Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | W15 D2 L4

[Jaae]

It is absolutely incredible that Ole has been thrown in at the deep end and is expected to perform miracles in order to 'prove he is worthy' of a permanent position.

He's come in mid season with morale at an all time low, a squad that is not his own, player fitness not where he'd want it... Are people for real in thinking that he now has to finish top four/win the FA Cup/beat PSG to prove himself?

That is not giving someone a chance. Giving a manager a chance is giving them a preseason with the squad to prepare, backing them in the summer transfer window, and having patience over two seasons to let them carry out their ideas. Ole has already shown he is worthy of being given a chance by dragging us back into contention for 4th in less than 2 months, being tactically flexible in beating strong sides away, creating a positive atmosphere around the club and getting individual players performing to a good level.

There are no guarantees in football. Not with Ole, not with Mourinho, and not with Pochettino. Ole has already shown that he deserves a actual chance going into next season. Let him make changes to the squad and have a preseason with them, then we can fairly access his suitability.

 

[AltiUn]

There's a small concern creeping its way into the room over these last few matches. Ole's done a very good job so far with results, however the way we're actually playing is suspect. We have spells of domination followed by other spells of forgetting how to play football again, we need to start being clinical because when we're missing easy chances we invite pressure onto ourselves. I do recognise we've had some very tough games over that period so it's understandable.

I do think a big part of that is due to the defence, in particular Young, Matic and whoever we have at LCB (typically Jones). While Matic looks better than under Mourinho he's still ghosted past like he's not even there which really hurts our defence, enough has been said about Young (bit of a mystery why Dalot isn't at least getting a sniff at the moment) and we don't have a single competent left-sided CB at the club, everyone's more comfortable on the right. If we could sort those issues out in the summer we'd look a hell of a lot stronger and our attack would have the freedom to try and pick apart teams without the worry that we could concede easy chances.

This next run of fixtures look absolutely brutal, I know people joke about OGS not having faced a real test (citing Arsenal/Tottenham) but for me the month we have coming up is the make or break. After this month I'll be able to say whether I think he should be our next full time manager. The fact that we've managed to close the gap on the top 4 is a pretty outstanding achievement on its own.

 

[TRUERED89]

His management of this game was terrible in every aspect today. We somehow ended up being much poorer in the second half despite the first half also being pathetic.

Judging from the games against Spurs, Brighton, Burnley and today he seems to have no clue on how to change a game tactically when it's running away from us. He's done fantastic up to now but these concerns are marks I'd have against him if deciding on whether he gets the job.

we cant win all 38 league games 5-0 playing fantasy Fifa football, we've won 9 out of 10 games, how many managers can really say they've done that in a new job? give Ole a DAMN break FFS

 

[Dembeza]

The Ole (or possibly "anyone but Mourinho") bounce is over, and the next six weeks look brutal (PSG home, Chelsea away, Liverpool home, PSG away, Arsenal away, City home). This will be the period the board look back on when they're making their decisions in May/June - we're not getting through that lot unscathed without some very good coaching.

I’m sure whoever the alternative is for Ole would also struggle with the following fixtures if they were our manager. If this set of fixtures are used to judge if Ole should get the job or not then I feel that is kind of unfair, that’s just my 2 cents.

 

[D4X73r]

I don't want to exaggerate, but is the title still on?

 

[Grylte]

People complain at players being tired at the end of matches like it's Ole's fault.
I'm wondering how Mourinho's trainings were, if top professionals can't play 90 minutes 1-2 times a week.
Solskjær's playstyle is seriously gimped because of it.

 

[AltiUn]

People complain at players being tired at the end of matches like it's Ole's fault.
I'm wondering how Mourinho's trainings were, if top professionals can't play 90 minutes 1-2 times a week.
Solskjær's playstyle is seriously gimped because of it.

Yeah it’s pretty insane that our stamina’s in the gutter after every single game, hopefully that’ll improve naturally over time.

 

[RedFish]

I don't want to exaggerate, but is the title still on?

Not something I'd vocalise, but secretly hope for, but not expect.

More succinctly, no.

 

[P-Nut]

People complain at players being tired at the end of matches like it's Ole's fault.
I'm wondering how Mourinho's trainings were, if top professionals can't play 90 minutes 1-2 times a week.
Solskjær's playstyle is seriously gimped because of it.

My biggest concern by a long distance at the moment. With this run of fixtures coming up players are going to need a rest anyway, and with poor fitness levels that is only going to get exaggerated. If we pick up an injury or 2 we really could be screwed for the rest of the season.

 

[Grylte]

My biggest concern by a long distance at the moment. With this run of fixtures coming up players are going to need a rest anyway, and with poor fitness levels that is only going to get exaggerated. If we pick up an injury or 2 we really could be screwed for the rest of the season.

Definitely. My main issue with it (in this discussion), is that it is being used as an argument against Ole, while it's clearly Mourinho's fault. Were they just playing five a side, watching video footage of opponents, and practising defensive tactics?
Seems like there was no running whatsoever. We probably ran more when i played in the 5th division with all the other oldies, we ran 10km once a week. (Destroyed everyone, though!)

 

[charlenefan]

It is a little concerning that the free flowing attacking football shown against the likes of Cardiff and Bournemouth feels like a long time ago now. It's to be expected that games against the likes of Newcastle away, Spurs away and Arsenal away call for a little more pragmatism but I'm not sure what you chalk the likes of the Brighton and Burnley performances down to

Hopefully we put on a display against Fulham as there's no reason not to the way they defend and go into the PSG, Liverpool and other games with a renewed swagger

 

[stepic]

There are still deficiencies in the squad is the problem, which will continue to rear it’s head until signings are made - as has already been discussed to death: right wing, proper cover/replacement for Matic, right back, a partner for Lindelof.

 

[P-Nut]

Definitely. My main issue with it (in this discussion), is that it is being used as an argument against Ole, while it's clearly Mourinho's fault. Were they just playing five a side, watching video footage of opponents, and practising defensive tactics?
Seems like there was no running whatsoever. We probably ran more when i played in the 5th division with all the other oldies, we ran 10km once a week. (Destroyed everyone, though!)

Oh yeah it's definitely a Mourinho issue. We've gone from being out run by pretty much every team we played to doing a 180 and running more than most of them. (Don't know if that's still accurate the last few games)

I personally don't believe it's down to the training, but more doing it in a game. There is no way players like Pogba and Rashford aren't in top shape, but match fitness is completely different and being asked to work that much harder whilst playing must be tough.

 

[breakout67]

Where did this idea that you need to play free flowing attacking football all the time come from? Have you lot watched games under SAF with a blind fold on?

Away games have always been a slog for us and about getting the result. Old Trafford is where we have always played attacking football. When SAF said that we should entertain the fans he didn't mean illegal stream watchers, he meant the old trafford faithful.

 

[D4X73r]

Not something I'd vocalise, but secretly hope for, but not expect.

More succinctly, no.

39 points to play and a 13 points gap to Liverpool (make it 16 for worst case as they have one game in hand), we "just" need to get at least 23 points more than Liverpool.

But yeah.. that would be too much to wish for

 

[Mike Smalling]

I don't want to exaggerate, but is the title still on?

Not a snowball's chance in hell. After Liverpool play tonight they could be 16 points ahead with a superior goal difference. No way we make that up in the remaining 13 games. Not to mention the other three teams ahead of us we also have to overtake.

A top four position would be a huge achievement in itself, given where we were in the table when Ole took over.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Where did this idea that you need to play free flowing attacking football all the time come from? Have you lot watched games under SAF with a blind fold on?

Away games have always been a slog for us and about getting the result. Old Trafford is where we have always played attacking football. When SAF said that we should entertain the fans he didn't mean illegal stream watchers, he meant the old trafford faithful.

Yeah I wish someone would show me the team that won every game while playing lights out and stomping the opposition every match. It's never happened, yet this is always what people expect week in and week out. People need to go back and watch some of our games from those magical years everyone talks about, there were plenty of 1-1, 1-0 slogs in those years.

 

[P-Nut]

Where did this idea that you need to play free flowing attacking football all the time come from? Have you lot watched games under SAF with a blind fold on?

Away games have always been a slog for us and about getting the result. Old Trafford is where we have always played attacking football. When SAF said that we should entertain the fans he didn't mean illegal stream watchers, he meant the old trafford faithful.

Don't know what the last sentence has to do with the rest of this post.

 

[AfroBuffalo]

Where did this idea that you need to play free flowing attacking football all the time come from? Have you lot watched games under SAF with a blind fold on?

Away games have always been a slog for us and about getting the result. Old Trafford is where we have always played attacking football. When SAF said that we should entertain the fans he didn't mean illegal stream watchers, he meant the old trafford faithful.

Have you even read SAF's biography? He goes into his quote about entertaining the fans in more detail and he was actually talking about the illegal streamers; and not the Old Trafford faithful.

 

[El Jefe]

we cant win all 38 league games 5-0 playing fantasy Fifa football, we've won 9 out of 10 games, how many managers can really say they've done that in a new job? give Ole a DAMN break FFS

Rather than going on a mini rant why don't you point out what was untrue in my post.

I'm well aware we can't batter teams every game. I've made an objective observation on one of his weaknesses since he's been here. Every manager has some so I don't see the big issue in pointing his out.

 

[breakout67]

Don't know what the last sentence has to do with the rest of this post.

It's clear that most of those that clamour for swashbuckling football every game are detached from the matchday experience. It's an inevitable consequence of making the game the sole focus for 2 hours instead of it being part of an experience (leads to micro-analysis). It's also common among this group of people to think it's part of United tradition to entertain them, when that has never been the case. SAF made it important that the OT fans get their money's worth, not every fan in the world.

 

[ChaddyP]

Where did this idea that you need to play free flowing attacking football all the time come from? Have you lot watched games under SAF with a blind fold on?

Away games have always been a slog for us and about getting the result. Old Trafford is where we have always played attacking football. When SAF said that we should entertain the fans he didn't mean illegal stream watchers, he meant the old trafford faithful.

I'm neither of those.... Do I get to be entertained or not

 

[Charlie Foley]

39 points to play and a 13 points gap to Liverpool (make it 16 for worst case as they have one game in hand), we "just" need to get at least 23 points more than Liverpool.

But yeah.. that would be too much to wish for

Sorry but what sort of maths is this

 

[D4X73r]

Sorry but what sort of maths is this

The best I came up after a very long day in the office. I know that it's not correct but I don't know what on earth went through me

 

[Acquire Me]

It is absolutely incredible that Ole has been thrown in at the deep end and is expected to perform miracles in order to 'prove he is worthy' of a permanent position.

He's come in mid season with morale at an all time low, a squad that is not his own, player fitness not where he'd want it... Are people for real in thinking that he now has to finish top four/win the FA Cup/beat PSG to prove himself?

That is not giving someone a chance. Giving a manager a chance is giving them a preseason with the squad to prepare, backing them in the summer transfer window, and having patience over two seasons to let them carry out their ideas. Ole has already shown he is worthy of being given a chance by dragging us back into contention for 4th in less than 2 months, being tactically flexible in beating strong sides away, creating a positive atmosphere around the club and getting individual players performing to a good level.

There are no guarantees in football. Not with Ole, not with Mourinho, and not with Pochettino. Ole has already shown that he deserves a actual chance going into next season. Let him make changes to the squad and have a preseason with them, then we can fairly access his suitability.

Good post. I agree.

 

[Cloud7]

People complain at players being tired at the end of matches like it's Ole's fault.
I'm wondering how Mourinho's trainings were, if top professionals can't play 90 minutes 1-2 times a week.
Solskjær's playstyle is seriously gimped because of it.

Mourinho’s brand of football has never been intense or included any serious form of pressing, which is why everytime those lists came out that showed we run less under him than most other teams in the league, I was never surprised. Always surprised me that other people were surprised actually, when it was evident that his style of play was more about staying compact than any kind of high energy football.

It will take the players time to get accustomed to it, in the same way it took a while for the players to get used to Pep and Klopp’s pressing football. They’re basically being asked to play on completely the other end of the spectrum from what the bacteria was coaching them to play for two and a half years.

 

[R'hllor]

Where did this idea that you need to play free flowing attacking football all the time come from? Have you lot watched games under SAF with a blind fold on?

Away games have always been a slog for us and about getting the result. Old Trafford is where we have always played attacking football. When SAF said that we should entertain the fans he didn't mean illegal stream watchers, he meant the old trafford faithful.

Ah you mean those clowns taking picture of Dybala while we are losing 1:0 vs Juve.

 

[RedPnutz]

Pochettino has not been supported financially by their club’s hierarchy, so you can’t expect him to reach the level of Europe’s elite when he has been fed bread crumbs.

If Pochettino spends even half of what the like Of City or United spent, Spurs would be an elite team as his current side is doing pretty well without investing in ready made quality players.

In that case, I would argue that Solskjaer is currently playing with players are were not chosen by him, thus he has not similarly not received the financial clout of the club.

 

[Amadaeus]

In that case, I would argue that Solskjaer is currently playing with players are were not chosen by him, thus he has not similarly not received the financial clout of the club.

Ole already mentioned the abundance of talent at the club already. It was not like he was given a task of transforming a mid table team into a champions league team. Similar to Pep and Zidane at their respective club, Ole inherited a good team with Mourinho fooling some United supporters to believe we have an awful team(could you believe some fans taught about selling Pogba?? ). Of course this team is not perfect, but the foundation is already there for a great team because the board has greatly supported our past managers financially.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

His predecessor is stepping up towards his return. This is the second time, when he falls a third time surely he'll get a new managerial job!

 

[RedFish]

( Legal music )

Had an accident at work?............oh wait

 

[staniswin]

You sure you're not trolling?

Any fan (incl most opposition fans) can see the change in vibe in our players and in the way we play football. I don't have any clue how this is due to Ole's interviews. Surely that is a bizarre accusation to make?

Even if we are defending, we are doing it better as a team than we ever did under Mou. The players may be up against the wall, but the look for a quick counter is always there. Not just dumb passing under Mou.

Honestly what is obvious to most opposition fans not being seen by United fans is just bonkers.

We didn't park the bus.

We tried to attack all game but players kept losing the ball while in possession. We had more possession than them but we kept making mistakes when on the ball.

We tried to attack but players had an off day. By no means did we park the bus, both teams had the same amounts of shots on target.

Rival fans has been saying United are just start playing now , some players betray Mourinho and downed tools. Let's not have a short term memory here , you can check on google how our 2017 / 2018 season went. We batter some team, we won ugly in some matches , we slipped against some lesser opposition. Remember, we finish second with 81 points last season, beating all 19 teams , we took 4 from Liverpool , took 3 from City, took 4 from Chelsea , took 6 from Arsenal , took 3 from Spurs. That doesn't seems as bad as you thought right ? Our squad were relatively the same , Ole's effect is more on mental/psychology side , lifting this team back to what they are capable of and players no longer down tools. We batter some teams , but we also won ugly in some matches and just slipped last weak. Regardless , i am totally Ole in, He isn't naive and prefer win over anything else. Anyone who thinks our DNA is attacking football , didn't even support/watch united for the last 10-15 years yet , our DNA is winning , no matter how. Sir Alex would gladly sit back , let opposition have the ball and hit them with counter vs some possession based teams , He wouldn't naively try to outplay when he knew his team wouldn't be able to. that's why most of our best goals you have seen on Youtube were counter attack. Check his stats against Arsenal / City , they had 60-70% possession , against Jose's Madrid he only had 34% , that wasn't attacking football , that was counter attack football. Ole is sharing the same approach as SAF and He is more supported by everyone , i bet my balls that you guys would slate Mourinho for that display against Leicester but with Ole , it's the players who had an off days instead of lazily slating the coach. Good things though, i also always put some of the blame on players , i mean coach doesn't even kick the ball.

 

[meamth]

It would be hilarious if after Ole was announced as the new manager, the next day in the first training session he changed the mood entirely.

"Oh so you think I and Phelan are Mr. Yes-man huh?, welcome to the first hairdryer. Alexis, you're shyte. Lukaku, your first touch is worse than my grandma. We have lots of work to do, throw away your phone Jesse"

 

[The United]

Rival fans has been saying United are just start playing now , some players betray Mourinho and downed tools. Let's not have a short term memory here , you can check on google how our 2017 / 2018 season went. We batter some team, we won ugly in some matches , we slipped against some lesser opposition. Remember, we finish second with 81 points last season, beating all 19 teams , we took 4 from Liverpool , took 3 from City, took 4 from Chelsea , took 6 from Arsenal , took 3 from Spurs. That doesn't seems as bad as you thought right ? Our squad were relatively the same , Ole's effect is more on mental/psychology side , lifting this team back to what they are capable of and players no longer down tools. We batter some teams , but we also won ugly in some matches and just slipped last weak. Regardless , i am totally Ole in, He isn't naive and prefer win over anything else. Anyone who thinks our DNA is attacking football , didn't even support/watch united for the last 10-15 years yet , our DNA is winning , no matter how. Sir Alex would gladly sit back , let opposition have the ball and hit them with counter vs some possession based teams , He wouldn't naively try to outplay when he knew his team wouldn't be able to. that's why most of our best goals you have seen on Youtube were counter attack. Check his stats against Arsenal / City , they had 60-70% possession , against Jose's Madrid he only had 34% , that wasn't attacking football , that was counter attack football. Ole is sharing the same approach as SAF and He is more supported by everyone , i bet my balls that you guys would slate Mourinho for that display against Leicester but with Ole , it's the players who had an off days instead of lazily slating the coach. Good things though, i also always put some of the blame on players , i mean coach doesn't even kick the ball.

So why did they down tools under Jose by the way?

 

[staniswin]

So why did they down tools under Jose by the way?

Clash of Ego. Jose's biggest problem was never his brain , it's always his ego which is why he always had an issue with His star players except in his first Chelsea stint and Inter . He is super brilliant tactician who always think few steps ahead. All his ex-player describe him about how detailed his tactic was and how everything going just like He predicted. But he has certain standards he ask from the players such as being humble and hard worker. Pogba questioning his tactic and end up with down tooling hurt Mourinho's ego but instead of compromise , he benched him in several games including our biggest game in the season against Liverpool. You can't bench an adidas poster boy and lost after. Meanwhile Ole has no ego since first place and easier for player to discuss and talk with. By the way don't deny how Pogba downed tools , you can recheck his player performance forum and read people's comment after Brighton or Sunderland game. He can't possibly be that bad.

 

[OohAahMartial]

I don't like the idea that the best performing new manager we have ever had is given less of chance and less backing than the managers who have been destroying our club. Or that he is set far higher criterion of success than the other contenders for his job would have been. And that he must pull off the miracle of getting past PSG despite having a side in which he hasn't signed a single player of, that are woefully unfit, with an imbalanced squad where the B team players can't be trusted to even do a basic job without screwing things up.

He's more than earnt the opportunity that Moyes, LVG and Jose had, by outperforming all of their starts.

 

[Harry190]

10 games without scoring a goal. Age has taken a toll on him.

 

[The United]

Clash of Ego. Jose's biggest problem was never his brain , it's always his ego which is why he always had an issue with His star players except in his first Chelsea stint and Inter . He is super brilliant tactician who always think few steps ahead. All his ex-player describe him about how detailed his tactic was and how everything going just like He predicted. But he has certain standards he ask from the players such as being humble and hard worker. Pogba questioning his tactic and end up with down tooling hurt Mourinho's ego but instead of compromise , he benched him in several games including our biggest game in the season against Liverpool. You can't bench an adidas poster boy and lost after. Meanwhile Ole has no ego since first place and easier for player to discuss and talk with. By the way don't deny how Pogba downed tools , you can recheck his player performance forum and read people's comment after Brighton or Sunderland game. He can't possibly be that bad.

Interesting.

Another question: do you feel Jose was a match or a right manager for United?

 

[Gasolin]

I think he just needs to find buyers for them Lukaku already plays like he knows his days are numbered and Sanchez can’t be far off realising he will be gone in the summer as well.

He still needs to find ways to motivate them. Lukaku cannot give up like that, he's a professional, he plays to win no matter what. Of course, he might be paying a little price due to the fact that he was close to Jose and was probably sometimes picked ahead of the others despite not being the most skilled one just because he acted like a warrior. Still! He needs to run, for his own career at least.

 

[The Boy]

But, I think his main impediment to maintain the levels we want are the owners and the CEO who don't know the first thing about football and are only in it for profit, not profit for the club but for there fat pockets. They could have bought a good midfielder this session, and should have. We will see what their intentions are at the next window but by missing the chance of getting a great player in at this moment, it lessens the probability of getting players of stature to want to come and play for a team with owners and executives with real ambition, other than their fat pockets.
Unlike other top teams our owners don't have the billions to throw about and this, whether one likes it it not is the real problem for man utd.

I know the Glazers are not popular with many, leveraging the club to buy it etc and Ed is hardly the perfect CEO, but there are a few things that spring to mind here.

The Glazers have spent, they've spent hundreds of millions on players, not always the right players admittedly, but that's been down to Moyes, LVG and Mou. You are in a much better position ownerwise than Spurs or Arsenal, at least your guys front the money.

I think buying anyone in this window would have been wrong, firstly they're weren't the players of quality you'd expect Man Utd to get available, secondly Jan buys don't get a chance to settle into a new team and often don't make a huge impact until the following season. Thirdly why spend millions now if you could possibly get a new manager and DoF before the summer window. Your squad is much better than alot of people on here think, Ole has shown that management of the players has been your biggest problem rather than the players themselves.

I think the Glazers do have ambition for the club, they want it successful, under them you've won 5 league titles an FA Cup, a European Cup (and two more finals) Uefa Cup and 3 League cups. You've spent close to a billion pounds on players that's not lacking ambition.

Biggest criticism I think is Ed and the managerial appointments, but maybe you've got that sorted to now!