Time For Ole To Show His Mettle

Merlin 1975-78

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Don't you think it's a question of fitness rather than application? The Matić, Pogba, Herrera midfield has lots of quality on the ball but lacks energy come 70 mins. My biggest criticism of the team would be missing chances at 2-0 today.
Yes Im inclined to agree that the players seemed to take their foot off the gas at 2-0 & that is when I we would expect them to really go for their opponents throats & score an extra 2 or 3 goals but we can rest assured that this is something , Ole would have pointed out to the players in the privercy of the dressing room.
 

Tony247

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If you watch the goal again you will see that lindelof is in no man's land, leaving Jones and dalot Vs 3 attacker's. Harsh to blame him for that, yeah he could have won the header but he had two men to mark and couldn't decide, and rightly so, which to mark and therefore was slightly out of position to win the header. Part of our resurgence has been down to his ability and bravery on the ball Vs smalling. He can and will step forward into midfield and can pick a pass
The ball was not a great, difficult to defend type. It was simply tossed hoping some attacker will get under it. All Jones had to do was to ignore number of opponents in the box, read the ball trajectory correctly, get under it and head it away. Instead he just stood there waiting ball magically come to him and then jumped, only to realize "oops I fell short".

That goal was soft conceded. Brighton did not deserve it. Jones was responsible for that feck up. But that's our problem all along. Anything tossed in our box creates opportunity for opposition. Both fullbacks are weak in air, and out of two CB one (jones) consistently cannot clear the threat. Lindelof is learning fast though. Our only silver lining.
 

Josep Dowling

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Seriously? If we win our next Premier League game Ole has had the best ever start of any manager in the league.

You can’t win every game 3-0, there will be times where we come under pressure even against so called weaker opposition. Brighton are a solid side that rarely get hammered.

I’d say accept the limitations of this squad as we can’t change that until the summer and move on to the next game.
 

Rash Decision

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We do tire visibly at the end of games. In terms of stamina, this squad needs a lot of work - not sure what we were doing on the training ground for the last two and a half seasons...

Though I do think it was more of a mental frailty this time. Had we put the game to bed early in the second half - and we had enough opportunities to do so -, it would have been different but their goal clearly unnerved the players, the composure was just gone.
Don't really buy that it's down to mental frailty. One of the good things to happen under Mourinho was the team's ability to come back and win games even after going 2 down. Against teams like City no less. They can't have lost that mental strength the moment Ole came in?
 

Moonred

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It’s not preposterous to say Ole will need to work on few areas tactically. Also the need for improvements in certain positions. It’s a brilliant start and acknowledging and working on it will make the team ride through bad days.
 

Shez

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We have been averaging almost three games a week since Ole took over. While in a natural state he would take more risks and rotate, im assuming the position he was put in (dire state of club, needing to prove himself, winning the trust of players and fans), he has been putting his best team out time and time again. This is resulting in an already unfit team tiring even faster.
However, people need to chill. Even the best league winning sides have plenty of games over the course of the season where they are sub-par. What's important is the ability to grind out results despite of it. 7/7 so far... Enjoy it and stop being so gloomy
 

Di Maria's angel

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It'd be interesting to see the running stats. However, I don't think fatigue is our issue. We've always been guilty of sitting back towards the latter stages of our matches and that's the major problem. We invite pressure and that has to change.
 

Imran Mamdani

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We have to keep in mind that PSG is just round the corner, so the last two games, perhaps Ole is trying to manage the squad and fitness of our players so that we have a better chance to rotate key players and get a result. The theme as mentioned here over the last couple of games at least has been pretty consistent, first half we play brilliantly, then second we defend for a large part and depend on counterattack but i dont mind that as long as we manage to do so effectively.
 

Fitchett

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We're in a transition phase, while we get the players fitness levels up to playing Ole's modern, high pressing, intense game. This will be difficult to achieve during the season, as there needs to be a balance struck between harder training to improve fitness levels and ensuring players are fresh for matches. I'd expect our fitness levels to improve until the end of the season, but not to reach the desired level until the start of next season, as a result of an intense pre-season. Remember, it took Klopp a while to achieve the same at Liverpool.
 

red4ever 79

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Ole's job was to come in and pick up the mood around the place. Give the players a lift. He has done that. He never would have expected to win 7 games on the bounce. All he can do is take one game at a time and see where that takes us at the end of the season. We are poor at the back and he will know that. However we cannot wave a magic wand and suddenly Valencia or Young improve. They are both done.
 

Viral United

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Our biggest weakness is, we don't have CB who can dominate Arial duels.
Brighton's tactic was hoof the ball, so they cause issue in the end.
What we need now is CB who can dominate Arial duels. Right now we are missing Smalling as I think he would be more effective than Jones.
 

OhGee

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It’s great that there are posters out there complaining about a 2-1 win against Brighton and demanding a 3-0 plus score line. Shows us that expectations have increased under Ole. If Jose was in charge we all would have been happy with the result and moved on. Now we all suddenly have higher expectations for the team as it well should be since we are Manchester United

Well done Ole for bring pride back to our team!
 

Grande

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I thought the same thing about half way through the second half, but I'd actually go one further: I think the honeymoon period is over. The momentum from the early games has worn off now, and we're starting to look human again. Now it's time for Ole to showcase his tactical nous, and show us if he's really up to the task of taking this job on full-time.
Actually already in the Huddersfield game some of that momentum easn’t enough to show we are not yet in shape nor in tactical ability able to regularly totally dominate entire games against weaker PL teams. Newcastle as well. This is also true for Arsenal and Chelsea, and this year also Spurs as well.

I’d say the fact we have been markedly the better team overall in all of our last seven games bar the one away to Spurs, shows our manager/coaching team has done the tactical work well, with what can be done on the short term. Nobody wins six straight games deservedly in the PL on the back of mere momentum.

When it comes to a serious impact on our ability to dominate games consistently, I’d say that is bound to take a lot more time, and neither Guardiola nor Klopp managed so withon a year.
 

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I think people are underappreciating Brighton a bit - they're a very decent side, who are well organised and really solid.

Ultimately we can't thrash every team, and sometimes teams will come at us when the game is close - as long as we stand up to it (which we did) then I won't have that many concerns.
 

roonster09

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I think people are underappreciating Brighton a bit - they're a very decent side, who are well organised and really solid.

Ultimately we can't thrash every team, and sometimes teams will come at us when the game is close - as long as we stand up to it (which we did) then I won't have that many concerns.
Yeah, also they played in the same way they did when they beat us 3-2, high press and press aggressively. Sky or MOTD made analysis showing how aggressive they were in pressing (at home) and how uncomfortable ManUtd were in dealing with that. They played in the same way but this time we dealt lot better.
 

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Yeah, also they played in the same way they did when they beat us 3-2, high press and press aggressively. Sky or MOTD made analysis showing how aggressive they were in pressing (at home) and how uncomfortable ManUtd were in dealing with that. They played in the same way but this time we dealt lot better.
Yeah, they pressed very well in the second half - and whilst our passing went a bit to shit, I won't have too many complaints considering we won the game and didn't really give away any big chances after they scored.

Also they have a solid enough defence, so we did well in the game to carve out as many chances as we did.
 

roonster09

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Yeah, they pressed very well in the second half - and whilst our passing went a bit to shit, I won't have too many complaints considering we won the game and didn't really give away any big chances after they scored.

Also they have a solid enough defence, so we did well in the game to carve out as many chances as we did.
Yeah, created good chances too and should have scored at least 1 more goal. Worrying part is our fitness, players look very tired by 65-70 mins. Maybe something to do with how we prepared in last 2-3 years.

Edit: Also Brighton have conceded more than 2 goals only once this season (vs Everton), so yeah they should be decent defensively.
 

Eplel

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I think OP is missing the point that our team has poor fitness compared to other teams in the league, players are still getting used to have a tactical plan, we could have gone 3-0 in the half time had Lingard not missed a sure fire chance, and a few other aspects of the game that Ole has better insight that anyone here.

Plus, the Tottenham game is exactly how Fergie would play it: Let an opponent with more energy waste their time, and hit where they hurt more.
 

Dr Fink

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Ole needs to sort out his Plan B. The starting XI is great and performs well to 65-70 mins. Then the problems start. Mat and Lukaku completely change the dynamic of the team, coupled with the tiring Matic and Herrera as others have pointed out. We let Brighton back in to a game that should have been done and dusted. Perhaps Sanchez for any one of the front three and Perreira for Matic or Herrera? Thoughts? Mata, though I love him slows our play down and the less said about Lukaku in that respect, the better.
 

groovyalbert

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I think what Saturday shows is that we have a starting XI capable of playing Ole's style, but not a whole lot in reserve when the hour mark comes around.

Lukaku and Mata were both more of a hindrance than a help when they came on.
 

Edgar Allan Pillow

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That second half was not a good performance and we were hanging on for the last 20 minutes. The Spurs game was not good either but that was a much better team at the end of a run of games.
The second half for both games was typical Fergie'esque. Well below par, but hang on for the win. We've done this so many times. I'm happy we are doing that. Under Mou, we'd have pulled a man back and still lost the game.

There is room for improvement off but this is gritty and we are showing character, imo.

Well done, Ole!
 

Red Devil Rising

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Why is it a surprise to anyone that our performances are dropping off in the second half?

In the space of a month, the players have been asked to shift their tactics from covering the least amount of ground during games to the most. Whilst essentially playing the same team for the last 6 league games, including a very busy Christmas period.

Some fecking people, nothing is ever enough.
 

sunama

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The team aren’t as fit as they should be that’s pretty clear and that’s on the previous clown we had.

That said, these players still need to learn to be a bit more ruthless in those 2-0 type situations. That must never slip, it could have today.
I said this in another thread.
A player cannot blame his fitness level on a previous manager. The player should take pride in his own fitness and if the current regime is not stipulating a high level of fitness, then it's up to the individual to do extra fitness work in his own time.
Some people retorted to my comment, and said that the coaches in the club, will specify and training program. My answer to that, would be (the player should tell the coach), "okay guv, I can do all you have asked, but I feel that I am getting tired in matches and also a bit fat. Would it be okay for me to do extra running, after training sessions to improve my condition?" No coach his right mind, would say "no". Coaches love athletes who are willing to work harder.

I remember Ronaldo used to do extra training, because he not only wanted to look good, but he wanted to be the best. So after all other players had gone home, he stayed back for extra training.

What I suspect is that some players may have lacked motivation and could not motivate themselves to stay in peak condition. When the new manager arrived and asked them to run a lot, their bodies/minds are struggling to handle the work load (even after 5 weeks).

In any case, players need to take ownership of their own fitness and not blame it on somebody else, who apparently prevented them from improving their fitness.
 

Bilbo

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The honeymoon period is over for the fans it seems. We have realigned our expectations and expect to blow a team like Brighton away by 4 or 5 goals now.
 

Eplel

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I remember Ronaldo used to do extra training
Ronaldo's mentor was Sir Alex Ferguson. If Mourinho ever gets as half good as Sir Alex was in man management, then we can have these comparisons.
 

MadMike

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The honeymoon period is over for the fans it seems. We have realigned our expectations and expect to blow a team like Brighton away by 4 or 5 goals now.
Basically this.

Wrt to the current situation, I think sooner rather than later Ole needs to try and bring Fred in the fold and try to coax some good performances out of him. Herrera's energy seems good, but when Matic or Pogba start to flag he seems the right type of player to bring on. He has energy, drive and an eye for a pass. He hasn't brought it all together yet; he's looks clumsy and weak and he's not undeservedly on the bench. Yet he could be a very important asset if Ole manages to turn his situation around.

Fellaini looks odds-on to leave with Mourinho out the door, McTominay is being touted for loan deals, Pereira is neither here nor there. We need our summer signing to kick on now. We can't go on with the same unchanged midfield trio all the way till the end of the season. We'll need to gamble on him sooner rather than later.
 

Cargsy

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I think the dip in the second half on Saturday shows we're still getting used to pressing higher up the pitch. Hopefully we can keep it up on Friday night as Arsenal find it really tough against a high press.
 

Volumiza

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Why is it a surprise to anyone that our performances are dropping off in the second half?

In the space of a month, the players have been asked to shift their tactics from covering the least amount of ground during games to the most. Whilst essentially playing the same team for the last 6 league games, including a very busy Christmas period.

Some fecking people, nothing is ever enough.
This. Our whole playing style has changed. Overnight. Running more and faster play will take its toll on the players later in the game. As their fitness increases and we get used to playing this way we can stay in games for longer.

Keep it up Ole, we're heading in the right direction.
 

grahamo

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I think We did well v Brighton. They are not a bad side and a tough outfit who close the opposition down quickly and they get stuck in. Very hard to play against. Only last week Liverpool needed a Salah Dive to beat them.
 

Samid

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Could have been a banana skin with the key changes that were made but that was a ruthless performance. Fair enough Fulham are shite but they/Mitrovic could have made it a physical battle but we never really gave them a sniff.
 

automaticflare

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I think changes were safe enough given opposition. The fact we kept midfield in tact is the most important thing. I feel relatively comfortable say brining dalot in or Lukaku in as long as the midfield isn’t changed
 

ChaddyP

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  1. I think changes were safe enough given opposition. The fact we kept midfield in tact is the most important thing. I feel relatively comfortable say brining dalot in or Lukaku in as long as the midfield isn’t changed
That was the key for me. Making sure the first choice midfield 3 were starting. It was the key. Then taking off Herrera and pogba after the game was sealed up . Great work by ole
 

JMack1234

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The next 8 games we decided to next few years of Manchester United:

PSG (H)
Chelsea (A)
Liverpool (H)
Palace (A)
Southampton (H)
PSG (H)
Arsenal (A)
City (H)

If we do well in those games Ole will be bullet proof, he'll probably get the full time job before the season is over. If we stumble and lose 4 or 5 of them that might well derail the Ole train and we'll go all in for Poch. Exciting times.
 

tenpoless

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The next 8 games we decided to next few years of Manchester United:

PSG (H)
Chelsea (A)
Liverpool (H)
Palace (A)
Southampton (H)
PSG (H)
Arsenal (A)
City (H)

If we do well in those games Ole will be bullet proof, he'll probably get the full time job before the season is over. If we stumble and lose 4 or 5 of them that might well derail the Ole train and we'll go all in for Poch. Exciting times.
Firstly, PSG lost Neymar to injury and then Cavani and now, apparently They have to face us twice at OT. Ole is such a lucky man isn't He?
 

soapythecat

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The next 8 games we decided to next few years of Manchester United:

PSG (H)
Chelsea (A)
Liverpool (H)
Palace (A)
Southampton (H)
PSG (H)
Arsenal (A)
City (H)

If we do well in those games Ole will be bullet proof, he'll probably get the full time job before the season is over. If we stumble and lose 4 or 5 of them that might well derail the Ole train and we'll go all in for Poch. Exciting times.
I honestly feel that come the City game, if we are still within a point or two of forth, then OGS will get the job. Some of our toughest games will be behind us. With 7 games after City, if we are still playing like we are currently then you would have to fancy our chances of top 4.