After the euphoria of a win at Anfield, Manchester United reverted to type under Louis van Gaal. Another goalless first half at Old Trafford was turned into another defeat. Yet again, it was speculated that this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Yet again, it appears he may have a stay of execution.
In the aftermath of the defeat to Southampton, van Gaal took off to Holland for his daughter's birthday party and gave the players two days off. It is alleged that Ed Woodward has spent the van Gaal free time canvassing players about his methods. Not a good sign, yet it is now thought he will be given the opportunity to at least see things through to the summer.
Giggs may only want a permanent position
It is now almost a given that van Gaal will not get to see out the three-year contract he signed in 2014. The issue that Woodward has is how to manage the change. If he was to jettison van Gaal now, he would have to turn to Ryan Giggs once again, and that presents a problem to begin with. Whilst Giggs would relish the opportunity to try and inject some stardust back into United's play, whether he gets results or not, he would do so with an eye to the future and building for the future. In a nutshell, he would not want to relinquish the reigns in the summer.
The four games he had in charge in the wake of the David Moyes sacking were a good experience, and he was appreciative of the fact that United probably needed more experience at the time to turn their fortunes around. Learning from van Gaal was also a good opportunity. Things are different now.
He still only has the four games in charge as a manager in his own right, but he could well have been ready even in 2014. The fact that a hugely experienced manager has come in and made a relative hash of everything, means that he may well feel he is better placed than anyone to take on the monumental task of getting United back to where they were in terms of style as well as results and trophies.
Any experience is good experience, and despite van Gaal's mainly awful tenure to date, he would also have seen the good and the bad. Woodward seems to feel that Giggs is ready also, but there is one thing that is preventing him from putting that plan in motion. Or rather one man. Pep Guardiola. Although it is widely assumed that Guardiola to City is a done deal, the Daily Mail are reporting that Woodward has not given up hope of luring Guardiola to Old Trafford.
It is a risky approach that could pay massive dividends, or have dire consequences. United fans would be loathed to hear that van Gaal will be overseeing United from now to the end of the season, because asides from the fact that it is likely to mean seeing more atrocious performances, the season may end in disaster.
An FA Cup defeat to Derby County is not out of the question, and that would indicate that the Europa League is a pipe dream. The Champions League places already look beyond United. Van Gaal is a fighter, and he may yet steer United to some form of success between now and the end of the season, but there would be very few people confident of that right now. So if Woodward is overlooking Giggs in pursuit of Guardiola, then it is some gamble. Regardless of how that affects United's own season, the chances of getting Guardiola are slim when you consider the competition.
City and Chelsea safer options for Pep
Manchester City are in pole position, having tailored their operation towards him for some time. They have huge resources, excellent facilities, an enviable youth set up and have enjoyed a lot of recent success. However, Chelsea would also be an attractive proposition given their location and indeed a similar profile to that of City.
As Guardiola has stated clearly he wants to manage in England, you would not really see United as being able to offer anything that either of their big rivals could. Apart from history. And the small matter of being one of, if not the most iconic football clubs in the world. This romantic notion may well be the only card United hold, and yet the current plight United find themselves in from the playing side may well appeal to Guardiola on a professional basis.
For all the trophies he has won, for all the plaudits he has received, there is always the odd snide comment that he has done so where failure was impossible. There is always the claim that winning at Barcelona or Bayern Munich is all well and good, but could you take West Bromwich Albion to the Champions League? Could you save Crystal Palace from relegation when all seems lost? The answer should always be with a question, why should he have to?
In the same way, the question is asked of Lionel Messi, "Could he do it on a wet and windy Tuesday night at Stoke?", what makes these questions relevant? As a footballer or a manager, you strive to be the best and play for or manage the best and there is no reason for them to try and prove themselves anywhere other than at the highest level with the highest profile clubs. If you achieve greatness in doing so, why should your ability be called into question?
Guardiola detractors unfair
Not only is this stigma unfair that you can only be judged when you have achieved something with a lower level team, it is also a myth in Guardiola's case. It seems widely accepted that when Guardiola took over at the Camp Nou, they were a superpower. They weren't. In 2005-06, Frank Rijkaard led the Catalans to a La Liga and Champions League double but went without a trophy for two seasons before making way for Guardiola. Rijkaard had Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andreas Iniesta at his disposal but could not replicate his previous success despite this.
Guardiola managed to not only managed to achieve success, but if it weren't for a footballing miracle in 2012 when Chelsea knocked Barca out of the Champions League semi-final, then he would have almost won everything available. The players were of the highest standard, but he made them almost invincible. At Bayern he took over a team that won the treble, and whilst Europe has eluded him, domestically they have torn it up. He hasn't left Bayern yet, so the Champions League may yet be secured during his time in Bavaria.
Still, whilst you can't see Guardiola rocking up at Carrow Road, or anywhere similar, anytime soon he is only human and he may well take the criticism on board. He may well want a challenge. If that is the case, then despite Chelsea's current lowly position, the biggest challenge of all in England lies in the postcode district of M16.
United are a club in freefall, both on and off the pitch - sponsorship deals aside. He would be given Carte Blanch to reform the club in every aspect he sees fit. The only downside to the prospect is he only does short term, and if he needed a break from the task of keeping Barcelona at the top when he was managing a machine, then could he endure the uncompromising pressure of trying to revive Manchester United? The notion that Guardiola can take United, a club he has never hidden his admiration for, back to the pinnacle of English football is something he may well see as a beautiful proposition and a chance to silence the very last doubter.