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Manchester United are at crisis point. From briefly sitting at the top of the Premier League a month ago to dropping out of the top four and being knocked out of the Champions League.

The vultures are circling Old Trafford in anticipation that manager Louis van Gaal will be their next big meal. There is radio silence at the club.

But whether Van Gaal is in a precarious position or not as viewed from the boardroom there is no doubt the defeat by Norwich City last Saturday at Old Trafford saw the Reds top brass reach a crossroads.

It is a sack him or back moment.

American owners the Glazers and executive vice chairman Ed Woodward now have to weigh up whether to stick with their 2014 appointment or look elsewhere.

The good money is on Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola joining neighbours City in the summer having announced he will leave the Allianz Arena with Carlo Ancelotti named as his replacement it leaves United with three possible options.

Jose Mourinho

Pros

A CV to die for. Even Louis van Gaal admitted on learning of Mourinho's sacking last week at Chelsea that he is, “a fantastic manager with a record that nobody has in this football world.” Once Sir Alex Ferguson retired the self-proclaimed Special One became numero uno in the European trophy count.

Has never failed wherever he has been and when you are facing your third year without silverware, unthinkable for the Premier League era United, then the idea of a quick fix virtual guarantee that that modern blemish can be almost guaranteed to be righted is a big magnet for the United hierarchy who could be looking at having two failed appointments in quick succession against their football judgement.

Cons

Mourinho faced his first real serious crisis of his 15 year managerial career and it blew up in his face spectacularly as the 2015 Premier League title winners disintegrated into a shambolic warring squad on the brink of the drop zone. He quickly lost a dressing room that previously was said to adore him.

The 53-year-old has charisma there is no doubt about that but would come with baggage in terms of some outlandish headline seeking outbursts and acts. Even for a club who dealt at times with some of Sir Alex Ferguson's public blasts and actions it is believed that certainly in the past his character did not sit well at boardroom level.

And then there is footballing style. United fans are at war with Van Gaal over his tactics and style but Mourinho's sides have often been labelled methodical and boring even though he has had some of the world's best at his disposal.

And for a club who set great store by their tradition of producing home produced players that has never been part of Mourinho's work.

Ryan Giggs

Pros

Has been part of the fabric of United for 28 years. The club's most decorated player, number one appearance maker and was at the forefront of the golden era. He know what is expected of a Manchester United manager and knows what pushes the fans buttons. As a Class of '92 member Giggs also buys in completely, and to steal a City buzzword, the 'Holistic' notion that the job is not simply first team focused but is a task that embraces every level of the club's playing resources.

It might be a romantic idea to promote the 42-year-old but, judging by his welcome in April 2014 as interim boss following the sacking of David Moyes, the majority of fans support the idea and would be behind him 100 per cent.

United would almost certainly lose him to another club if he were to be overlooked on this occasion.

Cons

The Welshman has no significant managerial experience apart from his four-match caretaker stint after Moyes. United have not appointed a new manager from within with no experience as a boss since Wilf McGuinness took over from Sir Matt Busby in 1970 and that didn't work out.

(Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)

Louis van Gaal

Pros

The Dutchman has conducted a deep-rooted clear out of the squad he inherited and it was an action favoured by the bulk of United's support and much needed. Having been handed £250m to spend in his 18-month reign to juggle imports and exports and come up with a successful formula was tough and he did stabilise the Reds after the chaos of Moyes' era. Up to the last month you could argue he had done everything that had been asked of him and if you can get your head around recent form being a blip then finishing a major rebuilding job you've started instead going back to square one might be a less dramatic option.

Cons

Van Gaal himself is even beginning to sound resigned to his fate. There has been no fist-pumping rallying calls in the last week at any of his press conferences that suggest the Dutchman is up for the fight. 'Losing the dressing room' is a situation that is hard to gauge and it is difficult to judge now whether player's subdued performances are down to giving up on LVG or simply a reflection of a side lacking any confidence and self belief. Either scenario that is down to the manager and when either is the case or both then the road back is too long for United to stomach.

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