Now that Ole is confirmed manager on a 3 year contract, what are your expectations for him over the length of his contract (and beyond)?
This season: Maintain a positive style of play, reach the top 4 (though I wouldn't blame Ole if we narrowly miss out, unless our performances took a massive dip) and produce a spirited display against Barcelona in the CL. Start looking at transfer targets and a DoF (if that's even happening), personnel that will suit the philosophy that Ole will want to bring to United.
This summer: Get the signings! Improve the squad! Make sure we don't feck it up! Get a DoF! Bring new players in early and bed them in for pre-season, along with our academy prospects.
Year 1: Comfortable top 4 position, get quite close to the title challengers but I am not expecting a strong title push. Compete in the domestic cups and try and win one. Assuming we qualify for the CL, get to the QF (depending on the draw). If not, compete in the EL but do not make it a priority unless it's necessary. Above all else, maintain a quality standard of performance that can bring us to future success by creating a good foundation for quality players to flourish in.
Year 2: A strong title challenge after a hopefully positive transfer window. Depending on the CL draw, get to the QF and really start to prove ourselves at the top level again by producing good performances against top European teams. Win a domestic cup.
Year 3: A stronger title challenge. Level of competition in the PL is very high so winning the title isn't expected just as long as we truly fight for it. Further cement ourselves as a top European team by hopefully reaching a CL SF. Win a domestic cup.
Long term: Bring United back to one of the best in the world, challenging on all fronts and winning the biggest trophies.
Expectations for cups are tough since there is an element of luck in draws, but reaching finals and winning trophies needs to be something to maintain in the next few years. Even cups as small as the League Cup, it's important to instil that winning mentality.
There should be no messing around. We need to keep playing positive football. For obvious reasons, playing positive attacking football is going to lead to success if backed up financially well. Our transfer windows absolutely need to work out if we are to become a top team again. Nail our transfer business then I believe we can reach these expectations.
Of course it could all backfire and he ends up getting sacked after a year after dismal results. But with any manager we sign we should be expecting results that a club of our standard should be achieving. Otherwise, what's the point?
Good post. For me:
This season: It has been bonus time for me since the Mou was given his marching orders. Pragmatism and squad assessment are the priority.
This summer: I don't care about the age of the players we sign. It is about attitude, hunger, respect and talent. No merc signings. It should be about putting down the foundations whilst increasing our competitiveness.
Year 1: There will be ups and downs and false dawns, but it is about being competitive for the title regardless of the position in the top 5. A point gap over 10 to the top position will be criticised and rightfully scrutinised. Lay out the blueprint to be the dominant team in 95% of our matches rather than the dominated team. Pragmatism in big/crucial games notably in tournaments and knockout games won't be criticised.
Year 2: Assuming we've done the minimum of qualifying for an European competition and having set-up a core of talented players we can count on for consistency and that believe in the cause, weed-out the weak willed (need to be ruthless here) and pepper the team with undeniable talent that of course wants to be here and win the title. A serious challenge for the title, in it till the end at least.
Year 3: It's a long way from now, a lot can go wrong. But assuming we fell just short of top spot again in the league, say 2/3 points off. We have to go again, this time go for broke because it could well be the end of a cycle for certain players, and we need to at this point to start being a decent force in Europe rather than a joke. So get past the group stage with relative ease and at least past the first knock-out stage, there-on it will depend on the draw and how well we have worked the previous two years.
I have never been the type that believed that you can spend xxx million in two transfer windows and suddenly be a force to reckon with (given this is not la Ligue Unh!). If it were that easy, I'd sign up to be a manager at a top club now.
My personal belief, particularly after seeing the time it took clubs like Chelsea, City, PSG (in Europe) to get going after heavy investment, is that there is a level of cohesion that has to be developed organically, that comes from talent players with the right attitude developing an understanding, a sense of cohesion playing together over time in an environment setup to foster their abilities and get the best out of them.
