Is sooner rather than later better for the Special One?
It seems a silly question, one with an answer so obvious its almost rhetorical, after all regardless of hw much you may or may not rate Jose Mourinho, there’s no denying that Sir Alex Ferguson is the greater manager and hardly likely to step aside for anyone.
Why would Sir Alex stand aside for a less gifted man? Normally I would never pose such a pointless question: for several reasons. Mourinho is usually not available Sir Alex Ferguson has still got several years left in him. Pep Guardiola is my own personal choice to succeed Fergie as United boss.
So why have i bothered to ask such a seemingly absurd question now? Well allow me to elucidate, point by point.
For starters there’s a good chance ‘the Special One’ may be available this Summer, as reports in the Spanish media suggest he’s finally had enough of Real Madrid and they’ve finally had enough of him. There’s been a report in Madrid’s very own paper: Marca of a training ground row between Mourinho, Iker Csillas and Sergio Ramos, both players have subsequently denied there is a rift.
Then there’s the feeling that even if Mourinho was to deliver the La Liga to the capital, it still wouldn’t silence his critics, unhappy with the fact that he’s already been beaten three times by arch rivals Barcelona this season, and barring a surprise may well face a quartet of defeats in tonight’s Copa Del Ray semi final second leg at the Nou Camp. There’s also reports of a split within the Madrid team, with the Portuguese and Spanish players not always gelling as they should be.
The main reason Mourinho may leave this Summer, though is if Madrid win La Liga- which they could well do, they’re currently five points clear of Barca, then it would give the Special One the chance to leave with his head held high and not consider his time at the Bernabeu a total failure.
Now more than ever the chances of Mourinho leaving Madrid in the Summer seem very real- if you’ll pardon the own.
That brings me to my next point, ‘Sir Alex has several seasons left in him,’ well does he? At the end of the season, Fergie may only have two more seasons at Old Trafford. Of course theres no way of knowing that and he may well go on for another five years- when he’ll be 75. All I’m asking is ‘if Mourinho were to become available, would Sir Alex feel it’s better long-term to step aside and allow one of the most gifted managers on the planet the chance to perhaps take over for the long-term?
As I stated earlier, my own preference is Guardiola, who Ive always felt would leave Barcelona around the same time Sir Alex decides to retire, after all even the most successful Barca bosses don’t stay around for more than five or six years. There’s nothing to say that Guardiola couldn’t break the mould however and actually end up being the first Barcelona boss to actually stay on past a decade.
If United were to wait for Guardiola, then it could be a very long wait that takes us well past Fergie’s retirement. So my question is simple- if Mourinho was willing to commit to a long-term deal at United this Summer, could Sir Alex step aside and let the younger man take charge? It may not be better in the short-term but longer term it could be beneficial, after all love him or hate him, there’s no denying the ‘Special One’ has an amazing managerial record. Sir Alex always puts Manchester United first and he may well think a manager he’s long admired is the man to cary the club forward.
Personally, I think Sir Alex should stay on as long as possible no matter who’s available, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be given pause for thought should his ‘good friend’ Jose Mourinho join the dole queue.
Have I gone in off the deep end even asking the question? Do you agree with me that ultimately Sir Alex should stay on as long as possible? Would you want to see Jose at United this Summer? Feel free to comment, suggest and abuse below:
Does anybody else NOT want Mourinho at old trafford…..ffs i cant even belive its actually being thought about. Imagine the crap he could bring to our club.
Agree completely,we dont need the shit he brings or his negative football.Well said chum…….
I think Fergie should stay on. Jose and Pep are both quality managers who would both succeed at OT, however why try and fix something that isn’t broken? Just because Jose may be available early doesn’t mean the best manager of all time should step aside and retire.
I rate Pep and Jose equally and I think no matter where they both are when the mighty Scot calls it a day, they will both want the job. Jose has all but confirmed this in interviews, and Pep has made it clear that he wants another challenge so there could be a tough decision for Manchester United over which one to hire.
In the meantime, long live Fergie and long may he continue in the job, managing the greatest football team on earth!
Mourinho is probably the only manager with enough character to take over from Fergie. My problem is that he has no track record of developing talent. He just buys players. Can you imagine Mourinho bringing through Welbeck, Cleverley, Evans, Fryers, the Da Silvas? Would he play Pogba and Morrison? This aspect is where Guardiola is better.
Am sure Pep could be a better one but due to his current commitment to his current job, it may be very difficult. This leaves United with only one option who is really special and when he decides to come in, every one could support him, so 4 the best to the club, Sir Alex could be advised to step aside 4 his friend.
I think Martin O’neil would be the best replacement, for loads of reasons
imho manutd should hire someone like david moyes, although i have a great amount of respect for managers like guardialo and mourinho… theres a tingly feeling that if they come, they wont be for long, 5 maybe 6 years tops… what will happen with the academy with the staff changes occuring 5 years or so?
david moyes deserves the chance to manage a club with well more finance, he’s done a great job at everton but i think he should do well with the managerial pos in man utd…
ggmu!
are you CRAZY,, look what sir alex is doing ,with so many injured players,,he is only 3 points behind the team who spend 4 times more then him,,,we are so lucky to have this manager i hope he works many many years,,,he is our brightest star
Martin O’neill and David Moyes???? Oh please no!!!!
O’neill is getting on a bit and hasn’t got it tactically. Moyes has a better chance but United wouldn’t take the risk. Solskjaer has a better chance than either but I doubt he’ll get the job either. No, it will be a foreign manager next. Pep or Jose.
Yes, yes, yes. It’s not if but when we must get JM. We missed the boat when he left Inter but I fervently hope we don’t miss out again. SAF was great but we must move on, nothing is forever. The Club must come first. If SAF loves the Club, he must understand what’s best for the Club and should be chivalrous enough to do the right thing. After vall, he’s a Knight !
No way Jose! If you like watching BORING football then he’s the man for the job. Ten men behind the ball with a battering forward flicking the ball down to a midfield runner.
Ffs, NO!
100% agree,he should go to looserfool,they deserve each other,the man is a circus in his own right,negative tactics are not what UNITED are about ffs….