Jose didn't make himself immediately available after Chelsea sacked him. He didn't speak publicly until a couple of months later. And the squad in December was the worst in over a decade, a talent level Mourinho hasn't had to deal with for a long time, if ever. Too easy to say that Jose should have been hired in Dec and have everybody replaced at once, including Giggs and co.
Does anyone actually regret missing out on the top 4?
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Jose didn't make himself immediately available after Chelsea sacked him. He didn't speak publicly until a couple of months later. And the squad in December was the worst in over a decade, a talent level Mourinho hasn't had to deal with for a long time, if ever. Too easy to say that Jose should have been hired in Dec and have everybody replaced at once, including Giggs and co.
Yes, I do. MUFC should always be in the champions league.
I asked last page, can someone please shed light on this, missing out on the CL for two successive season means the money from the Adidas deal gets lowered permanently? or am I wrong on that.
Hiring Jose right when he was fired for been poor would have been a disaster. The break obviously gave Jose time to reflect.
Google is your friend, seriously a little work and you can find out most of the information out there ref that deal.
Get off your backside and find it yourself.
I did do, but nobody seems concerned with the financial side of not reaching the CL. that's a very large implication for not reaching it.
Of course the Europa League is still something to enjoy but the sponsor side of the business is the big drawback.
No. We would have got schooled by petty teams in CL. We played dire football in the league. We would have got thoroughly beaten and broken new dubious records.
And another reason is that unlike many people on caf, I don't view Europa as something to be embarrassed about. It is a decent competition and winning or giving it all in it would be delightful.
The EL is a good competition post-group stages when you have the CL dropouts to contend with, if teams like Juventus have a bad few games or City then there's some real competition there so it still gives a good run out.
Agreed with you on that point.
This. I doubt it's the 1 point in the end that we were waiting for. CL or not, LVG was going.
Of course. I think we were getting Jose anyways after the catastrophic christmas period, and im sure he would've gotten the same players in.
I have to admit, I find it mind blowing that there are people that believe the club would have still discarded LVG whether he finished top four or not. I personally don't think it could have been made more obvious that he would have stayed had he finished in the top four and obtained Champions League qualification. He was even waffling on after the final day debacle at OT against Bournemouth. Talking all the way up until the FA cup final like it was a sure fire thing that he was staying, planning and working toward next season. (Maybe it was just his own naivety?..)
At the end of the day, hindsight is great. It certainly was a weird feeling knowing that it was okay if we lost. Getting Van Gaal out of the manager chair was absolutely critical. I am glad the club made the right call whatever the scenario.
At the end of the day, hindsight is great. It certainly was a weird feeling knowing that it was okay if we lost. Getting Van Gaal out of the manager chair was absolutely critical. I am glad the club made the right call whatever the scenario.
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Look at my tagline, do you think i regret it ?
No. Finishing 4th means Van Gaal would have stayed and we wouldn't have signed the players we did with Van Gaal. Jose did made use of his free time and identified core players for his team. Short term loss might be our long term gain as we might have lost Pogba to someone else.
I enjoyed our Europa League run but man, games on Sunday are indeed awful from a fan perspective.
Both our opening matches are on... a Sunday. Nice going, fixtures.
I think it's a bit of a false dichotomy, that question. I think most fans wouldn't want to miss out on fourth place, but missing out wouldn't have precluded the recent events, I feel. Woodward isn't completely dumb, I'm sure he'd have most of the signings (sans manager) lined up regardless.
If it meant LVG would have stayed, then I can live with it. Anyhow, still pains me that we dont play in the CL
Obviously. We'd decided to sack Van Gaal as far back as January either way.
Can't really answer this properly since we can't be sure of the details concerning the other scenario. It had been reported that even if we'd made 4th, Van Gaal would still have lost his job and we'd have still appointed Mourinho. With that the case, it would obviously be better to be in the champions league. Still, I'm happy with how things worked out regardless.
It's not permanent.
I wanted LvG to be sacked as much as the next guy but missing out top 4 just for the sake of it was illogical. ideally he should've done what he promised, challenging for title not fecking 4th place. He would've been sacked regardless , our December run was a sackable offense.
Not in the context of this season. The general fear of not being in the CL is that you won't attract top players/manager and start to fall further behind, a slippery slope. That just hasn't happened, in fact we have had the most spectacular summer in Europe.
CL is nice of course but I can't say that I am especially bothered about not playing in it this year.
CL is nice of course but I can't say that I am especially bothered about not playing in it this year.
This, most definitely, this!
Loser mentality, close thread 
We've all been Vangle'd man. Can you blame us?Loser mentality, close thread
The Mourinho ball was rolling way before fourth became impossible so yes I am disappointed we're not in the UCL this season.
The irony is that Van Gaal always seems to leave just as the club begins to take off - is it a case of his approach finally taking root, or moving onwards & upwards due to his departure?
He's a stubborn coach but most coaches are to some extent - you would've never seen Mou bring along Martial, Rashford, Lingard et al
Aye, nothing to disagree with there. Though its a very curious case on our side as his successor is seemingly worlds away when you compare their football and methods, to van Gaal. And to be honest, under van Gaal we looked worlds away from "clicking" or getting it right.
I think Mourinho might have brought through Martial - an expensive signing (iirc, Chelsea were in for him as well but the price put them off - just as they were in for other talented youngsters then, Stones/Shaw) but yeah, his record with promoting youngsters from within isn't very good and hopefully he improves it with us.
I say this only because both Bayern & Barcelona saw an upswing right after LVG's exit, both clubs have players that specifically cite LVG for their growth
I don't doubt that LVG should have gone at Christmas, we looked clueless and devoid of creativity but I could well imagine that Mourinho was either not allowed take up a job til the summer as per his contract or he did not want to take over United until he could get a fresh run at the job.
Not finishing top four means no champions league - fact
Finishing top four meant keeping LVG, him continuing to be sh!t and not signing good player - all speculation and hearsay
So yes, I regret this
Finishing top four meant keeping LVG, him continuing to be sh!t and not signing good player - all speculation and hearsay
So yes, I regret this
LVG is a nut case. He seems to pick up desolated clubs and regroup them into good teams. Then he himself reaching a point of self destruct which make his clubs underperforming until he get dismissed. By the time new coach takes over, players seems to relieve of LVG's departure and get to their normal level, which are good teams LVG built (in term of structure, personnel). The new coaches work on these good teams and elevate them to higher level, which LVG can't do it himself.
Back to topic, yes we're thirsty for quality CL football, but having the team being built this wayt's worth the pain for future gain.
Self destruct is almost guaranteed with LVG, this was clear even from the outset of his hiring IMHO
It was 100% for the best that we missed out. We are Manchester United....and what utter embarrassment of a team and manager we'd have at this moment in time if we'd snuck in and got 4th sends shivers down my spine.
Amazing really...
PSV : 0-0
Leicester : 1-1
West Ham : 0-0
Wolfsburg : 2-3
Bournemouth : 1-2
Norwich : 1-2
Stoke : 0-2
Chelsea : 0-0
Depend on circumstances. LVG is very good coach if his predecessors were disasters like Klinsman, Moyes. LVG would be a bad fit for teams too familiar to top coaches.
That goal per game ratio
I see it mentioned few times already but if reports of Mourinho deal being all but done in principle in January are true, 4th and FA cup won't have kept LvG in job. Maybe severance package would have increased. If 4th plus FA cup meant LvG continuing though then it is a no-brainer. We won't have got any of the 4 players who we got now with LvG in-charge.
I would have liked us in the champions league.
With little progress under VG, the dull style of play that the fans had enough of and Jose available: Van Gaal was most likely a goner anyway. The only thing that would have changed is a bigger payout for him.
With little progress under VG, the dull style of play that the fans had enough of and Jose available: Van Gaal was most likely a goner anyway. The only thing that would have changed is a bigger payout for him.
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Im in 2 minds to this question....
If we got UCL football, would he of sacked LVG. Jose said in a interview recently his negotiations for the job started a week prior to joining, so maybe they were going to stick with LVG.
Wish we did, think with Jose 4 signings we would of been a potent force in UCL this season
If we got UCL football, would he of sacked LVG. Jose said in a interview recently his negotiations for the job started a week prior to joining, so maybe they were going to stick with LVG.
Wish we did, think with Jose 4 signings we would of been a potent force in UCL this season
Absolutely.
And I also hope we miss out on top 4 this year to ensure that we get rid of Rooney. Ideally I hope we get relegated to force us to get rid of other scapegoats like Fellaini and Rojo too.
And I also hope we miss out on top 4 this year to ensure that we get rid of Rooney. Ideally I hope we get relegated to force us to get rid of other scapegoats like Fellaini and Rojo too.
I always find it funny the way people get so defensive about anyone who might not want the club to succeed, if that's what it takes to get rid of a lame duck manager. It was abundantly clear - long before the end of last season - that nothing could would ever come from Van Gaal's reign. I found myself actively hoping we would lose a bunch of games as the season wore on, in the hope that it would force Woody to bite the bullet.
Re the question in the OP, if a top 4 finish definitely meant another season with Van Gaal in charge then of course I don't regret missing out on CL football. Because I'm not a fecking masochist! Part of me kind of wishes we missed out on the Europa stuff too. I will never give a shit about such a second rate competition and don't like the way the Thursday night fixtures can mess up a league campaign. I do appreciate the extra games to watch, though, so don't feel as strongly about this.
Re the question in the OP, if a top 4 finish definitely meant another season with Van Gaal in charge then of course I don't regret missing out on CL football. Because I'm not a fecking masochist! Part of me kind of wishes we missed out on the Europa stuff too. I will never give a shit about such a second rate competition and don't like the way the Thursday night fixtures can mess up a league campaign. I do appreciate the extra games to watch, though, so don't feel as strongly about this.
Except he wasn't. He was awful. Even worse than Moyes. Which is an incredible achievement.