The Great Managerial Merry-go-round guaranteed to entertain *not guaranteed

It's not easy to manage a football club, it's a ridiculous argument.

Pep's Barcelona achievements, are so understated.

He completely transformed Barcelona, so much so I think people have changed Rijkaard's team in their heads.

the 2006; Valdes, Oleguer, Puyol, Maquez, Van Bronckhorst, Edmilson, Deco, Van Bommel, Giuly, Ronaldinho, Eto'o
In 2009; Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Toure, Sylvinho, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Henry, Eto'o

In 2006 Xavi was left on the bench at the expense of van Bommel and Edmilson, where as in Pep's first season he's united Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, brought through Pique and created the Barcelona we think of when we think of Barcelona.

Ronaldinho and Deco were great players but far too individualistic and Pep made the tough choices. The idea of success being handed too him is ludicrous.

But Barcelona.. apart from Real there has been no real threat to their league wins until recently (Atletico), Barca job is definitely one of the easiest in world football. Simone has done a far better job than Guardiola in Spain.

Sporting director Andrea Berta has made a name for himself at Atletico Madrid after previously working at Parma and Genoa. The former banker has formed a strong partnership with Simeone as a well as director Jose' Caminero, they took the club from the relegation zone to the la Liga title in just three years.. Berta has shown good attention to detail, professionalism and the ability to make the right choices- he wasn't afraid to replace Courtois with Oblak as an example. Berta has become the most respected Italian director in Europe, and the Premier League has set their sights on him.

While the biggest milestones in his career have taken place in Spain, Berta could be leaving Madrid for England, where he could partner with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. The Red Devils have identified Mourinho as their top choice, there isn't much room for discussions or alternatives, the negotiation has been on going for some time. The plan seems to be set, the signature is expected to be for next season, as the former Chelsea manager doesn't want to start right away. Berta has a good relationship with Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes, the possibility that he will join Manchester United is concrete- he will give his answer in the next few weeks. Manchester United is looking to get back on track, Mourinho and Berta could be the central figures in their new project.

Apparently the reason he hasn't been sacked yet (other than Ed's incompetence) is that Giggs doesn't want the boss as an interim again, he wants it full time or not at all. If that's the case he can fuck off for all I care, he's acting like he has a divine right to get the job.

To be fair, I think that's just him being sensible. He's not got much to gain by taking it on an interim basis again, and I can't imagine he's keen to be used just to calm things down until the summer. Sounds more like a "thank you, but no thank you" to me.

To be fair, I think that's just him being sensible. He's not got much to gain by taking it on an interim basis again, and I can't imagine he's keen to be used just to calm things down until the summer. Sounds more like a "thank you, but no thank you" to me.

I don't know, I think he's got an awful lot to gain and virtually nothing to lose.

I'm almost certain we're not giving Giggs the job on a full time basis, if we were going to we would have done it, the shits hit the fan already and there's no point persisting with Van Gaal if we're going to promote him in the summer regardless, might as well have done it and given him a crack at remedying the current problems. The only possible scenario I can imagine he might be given it is if we're stage managing it a bit, think this season is fucked beyond repair and that nobody can fix it, and that appointing Giggs in the summer would get a better reaction. I don't think thats the case though, Giggs getting the job is going to piss a lot of people off. If the board think its the right decision its in spite of public sentiment.

I'm also not sure who else would give Giggs a managerial chance, and I'm not sure the clubs that currently would, wouldn't give him one if he had a bad 3-4 months in charge right now. We have a lot of problems, that go past just Van Gaal and whilst sacking him would galvanise the club its not going to get the 15 injured players back, and Giggs would be able to point to that if he doesn't improve us. And if he did? Well he'd be thought of a lot more highly than he currently is.

I don't know, I think he's got an awful lot to gain and virtually nothing to lose.

I'm almost certain we're not giving Giggs the job on a full time basis, if we were going to we would have done it, the shits hit the fan already and there's no point persisting with Van Gaal if we're going to promote him in the summer regardless, might as well have done it and given him a crack at remedying the current problems. The only possible scenario I can imagine he might be given it is if we're stage managing it a bit, think this season is fucked beyond repair and that nobody can fix it, and that appointing Giggs in the summer would get a better reaction. I don't think thats the case though, Giggs getting the job is going to piss a lot of people off. If the board think its the right decision its in spite of public sentiment.

I'm also not sure who else would give Giggs a managerial chance, and I'm not sure the clubs that currently would, wouldn't give him one if he had a bad 3-4 months in charge right now. We have a lot of problems, that go past just Van Gaal and whilst sacking him would galvanise the club its not going to get the 15 injured players back, and Giggs would be able to point to that if he doesn't improve us. And if he did? Well he'd be thought of a lot more highly than he currently is.

It just feels a bit petty to me that he wouldn't help the club out in a situation because of his personal ambition.

As if to prove my point:

Theoretically, he has a lot to gain. Theoretically he could takeover this week and lead United to the title, that's not going to happen though.

Realistically, if he takes over the best he can really hope for is that he doesn't really do anything to harm his reputation - both at United and as a young coach. Given United's situation at the moment, it's going to be much easier for him to continue the form and have another disappointing spell. That's not going to do much for his reputation.

He's not in line to be given a massive job any time soon but he's still got a decent reputation, another dodgy spell as interim boss isn't going to do him any favours. Why would he want to risk his reputation for 3/4 months in the job? In terms of risk and reward, it's massively weighted towards the risk. It'd be worth it for a proper shot at it but for a few months there is nowhere near the same incentive, he may as well just bide his time and see what options he's got in a few months time.

I don't know, I think the risk/reward as you put it is pretty poor whatever he does. I think its pretty clear that he wants the Man United job, and is basically hoping to get it without actually having to do anything. Had LVG been a success, he probably would have got it, too.

I'm not sure he's got the appetite to take a job at another club, and honestly I think its probably the biggest reason why I'm opposed to him getting it. Rather than stick his balls on the line and say 'I'm a good enough manager to manage this club and I can prove it' or even 'I'm a good enough manager to manage Manchester United and I'm going to go to another job and prove it' he seems content to skulk around in the shadows undermining managers (if reports can be believed) and hoping that the club will be stupid enough to buy into the romantic notion that he's somehow the best fit. I can understand that thinking in terms of pragmatism, after all Neville was probably thought of in a better light as a manager than Giggs before he took the Valencia job, but I think that that sort of risk averse thinking is good enough.

Tbh, if and when he doesn't get the job, I can see him being let go. If he then drops down and attempts to prove himself then good on him, but I can see him jacking it in and taking a job as an ambassador or something.

Zidane to get sacked and Mourinho to replace him.

Calling it.

When Roma played Madrid the other week, I wasn't that impressed with what I saw from Madrid to be honest despite the scoreline. Since then they've drawn with Malaga and lost v Atletico so looks like Zizou has got a job on his hands.