2018/19 Premier League Thread - Jose’s Difficult Third Year

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

And we start off with news Conte has been sacked by Chelsea, with Sarri and Jorginho's arrivals imminent

[Atila]

I've read a few articles saying that Pochettino is being lined up to replace Mourinho at United.

Guardiola and Klopp would never get offered the job as they manage bitter rivals of United's and another name I hear mentioned, Eddie Howe for me, doesn't have the experience of a big club and probably wouldn't do much better than David Moyes. Moyes after all, did just as good a job with Everton as Howe as done with Bournemouth.

Of the managers in the Prem, Pochettino might be the best choice.

[GSC]

Guardiola or Klopp actually wanting the job is probably a bigger factor

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Klopp isn't good enough to manage a club like Manchester United, lets not forget Klopp is a serial loser/choker. Heck serial winners like van Gaal and Mourinho have struggled at United.

Klopp fits Liverpool as they've been irrelevant for close to 30 years, aside from a fluke CL win many years ago.

[Atila]

Guardiola or Klopp actually wanting the job is probably a bigger factor

Sure, I'm not in anyway trying to imply that either of them would want the job. Just pointing out that neither of them are ever likely to be offered the job now for the reason I gave.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Howe would be the one from well-known names. Coaches players to be better, attacks, a little bit nasty without it being on the surface.

Don’t think United have got the balls to think of what coach will do what they need. It’ll be about names

[Atila]

Pochettino so far doing an excellent job with the Spurs.

Before every season starts, there is always some ex-player on TV talking about how teams need to spend and buy this player, but that player etc. Spurs didn't buy anyone pre-season and they're winning games, and playing decent to watch football.

I would definitely prefer Pochettino at United to Zidane.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Liverpool's much overrated Allison with a horrific error. 1-1 lingard equals Mane's earlier strike.

Brazilian keepers aren't worth the time of day

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

A fluke goal by Shaqiri gives a mediocre Liverpool undeserved lead. Liverpool literally reliant on pure fluke. There’s no talent

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Another fluke goal by Shaqiri it’s incredible how much luck a loser like Klopp is getting

[Dolphin Ziggler]

You’re genuinely insane

[Riggs]

Another fluke goal by Shaqiri it’s incredible how much luck a loser like Klopp is getting

Mane's goal was a good one but Shaqiri got lucky twice.

Deflections are handy, if not lucky, for the striker and unlucky, if not unfortunate, for the opposing team.

I doubt Shaqiri will get to continue with such luck as things can change, such is football.

[compelling and rich]

well if you retreat to the edge of your own area all game letting Liverpool have 36? pot shots at goal eventually one or two will deflect in. another spineless display from us. literally just waiting on us to be mathematically out of top four running then mourinho will be sacked. similar happened with moyes, he had a clause in his contract that we didn't have to pay full contract out if we didn't make top 4. wouldn't be surprised if mourinho has the same

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Another fluke goal by Shaqiri it’s incredible how much luck a loser like Klopp is getting

Mane's goal was a good one but Shaqiri got lucky twice.

Deflections are handy, if not lucky, for the striker and unlucky, if not unfortunate, for the opposing team.

I doubt Shaqiri will get to continue with such luck as things can change, such is football.

Do you really think it was lucky? There's no misfortune in doing backs to the wall defending for that long and not being able to block the goal for all of those shots.

[Duty281]

Another fluke goal by Shaqiri it’s incredible how much luck a loser like Klopp is getting

Mane's goal was a good one but Shaqiri got lucky twice.

Deflections are handy, if not lucky, for the striker and unlucky, if not unfortunate, for the opposing team.

I doubt Shaqiri will get to continue with such luck as things can change, such is football.

Do you really think it was lucky? There's no misfortune in doing backs to the wall defending for that long and not being able to block the goal for all of those shots.

The xG was probably off the charts.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Another fluke goal by Shaqiri it’s incredible how much luck a loser like Klopp is getting

Mane's goal was a good one but Shaqiri got lucky twice.

Deflections are handy, if not lucky, for the striker and unlucky, if not unfortunate, for the opposing team.

I doubt Shaqiri will get to continue with such luck as things can change, such is football.

Do you really think it was lucky? There's no misfortune in doing backs to the wall defending for that long and not being able to block the goal for all of those shots.

The xG was probably off the charts.

It was, but we know you don't like experts 

[Duty281]

Another fluke goal by Shaqiri it’s incredible how much luck a loser like Klopp is getting

Mane's goal was a good one but Shaqiri got lucky twice.

Deflections are handy, if not lucky, for the striker and unlucky, if not unfortunate, for the opposing team.

I doubt Shaqiri will get to continue with such luck as things can change, such is football.

Do you really think it was lucky? There's no misfortune in doing backs to the wall defending for that long and not being able to block the goal for all of those shots.

The xG was probably off the charts.

It was, but we know you don't like experts 

Bloody love 'em. xG. WinViz. Lawro's predictions. S'all good.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Lawro and xG are awfully level comparisons 

[dancingweeman]

In some very unsurprising news... Mourinhos gone.

[Guest]

Probably glad he’s been put out of his misery. Shambles of a club from top, to bottom. United need a complete overhaul and restructuring.

Carrick becomes interim manager. I’d imagine it’s either Pochettino, or Zidane.

[gazzyD]

reporter: do you think you can win the league title with this group of players

Jose: I choose not to answer that question

Gone by Christmas this bloke

Wish I'd put money on it back in July

[GSC]

Potch would be mad to take it. Mourinho didn't help matters in the slightest but United need to take a long look at the whole setup. Whole club is tainted by underperformance

[Riggs]

In some very unsurprising news... Mourinhos gone.

I am both surprised and unsurprised.

I had hoped he'd work miracles but also my head said "careful now, he isn't the special one all the time."

It's amazing to see him go from hero, for some, to zero.

Who'll have him next??

[Duty281]

Inevitable, really. Laurent Blanc the very short-priced favourite with the bookmakers, followed by Ole Gunnar and Zidane. Personally, I'm going to stick a tenner on Wenger at 25/1.

[Riggs]

Inevitable, really. Laurent Blanc the very short-priced favourite with the bookmakers, followed by Ole Gunnar and Zidane. Personally, I'm going to stick a tenner on Wenger at 25/1.

Our Ole? I'll have him any day.

[gazzyD]

In some very unsurprising news... Mourinhos gone.

I am both surprised and unsurprised.

I had hoped he'd work miracles but also my head said "careful now, he isn't the special one all the time."

It's amazing to see him go from hero, for some, to zero.

Who'll have him next??

He'll be Madrid manager soon enough again

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Blanc in the interim, aim for Poch at the end of the season? Should give them time to hunt for a real coach and probably a director of football (hopefully first).

[Lowlandbrit]

Who'll have him next??

I feel like he'd actually be better off somewhere with a more limited budget, but I don't know if he'd be interested in that. Somewhere with a young talented squad he can take to the next step.
Now I think about it, Pochettino and Mourinho swapping jobs could be an incredible twist ending.

[Fernando]

Wolves when they get fed up of Nuno is my bet

[Riggs]

Gary Neville gives an interesting description of Pochettino.

Daniel Levy will probably put up the price for him from £34 million to £100 mill, considering the possibility that Utd could come calling.

Then there's this https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/12/18/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-frame-become-manchester-united-caretaker/

[GSC]

Wait the Mourinho sacking has been telegraphed for months and the best backup plan is Solskjaer?

[Fernando]

Correct it's a shambles of a club

[Duty281]

Inevitable, really. Laurent Blanc the very short-priced favourite with the bookmakers, followed by Ole Gunnar and Zidane. Personally, I'm going to stick a tenner on Wenger at 25/1.

Our Ole? I'll have him any day.

Ole is now the odds-on favourite, with Blanc a long way off.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Wait the Mourinho sacking has been telegraphed for months and the best backup plan is Solskjaer?

I think that they’ve gone straight in to say caretaker suggests their plan is waiting for someone in the summer.

[compelling and rich]

presumably the idea is to sort out the infrastructure at the club over the next 6 months before hiring a new manager. me personally would prefer a new manager in now. give him time to have a proper look at the players without much pressure this season. then we can have a clear out of the players he doesn't want in the summer

at the moment im just glad for no more mourinho, thought we were stuck with him till the end of the season at least

[Atila]

Inevitable, really. Laurent Blanc the very short-priced favourite with the bookmakers, followed by Ole Gunnar and Zidane. Personally, I'm going to stick a tenner on Wenger at 25/1.

Brendan Rodgers has been quoted at 33-1, which to me, is odd. A former Liverpool manager taking over United would be extremely funny and a bit weird.

I have to admit, I'd never thought of Solskjaer as a United manager even it is just till the end of the season. Giggs must be sorry that he took so long to get into management, if he'd got a job earlier he'd be in with a shout.

Still think that Pochettino would be a good fit.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Mourinho will be fine, rumoured £26m pay off and probably end up back at Real Madrid.

[Atila]

Mourinho will be fine, rumoured £26m pay off and probably end up back at Real Madrid.

Yeah, if my boss fired me and gave me a pay off of £26 million, I don't think I'd be complaining.

[GSC]

Don't think a return to Real really makes much sense for anyone.

Might be better taking a break then going for a secondary tier side with money.

[GSC]

Wait the Mourinho sacking has been telegraphed for months and the best backup plan is Solskjaer?

I think that they’ve gone straight in to say caretaker suggests their plan is waiting for someone in the summer.

I get that but it really does feel like this was all rushed

[Guest]

The only destination which sticks out, as being his next destination, would be, PSG. Constantly linked, and once Tuchel fails to deliver the CL, the Qatari’s will once again be pulling the trigger.

[westisbest]

Is Steve Bruce on the list

[Atila]

Is Steve Bruce on the list

I know you're making a joke, but it's a shame that none of the former United players that have gone into management have been a real success. Only Roy Keane by winning the Championship with Sunderland has won anything in England.

[westisbest]

Especially when they have worked under Ferguson.

Bruce was a bit of tongue in cheek.
I do like Bruce, as a Villa fan was disappointed with him this season.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Jose and Inter would be no surprise. They adore him, they’ve got new money, they’re in a similar position to the type he achieves in (not the best team in the league and with a point to prove) and would welcome him back whilst caring less about style.

I enjoy the decision Man united have made, especially as their number one choice is clearly unavailable. They might feel a fresh manager in the summer leaves this season behind, too. I like Solskjaer, I think he’ll bring positivity and pride, and I think this team needs man-management in the short-term rather than a big tactical shift. If the fans are gonna accept a free-hit for the next few months, he’d be the guy they’d accept.

[Atila]

The good thing about appointing someone like Solskjaer is that he might not be too proud to ask Fergie for advice now and again, I don't think that either Van Gaal or Mourinho would have done that. I've read that Phelan might be coming back too, to work with Solskjaer.

I too think the fans will accept Solskjaer, I'm looking forward to him taking over already. I'm not expecting too much though in regards to their league table standing this season, but Mourinho's negative cloud has already lifted.

[sirfredperry]

It could be argued that Mourinho has been an excellent coach but not much good at managing, as in "managing" players.
His overall record has been very good - league titles, cup triumphs. But his actual man management (Hazard, Pogba, Shaw, Rashford) has been, arguably, woeful.
Take Pogba. This is a player with the ability to be among the best in the world. Mourinho has got next to nothing out of him. Now some of this may be down to the player, but it's the manager's job to get guys like Pogba to perform.
I expect Manchester United to go on a good run now. Spurs fans will be hoping that Poch stays where he is.

[Atila]

I'm not sure that they will go on a good run (I hope they do) but at least the football should be better to watch.

[Riggs]

Absolutely fantastic news https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-appointed-caretaker-manager

Ole is my fave and I really do hold high hopes for him.

He is respected by so many so that should help.

[compelling and rich]

I'm not sure that they will go on a good run (I hope they do) but at least the football should be better to watch.

next few fixtures are very kind, clever timing in that aspect. go 4 on the bounce and all the negativity surrounding mourinho and our season so far will be gone

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Is this the first ever manager "loan"?

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