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Strachan to Man Utd?; Stop giggling...
Topic Started: Dec 3 2008, 08:04 AM (105 Views)
buckfasthero
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Had to post this if only to get Henke and Groucho's reaction :D . Seems a bit far fetched if you ask me :angel:

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Why Gordon Strachan could be the man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

WITH Sir Alex Ferguson this week suggesting that he might continue as Manchester United manager until he is 70, the great 'successor' debate remains perennially hypothetical.

From George Graham to Bryan Robson, David O'Leary to Sven-Goran Eriksson and Brian Kidd to Steve McClaren, the changing nature of the potential names in the frame to eventually replace Ferguson at Old Trafford over the past two decades simply reflect the longevity and unparalleled success of his reign.

The latest candidates are Mark Hughes, Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane, although Sunderland's recent form has, supposedly, even placed the former Manchester United captain's position in peril at the Stadium of Light.

All of the above possess great qualities, yet there is one name that is consistently overlooked despite a highly distinguished playing career, spent partly at Manchester United, as well as a managerial record of almost continual over-achievement. That name is Gordon Strachan.

Yes, supporters of Coventry City will no doubt loudly recall that they were relegated under Strachan back in 2001, but that is the one and only blot on a career in the dugout that now spans more than 12 years.

In any case, a balanced analysis of his time at Coventry would surely conclude that he was, in the main, a success. Strachan took over from Ron Atkinson during the 1996-7 season and eventually inspired one of the most unlikely final day 'great escapes'.

In the following three seasons Coventry stayed up, largely against the odds, by finishing 11th, 15th, 14th before the relegation of 2001. Coventry parted company with Strachan shortly after and, in the seven years since, have never remotely looked like returning to the Premier League under eight different managers.

In that context, it seems strange to characterise Strachan's tenure at Coventry, which involved four highly satisfactory seasons out of five, as anything other than a qualified success.

He then spent almost three years at Southampton where his achievements were, by any standards, outstanding. In his first season, he rescued a club that looked to be sinking into the Championship under Stuart Gray.

In his second season, he took a squad of largely Championship standard players to 8th in the Premier League (Southampton's highest ever finish) and then a first FA Cup final since 1976.

The following season, Southampton were fourth in the Premier League at Christmas before slipping slightly down the table before his departure for a sabbatical from football in February 2004. Southampton were relegated with virtually the same group of players in the season after he left and have not looked like returning to the Premier League since.

Strachan's decision to take a year away from football was unusual, but admirable. He spent much of it travelling the world and studying coaching methods in other sports, such as Australian Rules Football, in an effort to better himself.

At Celtic, he has duly become the first manager since Jock Stein to win three consecutive league titles and, at that time of writing, his team are seven points clear of Walter Smith's Rangers after winning their last 12 league games.

In Europe, Strachan has also taken Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League for the only two times in their history and, in the process, overseen victories over both AC Milan and Manchester United.

The more celebrated O'Neill won three Scottish league titles in five attempts and never once took Celtic beyond the group stages of the Champions League. It is also worth noting that the club's debt has effectively been wiped out under Strachan.

Put simply, for all the hype about the admittedly excellent O'Neill, Strachan has consistently achieved superior results on a more limited budget at Celtic.

He would also have more experience for a challenge like United than Hughes or Keane. Strachan spent eight years managing in the Premier League but, by moving to Scotland, has won five trophies and shown that he can compete tactically with some of the best coaches in Europe.

Most importantly, he has tasted the unique pressure that goes with managing a genuinely iconic and world-famous club with fanatical supporters. He has also proved capable of stepping into the shoes of a highly successful and revered predecessor. At 51, with the right balance of energy, hunger and experience, he should be in the absolute prime of his managerial career.

Understanding why Strachan's reputation is perhaps not comparable with Hughes, O'Neill or even Keane is simple. His sometimes prickly exchanges with the media have alienated some, while Hughes, Keane and O'Neill have all somehow been portrayed as the great protégés of either Ferguson or Brian Clough.

For Strachan, squad development has always been considerably more important than self-promotion and he is happy to cite Howard Wilkinson as his managerial mentor, even if his playing career was largely spent under Ferguson and his ability to replicate the 'hair-dryer' is also formidable.

Of course, Strachan may have no interest in leaving Celtic, while the entire football landscape may also have moved again when Ferguson does eventually depart.

However, as things stand, it would be remiss of Manchester United to narrow their thoughts to the most fashionable of candidates when the unthinkable at Old Trafford does finally unfold.


I like the bit highlighted in bold :thumbs.up:

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Why Gordon Strachan could be the man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United
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Henke
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:pmsl:

Sorry that's the best I can muster at the moment after reading that.
In every hick town in Caledonia

Across this pseudo nation

You can see the most fucked up scum that was ever shat into creation

Where a blue McEwan's lager top equals no imagination

You're hunbelievable



If you're having cash problems I feel bad for you hun
I've got 99 problems but tax ain't one
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blair7-1
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Strachan has a chance of managing Barca, Real, Man U Juventus or anyone else he wants to.






FIFA 09 is a really great game :D
I`m not biased. I don`t care who beats Rangers

It is up to us, to everyone at Celtic Park, to build up our own legends. We don’t want to live with history, to be compared with legends from the past. We must make new legends."
Jock Stein
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pye266
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Is this the new Championship Manager thread.... :pmsl:
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♣ CELTIC ♥.......... I Just Cant Get Enough !...............
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Henke
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20946712/

Whit a load of old cock. :rolleyes:
In every hick town in Caledonia

Across this pseudo nation

You can see the most fucked up scum that was ever shat into creation

Where a blue McEwan's lager top equals no imagination

You're hunbelievable



If you're having cash problems I feel bad for you hun
I've got 99 problems but tax ain't one
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