If Manchester United appoint Mauricio Pochettino, the first thing I want to see is what happens when we lose the ball. Does the nearest player go after it while everyone else watches? Or does the whole team know what to do? That’ll tell me more than anything Poch says at his unveiling.
United are 18th with one win from ten league games. Pochettino is reportedly the leading candidate if Michael Carrick goes, and he’s under contract with the United States through 2030. There’s a decision to make before there’s a deal to make.
Why I’d give him a chance
The best argument for Poch is what he built at Spurs. Four straight top-four finishes and a Champions League final tell you how far he took them. What I remember is how hard they were to play against. The forwards pressed, the midfield squeezed up behind them, and suddenly a defender who thought he had time was kicking the ball into touch. When was the last time you watched United make life that uncomfortable for someone?
Where the gamble comes in
The football that made his name takes time to coach. United need points now. Against Villa, we conceded twice inside four minutes and twice again early in the second half. If Poch comes in, I want to see how he sets this squad up on day one. Can he get the midfield closer to the defence? Can he get us through a spell of pressure without everybody dropping into our own box? I’d take an ugly 1–0 while he works on the rest.
The bigger question is for the people hiring him. What happens in January if he asks for a midfielder who can cover ground and play under pressure? Do United go and find that player, or does he spend the next six months trying to get the same job done with a squad built for somebody else?
My verdict
I’d go for Poch. He’s shown he can build a Premier League side that plays with a clear idea of what it’s doing. I’d back him to give United some of that again. The gamble is whether the club can give him the players to make it work and stick with the plan through the first bad run.
Would you give Poch the job, or is there someone you’d trust more with United in 18th?
Author: swoosh0018
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