Manchester United: The Massimiliano Allegri Question and the future of Ole Gunnar Soljskaer

Even after the shock draw by Manchester United versus Liverpool just days ago, some rumors die harder than others; Massimiliano Allegri knows this as well as anyone.

It began as a hint and a rumor, that Max Allegri was “very close” to becoming Man United boss. These concrete negotiations were to give him power in the immediate or near future, depending on the departure or sacking of current boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. With many people believing that Manchester will back Solskjaer until the end of the campaign, this would in theory, coordinate with the original plan of Massimiliano Allegri; a one year hiatus to assess his desire and position.

Reports to the contrary have sent mixed signals however; one goes so far as to say that Massimiliano Allegri has created a “deadline” after which point he will no longer consider Manchester United. Unless the job is ceded to him within a certain amount of time, “weeks” as reported, Allegri will pull out in favor of a different position; perhaps even back to Milan.

The links to a return to Milan have deteriorated however, in large part to the idea that Massimiliano Allegri does have a very real desire to manage in England and the Premier League. Allegri has since come out to try to dampen any expectation on that front as well however.

When Massimiliano Allegri stated, amongst other factors, that the “language barrier” was a very real issue in taking over an English club, it resonated less with me than perhaps with others. Perhaps 25-years-ago it was a viable excuse, but no longer.

Antonio Conte very successfully managed Chelsea, granted his English was further than Allegri’s allegedly is. Unai Emery has improved his English remarkably since he first came to England after his sacking at PSG, despite what some reports may say to the contrary. Maurizio Sarri picked up the language quickly in just one year at Chelsea as well; while I do not know the intellectual acumen of Massimiliano Allegri, I do not suspect language would arrest his ambition too greatly.

Speculators gonna’ Speculate

Despite all of the reports, positive, negative or otherwise, prognosticators are not phased in the slightest when imagining and growing a scenario. With Massimiliano Allegri, the initial interest may be his hiring but it quickly evolves into an examination of who he will bring with him from Italy (and specifically, Juventus) as well as the shape and nature of his Manchester United squad.

If Allegri were to acquire the job at Manchester United, the need to bring in players who know him is a given. While Paul Pogba already fits this mold having played for him at the Old Lady, the move seems layered in purpose and significance. If Manchester United don’t want to move Paul Pogba to a place he is more comfortable, simply bring the comfort to him at Manchester.

Bringing in Paulo Dybala fits that paradigm perfectly. He knows the system of Massimiliano Allegri intimately, has played with and is a confidant of Paul Pogba from their Juventus days as well. While Dybala has played more fluidly this year than last with Christiano Ronaldo, Maurizio Sarri would still likely use the mammoth fee garnered by him to build his team in a more Sarriball type manner.

Bringing in Mario Mandzukic again, seems a no brainer on multiple fronts. Manchester United need a true number nine desperately and Mandzukic is an exile in Turin with Sarri; Massimiliano Allegri could rescue three of his favorite players and Manchester United all by moving to Old Trafford.

What Allegri could do with the likes of Daniel James, Mario Mandzukic, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Paulo Dybala and other huge names is a wonderful thought. If his time I. Italy is any indication, those players will be put in the best positions to win and flourish; how they do is simply a byproduct of that positioning and execution.

I am not personally convinced that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the problem at Manchester United. He seems to get inconsistent effort from the majority of his squad and getting more player in that fit his scheme is important before reactionary decisions are made. That being said, Massimiliano Allegri could very well put Manchester into a better position to win with just a few further tweaks.

Allegri would have, by virtue of Pogba and the aforementioned Mandzukic, Dybala, as well as Emre Can who is expressed as another excommunicated Juventus man in search of greener pastures, a team that was fairly well acquainted with his system, demands and style of play. Integrating the rest of the talent into that, with the help of such talented players as mentioned above should be of lesser issue than what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer feels he must do. On top of that, is energizes the fan base and club with big names who most certainly fit the style that United are building for.

Massimiliano Allegri: The Only Reasonable Replacement

If Manchester United are so desperate to make such a reactionary move after almost three months of a Premier League season, I think Massimiliano Allegri is the only reasonable choice to do so. If he is not available then by no means should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be removed from his current office. His legacy as a player and caretaker manager deserve at least a full years respect, and any perspective replacement will still be available by the summer.

There is no shame in even a great and powerful club like Manchester United needing years to rebuild. The real shame is in not allowing for the development of a team organically; sacking managers with such rapidity really creates an uneasy sea of turbulence for aspiring youth to grow in the midst of. Consistency is key in all walks of life and no superhero manager can fix a mess like Manchester United in a day and a night; patience is the parent that molds consistency after all.