Neilson

[offshore_arab83]

Seems that there's no real sense of hurt/loss to me.

another poster of old returns, hello mate agree on all points especially the last point!

[BudMill90]

Tom English:

'Neilson not irreplaceable for United'

The change of tactic was as unexpected as it was dramatic. United fans will be angered by all of this, but not many, if any, will see Neilson as irreplaceable. It's the disruption and the concern of making a bad call on the next manager that will cause them angst rather than the loss of Neilson himself.

They don't see him as irreplaceable. There's only one person at Tannadice who holds that mantle and that is Lawrence Shankland. You wouldn't have to travel all that far into a hotbed of United fans to find folk who will tell you that the striker, and not the manager, is the reason they won the Championship at such a canter.

And the stats are compelling. Twenty-four league goals out of a club total of 52 and the decisive goal in nine games amounting to 27 points, Shankland was the difference between a title procession and a title struggle.

The fact that he scored so often for a manager who was regularly criticised by his own supporters for being too negative in his tactics is a testament to Shankland's fantastic predatory instincts. On fairly moderate service he remained a lethal weapon.

United can see a future after Neilson so long as they get the next appointment right - or Wright. The former St Johnstone manager has been mentioned widely as a possible replacement.

There's a lot of uncertainty around that for now, but one absolute truth is that had it been Shankland departing on Sunday you'd have seen an altogether different response, a mixture of tears and tantrums. Neilson's exit didn't really evoke that kind of emotion among the United supporters.

[GUNBOAT]

Tom English:

'Neilson not irreplaceable for United'

The change of tactic was as unexpected as it was dramatic. United fans will be angered by all of this, but not many, if any, will see Neilson as irreplaceable. It's the disruption and the concern of making a bad call on the next manager that will cause them angst rather than the loss of Neilson himself.

They don't see him as irreplaceable. There's only one person at Tannadice who holds that mantle and that is Lawrence Shankland. You wouldn't have to travel all that far into a hotbed of United fans to find folk who will tell you that the striker, and not the manager, is the reason they won the Championship at such a canter.

And the stats are compelling. Twenty-four league goals out of a club total of 52 and the decisive goal in nine games amounting to 27 points, Shankland was the difference between a title procession and a title struggle.

The fact that he scored so often for a manager who was regularly criticised by his own supporters for being too negative in his tactics is a testament to Shankland's fantastic predatory instincts. On fairly moderate service he remained a lethal weapon.

United can see a future after Neilson so long as they get the next appointment right - or Wright. The former St Johnstone manager has been mentioned widely as a possible replacement.

There's a lot of uncertainty around that for now, but one absolute truth is that had it been Shankland departing on Sunday you'd have seen an altogether different response, a mixture of tears and tantrums. Neilson's exit didn't really evoke that kind of emotion among the United supporters.

Spot on as usual from Tom,the two most common things that happen with your manager is A(most likely)you sack him and owe him a shed load of cash or B a club comes in and pays you for his services.

I much prefer B especially when your manager hardly pulled up any trees last season,i was gutted when Levein left but there is very little sense of loss with Neilson going and that is the 100% truth of how i feel.

The obvious worry is sometimes its better the devil you know as any new appointment is fraught with risk unless its Pep or Klopp coming in.

[Orjan11]

I think Neilson is one of these guys who is always looking for a better job, - more stature. He walked out already on Hearts for a better job with MK Dons - but was sacked there. United hired him when he was unemployed; now he can't turn down a club of Hearts stature. Will a bigger club than Hearts say Rangers tempt him? It seems loyalty is a difficult trait for Neilson.

[GUNBOAT]

I think Neilson is one of these guys who is always looking for a better job, - more stature. He walked out already on Hearts for a better job with MK Dons - but was sacked there. United hired him when he was unemployed; now he can't turn down a club of Hearts stature. Will a bigger club than Hearts say Rangers tempt him? It seems loyalty is a difficult trait for Neilson.

I think Hearts is as big as it gets for him and they will sack him before his contract is up.There is no bitterness in my post that is truthfully what i think will happen.

[Jim_Jam]

I think Hearts is as big as it gets for him and they will sack him before his contract is up.There is no bitterness in my post that is truthfully what i think will happen.

I like this.

[offshore_arab83]

Tom English:

'Neilson not irreplaceable for United'

The change of tactic was as unexpected as it was dramatic. United fans will be angered by all of this, but not many, if any, will see Neilson as irreplaceable. It's the disruption and the concern of making a bad call on the next manager that will cause them angst rather than the loss of Neilson himself.

They don't see him as irreplaceable. There's only one person at Tannadice who holds that mantle and that is Lawrence Shankland. You wouldn't have to travel all that far into a hotbed of United fans to find folk who will tell you that the striker, and not the manager, is the reason they won the Championship at such a canter.

And the stats are compelling. Twenty-four league goals out of a club total of 52 and the decisive goal in nine games amounting to 27 points, Shankland was the difference between a title procession and a title struggle.

The fact that he scored so often for a manager who was regularly criticised by his own supporters for being too negative in his tactics is a testament to Shankland's fantastic predatory instincts. On fairly moderate service he remained a lethal weapon.

United can see a future after Neilson so long as they get the next appointment right - or Wright. The former St Johnstone manager has been mentioned widely as a possible replacement.

There's a lot of uncertainty around that for now, but one absolute truth is that had it been Shankland departing on Sunday you'd have seen an altogether different response, a mixture of tears and tantrums. Neilson's exit didn't really evoke that kind of emotion among the United supporters.

best thing i've read on the subject

[Shedboy1971]

Tom English is an excellent journalist - again read that and he is spot on

[arab777]

Tom English is an excellent journalist - again read that and he is spot on

He is absolutely spot on that with that article but to be frank he has been terrible over the last few months on the end of season dispute. He has totally taken the side of the Rangers/ Gardiner/ Budge axis narrative and his coverage on it has been extremely blinkered.

[stokearab]

Good article from Tom English, he's obviously been reading UnitedMad.

What surprises me about this is none of us saw it coming. He's a Jambo, Stendal on the way out, yet I never saw it coming. This is likely due to all his comments about building something with us, and mentioning how great the fans are at every opportunity.

No doubt a good man manager as the players seemed to like playing for him, but never a coach. As many have said, we can do better. The problem is the risk of getting the choice wrong and not doing better.

I actually think the timing is ok. It's not ideal but the club framework for next season is in place and as long as the appointment isn't strung out there will be time to sign players.

As to who would be my choice. From the names mentioned so far I'm a bit unexcited.
I would say though no 3 salaries needed.
Coach and assistant. It's all you need if they're any good.