Why Pep Guardiola shouldn’t be the next Manchester United Manager.
It’s been a great celebratory week for Manchester United and all of the clubs fans too. Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements have been memorized in bronze outside Old Trafford, and we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ultimate masterstroke signing in Premier League history (Thus Far) of "The King" Eric Cantona.
On the back of these celebrations are the continuing rumours of Pep Guardiola holding out for the Manchester United job when Sir Alex finally decides to retire. I took great solace in Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking at Chelsea earlier in the week. This could possibly mean that Roman Abramovich might finally get his man in Pep Guardiola. Only to find that he has appointed Rafa Benitez on a short term deal. This may leave a lot of people to believe that he is keeping the seat warm for Guardiola and I only hope this is the case. As a Manchester United fan I personally do not want to see Guardiola in that dugout in The Theatre of Dreams just yet.
I know a lot of people might disagree with me on this but I think at this point in time Guardiola is all wrong for Manchester United. Firstly, there is no denying that he is a talented young manager, but I feel he still has to prove himself somewhat. The fact is he inherited the best team in the world. It would almost be impossible to not win with that team as long as you keep them happy.
It was “Big” Sam Allardyce that once said give him Real Madrid or Inter Milan and he could be winning doubles every year. I firmly believe this is the case. You could have given Big Sam that job at Barcelona and he could have won all around him too.
I look to Guardiola’s lack of tactical awareness as a starting point. When something rarely goes wrong in a match for Barcelona he just can’t seem to cope with it and doesn’t know what changes he can make to resolve this issue. You look at the semi final of the Champions League last season against Chelsea. Chelsea who are by no means the best team at that time. They are an aging group and have problems with individuals off the field and a misfiring striker. They manage to win the home leg 1-0 against Barcelona.
Going into the second leg at the Camp Nou, you have home advantage in that glorious stadium. You couldn’t help think Chelsea didn’t have a chance. Thinking this you would imagine a tactical astute manager would be able to get the right players in the right frame of mind with the right formation, but instead lined out with a limp 3-4-3. Sure they went 2-0 up, but they showed not heart and no teeth in doing so. Soon after they got their second, Ramires popped up with a great goal and Guardiola was knocked back. Great men have been able to get their teams in at the half and instil confidence and change tactics where needed. Benitez against AC Milan case in point. They showed no desire. It was just pass pass pass, and no end product. Showing no way to penetrate that parked bus of Chelsea. The only thing he could thing to towards then end was push everyone defenders and all up front, leaving them exposed at the back for the misfiring Torres to score (Queue Gary Neville Scorgasm). It was that moment when an “Interim” manager bested the “Master” who had won everything.
I firmly believe this lack of tactical knowledge and inability to make changes that benefit the team in the middle of a match is what makes Guardiola the wrong choice for Manchester United at this time. He should not be given a free pass to work at the tops clubs in the world based on achievements at the best team in the world. He should have to earn his stripes at a lesser club before stepping into the Manchester United dugout or even the Chelsea one for that matter.
If placed in charge of Manchester United after Sir Alex goes I fear what could possibly be the outcome. Will I be proved wrong and will it be a success? Will I be proved right and Guardiola be the wrong man and in being the wrong man place the club firmly outside the running for a league title even possibly a Champions League spot?
Be it Guardiola, Di Matteo, Moyes, Mourinho or Solskjaer, the list goes on, I fear for a time when Manchester United are AF (After Fergie). Who can possibly come straight into the club and live up to that reputation? Who would want to come straight in and live up to that reputation? Personally I would like Moyes or Di Matteo as I feel they have the head/knowhow/tactical awareness to handle a club of this size. One thing's for certain, I don’t want it to be Guardiola as he is just not the right fit for this club at this time.
Andy is a Manchester United supporter from Waterford, currently living in Galway. An I.T. support technician for EA Sports. You can follow Andy on twitter at: @ITheKTrainI
Id have to agree with this, Although pep has won a good bit its the quality of the team got him threw it.
ReplyDeleteIf you put him managing Sunderland or swansea I bet he would be a diaster.
I think Martin O Neill would be a good option to replace Alex