Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | W15 D2 L4

[Dante]

We're like Arsenal under the Wenger.

We've got some fantastic first XI players. And we're as good as anybody in Europe when everyone is on song. But if only one player is slightly off it, nothing quite works.

Rashford's direct risk taking is vital, Martial inside-to-out threat is vital, Lingard's movement is vital, Pogba's creativity is vital. Take any of that away and we misfire like crazy.

The squad needs better options off the bench and better contingencies on the pitch. In particular, Herrera and Matic are not good enough passers to step in when Pogba has an off day.

 

[bosnian_red]

We're like Arsenal under the Wenger.

We've got some fantastic first XI players. And we're as good as anybody in Europe when everyone is on song. But if only one player is slightly off it, nothing quite works.

Rashford's direct risk taking is vital, Martial inside-to-out threat is vital, Lingard's movement is vital, Pogba's creativity is vital. Take any of that away and we misfire like crazy.

The squad needs better options off the bench and better contingencies on the pitch. In particular, Herrera and Matic are not good enough passers to step in when Pogba has an off day.

Also I think a full pre season of preparation will be vital for Ole. You look at since hes come in, it's been pretty much been games every 3-4 days with the very rare mid week off. That's basically motivational work and instructing them to do certain things but a lot of match preparation without that much time to actually focus on the way he wants to play. Also when you take into account the injuries, partly because all season they were prepared for a different style and then Ole takes over and has his different style. All this improves with a full pre season together, and one where we'll surely plug at least some of the gaps in our squad.

 

[Scrumpet]

Do we have to update the title with an asterisk for the cup wins against Reading, Arsenal and Chelsea?

 

[Peter Brewer]

Tbf there's some concept that passed my mind and it was kinda worrying. I don't think Ole made much wrong yesterday apart from the late subs.

But thinking about it, is anyone else worried he might have the same "my favorites should always play" problem as LVG and Jose?

Scott was playing pretty well and doing great against Pool, and Palace and PSG. Matic is back and immediately displaced him from the lineup from the first game. Fred was finally showing some decent quality the last 2 games. Herrera is back and immediately displaced him form the lineup.

I mena it's kinda worrying. Scott and Fred were playing well and you have 2 players coming back from injury. It would have been more logical to introduce them gradually rather than displacing the already playing well players and introduce them immediately. It's something Mourinho would have done and he would have been slaughtered for let's be honest.

Also Rashford and Lingard seem to always start whenever they are available in any position and he thinks about subbing them off pretty late in the games when they are having an off day.

I don't know if this is a bad thing or not, but if this concept is really right and he has his favorites who should as well, he needs to throw this thing out of his mind. Our squad really doesn't deserve to have any favorites tbh. They are all inconsistent as hell.

This is a very good point. I also wondered why he expelled the hard working squad players for the finesse primadonna types of players, all in one go.
I don't mean it in a bad way, it's just the way psychology works. If you feel entitled then you don't fight as hard as the ones that are outside.

Another negative psychological effect is that when the 2nd choices are fighting with all their willpower, and loses their spot, it is at risk they will be losing motivation to fight for the spot when they are not rewarded for good display.
The psg midfield was really strong and hard working. Towards a team like wolves which fights for life, we should have players matching this.
Ole was disappointed afterwards. In hindsight he sees the same. I hope it will reflect the next starting XI

 

[tonnas]

People attacking OLE? one bad game and 2 bad results. We have a long break were the injured players will get up their fitness.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

People attacking OLE? one bad game and 2 bad results. We have a long break were the injured players will get up their fitness.

You're new here but eventually you'll understand.

 

[sullydnl]

People attacking OLE? one bad game and 2 bad results. We have a long break were the injured players will get up their fitness.

He can expect a lot more of that from here if he is appointed permanent manager.

In Ole's case though it will be worse than normal. We were convinced he was the right choice based on a very small sample size of games. As such it will only take relatively small amount of bad results to make people doubt again.

 

[tonnas]

You're new here but eventually you'll understand.

Yes, it seems that the fans in here forgot the dark period between August and mid-December

 

[LJJT]

Bit worried the whole coaching staff seem to have lost a bit of intensity or look tired themselves now? Lots of shots on TV all of them sat down just watching on. Hope these recent defeats don’t affect the decision to give ole etc the job as believe he’s the right man but team as well as staff all seem a bit shattered to me right now.

 

[Sarni]

Complete bullshit. Actually if you looked at it yourself, our xG stats since Ole took over have us just behind Liverpool (with Cith top, but comfortably ahead of the rest), but with the 2nd best attack in the league over that time.

Next time if you want to try and make a point, probably actually look into it instead of claiming something that isnt true.

They will try to cling to anything to put criticism on players/managers they dislike or don’t believe in. I feel like ever since Fergie left those people have starting crawling out.

 

[crossy1686]

Bit worried the whole coaching staff seem to have lost a bit of intensity or look tired themselves now? Lots of shots on TV all of them sat down just watching on. Hope these recent defeats don’t affect the decision to give ole etc the job as believe he’s the right man but team as well as staff all seem a bit shattered to me right now.

Just what exactly do you want them do to? Do you think behaving like Klopp will make the team actually perform better? You do realise that once the players have been sent out on to the pitch there isn't an awful lot a manager can do right?

 

[Rhyme Animal]

We've got some fantastic first XI players. And we're as good as anybody in Europe when everyone is on song. But if only one player is slightly off it, nothing quite works.

Rashford's direct risk taking is vital, Martial inside-to-out threat is vital, Lingard's movement is vital, Pogba's creativity is vital. Take any of that away and we misfire like crazy.

The squad needs better options off the bench and better contingencies on the pitch. In particular, Herrera and Matic are not good enough passers to step in when Pogba has an off day.

And yet we beat PSG, away, 1-3 without Pogba, Martial or Lingard even in the squad...

Cmon, the excuses are crazy after last night.

If Ole deserves credit for PSG, for beating Chelsea and Arse - then he deserves criticism for the current form.

He is quite clearly a really good man manager, but he isn't an experienced or cultured tactician, he is naive with that stuff.

It's not fair to say 'he had no options' last night, as so many are doing in here now - he could (and should) have played Fred or Scott, he could (and should) have had an answer for 3 at the back against Wolves. And he didn't.

I love the guy, but he isn't an Elite level manager. He's been at Cardiff, and failed, and at Molde and done well. And he probably isn't the actual best manager that United can appoint. That's the reality.

But saying that, he might learn quickly on the job - if so, he'll turn this form (both results and performances) around.

 

[Josep Dowling]

Difficult away game in the cup. Don’t think the team was set up right. I think we need to be realistic this season. The team shape and line up is changing on a weekly basis due to injuries.

I think he wants to play 4–3-3 with wingers. That’s what I want to see and I’m sure a lot of fans want to as well. Since Fergie retired we havent had a manager do it.

The football I have seen of United since he has come in is what I want to see as well. We just need some first team player improvements at CB and RW. And likely need an experienced RB.

 

[Leftback99]

He's a victim of his own success where it has got to the the point where most were expecting a comfortable victory in a very difficult away game which was unrealistic.

He's done far better than expected but the holes in the squad remain. Eventually you're only as good as the players at your disposal, even Guardiola has had to buy most of the squad that is dominating now.

 

[Cassidy]

He's a victim of his own success where it has got to the the point where most were expecting a comfortable victory in a very difficult away game which was unrealistic.

He's done far better than expected but the holes in the squad remain. Eventually you're only as good as the players at your disposal, even Guardiola has had to buy most of the squad that is dominating now.

Agree.
Also fitness is an issue, Ole has said plenty he wants the intensity in play / pressing etc to be high, but we really have not trained as a team to sustain this level of intensity. I think that is also having an effect on our play.

 

[bond19821982]

And yet we beat PSG, away, 1-3 without Pogba, Martial or Lingard even in the squad...

Cmon, the excuses are crazy after last night.

If Ole deserves credit for PSG, for beating Chelsea and Arse - then he deserves criticism for the current form.

He is quite clearly a really good man manager, but he isn't an experienced or cultured tactician, he is naive with that stuff.

It's not fair to say 'he had no options' last night, as so many are doing in here now - he could (and should) have played Fred or Scott, he could (and should) have had an answer for 3 at the back against Wolves. And he didn't.

I love the guy, but he isn't an Elite level manager. He's been at Cardiff, and failed, and at Molde and done well. And he probably isn't the actual best manager that United can appoint. That's the reality.

But saying that, he might learn quickly on the job - if so, he'll turn this form (both results and performances) around.

While I agree with these points, I don't think we should make a call on his appointment yet. But him failing at pretty much all critical matches is very concerning. Yes agree, we had lot of injuries and so probably not a best way to judge him. that's the reason why we should wait until end of the season.

Put this way - if we dont make top 4, i will rethink about supporting him for a full time job.

If we make it, then give him the contract.

 

[Sauldogba]

The only thing I agree with you there is that Romero shat the bed for the second goal. Who goes for a save like that on the near post? Comical.

Anyway, you have completely disregarded the fact that Martial, Jesse, Pogba, Herrera and Matic all looked a step out of rhythm. They've all not played much football this month and looked like it.
The tactics were fine. Ole did nothing wrong.

Well waiting untill we conceded in the 70th minute to make a change is doing something wrong

 

[BaseFishing]

We peaked in Paris. That night was exactly what the atmosphere around the club had been building up to since December when Ole took charge.

So, afterwards, it's only natural that we were going to have a dip in form for a couple of games.

Nothing to worry about guys, we'll still get top 4 and have a decent chance of getting past Barcelona.

 

[Leftback99]

Agree.
Also fitness is an issue, Ole has said plenty he wants the intensity in play / pressing etc to be high, but we really have not trained as a team to sustain this level of intensity. I think that is also having an effect on our play.

It is. Give him a full pre season with some quality additions to the first XI and see how we go. Even then it's unrealistic to expect to be challenging City and Liverpool by next season, whoever is in charge.

 

[afrocentricity]

The fact that I'm angry at the recent losses says a lot tbf, Oles made me care again, in such a short time too...

 

[Greck]

Ole has made us mint on counters but a minor concern is I'm still yet to discern what the "Ole way" is when we have the ball against a parked bus. Harder to know because the personnel also have some major technical deficiencies in areas of the pitch. For example in games when we can't get the ball forward because our CMs and CBs keep going back to the keeper everytime they are closed down, how much of it is down to poor patterns of play and how much is down to their general shiteness on the ball and lack of on the ball ability? We certainly need better footballers in a few more positions.

 

[crossy1686]

Can someone explain why they think Solskjær is a naive or not very good tactician? Sounds like a load of bollocks to me but enough people play FIFA/Football Manager these days to consider themselves experts.

 

[Red Dreams]

apparently we have numerous better tacticians on here.

Also if we wait another two months we are going to get the Super manager who will have us winning every match playing attacking football.

 

[Samid]

Can someone explain why they think Solskjær is a naive or not very good tactician? Sounds like a load of bollocks to me but enough people play FIFA/Football Manager these days to consider themselves experts.

Because he got relegated with Cardiff so every time he loses a game he's tactically outsmarted by the opposition manager.

 

[Red Dreams]

Its clear Ole is thinking of the Barcelona match giving game time to players coming back from injury.

 

[Andycoleno9]

All those excuses....
Our best chance for trophy. We lost against fecking Wolves. Outplayed, without decent chance, without desire.
I don't care is Fergie, Ole or Mourinho on the bench. This is on manager.

 

[Shiva87]

You're new here but eventually you'll understand.

So true!

 

[Bill Hartzia]

I would be seriously looking at the Pochettino situation if I was the board, he's virtually been shouting 'get me out of here, we're going nowhere' - so many problems, its hard to see how Spurs can progress with the financial straightjacket of new stadium debt, no transfers and a strict wage structure with potentially star players leaving. He's hinted they can't really compete on a level playing field for another five to ten years well past some of the current squad's sell by date. He's proven himself at Southampton and now by putting Spurs amongst the very elite group of premier league clubs when they have no real right to be anywhere near.

 

[Wolf8312]

Don't know if he's the right man for the job, or not really. Think it's going to be a bit of a gamble.

I think people really want him to be the right guy, and not just for the sake of the team, but for the man himself. But nobody really knows what goes on behind the scenes or how good of a manager he really is, despite desperately wanting him to be one.

I do wonder though if he'd be better off without it.

Managers who go into top level football, without already having attained top level success (Moyes for example who suffered horrendous abuse) face twice the pressure, and scrutiny, and will have to succeed in a fraction of the time. Unless his reign is a succession of uninterrupted triumphs, I just don't think Man Utd fans, or the media, or the players themselves will have the patience to give Solskjær a proper chance.

I don't think it's going to be a very fair situation for him to be in, to be honest.

Because once Man Utd stop winning games, and start playing badly, then as is already happening, they will all begin looking around for someone to blame. Without top level credentials to fall back on, it could all unravel pretty rapidly I suspect.

I do also agree with others that the winning streak was a little lucky, and although on paper, and points wise, it was championship winning form, this isn't a champion winning team. I may be proved wrong, but I don't think so. It needs a lot of work, and the board will need to trust, and back him.

The truth is, that nobody really has a clue what goes on behind the scenes, and to declare him a great, or not so great manager at this stage, would just be guessing. I honestly don't have a clue.

It's really all about how he responds now, but one things for sure, he is already on borrowed time...

 

[Tango80]

I can totally agree with the board holding fire on appointing Ole full time, yes last game was disappointing but for me he's still favourite.

Going ahead and appointing him now would be foolish. We've seen a million times when a manager gets a new contract because they've been on a run of good results and everyone is feeling all warm and fuzzy. The United board know this time they have to get the appointment absolutely right, so they should rightly take their time. There is no point appointing someone now when they always have the option to do it at the end of the season.

For me, the big question is can Ole take this club forward? He knows the club well and the identity of the 'United way', so ticks a lot of boxes. Can he build a team though? Will the wheels come off after a number of months? The last thing we need is a Marco Silva type. Only time will tell though.

 

[PepsiCola]

He rushed back too many returning players into the line up.

Personally I'd have gone with Pogba at the top of the diamond with Rash and Martial upfront. A midfield 3 of Mctominay, Pereira and Herrera.

 

[Wedge]

The caf needs a proper clearout of some idiots/wums. Ole has proven he's the man for the job and I think he knows exactly what to do with the squad in the summer and a pre season under him will be great. He's a forward thinking manager and he gets united and I fully believe he'll bring us success.

 

[crossy1686]

Because he got relegated with Cardiff so every time he loses a game he's tactically outsmarted by the opposition manager.

Ah! Makes complete sense now. How could he possibly have any idea what he's doing after getting relegated? Only losers get relegated.

 

[Red Dreams]

Solution.
Lets get permanent Bottler Pooch ...and sell Pogba.

Everything will be right as rain.

 

[Red Dreams]

The caf needs a proper clearout of some idiots/wums. Ole has proven he's the man for the job and I think he knows exactly what to do with the squad in the summer and a pre season under him will be great. He's a forward thinking manager and he gets united and I fully believe he'll bring us success.

good post

 

[crossy1686]

The caf needs a proper clearout of some idiots/wums. Ole has proven he's the man for the job and I think he knows exactly what to do with the squad in the summer and a pre season under him will be great. He's a forward thinking manager and he gets united and I fully believe he'll bring us success.

100%. I'm starting to think I'll sit this place out until we appoint him permanent. So many FIFA/Football Managers in here stacking shelves in the real world that know how to manage a team better than most PL managers.

 

[DenResched]

We need to back our manager whoever it is appointed by Directors (SAF and David G are one of them)

These times we easily forgot years of transition under SAF. When Beckham or Ronaldo leaves. When Chelsea and City start spending lot of money.

People made mistakes and decision that'll regret. Players or Ole himself. Even if we didn't get top 4 in the end is not depends fully on Ole. Even we won 90% of the available points we still need our rivals to drop points. Even when we won against Wolves, we still need to face City in the Final. Even We managed against Barca Theres Liverpool or Ronaldo awaits.

It's not excuses, it's reality checks that even SAF took years to change the habit and instill the philosophy during his early years. Don't forget SAF job saved by one goal.

Do any of you really think Pochettino have those mentality required to face these squaeky bum time? It's not only about squad depth, tactics.

Ole need time. Even we won trophy or end up top4 it's still a miracle and I'll personally think Ole learnt his trade not only from SAF, might be Dumbledore if not Voldemort.

Another point is, if Ole will be here next season, he'll give a shot to youngsters.

Note : I really think we should try to adapt 3-5-2. Saw and Dalot will excel being WB.

 

[Dec9003]

Well, that was exactly my point. After 10 matches everyone wanted Ole to get a job. It's understandable because we were on great form but at the same time it was stupid as we need to wait until the season ends to make a decision IMO. I am just not fully convinced Ole is the man for the job (and no, I don't change my opinion after each game), our attack is still mostly disjointed and we rely on individual brilliance. We should wait these 10 or so remaining matches and see how we do.

But we've already done so much as a team under Ole despite how the next ten matches might go.
We've got results against every big side we've played, and have only really had two disappointing results in which we played okay in one.
Our attack hasn't been mostly disjointed, it hasn't been as good since Lingard, Martial and Rashford all got knocks at the same time but obviously that will affect it.
I just don't see what can happen in the next ten matches to sway people either way; because to me they're fairly insignificant bar the matches against Barcelona.
What's important when deciding if Ole should get the job or not is being able to assess what he's done on the whole (which is really good) and what his plan would be for the upcoming season, not if we can get wins against the likes of Watford and Wolves in the league.

 

[dove]

But we've already done so much as a team under Ole despite how the next ten matches might go.
We've got results against every big side we've played, and have only really had two disappointing results in which we played okay in one.
Our attack hasn't been mostly disjointed, it hasn't been as good since Lingard, Martial and Rashford all got knocks at the same time but obviously that will affect it.
I just don't see what can happen in the next ten matches to sway people either way; because to me they're fairly insignificant bar the matches against Barcelona.
What's important when deciding if Ole should get the job or not is being able to assess what he's done on the whole (which is really good) and what his plan would be for the upcoming season, not if we can get wins against the likes of Watford and Wolves in the league.

I think these 10 next or so games are as important as the first 10 which basically won Ole a job IMO. If we needed to offer someone a job now I would give it to Ole of course but we shouldn't get carried away and wait until the season ends. There are still a lot of question marks especially his in game management, for example I feel he makes changes (subs) way too late. He can and probably will improve of course but people shouldn't be so defensive when someone expresses concerns about Ole. It was a very good start to his United reign but as I said we shouldn't get carried away and make premature decisions.

 

[Bill Hartzia]

3-5-2. Saw and Dalot will excel being WB.

I'd pair John Kramer with Dalot.