18 May 2026 11:33:56
Questions for Ed's
Why are FSG allowing Edwards and Hughes control or input over transfers and the next manager (or keeping Slot), when it seems they won't be here after 12 months?
If I rented out my house, I wouldn't allow the tenants to remodel it, knowing they'll no longer be living there
{Ed001's Note - I do not know, sorry.}
18 May 2026 12:13:04
Uuummm, cause they are under contract and doing their job. If they were not allowed to do it, why employ them....
How well they do the job is a different question.
18 May 2026 12:15:12
That's something I don't get, didn't it hinder Man U when different managers bought players for them, only to have a new manager come in and want his own players.
18 May 2026 12:31:49
This is why a team needs an identity. Ours is fast, progressive, pressing "heavy metal" football. These are the types of managers/coaches that should be hired, not boring, slow, side to side coaches. We do not have the players for that, which is why there is so much unrest.
18 May 2026 12:32:13
Yeah, but you'd want your tenants to leave the place clean, wouldn't you?
18 May 2026 12:37:25
Hughes and Edwards maybe assemble the team and just want someone to coach them.
With limited insight from coach on recruitment.
Maybe that's why they are finding it hard to get Slot replaced.
18 May 2026 12:48:16
You'd prefer no one in charge of said decisions for the next 12 months? It's a bit like saying why would a player play any matches when their contract is up in 12 months time?
The model is simple to understand, but it is being executed extremely poorly.
Your club from top to bottom has a defined style of play. Any manager you hire is aligned to this style of play. Any players recruited are suited to this style of play.
This means any transition of manager or higher ups (should be) seamless.
Again, it's not being executed well, but it doesn't mean it can't be.
When done well, you avoid exactly what Utd have experienced since Fergie left, which is all managers wanted to play a different way and recruiting players for that style, only for the next manager to need different players for his style, and then the next manager having a hybrid of players who don't suit his style.
18 May 2026 13:04:44
"Your club from top to bottom has a defined style of play. Any manager you hire is aligned to this style of play. Any players recruited are suited to this style of play."
@Change, you are correct. I also agree we are doing this wrong. For ex. at RB Leipzig, they play a high tempo, high press system, as that was implemented from the ground up under Ralf Ragnick, I think.
That could have been done when Klopp was here and in fact while he was here, that was the way it was trending from the academy up to the first team, hence, 43 youngsters made their debuts under Klopp.
Sadly, it seems people's egos have taken over and after Klopp departed, it feels like the purging of many of his players and trying to instil their guy's pathetic philosophy has led us here.
18 May 2026 13:12:34
Changing, how exactly does the current model fit the bill for aligning with a style of play when the muppet at the helm never played or coached, and brought in signings that clearly do not suit our well-defined style of play?
Utd - Carrick hasn't brought anybody in, and he's responsible for turning utter dross into title-challenging football.
He did it with a hodgepodge of players brought in under a number of different managers; surely this would be impossible to do if your theory of mismatched styles was correct?
A really good coach can get the best out of what he's got, in my opinion, and shouldn't be able to use the previous manager's shortcomings as an excuse.
18 May 2026 12:34:58
A question Ed, I think (from when I've seen your comments) you are or were under the impression if he got champions league he would be safe. I think since I seen that things have got a lot more toxic, do you think that is still feasible?
I know you've said he isn't happy here in the UK, which to me would be a clear sign that we need to think long term even IF he was doing well, which he clearly isn't.
{Ed001's Note - I can't see how FSG can ignore the toxicity. I would expect Mike Gordon to step in and deal with this. It is falling apart in front of our eyes, it needs a leader to step up and that certainly isn't that utter clown Edwards.}
18 May 2026 13:32:30
I suppose the Slot is similar to the Klopp narrative we were fed when he was hired. Can be thrown in the bin now.
18 May 2026 13:42:53
Chewy, It doesn't work if you don't have the right people in the right jobs pulling in the right direction. I thought that was the point of my post?
Michael Carrick has done a good job of correcting the failings of the previous manager, credit to him. All he has really done is put the right players in the right positions, Mainoo and Fernandes etc. and implemented a style of play that suits the players at his disposal. It's then the higher-ups' responsibility to feed whatever philosophy agreed with the right signings to continue their growth.
All I'm saying is, disruption can never be an excuse for a new manager when the operation is consistent and every decision anchors back to your club identity.
If every manager you hire has a completely different way of playing and players aren't suited to it, your club will suffer long-term.
Thomas Frank is a good example of a coach who left a well-run club in Brentford who had a defined identity. Have Brentford suffered since his departure? Absolutely not. Did he massively struggle after leaving for a poorly run club like Spurs? Absolutely.
Graham Potter is another who left a well set out identity club in Brighton and has failed since miserably.
I'm not suggesting it's the failings of the previous manager, it's the failings of the higher-ups who don't have a consistent approach to club identity.
{Ed025's Note - good post that COTG..
18 May 2026 13:35:30
Thanks Ed, appreciate it. I hope they sort it out and we get a new manager.
Probably too late to sort Hughes and Edwards for the summer, but can't see them being here too much longer.
18 May 2026 14:47:46
You're doing good work here, @Change. I fully agree. This style can work and we have seen it work with RBL, Brighton, Brentford as you said, and even at Ajax there, for decades on end.
We had a consistent style of play that Klopp was allowed to implement to the point that from the academy upwards, and the receipts are there.
Moving away from that with nothing to anywhere as tangible to replace it, was a choice from the club and the bozos Hughes and esp. Edwards.
18 May 2026 14:59:49
COTG, very valid points. I remember that after Rinus Michels left Ajax in 1971, every coach that followed him was told to use and play the "Total Football" philosophy and strategy. The club had set an identity and a style of playing that every coach had to follow to lead the club.
That's why Ajax had so much (disproportionate) success for the next 20 years, especially in the European competitions.
18 May 2026 15:22:48
Personal view on Edwards & Hughes is if they're only going to be here one more year, put them both on gardening leave and bring someone in who will be able to adequately plan for the club's long-term future.
18 May 2026 16:11:33
Changing, fair enough, mate, I agree with that, I must have misread your first comment; I thought you were hinting that Liverpool currently have a defined style under Mick & Dick and that Slot wasn't playing to it.
18 May 2026 16:26:56
ArAy, spot on. Ajax is the exact same ex. I gave re: this system working esp. in the long term.
18 May 2026 16:33:12
No worries at all, Chewy! We are in full agreement, they're making a pigs arse of things.
18 May 2026 14:41:50
Fully agree with you Ed001. At least Gordon will not put up with the continuation of this nonsense going on. I'm no insider but based purely on the past, he didn't put up with it earlier and there's no reason he will now. If he didn't put up with Edwards' "it's either me or Klopp" (I'm assuming that's what happened in the past), he's not going to be influenced with the "media darling" that Edwards was at that time. He was spoken of as a "genius" for the amounts he got for sales, and the hefty contracts he gave out (and is still doing). It's a critical time and decisions have to be made.
We fans focus mostly on wins and titles; basically what's happening on the field. A partner of the business, like Gordon, would have a more comprehensive set of concerns, especially the financial and commercial side. And these aspects will get affected, in the medium to long term, if FSG is not careful. You can't have this chaotic situation of bickering in the press and speculation over what's happening, tomorrow, next month or next year, out in the open. Damn the contracts. It's time to change direction and say "your services are no longer needed. Thank you"