Ander Herrera: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the right man for Man United despite 'tough job ahead'

[NorthernAvengeR]

I normally watch people's actions and less their words, but I don't think Ander is disingenuous here. The club mishandled his contract situation and he realizes he'll probably be gone regardless once the wheels actually start rolling again. I totally get why he left for an employer who actually demonstrated their valuation of him. United has been run like a goods & services company without a plan for a long time now. You can only coast on past accolades for so long.

Also the posters on this forum are making me hate football more than United's play this season. I get that it's easier to be positive when you're top dog, but it seems redcafe has changed beyond that.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

I normally watch people's actions and less their words, but I don't think Ander is disingenuous here. The club mishandled his contract situation and he realizes he'll probably be gone regardless once the wheels actually start rolling again. I totally get why he left for an employer who actually demonstrated their valuation of him. United has been run like a goods & services company without a plan for a long time now. You can only coast on past accolades for so long.

Also the posters on this forum are making me hate football more than United's play this season. I get that it's easier to be positive when you're top dog, but it seems redcafe has changed beyond that.

I agree. There's probably more to come out about the exact circumstances, Ander has left the club so isn't our man to support so get why there's a bit of a chill in the air in the thread, but I don't see why outright venom is necessary. I wish him all the best, except in the CL where I want to see more bottling.

 

[Grande]

I'd much prefer him say, I needed a new challenge etc etc and it was the right time to leave. There's nothing wrong with that. Instead he's opening his mouth about us. I find it condescending, or Ole should. The words are hollow and again saying what he knows the fans want to hear. Guy should go into PR or politics.
Why didn't he take responsibility and put in consistent performances over the 5 years he was here? If he felt so strongly and was such a leader as people think, why didn't he exert that influence whilst he was here? Words are so cheap, and Ander knows how to use them.

Personally believe he's doing a number on the fans who believe his B.S. but that's just my opinion.

This doesn’t make much sense:
You want him to speak clichéed platitudes like a politician instead of the truth, and yet it’s him you want to go into politics?

I also think you confuse ‘taking responsibility’ with ‘being the best’. Pogba is the bigger talent, has been given responsibility and only to varying degrees taken it. Herrera has constantly taken way more responsibility than he has been given. You assert that he hasn’t exerted influence, what do you base that on? Many have disussed if he was talented enough, very few have questioned his application. He has always been one to fire up teammates when others have thrown their arms into the air.

He has several times been benched because others have been deemed more talented, technical or physical, and he hasn’t been offered much of a contract until his current expired, so if PsG proves him right by offering what United never did and more, you need to barknup Woodgate’s tree if you are bitter.

 

[JEredDevil]

Sorry, I'm not an Ole apologist or fans or anything, but he's a fecking molde manager and we're Manchester fecking United. We should be thankful that there's an unproven manager being given the most prestigious job on earth, something he didn't even merit apart from being "An ex United"

After all the merry go rounds of the past few seasons, is our manager job still the most prestigious in the world? If it was that prestigious, why didn't Zidane, Jardim, Conte throw their names in for the job? Or did i miss is somewhere? Its only prestigious because we are fans of the club. Would a Liverpool or Barca fan think the same way as you? Poch? Did he really state an interest for the job? Even so, i think he is probably off to Barca, PSG or Juve soon, where players are of higher quality and could probably match his ambitions.

Would you want to go to a club knowing how shite things are inside from top to bottom? Why would any sane person come knowing he would have many handicaps to work with? It is only the most prestigious job if you could take over SAF in 2013. We got to face up to reality, we are no longer the club we used to be under SAF. When LVG and Jose took over, we had problems, but they were not that well publicized yet. Shit only started to really hit the fan when we signed Sanchez. Do you think LVG or Jose would want to manage us again under the same structure and ownership? Why would you even want to join an organisation that has all the necessary ingredients to fail?

I wouldnt even be surprised if fecking molde, , take us out to the cleaners.

Im not saying that Ole is immune to the sack here, im just making the point that he should be given some time to turn things around.

 

[Ish]

Fair enough Ish, but do you remember the periods in his first and second season when his overall application/effort was questioned? He's always been professional, but I do remember these questions being raised before.

If I’m totally honest with you, I don’t recall but then I have a massive disclaimer to make - I’ve followed him since his Bilbao days, so I’m probably massively blinkered

I do always remember his “application” - as in skill set being questioned by some who deemed him not good enough, tbf. I always thought that we never quite just utilized him in the best possible manner. But like I said, I’m very biased.

I honestly don’t recall his work rate or professionalism being questioned though.

 

[Tom Cato]

If he believed so much in the coaching staff and the task at hand, why didn't he stay to help them through it as a 'key player'? And where in my post did you surmise that I don't back Ole?

Because he's not happy with how the admnistration treated him. He's said as much previously. This was not a decision based on sport, but employment.

 

[Hal9000]

One let's face it, the club screwed up his contract situation, secondily he was a squad player under Jose by the time Ole came in he has 6 months left and probably had offers we were not willing to match. I don't get the bitterness from people here, no like any of you wouldn't jump from your current work place for more money, especially if you felt not wanted and the other place offered you not chance to success.

We give crap like Jones a contract but delay with Anders...

 

[Tom Cato]

Ole is not the right man for the job he was the right man for the interim circumstance.

Now Woodward has shot himself in the foot, Ole hasn't done anything in his managerial career to warrant this job. All the fans who were singing give him the permanent look like delusional emotive fools.

We should have assessed the season objectively, Ole as an interim was the best decisions the glazers have made in recent years, appointing him was one of the worst decisions in recent years. We are finished

Can you provide some actual insight into this statement that are not limited to one-liners, maybe a view that offers some flesh to the bone of the discussion?

 

[SaintMuppet]

The manbaby is strong in some of you (this in no way excludes female posters)

You know those hard tasks around the house you have been putting off? Turn that angst into something positive and go get them done.

 

[Tom Cato]

Oh, interesting bits there, subtle hints about the dressing room i.e. the players, affirming what we've been suspicious about.

Like always he's also being diplomatic as usual, but also say what he want to say without making it controversial (by not using direct strong clear words).

Fair enough opinions.
And he's not exactly not giving the responsibility of failure to the two managers.
Basically he said both players and managers contributed to this Season of Shitness, not sure how what percentage with Mou but with Ole, it's more blame on the players.

Some parts about Ole being sincere and all players playing for him are total BS though.

I mean, he didnt have to say that. In fact he didnt have to say anything at all about the situation. I'm curious why you think the statement of someone actually in the dressing room is wrong, and you belive that yours is factual, despite never having set foot there?

 

[Grande]

Herrera has to be thanked for his endeavours, however the truth is he was never good enough to be more than a squad player, for him to tell us to 'stick with Ole' well is'nt that a bit hypocritical?
He has jumped ship for more money and I don't blame him for that, but if he really thought things would improve under OGS then why not stay?

Remember that it’s Woodward and Solskjær in tandem who has offered him a shorter contract and less paid than PsG. Closing thirty that obviously counts for something. It’s not hypocritical to say that a manager is the right manager even if he doesn’t value you as much as someone else does. More on the contrary.

He also said, about three times, it will take time, pointing both towards other challenges at the club that he might have grown tired of, or more plainly maybe that Uniteds contract offer would see him gone by the time Solskjær and his team has sorted the challenges Herrera sees here.

 

[Enigma_87]

He's just being courteous.

It's what you say with your ex, although both are pretty sure you'd never get it going again.

 

[Tom Cato]

Remember that it’s Woodward in tandem who has offered him a shorter contract and less paid than PsG. Closing thirty that obviously counts for something. It’s not hypocritical to say that a manager is the right manager even if he doesn’t value you as much as someone else does. More on the contrary.

He also said, about three times, it will take time, pointing both towards other challenges at the club that he might have grown tired of, or more plainly maybe that Uniteds contract offer would see him gone by the time Solskjær and his team has sorted the challenges Herrera sees here.

Fixed that for you. Solskjær has not been involved in Herreras contract negotiations with Woodward

 

[berbasloth4]

A lot of you fans are the reason we are hated, very fickle bunch

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He's just being courteous.

It's what you say with your ex, although both are pretty sure you'd never get it going again.

He's a polite lad who is trying to leave on good terms and wants United to do well. Some people really need to grow up.

 

[Bastian]

What an overreaction. He was probably asked the question. What would your reaction be if he'd have said "I have my doubts about Ole having the experience and strength of character to oversee a complete rebuilding job of a club in turmoil" ?

He's being polite, not condescending, and making it known he's no problem with Ole. If people remember, Ole had him in the first XI during our blip in form (when we were good).

 

[DomesticTadpole]

What an overreaction. He was probably asked the question. What would your reaction be if he'd have said "I have my doubts about Ole having the experience and strength of character to oversee a complete rebuilding job of a club in turmoil" ?

He's being polite, not condescending, and making it known he's no problem with Ole. If people remember, Ole had him in the first XI during our blip in form (when we were good).

Exactly. If he had said that, people would have come out with him downing tools and trying to get Ole the sack.

 

[dweb]

Loved him while he was here but how would any of you feel if some dude joined your business and got paid 5x what you get, for under-performing ?

Good luck to him. The board fecked up again.

 

[Grande]

Fixed that for you. Solskjær has not been involved in Herreras contract negotiations with Woodward

How do you know this? And why do you think so?

Would you not expect that Woodward asked Solskjær of his opinion of Herrera’s value to the club/squad even well before he hired him? (In fact Ole said as much in the press even, that he was involved in helping to plan for next season) And would you not expect Woodgate to ask Ole, once it was clear he would be appointed: How important is Herrrera to you, how far should we stretch our offer compared to PsG’s? I would think so.

Whatever happened before that to let his contract run down, Is of course down to Woodgate and presumably in part Mourinho.

 

[roonster09]

How do you know this? And why do you think so?

Would you not expect that Woodward asked Solskjær of his opinion of Herrera’s value to the club/squad even well before he hired him? (In fact Ole said as much in the press even, that he was involved in helping to plan for next season) And would you not expect Woodgate to ask Ole, once it was clear he would be appointed: How important is Herrrera to you, how far should we stretch our offer compared to PsG’s? I would think so.

Whatever happened before that to let his contract run down, Is of course down to Woodgate and presumably in part Mourinho.

Wasn't the excuse from Herrera's side was that the contract offered was very late and lacked human touch and all that? Solskjaer was appointed in March, so what difference can Solskjaer make when it was already decided by Herrera that he will leave?

 

[SER19]

I love the club, I bleed red, they have the right manager...

... Now which way is Paris?

 

[Carolina Red]

Buy a capable midfielder like Neves or Tielemans and this prick will be forgotten.

See, stuff like this is just silly.

 

[Lexxxzi]

So, exactly why don't people here believe Utd will start to win games again after the summer, when the players really will be, in terms of fitness, ready for his high pressure, 4-3-3 attacking-few touches style of play, which has been his style of play since ever? There is no logic behind the opposition to Ole specifically at the moment. The players weren't ready for his style, obviously. They were trained for Mourinho's style, evidenced by the injuries that followed after the Solskjaer start.

 

[Tom Cato]

How do you know this? And why do you think so?

Would you not expect that Woodward asked Solskjær of his opinion of Herrera’s value to the club/squad even well before he hired him? (In fact Ole said as much in the press even, that he was involved in helping to plan for next season) And would you not expect Woodgate to ask Ole, once it was clear he would be appointed: How important is Herrrera to you, how far should we stretch our offer compared to PsG’s? I would think so.

Whatever happened before that to let his contract run down, Is of course down to Woodgate and presumably in part Mourinho.

Ole has stated that contract talks are ongoing between the player and the administration, while his focus is on the players he has available. He's not been part of the contract talks. He has certainly been involved in the planning as far as discussing players go before he was signed on as manager, but he wouldnt have had any perfmanent say until the job was his, that call was on Woodward.

And ESPECIALLY not when he was interim manager.

Letting Herreras contract get to this stage was a collossal cockup in itself that Woodward will get the blame for in its entirety. Ander states that he was not happy with how the club handled his contract, so thats why he's leaving. Herrera should have been signed to a new contract before the season even started.

I expect that Woodward has asked Oles opinion, but Oles opinion has been limited to the very very short time he had been here prior, that can not be the basis for signing players long term. Loooking at you, Phil Jones.

 

[FootyGirl88]

I love the club, I bleed red, they have the right manager...

... Now which way is Paris?

 

[kouroux]

Some of the reactions here... Bitter and salty don't even begin to describe them

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Which is why he jumped ship. Makes sense.

 

[CM]

Herrera's an intelligent guy, he definitely has it in him to be a manager one day.

It's easy to direct abuse at him and accuse him of leaving for the money, but from his perspective it doesn't make sense to spend the final years of his career at a club in transition when there are better opportunities on the table.

 

[Grande]

Ole has stated that contract talks are ongoing between the player and the administration, while his focus is on the players he has available. He's not been part of the contract talks. He has certainly been involved in the planning as far as discussing players go before he was signed on as manager, but he wouldnt have had any perfmanent say until the job was his, that call was on Woodward.

And ESPECIALLY not when he was interim manager.

Letting Herreras contract get to this stage was a collossal cockup in itself that Woodward will get the blame for in its entirety. Ander states that he was not happy with how the club handled his contract, so thats why he's leaving. Herrera should have been signed to a new contract before the season even started.

I expect that Woodward has asked Oles opinion, but Oles opinion has been limited to the very very short time he had been here prior, that can not be the basis for signing players long term. Loooking at you, Phil Jones.

Haha. Hat of to Mr Jones.

No doubt Woodgate is responsible, although I am quite sure if Ole in March, having seen Herrera as one of his preferred eleven in a wonderstreak (and having followed United closely as a fan previously, not to forget), felt that Herrera was an important player to his project, he would have said to Woodgate something along the lines of ‘we need him, match the PsG offer’, and said to Herrera: I really want you in my plans, please do stay for three years’, it would have carried a lot of weight. I don’t know this for a fact, of course, but I would be surprised if Solskjær viewed him as an essential piece and had no influence.

 

[Esquire]

Ferguson was in the same spot!
OGS has been struggeling with players from 3 previous managers. They have not been fit for playing high pace fotball and have been out with injury one after another.
Wouldent it be fair to let him choose his own team and at least have a summer to get the players fit for his system?
Or sack him and get another manager in August and demand at least 3 place by christmas with no signings.
Remember that OGS have not been able to sign one player and haven't had a breake to get the players fit.

I don’t disagree with you and I think all of us want him to succeed. But the drop off in performance has been staggering. You can’t chalk this all down to the lack of fitness if we can’t beat a relegated team and they essentially coasted to a win. The problem of this team goes much more fundamental than that and OGS clearly needs some help aside from Ed fecking Woodward.

 

[sunama]

Wow,salty responses from fans here.

He was one of our best players. Of course fans are going to be salty.
Meanwhile dross like Phil Jones and Ashley Young remain.

 

[Loublaze]

If I’m totally honest with you, I don’t recall but then I have a massive disclaimer to make - I’ve followed him since his Bilbao days, so I’m probably massively blinkered

I do always remember his “application” - as in skill set being questioned by some who deemed him not good enough, tbf. I always thought that we never quite just utilized him in the best possible manner. But like I said, I’m very biased.

I honestly don’t recall his work rate or professionalism being questioned though.

Some caf posts from his first and second season here:

How does Fellaini get so much shit and this guy gets away with everything? After Di Maria, one of the worst signings in the clubs history.

He's crap but just like Mata as he's a "nice guy" gets away with murder.

He's lucky that he didn't play next to someone like Keane. He is spineless and loses every 50/50.

He's been terrible this season. Don't think he knows what he's supposed to be doing

He has been shocking, A little pussy out there. Disgraceful effort

Spineless pussy, he is the epitome of what is wrong with this team

I love Herrera but he was absolutely brainless tonight


Complete crap season from him

He's been utter garbage for a few months now, might be best to just sit him out for the rest of the season.

We would have lost nothing by keeping hold of Tom Cleverley and keeping this chancer in Spain

He has regressed so much this season from last season, it's absurd

he's a kidder when it comes to the physical stuff. Quite clever at making himself look up for a battle but when it comes to a 50/50 my money's on the other bloke.

Cowardly display I'm a fan of Herrera but he looked like he shit himself

Complete lack of discipline

He was terrible and ill-disciplined which makes you wonder why he lasted as long as he did. Been disappointing this season

He's had a woeful season. I don't think he's got much of a future here either

He's turned into the kinda player we easily laugh at. He's pointless, can't control, can't pass and concedes a stupid amount of dangerous FKs

Every time he is poor or nothing special theres a good excuse amd it some other player's fault.

He's just not going to look good unless we have Carrick, or more ideally a "new Carrick", behind him

Weak and ineffective. Simply hasn't got the dynamism to be a Utd player.

He looks a shadow of the player we saw in the second half of last season. Frail, ill-disciplined, unintelligent, inconsistent technique, inaccurate passing; Just a miserable performance.

He's having a rubbish season. He's overrated on here

The only thing he guarantees consistently is a cheap yellow card and a half-arsed dive in a lame attempt to win a pen.

He's had a shocking season, especially given the expectations we had for him

Talks the talk but on the pitch the guy needs an overhaul

He's been such a disappointment. If Mourinho comes in, is he safe this summer? I'd question it.

The season has been a complete and utter write off for him.

 

[kouroux]

What an overreaction. He was probably asked the question. What would your reaction be if he'd have said "I have my doubts about Ole having the experience and strength of character to oversee a complete rebuilding job of a club in turmoil" ?

He's being polite, not condescending, and making it known he's no problem with Ole. If people remember, Ole had him in the first XI during our blip in form (when we were good).

It is as simple as that. Many of our fans are having reactions akin to sploiled children

 

[WR10]

It’s the kind of thing you say when you’re leaving your ex that cheated on you and you want to sound like a humble and courteous man. Deep down you laughing thinking thank feck that’s over

Some people will swallow it up some will see right through it

 

[kouroux]

It’s the kind of thing you say when you’re leaving your ex that cheated on you and you want to sound like a humble and courteous man. Deep down you laughing thinking thank feck that’s over

Some people will swallow it up some will see right through it

Except that he didn't cheat on anyone. Players have the right to look for the best financial or else conditions they feel they deserve.

 

[WR10]

Except that he didn't cheat on anyone. Players have the right to look for the best financial or else conditions they feel they deserve.

Cheated on. Ie Woodward slept with jones,smalling and young while he had Herrera at home

 

[kouroux]

Cheated on. Ie Woodward slept with jones,smalling and young while he had Herrera at home

Yeah but no

 

[Wade3]

Concentrate on yourself, Ander. Your time at United is over.

So if he’a asked a question regarding the matter, he’s simply supposed to refuse answering the question with the knowledge he has about Solksjaer and the club because he’s leaving for another club?

 

[nyanza]

Except that he didn't cheat on anyone. Players have the right to look for the best financial or else conditions they feel they deserve.

Herrera's not the ex in his analogy.

 

[Ish]

@Loublaze (sorry for the tag - post was very long!) i remember some of those comments - were they perhaps when Noble carried him off the field when we lost to WHU?


But anyway, I don’t disagree with the notion that a lot of United fans have never taken to him, or thought he was good enough. My point was, that IMO, even if he struggled on the field (& he did during the LvG years - like many others), it was never because he wasn’t committed or professional.