If Gareth Southgate isn’t the solution to Manchester United’s problems (and it’s widely assumed that he isn’t), why should Graham Potter be? After been associated with Thomas Tuchel and Zinedine Zidane in the last four weeks, the story now shifts back to Southgate and Potter. Not to criticise the two Englishmen, but they aren’t the big names that get fans interested. All the while, Erik ten Hag is still in command of the team, an FA Cup final is on the horizon, and no decision has been taken on his future with the club.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been looking into potential candidates for the Dutchman, who has yet to impress him. It has coincided with the INEOS investment group monitoring performance both on and off the pitch for the entire organisation.
After finishing third in the Carabao Cup last season, performances have been poor for the majority of this year, even though results have kept things afloat. Ten Hag’s position is shaky due to the lack of results in recent months, as upheaval sweeps over Old Trafford.
However, United’s future path remains undetermined. There is work to be done on the team, the infrastructure at both Carrington and the stadium, and in the boardroom. A new system is being put in place, and Ratcliffe will handle things very differently. It’s unclear what this looks like in terms of football. Many people hope that a well-known manager can fix things, but others are sceptical after seeing problems under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.
Daniel Levy had mixed results at Tottenham while attempting to capitalise on a good roster, which United does have in some areas, with ‘elite’ coaches thought ideal for ‘winning now.’ That came from a base of genuine title bids and a Champions League final, but Manchester United cannot provide those foundations.
It’s possible that they need someone to build the groundwork for future success, but that was supposed to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then Ten Hag himself. Although there may be more method to things at INEOS, the key qualities for a genuinely effective team are severely lacking, and no matter how hard they try, they cannot be adopted overnight. On the management front, it makes sense to hire for what the club wants to be, rather than what it now is. Southgate or Potter would be a significant departure from prior hires, but that isn’t always a negative thing. More importantly, will either of them work out?
Potter reportedly passed down the opportunity to take over at Ajax because it was not the perfect fit for him. The project is not said to have met his needs. He has yet to return to work after being let go by Chelsea 12 months ago. He is a patient person. His prospects have been limited, however he was rightly linked with Crystal Palace and West Ham at times this season. Despite the fact that there are other teams considering potential management changes in the summer, Potter’s name is rarely mentioned.
His value has plummeted from being the future England manager to not even being good enough for bottom-tier Premier League clubs, it appears. It feels cruel for someone who has slowly and impressively worked their career up the ranks.
When Chelsea paid £22 million for Potter and his coaching team, it appeared like they could be getting ahead of the game. He was once rumoured to be a Tottenham Hotspur candidate, as well as a prospective replacement for Jurgen Klopp and even England manager. Now he’s a reviled head coach that no one knows what to do with or how to perceive. He wasn’t the first to have their image tarnished by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime, despite entering only four months into their ownership, and he won’t be the last. If United are to examine Potter as an option, they must first determine whether they are truly better off than Chelsea were.
Ineos may recognise and recognise Potter’s skills, but so did Chelsea. The former Brighton player possessed tactical versatility, worked well with young players, and his unassuming attitude made him suitable for working inside a process-oriented approach. He also appeared to be ready for a promotion.
But when that inconceivable leap, as it was, involves becoming the public image of a world-famous football team in transition under new ownership, questions about his preparedness arise rapidly. His handling of larger egos and the media was questioned. His formerly respected coaching methods were questioned, and the qualities that made him successful were used against him.
Potter thrived at Brighton for three years, but it took him that long to make true noticeable improvement. Project managers only succeed if they are given the opportunity to fail first; even Mikel Arteta required extraordinary tolerance and was aided by the lack of supporters in stadiums during lockdown football. Will Potter get this? He’s not the type of persona who brings fans together or unifies a club. He requires that the circumstances either work in his advantage or gradually shift in his direction. Is all of this conceivable at Manchester United?
Potter will be well aware of the club’s troubles, and as a result, United may not appeal to him. This would be another huge risk for him to take. Moyes shown ten years ago how hard you can fall under pressure at Manchester United, and it wasn’t truly until his West Ham return some four years ago that he recovered from the post-Old Trafford experience, at least in the eyes of the public.
If Potter is taking his time to make an informed decision, even United’s attractiveness, Ratcliffe’s charm, the Glazers’ money, and the prospect of a team overhaul cannot make this a situation worth entering. There is simply too much going on for this to be an appropriate next step. United aren’t in a position to make themselves the appealing prospect that Potter requires, and with so many current and potential future fires on the horizon, the 48-year-old would be a weird selection for the club regardless.
If he does not think Ajax is a good fit for him, for whatever reason, Manchester United is unlikely to be much more tempting. Southgate may be a similar narrative, but that’s one to save for after the European Championships.
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