Hughes, Mourinho are men that belong in yesterday’s world

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We won FFS
Yes it could of been better and yes sometimes it looked laboured but ffs we won against a team who played 10 at the back and played on the break. Jose getting pelters for Rashford not being able to hit a camels arse with a banjo from 5 foot, Rashford scores with one of his many chances then it’s a whole new game.
That being said Matic needs a long rest from playing he looks jaded and basically crap, play Pogba and Fred in the centre with either Felliani or Herrera. Valencia has been a good servant but we need Dalot to play for the rest of the season.
Chin up people we are in the last 16, I understand fans who have only seen the glory years get frustrated but believe me it has been a lot worse than this, imagine being half way through a season (well Xmas) and your goalkeeper is joint top scorer with 2 goals.
Paul Murphy, Manchester

Man Utd and Mourinho made for each other
Oh, please.
Enough of this “Mourinho out” bizzo.

If ever a club and manager were made for each other, it’s Man Utd and Mourinho.
They’re both only relevant because of their financial clout.
I’ve been an English football fan since the ’70s; but a lifetime sportsman and lover of karma and irony.
Man Utd has never believed in a level playing field.
I remember Liam Brady saying way back in the ’80s: “For the big money, players have to go to Man Utd, or Italy”.

So, City corruptly painting Manchester blue has been very amusing.
I’m sure it will become tiresome, but it hasn’t yet.
Man Utd have been the Donald Trump of football since long before there was a Donald Trump.

To any sportsman – and lover of karma and irony – their denouement is both delightful and delicious.
Nige NZ

Parallels between Mourinho and Hughes
I thought it interesting that the Mailbox was filled with condemnation of Jose, whilst alongside it sat an article about the failings of Mark Hughes and his inevitable sacking.  There’s quite clear parallels between the two, they’re actually quite similar styles of manager albeit ones that have operated in completely different spheres.  Also in common, they both look like men that belong in yesterday’s world.

It’s easy to forget how good managers once were.  There was a time 10-15 years ago when Jose Mourinho was THE football manager.  He was the benchmark for tactical and motivational ability and his Chelsea side feared by all and sundry across Europe.  Also at this time, Mark Hughes was considered one of the brightest young managers in the top flight after a successful stint at Wales was followed up with a series of impressive finishes at Blackburn, with a trip to Ewood Park considered a damned difficult fixture by any team in the division.

But football, like life, has moved on.  When Jose lifted the Champions League with Porto, Facebook was only 3 months old.  When Mark Hughes led Blackburn to the dizzy heights of the top 6 and European football, Twitter had not yet launched and hashtags didn’t exist.  Things evolve, times change.  When you’ve had such success, how difficult must it be to let go of the methods that brought you it?  When those methods fail, bitterness and lashing out at the world seem like an inevitability.

This, for me, is why Sir Alex Ferguson is out on his own as the greatest manager of all time, because he didn’t dogmatically stick to his old, tried and trusted methods; instead, he constantly evolved, adapting and reinventing himself to the world around him.  It’s one thing to be great for a period of time and another thing entirely to be great for all times.  It’s like the difference between U2 and David Bowie.
Lewis, Busby Way

As a neutral I have to say that Mark Hughes likely dismissal will be cause for some celebration. If you can be in charge of a generally likeable club like Southampton and manage to get neutrals gunning for you to go you’ve clearly gone wrong somewhere along the line. In this case the powerful triumvirate of results, style of play and personality.

I do wonder how much affect public perception has on chairmen when deciding whether to pull the trigger. With every other team in the league having a manager who I can find some qualities to admire (either due to achieving at least one of the three points above or previous success), and in fact most actually being quite likeable, Hughes does stand out. In previous seasons there has always been at least a couple of these negative old boys around: Allardyce, Pardew, Pullis, McCleish, etc. but with Warnock just having a bit of a laugh with the whole thing, all the love to haters are taking aim the Saints man.

If and when he goes I do also wonder who will be next in line for a PL job as it really feels the time has come for this group of managers.
Dave T (Spurs)

P.S. honourable mention to Jose Mourinho for really stretching my argument of finding qualities in every other manager in the league.

I don’t care!
I’ve finally reached the point of not caring with Manchester United. I’m aware that this might come across as a slapped arse but I’ve been a fan a long time, and I remember worse times but I never remember not caring.

The club, owners, manager, players couldn’t care less about Manchester United Football Club, let alone the fans so why should I care so much.

The owners most definitely care about Manchester United Financial Corporation and the further it drifts from Football Club the less I care, they want my money, that’s all.

So last night, the teams announced… I don’t care. Some exciting players in there but he’s decided to go with the classic Matic / Fellaini combo in the middle of the park at home to Young Boys, we’ve seen how this plays out before.

First half, borefest, but I don’t care. Because I expect a borefest, I don’t expect any creativity in midfield, I don’t expect goals, I expect the forwards to fluff their lines and I certainly don’t expect much from the defence.

Second half, Young Boys push on and almost score, except for an absolutely world class save from De Gea. I didn’t care, if I’m honest a little a part of me had bloodlust and wanted Young Boys to score in the hope that it would incite some change at the club.

United score an injury time winner – I didn’t care. I barely celebrated because I came from another long hoof to the big man which will justify that tactic in the managers eyes to be used over and over again.

The manager comes out after to remind the world of how great a manager he used to be, but I don’t care but this is what he does. Me, me, me!

But if United were to sack Mourinho, I wouldn’t really care because the problems run a lot deeper than the manager. The club have messed up every appointment and every signing since the rot set in so why would a new manager change that.

Change is needed, big change is needed. Do the Glazers have the appetite to turn it around, unlikely, but the way things are going the only way to keep their beloved asset valuable is to make it work. The other option, selling to the Saudi’s and you know what, I think then I’d give up caring altogether!
Dave M.

I’ve been watching this cr*p for 2 1/2 years now, the issue is either all the front players are too selfish and looking out for themselves or they are not being properly coached. As its all of them its more likely the later, but I can’t help feeling some players do not want to play with each other.
Having great movement is not just about making runs in behind, its about working as a group to create space for EACH OTHER! Martial and Rashford don’t seem to want to work together. The midfield get the blame for a lack of creativity and slow play, but what are they supposed to do when the whole attacking line is just stood in a straight line facing the ball and not moving. United are the easiest team to defend against in the league. There is no pattern of play, this is why they are so inconsistent, they really completely on individual moments or opponent mistakes, and I’m sorry this won’t be a quick fix, we need Mourinho to go as he will never coach this. A new manager to be brought in under a director of football, and understand it will take a minimum of 3 years for us to improve, Rip it up, start again, get rid of the mercenaries out for themselves.
Duncan

Fan mail for Matt Stead
“They came for a slice of Depay, but were given a taster of something altogether more mouth watering. They came for a glimpse of that little Fekir, but had their game averted by something altogether more eye catching”

I doff my cap to you good sir. Brilliant!
Krombopulos Michael, LFC, Joburg

Lyon manager has all the secrets?
So am I the only one who thinks that all the Premier League managers must be trying to give the Lyon manager a call on how to stop City? If it were a knockout game, Lyon would have beaten City 4-3 on aggregate (This is a team with a +35 GD after 13 League games). Fair play to Lyon, matched them tactically, mentally and technically and seemed unlucky not to have beaten them a 2nd time this season.

Perhaps City do have a weakness after all…
Rami, London

Management
Forget football for a moment. Let’s talk management. In any sphere of life or work, from parenting to managing small teams, up to running large companies, the leadership element of management is central to success. I have worked in advertising n Northern Ireland, and have worked with and observed numerous businesses. The ones that have strong leadership are by far the most successful. They are the ones where the employees are treated well, listened to, given a role, rewarded both financially and emotionally and follow an example set by the leaders in the business. The employees want the company to succeed and have respect and admiration for the leader. So while Mourinho may once have been a good leader and manager, he does not fit either criteria any longer. Every time he speaks he undermines his players. His throwing around of water bottles is so childish that it is incomprehensible and sets an example that if followed by his players would have them throwing tantrums and thinking it was OK. His me me me comments are getting into the realm of paranoia. A leader shoulders the bad and shares out the good, exactly the opposite of Mourinho’s current behaviour.
Comparing this to the leadership given by Pep and Pochettino among others, including Eddie Howe, and it is evident why United are doomed to continued failure. They don’t need a manager, they need a leader, and they need one fast.
Tim McKane