The definition of madness they say, is doing the same things over and over again and expecting a different outcome - welcome to Manchester United.
How it will be any different this time around is anyone’s guess as United seek their seventh permanent manager in less than 13 years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
Darren Fletcher was the fifth temporary appointment with all but one - Ralf Rangnick - of them being former Old Trafford stars. The ex-Scotland star and current U18s manager was viewed as a safe pair of hands as United navigate yet another huge recruitment failure.
Now, the club’s hierarchy are deliberate on who should lead the club next season after the interim appointment of Michael Carrick.
Ratcliffe Becoming a Laughing Stock at United
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
But after making three major mistakes in less than two years in control of the football side of Manchester United, partial owner Sir Jim Ratcfliffe is fast becoming a laughing stock.
His next move in finding the right man will either break a depressing cycle started by former CEO Ed Woodward or condemn United to more years of stumbling along as they attempt to find a permanent way out of chaos, crisis and underachievement.
Yet many weary fans have little confidence that Ratcliffe will finally get it right, and who can blame them?
They’ve seen Ratcliffe dither over sacking Erik ten Hag, hire a Director of Football in Dan Ashworth who lasted just weeks before leaving then oversee the arrival of a manager in Ruben Amorim who had a rigid tactical philosophy unsuited to United or the Premier League.
That ultimately proved his undoing and now United are back at square one almost thirteen years after Ferguson helped David Moyes into the hot seat.
Moyes, it’s been pointed out, was the first of a procession of managers incompatible with the fundamental ethos of Manchester United’s attack-minded, winger-focused, go-for-broke, academy-led DNA.
Managers that followed - Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ten Hag - all had off-centre styles that weren’t an accurate fit.
Amorim, to be fair, liked attacking adventure yet only if it was via a niche 3-4-3 system that was easy to read and never had the opposition guessing.
Now the search starts again but is there a manager out there who really fits the bill?
Maybe PSG boss Luis Enrique goes close with his Barcelona background, so too current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti and even Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany despite his obvious Manchester City links.
Those aside, the list of potential candidates isn’t a long one. Oliver Glasner is a popular bookies' choice but could he handle the heat at Old Trafford?
United have tried them all since Fergie - mavericks, authoritarian rulers, deep thinking tacticians and young up and comers like Amorim.
No-one’s found the magic formula so far. And, whisper it quietly, maybe for the next decade or more they never will.
Carrick Urged to Include Mainoo by Man United Chiefs
Manchester United assistant coach Michael Carrick before facing Southampton.
The prospect of losing Kobbie Mainoo was a contributing factor in the decision to move Ruben Amorim out of Old Trafford.
Having already seen Alejandro Garnacho join Chelsea after a public fall-out with Amorim, United weren’t prepared to lose another high-value talent in midfielder Mainoo.
Mainoo’s plight has been on the minds of both Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada in recent weeks.
And it’s emerged the pair - backed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and endorsed by Sir Alex Ferguson - were behind the decision to block their England star from leaving both in the summer and in the current window despite some moderate pressure from the players’ camp.
Michael Carrick has been urged to include Mainoo after his appointment until the end of the season.
Shea Lacey 'Born to Play for United'
shea lacey-1
Shea Lacey has emerged as the perfect understudy to Amad Diallo.
And the 18-year-old Liverpool-born star will be given every chance to forge a major career at Old Trafford with coaches at the club believing he possesses huge promise and Phil Foden-style potential.
But good as Lacey could become after a sparkling cameo in the 2-2 draw at Burnley, many inside Old Trafford believe 15-year-old attacker JJ Gabriel is the generational talent who could become a real United global superstar.
And the arrival of Gabriel’s academy boss Darren Fletcher as interim senior boss had many United fans dreaming of a first glimpse of the teenager in the FA Cup third round tie against Brighton. But it didn't happen.
Nevertheless, United are keen to give Gabriel a taste of the big time after spectacular success with the club’s U18s. But, as Sir Alex Ferguson did with Ryan Giggs in the early days of his career, United are being cautious with Gabriel even though the clamour for him to be unleashed is growing by the day.
Meanwhile, insiders say Lacey handled the Burnley game as if he was “born” to playing for United, showing nerves of steel and carrying out his tactical orders impressively.
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