If the squad is so poor, then how is last season's winning streak explained?

[Infra-red]

New manager boost. See Craig Shakespeare.

Also, the squad is weaker now than it was last season.

 

[Tyrion]

Alright, Ole got way too much credit during his winning streak and too much blame now

Agreed. Initially he benefitted from his skills at being "not-Mourinho" and now he's limited by a bad squad.

That said, I see no reason to believe he's good enough.

 

[fallengt]

Herrera and matchfit Matic were huge factor. Might be Lukaku as well, he proved a challenge and made Rashford worke outside of his comfort zone for starting striker place. Right now Rashy could just shit on the field and Ole'd still call it good performance.

Anyway, whoever behind the idea that we didn't need to replace them deserve to be sacked as well. Club has no plan whatsoever to get United back on top despite Woodward non stop damage controlling on media.

 

[Sky1981]

Matic i supposed is downtooling.

 

[Eternitiy]

Solskjaer's positivity and charisma was perfect to give the squad a boost from Mourinho's negativity and toxicity, but we've seen that the boost was just a temporary high. He should never have gotten the job on a permanent basis. He's proven himself utterly clueless tactically and hopelessly indecisive.

Also, while Lukaku, Fellaini, and Herrera were not vital players for us, failing to replace them has left us with a severe lack of options.

 

[RC89]

New manager boost, motivated players since Jose shackles were removed, lack of pressure (until 4th was on, at which point we crumbled), Ole employing positive tactics for the most part because there was no pressure on him, Ole showed variations in the way we attacked to get behind teams (See the Spurs game, despite the scoreline being flattering), we pressed aggressively and transitioned quickly.

Since then, the honeymoon period with Ole is over, pressure is back on players and again they have crumbled, Ole is employing negative tactics despite oppostion(always playing 2 DMs positionally), tactical inflexibility (yet to see us try and change things in a game), poor/late substitutions, weaker midfield, we lack any real urgency/energy with our pressing and don't build attacks quickly enough (except against Chelsea), injuries.

 

[nainaisson]

Since then, the honeymoon period with Ole is over, pressure is back on players and again they have crumbled, Ole is employing negative tactics despite oppostion(always playing 2 DMs positionally)

We're playing with a No.10 now, which we weren't in Ole's first season. How is that "negative tactics"? And playing a 4-2-3-1 doesn't mean that the two CMs are always protecting the back line. Pogba has license to go forward, but he isn't effective because his form is crap, along with the form of all of our No.10s (Lingard, Mata, Pereira).

 

[Sky1981]

If the logic ole needs more than 10 mths to get his idea instilled then the first 15mths isnt due to him.

 

[RC89]

We're playing with a No.10 now, which we weren't in Ole's first season. How is that "negative tactics"? And playing a 4-2-3-1 doesn't mean that the two CMs are always protecting the back line. Pogba has license to go forward, but he isn't effective because his form is crap, along with the form of all of our No.10s (Lingard, Mata, Pereira).

Look at Pogbas starting position in almost every game, he's basically a DM that gets forward every now and then. Also, I take issue with our 10s being in bad form, they aren't on bad form, this is them playing at/close to their limit. Mata, as much as I like him has never been great for us. Lingard is basically crap and Pereira TBF is usually shunted out wide. If you don't think we're not employing negative tactics, do you think we're employing positive tactics? Genuinely interested here.

 

[POF]

Apologies if there is a thread that is already devoted to this, I haven't seen it. Some of this has been argued about in the Ole Performances thread, but I felt a specific thread could help focus the issue.

The main argument I've seen from fans who want to give Ole more time, is that no other manager would be able to get any more out of this squad of players.

I've given it thought, but come to the conclusion that this just defies logic. When Ole came in, he talked up the potential of the squad. We also went on that winning streak, picking up 35 points from the first 14 games, which was title winning form. Not only that but the football being played was expansive and free flowing. We spent a lot time winning games and looking like we were going to win games.

If you compare that to this season's form and the form from the tail end of last season I see teams that are world's apart (despite a brief upsurge right at the start of the season). We do look dismal it has to be said. There seems to be little evidence of a finely tuned, well-oiled machine which has a clear setup and method of penetrating other teams. We are toothless in attack, creating few chances from open play. Many of the players seem to have regressed to shadows of what they're capable of. Fred, our £50m signing from Brazil, looks like a bona fide pub player. Rashford is becoming a meme version of himself that now blazes free kicks over the bar from a ridiculous angle, instead of whipping the ball into the box when we're chasing a game. Lingard has become entirely impotent as an attacking threat and is widely derided by the fanbase. DDG is not looking like the unbeatable force he once was and now you're worried every game he might let a routine save creep in. Pogba, by far our best player, is cutting a disconsolate figure who might only stay if we agree to pay him the GDP of a small country.

To me this all indicates squad mis-management. And the logical conclusion to that is that Ole has to be the person who is responsible for this, this is his remit. He talked up the squad when he got the job, but now it looks like the goalposts are moving. All of a sudden the squad is not good enough and somehow we are now overachieving with this squad by getting to midtable!

From my perspective, I am sad to say that I don't think Ole is a good manager. I don't think he's a good tactical manager or even that good a motivator. The impression I get is that his main failure is trying to be SAF-lite. Whereas SAF was respected, liked and - most crucially - feared, Ole seems to be mainly liked and to a lesser extent, respected. Ole seems to be too chummy with some of the players, calling them nicknames and the like, while at the same time he has alienated others, such as Lukaku and Matic, to our detriment. Say what you want about those players, I would probably agree with you, but I get the feeling that a top manager like SAF would have kept those players on side and got what he needed out of them. Instead, Lukaku felt justifiably frozen out and was sold. Fair enough, but a bit dumb (this is being kind) when no replacement has been lined up ready to bring in. It indicates a serious and concerning lack of foresight.

I think he is good at making his favourites in the squad feel great about themselves, but terrible at giving harsh doses of reality and the hairdryer when it's required. And that would indicate that he would rather be liked than respected. Which is not a bad quality in a person, but it's not what is required to manage an elite football club.

What should be said I think, is that Ole's plan A works. When all players are fit and available, we look very capable. Pogba, Martial, James and Rashford (when he is not in Rashinaldo mode) are a potent attacking force and we saw it in the first couple of games of the season, I thought we were unlucky at Wolves. Additionally the players brought in have been successes in general, but can this be said to be a real success? If you spend £80m on a centre back, you really should bloody hope they turn out to be good for you.

But our strength is incredibly brittle. Injuries to Pogba and Martial make 'midtable side' seem like a generous description. Whereas elite managers rely more on their systems than individual players; ie. when one player is injured, another albeit less quality player can fulfil the same role in the interim. Conversely, Ole's system seems to be very easily ruptured in more of a 'single point of failure' kind of way.

And this is what defines Ole as a poor manager to me. There is no indication of any system being developed that is capable of withstanding external stressors and pulls the maximum out of the considerable resources we have available. We simply should not be this bad, despite any injuries.

Additionally, the man-management has been poor. Freezing out Lukaku with no replacement. Indulging Rashford and giving the OK to the club to press ahead with his superstar contract with no evidence that he could be relied upon in the event of injuries or sale of other players reeks of post-peak Rooney with Moyes. Dybala would only come for stupid money as a result of these kinds of deals. Furthermore, there is talk of renewing Lingard's contract, Pogba also looks disillusioned and wants ridiculous money to stick around. £50m worth of Brazilian talent that was also coveted by Guardiola is now in abject freefall. Mata looks shot despite being only 31 and having never relied upon pace as part of his game anyway

Ole simply doesn't have the mettle of a SAF, the resoluteness to create a true siege mentality that can withstand the incredible stress that comes with being Manchester United. After 9 months the squad shows no signs of being greater than the sum of its' parts. He lacks innovation tactically, which probably could have been said of SAF as well, but SAF knew how to bring the right people in could fulfil this role for him. And to top it all off the players are looking worse than ever. Tepid, uninspiring performances are the order of the day

The red flags with this appointment keep piling up and I find blaming the squad an unacceptable excuse. There is enough talent in the squad to be comfortably top 6 form, and to put more than one goal past Astana. It is Ole's job to get the most out of the squad, to get the £50m version of Fred back. To ring the last drops out of Matic and Mata's career. To instil Gomes as the next bright English talent in the #10 role. To come down on Rashford like a ton of bricks for his over indulgent and reckless disregard for the team. To implement a system that allows these players to shine for him.

Ole is a nice guy, a club legend who clearly loves the club and it's deeply offensive when posters here personally insult him. But there is no way that he is elite, or I think, even top half manager material. And the sooner the penny drops with the fanbase, the better I say.

So what you're saying is that Ole has no excuse for not getting more out of this squad. He's clearly not good enough because the squad played much better last season under . . . . . Ole!

If anything, that shows that with some breaks going in his favour and luck with injuries, he's more than capable of going on a similar run.

Logic is not your friend.

United's attacking players are young, inconsistent players. When they're in form and all available they are dangerous. When they're not, their lowest level is abysmal. During that run last season Rashford, Lingard, Martial and Pogba were in great form. Now, 2 are in terrible form, 1 is injured and Pogba is having to play deeper because the only other competent midfield player at the club was allowed to leave on a free against the manager's wishes.

The squad lacked depth in midfield/attack last season. They lost 3 players and added a kid from the Championship who was about to sign for Leeds. Are people really surprised the attack is struggling?

 

[Sterling Archer]

Part new manager high, part fixtures but I think IMHO Herrera was key to make the midfield, and Pogba in advance position worked. When Herrera was missing, and Pogba back to mid 2, results suffered as well.

Which is why it's incredible to me that Herrera was one of the first to be allowed to leave and then not be replaced. How were they that naive

 

[Sky1981]

Apologies if there is a thread that is already devoted to this, I haven't seen it. Some of this has been argued about in the Ole Performances thread, but I felt a specific thread could help focus the issue.

The main argument I've seen from fans who want to give Ole more time, is that no other manager would be able to get any more out of this squad of players.

I've given it thought, but come to the conclusion that this just defies logic. When Ole came in, he talked up the potential of the squad. We also went on that winning streak, picking up 35 points from the first 14 games, which was title winning form. Not only that but the football being played was expansive and free flowing. We spent a lot time winning games and looking like we were going to win games.

If you compare that to this season's form and the form from the tail end of last season I see teams that are world's apart (despite a brief upsurge right at the start of the season). We do look dismal it has to be said. There seems to be little evidence of a finely tuned, well-oiled machine which has a clear setup and method of penetrating other teams. We are toothless in attack, creating few chances from open play. Many of the players seem to have regressed to shadows of what they're capable of. Fred, our £50m signing from Brazil, looks like a bona fide pub player. Rashford is becoming a meme version of himself that now blazes free kicks over the bar from a ridiculous angle, instead of whipping the ball into the box when we're chasing a game. Lingard has become entirely impotent as an attacking threat and is widely derided by the fanbase. DDG is not looking like the unbeatable force he once was and now you're worried every game he might let a routine save creep in. Pogba, by far our best player, is cutting a disconsolate figure who might only stay if we agree to pay him the GDP of a small country.

To me this all indicates squad mis-management. And the logical conclusion to that is that Ole has to be the person who is responsible for this, this is his remit. He talked up the squad when he got the job, but now it looks like the goalposts are moving. All of a sudden the squad is not good enough and somehow we are now overachieving with this squad by getting to midtable!

From my perspective, I am sad to say that I don't think Ole is a good manager. I don't think he's a good tactical manager or even that good a motivator. The impression I get is that his main failure is trying to be SAF-lite. Whereas SAF was respected, liked and - most crucially - feared, Ole seems to be mainly liked and to a lesser extent, respected. Ole seems to be too chummy with some of the players, calling them nicknames and the like, while at the same time he has alienated others, such as Lukaku and Matic, to our detriment. Say what you want about those players, I would probably agree with you, but I get the feeling that a top manager like SAF would have kept those players on side and got what he needed out of them. Instead, Lukaku felt justifiably frozen out and was sold. Fair enough, but a bit dumb (this is being kind) when no replacement has been lined up ready to bring in. It indicates a serious and concerning lack of foresight.

I think he is good at making his favourites in the squad feel great about themselves, but terrible at giving harsh doses of reality and the hairdryer when it's required. And that would indicate that he would rather be liked than respected. Which is not a bad quality in a person, but it's not what is required to manage an elite football club.

What should be said I think, is that Ole's plan A works. When all players are fit and available, we look very capable. Pogba, Martial, James and Rashford (when he is not in Rashinaldo mode) are a potent attacking force and we saw it in the first couple of games of the season, I thought we were unlucky at Wolves. Additionally the players brought in have been successes in general, but can this be said to be a real success? If you spend £80m on a centre back, you really should bloody hope they turn out to be good for you.

But our strength is incredibly brittle. Injuries to Pogba and Martial make 'midtable side' seem like a generous description. Whereas elite managers rely more on their systems than individual players; ie. when one player is injured, another albeit less quality player can fulfil the same role in the interim. Conversely, Ole's system seems to be very easily ruptured in more of a 'single point of failure' kind of way.

And this is what defines Ole as a poor manager to me. There is no indication of any system being developed that is capable of withstanding external stressors and pulls the maximum out of the considerable resources we have available. We simply should not be this bad, despite any injuries.

Additionally, the man-management has been poor. Freezing out Lukaku with no replacement. Indulging Rashford and giving the OK to the club to press ahead with his superstar contract with no evidence that he could be relied upon in the event of injuries or sale of other players reeks of post-peak Rooney with Moyes. Dybala would only come for stupid money as a result of these kinds of deals. Furthermore, there is talk of renewing Lingard's contract, Pogba also looks disillusioned and wants ridiculous money to stick around. £50m worth of Brazilian talent that was also coveted by Guardiola is now in abject freefall. Mata looks shot despite being only 31 and having never relied upon pace as part of his game anyway

Ole simply doesn't have the mettle of a SAF, the resoluteness to create a true siege mentality that can withstand the incredible stress that comes with being Manchester United. After 9 months the squad shows no signs of being greater than the sum of its' parts. He lacks innovation tactically, which probably could have been said of SAF as well, but SAF knew how to bring the right people in could fulfil this role for him. And to top it all off the players are looking worse than ever. Tepid, uninspiring performances are the order of the day

The red flags with this appointment keep piling up and I find blaming the squad an unacceptable excuse. There is enough talent in the squad to be comfortably top 6 form, and to put more than one goal past Astana. It is Ole's job to get the most out of the squad, to get the £50m version of Fred back. To ring the last drops out of Matic and Mata's career. To instil Gomes as the next bright English talent in the #10 role. To come down on Rashford like a ton of bricks for his over indulgent and reckless disregard for the team. To implement a system that allows these players to shine for him.

Ole is a nice guy, a club legend who clearly loves the club and it's deeply offensive when posters here personally insult him. But there is no way that he is elite, or I think, even top half manager material. And the sooner the penny drops with the fanbase, the better I say.

Excellent post.

But sadly the ole in brigade will keep on shouting about how much of a mess that cnut Mourinho he's fixing and how his hand is tied behind his back

 

[POF]

Excellent post.

But sadly the ole in brigade will keep on shouting about how much of a mess that cnut Mourinho he's fixing and how his hand is tied behind his back

The saddest part about your comment is that the majority of posters on here genuinely are so entrenched in the "Jose was shit", "Ole is shit" camps that they are incapable of having a rational discussion about either.

Jose is a far better tactician than Ole but it didn't translate on the pitch because the players couldn't stand him.

Ole is trying to re-establish a "United culture" at the club but with players lacking top level talent.

Whatever the club does it needs to stick to the plan for more than 5 minutes and every United fan should be behind Ole. If he doesn't work out, it's more money wasted, another manager wanting his own players and a club even further away from getting anywhere near the top end of the league.

 

[Sky1981]

The saddest part about your comment is that the majority of posters on here genuinely are so entrenched in the "Jose was shit", "Ole is shit" camps that they are incapable of having a rational discussion about either.

Jose is a far better tactician than Ole but it didn't translate on the pitch because the players couldn't stand him.

Ole is trying to re-establish a "United culture" at the club but with players lacking top level talent.

Whatever the club does it needs to stick to the plan for more than 5 minutes and every United fan should be behind Ole. If he doesn't work out, it's more money wasted, another manager wanting his own players and a club even further away from getting anywhere near the top end of the league.

Problem is it's the same squad minus 2 plus 2. You can't say Jose underachieved and failed with the same squad while giving ole a blank season because you claim the squad is shit.

Worse squad? Probably. But 10 position worse? With practically the same squad minus herrera lukaku plus awb james maguire?

People claim lukaku and sanchez is deadwoods, yet they used the same sets of players not being available as excuses. If they're duds then they shouldnt matter should they?

Problem is people have 2 sets of standards. One for jose and one for ole and the back and forth isnt a discussion, it's mud flinging contest and blame shifting.

 

[POF]

Problem is it's the same squad minus 2 plus 2. You can't say Jose underachieved and failed with the same squad while giving ole a blank season because you claim the squad is shit.

Worse squad? Probably. But 10 position worse? With practically the same squad minus herrera lukaku plus awb james maguire?

People claim lukaku and sanchez is deadwoods, yet they used the same sets of players not being available as excuses. If they're duds then they shouldnt matter should they?

Problem is people have 2 sets of standards. One for jose and one for ole and the back and forth isnt a discussion, it's mud flinging contest and blame shifting.

Your reply just completely proves my point. How Ole is doing or whether fans need to get behind him has nothing to do with Jose. Absolutely nothing. Why feel the need to compare them?

Jose did a good job at times but by the end his position was completely untenable. He had lost the dressing room and the support of his employers. Whether Ole is better or not has absolutely no bearing on that.

Same squad plus 2 minus 2? Players who have left under Ole: Fellaini, Herrera, Lukaku, Sanchez, Smalling, Darmian. That's 2?

What is 10 positions worse? What are you comparing? Their current league position to a position at the end of the season before last? If United beat Newcastle they are 2 points off 3rd.

Absolute one eyed nonsense.

 

[Shimo]

Easy first few games coupled with an complete change from a toxic atmosphere to a refreshing carefree, no expectations one. Lead to some players playing to their potential. That lead to a winning mentality. Also, at the time teams were a bit more happy to have a go at us, which played to the strengths of some players like Lingard and Rashford. Good on the counter but, soon as teams then sussed out that we didn't know how to break them down, we were getting less and less chances.

Ole was found out and he really hasn't found a way to get the team to create outside of break aways. We had an incredibly shit output outside of our forwards last year and our only forward that has been available has really been off, too much pressure, maybe not good enough, whatever it is - we aren't getting goals from him and there really isn't goals in anyone else. James had a bit of patch but, that has dried up too.

In Lukaku we lost at least someone that would get you some goals against the lesser sides.

At the moment we can barely create and when we do we can't finish.Can't score, definitely not going to win.

 

[RedRonaldo]

If the new manager bounce works so well, why not we just keep firing our manager in order to get us the result.

 

[SteveW]

Games are won and lost in midfield. Our midfield 3 was the same throughout the run. When it got broken up the run ended and our form went to shit.

We've since lost Herrera, Matic has gone to pieces and Pogba has been injured. We're now relying on players like Fred, Pereira and Mata with predictable results.

This can only be fixed in the transfer window.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

Reasons for winning streak

• New manager Bounce.
• Started off with easier games which built up confidence
• Our important players were fit when Ole took over. We also had more depth.

Reasons for current poor run

• Dropping points (missed penalties) early on dented confidence.
• Sqaud is very, very thin.
• Important players departed (Herrera).
• Young players showing inconsistency.

 

[tenpoless]

I don't know about you but if I don't like my boss and have dreaded him for years, the moment when He leaves will probably feel like the best period of my career, and I will most likely put more effort in doing my job, for a short period of time.

 

[Eric7C]

We're playing with a No.10 now, which we weren't in Ole's first season. How is that "negative tactics"? And playing a 4-2-3-1 doesn't mean that the two CMs are always protecting the back line. Pogba has license to go forward, but he isn't effective because his form is crap, along with the form of all of our No.10s (Lingard, Mata, Pereira).

If their form is crap, then Ole must change it right? Forget changing it in-game, he doesn't even alter the formation over many games irrespective of how it is working. Pereira has been played on the right - he just doesn't have the qualities to play there. He has played Greendwood on the right too. It is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

The saddest part about your comment is that the majority of posters on here genuinely are so entrenched in the "Jose was shit", "Ole is shit" camps that they are incapable of having a rational discussion about either.

Jose is a far better tactician than Ole but it didn't translate on the pitch because the players couldn't stand him.

Ole is trying to re-establish a "United culture" at the club but with players lacking top level talent.

Whatever the club does it needs to stick to the plan for more than 5 minutes and every United fan should be behind Ole. If he doesn't work out, it's more money wasted, another manager wanting his own players and a club even further away from getting anywhere near the top end of the league.

I agree on all points. Discussing and criticizing the manager is (a big) part of the discussion, but reducing the whole topic "it's the managers fault", as if he inhereted a title winning side is a bit bizarre.

 

[POF]

I agree on all points. Discussing and criticizing the manager is (a big) part of the discussion, but reducing the whole topic "it's the managers fault", as if he inhereted a title winning side is a bit bizarre.

Agree. Also the basic "Jose good, Ole bad" nonsense. Both have their positives and negatives and sometimes timing is everything.

The reason I am hopeful with Ole is because the club has absolutely no idea what its identity is. Ole at least has a vision. He wants to establish a club with the right character and a mentality and a style that worked in the past.

It may not work now but at least he has a vision which is better than the last 6 years of no vision at all.

 

[dove]

The underrating off our squad is quite something from Ole’s apologists.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

The underrating off our squad is quite something from Ole’s apologists.

This. Ole shares no blame as 'no other manager' could get anything out of Matic, Mata etc etc

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

Agree. Also the basic "Jose good, Ole bad" nonsense. Both have their positives and negatives and sometimes timing is everything.

The reason I am hopeful with Ole is because the club has absolutely no idea what its identity is. Ole at least has a vision. He wants to establish a club with the right character and a mentality and a style that worked in the past.

It may not work now but at least he has a vision which is better than the last 6 years of no vision at all.

True regarding each having positives and negatives. Towards the end of Mourinho's tenure I wanted him gone because he'd apparently lost the dressing room and wasn't being backed by the board. There was nothing he could do.

I see what Ole is trying to do now, but feel the board isn't backing him enough. He's gone into the season with a very thin squad with glaring defeciencies. I'm afraid, if the bad results continue, he'll be thrown under the bus. We get a new manager and we're back to square one.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Agree. Also the basic "Jose good, Ole bad" nonsense. Both have their positives and negatives and sometimes timing is everything.

The reason I am hopeful with Ole is because the club has absolutely no idea what its identity is. Ole at least has a vision. He wants to establish a club with the right character and a mentality and a style that worked in the past.

It may not work now but at least he has a vision which is better than the last 6 years of no vision at all.

Maybe that's why the club is going backwards..

 

[Sky1981]

Your reply just completely proves my point. How Ole is doing or whether fans need to get behind him has nothing to do with Jose. Absolutely nothing. Why feel the need to compare them?

Jose did a good job at times but by the end his position was completely untenable. He had lost the dressing room and the support of his employers. Whether Ole is better or not has absolutely no bearing on that.

Same squad plus 2 minus 2? Players who have left under Ole: Fellaini, Herrera, Lukaku, Sanchez, Smalling, Darmian. That's 2?

What is 10 positions worse? What are you comparing? Their current league position to a position at the end of the season before last? If United beat Newcastle they are 2 points off 3rd.

Absolute one eyed nonsense.

So you support ole..ok

 

[Ekeke]

Elation at getting out of a toxic atmosphere (Mourinho) and reliable defensive players Smalling + Ander allowing our attacking players to get on with attacking instead of helping to defend. It was always pretty obvious that playing Pogba deeper meant he wasn't going to be as productive as he was last season. Also Lukaku had a good spell or two with goals off the bench to help get the points

 

[Rista]

Mostly new manager bounce and (un)fortunate luck distribution.

 

[Bestietom]

We had Herrera, Fellaini and Lukaku

 

[Wilt]

Reasons for winning streak

• New manager Bounce.
• Started off with easier games which built up confidence
• Our important players were fit when Ole took over. We also had more depth.

Reasons for current poor run

• Dropping points (missed penalties) early on dented confidence.
• Sqaud is very, very thin.
• Important players departed (Herrera).
• Young players showing inconsistency.

Agree with all of this.

Plus an incredible amount of luck where we were winning games against the run of play. Springs to mind being totally battered at Spurs (2nd half) yet winning 1-0. And how the feck did we manage to knock out PSG? (they must still be having nightmares)

 

[Eric's Seagull]

Think having Herrera was one of the main reason's by having him playing it gave Pogba the licence to cause havoc further forward, where he is much more effective.

 

[POF]

So you support ole..ok

Of course I do. He's the manager of Manchester United. Just like I supported Jose, LVG and Moyes before him.

Don't you?

 

[POF]

True regarding each having positives and negatives. Towards the end of Mourinho's tenure I wanted him gone because he'd apparently lost the dressing room and wasn't being backed by the board. There was nothing he could do.

I see what Ole is trying to do now, but feel the board isn't backing him enough. He's gone into the season with a very thin squad with glaring defeciencies. I'm afraid, if the bad results continue, he'll be thrown under the bus. We get a new manager and we're back to square one.

I honestly don't think they can. The club has gone all in on "returning to United values" and a slow rebuild. 7 out, 3 in and give up? Surely not.

Maybe that's why the club is going backwards..

6 years of nonsensical recruitment is more likely the reason. It has a direction now at least. Hopefully more forwards than backwards but definitely better than going nowhere.

 

[InspiRED]

So what you're saying is that Ole has no excuse for not getting more out of this squad. He's clearly not good enough because the squad played much better last season under . . . . . Ole!

If anything, that shows that with some breaks going in his favour and luck with injuries, he's more than capable of going on a similar run.

Logic is not your friend.

United's attacking players are young, inconsistent players. When they're in form and all available they are dangerous. When they're not, their lowest level is abysmal. During that run last season Rashford, Lingard, Martial and Pogba were in great form. Now, 2 are in terrible form, 1 is injured and Pogba is having to play deeper because the only other competent midfield player at the club was allowed to leave on a free against the manager's wishes.

The squad lacked depth in midfield/attack last season. They lost 3 players and added a kid from the Championship who was about to sign for Leeds. Are people really surprised the attack is struggling?

Hmm not really. I addressed these points in the post saying that Ole's plan A does work, when every player is available. However, single point of failure systems in general never tend to be very successful. Part of being a top manager is surely building robustness that can withstand external stressors. Something I really have no faith in Ole to implement at this point in time.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

I honestly don't think they can. The club has gone all in on "returning to United values" and a slow rebuild. 7 out, 3 in and give up? Surely not.

I hope you're right. If it was 3 out, 7 in I would have been a bit more confident.

 

[Sky1981]

Of course I do. He's the manager of Manchester United. Just like I supported Jose, LVG and Moyes before him.

Don't you?

I support Manchester united. I support whoever in my view is the best for United

 

[POF]

Hmm not really. I addressed these points in the post saying that Ole's plan A does work, when every player is available. However, single point of failure systems in general never tend to be very successful. Part of being a top manager is surely building robustness that can withstand external stressors. Something I really have no faith in Ole to implement at this point in time.

The lack of logic is that you're using last season (under Ole) as some sort of proof that the players are good enough.

Now you're saying that last season proves the players are good enough when they're all fit so he should be doing better this season with a thinner squad and injuries?

He clearly didn't have the players outside the first choice starting 11 last season to implement his style of play. Lost 3 midfielders/forwards, got a £15m cheap signing from the Championship and now should have the squad to do it?

 

[Bestietom]

We all know that we need 5 more top players for the TEAM, no matter who the manager is. We would see a big change in results if we were to get this done in the next 2 windows, starting in January.
We are all on edge now because of the results and the state of the football we are playing each week. New players give others more confidence and IMO if we were able to bring in a Midfielder and a Striker in January, it might turn out to be a better season than we expect right now.