Ole's Press Conference | 05:30 BST

[Andycoleno9]

"There are loads of players here I know are going to be successful at this club."

Complete opposite of what he said post match against Everton.

I have two explanations to that.
1) He tought that we will have busy summer with lots of transfers but board said no so he is now trying to play that words down
2) He is not ruthless enough. My general (unpopular) opinion about him is that he is too much nice words without knowledge to back that words. He is a clever guy. He knew and saw how United fans didn't like moaning and bad mood with Jose so he goes on what fans want to hear. And fans wanted to hear that players will pay the price for shit performances.

 

[RedSky]

People are criticizing him for his well thought out answers, maybe they would rather hear him throw his players under the bus, declare that Pogba will rot in reserves, and that he has a shitty squad that he can't hope to achieve anything of note with. I am sure that will make some of these media 'experts' happy, although I doubt it.

Indeed, because it'd make the whole situation so much better if he did it right? I used to chuckle at people posting shit like that but it's getting tiresome.

 

[Litch]

haha!!

It's quite amazing how people are getting this "yes man" theory from. It's quite astonishing how some fans can completely fabricate a situation and make it reality.

Oh, so you're expecting him to s**t all over the very people that employ him, or become argumentative and hard to work with? Look how well that turned out for Jose.

Like a poster said above, SAF NEVER Criticised the owners.

TBF the owners have always given the manager money when he's asked for it (baring last summer with Jose) never been an issue. I really don't understand why people have a problem with the glazers.

I think the clubs run quite well and have no issue with the way things are going. Sure the DoF is a bit farcical when all of our rivals are getting people in, yet when there's briefings in the press of ex players in the running for it. They're criticised, yet other clubs such as Arsenal with Edu and Chelsea with Cech, nothing. No criticism what soever. Yet because our fans have a somewhat elitist view of the club we should always have the best of the best. We haven't been the best of the best for the best part of a decade!

You see this is the problem with the stupid child like 'ha ha' comment. Nothing said on here is a science, it's a opinion and only with the benefit of hindsight will we know if it's right or not. No ones saying it's reality, just a perception. Make of it how you want, but comments about the loudest fans when you have played everything else with a straight bat including giving a player who said he wants to leave 'good guy' comment doesn't sit comfortably with me but that's my opinion as 'ha ha' as you find it...

 

[ottosec]

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Credit to him for having the balls to call out the fan base.

While everyone is at fault for our current situation, most of this gloomy feeling around the club is fueled by our own fans.

Our players are constantly slated, no matter if they are good or bad, while donkeys from other teams that barely played a handful of games or showed any talent throughout their careers are seen as some saviors. It's the same with our staff and management, hell, I even saw some retards ganging up on our sponsors on social media.

All this creates a very toxic working environment that makes our players want to leave and outside players not want to join.

We were always the most hated team, it's in our nature - our arrogance, our "us against the world" siege mentality always rubbed our opponents the wrong way and even small teams hate us. We always compensated that with our many proud fans sticking up to the club, but these days even the United fans throw shit at our club.

I don't even want to imagine what will happen if we lose the first two game, which is entirely possible, considering that we play Chelsea at home and Wolves away.

 

[Catt]

Is that a good thing?

Definitely. We love Jesse.

 

[TRUERED89]

Thanks very much much much for being considerate mate. Means a lot when people be understandable as a lot of people I mention to will just take this p!ss

If they're aware of your condition and still take the p!ss then they're just scumbags and should be ignored. I've got no patience for inconsiderate people!

 

[Tom Van Persie]

No, not at all mate. Just the way I interpreted his comments.

Fans every right to be shouting and screaming, the club is horrendously run from top to bottom. But we are being told to shut up and accept mediocrity. Stupid comment from Solskjaer.

I'm sure he had that clown that was screaming at Pogba at the end of last season in the mind when made that comment.

 

[Giggsyking]

So the largest portion of the fanbase is the group who are shouting about how the sky is falling?

Good riddance to those fecks, they make following United feel like a chore. I think you’ll find most match-going fans are about supporting rather than going «reee!» at every opportunity.

So Feck the 650 m fans around the world who wants the club to be successful, and hurrah for those who Boo Fellaini for causing a penalty against Everton, but keep their mouths shut for managers who disrespects the club like Mourinho or players like Pogba or managers who disrespect the fans like our legend Ole, take away your Norwegian tinted glass.

 

[Eriku]

So Feck the 650 m fans around the world who wants the club to be successful, and hurrah for those who Boo Fellaini for causing a penalty against Everton, but keep their mouths shut for managers who disrespects the club like Mourinho or players like Pogba or managers who disrespect the fans like our legend Ole, take away your Norwegian tinted glass.

Piss off.

 

[Eric's Seagull]

If they're aware of your condition and still take the p!ss then they're just scumbags and should be ignored. I've got no patience for inconsiderate people!

Cheers mate. Wish they were all as considerate as you

 

[MikeKing]

Glad we have a mentalist in our midst. Otherwise I might only take what Ole says at face value.

No, taking things at face value is what I would call outright outrageous these days. Obviously Ole is on a warpath towards the fans that always stood by him. That's whats really going on here. A media-strategist would tell Ole to articulate himself in a way that appeals more to the "crazy nutjob" market of fans, that'll do him a lot of good.

 

[cyberman]

Fair play Ole. Our fanbase needs as much of a clearout as our squad.

 

[Zlatattack]

We've had six years of shit, we'll have another one. Life goes on. I don't blame the manager for being positive, it's part of his job, to make the best of what he has to work with.

 

[devilish]

Forgive me for being dubious of that. I can’t remember a single positive thing you’ve said about either.

As if I give a feck what a random person on a forum says. However to explain it better I am referring to a job I had in a particular organisation were I closed my eyes and took the shit because it was what the organisation that I loved needed. I fear that Ole might be doing the same with Manchester United by covering up for his incompetent boss. Sometimes its worth it sometimes its not, but with Woodward its probably isn't. The guy would throw him under the bus to save his skin as he did it with other managers already.

 

[Thisistheone]

Amazingly positive presser compared to this time last summer... Lets just pray we get more in and the deadwood shifted.

Love the Greenwood comments as well. Excited to see him in action.

 

[Wheato]

He's played a blinder there. He's heaped loads of praise on Pogba, so they can't say we haven't supported him. But he's also shut the press and agents up by rubbishing the claims that there's some sort of bidding war for him. No bids received.

Suck on that Raiola and the British press agenda. He's made you all look silly. Well done Ole.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

We've had six years of shit, we'll have another one. Life goes on. I don't blame the manager for being positive, it's part of his job, to make the best of what he has to work with.

absolutely. some ridiculous 'expectations' here

 

[Litch]

The real fans will stand behind him as long as they see he is approaching the job with honesty, integrity and enthusiasm that he has shown so far. The 'moaners' will continue to moan irrespective of whatever happens as you can't please everyone and the internet has unfortunately given voice to a lot of these people who have nothing better to do than moan. That's what Ole meant when he said the 'loud' ones are not representative of what the fan base as a whole feels.

People are criticizing him for his well thought out answers, maybe they would rather hear him throw his players under the bus, declare that Pogba will rot in reserves, and that he has a shitty squad that he can't hope to achieve anything of note with. I am sure that will make some of these media 'experts' happy, although I doubt it.

I guess it's the crazy hypocrisy of the football fan forum. If you moan, your not a true fan yet as soon as a ball is kicked in August, the forum will be absolutely flooded with fans moaning about players, losing, formations, the manager etc. Also like last season, should you offer anything positive about say Jose or Pogs, the pack mentality starts moaning about you for offering a different opinion. I don't represent anyone than my own opinion which I try to offer in a balanced way. I think everyone has the right to have their say even if I don't share it.

Like I said, Ole said some strong words about only wanting players that want to be here, yet a player has openly now said he doesn't and this was met with 'kind words' about him? Yet Ole inferred negatively about loud supporters (?), just seemed misplaced and poorly timed when surely fans are going to be nervous about the future given how the season ended; the players that have left or want to leave; the players that he's offered contracts to that should have left and the lack of players that have come in.

 

[Giggsyking]

Piss off.

Insightful comment.

 

[AlwaysRed66]

I see we top the table with our manager favourite for the chop 2nd year running, though Mourinho fooled the bookies for awhile last season.

 

[devilish]

The real fans will stand behind him as long as they see he is approaching the job with honesty, integrity and enthusiasm that he has shown so far. The 'moaners' will continue to moan irrespective of whatever happens as you can't please everyone and the internet has unfortunately given voice to a lot of these people who have nothing better to do than moan. That's what Ole meant when he said the 'loud' ones are not representative of what the fan base as a whole feels.

People are criticizing him for his well thought out answers, maybe they would rather hear him throw his players under the bus, declare that Pogba will rot in reserves, and that he has a shitty squad that he can't hope to achieve anything of note with. I am sure that will make some of these media 'experts' happy, although I doubt it.

Results is all that matter. If he fails to reach the expectations set then he'll be kicked out irrespective of what fans think.

 

[Giggsyking]

Amazingly positive presser compared to this time last summer... Lets just pray we get more in and the deadwood shifted.

Love the Greenwood comments as well. Excited to see him in action.

Yeah, about that. He backed on that and willing to give the deadwood a new chance, Jones, Smalling, Young, etc. I mean dont get me wrong I am happy we have Ole instead the toxic one, but Ole better get the job done.

 

[Eriku]

Insightful comment.

Firstly, why do you make the straw man that I’m slating 650 mill people? Do you and your lot speak for virtually the whole fanbase?

Secondly, it’s some lazy shit to claim that my stances are predicated on some sort of Norwegian bias.

If you’re not even going to try to engage in a decent manner, I’m not going to give you a semblance of courtesy. I’m fine with differences of opinion, but your post does anything but engage in good faith.

 

[RedSky]

Yeah, about that. He backed on that and willing to give the deadwood a new chance, Jones, Smalling, Young, etc. I mean dont get me wrong I am happy we have Ole instead the toxic one, but Ole better get the job done.

What is Ole meant to do/say in that situation though?

 

[Hawks2008]

He cannot sit there an honestly say this is a good squad, Whatever happened to "survival of the fittest"? It's easy to talk about being ruthless and he has shown that it was all bullshit.

 

[Litch]

As if I give a feck what a random person on a forum says. However to explain it better I am referring to a job I had in a particular organisation were I closed my eyes and took the shit because it was what the organisation that I loved needed. I fear that Ole might be doing the same with Manchester United by covering up for his incompetent boss. Sometimes its worth it sometimes its not, but with Woodward its probably isn't. The guy would throw him under the bus to save his skin as he did it with other managers already.

Respect that comment. Ole is a good guy with a opportunity he could only of dreamed getting but you are absolutely right, he might feel obligated to the person that gave it him but equally, it will be the fans that save him not Woodward when things get inevitably difficult. I think that's why I found his comments so strange, why polarise yourself against any fan as all could be defined as 'loud' depending on the circumstance. The irony is it's probably the loud fans as why he's in the job as it was those fans that contributed to Jose getting the sack.

 

[EireRed_GS]

I enjoyed the majority of his conference, but im sorry, i dont agree with Ole's comments about 'loudest fans not being the best'.

We are a club on its knees, We are desperate for a major change in personel and mentality. We need to bring in some proper quality and get rid of the shit we have. Yet what has happened!? AWB & james.. Not exactly sorting the holes in the squad we have. Fair enough RB was an issue, although we did have great potential in Dalot available there. But we still have not sorted CB, CM, RW. If pogba & lukaku goes, we need to cover them too. And it seems quite unlikely to bring in anyone else due to how useless we have been in the market.

We are actually going into this season alot worse than last (if we lose pogba & lukaku). So Im sorry, the fans have a right to be 'loud' and angry. We were promised changes that have not happened. As it stands, its still the same shit. and im expecting another car crash season.

*Im still 100% behind Ole. His conference was overall good and quite positive, handled it well. I hope some of our young lads like Greenwood & Chong come into their own this season and get some minutes. But i hope the club are not solely relying on that

I was also hoping for a sly pop at that snake Riaolo in there too

 

[Giggsyking]

Firstly, why do you make the straw man that I’m slating 650 mill people? Do you and your lot speak for virtually the whole fanbase?

Secondly, it’s some lazy shit to claim that my stances are predicated on some sort of Norwegian bias.

If you’re not even going to try to engage in a decent manner, I’m not going to give you a semblance of courtesy. I’m fine with differences of opinion, but your post does anything but engage in good faith.

When you start your argument by disrespecting the non match going fans and say good feck riddance. Then sure you will get the same tone. United has 650 m supporters, not 76 k going to the stadium. I travel every year to Manchetser to attend at least one match and it cost me more than a season ticket holder match going fan. If you think only you or the ones who are match-going fans are entitled to give their opinion and support the club, then you are wrong.

 

[Mike Phelan's Former Tash]

I see we top the table with our manager favourite for the chop 2nd year running, though Mourinho fooled the bookies for awhile last season.

Not surprised by this.

The media are enjoying kicking United while they're down. All these little reports such as 'players unhappy with methods' etc are designed so they can say 'told you so' IF it does go south as they're predicting it will.

Sarri was the target last year, this year its Ole.

On the other hand Super Frank will do well regardless of his lack of experience etc etc.

There's a clear United agenda from the media because they're news regardless. Good or bad, no other club has the same draw.

 

[UnitedSofa]

You see this is the problem with the stupid child like 'ha ha' comment. Nothing said on here is a science, it's a opinion and only with the benefit of hindsight will we know if it's right or not. No ones saying it's reality, just a perception. Make of it how you want, but comments about the loudest fans when you have played everything else with a straight bat including giving a player who said he wants to leave 'good guy' comment doesn't sit comfortably with me but that's my opinion as 'ha ha' as you find it...

Ok, yes, I apologise, that was a bit silly of me, but I just find how us giving the manager stick, after the great run he had at the start a bit poor. Because he's done x,y,z that obviously means he's a 'yes man' is a bit of a stretch

We can't win all the time and you see the start of a philosophy that Ole and the club want to do, I think he's right to criticise the fans, especially if they're treating Pogba the way they did at the end of last season.

Pogba our most productive player of all last season and getting unwarrented amount of stick.

Ronaldo never got this much stick after saying he wanted out and he did a lot worse to the club than Pogba did, saying he wants to leave, then stay, then leave, then stay. -

 

[mitchmouse]

so pre-season is going well and we are going to challenge... ummm have we played anyone yet? Don't let that fish hit you on the way out, Ole! I'm afraid he seems to have caught Woodward's disease: everything in the garden is rosy-itis

 

[Giggsyking]

What is Ole meant to do/say in that situation though?

He should have never from the first place given comments like the ones he said at the end of the season if he is not intending to act on them. The ruthlessness he promised the fans we cant see. In fact, he lost the player he wanted the most Herrera and the players that everybody call deadwood are their in the tour having their 10th chance at the club.

 

[mitchmouse]

He should have never from the first place given comments like the ones he said at the end of the season if he is not intending to act on them. The ruthlessness he promised the fans we cant see. In fact, he lost the player he wanted the most Herrera and the players that everybody call deadwood are their in the tour having their 10th chance at the club.

I can't work out how Ole doesn't realise he's been set up as the scapegoat

 

[bosnian_red]

People will complain about everything. This is how a United manager should speak in pre season, and most of the time really. Create positivity, lighten the mood, stand firm on your beliefs, and not have a media circus about every little presser, every topic, every player around the squad. It's a massive area that Mourinho failed miserably in here. You simply can't be manager of the club and create wars with everyone associated with it and shit on the fans.

 

[Giggsyking]

I can't work out how Ole doesn't realise he's been set up as the scapegoat

I hate to see one of our legends being used by the Glazers and Ed. They will hide behind him, he will be in the face of criticism if things go wrong.

 

[RedSky]

He should have never from the first place given comments like the ones he said at the end of the season if he is not intending to act on them. The ruthlessness he promised the fans we cant see. In fact, he lost the player he wanted the most Herrera and the players that everybody call deadwood are their in the tour having their 10th chance at the club.

I'm confused. How is he meant to act on them though? He's not the one responsible for selling them. Are you suggesting he packs them off to the reserves and never uses them?

 

[Giggsyking]

People will complain about everything. This is how a United manager should speak in pre season, and most of the time really. Create positivity, lighten the mood, stand firm on your beliefs, and not have a media circus about every little presser, every topic, every player around the squad. It's a massive area that Mourinho failed miserably in here. You simply can't be manager of the club and create wars with everyone associated with it and shit on the fans.

I agree with you, Mourinho was a disaster and a poison at the club.

 

[MisterLupus]

I have two explanations to that.
1) He tought that we will have busy summer with lots of transfers but board said no so he is now trying to play that words down
2) He is not ruthless enough. My general (unpopular) opinion about him is that he is too much nice words without knowledge to back that words. He is a clever guy. He knew and saw how United fans didn't like moaning and bad mood with Jose so he goes on what fans want to hear. And fans wanted to hear that players will pay the price for shit performances.

I see many people calling out for ruthlessness on these forums and elsewhere and it amuses me that nobody seems to know what being ruthless really is. If you guys think it involves being honest through and through and always calling something for what it really is - acting like a confrontational warmongering hardliner every time the opportunity presents itself - then quite frankly you're mistaking ruthlessness for complete and utter naivety.

Being ruthless means saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done depending on the situation - to further ones chances of success. For someone like Solskjær - a person put in charge of an outfit full of players he relies on - by a board of directors who's support he's equally dependent on - this doesn't involve alienating everyone involved neither his subordinates or superiors. Pissing all over the very same people who's support and effort he actually needs - for instance by naming them dogshite or otherwise calling them out and shaming them in public - would be an extremely stupid move. Even if they are indeed dogshite - even if they deserve being shamed - you'll still have to suck it up and make them feel appreciated hoping that - at the very least - they'll stay motivated enough to help you as best as they can.

A lot of you guys are talking as if your only leader experience is through a computer simulated la-la-land - totally oblivious to the fact that these are actual humans involved and that sometimes - in fact quite often (most of the time I dare suggest) - the cold hard truth is a luxury ill-afforded when it comes to dealing with such.

Oh yeah and for the record Solskjær has been very consistent throughout his entire career with how he manages the media and how he handles himself in the presence of others - he's always been a nice, sympathetic character with a positive attitude so this is not flip-flopping on his account it's just how he's always dealt with things - and considering how his approach has landed him enough good will across several arenas for him to be where he is today...

...Yeah I doubt very much you lot has anything whatsoever to teach him in that department. In fact I suggest you all take five seconds to reflect over whatever it is he's saying at whichever time - make an effort fathoming why it might just be the smartest (most ruthless) approach rather than automatically presuming there must be something wrong with him for not saying whatever it is you'd want to hear.

Who knows - you might learn something about how the real world actually works - how to best interact with living creatures - and then realize what ruthlessness really looks like

 

[Adam-Utd]

I agree with you, Mourinho was a disaster and a poison at the club.

100% he was never "united". After the Sevilla loss he proved that to me. I've never heard a manager be so disrespectful and self centred.

Most managers would accept blame and responsiblity, but it was never his fault and all on the players and club. Ridiculous.

Ole might not be the next Guardiola but he will give his 100% effort for this club I am sure of it.

 

[roonster09]

People will complain about everything. This is how a United manager should speak in pre season, and most of the time really. Create positivity, lighten the mood, stand firm on your beliefs, and not have a media circus about every little presser, every topic, every player around the squad. It's a massive area that Mourinho failed miserably in here. You simply can't be manager of the club and create wars with everyone associated with it and shit on the fans.

Exactly.