Let's Make MUFC Pragmatic Again!

 

Aspirational or Pragmatic, two simple words but with colossal repercussions when applied to the Great Manchester United Managerial Race.

I have to admit like most United fans, I have long craved a proactive manager with a well-placed attacking philosophy. It’s why I am allured by the prospect of Ten Hag and dream of the possibility of Enrique. But one look at Ralf’s time in charge is enough to move the needle from aspirations of what Manchester United should be and the reality of Manchester United will continue to be.

For this is a club that hired not just a club builder but one of the most proactive managers of all time and turned him into a pragmatist. Is it Ralf’s fault? No, Is it the club’s fault? Not entirely. Although the club have been lucky that this is a far more grey-haired Ralf, someone who has the maturity to adapt to the design of the squads. And that part right there is the quality that Manchester United should prioritize the most as they search for managerial candidates.

While our recruitment has been shoddy, it is but natural at a club with heavy managerial churn to have a set of players who aren’t wedded into any particular style of play. At such a stage the club has two ways out, either commit to a revolution or focus on steady evolution, a revolution entails among other things - a minimum 3 year long process of huge player churn, an unwavering transfer strategy that doesn’t yield to the temptations of marketable players, imposing a certain style across each level at the club and admit that there could be risk of short term hits like no CL etc. That short laundry list itself should be sufficient to tell us that the modern Manchester United is simply incapable for this.

Our transfer targets like Declan Rice aren’t going to change but why impose them on managers like Ten Hag, Poch or Enrique or hell even Ralf…when they clearly like a different profile for a CDM. The free agents who are leaving aside, this is still a squad which even if you change the goalkeeper has players incapable of playing a high line, even if you change the striker has a ton of players who don’t understand pressing traps and a midfield which (including the top transfer targets) doesn’t understand tempo control. How much can you really coach and improve some of these players to learn new things? Isn’t it unfair on a new manager who already is wedded to a certain philosophy? Its like asking someone to trim the garden but instead of giving them a lawnmower you are asking them to do with scissors, knife and a bottle opener. It is doomed to fail.

When revolution is beyond your competence, strive at the very least for steady evolution. Reflect on what the squad is and look at managers who have a proven track record at adapting to the squads at their disposable and delivering maximum performance. It’s not about getting the best managers in the world, it about getting managers who are best suited to how you operate as a club and the squad you have. Has this club forgotten that during the decades it was successful it was steady evolution that made it competitive more than anything.

There are two men in world football who might be available this summer – Tuchel and Simeone – they are not at the levels of a Klopp or Pep but are not far behind. They may not be the names whose football philosophy excites the fanbase but their philosophy might be the only way to get this club to achieve something. Every club has bad apples in the squad, successful clubs are those that know when to stop them from becoming rotten ones.

Every time post SAF, Manchester United have looked for a manager, not once has their decision been based on how to maximize the levels of the squad, every other factor especially the easiest manager to get has been applied. This summer, these are two managers I have mentioned who are likely to be relatively easy to get and will likely get a better tune out of the squad.

Going for either of them doesn’t guarantee a PL title in the era of the Pep and Klopp, but what it does guarantee is that the club won’t be chasing 4^th alone and would definitely be registering a higher points tally, it would also be more competitive in cups. You can’t flick a switch and a mount a title challenge, but you can be pragmatic and be more competitive.

Maybe just maybe the unpopular less aspirational choice is the way to make Manchester United competitive again and it all starts by making Manchester United pragmatic again.