There are some tasks, perhaps in life but most definitely in sport, which, to those taking them on are an absolute hiding to nothing.
Replacing Alex Ferguson or becoming Manchester United manager at any stage while the great man is still on this big old ball will probably take some trumping in terms of topping any such list.
Now, if, as we are led to believe, the whiskey-nosed auld Scot picked David Moyes as his anointed successor, you’d have to wonder on what grounds that decision was arrived at other than looking after one of his own.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very decent operator in his own bracket. Has worked wonders at Preston North End and continues to do so with Everton, second time around now. And, in fairness to him, he did as good a job as anybody could at as West Ham as anybody could because I reckon Our Lord himself would struggle to do as he wished.
Anyway, whatever about appointing Moyes – or indeed Louis Van Gaal – whoever came up with the idea of sacking Jose Mourinho and/or Ole, and replacing those two with idiots like Ralf Ragnik and Ruben Amorim were utterly clueless.
In fairness to Mourinho, Van Gaal and even the curios character that is Erik ten Hag, all of whom had guided the Old Trafford club to trophies immediately prior to their dismissals.
Amidst all the managerial chaos which has dogged those who were once Newton Heath, what has become clear is that former players have tended to fare better in the home dugout than those brought in from outside.
Mike Phelan, Ryan Giggs, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar, Darren Fletcher and now Michael Carrick twice.
All of which makes some of the dross spewing out of other former stars – particularly Gary Neville and Paul Scholes – all the more odious.
Now, when the extremely likeable Patrice Evra launched a passionate defence of Carrick and the club in the wake of the Newcastle defeat, he included Roy Keane on his list for admonishment. On that score, I’d disagree.
For two reasons. One, I love the guy and if I ever got to meet him, I’d go to my grave a happy man.
Secondly, whereas Roy has managed at club and international level to a very decent degree, you’d fit the combined management ‘careers’ of Neville and Scholes on the same postage stamp!
Was Gary in Valencia long enough to sort the rent of an apartment? Paul was gone out of Oldham that quick his family probably didn’t even miss him from around the dinner table!
These guys that are quick enough to mount the propaganda horse need to have the reins thrown around their neck and see how well they gallop!
By the evidence of Neville and Scholes, not great. The Carrick/Steve Holland/Jonny Evans tri axle may yet come under more sustained pressure, but for now they’re doing a hell of a lot better than some of those who went before them.
Back off and let them get on with it.
Leave a Reply