COMMENT: Imagine the scene, maybe 12 months from now, writes DAVE KIDD. Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag drink cappuccino together in a sidewalk cafeteria, as these select coaches usually do, and reminisce about a time when Manchester United’s shortlist was. “Did we avoid a bullet there, Eric?” Poch laughs after United’s interim manager Steve Bruce was sacked by his side in the final half of the Premier League. It’s an incredible scenario, which United undoubtedly deserves. We are told, with really good authority, that United have offered the job to Ajax coach Ten Haag, instead of Paris Saint-Germain’s gaffer Pot, because they believe the Dutchman “would fit in better with their structure”. Are you saying that Man Utd claims to have a real structure? No one who watched them collapse for Saturday’s derby defeat to Everton could have imagined it – not even anyone who watched United for most of the last nine years. But, in fact, CEO Richard Arnold does important things, such as bragging about the club’s popularity on social media. And United will soon appoint a “deputy football manager” to help “football director” John Merto and “technical director” Darren Fletcher. Then there’s Matt Judge, the head of corporate development, who is busy recruiting. Oh, and Ralph Rangnick will continue to hang in the background as a regular genius for six days a month. Maybe Ten Hag could report to Rangnick via a dashed line in the management structure. READ HERE THE ENTIRE DAVE KIDD NEWSPAPER
