Uncertainty at United, Liverpool's midfield and at the bottom

The Independent’s football newsletter [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( April 14, 2023 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( Uncertainty at United, Liverpool's midfield and at the bottom The big reason some managers remain in bottom-half jobs If there has been surprise that some clubs in the bottom half have dispensed managers and others - especially those on especially bad form - have not, it is for one distinctive reason. So many sides want firefighters or managers who at least offer an idea for the future that there isn’t actually that many to go around. The Independent has been told that the inability to find a suitable replacement has stopped at least two clubs acting. The feeling grows Glazers could stay As the [Manchester United sale]( process rumbles on, and Raine are set to invite a third round of bidding, there is a growing feeling from some figures with knowledge of the situation that the [Glazers are leaning towards staying](- with minority investment. This of course isn’t to say that it is definitive, and it would fit with strategies to try and further “competitive tension” to drive up the price. It’s just that the idea of the Glazers remaining is being given more credence than it was even a few weeks ago. The nature of the process so far, where there was a long wait for updates from the second bids, has also left some involved baffled. They are clearly trying to “extract value” but, as one industry observer put it, it has some potential to irritate bidders. It has also created some uncertainty within the club, as the budgets for the summer could drastically change. Bellingham brings Liverpool rethink The big market news of the week, conspicuously coming out in the middle of a major Champions League game, was that Liverpool are [currently not pursuing Jude Bellingham](. And this doesn’t look like one of those situations as with Alisson or Virgil van Dijk, where they will go back to it. Liverpool face too much competition, and don’t have the same strong hand. The reality is they can’t afford what Borussia Dortmund want. It currently leaves this as a straight fight between Real Madrid and Manchester City, with the Spanish champions confident for a long time. It also may not be the worst thing for Liverpool, particularly if their budget is limited. There is a growing argument that the club needs to get back to more astute long-term signings like those that characterised the early days of Jurgen Klopp. Managers need to inject new energy to stale quarters For the second successive stage this season, the Champions League first legs didn’t have the electric charge of previous seasons. At least three of the ties look like they are probably done. The coaches can’t think like that, and that is where some of the electricity might come from. [A typically sharp Thomas Tuchel told his players - amid some criticism - that they were as good as Manchester City]( in general play and that the manner of the goals were largely divorced from the way the game was going. Frank Lampard was told Chelsea of the need to “believe” and again mentioned 2012. That season was the last where the club came from two goals down in an away first leg to go through, in fairness, as they eventually bested Napoli. It’s asking a lot of this situation, though, which sums up these quarter-finals. Regulator may be sooner than thought as next steps taken [It was reported by The Independent this week]( that the independent regulator could be in place for the start of the 2024-25 season, as work has already started on the bill. One area that has not really been looked at yet, however, is what the regulator itself will look like. They will assess a number of models, but one that has already been broached is the Gambling Commission. That would be someway ironic given the [Premier League]( have just taken the decision to withdraw betting sponsorship from the front of clubs’ matchday shirts.   Top stories [A cocktail of complacency, calamity and cursed luck has left Man Utd’s season in the balance]( [Declan Rice may be a piece of Arsenal’s future but is a problem in the present](     Miguel's Dispatches An amusing scene in the media sections of Manchester City the other night. At half-time, as many there sought refuge from the awful weather in the internal working area, one notable figure was blocked from going in. It was Germany manager Hansi Flick, who didn’t have the right pass. The steward, to his credit, was adamant he wasn’t coming in. That led to many around him going “but he is the Germany manager”. Flick, to his credit, was totally unwilling to go down the “do you know who I am route” and actually told people not to do that.       QUOTE OF THE WEEK "The door is open, it's up to us whether we want to kick it open further next week." Frank Lampard with an interesting image as he refuses to give up on getting through to Champions League semi-finals   Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz In the post-war era, 10 English clubs have been relegated within a decade of winning the title. Name the clubs, the year they won the title, and the year they went down. ([You can find out the answers here](. 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