26/27 football thread

[SuperBacon]

The break in full swing! Obviously once you get past 11, it gets a bit silly but still a fun read: https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2026/nov/10/ultimate-1-50-the-male-footballers-best-associated-with-each-squad-number

Is Jota the best number 20 ever? Well no. 

 

[Ironic Indie Lad]

after weeks of being linked with Nagelsmann, Howe and Conte, it appears Man United are hiring....Pochettino!

[SuperBacon]

2 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said:

after weeks of being linked with Nagelsmann, Howe and Conte, it appears Man United are hiring....Pochettino!

This only works if Man United have the patience to let it work, which we all know it won't, so it's a pointless appointment like the rest isn't it really?

Having said that, if he would be given time, can shed the absolute dross in the squad (go and look at the starting 11 for his first ever Spurs game) have youth coming through and there are decent Argentininan steak restaurants in Manchester, it could be a very good appointment, especially if that stadium is being built and he's being asked to work off a limited budget.

This man got to a Champions League final with a midfield of Winks and Sissoko, and turned Danny Rose into the best left back in the country. He's a miracle worker.

 

[Ironic Indie Lad]

2 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

This only works if Man United have the patience to let it work, which we all know it won't, so it's a pointless appointment like the rest isn't it really?

Having said that, if he would be given time, can shed the absolute dross in the squad (go and look at the starting 11 for his first ever Spurs game) have youth coming through and there are decent Argentininan steak restaurants in Manchester, it could be a very good appointment, especially if that stadium is being built and he's being asked to work off a limited budget.

This man got to a Champions League final with a midfield of Winks and Sissoko, and turned Danny Rose into the best left back in the country. He's a miracle worker.

 

My immediate thought was that this could be great for developing the likes of Shea Lacey.

He would still be coming into a team with no centre forward and serious, serious issues with the backline though. If you look at all of United's defenders this season, many have had to play out of position and many have more or less chucked one into their own net. 

[Jazzy G]

6 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

and there are decent Argentininan steak restaurants in Manchester

He might have to hold his nose and go to Bem Brasil if they're still open. 

[Devon Malcolm]

If they do bring him in I'd be willing to put a tenner on him being gone by the end of the season. He'd be a miracle worker if he can get that squad playing his way and being able to work with Wilcox and Berrada, and Ratcliffe for that matter. Amazed they're not going with a yes man like Eddie Howe.

[SuperBacon]

8 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

Amazed they're not going with a yes man like Eddie Howe.

The thing is, Poch is a yes man, just a different type. He accepted Levys* bullshit for years without truly kicking up a fuss, so he'd probably just fall line when told he needs to turn Dalot and Mazrouai in to world beaters. 

Also he used to visit Luke Shaw to stop him eating pizzas, so he's probably the right man for the job.

*it's amazing they worked together for so long because, in the nicest possible way, Poch is a massive weirdo. The Guillame Balague book on him is fascinating. 

[Arch Stanton]

9 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

Amazed they're not going with a yes man like Eddie Howe.

Like almost all United fans, I have lost all faith that the directors have any sort of a clue as to what they're doing, or any coherent strategy for improving the squad and helping the club to return to the top. It's all just buzzwords and bluster, with no meaningful action to back it up..."Youth, Courage, Success". Having said that, I do feel that they are not totally deaf to fan sentiment. I think they know that United fans have absolutely zero appetite for Eddie Howe. Reaction to his appointment would be absolutely toxic, online and in the ground. That's aside from the fact that it was reported that they booted Dan Ashworth out on his arse for daring to put Howe's name forward when Ten Hag was sacked (amongst other disagreements). Whether there is any truth to that story or not, the optics would be absolutely terrible if they were to go for him now.