2015/2016 Barclays Premier League Thread

[Locke]

Speaking of Liverpool needing better players:

Marko Grujic is on the verge of becoming Jurgen Klopp's first signing at Liverpool.

Grujic, 19, confirmed earlier this month that he had spoken to the Reds, and the Red Star Belgrade midfielder is now set to move to England at the end of the season for around £5 million.

http://www.espnfc.us/liverpool/story...-no-8-red-star

[Locke]

Phil Neville weighs in on LvG:

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville believes the club would be wrong to replace manager Louis van Gaal.

"I was at United as a player for nine years and it wasn't pretty every week.

"There seems to be an obsession at all clubs now, if you don't get the right results in four or five games then it's time to change the manager. That is not the answer.

"They need to put faith in a man who has won trophies in every major European country. United asked him to get into the Champions League, and he did, now this year is about winning a trophy.

"United have to make a decision. Do they turn into a club who changes manager every 12 to 18 months or do they look for stability?"

http://www.espnfc.us/manchester-unit...l-phil-neville

I want to know what Roy Keane thinks!

[devo22]

if you've got some spare time on your hands - a very long, but brilliant piece on Mourinho in the Guardian: The devil and Jose Mourinho

thought about it for a while and my feelings haven't changed at all. Still don't want Mourinho anywhere close to United, it'd actually be my personal nightmare to see him in charge of the club. Sadly, I'm now resigned that it'll happen eventually ... Guardiola seems City bound after all and there's really not a lot of interesting options out there right now.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

Phil Neville weighs in on LvG:

http://www.espnfc.us/manchester-unit...l-phil-neville

I want to know what Roy Keane thinks!

the thing with LVG though is that he's gone in 18 months anyway, he says he is retiring

[cam_wmh]

You want left field suggestions?

What about Lippi, or Conte after the Euros?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You want left field suggestions?

What about Lippi, or Conte after the Euros?

Lippi turns 68 in spring and would therefore be a very short-term hire again. So, no.

Conte on the other side would be an interesting hire ... as would Blanc, Koeman, Sampaoli, Pochettino, Emery and a few others and I would prefer each of them to Mourinho, no doubt.

[d_phaneuf]

or maybe Low?

the last thing I would do if I were United is hire full time right now when no big names, outside Jose, are available. But there will be a bunch (National and club coaches)

if you want to let LVG go that's one thing, let Giggs and the rest of the backroom staff run it for 4 months temporary

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Lippi turns 68 in spring and would therefore be a very short-term hire again. So, no.

Conte on the other side would be an interesting hire ... as would Blanc, Koeman, Sampaoli, Pochettino and a few others and I would prefer each of them to Mourinho, no doubt.

No Ryan Giggs?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

No Ryan Giggs?

I'd be okay with Giggs as a caretaker for the rest of the season if they fire van Gaal now (and really, they have no other option but to sack him soon). But as a longterm manager, no thanks. He has ZERO experience as a head coach and I'd hate to watch him crash at burn at "his" club like Maldini, Seedorf and others. He should go manage somewhere else for a few years. If he's doing well, I'm all for giving him the job in a few years, but he should earn it first. He doesn't deserve to get it just because he was a great player.

[cam_wmh]

How about the Spanish protagonist to the German antagonist, Klopp.

Diego Simeone

[Senator Clay Davis]

If you're not hiring Mourinho it's probably smarter to stick with Van Gaal and let him work this out if he can if the alternative is Giggs, even interim. They still need to make a run at the top 4 so I would think with things likely not much different under Giggs, stick with the experienced manager (unless they quit on Van Gaal of course). I think you give him until the end of the year.

[devo22]

nah van Gaal is gone either way. He's bought himself some time just because of his CV, but still, he's a dead man walking already. And really, I think that 2 game ultimatum is utter nonsense. His approach is clearly not working any more and the players seem to have given up on him ... the wheels have completely come off and I highly doubt they'd have a chance at making top 4 if they keep van Gaal. IMO there's no way he'll survive the next 2 games.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

How about the Spanish protagonist to the German antagonist, Klopp.

Diego Simeone

most people think he's Chelsea bound

[Senator Clay Davis]

^We'll see how it goes. I do think that as someone who cheers for another Glazer owned property, it's tough to know what they'll do, they aren't good owners. The thing that might save him is how utterly mediocre the league is outside of Arsenal and Leicester this year. If they can string a few results together he might be able to squeeze to the end of the year and go out then rather than getting fired.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You want left field suggestions?

What about Lippi, or Conte after the Euros?

Or Martin O'Neill?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Or Martin O'Neill?

With a certain assistant too?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

nah van Gaal is gone either way. He's bought himself some time just because of his CV, but still, he's a dead man walking already. And really, I think that 2 game ultimatum is utter nonsense. His approach is clearly not working any more and the players seem to have given up on him ... the wheels have completely come off and I highly doubt they'd have a chance at making top 4 if they keep van Gaal. IMO there's no way he'll survive the next 2 games.

See, the thing is LvG came in with the assumption that he wasnt going to be there for long. It was always assumed that he is the caretaker manager until United find someone longer-term.

And there was always something whether it was the assumption that he was grooming Giggs or that he was going to retire it always seemed as though he was a short-term manager and that seems to be why hes gotten such a long leash.

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

or maybe Low?

the last thing I would do if I were United is hire full time right now when no big names, outside Jose, are available. But there will be a bunch (National and club coaches)

if you want to let LVG go that's one thing, let Giggs and the rest of the backroom staff run it for 4 months temporary

This isnt a bad suggestion. After EURO 2016 there may be a whole new list of available Managers on the market.

That being said if Low wins the Euro hes going to be the most in-demand manager in the world, so Pep had better have his new team and contract done by then.

I have heard on a few occasions though that Low isnt interested in managing a club.

[devo22]

if only van Gaals football was half as spectacular as his press conferences ...

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/679708943241760768

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

if only van Gaals football was half as spectacular as his press conferences ...

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/679708943241760768

Haha! No kidding. Such a strange, strange man.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by devo22

if only van Gaals football was half as spectacular as his press conferences ...

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/679708943241760768

Shame on you not using "He attacks more in his pressers than he does on the pitch". Tsk, tsk...