Speak out against Herr Wilcox over transfer failure: Apology the next day.
Speak out against the manager over tactical failure: Voicing understandable anger
Okay
Excl: Bruno Fernandes will not be stripped of the #mufc captaincy and is unlikely to be disciplined by the club following his criticism of the coaching staff after the defeat to Como.
Disappointment with comments, but wider feeling is he was voicing understandable anger at the manner of the defeat.
Meanwhile, we’ve been told Carrick will take charge of United as usual for Sunday’s game v #Bournemouth but there is growing concern among club bosses about the team’s poor run of form. No plans beyond Sunday’s game.
My overarching point about the entire thing is that changing the manager is the easier job. But changing the structure and key people involved in it takes some doing.
As things stand, Wilcox is about to make his 4th permanent managerial decision in 2 years. Why? For starters, the accountability of the last 2 years starts with him.
First determine if he himself is fit enough to lead the search for the next manager.
Exc: Growing tensions upstairs as United between Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell.
Nagelsmann v Prem Proven boss a source of contention, I’m told.
Latest on #mufc w/@ChrisWheelerDM
dailymail.com/sport/football…
You know how disconnected the suits are from the real football world is they approved the All or Nothing series without considering whether it would be prudent to air our dirty laundry to the outside world. They saw the 💰 💰 and signed the documents. Amorim vetoed it last year. Carrick far too weak.
Now everyone will get to see their incompetence in 4k. Serves them right
Just seen Bruno's comments. Regardless of how you feel about the manager's setup, you cannot say that in public. Often say Bruno is this generation's Robson. Could you imagine Bryan Robson saying such things about Ron Atkinson? In fact, he constantly defended him from critics.
He is most certainly gone at the end of the season, but I do not want these comments (which will get another manager sacked) to be Bruno's Utd legacy. Feel like it will be a losing battle.
I often think about this from Luke Shaw.
🚨🗣️ Luke Shaw on the current squad:
"It's one of the best atmospheres I've ever known here. I've been here a long time now. I've experienced different groups, different atmospheres, but I'd say without hesitation that it's the most positive, the happiest, and probably the most talented group we've ever had."
It takes a huge deal of effort to build a winning team (legally). Lots of things need to go right (recruitment, tactics, conditioning, preseason, dressing room atmosphere, rehab, injury management, etc) but just one bad move can cause the entire thing to come crashing down.
This is the best audition for Fabregas. The problem is he isn't looking for any. Any decent manager is likely going to reject a mid-season Man Utd approach. Self-preservation is everything
More excited about watching this later than United playing a CL away game 😑
The season finale of #SlowHorses is now streaming.
I don't particularly value Ten Hag's insight on data recruitment. But the more prudent point is the way Ineos came in with this fanfare and swagger, appointed all these people who aren't football people but are from other areas, sacked all the experienced people who had been there for decades and refused to listen to advice from anyone else. Now if they were able to change the fortunes of the club with this approach, then fair enough. But we have arguably gotten worse.
The worst part is there seems to be no change in their approach so far, no accountability.
They constantly talk about this game model thing but look at all the managers we have been seriously linked with since they came in: RDZ, Tuchel, Nagelsmann, Thomas Frank, Potter, etc. Every single one plays a different system. They went from back 4 Ten Hag to Back 3 Amorim with zero idea about how difficult it would be to transition the squad. Where is the game model?
I believe 34 months is more than enough time to judge an ownership. Mistakes are acceptable. Failing to correct them is not.
I want the next interview with Dan Ashworth. And his manner of Utd exit. Lots to be answered here because I do not trust the club version.
Good interview with Ten Hag by Laurie Whitwell. Always appreciate proper journalists doing proper journalism. People will, of course, have lots of opinions on Ten Hag (some objective, some prejudiced), but one thing it does is put more scrutiny on the Ineos leadership group. Good
The first thing you do when anticipating a dismissal is to try shifting the blame, which will probably help you land a new gig. "It wasn't my fault, my hands were tied."
Old playbook
One agent talked about Jason Wilcox to Daily Mail: "Jason is in an incredibly difficult position. Everybody would think he’s the decision-maker at the club, but he absolutely isn’t. #mufc is run by the owners, Sir Jim and the Glazers. If you sack Wilcox, nothing will change. It’s a mess."
Another adds: "We had a deal agreed with Jason and then Jim got involved and tried to change it. He ended up killing it." [@ChrisWheelerDM, @NathSalt1]
Pretty sure I can find a 2023 tweet that says the exact same thing 😂😂
🚨 NEW: Manchester United are prioritising a full rebuild of the club’s data. Once that data-led foundation is in place, recruitment should become significantly easier.
[@JacobsBen, @UnitedStandMUFC]
The way Wilcox got the job with no prior top-level experience and the way he is seemingly insulated even after so many costly blunders is genuinely baffling.
Jason Wilcox retains support of @ManUtd hierarchy. But plenty at club agree more signings were needed in summer. bbc.co.uk/sport/football/art…
Carrick having shit tactics and awful conditioning doesn't mean we should be playing Heaven at LB against Atletico Madrid in our first CL away game in 2 years. This is what the argument essentially boils down to, imo.


















