Ole has to start agitating over lack of signings

[Amarsdd]

The stupidity of this forum knows no bounds. You dont air your dirty laundry in public and Ole is intelligent enough and sensible enough to do it in the right.

What im sick of seeing on this forum is a complete lack of common sense on the grounds that because United wont pay ridiculous amounts for overpriced players, it is seen board's not backing Ole. The cash cow that other clubs seem to see United as needs to stop and if that means that we dont pay 80-90 million for a defender, I dont care.

Very well said. As others have mentioned, United is a business with a budget to balance like most of the big clubs in the world. We don't have unlimited budgets like the oil clubs and are not irresponsible from the pov of any economical metrics as clubs like Barcelona who are spending without any care. And I don't want the club to be like that in any ways. And it's not even like we haven't spent or have a shoe-string budget. Its just that we have made some bets that just didn't work out.
And in terms of Ole being a pushover, I think it just comes from the stereotype of a shy person. Ole sounds slightly shy and meek in front of the media, but it doesn't mean he can't stand up for himself. People just seem to think you have to be always brooding like Jose, or obnoxious like Klopp or just plain old weird like Pep to be considered strong.

 

[buckooo1978]

So on that last line, which teams have spent more than 70m in england so far this summer?

Villa was the one that came to mind - they've spent close to double us actually I think

this in spite of the fact that we are one of the richest clubs in world football supposedly rebuilding with a Manager who wanted some significant signings

to further put this in context this is against the backdrop of us spending less than Fulham the previous year despite being 30 points behind City

to even further put our transfer failings in perspective, in spite of desperately needing a RW, CB and DM in that time we've signed 2 RBs (needed) a 36 year old keeper, another LW and overspent by 30m on Fred

our transfer activity has been odd to say the least wouldn't you say?

 

[Sandikan]

Villa was the one that came to mind - they've spent close to double us actually I think

this in spite of the fact that we are one of the richest clubs in world football supposedly rebuilding with a Manager who wanted some significant signings

to further put this in context this is against the backdrop of us spending less than Fulham the previous year despite being 30 points behind City

to even further put our transfer failings in perspective, in spite of desperately needing a RW, CB and DM in that time we've signed 2 RBs (needed) a 36 year old keeper, another LW and overspent by 30m on Fred

our transfer activity has been odd to say the least wouldn't you say?

It certainly has been odd, Wan Bissaka aside, as that looks a real smart long term buy in a long term totally neglected position.

Right wing has been similarly neglected, yet seemingly no move to fix that, and no midfielder, as a minimum to replace Herrera again is odd.

Fulham and Villa have made their fees go miles though, that's across loads of players.

We'll see what the next 11 or so days bring though!

 

[ManchesterYoda]

Wan-Bissaka is a miracle signing. The way we've been building our squad for the past 6 years plus is beyond depressing. Wrong signing after wrong signing after wrong signing and then we somehow buy the best defensive RB in Europe. What's that about?

 

[buckooo1978]

It certainly has been odd, Wan Bissaka aside, as that looks a real smart long term buy in a long term totally neglected position.

Right wing has been similarly neglected, yet seemingly no move to fix that, and no midfielder, as a minimum to replace Herrera again is odd.

Fulham and Villa have made their fees go miles though, that's across loads of players.

We'll see what the next 11 or so days bring though!

I dunno.... we know we can buy Harry Maguire for the asking price, not cheaper

we know how much we can get Fernandes for too I think - Sporting have seemed fairly eager to sell with player sales part of their way of running the club

so why haven't we bought them yet? We are deffo interested in Maguire and I think we are keen on Fernandes (Savic too by the sounds of things)

it does feel like we are waiting until we sell Lukaku and Pogba before we make those moves potentially

Lukaku I'm happy to see go...Pogba I'd happily let go in a year - he could be crucial next year

it's odd that we haven't made those moves yet and if it is the case we have to sell before we buy I'd say theres a chance we end up with a positive net spend this summer

 

[Litch]

Ole said there was ‘a chance’ some players had played their last game for United. That’s not being firm that Mata, Young, Jones or Pereira will not be here.

He also said in December that the players where better than many thought. He also said in July that he was pleased with how the players have responded to his demands after last season’s end.

I think people expecting some big clear-out in the face of Solskjærs statements, where thinking wishfully, based on their own impatience with many of the players.

I’ll still be surprised if not at least three players have left before the windows close.

I guess time will tell and I wasn't implying it was those players either but general consensus those players would be at the top of most people's list that careers had run their course here. I'm not sure that anyone was falling for the comment that they were better than most thought, my view wasn't based on a one season or because I'm simply blaming the last manager. Not sure about others but my patience is def wearing thin with some of the players and Ole should be looking over his shoulder as the very players he's backing with get him the sack as simple they are not good enough....

 

[ReddBalls]

Fulham and Villa have made their fees go miles though, that's across loads of players.

Fulham bought loads of players and even "won" the transfer window according to posters on here the last time they were in the prem.

They went straight down.

 

[Ranchero]

Let's

I dunno.... we know we can buy Harry Maguire for the asking price, not cheaper

we know how much we can get Fernandes for too I think - Sporting have seemed fairly eager to sell with player sales part of their way of running the club

so why haven't we bought them yet? We are deffo interested in Maguire and I think we are keen on Fernandes (Savic too by the sounds of things)

it does feel like we are waiting until we sell Lukaku and Pogba before we make those moves potentially

Lukaku I'm happy to see go...Pogba I'd happily let go in a year - he could be crucial next year

it's odd that we haven't made those moves yet and if it is the case we have to sell before we buy I'd say theres a chance we end up with a positive net spend this summer

It worries me to think Fernandes or Malinkovic-Savic might be to replace Pogba when we have not replaced Herrera. Still. Or Fellaini.
We need to reinforce our midfield not weaken it.
The way we drag our feet on transfers feels like someone upstairs actually wants the deals to fall through.
It really is the same old story. With ten days to go till the transfer window slams shut.

 

[Ban]

So he should do what Jose did last summer?

 

[Infra-red]

He's not the type to agitate, which is probably one of the reasons he got (and kept) his job.

 

[roonster09]

The peace project
The one other aspect of this Manchester United pre-season that has fundamentally changed from the last is that club officials no longer need to be concerned about what the manager is going to say to the media.

It may not be much use for the journalists who travelled to cover their trip but Solskjaer does not do public confrontation. The Norwegian is very much a disciple of Tottenham counterpart Mauricio Pochettino who, after the two sides had played in Shanghai last week, told the press there was no point asking him about potential signings, or even those he might sell, because it was a club matter and any information would be released on the official website.

Neither will Solskjaer publicly criticise Woodward or even United's decision to organise a long overseas tour - in truth no manager likes them - because he views it as counter-productive.

None of this guarantees United will win matches, which is, in the end, how Solskjaer will be judged.

And, with just over a week left before the English transfer window closes, his squad is still not the one he wants.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49144693

 

[Sunny Jim]

Firstly i have to say the signs are all good pre-season. The youngsters particularly Greenwood and Gomes have lit up our warm ups.

But we are in the home straight of the transfer window and the start of the new season and still have signed up just two players. And this is heading the way previous transfer windows have gone. Lots of discussions without sealing the deal. All huff and puff and no actual stuff.

What Ole needs to do though is start agitating. Not like Jose. But saying nothing is accepting this situation.

He has stated during pre-season that we "have" to replace players we have lost.

We have lost Herrera and Fellaini and not replaced them.

The Bruno Fernandes and Maguire sagas are becoming as long drawn out as United fans have come to expect.

And the normal course of events, if past evidence is anything to go by, will be it will come to nothing.

This is unacceptable.

Central midfield is a problem position for us and we need quality. We cannot be hoodwinked by a few positive pre-season friendlies.

If Ole has been brought in because he won't rock the boat then fans have every right to be angry.

We are supposed to be investing in a team that has a desire to win trophies.

And now is the time for Ole to grow a pair, and become less babyfaced and more assassin.

SAF never ever let people know that is he is not in power. "There is no value in the market" was a mantra to cover lack of transfer funds.
Ole will do the same- he will act as if everything what happens is a matter of choice. Ole we will want to be perceived as a person pulling the string.

 

[Bestietom]

We have to sell before we can buy. Where is this great club heading.

 

[tony54]

Let's


It worries me to think Fernandes or Malinkovic-Savic might be to replace Pogba when we have not replaced Herrera. Still. Or Fellaini.
We need to reinforce our midfield not weaken it.
The way we drag our feet on transfers feels like someone upstairs actually wants the deals to fall through.
It really is the same old story. With ten days to go till the transfer window slams shut.

Your bold sentence just about sums it up.
FFS we have not replaced much needed defenders and midfielders with anything other than 'cast offs' since Alex Ferguson left. The only decent player in all this time has been Carrack.

 

[buckooo1978]

So he should do what Jose did last summer?

Jose wanted the sack from the get go last Summer. When he wasnt backed he knew it was curtains and he just wanted the sack - Jose is an extreme example and Ole shouldn't adopt his approach

at the same time one thing Solksjaer shouldn't do is say he's happy with the squad - he's doing his best to get the players fit, prepared and build a team to get us back. If a naive Solskjaer stands up in front of the press and says hes happy he's complicit with the failure and he needs to accept the consequences if we are 5th or 6th

it would be good to finally see the likes of Gary Neville or Rio Ferdinand tearing into the Glazer ownership as well as Woodward. Carragher called Neville on this before and his silence on the Glazers is deafening.

 

[Ban]

Jose wanted the sack from the get go last Summer. When he wasnt backed he knew it was curtains and he just wanted the sack - Jose is an extreme example and Ole shouldn't adopt his approach

at the same time one thing Solksjaer shouldn't do is say he's happy with the squad - he's doing his best to get the players fit, prepared and build a team to get us back. If a naive Solskjaer stands up in front of the press and says hes happy he's complicit with the failure and he needs to accept the consequences if we are 5th or 6th

it would be good to finally see the likes of Gary Neville or Rio Ferdinand tearing into the Glazer ownership as well as Woodward. Carragher called Neville on this before and his silence on the Glazers is deafening.

What should he do then, go public about not having transfers done? What good can that do exactly?
If he says he's not happy with the squad he's basically doing the same as Jose. You don't air dirty laundry and that exactly was the problem before Ole. Now suddenly he's guilty of not doing that...

 

[buckooo1978]

Let's


It worries me to think Fernandes or Malinkovic-Savic might be to replace Pogba when we have not replaced Herrera. Still. Or Fellaini.
We need to reinforce our midfield not weaken it.
The way we drag our feet on transfers feels like someone upstairs actually wants the deals to fall through.
It really is the same old story. With ten days to go till the transfer window slams shut.

I dont think there is any intention for the club to spend 150m - it would have happened by now. We should have been firing out of the blocks with purchases and had our squad in place for early July and the tour.

Instead it seems we are trying to flog Lukaku and possibly Pogba to fund our spending and we seem incapable of selling Darmian/Rojo etc....

there's a reason we've extended Jones, Smalling, Mata - the club doesn't want to spend 20/30m replacing them. They are assets the Glazers want to keep - the fact they have been ineffective footballers for a club who should be competing for the Title is not important to the Glazers.

as long as the money keeps rolling in they are laughing at United fans

 

[Ranchero]

I dont think there is any intention for the club to spend 150m - it would have happened by now. We should have been firing out of the blocks with purchases and had our squad in place for early July and the tour.

Instead it seems we are trying to flog Lukaku and possibly Pogba to fund our spending and we seem incapable of selling Darmian/Rojo etc....

there's a reason we've extended Jones, Smalling, Mata - the club doesn't want to spend 20/30m replacing them. They are assets the Glazers want to keep - the fact they have been ineffective footballers for a club who should be competing for the Title is not important to the Glazers.

as long as the money keeps rolling in they are laughing at United fans

Until the income declines through a second season without Champions League football!

 

[lysglimt]

What I don't understand is why we simply cant release a player like Darmian on a free. We are not gonna get much Money for him, and I Think he deserves it for his professional behaviour. That way he can find a club that wants to play him

 

[buckooo1978]

What should he do then, go public about not having transfers done? What good can that do exactly?

well his positivity did him no good in the last 3 months of last season.

Solskjaer's own credibility is on the line here too - I think he needs to state that in the window that they wanted 4 or 5 and only managed 2. He's been open about wanting two more in his presses seeing as he said we were working on them.

it puts pressure on kids too . I've seen people suggest Greenwood should be our starting RW or one the right of a 3 thid season. it's not fair to put that could of pressure on a 17 year old.

 

[redIndianDevil]

What I don't understand is why we simply cant release a player like Darmian on a free. We are not gonna get much Money for him, and I Think he deserves it for his professional behaviour. That way he can find a club that wants to play him

We have to pay his wages to break the contract, and also without a transfer fee, it will be spending money to get rid off a player. We will probably get 5m for him next year, why waste that?

 

[Ban]

well his positivity did him no good in the last 3 months of last season.

Solskjaer's own credibility is on the line here too - I think he needs to state that in the window that they wanted 4 or 5 and only managed 2. He's been open about wanting two more in his presses seeing as he said we were working on them.

it puts pressure on kids too . I've seen people suggest Greenwood should be our starting RW or one the right of a 3 thid season. it's not fair to put that could of pressure on a 17 year old.

Him being positive about kids puts pressure on them cause people suggest some of them should be starting? No logic there. What should he do, shit on them, say they're not good enough?

Edit: misunderstood your point, not adding players puts pressure on the kids, got it.

Him not bring positive can be only detrimental on the squad. And I'm sure he's not the same in the dressing room.
As I said going public with all this can't be at all helpful. You think Ed will do something just cause Ole will make a mess of it in public? Only thing that can happen is for him to get the sack more quickly.

 

[Bulldog United]

The cash cow that other clubs seem to see United as needs to stop and if that means that we dont pay 80-90 million for a defender, I dont care.

I absolutely agree. We didn't exactly help ourselves in this regard when Ed was boasting about our wealth and ability to do things other clubs couldn't do. At least we're on the right track now though.

 

[SecondFig]

What I don't understand is why we simply cant release a player like Darmian on a free. We are not gonna get much Money for him, and I Think he deserves it for his professional behaviour. That way he can find a club that wants to play him

Must admit, in the case of Darmian I kinda agree. He's been a model professional for us, while never really being good enough. But he's maintained fitness, never agitated for a move even when the annual links to Juve, Inter etc fall through. At best, we might get something like €8m for him. Surely it's easier to get him off the wage-book, out of the squad, and let him rebuild his career and us move on.

 

[Grande]

I guess time will tell and I wasn't implying it was those players either but general consensus those players would be at the top of most people's list that careers had run their course here. I'm not sure that anyone was falling for the comment that they were better than most thought, my view wasn't based on a one season or because I'm simply blaming the last manager. Not sure about others but my patience is def wearing thin with some of the players and Ole should be looking over his shoulder as the very players he's backing with get him the sack as simple they are not good enough....

Understandable that your patience is wearing thin. I’m more in between somewhere, I think many of the mentioned players, trained and organized well, are good enough to be squad members of a top team. A few of the younger have the potential to rise into starter level for a top team, but it’s hard to say who will make the step up and who won’t. And we will need to strengthen, not once, but at least over two summers, before we can dream of the top spot again.

 

[Eric's Seagull]

What I don't understand is why we simply cant release a player like Darmian on a free. We are not gonna get much Money for him, and I Think he deserves it for his professional behaviour. That way he can find a club that wants to play him

His contract is up next here and I think he will go then unless maybe someone comes in for him late in this window. I though that he would definitely be gone this window. In my opinion He is wasting his career here.

 

[TRUERED89]

No he was hired to be a yes man. Jose and Van gaal read right through Ed

Yet they still took the job, and fecked it right up.

 

[Eric's Seagull]

Ole said there was ‘a chance’ some players had played their last game for United. That’s not being firm that Mata, Young, Jones or Pereira will not be here.

He also said in December that the players where better than many thought. He also said in July that he was pleased with how the players have responded to his demands after last season’s end.

I think people expecting some big clear-out in the face of Solskjærs statements, where thinking wishfully, based on their own impatience with many of the players.

I’ll still be surprised if not at least three players have left before the windows close.

I thought there was going to be a big clear out but it is hard to get rid of players when we play crazy wages other teams wont. I hope that your right in the part in bold but if 2 of those players are Lukaku and Pogba, I hope we bring in sufficient replacements.

 

[Greck]

What I don't understand is why we simply cant release a player like Darmian on a free. We are not gonna get much Money for him, and I Think he deserves it for his professional behaviour. That way he can find a club that wants to play him

No one is that desperate to offload a player that isn't causing problems that they pay him to leave. That would be offloading a player for the sake of it. He'd have more value to us working at the club cafeteria.

 

[Eric's Seagull]

We have to pay his wages to break the contract, and also without a transfer fee, it will be spending money to get rid off a player. We will probably get £5m for him next year, why waste that?

We wont get £5m for him next year. His contract is up next year and he'll be gone on a free.

 

[buckooo1978]

Him being positive about kids puts pressure on them cause people suggest some of them should be starting? No logic there. What should he do, shit on them, say they're not good enough?

Edit: misunderstood your point, not adding players puts pressure on the kids, got it.

Him not bring positive can be only detrimental on the squad. And I'm sure he's not the same in the dressing room.
As I said going public with all this can't be at all helpful. You think Ed will do something just cause Ole will make a mess of it in public? Only thing that can happen is for him to get the sack more quickly.

I just think Solskjaer needs to protect himself somewhat and you can do that without coming across as petulant as Mourinho did

as far as the point on affecting Ed I dont think you can affect Ed. I think Ed is doing exactly what's he's told by the Glazers. I think we arent going to spend like we can afford to as they are looking after their asset possibly with an eye on selling.

how we affect a change I dont know but I think the Glazers will only leave for financial reasons. The likes of Neville calling the ownership out can only be a good thing. As for Ole I think it would be a mistake to protect Woody and he needs to be honest, in a mature way, that he didnt get what the team needed

 

[DoomSlayer]

I just think Solskjaer needs to protect himself somewhat and you can do that without coming across as petulant as Mourinho did

as far as the point on affecting Ed I dont think you can affect Ed. I think Ed is doing exactly what's he's told by the Glazers. I think we arent going to spend like we can afford to as they are looking after their asset possibly with an eye on selling.

how we affect a change I dont know but I think the Glazers will only leave for financial reasons. The likes of Neville calling the ownership out can only be a good thing. As for Ole I think it would be a mistake to protect Woody and he needs to be honest, in a mature way, that he didnt get what the team needed

Why does Ole need to protect himself? He is not Mourinho or Van Gaal, he is actually a Manchester United fan and would rather protect the club than his own ego or career. If fans are ignorant and gullible enough to blame him for our situation, it's on them, not him.

 

[TRUERED89]

Yeah he should definitely be making constant public statements about how desperate we are for new signings I’m sure that won’t affect negotiations/fees for the players we are trying to buy at all.

Also I’m sure constantly moaning about how the current squad isn’t good enough will be great for morale and really endear the players to Solskjaer.

Jesus wept

Bunch of jokers in here, they really want him to behave like Jose and be gone by xmas...

 

[Ranchero]

Bunch of jokers in here, they really want him to behave like Jose and be gone by xmas...

Perhaps if you read stuff you'd see that was not the suggestion.

 

[Ranchero]

A thought. If we do no more business except offload Lukaku. We will have made a net investment in our team of approximately £0

 

[AshRK]

Imagine Ole trusting some fans and go against the board, I bet the same fans will call for Ole to be sacked when the performance goes down.

 

[TRUERED89]

Perhaps if you read stuff you'd see that was not the suggestion.

Maybe not from the OP, but perhaps if you read stuff too; you'll see the 'suggestions'...

 

[MackRobinson]

A thought. If we do no more business except offload Lukaku. We will have made a net investment in our team of approximately £0

You're just inventing every possible negative scenarios at this point. You sure do like a good moan.

 

[Ranchero]

You're just inventing every possible negative scenarios at this point. You sure do like a good moan.

Far more often than not proven right, though.

 

[MackRobinson]

Far more often than not proven right, though.

If you throw out 100 possible scenarios and are correct about a few, it doesn't count for much does it?