Manchester United: The Rebuild

13/05/19



Solskjær has blown his chances of taking the job on a permanent basis.

Manchester United have officially announced that Ole Gunnar Solskjær will not take up the permanent managerial position, after 5 months in charge as caretaker manager. The reasons for his dismissal from the caretaker role and not being given the permanent one are glaring for many, as his last 3 months in charge have been nothing short of a disaster, with defeats to Arsenal, Wolves, Everton, Manchester City and Cardiff, and disappointing draws against Chelsea and Huddersfield, taking only 7 points from their last 9 games in the Premier League, and leaving Manchester United in 6th position on the final day, missing out on Champions League football. Even though Solskjær started off well, with 7 straight wins from December 2018 to January 2019, recent form has been extremely worrying, and is simply not up-to-par with Manchester United`s high standards, and it left them with a serious decision to make come the end of this season, which was to let Solskjær go, and bring in a more experienced manager who can hopefully stable the sinking ship that is Manchester United at this moment in time.

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The top 5 favourites for the coveted Manchester United managerial role on a permanent basis are Diego Simeone at 50/1, Luis Enrique at 20/1, Laurent Blanc at 8/1, Zinedine Zidane at 5/1 and Gary Neville at 2/1 (odds credited to Paddy Power). According to our sources close to Manchester United, Gary Neville is already in advanced talks with Manchester United for the role, and it is looking very likely that Gary Neville will be Manchester United manager within the next couple of weeks. We will update you as things unfold at Old Trafford.

Considering Nevilles previous role at Valencia, I am surprised he is being so strongly linked.

Great Work. Hope he does a better job than he did at Valencia

27/05/19


Gary Neville has been announced as Manchester United manager today.

It has been officially announced by Manchester United early this morning that Gary Neville will take charge of Manchester United on a one-year deal with the option of additional extensions (should he do well), worth £130,000 per week. Neville has pipped off names such as Zinedine Zidane to land the biggest job in world football.

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The choice to anoint Neville as Manchester United boss have been seen as mostly positive, as he does have experience managing at the highest level, having being a coach for England`s national senior team and the manager of La Liga outfit Valencia in 2015, and he has a UEFA Continental Pro Licence in management, which he obtained in 2012, meaning he is the cream of the crop when it comes to qualifications at the very least. The only glaring negative in his appointment is that he didn’t fare well while at Valencia, and only lasted a few months in 2015. But it was in a foreign country, and Valencia were in a lot of trouble on the pitch at the time, so only time will tell if the familiarity of England and Manchester United will lead him to become a successful manager.

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Manchester United fans on social media have been a mixed bag to say the least, with the Manchester United fanbase being split into two sections, the Neville “IN and “OUT”. Neither group are wrong in with their set of opinions, but hopefully for the good of Manchester United, the “IN” group have the last laugh, as Manchester United are in huge need of stability and a huge revamp after such a roller-coaster of a season.

(Be sure to stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Gary Neville within the next few days!)

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THE LFC FAN: Hopefully he can do a better job in Manchester than in Valencia!

RED VEE 35: Thanks. I hope so!

28/05/19

THE GARY NEVILLE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SPECIAL: "THE MAN AT THE WHEEL”

Welcome to this exclusive interview special, where we gather the thoughts of our former pundit, and now newly appointed manager of Manchester United, Gary Neville! We asked him 5 questions about his thoughts on the job, covering various aspects about all things Manchester United at this moment in time. The interview took place on the 27/05/19, which was yesterday, the day he got appointed!

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SKY SPORTS: Welcome back to the studio Gary, but it’s a bit different this time isn’t it!

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GARY NEVILLE: "Thank you very much, and yes, it is very, very different this time!".

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SKY SPORTS: We will miss you as a pundit here, you were one of the best we have ever had for sure. But we wish you the best of luck in your future ventures. And now you are manager of Manchester United, in probably the biggest job in world football! How did this come to be?

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GARY NEVILLE: "Thank you so much, I really enjoyed my time as a pundit here, it was some of the most enjoyable years of my life, and I made some great friends in the process, even Carra! And how did it come to be? Well, its Manchester United, there is not much for me to say. I played my entire career there, and United are in my heart, and always will be. When the job came knocking, it was one that I could not turn down. Managing my boyhood club, and with the history I have with them, it’s a dream come true for myself, it really is. Its surreal".

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SKY SPORTS: What are your short-term and long-term goals for the club?

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GARY NEVILLE: "Good question. In the short-term, stability 100%. We have been up and down for the last decade almost now, and I want to be able buck that trend and bring back consistent performances in the league, as well as in Europe and in the domestic cups. It is something I think this squad are capable of. The experience is there, it`s just the direction that isn’t, and that’s what I need to change short-term. Long-term is an easy one, I want to win trophies with United, it is always the top priority of any manager I have seen, and i`m no different. But it will take time, and we need to take this process in baby-steps, as we won`t start winning trophies overnight, and if we try to rush it, rash decisions will be made, and that won`t get us anywhere. We just need to be patient".

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SKY SPORTS: Do you plan to bring in a lot of new bodies during the upcoming transfer window?

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GARY NEVILLE: "I first have to fully assess the playing squad, and then I can give you that answer in full. I have certain targets to bring in, in a variety of positions, but I won`t be bringing in any players for the sake of signing someone. If I am 100% confident a player that is available will strengthen the playing squad, then I will do everything I can to bring them in, with the backing of the board of course. I only got appointed today though, so I can`t give you a full answer just yet, as I have just said!".

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SKY SPORTS: Do you think you can achieve top 4 for the upcoming season?

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GARY NEVILLE: "Yes, of course I believe. As long as we can stick together, recruit well when necessary, and stay consistent with our performances on the pitch and on the training ground, we can achieve whatever we set our minds too. But it won`t be easy, as the Premier League is physically demanding all season long, incredibly competitive and it can burn you out very quickly if you are not prepared, I know from personal experience playing, it is relentless. We just have to make sure we are prepared".

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SKY SPORTS: How much of an impact did the board at Manchester United make in your decision to take the job?

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GARY NEVILLE: "A massive impact. We have similar ideas for what we want to achieve, and we seem to have the right building blocks in place to become successful together. They have shown their 100% trust in me, and they are willing to back me financially when it comes to transfers, and they are very on board, excuse the pun!, with the ideologies and philosophies I want to implement in my time here, and they are willing to remain patient with me, as they know as well as I that my goals for Manchester United, to get back to challenging for major trophies ,will take time. But I am fully assured that as long as I am backed, I can achieve all these goals I have set for myself, my players and Manchester United as a club for the foreseeable future".

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SKY SPORTS: Last question Gary, as we know you have a busy day ahead of you, so we wont dwell too long! How much of an advantage is it having played football at the very highest level with Manchester United compared to other managers that have not?

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GARY NEVILLE: "Of course it’s a significant advantage. I know what it takes to win, I know how much dedication it takes, day in and day out, I know the sacrifices you have to make to become a successful player at a club the size of Manchester United, and I will remind my players every single day of this. It’s a core principal of making it at the top level. Talent doesn’t get you anywhere if you can`t implement that talent through hard work. I wasn’t the most talented player, but I worked harder than almost anybody else, and it got me to the very highest echelons of football. In this current United playing squad, there are players with 10 times the ability I had. If they can learn, from myself, how to implement this talent into success, they can achieve anything".

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SKY SPORTS: Thank you Gary, we really appreciate your time here, today, and in general over the years. We hope you do a fine job at Manchester United.

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GARY NEVILLE: "Thank you so, so much for today. I just hope you can cope with just Carra for the time being! I wish to catch up with you all in the near future! And I certainly hope I can do some sort of job at United, I`ll be a bit screwed otherwise won`t I!".

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GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS

MIDFIELDERS

FORWARDS

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This is our Manchester United squad we have as of the 29/05/19, only 2 days into Gary Neville`s tenure as boss. We will see how boss Gary Neville will fare with the squad in weeks to come, and see what positions he plans to prioritise to bring players in to bolster the overall quality, or overall depth of our squad. Hopefully we can keep hold onto all of our key players and bring in some super star signings if possible. Its all up to Gary now!

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(Pictures courtesy of the Official Manchester United Website)

A good squad but can 100% be improved

ALESSIO ROMAGNOLI AND THILO KEHRER BOTH SIGN FOR UNITED!

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We have completed the signings of centre-backs Alessio Romagnoli and Thilo Kehrer, for fees of £35 million and £4.6 million, on £150k p/w and £115k p/w respectively. Both players will join once the English transfer window officially opens on the 9/06/19. Gary Neville has been working day and night to get these signings over the line as quickly as possible to make sure that they came to Old Trafford, to sway any interest away from other clubs.

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We were seriously lacking overall quality and overall depth in the centre-back positions, so the signings of Romagnoli and Kehrer are terrific additions to the current United squad. 24 year old Italian international Alessio Romagnoli is apparently the marquee signing for Neville at centre-back for this upcoming transfer window, and he should be key player for us at centre-back, adding incredible quality to the starting XI. According to statistics from last season, Romagnoli was the only player alongside world-class centre-back Virgil Van Dijk to not have been dribbled past or beaten one on one, not even once. This statistic itself shows the quality that Romagnoli possesses, and his composure, positional awareness and tackling ability. He is a true gem of a centre-back, who can also play competently at left-back, and we believe that Neville has done a shrewd piece of business bringing him in for only £35 million, less than half of what Virgil Van Dijk was bought for by Liverpool. We wish him luck here at United, and hope he can live up to the hype!

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22 year old German youth international Thilo Kehrer was brought in to add quality depth at centre-back that we were sorely lacking, and available at a measly £4.6 million after being transfer listed by PSG, it was a no-brainer for Neville to bring him in. Kehrer is terrific on the ball and can also like Romagnoli play at left-back quite competently if needed, and he is also fairly dominant in the tackle. Hopefully he can prove his worth and act as a fantastic back-up centre-back for us, and in the future, possibly break into the starting XI!

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THE LFC FAN: You are correct, the squad is good, but can be greatly improved, and Neville has made a good start!

Defensive woes partly sorted with the Romagnoli signature. I'm not overly sold on Kehrer just yet. He has potential but he will need some hard-love to realise it.

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Some good deals filling gaps that certainly needed filling. It will be interesting to see how Neville aims to play with these new signings coming in thick and fast.

Two pieces of deadwood out, although their versatility may be missed. Bruno is a good signing, let's see where he fits in.

Gary Neville has been given his season expectations by the United board for the upcoming 19/20 season.
They are as follows in the graphic below:




We think that these expectations given by our clubs board are very achievable, but it won`t be easy. In the Premier League we are expected to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, so to place at least 4th. This is most definitely the hardest expectation for Neville and the boys to achieve, as the Premier League is so jam-packed with quality, with any team being able to beat anyone else on their day. Also with the likes of Wolves, Leicester City, Arsenal, Everton, and possibly even West Ham United looking to try and claim that top 4 spot, Neville certainly has a job on his hands, and there will be a lot of must win games across the upcoming season, that could make or break our chances. But, with the signings of Alessio Romagnoli, Wan Bissaka( a signing made pre-Neville), and Thilo Kehrer in defence, we are a lot stronger in that department than last season for sure. Also, with Timothy Fosu-Mensah back from his loan spell at Fulham, he should further bolster the backline. The signing of Bruno Fernandes will seriously strengthen our midfield, an area that we had lacked overall quality over the last few seasons, and the signing of Daniel James (again, a pre-Neville signing) will add quality depth to our wing, on both sides, as he can play naturally on either side. With the overall quality of our United side now, as long as Neville keeps the performances from the boys consistent, and that they fight for the United badge with all their might, we should be just fine.

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We are expected to reach the final of the UEFA Europa League, which is something again we are definitely capable of, as we won the whole thing in 2017. However, with teams such as Red Bull Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Arsenal, Wolves, AC Milan, AS Roma, and Sevilla, just to name a few, it will be an incredibly difficult and strenuous task for Neville and the boys, especially playing on Thursday nights, with us possibly having to travel all the way across Europe and back within 48 hours. But, if we are gifted with a nice group, and play to the best of our abilities, we have a serious chance of reaching the final, and even winning it. And with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Alessio Romagnoli, and David De Gea, we will be a real force in the competition, and I doubt any team will want to be tied alongside us this season.

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We are expected to reach the semi-final of the famous old FA Cup, and this is a task we are fully capable of, and this should be the least we expect from Neville and the boys. We are one of the strongest teams in England, and this expectation should be quite straightforward, as long as we don't rotate too much and take the competition seriously. In the Carabao Cup we have been given no expectations, so whatever we achieve in that competition wont affect Neville`s job come the end of the season if we don't do well in it.

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Gary Neville had a few short words to saw about the expectations that the board have given him for the upcoming 19/20 season. He stated, "I am very pleased to have been given the season expectations so early on, before July 2019 has even arrived! I think they are very achievable, and as long as my players work hard in training, stay consistent and fight for the famous badge that is of the mighty Manchester United, we should achieve all the expectations, plus more. And with the signings I have brought in, it should make it even easier than in previous seasons. We are looking very strong, and will be a force to be reckoned with".




THE LFC FAN: Some very good deals from Neville so far, and it will be interesting to see how they will improve the side, and how they gel!

JUSTICE: Bruno Fernandes was Neville`s top priority and he did so well to bring someone of his quality to United. And to get rid of 2 deadwood players is a huge boost. Hopefully Bruno Fernandes can live up to his hype train!

AN EXCLUSIVE INSIDE LOOK INTO TRAFFORD TRAINING COMPLEX!

Welcome to this exclusive inside look into our beautiful Trafford Training Complex, located near the small village of Carrington, Greater Manchester. In this nice refreshing little segment, we will go over the history of Trafford Training Complex, what you can find there, and an inside look into the very secretive training centre.

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The Trafford Training Complex(now known as AON Training complex for sponsorship reasons, and also simply known as just Carrington) was founded in the year 2000 when the United squad first moved in, but construction began in 1999. In 2002, the Academy Facility was opened for our academy players to stay and train, and in 2013, a major renovation of Trafford Training Complex was completed, costing £60 million. where a medical facility and sports science department were added, just to name a couple of additions.

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At Trafford Training Complex you can find the main building, the academy facilities, medical and sports science departments, 14 state of the art football pitches (12 of which are grass), and security of the highest level, making Trafford Training Complex the one of the most secure on Earth.
Below are pictures of the Trafford Training Complex giving you a very unique, inside look:

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(Pictures courtesy of www.FootballTrainingGrounds.com)

A club renowned for its facilities. If Neville can't get the best from his players, he certainly can't blame that!