Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | W15 D2 L4

[All 3 United]

But he's interim while we create a long term strategy to challenge for the title consistently.

I hate to break it to you mate but we're in December and we're not going to win the title this season. The top four is possible but unlikely, so let's make a go of it for the rest of the rest and at least be somewhat progressive and air off the cobwebs.

Ole isn't here as a 'settle for top half'.

Next season we'll have a leading manager and an actual plan behind 'Hire X and hope they work'.

Everything with this appointment has to be taken with context. Just saying 'Ole is the new United manager' sounds a lot worse than the actual situation at hand.

This appointment is completely wrong on every front. He’s being appointed to be a nodding donkey to the Glazers and Woodward, to mitigate expectations of any signings in January. Player power has won, which can only lead to further discontent.

I don’t know about you but I hate watching united lose and we have just significantly increased the odds of us losing more games for the remaining part of this season than before.

To be writing off a season for club the size of Man Utd in December is utterly unacceptable.

 

[Ubik]

Apologies if someone posted it already but any idea how his Molde and Cardiff usually set up?

Good post here from a fan - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/ole...-interim-manager.443699/page-13#post-23439922

Couple of other noggies have popped their heads in as well but they're buried back in the thread a bit.

 

[ash_86]

Was AFK for 3 hours and it's already page 16 wow. Good luck to Ole. let's give him time and space to grow into the job however long it may last.

 

[mu4c_20le]

And also, Mike Phelan? Who is making these decisions?

Have Ole and Phelan worked together in management before? Why is Phelan needed in this dynamic?

Not gonna quote your entire poem but this part seems pretty clear to me. The job is too big for Ole, as many of you are pointing out, so Phelan seems like the most natural choice to help him ease into the position, who can delegate alot of things to him just like SAF used to. There is no need to panic and the fact that the club have consulted Fergie and is actively putting together a team to support Ole is very encouraging.

 

[Kaos]

Proper banter appointment, but I love Solksjaker and this season is gone anyway so couldn’t care less.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

I don't think he'll start him, reckon we go with Rashford or Sanchez up front.

I was checking out his formations at Molde and he has used a 4-4-2 diamond quite often. Peronsally, I would love to see a 4-4-2 and I won't be surprised to see Lukaku go on a scoring spree if he has a strike partner. He may look like a target man, but he is anything but...

 

[morbidsaint]

No idea but I would have had a better backup plan than some ex player who has a shite managerial record. Even Carrick would have been a better choice at least there would be some sort of hope on him being a good manager. That ship has already sailed with Ole.

You are just trolling at this point.

 

[Denis79]

You’re gonna tell me he would be a United Legend if it wasn’t for THAT goal? He would be remembered like Chicharito if it wasn’t for that. Come off it.

Sorry mate but either you don't remember or didn't watch Solkjaer in his prime. Very respected and liked player by United fans even without THAT goal. If he'll do well as a manager for us now that's a different question, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[All 3 United]

Pretty sure Cardiff were shite before Ole. His mistake was taking that job.

As for Molde, Rosenberg had an almost monopoly on the Eliteserien.... Ole won back to back titles for a club that never had.

Not greatest of credentials I know but he's being asked to just tread water. If Phelan is there, that should be a boost too... was always a good No.2 and knows club as player and coach.

We've accepted top.4 is a 1% chance and aim now is to keep players happy, not rock the boat, get the positivity back, prepare for next manager.

Well he finished in 6th with whatever they’re called in Norway in 2014 and hasn’t won anything since returning in 2015. This is the best we can get as interim manager? You seriously couldn’t write this. If this was Liverpool appointing Gerard as manager we would all be laughing our socks off !

 

[stepic]

This appointment is completely wrong on every front. He’s being appointed to be a nodding donkey to the Glazers and Woodward, to mitigate expectations of any signings in January. Player power has won, which can only lead to further discontent.

I don’t know about you but I hate watching united lose and we have just significantly increased the odds of us losing more games for the remaining part of this season than before.

To be writing off a season for club the size of Man Utd in December is utterly unacceptable.

Honestly, you’re an idiot. No top manager is taking a caretaker role for 6 months. Give it a fecking rest. This season is over anyway. It’s all about giving us time to choose the right manager for next season.

 

[Dazzmondo]

Good luck Ole. Can't say I'm too pleased with the appointment but made sense for board to appease fans I guess. Hopefully we play good football for rest of season at least. Would be nice to see some of Chong and Gomes for rest of season. Also recall Tuanzebe please.

 

[Bola]

We have sacked Jose and replaced him with ole. I seriously can’t believe how this is seen as a positive. He has managed a Norwegian team who should win the league every year and actually managed not to do that, he has managed Cardiff and got them relegated. Jose has won countless top trophies and will go on to win more. Ole won’t.

I mean only on the caf can this be seen as a positive.

I could be proven wrong and history re-writes itself but what an incredibly incompetent decision given the facts in front of you.

We are officially in a similar decline to the scousers after their successful period and the worrying thing is our fans are following in the same footsteps thinking these nostalgic decisions are good ones.

I wonder if Ole will be capable of masterminding defeats away to Brighton, or getting humiliated in victory against the Cherries and Newcastle. If he is really top draw, he can exit competitions with lack lustre performances to a toothless Seville and a lack lustre Bristol City. Cups are not won on history and reputation - while prigress is not made wuth negativity

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season, positivity and attacking football here we come. Fingers crossed he will also promote deserving youth given his academy experience here

Great appointment Ed

 

[Camy89]

Thanks. You just made me worried more.

No posts up to now have made me more confident however. Its all about sentiment and glad that Jose is gone.

I really hope we can get someone like Klopps calibre and Poch is not.

Stop getting your knickers in a twist about United getting relegated. That’s not going to happen for Christ sake.

Enjoy the ride. The slightly unexpected ride, but enjoy it nonetheless. The style of football can’t get any worse.

 

[All 3 United]

Honestly, you’re an idiot. No top manager is taking a caretaker role for 6 months. Give it a fecking rest. This season is over anyway. It’s all about giving us time to choose the right manager for next season.

This season is only over if you’re a loser or have a losers belief. Which clearly you and our board have in common.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

I think ome has to think of context here. A big concern is that United don't look like a United side any more, neither with LVG or Jose. They have lost their soul and a large number of fans have voiced their concerns for this and have been falling out of love with the club due to it. So at this time having someone who epitomizes the soul of the club is important, who can get us playing like we should.

Regarding cronyism, Zidane at Real, Guardiola (and most of their other managers) were also cronyism, or Liverpool and their old bootroom philosophy, all showed that it works and helps maintain a club philosophy and style. Mike and Ole have already proven what they can offer our club, and need no time familiarising.

The thing is, football has changed since those times, attacking, high octane football is now done with high pressing and putting pressure on opponents in their own half...

This takes managerial skill. If you think Ole 'understanding the club' somehow makes this possible, I'd suggest that you're dreaming.

It might work - and I hope it does, genuinely. But fecking hell if you're telling me there aren't better choices for the club than Ole and Mike Phelan I'm not sure I can buy that.

Guardiola and Zidane are always held up as an advert for cronyism, but these are the anomalies, not the norm - added to that they took over teams with truly great players in.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, and I very well could be - what the feck do I know, not much really. But I'm just very wary of chucking away a CL campaign, and resorting to cronyism at such a crucial time.

Feels like a step backwards to me. To almost Moyes levels.

The job is too big for Ole, as many of you are pointing out, so Phelan seems like the most natural choice to help him ease into the position, who can delegate alot of things to him just like SAF used to. There is no need to panic and the fact that the club have consulted Fergie and is actively putting together a team to support Ole is very encouraging.

Who was the last manager Fergie put forward...?

And if the job is too big for Ole, give it to someone else.

Mike Phelan's time at the club was during a completely different era - it's not the same club / squad / period in football.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Well he finished in 6th with whatever they’re called in Norway in 2014 and hasn’t won anything since returning in 2015. This is the best we can get as interim manager? You seriously couldn’t write this. If this was Liverpool appointing Gerard as manager we would all be laughing our socks off !

Rosenborg is no joke. Also Gerrard is doing very well with gers atm

 

[Kaos]

Didn’t he once say he did most of his scouting on football manager or FIFA? We’re in for a treat then lads.

 

[Red Stone]

Well he finished in 6th with whatever they’re called in Norway in 2014 and hasn’t won anything since returning in 2015. This is the best we can get as interim manager? You seriously couldn’t write this. If this was Liverpool appointing Gerard as manager we would all be laughing our socks off !

Rosenborg in the Norwegian league are a more dominant force than Bayern in Germany. Other teams go into most seasons expecting 2nd place at best. The fact that Molde won the league three times after his appointment is pretty special. You have to go all the way back to the early 80's to find a team other than Rosenborg that won two league titles on the trot.

Molde are also comfortably the most entertaining side to watch in the league. Solskjær will come in to entertain and lift the spirits of everyone. At this point that's probably what this club needs more than anything. The actual work to build the club back to former glory starts with the next permanent manager.

 

[Holocene]

Didn’t he once say he did most of his scouting on football manager or FIFA? We’re in for a treat then lads.

Got a source on that?

 

[Josep Dowling]

Got to say I’m a little nervous on this to a degree but at the same time this season is a total write off anyway. The club has to try something different, I hope it works out but feel maybe the dressing room is a bit more toxic than some fans realise.

 

[All 3 United]

Rosenborg is no joke. Also Gerrard is doing very well with gers atm

Erm it’s the Norwigan and Scottish league.... Why doesn’t Ed nip to the MLS and Asian leagues and see what mangers are doing ‘very well’ there too.

 

[Theonas]

Good post here from a fan - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/ole...-interim-manager.443699/page-13#post-23439922

Couple of other noggies have popped their heads in as well but they're buried back in the thread a bit.

Cheers!

 

[Bola]

To be writing off a season for club the size of Man Utd in December is utterly unacceptable.

Maybe you could email your concerns to Jose, unfortunately has left us closer to the relegation zone than to the title and I suspect it was only going to get worse

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

You think 6 months of shitty results won't be a negative? I dunno, as I say I think its a risk.

Nothing would please me more than for him to succeed though.

Odd appointment for me though.

It seems risky at first glance. But there are lots of mitigating factors. Most importantly, over 20 matches left and only 14 points from safety. No matter what happens the likelihood of United being relegated is virtually zero.

So, even in the worst case scenario (17th place) no one is terribly upset because Ole is universally loved by us. He's agreed the interim deal because the club know who is coming in the summer. It's a no lose scenario for everyone involved with a small chance of gain (a CL run on the back of Ole's legend or maybe top 4). This is the opportunity that exists in risk, kind of an upside risk.

At first I thought it was strange but now it's a smart play by the club. If we have Poch coming in it's up there with Roth's play in the Godfather Part II.

 

[Affirmation]

Great spot seeing that on the official site. I have my reservations regarding Ole's appointment as our interim manager but I can't help but be excited about the prospect of it. Especially if it is indeed only until the season is finished and then we can appoint our official manager.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Well he finished in 6th with whatever they’re called in Norway in 2014 and hasn’t won anything since returning in 2015. This is the best we can get as interim manager? You seriously couldn’t write this. If this was Liverpool appointing Gerard as manager we would all be laughing our socks off !

The Gerrard that's got Rangers top (admittedly halfway though season)?

Nobody's saying it's perfect but we're not in a perfect situation?

How about being positive/supportive, give the guy a break and wait and see? (and again, if Phelan is there, that's a plus).

(Edit. Ok, you don't like Ole. Who would YOU have picked? .... who's available?)

 

[Charlie Foley]

Honestly, you’re an idiot. No top manager is taking a caretaker role for 6 months. Give it a fecking rest. This season is over anyway. It’s all about giving us time to choose the right manager for next season.

Tbf Hiddink did just that

 

[trafford1980]

Nice one Ole. Now get on the phone to Villa and bring us back Tuanzebe for the rest of the season.

 

[Canagel]

Is Rene coming back as well or just mike phelan?

 

[OohAahMartial]

The thing is, football has changed since those times, attacking, high octane football is now done with high pressing and putting pressure on opponents in their own half...

This takes managerial skill. If you think Ole 'understanding the club' somehow makes this possible, I'd suggest that you're dreaming.

It might work - and I hope it does, genuinely. But fecking hell if you're telling me there aren't better choices for the club than Ole and Mike Phelan I'm not sure I can buy that.

Guardiola and Zidane are always held up as an advert for cronyism, but these are the anomalies, not the norm - added to that they took over teams with truly great players in.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, and I very well could be - what the feck do I know, not much really. But I'm just very wary of chucking away a CL campaign, and resorting to cronyism at such a crucial time.

Feels like a step backwards to me. To almost Moyes levels.



Who was the last manager Fergie put forward...?

And if the job is too big for Ole, give it to someone else.

Mike Phelan's time at the club was during a completely different era - it's not the same club / squad / period in football.

From what the Molde fan said earlier, Ole has applied a continental pressing style with Molde, the club he has managed to an unprecendented back to back titles.

Regarding chucking away a CL campaign, the players already did that against Valencia. Regardless of who manages us, PSG will trounce us. And I do think we need to bear in mind that when the highly successful LVG and Mourinho can't get much out of this squad, it is wrong to think that any other manager can do all that much more with them. The problem wasn't just Jose, but from the owners, to Woody, to the squad balance and composition, the fitness/medical team, the lack of leaders, lazy and unprofessional big time Charlie players who are just not good enough to wear the United shirt. That we can just remove the toxic atmosphere and have a manager we can love, to have us playing at least more adventurously and in keeping with our ethos could salvage at least the odd smile or two out of this depressing season. I would settle for just having something worth watching, I don't care about just getting the results--this season is a write off and to think otherwise is dreaming.

 

[stepic]

Tbf Hiddink did just that

Hiddink was mates with Roman and wasn’t interested in a full time gig. People here seem to be thinking Jardim or ZZ are going to accept a caretaker position, it’s nonsense.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

So Ole is resigning his post in Norway for a temp job?

Dumb question probably, but I don't understand how the timing works out if their league resumes in March.

 

[Bola]

Nice one Ole. Now get on the phone to Villa and bring us back Tuanzebe for the rest of the season.

Maybe a call to Fulham and Hearts for TFM and Mitchell?

 

[Denis79]

Didn’t he once say he did most of his scouting on football manager or FIFA? We’re in for a treat then lads.

Not sure about scouting through a game but I know he enjoys playing manager games.

 

[OneUnited24]

So Ole is resigning his post in Norway for a temp job?

Dumb question probably, but I don't understand how the timing works out if their league resumes in March.

Apparently he had a united release clause in his contract which united has activated

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Remove the prev toxic manager -- a good step forward.

Hire a United legend as caretaker -- not bad, 50-50 chance/risk to success/fail, at least club is giving chances to a manager that knows the United way.

Not a bad move, let's see how it pans out first.

The Silent Baby-Faced Assassin is back is always cool!

Ole Ole Ole~

 

[Harry190]

Jose left, the moaning stayed it seems.

 

[VJ1762]

I love Ole more than I could love my own child

I love redcafe.

 

[Silva]

Didn’t he once say he did most of his scouting on football manager or FIFA? We’re in for a treat then lads.

One of us, one of us.

 

[Relevated]

Man, honestly I feel that the same way some smaller managers aren't built for bigger teams it works the opposite too. For those who criticize him at Cardiff I don't think the club was of enough quality for him. I think he will do decent here.