The Louis van Gaal Thread

4 wins in 17 games. Let that sink in.

 

Club aren't high on Jose.

Woodward doesnt like Giggs.

SAF/Charlton want Giggs in.

Vote will take place.

 

I am not advocating for Giggs but Woody doesn't have a good track record on the football side of things. It would be interesting to know if they are considering him for care-taker manager or for the long term position.

 

The best middle ground is Rene + CQ

 

That's what I read -- that Woodward (Woodworth? who knows what the guys name is) doesn't want LVG to leave because the board of old fogies really want Giggs (he with no experience and no morals) to be the next manager. And they can't stand the thought of Mourinho -- competence being apparently not the Utd way.

 

Mark Odgen is more often than not a reliable source of information, he gave an interview on Sirius Radio today after the match. The following were his comments on LvG, Woody and United.

The following quotes are from our interview with @MarkOgden_ earlier on @BeyondthePitch @SiriusXMFC @rossoAnto

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

In relation to Utd's transfer business in January, Mark has been told the priority is a Left Back. That's all Mark is aware off...

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

It appears LVG is surviving on a game by game basis, Woodward believes in him but many inside the club don't...

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

The belief is that Woodward's loyalty to LVG is partly down to concern over his own job & not wanting to admit he got it wrong...

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

 

Woodward's job is not under threat, he's loved by the Glazers, seen as the 5th one of the family regardless of what happens with LVG...

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

Woodward is much closer to the Glazers than David Gill, he speaks to Joel every day.

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

It's accepted within the club that EW lacks football knowledge & doesn't recognize the signs of when players stop playing for their manager.

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

Woodwards view of the CO92 is kids throwing stones at the window, they make it uncomfortable for him, Richard Arnold, LVG etc....

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

Woodward's distrust of the class of 92 is part of the reason why he's reluctant to give the job to Ryan Giggs..

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

 

The feeling is, if Woodward gives the job to Giggs then he is conceding power of the club to the Fergie and the Class of 92.

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

It appears United don't want to give the job to Mourinho and it's unlikely he will get it.

— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) December 28, 2015

 

We a multi hundred million pound organization. Who in their right mind, gives the equivalent to a director of plant operations a job, with zero experience in that job.

 

I'd be ok with Giggs for the rest of the season as long as it means getting in someone like Pep in the summer. Can Giggs be any worse than LVG right now? E.g. what's worse than this current form?

 

United are not getting Pep

 

Even if it's just the tiniest of chances, United simply has to throw their hat in the ring and Woodward has to give it a real go. In the end, it might just come down to who sell their club best and while we don't have a sheik or some oligarch behind us, we have things those clubs can't touch us on.
We do know that when it comes to money and spending power, we are just about on par with the other candidates. Given our current situation, it simply will not cost us anything to give it our best shot. If he goes elsewhere, then so be it, but at least we will have tried and we can move on to someone else.

 

Isn't that how the transfer activity has been as well? People blast Woodward for going after players like Neymar and Muller, who nobody expected to leave, but we should go all in for Pep, who seems to be set to go to City? Seems like a weird double standard.

 

Assuming that LvG does get the axe soon, hopefully we're not dumb enough to give Giggs the reigns past the end of the season. So, if Mourinho isn't the guy, who is?

I can't really think of any managers that are available and seem to fit the club.

 

Seems the sensible course of action would be for Woodward/United to just call up ('upgrade' contact?) and get an answer out of Pep. Does he want the job or not? If there is any indication he's not going to commit, then forget him and move on with Jose, with a January transfer window to work with to try and salvage top 4.

Of course being United, screw the obvious path. We'll probably stick with LVG past January but still sack him before the last day of the season and give the job to Giggs, when we are out of top 4, Mourinho is back at Real and Pep goes to City.

 

Current Premier League form table. @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/jX6MrCIZPC

— Man Utd Stuff (@ManUtdStuff) December 29, 2015

 

If I'm Pep I would say "sure I'm interested" and use that as leverage to increase my contract with City. All the while we at United get the blue balls once hes teased us and then leaves us hanging.

 

One has absolutely nothing to do with the other: first of all the players mentioned never had any intention of leaving their current clubs (not to mention their clubs simply will not sell either) which is obviously not the case with Pep: one situation has nothing to do with the other and Pep will solely choose what he does and where he goes next.
Also, one of the main rules in business is never to make any kind of assumption: it costs absolutely nothing for Woodward to sound out Pep and his camp and make a solid inquiry to gauge his interest in managing a club like ours.
Completely stupid attitude in my book to have to not even give it a solid attempt, based on unfounded rumors: if it was City and no one else, it stands to reason that he would have signed a contract with them by now...

 

I agree but I don't have much faith in Woodward in doing a good job in selling the club to Pep. Unless Fergie comes into the equation, Fergie has talked about his relationship with Pep before so if the Woodward has half a brain, he should have Fergie be the recruiter. Woodward is great at business dealing but it totally clueless when it comes to the footballing side. However, Fergie might be seeing Giggs as his pet project so maybe Pep won't even be sounded out.

 

I'm in complete agreement and that's why I've always maintained that as long as it is done correctly, we just might have a shot at Pep. If it's strictly about money and similar variables, it stands to reason that we don't have a chance against City or Chelsea, but if we focus on areas where we clearly have the advantage, like history and tradition among others, like using the existing relationship SAF has with Pep, and the presence of Sir Bobby, who is still an important figure at club, I firmly believe we have a shot at him.
Pep, if anything, is very aware of history and his potential place in it: he's managed 2 of the most successful teams in history and it would definitely set him apart to make it 3 in a row. I'd like to think that if Woodward might be interested in him as it's suggested as a potential replacement for Van Gaal, he'd realize this would be the most practical approach but who knows?

 

We will be struggling to finish in the top 4 this year. Do you really think Pep will take a team that is not in the CL? City also have a better squad than us.

 

Finishing outside the top 4 will obviously make it difficult and likely impossible to attract Pep, that much is clear. But while there is truth to the argument that City has a better squad, I don't buy at all that it makes it a definite that we're not a valid option.
We have tons of money and if Pep is given the full backing from our team financially and otherwise, to build the team as he sees fit, there is no reason for him not to consider United as an option. There is a foundation for him to build upon and it's not like he'd have to start from scratch.
In the end, if he goes to City, then he goes to City and we can turn to another option but at least we will have tried. It costs absolutely nothing to give it a shot.