Solskjaer

The way this is covered by the Norwegian media right now is hilarious! Last reports are that an unknown third person got on the plane before it took off, and all they could get was a picture of the foot of the person boarding the plane. People are going crazy with speculation, what a circus.
They will even cover it on Dagsnytt 18 today!
 
Villa will not lose any of their best players.

Albrighton, Given, Bent, Warnock, Agbonlahor, Nzogbia, Jenas will all still be there next season. Ole just needs a few nice signings to complement them.

If Ole is any sort of decent manager he'll do a much better job than McLeish.

Can you guarantee that? I agree that they'll probably keep most of their better players, but it can't be guaranteed that they will, and with the exception of a couple that list of better players isn't overly impressive to be honest.

The job is a poisoned chalice. He may bring some improvement in his first season by taking them to about 11th/12th, but fans will expect further progression after that and I don't see how he'll be able to bring it. They're skint remember, so I don't know where these new signings are going to come from.
 
The job is a poisoned chalice. He may bring some improvement in his first season by taking them to about 11th/12th, but fans will expect further progression after that and I don't see how he'll be able to bring it. They're skint remember, so I don't know where these new signings are going to come from.

I think you are massively overestimating the fans' expectations.

Also bear in mind that quite a few of the high earning MON signings are going to have been moved on over the last 2-3 years so I expect their finances to start looking better after this Summer (having Ashley & Luke Young, Barry, Milner, Knight, Shorey, Sidwell, Reo Coker, Beye, Davies, Downing, Gardner and likely Makoun and Heskey off the books).

It seems like Villa are taking the sensible decision of getting their house in order and investing in youth, supplementing them with sustainable signings. I think that's a great model to work with and one that will stand him in great stead.
 
Ok, so big things have happened since I went out today. Apparently, Aker, the company that basically owned Molde Football, have stopped all their economic support to Molde FK because of the actions Ole took today. In a press statement, they said that they asked Ole three questions about his plans; If he intended to leave during this season, if he intended to take some of the staff with him and if he intended to take any of the players with him in the long term. According to their statement, he didn't answer at all, before he went to Birmingham. So, basically, Ole has fecked the club over by getting on that plane today. This could be very dramatic for Moldes future as a football club. Wow, just wow.
 
Well, you could say so. But, if you think about all the money he has spent on this club, which is a net loss to him personally and his company, it's not too much to ask that the manager answers three simple questions in a situation like this. But, it seems like a bit of an over reaction. I don't know what to say right now, I'm just stunned by this whole situation.
 
Also, who knows what will be Ole's reaction to this? It could mean that he leaves the club earlier than he first intended. If he leaves now, and the money leaves, then I can't see anything but darkness in the future of the club.
 
Also, who knows what will be Ole's reaction to this? It could mean that he leaves the club earlier than he first intended. If he leaves now, and the money leaves, then I can't see anything but darkness in the future of the club.
Surely there must be something more to this? Very strange behaviour from OGS, and very brutal reaction from Røkke.
Indeed.
 
Maybe OGS didn't answer those questions because he didn't know? How can he possibly say that he's leaving before he's even spoken to the people at Villa - he can only answer that when there's actually a decision to make.
 
Wow. Owner sounds a bit of a nutter. Ole probably still doesn't even know the answers to these questions. If anything childishness like this is likely to hasten Ole's exit.
 
Røkke is not really a nutter. He's from Molde and loves the club, and he's one of the most famous and well respected (eh, maybe not?) investors in Norway. However, it's the same guy who bought Wimbledon (together with Gjelsten) and brought the legendary Egil Olsen in to manage them.
 
For all of you who don't really know who Røkke is: He's the man that made sure Ole's transfer to United went through, when it seemed to collapse. Took him in his private jet and flew him to Manchester.
 
How could he know if he intended to leave, take staff or players before he's even spoke to Villa?

He couldn't, but he could give them an answer. At least he could have said that he was interested in the opportunity, and wanted to have talks with them to see if it was something he wanted to do. Solskjær's comments today, makes it seem like he only went there to show respect to Aston Villa, and that it was only informal talks, not negotiations. He could've just said that to the owner, and this whole situation would most likely be avoided. I guess any answer at all would do, really, so why ignore their questions?
 
For all of you who don't really know who Røkke is: He's the man that made sure Ole's transfer to United went through, when it seemed to collapse. Took him in his private jet and flew him to Manchester.

Well then it gets weird. Perhaps they had some sort of agreement that Ole has gone back on. Eventhough Ole doesn't sound like that kind of an individual.

But to pull financial support from the club he loves because of one individual is a bit extreme. Id say its just a bit of brinkmanship.
 
Well then it gets weird. Perhaps they had some sort of agreement that Ole has gone back on. Eventhough Ole doesn't sound like that kind of an individual.

But to pull financial support from the club he loves because of one individual is a bit extreme. Id say its just a bit of brinkmanship.

The whole situation is absurd, really. Don't know what to think.
 
Sounds like hes throwing his toys out the pram and trying to stop Solskjaer leaving by threatening to ruin the club he loves.

Sounds like blackmail to me.
 
They should only let him manage for the last 10 minutes of each game.

Fact is if they can get th brain of Ole for just last 10 mins of the game, chances are it's enough to win them big time. Why not? :)
 
Sounds like hes throwing his toys out the pram and trying to stop Solskjaer leaving by threatening to ruin the club he loves.

Sounds like blackmail to me.

Exactly! Anyone on here who thinks Ole has been improper (for getting on the plane, or not answering questions posed to him, or commenting on the seriousness of the talk etc), should take a step back and look at the whole situation. Ole has a track record of being a honest and forthright person. How can one expect him to foresee some nutty to blackmail him to such an extent. This is all new to him and I am sure he took Molde to heart when it comes to the well being of the club. But he shouldn't hinder himself of advancing in his managing career just because he's being blackmailed. That said I have a feeling Ole is too nice a person to simple focusing on his own career. It's tough decision for him. I want the bet outcome for him and the club!! Lets hope...
 
Sounds like hes throwing his toys out the pram and trying to stop Solskjaer leaving by threatening to ruin the club he loves.

Sounds like blackmail to me.

Ridiculous too when you think about it from a business perspective.

It's understandable he doesn't want him to leave but Ole was always bound to leave in a year or two. The club is still set up well for another manager to come in and some big names could be tempted by Champions League football and a talented squad. If that talent was to be lured away by Villa it would be money for the new manager to spend rebuilding.
 
Wait, so the questions were posed to OGS through Tarje Nordstrand Jacobsen, and the same man gave him permission to speak to Villa?
 
He couldn't, but he could give them an answer. At least he could have said that he was interested in the opportunity, and wanted to have talks with them to see if it was something he wanted to do. Solskjær's comments today, makes it seem like he only went there to show respect to Aston Villa, and that it was only informal talks, not negotiations. He could've just said that to the owner, and this whole situation would most likely be avoided. I guess any answer at all would do, really, so why ignore their questions?

Is there any reason why these 2 cant reach a resolution? Maybe the ship will steady in the next few days.
 
OGS has spoken. He says he regrets nothing, that he spoke to Røkke about Villa's interest on Monday, and that the club gave him permission to speak with Villa and made flight arrangements for him.
 
Doesn't Ole also have a clause stating he can negotiate if any Premiership clubs pursue him?

Seems ridiculously petty by Røkke.