This time last year, it was Ruben Amorim who was under pressure. The year before that, Erik ten Hag faced the sack. Jose Mourinho, David Moyes and others suffered the same fate. Manchester United have been stuck in a never-ending loop of failure for over a decade, and it has not stopped with Michael Carrick.
The former player looks destined to become the second to fail when stepping into the Old Trafford technical area, following in the footsteps of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It raises some serious questions for INEOS, but the answers may not lie with the obvious candidates.
Why Man Utd must avoid Conte mistake
Man United have a lot of problems right now and have done for the last 13 years. It will be tempting to turn to a manager who can hand them some short-term success rather than a gradual rise back into the club they once were. That is why Antonio Conte’s name may stand out to some.
He is already a Premier League winner, having done so at Chelsea, and he has secured silverware almost everywhere he has been. The problem is that the Italian tends to average less than two years in one role and one thing that Man United do not need more of right now is instability.
Is the success really worth it if it ends in an instant rebuild less than two years later? The answer for the Red Devils should be a resounding no.
What’s more, the arrival of Conte will mean the return of the dreaded back five that Man United failed in under Amorim. It was then that the latter remained stubborn and eventually paid. The story of Conte’s tenure would follow a similar path.
Eddie Howe would stabilise Man Utd
If Man United are looking for initial stability, then Eddie Howe is the man for the job. He dragged Newcastle United from the depths of a relegation battle to the highs of Champions League qualification and Carabao Cup success. He didn’t do so by outspending every club in the Premier League, either.
In fact, Howe was fairly limited by PSR rules at Newcastle despite PIF’s riches. The manager simply got the best out of what he had and that will be music to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ears after he failed to splash the cash for Carrick during the summer.
|
Eddie Howe in the Premier League |
|
|---|---|
|
Games |
369 |
|
Wins |
140 |
|
Draws |
81 |
|
Defeats |
148 |
What Howe won’t provide is a title-winning side. There is little proof that the former Newcastle manager is an elite coach who can make that next step, despite reports linking his name with the job.
Man United must walk before they can run under their next manager, but if they’re truly in an ambitious mood, then they should hire a different candidate entirely.
Man Utd must hire “Premier League’s best coach”
Whilst this may be turning into a yearly tradition at Old Trafford, Man United have to get their next decision right. They must not be back to square one in 12 months’ time.
Hire Conte and they may see instant, but short-lived success. Hire Howe and they will get stability without title ambition. Hire Unai Emery, and they’ll get everything they so desperately desire.
The Aston Villa boss is one of the most experienced managers in the Premier League these days and is now a European winner at Aston Villa. He is ready to return to the biggest stage and drag Man United back towards glory.
It’s not an easy fix at United, but it wasn’t at Aston Villa. He found the Villans scrapping away to avoid the drop. He now looks at a side who consistently find themselves in the top four and taking a deserved seat at the top six table.
The Spaniard hasn’t done that with unlimited resources, either. Aston Villa’s record signing cost just £65m and that came in the form of Nicolas Jackson in the summer, and after the sale of both Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers.
As far as Ratcliffe is concerned, Emery should be worth every penny that United have to pay out to snatch him away from the Midlands.
According to the Sun, Emery has admirers at Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen whether that admiration turns into a serious pursuit. His history would suggest that the pursuit would be well worth it, however.
Dubbed “the Premier League’s best coach” by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Emery could be next in line for the hot-seat at Man United.
