Technical Difficulties

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🚨🎙️ | Roy Keane on Michael Carrick: "If Manchester United win EVERY GAME until the end of the season, I still WOULDN'T give him the job." "Are we going to sit here and pretend that Michael Carrick can get United winning league titles."

Sacking Cooper at this stage of the season only makes sense if the successor is capable of taking Leicester to the next level. The best option is to go for Michael Carrick. He is capable of taking the club back to fighting in the top half and can build something big if given the time and resources. Tactically, his game model is scalable and reminiscent of the top coaches. Going for a safe choice will lead to the same cycle again once the club inevitably stagnates in a couple of seasons.

2 - Both of Benjamin Sesko's goals against Burnley came from moves with 10+ passes in the build-up (16 for first goal, 13 for second), as many as Manchester United managed in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim (two out of 66 goals). Fletcher-ball.

So many interesting decisions made over the last year or so from Manchester United. Personally think system-wise and tactically, changing Amorim was the right decision. My bigger question, especially in retrospect is around hiring him in the first place. A thorough analysis of his Sporting side would’ve provided the information that revealed itself over the poor season United had in 2024/5 — a reluctance to dominate games and possession against big sides, questions around scalability when opposition were matched physically and technically, a predictability in shape and choreographed passing routines, and the need for specific players given the coach had an idea for the system he wants to build, rather than tweaking the system to the players he has at his disposal. That’s not to say at his best his Sporting side weren’t dominant and that his system doesn’t work. It did and he won trophies but the variables it depends on are things that are appropriate to question, especially when moving to United in the Premier League with the squad they had at that time. Hiring someone who plays a specific way, if you believe they are good enough and the flaws are small enough, has to then be done whilst supporting them with the players they need. If a coach hasn’t showcased flexibility in their approach before, it’s more likely they’ll continue in that fashion. And lastly hiring somebody who plays a certain style is done more seamlessly when the club hiring have players who already suit that approach. We see it at Celtic with Wilfried Nancy too. A coach who plays impressively at his best but without the right players or flexibility in approach, results and performances will underwhelm. Lots to learn from this last year for fans, analysts, pundits, coaches and business people. A really interesting case study.