If Ole is willing to be caretaker for the rest of the season he'd be my first preference over Carrick or Ruud

Thunder18 said:

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If Ole is willing to be caretaker for the rest of the season he'd be my first preference over Carrick or Ruud

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at least, we will be vibing the rest of the season.

On the surface, I understand the desire for people who "get" United, but at times I think United has a very unhealthy relationship with its Ferguson Era. I don't really care who's the interim manager but I do think there's always a risk of any former player coming in and succeeding to such a degree that the move becomes permanent because everyone gets all warm and fuzzy at the notion and let's be honest...we could all use a little warm and fuzzy as it relates to United. And I just don't think any former United player can be successful long term with United.

In theory, that should not happen again after it didn't work with Ole. But this club is weird man. It won't take much for fans to be lured by the siren's call of a former player coming home and saving the club. And the leadership is certainly not capable of blocking that noise out and making long term, rational decisions that are not based in emotion. On the positive side, if that does materialize, it will mean that the club is sitting top 5 so...good problem to have I guess considering where we are and have recently been.

The problem is we have to get someone to come in and manage for five months, then go away. So the obvious choices are either former player that is an unemployed manager looking to put themselves in the shop window or Big Sam (or Roy Hodgson or some other re-tread who doesn't really want a permanent job).

Yeah, I get it. It's a reason why I didn't think Amorim would be fired. It's extremely awkward and difficult to find a long term interim option. United have done it twice. Rangnick was an abject disaster and Ole...I'd argue that while it wasn't a disaster it ultimately didn't work.

If they want to wait till summer to make a permanent hire, then you kind of have to hire a former player to help mitigate the issues Rangnick ran into. But even with Ole/Carrick there's still a risk of players just not giving an eff because they know the manager won't be there past May.

So basically, the club has decided that on the precipice of European football, the best course of action was to get rid of their manager and bring in a former player who will be a lame duck manager from Day 1 and hope that vibes alone will get you to the EL at least. And I guess I can't blame them if Amorim did indeed tell Wilcox on Friday that he wants to leave the club but I also don't have much hope for this working out over the next 4 months.

I'm seeing tweets that Ole is a done deal.

Yeah, Ragnick was very unique; and after we didn't end up hiring him for the DOF job we promised him (or whatever position it was) the odds someone else signing up for that are really low.

Who all is out on loan who in theory could be called back?

I wish Marcus, but I highly doubt we can cancel because Barca has an option to buy. (And I'm likely in the minority anyway).

Harry Amass is supposedly coming back but likely going back out I think. And Collyer is back but injured I believe. The rest are guys out on a loan with an obligation to buy (Hojlund), expiring contract (Sancho) or… Onana (please God no).

I would take Hojlund back but I'm probably the only one and they also have an option to buy which almost definitely will be automatically triggered at the end of the season.

Maguire and Bruno are reportedly available tonight. I assume with restricted minutes.

Dre_00 said:

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I would take Hojlund back but I'm probably the only one and they also have an option to buy which almost definitely will be automatically triggered at the end of the season.

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I would take him back as well.

Mainoo, Ugarte and Zirkzee were all wanting to leave in January. I'm guessing Mainoo stays and the other 2 don't.

I doubt Ugarte leaves in January. Bruno is likely moving forward again to the attacking mid slot, leaving Mainoo, Cas, and Ugarte to cover the other 2 midfield positions.

Long term you're probably right. I don't think anyone leaves in January though. Squad is too thin.

I would bet that Lacey gets a legitimate look in the first team with a change to a 4-3-3.

Since we have gone the new manager route. I prefer we hold the players we have and not waste any money on new players until the new manager comes in and has time to evaluate. Although it sounds like what the manager thinks now largely doesn't matter.

Do we have to be tied to a certain system? I prefer flexibility in systems depending on the opponent. Keeps the other side guessing and makes your full roster an asset. But obviously what I think is not relevant to the Carrington brass.

Bruno starts and Maguire, Mainoo, and Mount make the bench. Kind of funny that 4 players come back from injury the first game of the post-Amorim era.

Lineup is in. 4-2-3-1 with Bruno the CAM and Case and Ugarte both DM.

Slabhead is on the bench.

I really don't know how we're meant to play the rest of the season with wingers when we no longer have a recognized left winger on the roster. I got 99 problems and wingers is once again one.

Of course, Burnley score off a deflection

Casemiro just watched a guy breeze in behind him

Club has no luck right now.

So a 4th back didn't matter?

The hell? It hit his face not his hand.

Dre_00 said:

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I really don't know how we're meant to play the rest of the season with wingers when we no longer have a recognized left winger on the roster. I got 99 problems and wingers is once again one.

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Well we do have wingers but they are in Africa right now.

But yes. We have 2 for the right and none for the left.

Casemiro stinking it up today. Just awful passes and primarily at fault for the goal

The thing is, as bad as Amorim's record was, you're now kind of causing the exact same problem you caused back in December of 2024. You're asking players to play in a formation they haven't played in 14 months and one that the roster is only half suited for because you went and got rid of all your wingers.

Sure, the shock isn't as steep as it was back in Dec '24. It's been a while, but the defenders know how to play in a back 4. But they aren't going to just step right into it. It's going to take time and they don't have the time. And certain problems like left winger can not be solved before summer. Dorgu is a sub-standard crosser as a left wingback. He's atrocious as a left winger.

Probably wrong again. Hope I'm wrong. But still think Amorim leaving increased the likelihood of finishing out of a European place rather than decreased it.

Horribly unlucky on the cleared header and Walker somehow gets pushed to the ground by a guy 75 pounds lighter. Sure.

What a crock.

Of course, we get a beautiful set piece and the rat that scored the goal heads it off the line, followed by what should've been a legitimate goal off the corner being called back by a foul on Licha...while our guy also got pushed down

Foul called well AFTER the goal was scored

Well our center mids aren't creating anything but on the other hand they are also extremely easy to play through

Sesko couldn't score if he tried while by himself on an empty pitch.

Another defender clears a line.

If you looked at this score sheet no way in the world would you guess the correct score.

Still pissed about the goal they called back. They're holding and shoving two of our players at the same time Walker goes down. Ref still waits until the ball is in the goal to make the call

Hey he CAN score!!