If Pochettino won’t do it, here’s the man to boss United…

Anything to add? theeditor@football365.com

Pellegrini for United
Just some thoughts…

1. Statistically, Liverpool already bought the title. In the past year, they spent more than everyone else in the league. Anything short of winning the league should be considered a failure. This is the same stick used to beat guardiola and mourinho. Klopp has spent more and should not be different. If they do win the league, good for them. That is what a transfer budget of 250 million pounds buys you.

2. The debate for Pochettino to Utd makes a lot of sense from Utd perspective. But if they cant get him. Utd should seriously consider Pellegrini over anyone else. even Zidane. He already won trophies with villareal, city. Proven in the premier league. West ham are fun to watch this season. Pellegrini behavior is class and he is league proven to win trophies. Surely he is qualified as much Pochettino.
Michael, Philippines

Give it to Ole
I don’t want to get all excited here after two wins against two bottom sides. I do however want to state that IF Ole manages to get United beating the teams they should and playing good football whilst doing it, for the remainder of the season then I would be happy to give him the job full time. That even with getting beat by all top 5 above us (caveat to that is that I would like to see us a least somewhat competitive against those 5 and not simply blown away!) and some draws with the likes of Everton.

You see Solskjaer has done all the right things, whether or not that is with the assistance of anyone higher up or not….

He’s brought back Phelan – now I’m not stating that Mike is THE reason for all things bad since SAF retired but Moyes’ decision to get rid of all those he did right from the off was the start of these dark times. Bringing Phelen back on board was a very smart move, whether that was Ole’s decision or just his willingness to go with it he gets big points for that.

He’s saying all the right things – the simplistic nature of his strategy is exactly what is needed and is very refreshing. From the “we try for one goal and then for the second and then for the third….” to the “these are good players, they just need to be allowed to play” – these are not footballing genius philosophy’s and yet it take’s some big cojones to both do and say these things when the big boss at a club the size of Man Utd!

Even if we finished 6th this season, even if we don’t manage a win against a top 5 team, even if we finish out of CL places next season, I would be happy simply knowing that we are on the road to being Man Utd again and so happy with Ole longer term. The alternative of carrying on chasing short term dreams is extremely worrisome and I fear that approach results in a Liverpool type 29 years hiatus from league glory.

The focus should be on getting a director of football. This person can have the stature that perhaps Solskjaer lacks and who can deal with the long term vision including transfers (with obvious input from the manager).

In closing I’m not sure where Ole Gunnar got a time machine big enough to fit an entire football club inside of but that’s what it feels like.
Gav (here’s to enjoying football again)

A plan for United
Dear Mr. Woodward,

I really don’t think United’s recruitment should be that difficult over the next year and a half. If I were pulling the strings, which is crazy right because I don’t have the experience (but neither do you), so this is what I would do.

January: f*ck it. If we can’t get the world class defender we need, don’t spend a dime.

Summer: as the first touch, send the man who doesn’t have one to Juve in a swap/cash deal for Costa. Get a world class striker a la Griezmann and a world class defender a la I don’t really care who. But there’s enough talent out there to be able to buy someone. I can’t handle Liverpool having the best defender in the league.

That’s basically it. Our midfield is good enough to last another year. Give academy guys like Chong, Gomes and Williams a few run outs. Over the next year and a half. Costa, Fred, Herrera, Mata, Matic, Sanchez and Pogba can definitely hold down the midfield. Rashford, Martial, Griezmann and Lingard are quality enough as the striker-types that we would likely only be looking boosting midfield come summer 2020.

Oh yeah, try out Schmeichel as sporting director and for ball’s sakes, find a role for Vidic at the club.

Happy new year.
J

Can’t we all just get along?
Let not start an antagonistic thing about who other fans would or wouldn’t want to win the PL. I would recommend that people don’t get riled up by the one comment from yesterday that had a dig a Guardiola or the one message this morning saying LFC shouldn’t win the title. Especially when 4 or 5 of the other comments in the same mailbox are just please our team playing well and praise the other contenders.

I’m an LFC supporter and yes, there will be some of our supporters that can’t enjoy our own success without having a go at other clubs (which is a shame) but most of us are just happy our team is doing well.

Please remember that most of us aren’t the people that have a go at other clubs. Arguably F365 shouldn’t publish them, which would avoid the problem. The title race looks like it is now between Spurs, Pool and City. May the best team win.
Matt, LFC

Abuse and racism
Big D, Luxembourg had an interesting mail in the last mailbox, asking why there is so much hypocrisy in the stands about racism (namely: we cheer our own black players, we racially abuse others). It made me reflect on this – I’m a decision theory phd student, I hope to live from analysing this kind questions so it naturally interested my. And I think answer is pretty easy.

I will start with an example. I am from Poland – we have somewhat backwards society in here. There is one large group (nationalistic organization, ONR) that generally is hugely racist. Even when there is no POC in sight, they chant anti-diversity and anti-black slogans. BUT, we had a black MP a few years back (a rarity in Poland, as we have no significant non-white minority), called John Goodson. He loved Poland very much, and was regarded as ‘patriotic’, even though he was from liberal party. And You know what? They loved him. They supported him everytime and said all the time that they would dream to have more Poles like him (and are proud he is Polish). From this example I would conclude – I know it will sound wrong, but bear with me – those people are not actually “racist”, they are simply tribalistic. They love their own, they hate the others. And just so happens, thet the easiest way to hurt black footballer is by attacking him on his race, as it is where he is most vulnerable. It is their goal after all. So in short – their motivation is the same when they call slurs at white footballers – simply for them, where they are vulnerable is not their race. It is not that they have something against black footballers as such (any of it doesn’t make it any less repulsive… but it is exactly why it makes it a vulnerable spot, isn’t it?)

In short, I would conclude Klopp was right – to eliminate this kind of racism (not “the Sun” kind, it would be longer story, maybe I will write on “The Sun racism” next time) You shouldn’t give them attention on that. So it will no longer be vulnerability. And Sterling laughing at them was spot on. He really is very mature now and I love to see it. I know this analysis was simplified (mataphorical proof is shit, but I hope You get what I was coming from). Anyway, would love to hear constructive criticism! It could really help me develop.

Much love to the Mailbox,
Marek, Warsaw

…Big D, in response to your mail regarding football racists: Firstly, I agree that racism doesn’t make sense. It’s clearly a highly complex issue.

With regard to Stamford Bridge (but it happens elsewhere), my view is that some of the Chelsea fans are attacking Sterling because he plays for a different team, but they also take advantage of the opportunity to racially abuse. However, some of them are attacking him purely because he’s black and they might use football as an excuse. They feed off each other and it builds to a crescendo. Racism + tribalism + herd mentality.

As for Drogba, those same fans certainly don’t love him but they don’t attack him because he wears the shirt, and while he’s banging them in they ignore his skin colour. Can you imagine what they say to each other if he misses a sitter? Tribalism vs racism.

We also had the issue of Utd fans singing about Lukaku’s penis. Tribalism + racism + herd mentality + bantz.

It seems that in football, racism can usually find a way.
Dan, Bristol

…Big D of Luxembourg, while you’re absolutely right that racism in football (and anywhere else) makes no sense, I think the reason people do/say these dumb things is that those people believe it’s NOT racist. Hear me out.

In these idiots’ minds, there’s a difference between spouting off racist epithets and actually BEING a racist…never mind the pesky fact that there isn’t. I believe that for many of them, all they’re doing is trying to get in to the opponent’s heads by doing or saying the most damaging thing they can think of and thus, gaining their team a minute advantage. It’s obviously a reprehensible thing to do (and also terribly short-sighted judging by the retrospective punishments that get handed down from time to time) but race is just one of the many ways they try to do it. Fans will use anything as cannon fodder, be it religion, appearance, age or events of a player’s lives. They’re famous, so all of their sensitivities are well-known and fair game, right?

Then, following the racist taunts, we hear the same old reasons as to why these people are NOT racist – “my best mate’s skin is whatever colour” or “I dated someone from whatever country” – and many of them have convinced themselves that these are actually legitimate.

Basically, if you’re the type of person that feels the need to scream as the opposition as they’re arguing over which way a throw-in should go, “I believe you’re mistaken!” will not get the same reaction from a player as the monkey noises and N-words. And I believe the reaction and belief they’re making a difference in the game is what these morons are after.

Perhaps we should just stick to cheering on our own teams and leave the insults where they belong, with those m*therf*cking game-spoiling c*nty referees.
Anon

Home and away
Malcom, AFC, If Arsenal have slightly more points now compared to last year at the same stage while having around the same total away points as the entirety of last season, that still proves my point.

Because that means that Arsenal’s home form has dropped considerably compared to last season (albeit not as much as the away form has improved, thus the surplus).

You don’t get extra points for winning away games so getting more away points doesn’t mean much if it means a considerable drop in home form.

And as my table showed, Arsenal’s Week 19 point tally this year isn’t even the best in the last five years (it’s third), it’s only slightly higher than the average of those years in fact.

Now I don’t think Arsenal are doing half bad to be honest but like what F365 and some other mails have said, they’ve basically squandered their momentum. Wenger Arsenal the last few years have so been shown to be capable of great wins and runs but they also stumble when the pressure gets to them.
Yaru, Malaysia