Where now for Manchester United? Is Zidane really the man for them?

The 3-1 defeat to West Ham United this weekend made things go from bad to worse for Man United.

This came after the League Cup defeat to Championship side Derby County, imposed by Jose Mourinho's former midfield star at Chelsea, Frank Lampard.

Manchester United's fall from grace after Sir Alex Ferguson retired was inevitable. Losing a manager of his eminent skills would also be negative. However, the transition from him going has still not been resolved, despite his retirement occurring five years ago.

The blame needs to be shared in various quarters, and even Sir Alex himself must take some culpability.

However, whilst their demise and issues may be funny for opposition fans, it's in a way sad given their stature and status as a football club.

Man United is the biggest club in England, and the United Kingdom if including Scotland as the other professional structure in the country. Even before Sir Alex joined as manager, it had the highest average attendances, and the glamour of Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Matt Busby, George Best, and Denis Law. The Sir Alex tenure expanded this base, and made United not only the richest club on Earth but the most successful English team - and ahead of their deadly rivals Liverpool.

No club has a "divine right" to win anything. All victories, from routine league games to cup finals, need to be earned. However, United is a club rooted in the traditions of winning trophies, and it's a testament to how things have descended.

So what can be done to restore this great club to glory? Don't get me wrong, I'm an Arsenal fan, and their current mess is gleeful. They're also less of a rival since they like Arsenal and others are competing for the top four places - and the Champions League.

But then despite the rivalry, it is sad in some measure to see them failing.

What can be done to turn them around? Is it only about Jose Mourinho? Or Woodward/the Glazers?

JOSE MOURINHO

Despite his many detractors, I like Mourinho.

He’s a winner. He is brash, and he uses psychology as a tool amongst the best of them.

He’s one of the best managers of all-time, without question.

Is Man United too big for him? He’s managed and won with Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, and Man United, all of which are amongst the biggest clubs in the world in some measure.

But then for me, patterns don’t happen by accident.

He has fallen out with top players in most clubs he’s been at. Whether Ronaldo/Ramos at Real Madrid, Costa/Fabregas/Hazard at Chelsea, and now Pogba at Man United, this has been a critical factor in him losing jobs.

The then Chelsea MD, Mr. Emanalo, said that a “ palpable discord” had emerged between him and the players, leading to his dismissal.

Is there a reason why this is recurrent?

If so, why?

DRIVE

Ajax v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Final

Mourinho clearly is a very driven guy, and his successes and remarks over the years are a testament to this.

However, is this a double-edged sword?

He demands high standards at all times, but at Real Madrid, he crossed paths with Ronaldo and Ramos, both arguably their senior players at the time.

At Chelsea, in his second spell there, he got crossed with Costa and Hazard. Again, they were top players in the team.

And at United, there is supposedly a rift (which he denies) with Pogba. Again, the main man (amongst others) at Man United.

This is a clear pattern, and it could be that top players (or the best players at a club) don’t see his methods as sound. Or they feel undermined based on their statures in the team and game, in following his instructions.

It seems now that the writing is on the wall, and Mourinho’s time at Manchester United is numbered.

It would take a mammoth change to rectify this now.

ZIZOU

Zizou is in the frame to be the next United manager

Zinedine Zidane, or Zizou, is evidently one of the best players who has ever lived. He’s done it all – he’s played for some of the biggest clubs on Earth. He’s won the World Cup, the Champions League, the European Championships, and numerous league titles and individual awards. He’s scored great goals, and as a manager won three back to back Champions Leagues. Few managers have ever won three of them, let alone three consecutive titles.

There is a mitigating point of managing Ronaldo, Marcelo, Ramos, Kroos, Modric, Benzema, etc. is essentially a global dream team. This may seem disrespectful in some form – but nobody can deny the eminent quality of the Real Madrid side. However, it still takes a manager of nous to bring the best from them, and it was only the astronomically high expectations of Real Madrid that cost him. United’s expectations are not as crunching, albeit challenging and winning is paramount.

Zidane certainly is used to big club pressures. He also would play “sexy football”, which is a Man United tradition pre-dating Sir Alex and going back to Sir Matt Busby. Clearly, the pragmatic football under Mourinho is a negative of his tenure, at least from a fans’ perspective.

Zizou is the evident candidate, though Conte is another option. However, Conte is like Mourinho in playing pragmatic football, though he has obvious Premier League winning experience. His Chelsea team, until Pep/City last season, won the most games ever for a league title winning side in England, and he got the best from talents like Hazard.

At this point of the season, it’s unlikely Napoli would release Ancelotti, Monaco for Jardim, Atletico Madrid for Simeone, or Juve for Allegri. Arsene Wenger is available, though this won’t fly for various reasons.

Zidane also could work well with Rashford, Martial, Lingard, Lindelof, and other youngsters, given his tenure at Real Madrid as a youth coach.

Zizou is the apparent choice and could do well in the end.

5 – Zizou expectations\

ZIZOU EXPECTATIONS

So if Zizou comes in, what needs to change? Or what does he need to do? What needs to happen at the club?

- Better synergy between him and the board in transfers

Mourinho has legitimate gripes in transfer targets. The board has not got them as required, which is irksome.

Zizou needs to be treated differently, or he too will get frustrated.

- Play “sexy football”

Zizou needs to get the team playing per the United traditions if he is to endear himself readily to the fans.

- Get the best from Pogba and Sanchez

Possibly a more free-flowing style will see Pogba excel, and Sanchez to boot. Alexis did well at Arsenal since Wenger’s style was more expansive. Zizou’s philosophy is similar to his compatriot’s, so who knows, maybe Alexis would prefer things under Zizou vis a vis Jose.

Alexis may benefit from a new manager

- Get top four

If Mourinho stays, it could be 11th or 12th for United, which in any season is a travesty.

But then they could get a boost from Zizou, and maybe get top four.

Arsenal may improve compared to last season, and Tottenham is strong. So there is competition.

It’s clear though that something needs to give, and Zizou could be the man to change things.