Gutted would probably be a good way of describing most United fans’ feelings over Carlos Queiroz leaving the club. He was set to be the man to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, and for a whole host of reasons, he’s was very important to the club.
We have been linked to some rather high profile replacements for the Assistant Manager’s job, which I felt was crucial. To aid the transition after Ferguson leaving, we needed a good quality assistant to come in, learn the ropes, then hopefully take over from Fergie when he retires.
It won’t come as any surprise to you then to know that I am very disappointed Mike Phelan has been given the job.
Phelan has been awarded the job today with Rene Meulensteen earning a promotion from technical skills development officer to take on Phelan’s former role, and Ferguson seems happy.
“I am delighted that Mick and Rene have agreed to fill these important positions,” Ferguson said. “Mick knows Manchester United inside out, having been associated with the club for the best part of 20 years. He is a very talented and professional coach, whose ability and contribution to the club’s success has often been understated. Rene brings different ideas and experience to the role of first team coach. I believe the two will provide an excellent team to continue the club’s willingness to try new ideas and constantly drive for success in an increasingly competitive game.”
Whilst I think it is very important we have people with strong connections to the club, like Phelan has, in our back room staff, I was looking for a lot more experience in the man who took over from Queiroz. To think that our last assistant was deemed good enough to manage a nation like Portugal speaks volumes, and only highlights what Phelan is lacking.
Phelan followed Steve Bruce to United from Norwich, with Fergie forking out £750,000 for the right sided player back in 1989. He collected a few winners medals with United but left the club in 1995 when competition for places got too great for him.
He returned 6 years later though, working as a first team coach after Steve McClaren had moved on to Middlesbrough, and has spent the past 7 years working with our players. Yes, that’s great, and I am more than appreciate to have staff like that at Carrington. However, I wanted Queiroz’s replacement to be someone who could replace Fergie. It would give them a couple of years to settle in, get to know the players and the Manchester United ‘way’, before Fergie set off. There is no way Phelan is of the quality to take on the position of manager.
So, all in all, not too chuffed. You?
Yeah I was hoping for someone foreign, preferably Brazilian or Portuguese who’s had management experience, just for the whole Ronaldo, Anderson, Nani thing. Ay well, we’ll see how we go on.
I reckon we promoted Phelan because an outsider or foreign person is going to be made Manager when Fergie leaves. That new person will need a solid right-hand man who has been with the club for a while, knows everyone and everything about the club, can act as an intermediary btw the new manager and background staff, and most importantly, will not be too bitter about not getting the manager job.
I really hope Carlos would succeed SAF and maybe this stint as Portugal boss will be his work-experience. National team coaches usually don’t hang around for long with the national sides and hopefully he proves he is good enough while there and will come back and take over the reigns from SAF.
Continuity is what I think has made Manchester United so successful over the past years. We have people/former players who genuinely love the club, occupying top positions and since they always want what’s best for the club, there are hardly any dubious scandals or decisions that will compromise our teams performances. Maybe that’s why I want a person who has been successfully associated with us in the past, and out of the list, Qeuiroz looks the most qualified.
I AM REALLY WORRIED. MIKE PHELAN IS ENGLISH.
COME ON WE ALL NOW ENGLISH COACHES ARE RUBBISH AT TACTICS.
INSTEAD OF IMPROVING ON QUIEROZ WE GET FAT LAGER DRINKING ENGLISH .
NO NO NO NO NO
MARK MY WORDS UNITED WILL STRUGGLE AGAINST TEAMS LIKE LYON, MADRID, ARSENAL LIVERPOOL AND CHELSEA.
SIR AF IS QUITE RUBBISH AT TACTICS FOR EXAMPLE DID YOU SEE THE GOAL CONCEDED AGIANST NEWCASTLE.
DID YOU SEE HOW ZENIT OUTPLAYED UNITED?
GET SOMEONE ELSE. PABLO CORREA AT NANCY IS A VERY GOOD CHOICE I THINK.
lol mike phelan!! dyu rekon he mite put sum trousers on now he has been promoted?
SACK PHELAN PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
HE IS NO GOOD.
Agree with some of the comments of MO PT Senti…
We did need a man with european experience, know how, knowledge, clout esp when it comes to clge and tactical changes eg what CQ did against barca roma etc etc etc. Someone with european nouse and a wide range of languages and scouting networks too ala CQ. Who had all of that toooooooo.
English coaches are lightyears i mean absolute lightyears behind continental coaches. Is it any surprise that english coaches go on winning nowt and have to hire foreign backroom staff to succeed. I was hoping for a big name who could and would really assist SAF esp in clge games + scouting new foreign talent.
CQ IS SUCH A HUGE LOSS…PAKO would have been good…or maybe bento. but going for phelan. Im sorry yes even though he knows utd and has had loyal service and knows the club. That doesnt buy intelligence and respect from the players…that doesnt buy foreign tactical clg know how.
Im upset…i feel we ve given a top job to someone very very very underqualified and out of his depth. Hope we dont pay for it….
People underestimate what hand and how much say so and input CQ had in our recent successes
Average joe of a player..average coach at best…..CQ being good enough for the national job of portugal and what phelans clearly lacks paragraph, scott. That sums it up to a tee…
DISAPPOINTED
I don’t believe its the end of UTD, look at the 90’s, we didnt have the best of assistant mangers, it was all down to SAF, Fergie jus needs someone who know wot ther doing with club, as he can deal with what happen on the pitch. Plus its great to have someone who has some history with the club, but i still believe Carlos Qeuiroz is the best candidate to become Sir Alex Successors.
I have just come from watching the news on telly because I saw this item and decided to see what the opinions were on ROM because I am not too happy about this. Whilst I think Gabriel makes some valid points, I am with Scott the Red on this one. Mike Phelan is a very uninspiring choice. He was uninspiring and workmanlike as a player and though a loyal servant of the club (hey! who wouldn’t be? The job from heaven!), completely lacks the necessary charisma for the role of Assistant Manager. I too would rather us have appointed somebody with a view to shuffling them up the pack when SAF steps down. I would rather a recently retired top player have been given the role, or an established and well-respected No.2 with experience from the Continent. I remember groaning with disappointment everytime I saw Mike Phelan on the teamsheet, come matchday and now I feel the same about this. I think that we have missed an opportunity here to make another exciting ’signing’ and we are stuck with this most uninspiring of Assistant managers ’till Fergie steps down. I know he’s only just got his badge but I would have been buzzing if Ole had got it. Just a thought
I THINK A FRENCH ASSISTANT COACH WOULD BE BEST BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE THE MOST TACTICALLY ASTUTE AS WELL AS OPENING THE DOORS FOR BENZEMA MAYBE.
THE WAY ZENIT PASSED US OFF THE PARK WAS EMBARASSING AND DON’T TELL ME WE DIDN’T CARE
EVEN WITH RONALGO OR BERBA IN THE TEAM WOULD HAVE MADE NO DIFF.
WE SHALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AGAINST VILLAREAL BECAUSE I FEEL THATS WHEN YOU ALL WILL SEE HOW TACITCALL Y SHORT WE ARE RIGHT NOW
Instead of being disappointed we didnt get someone experienced, there is another way of looking at this appointment: it is temporary. With Ferguson going sooner rather than later the next manager will bring in his own assistant when he (whoever it may be) joins to take over from Lord Alex.
I saw the phrase “completely lacks the necessary charisma for the role of Assistant Manager”, and can’t refrain from commenting. The charisma of Steve McClaren? Carlos Quierozzzzzz? Come on, they were boring as hell. I have no clue as to how good Mike Phelan is as a coach. I do know that there is a distinct difference between filling the manager’s role, and being the assistant. How many assistants have actually been a success when promoted to manager at the same club?
I do agree that United need someone in the coaching staff who speaks Portugese, and it’s important that some senior people within the club have the knowledge and network to get hold of young players before other top clubs. But remember, we only went for Ronaldo AFTER we’d played Sporting in a meaningless friendly. It’s not like Quieroz have found every player under the sun over the last few years.
Indeed. What do I know? I can only call it as I see it
The fact is he was appointed cos he knows the ManUtd way and just to let you know SAF has recommended CQ as his successor, he’s just gonna coach Portugal for the remaining 3 1/2 years and be back when SAF decides to move on then he’l have an experienced Phelan with 20 years knowledge of ManUtd as his assistant or bring in his choice. Simple
phelan? who??? we need sum1 wiv european experience–queiroz was one of the main reasons we won the champo league last season. plus, how will we now attract young stars like nani, anderson, etc.?
Gabriel – You are most certainly correct.
EVERYONE seems to be missing the fact that:
Phelan IS CLEARLY NOT going to be our next manager IMO
As Gabriel says PHELAN is most probably bering groomed to HELP any NEW MANAGER settle in.
Either that or SAF needs an assistant NOW and will bring in a new assistant later on.
People dont get stressed SAF is NOT stpid enough to hand over the club when he leaves to an inexperienced individual.
I can see people however RIGHTLY concerned that we lack an assistant with vast experience such as Quieroz – the assistants role is much bigger than treble years with Mclaren!
HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE , ye the same people praising quieroz now, wanted his head when he was UNFAIRLY SCAPEGOATED back in 2005 and ever since we had static performances.
A house isnt built in a day
Just enjoy the season and as CARRA says “SAF IS THE MASTER!”
I don’t have a problem with Phalen taking over in that role. We’ve learned a lot from Carlos Q and Phelan worked closely with him during his time here so will surely be in a good enough position to continue the inspired way of training and learning.
If Sir Alex is happy then so am I. The Portugese speaking players who CQ helped to settle in, are now old enough to share the responsibility of helping the youngsters like Rodrigo and Da Silva’s settle into the first team.
If we can’t have CQ back, then why moan about Phelan, who else could we employ?
i don’t have a problem with me mickey at all. think about it, he obviously has a good rapport with the players a la kiddo, and he was a good assistant. he knows how united works and reckon he’ll be ok. give him a chance for gods sake. the wizard is still in charge!!
Most of you are forgetting that every time we did not have a competent ass. we have failed BIG TIME.
Get real we have paid 30 mill for berba but what happens if its ZERO trophies.
I have always thought that more important than buying this season was to get the right assistant.
I DON’T THINK SAF has really had a look for an ass. to be honest.
Think about it : INTER V MAN UTD MOURINHO V FERGIE
WHO WINS ON TACTICAL ASTUTENESS?
NOT FERGIE i am afraid.
Sorry, are you talking about the same Mourinho who lost out on the league by 8 points on the day it was won in his last season?
Most over-rated manager going.
Just can’t help but comment on a few things:
- “attract young stars like nani, anderson” : I sure hope (and believe) these players are attracted by the BIGGEST and BEST club in the world, not some assistant manager.
-”need someone in the coaching staff who speaks Portugese”: No, we don’t. If necessary, we can hire a translator. It should’nt be a prerequisite for the job to speak a certain language, even though I agree it would’nt hurt.
This is a safe choice – Meulensteen, too. Maybe even loyalty bonuses.
But they are also interim choices and it is still as clear-as-mud who is going to replace SAF. It won’t be Carlos Quieroz who has clearly lost patience with the role of prince-in-waiting. My guess is that it will be someone young and already-proven at the highest level but it sure as hell won’t be Luis Aragones !
One thing for sure, the Glazers aren’t idiots and, as they showed in their pursuit of Jon Gruden for the Tampa Bay Bucs, they will pay over-the-odds to get their man. They know that their investment is only as safe as the hands in which they place their team’s future.
mourinho is possibly overrated but look at his record against fergie?
try denying that and tell me that he does not have an upper hand on fergie?
Completlely agree with Scott, i was over the moon by Berbatov signing and all what i wanted was, Tevez on permanent and a good assistant(greedy ,i know) but now,i am little bit disappointed.
anyway let’s wait and see.
most people hated carlos in his first spell, fergie won trophies with kidd knox smith and carlos as his number 2
phelan seems a steady eddie type and he played the game at all levels, give him a chance before we write him off
why would united guarantee queziro the alex replacement role… has anyone forgot the failure he was at real. i’m sure that bobby charlton has a chief say on who becomes the assistant and he more than any of us knows the worth of those around sir alex.
further more look at the people that served as assistants to alex… did they really ever emerge from his shadow. Look if queziro does well with portugal he will be offered the united job , if he doesnt we made the right decision in not giving him the guarantee.
In relation to our current situation we are the most experienced team in europe. we are not looking at major surgery in any of the teams departments (except evds is getting old) for god sake we probably know what players would suit us. from that point of view the major considerations are currrent team development (ie getting the best out of rooney) and giggs has come out and said that phelan is a good man for the job. hopefully giggs and scholes will take over some of these roles in the future.
I remember us, the fans giving Queiroz hard time at the height of ‘United depression ‘ in 2005. Old Trafford rose as one against his ‘boring tactics’. He was blamed for everything that was bad in the club. Three years on, we hail him as the next messiah. So, my advice is simple. Trust SAF. He obviously knows what he is doing.
for fucks sake, are any of us at carrington every day? do any of us know the first thing about how good a coach phelan is, or how good his rapport is with players, or how good his tactical knowledge is? no. so why write him off straight away. and the fact some are saying he cant be good enough for the job cos he is english are having a laugh. kiddo was great for us, and mcclaren was a good #2 as well.
We should give him chance 2prove us wrong.
Fergie could be gone within 2 years, i think we all agree with that. NOw just imagine if Fergie would have left within 2 years of Carlos Queiroz’s first appoint and he then took over Fergie. I think it’s fair to say that everyone would have been bricking it at the thought of Carlos taking over the reigns at that point. It’s only over the last couple of years that United fans have appreciated what he brought to United.
My point is, i don’t think you can bring in an assistant with the notion that he will one day take over. You never know which managers are going to be available around the time Fergie retires.
Surely Rene has the European experience and he will be working with the players every day. i still feel that that assistant job and eventually the manager’s job is waiting for Ole down the line. Fergie has produced some good managers but he has always said that of all the players he has had at United Ole stands out as the one most likely to succeed at management. Hopefully it will be 2 or 3 years before fergie goes and by then carlos will come with Ole as his assistant
No I am not happy either,but as they will be thinking down the road as well…We hope Carlos takes over from SAF…….but this squad…have too many players that can transcend……any tactics used against us…………………………………………………………..For Example….RAFA….down the road….He’s good at tactics……..Even the Scousers are bemused by them………Wait till the season’s over……
I dont believe we have lost CQ and that he will replace SAF eventually. Phelen is the bridge . Regards tactics we have played enough european
football to have the knowledge within our own ranks, possibly a bigger name would of served our profile better but a lot of the hard work is put in daily by the staff getting on quietly in the back ground .CQ didnt exactly come in on a wave of support.
Job for the boys merchant, me thinks.
I dunno Phelan, but if fergie has not seen enough of him to to take the role of CQ, he wouldn’t. Like someone rightly said, are we fans always with them at the carrington training ground, definately NO so we can’t really asssess Phelans technical know how and abilities. Please people, let them do their jobs, don’t use this to cause distractions so early in the campaign.
I’m sorry but half of these comments are borderline fucking retarded! Who are we as fans to decide who can and cannot become an ASSISTANT MANAGER! We know jack shit about the game, we know fuck all compared to someone who has won 10 Premier League Trophies and 2 European Cups. If he thinks Mick Phelan is good enough for the job then HE IS good enough for the job. How can anyone, other than the players and staff inside Old Trafford pass a judgement on a guy when no-one even knows what he does or what he brings to the table, am i seeing a pattern here, yes United fans getting on someones back before giving him a fair shot! YES! Fuck half of yas probably didnt know he was a United player till he was giving the Assistants job!
What do you mean we know jack shit?
anyone who has a passion for football will know when things are right or not?
my feeling is that our general play including defensive part of our game will go down?
THATS MY GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL SEE A WEAKER UNITED THIS SEASON
I REPEAT PHELAN IS NO GOOD SACK THE RUCKSACK
If that is the case, why is it Phelans fault, with your comment “you guarantee” you have already undermined the lad before he has even started the job officially! SAF is the manager, he has the final say on tactics, i think people are influenced into thinking that with united the assistant managers job has more say than what other assistant jobs do, that could be true, i don’t know, why? Because im not part of the United squad and i don’t know what happens behind carrington! But one thing i do guarantee is that SAF would not go through with a plan if he felt it was detriment to the team, why? Because he is the MANAGER!
And what is it with the comment
“anyone who has a passion for football will know when things are right or not?”
“I REPEAT PHELAN IS NO GOOD SACK THE RUCKSACK”
That is why supporters should not have influence over a team!
Ha- yeah he needs to put some trousers on!
I think the fans want a foreign Ass manager because of the way football is, we need to dip our rods into different ponds and Phelan is not going to understand the European, African or S American markets as well as someone who comes from that neck of the woods.
Supporters also pay these guys wages, so are entilted to voice their optinions.
@MO PT SENTI : No offence, but if you have nothing better to say besides doom and gloom, then please shut the hell up. Fergie has worked with this guy for years, knows about him than you’ll ever do in your entire life. If you think United would be weaker with the squad we have just cus CQ left, then please run off and go support City, i heard they need new fans…
I WILL STILL SAY PHELAN IS NO GOOD SACK THE RUCKSACK
YOU JUST WAIT AND SEE HOW THE TEAM PLAYS THIS SEASON. CRAP
AND IF THE FANS DON’T INFLUENCE THEIR TEAM THEN WHO WILL ?
LOOK AT BARCA LAST SEASON WITHOUT HENKE TEN CATE RIJKAARD WAS NO GOOD.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE SAME ROUTE ACTUALLY. WON CL AND PL LOST ASS MANAGER THEN BUY OLD STRIKER(HENRY)/(BERBATOV).
Season has only just begun and already dooms day predictions are coming in. I actually don’t mind Phelan as assistant coach. I think he’ll do a good job. Personally, I don’t want the assistant coach to be good enough to take over Fergie. When Fergie decides to call time on his United career, I would prefer a new coach to be chosen probably even with Fergie’s contribution to that choice. Don’t get me wrong. Quieroz was a great asset to us and I’m bummed that he left but at the end of the day I think Phelan can manage with that job.
The thing about Assistant Managers is that they don’t necessarily make good managers. Case in point, Steve Mclaren. With him as our assistant we did the treble. Then he left and became a manager. His stint at boro was mediocre at best even though they did do well in the Eufa cup that one season. Then he went on to become Manager of England…I don’t even have to explain that. Brian Kidd is another example. With him as our Assistant we won the league after 24 years and we were consistently successful ala 95/96 with the whole, “you can’t win anything with kids” shit. Then he went on to management and had a forgetful stab at it.
Only time will tell if Quieroz will be successful with Portugal but I want a proven manager to take over from Fergie. Someone like Ancelotti or Lippi. Personally, I would like United to become dominant in Europe and when Fergie retires I want a manager who has a proven track record in Europe.
HAS phelan ever been approached by any other club whilst he was at united?
not by MY knowledge.
I don’t want to say its all doom but i just think that he is NOT on the same level as quieroz in terms of modern football techniques.
LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM WITHOUT A STRIKER LAST SEASON I THINK IT WAS
IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY MAINLY DUE TO QUIEROZ.
WE NEEDED SOMEONE AS INTELLIGENT AND INNOVATIVE.
MO PT SENTI – I will agree that Quieroz was an intelligent coach as far as modern football techniques are concerned however, to be honest, Quieroz was never going to stay at United for too long. When Beckham left, Quieroz went with him to Real Madrid where he didn’t exactly light the spanish league on fire. Fergie took him back in after Real sacked him because Fergie like you knew that he was a good asset to us. Though, the point I’m trying to make is that Quieroz was never going to stay in Fergie’s shadow for too long. If Fergie had to retire at the end of last season, Quieroz would’ve stayed.
You don’t personally know what Phelan is and isn’t capable of. You seem to have so little faith in Fergie and his decisions. It looks at times like you’re under the opinion that Quieroz alone was responsible for our success last season. Maybe Phelan will do a good job, maybe he won’t. Time will tell but you’ve already made up your mind that United will fail with him as assistant. All I’m saying is, let’s just give the guy a chance. Don’t just write him off.
ONLY TIME WILL TELL .
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE BALANCE BETWEEN DEFENCE AND ATTACK THIS SEASON.
WE GOT IT RIGHT AT CRUCIAL TIMES LAST SEASON SO LETS SEE HOW IT WILL WORK OUT.
BY BALANCE I MEAN LIKE AGAINST NEWCASTLE WE WERE VERY OPEN AND GUTIERREZ JUST RAN US RAGGED AT TIMES. WE SEEM VULNERABLE ON SET PIECES AS WELL.
LETS HOPE PHELAN HAS IDEAS TO SORT THIS OUT.
SO NOW WE LOST AGAINST LIVERPOOL WHO WANTS PHELAN OUT?
SHALL WE DO A NEWCASTLE AND PROTEST TO HAVE HIM SACKED?
EXTREMELY Late reply scott but I can’t take to the man. He comes across as a bit unprofessional and a bit annoying. Not a patch on CQ IMO