The Guardian have loads of stuff on Mourinho. It's just a load of alright really, but Barney Ronay did sum it up nicely: "it promises to be horribly watchable."

Daniel Taylor is well sourced .

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't get my head around footballers using email.

phil.jones@manutd.com

[John]

That stuff about Van Gaal banning the players from shooting first time has appeared again. It just seems too completely arbitrary and mental to be true, but I'm almost completely certain it is.

[Magic]

I can't get my head around footballers using email.

phil.jones@manutd.com

I bet the player's Yammer closed group is a riot.

[Reg]

Daniel Taylor is well sourced .
Yeah I remember you saying, but we don't know everything is true really do we?

The Guardian got the whole sacking if he didn't win the next three or whatever completely wrong a few months ago. If Taylor was always clued up and correct, why'd they run with that story?

Edit- can't find that story, maybe Guardian didn't report that. Everyone else did, each paper differing slightly.

[Davgooner]

This (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/22/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-players-near-mutiny) article about 'LvG' winding everybody up is good:


[H]e started sending the players individual emails detailing their faults and submitting video clips to highlight his dissatisfaction. Except by that stage a lot of the players were so disillusioned many ignored the emails or redirected them straight to their trash. Van Gaal suspected as much and had a tracker fitted so he could check if the emails were opened and for how long. It became a game of cat and mouse. Some players opened the emails on their mobiles, then left their phones on the side and wandered off for 20 minutes.



What a load of shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36382637

But it has emerged that Chelsea still own the 'Jose Mourinho' name as a trademark - meaning United may need to pay a six-figure sum for the rights.

Fucking hell.

[Disco]

So if I want a Special Onesie I have to pay Roman for the privilege?

[Giggles]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36382637

But it has emerged that Chelsea still own the 'Jose Mourinho' name as a trademark - meaning United may need to pay a six-figure sum for the rights.

Fucking hell.

Modern football :drool:

[Kikó]

Yeah I remember you saying, but we don't know everything is true really do we?

The Guardian got the whole sacking if he didn't win the next three or whatever completely wrong a few months ago. If Taylor was always clued up and correct, why'd they run with that story?

Edit- can't find that story, maybe Guardian didn't report that. Everyone else did, each paper differing slightly.

I'm pretty sure of the veracity of his claims.

van Gaal offered to resign over Christmas but was talked out of it by Ed. Is that the period you're talking about?

[Jeet]

Please let ManUtd buy Willian :D

[John]

Please let ManUtd buy Willian :D

Why?

[Lewis]

Isn't he pretty good now?

[Magic]

Yeah, wasn't he player of the season for them?

[Gray Fox]

Official.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10293151/jose-mourinho-appointed-manchester-united-boss

[Manc]

Jeet really does prove his worth in this thread.

[Reg]

van Gaal offered to resign over Christmas but was talked out of it by Ed. Is that the period you're talking about?
That's the one. There was a paper with 'he has to win 2 of the next 3 games' or something, and various publications going with similar.

[Pepe]

Jose Mourinho! Jose Mourinho. Been waiting on this ever since Fergie retired ‪#‎GGMU‬

:*)

[Pleb]

Does that mean we're favorites for relegation? :baz:

[Manc]

Has Jose ever managed a team on the Europa league? It's the perfect opportunity to play the yoof.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Porto.

He won it with them and then the Champions League the very next season.

[Mazuuurk]

I'm actually (kind of) with Jeet on this one. 60M for Willian (at 27 years) doesn't seem very valuable. He's good, but maybe 30M-35M good at best. I guess he's one of these quite hard-working players who don't play that selfishly or flairfully but is still quite skillful, which is relatively rare, but still.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mourinho won't play the youth in the Europa League, or maybe even League Cup, his trademark is playing to win every trophy.

[Pen]

The youth in question are already 'established' squad players so I'd imagine he's not going to bin them for the sake of them being young.

[CJay]

The youth in question are already 'established' squad players so I'd imagine he's not going to bin them for the sake of them being young.

Most of them only played because of injuries to areas which Mourinho will no doubt seek to strengthen.

[Reg]

I think Rashford, Shaw and Martial will play regularly (first XI in Martial's case) but the likes of Borthwick-Jackson will probably disappear.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm hoping that if he's not prepared to play Fossy-Mensah and Borthwick-Jackson they'll go out on loan.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rashford won't last five minutes unless what I've seen of him isn't a good representation. No room in Mourinho sides for a pure finisher.

[Lewis]

Mate, you said he would never manage United, so this is obviously a new Mourinho.

[randomlegend]

Rashford won't last five minutes unless what I've seen of him isn't a good representation. No room in Mourinho sides for a pure finisher.

I don't think he's a pure finisher at all.

[Pen]

Fosu-Mensah won't probably feature much and like Mahow I hope he goes on loan if that's the case. Borthwick-Jackson however I think might have a place as a backup as will Rashford.

[Reg]

I don't think he's a pure finisher at all.
Definitely not. He's played a part in a lot of the recent goals even if he hasn't got many direct assists.

[randomlegend]

I don't think Jimmy actually watches any football and just makes things up.

[CJay]

Aye, the few times I've seen him play his link up play has been quite good. Still does the usual 'young player runs down blind alley' thing, but that'll get sorted with experience. Unless you're Sturridge.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope I'm wrong but I just can't see Mourinho doing anything other than loaning him out. So raw.

[elth]

He's only 18, Jose can loan him out for the 2 seasons before he gets fired in a storm of malevolence and then Rashford can be the next Rooney.

[Kikó]

I think he'll keep Rashford about. If he makes Depay a footballer he'll be the best manager in the world.

[P_3]

Don't think United would let him leave considering how well he's done. It will be mighty awkward come January and Leicester are top of the table with Rashford and Vardy leading the line.

[Shindig]

I don't know whether its a talent shortage at United or a mentality, really. More transitional years unless they stick with a long-term manager. I mean, Van Gaal was nuts but he did bring a trophy.

[Kikó]

He was rightly fucked off. The football was absolutely diabolical.

[Lewis]

Fosu-Mensah won't probably feature much and like Mahow I hope he goes on loan if that's the case. Borthwick-Jackson however I think might have a place as a backup as will Rashford.

Fosu-Mensah is a tank, so he would be a perfect Mourinho full-back.

[Raoul Duke]

Ancelotti in two-three years, once Mourinho goes mental, gets fired and then takes over PSG.

[randomlegend]

I dunno why but I reckon Mourinho wants to be in it for the long haul at United. Probably got sacked from Chelsea on purpose.

[Shindig]

He probably wants every job to be long-term. Unless he wins the top prize and decides the ceiling's been hit.

[niko_cee]

Aye. Wasn't he back with the little horses for good last time?

[Lewis]

That was one of his MINDGAMES.

[Sam]

He was rightly fucked off. The football was absolutely diabolical.

Yet the replacement is Mourinho?

[randomlegend]

I know he does stuff like 9 centre backs against Barcelona, but don't Mourinho teams actually score shed loads over the course of a season?

[Dark Soldier]

Yes but its easier to look at the big games where he parks the bus because lol bantz

[Kikó]

Name a Mourinho season which saw one oh his league teams finish with 49 goals.

[randomlegend]

They did a little article on it on sky sports the other day. Showed that his teams generally score really well. When he was at Madrid they were outscoring Barca mate.

[CJay]

Benitez's Madrid put 10 past some chumps. 100 goals is nearly the minimum expectation for those two.

[Kikó]

Oh right it's just real so it doesn't count.

[CJay]

Just making the point mate.

[randomlegend]

In the space of nine Premier League games in that first season, Chelsea put four past six different sides as they finished with 72 goals - 14 more than Manchester United that season. They repeated that feat in retaining the title the following year.

Nobody scored more goals than Porto over his two full seasons in charge, and Mourinho's Inter were the top scorers in Serie A in each of his two years in Italy.

Source: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10292081/is-jose-mourinho-really-a-defensive-coach-who-doesnt-trust-youth

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36408185

Rashford and Borthwich-Jackson have signed new deals.

[Jimmy Floyd]

(re the above chat) It's not necessarily about how many goals they score, it's about the way they go about it. Spontaneity and creativity are basically banned in Mourinho teams.

Sometimes I think he'd be in his element if you put him in charge of Wimbledon circa 1992, or some club with fuck all talent but hard, disciplined men who will do precisely as he says. Give him the West Brom job.

[Baz]

Remember the season before Mourinho came back, when Hazard was single-handedly creating goals out of nothing? Than José told him to calm down mate and he went terrible for about 18 months.

[Reg]

(re the above chat) It's not necessarily about how many goals they score, it's about the way they go about it.
Yep. That Real Madrid team may have scored tonnes but I don't think you'll find many of their fans - or Ronaldo and co - reminiscing misty-eyed about the glorious play.

[Shindig]

Well, Ronaldo might.

[Reg]

Nah. Maybe he'd watch a three hour youtube compilation of his goals, but he wouldn't be dreaming of Mourinho going back to Real.

[Lewis]

http://i65.tinypic.com/29kuakn.jpg

'You wot mate?'

Bobby Charlton fell victim to some classic MINDGAMES as well. What a start.

[randomlegend]

http://e2.365dm.com/16/05/16-9/20/ed-woodward-jose-mourinho-manchester-united_3476127.jpg?20160530214453

What a photo :D

[Lewis]

'You seen that blo... The one watering the plants? Ryan Giggs, that.'

[Boydy]

They look like two farmers at a cattle market.

[Kikó]

He's such a scruffy twat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Imagine finding a bloke who can stand next to Jose Mourinho and look the smugger of the two.

[elth]

Well, Ronaldo might.

He's only interested in highlights videos of all the times he took his shirt off after scoring.

[Lewis]

He brought a list of academy players he has used, lolled the Ryan Giggs questions off, and said Wayne Rooney won't be a midfielder: 'You can tell me his pass is amazing but my pass is amazing too without pressure'.

Good start.

[phonics]

I like how he brought a list of players but refused to actually name any of them.

[randomlegend]

He offered to hand it round from what I read.

Also gave the press officer a heart attack by saying we've signed three players when only two are technically confirmed.

[five time]

It all ended well for the last manager to come into a press conference waving a list about.

It'll be hilarious if he fucks this up.

[randomlegend]

Seems people are losing their shit over him somehow making it sound like we are after Pogba.

Reading what he said I'm not sure how that's true but it'd be proper good if we did get him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at United fans wanking themselves over a Mourinho press conference, having spent the last decade lolling at Chelsea fans for doing so.

There is a lot to love about Mourinho press conferences, though, I'm on the pro-wank side of the argument.

[SvN]

Seething

[randomlegend]

He'll get called a cunt when he (inevitably) acts the cunt, but that press conference was just good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like having him in OUR LEAGUE for entertainment value. A spell at Arsenal is very much the dream, though.

[Kikó]

He's had a go at Rooney and Louis in one press conference. He's started well.

Pogba would be a great coup, it just depends if we can persuade him Manchester is better than Madrid.

[Lewis]

The main thing is that it was just a normal press conference. That inauguration (complete with Noel Gallagher) City put on for 'Pep' was a disgrace.

[elth]

Pogba would be mad to come get the shit kicked out of him 35 times a season at United when he can play in Spain and play two serious games all year for more money.

[randomlegend]

Why would it be for more money?

[Lewis]

United could build their entire commercial operation around somebody like him (hence being willing to pay more than Madrid), and he would presumably benefit more from being the 'franchise player' in his own endorsements than he would in Spain. It's just whether he thinks he can do it on a cold night in Stoke.

[SvN]

If we fuck off Rooney then we need a superstar. Zlatan might cut it for 12 months, but not much longer than that.

[Lewis]

They could build a 'Class of '15/16' around Rashford and that whilst he removes the last traces of Ryan Giggs from the club.

[randomlegend]

I reckon Martial and Rashford are both going to be PROPER good, like.

If we get Pogba that team's going to be stonking in a couple of years.

[bruhnaldo]

Arsene - "I have nothing to prove to anyone. There are some managers who last won a title over 10 years ago."
LvG - “I was never very good at hiding behind words and philosophies."
Rooney - "..I can hit a pass without pressure"

Christ. Has he slagged off the Queen yet, too?

[Jeet]

I suppose he is gonna count Pogba as a player he brought from the youth.

[Reg]

He brought a list of academy players he has used, lolled the Ryan Giggs questions off, and said Wayne Rooney won't be a midfielder: 'You can tell me his pass is amazing but my pass is amazing too without pressure'.

Good start.
:D

Not liking the slagging off of managers. It's almost like a compulsion with him. The debuts list is bollocks as well.

[bruhnaldo]

Surprised one of the rags hasn't managed to put together that list of 49 yet.

[Reg]

Surprised one of the rags hasn't managed to put together that list of 49 yet.
One of the papers had a look and it included guys that never played again after their debut and ended up in the Israeli league etc.

[Lewis]

The newspaper 'read by morons' (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/revealed-jose-mourinhos-49-youth-8352739) did, and it's a right load of shit.

If United signed Pogba would they be the title favourites? He's the best player available anywhere this summer, and it would also stop Madrid selling Toni Kroos (or whoever) to City, so who do the other sides buy to give them QUALITY?

[randomlegend]

Depends how the new LADS do I guess. Bailley is pretty unproven, Micky Targaryen is (as I understand) coming off the back of his first properly good season and Ibrahimovic was playing in France last year. On paper the potential team looks stonking though.

Especially if we drop Rooney...

[Reg]

I know almost nothing about Micky but I would guess he'll go out on the right to fit Rooney in behind I Am Zlatan.

[Jeet]

Hate ManUtd even more :drool:

[Raoul Duke]

DDG

Darmian Bailly Smalling Shaw

Pogba Schneiderlein

Micky Rooney Martial

Zlatan



...in theory. The midfield pair is probably the most fluid/changeable, depending on who we buy and if Mourinho actually fancies any of the current lot. Personally I'd love to see us go for Kante. He's relatively cheap and look solid.

[five time]

Why would Kante be cheap? In a world where Troy Deeney is worth 30 million, you'd think they'd be after something closer to 40, especially to another Premier League team.

[Gray Fox]

Why would Kante be cheap? In a world where Troy Deeney is worth 30 million, you'd think they'd be after something closer to 40, especially to another Premier League team.

£20m release clause in his current contract.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Isn't Darmian being sold? Or have I made that up in my head?

[SvN]

News to me.

[Lewis]

I'm more interested in who gets chucked now. Juan Mata is obviously gone, but his 'specialists' point can't bode well for Fellainimania and even Ander Herrera, since nobody seems to know what his strengths are (although he said he likes the odd all-rounder, which might save Daley Blind if Marcos Rojo gets binned).

[Raoul Duke]

RE: Darmian - I read a rumour, and he doesn't entirely feel like a Mourinho player.

[randomlegend]

Selling Darmian would seem a bit mad, since we aren't exactly stacked when it comes to full backs.

[randomlegend]

£20m release clause in his current contract.

It's seems nuts that nobody's signed him yet if that's really true.

[Lewis]

RE: Darmian - I read a rumour, and he doesn't entirely feel like a Mourinho player.

He was good when he first joined, and, as an Italian, is probably a better bet to follow rigid tactical instructions than some tit like Phil Jones.

[five time]

£20m release clause in his current contract.

How often are these reported clauses actually legit?

We'll see after the euros, but if it is real then half the clubs in europe should be instigating that/leicester should be chucking a new deal at him.

[Reg]

DDG

Darmian Bailly Smalling Shaw

Pogba Schneiderlein

Micky Rooney Martial

Zlatan



...in theory. The midfield pair is probably the most fluid/changeable, depending on who we buy and if Mourinho actually fancies any of the current lot. Personally I'd love to see us go for Kante. He's relatively cheap and look solid.
The Guardian (I think) were mentioning Matuidi today. He could form a good partnership with Schneiderlin.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fellaini has had it (unless he keeps him as a Robert Huth-style Plan E). Waste of a shirt in Mourinho World.

I would predict that Shaw, Martial and Micky T will have the best time under him. Januzaj probably needn't report back for pre-season, and 'Memphis' should probably get on the same Megabus as Adnan.

Herrera will be OK, unless I've horribly misjudged him as a player.

[Raoul Duke]

He's bollocks though. So overrated.

[Lewis]

Herrera would probably be really good in a PRESSING team, where he can run around like a twat and have another PRESSER covering for him (isn't that how that weird Bilbao team played before teams figured them out and it all fell to bits?), but he doesn't really have any stand-out attributes to make him that great.

[ItalAussie]

Pogba's going to Madrid, or staying at Juventus. Man Utd is just being used to wring more money out of Madrid.

[SincereTheRebel]

Completely forgot that depay was at man utd. Given jose previous records, suspect rashford to see less playing time under him.

[Kikó]

Pogba's going to Madrid, or staying at Juventus. Man Utd is just being used to wring more money out of Madrid.

Do you have anything to back that up or just intuition?

While it's probably true re Madrid (from a PP perspective - arguable they actually want him with Kroos and Modric being ace) and Juve, United can 1) afford him 2) give him loads of money. It's just whether he fancies it enough.

[randomlegend]

Read quite a bit about Madrid not being keen as they'd have to break their wage structure (highest paid clauses and not being over 50% of budget on wages) but IDK if it's true.

[bruhnaldo]

The public negotiation does seem a bit obvious...

Daily Mail: POGBA INCHING CLOSER TO MAN UNITED!!!
Marca: Madrid ready to pounce for Andre Gomes!
Daily Mail: No Really! Pogba is SO close!
Marca: Manchester United in pole position as Madrid won't go higher than 60m!
Daily Mail: He's Followed Man United People on Instagram!
Marca: Real in Shock Swoop for Kante! Pogba Just Out Of Reach!!!

[elth]

Why would it be for more money?

Because Real Madrid have more money and footballers pay less tax in Spain.

[randomlegend]

The tax thing occurred to me later, but do Real really have more money at this point? Even if they do it seems we have enough for it not to be relevant (unless they decide to pay him a million quid a week or something).

[elth]

They're still $55m or so ahead in the money league from memory, although I guess new TV money might change that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's the tax thing, Madrid's money goes further than United's as far as the footballer is concerned. Add a plunging pound and it'll take proper bank-breaking offers to tempt the top, top, top players over here.

Merely top, top ones will all flock here in droves though because of the TV deal blowing everyone else in Europe bar about 4 clubs out of the water.

[Lewis]

http://i64.tinypic.com/2occ4.jpg

[Kikó]

And with a bit of black tape he can wear all of Giggs old stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is probably the best bit about having Mourinho manage your club.

[Samadini]

He's stolen the top half of Joey Barton's head.