Dear Louis,

We at the Manchester Education Committee would like to extend a belated welcome to you. We were, and are, excited by your appointment - and look forward to many entertaining and memorable years together.

However, since you have told us so much about your philosophy, we feel it necessary to tell you about our own - our club's - because what we are currently seeing on the pitch is very far detached from it.

Manchester United, first and foremost, are an attacking football team. Successful at times, unsuccessful at others, this is the one thing we demand above all else. We are, historically, win, lose or draw a team who attack with pace, style and verve. A team that, drawing at home with 5 minutes to go, will throw caution to the wind searching for the winner.

Manchester United do not play long ball football. Manchester United do not play percentage football. Manchester United do not set up to counteract another team's strengths, before focusing on our own. Manchester United certainly do not play 3 centre-backs and 2 defensive midfielders against lower league opposition.

The minimum expectation that we have for you isn't the modern fascination with a mystical 'fourth place trophy'. It's not performance based at all.

The minimum expectation we have for you is entertainment. Your job is to continue in the footsteps of Busby and Ferguson; to excite the supporters and continue upholding the attacking traditions of this club.

You said yourself, that you were surprised at the positive reception both yourself and the team got after a loss earlier this season. Manchester United supporters will accept very many things, but failure to uphold our attacking traditions is not one of them. Your predecessor learned that very quickly.

Sincerely

Manchester Education Committee