Ole Gunnar Solskjær needs more time and respect at Manchester United

[Eric7C]

Why is speaking the blunt honest truth about what we’ve seen from OGS as manager hateful or disrespectful?

The main reasons for thinking OGS is out of his depth are
1) Form since March
2) No improvement or change in style of play.
3) Poor handling of sales and recruitment in transfer window that’s left us weaker
4) No noticeable improvement in young talent already at his club, consider his plan that should be the biggest test.
5) Genuinely seeing nothing from his current or past to believe that 3 years will change anything other then continued regression.


Also people blame the board for not getting a CM and CF, they assume Ole already knew who he wanted and was refused. But then they praise Ole for signing an £85m CB and £54m RB who only had one full season in the EPL?

Because he's a club legend. Or something.

Because it looks bad when we hire and fire managers (even though every big club does it). Or something.

Because we had years of success, so you have to prove your loyalty by supporting every damn decision the club and manager make. Or something.

Because Ferguson (league and European champion) was given time in the 80s. Or something.

 

[RedSky]

Exactly. If we are not scoring as soon as we concede we are in trouble.

We were on -1 goal difference after 8 games last season as well. This has been a long term issue which goes back to mid way through Jose' 2nd season. We had a small goal spike when Ole first arrived and we've gone back to where we were.

But my entire point is that defensively we are better. To say otherwise is just agenda drivel and this is despite Shaw and AWB both being injured at times. Bring in a DM and get Shaw/AWB back playing and we'd be far better defensively. We actually defend as a unit nowadays, but the main source of our woes come from the 2nd wave and thats due to poor tracking by our terrible midfield.

 

[Eric7C]

We were on -1 goal difference after 8 games last season as well. This has been a long term issue which goes back to mid way through Jose' 2nd season. We had a small goal spike when Ole first arrived and we've gone back to where we were.

But my entire point is that defensively we are better. To say otherwise is just agenda drivel.

Didn't we learn during LvG's reign that you can appear to be better defensively when you are not a good attacking team because you endlessley pass the ball sideways and back? We may not be doing it as much as during his time, but we are certainly doing it still.

 

[RedSky]

Didn't we learn during LvG's reign that you can appear to be better defensively when you are not a good attacking team because you endlessley pass the ball sideways and back? We may not be doing it as much as during his time, but we are certainly doing it still.

I don't think thats the case this season though. It's not like we're making individual errors which plagued us last season, nor are we creating sweet feck all like during LvGs worst. There were games with LvG where we'd struggle to create even a simple chance let alone score. It's just bad finishing on our account this season imo.

If you look at our goal threats it all comes from James, Rashford and Martial. One of those has been out injured and the other is an inexperienced rookie. So ultimately our goal threat has been Rashford and we all know he's not exactly clinical.

Edit: I do think you can point the finger at Ole for going into the season with our poor attacking options and not bringing in a player to help ease the creative burden off Pogbas shoulders.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Didn't we learn during LvG's reign that you can appear to be better defensively when you are not a good attacking team because you endlessley pass the ball sideways and back? We may not be doing it as much as during his time, but we are certainly doing it still.

Ole did say about us not taking risks, he was probably thinking about the sideways and backwards passing. We need someone in there who can take that risk.

 

[fergiesarmy1]

so do we ignore everything post PSG game last year? I mean even including his new manager bounce he has the lowest win percentage of any manager post SAF i believe. Not sure what plan he has besides seemingly signing overpriced british talent, but as a manager he looks so far out of his depth you have to sack him. Think of our managers after SAF as girlfriends-just because we've gone through our fair share of crazy bad girlfriends doesn't mean you blindly stick to this one. Dump her and keep trying your luck until you get the perfect fit.

Well thanks for that thought, I got as far as Gollum and not sure if I can clear it now.

Ole has had crazy bad luck with injuries, apart from the first few games every team has been a feck it team. I’d like to see him with his new signings and the “superstars” we had plus maybe a January signing or two and see how it’s going then.

If we go with every Ole out plan at the moment then what we gonna do when the next guy doesn’t work out, blame him and not the shit show he has to work with including the non playing staff especially the equaliser?

 

[Eric7C]

I don't think thats the case this season though. It's not like we're making individual errors which plagued us last season, nor are we creating sweet feck all like during LvGs worst. There were games with LvG where we'd struggle to create even a simple chance let alone score. It's just bad finishing on our account this season imo.

If you look at our goal threats it all comes from James, Rashford and Martial. One of those has been out injured and the other is an inexperienced rookie. So ultimately our goal threat has been Rashford and we all know he's not exactly clinical.

Edit: I do think you can point the finger at Ole for going into the season with our poor attacking options and not bringing in a player to help ease the creative burden off Pogbas shoulders.

I agree we are better defensively overall, definitely. However, it is hard for me to agree that finishing is our only major issue. In the last two league games, we have barely created any chances; only the McTominay and Maguire headers come to mind, and those were from set pieces. Our overall attacking play lacks a coherent pattern, players don't make enough runs or pass the ball quickly. That is not down to injuries but to lack of coaching. It's Ole's job to make it happen.

Ole did say about us not taking risks, he was probably thinking about the sideways and backwards passing. We need someone in there who can take that risk.

Again, it's the coaches' job to ensure that our players take risks/make runs etc. He can't be repeatedly telling us at every press conference that the players need to do it.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I agree we are better defensively overall, definitely. However, it is hard for me to agree that finishing is our only major issue. In the last two league games, we have barely created any chances; only the McTominay and Maguire headers come to mind, and those were from set pieces. Our overall attacking play lacks a coherent pattern, players don't make enough runs or pass the ball quickly. That is not down to injuries but to lack of coaching. It's Ole's job to make it happen.


Again, it's the coaches' job to ensure that our players take risks/make runs etc. He can't be repeatedly telling us at every press conference that the players need to do it.

Yes he does, but you also need the quality in there to do it and we are very short on quality.

 

[fastwalker]

For the record, let us be crystal clear, but for the fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a former United player who distinguished himself notably in the Champions League final in 1999, his appointment as Manchester United manager would have been considered a joke. Nothing about his resume entitles him to be Manchester United manager. Absolutely nothing. The current run of form over eight games at United, if replicated across a 38 game season would likely see United relegated. At a club the size of United, that entitles fans to express every bit of anger we can muster.

People really ought to stop this revisionist nonsense.

By all means acknowledge that we have appointed a wholly inexperienced and unsuited manager for one of the biggest jobs in world football and point out that we are standing by him purely on sentiment and nostalgia, but don't present false indignation and protest as rational argument. For goodness sake, this is Manchester United, not Molde! There are standards at this club, expectations and traditions. The side that Ole now oversees is better than the results that he has produced with it. On numerous occasions Ole has revealed his lack of tactical acumen, limited skills at in-game management and poor first team selection.

Whilst I am not calling for Ole's sacking, I absolutely do hold him responsible for the performance of the team on the pitch. As such it is right that he should be critiqued and challenged given the overall poor recent results. He is the manager for goodness sake.

My concern here is that we are seeing a steady lowering of the bar. At one time, it was expected that we would win the league, then that we would compete for it, then we should finish in the top four, then the top six, now even the top six might be stretch. This is just not acceptable and wil never be accepted by those who love this club and value what it has represented for the greater part of the last 30 years.

 

[RUCK4444]

I'm not reading all that shit you typed. Ole is a terrible manager. Have a good day

Hah ok, go back to Fifa young man.

I didn’t write it to garner any sort of response from you anyway lad.

 

[Eric7C]

Yes he does, but you also need the quality in there to do it and we are very short on quality.

This is a top 6 squad, at the very least. We are playing like relegation fodder. Teams like Brighton are passing it around better than us; it really isn't that much to demand at United, you have to know how to pass and move.

 

[RUCK4444]

You didn't even bother to ask him who he feels should replace Ole before jumping all over him using bizarre assumptions. And I don't think it's the job of fans to carry out a detailed analysis of the managerial field and determine who is available /who isn't among those that are good enough. But based on watching our own team play, it's possible to tell when a manager is absolutely out of his depth and hold a view when he attains the illustrious relegation form certificate, that he should go. Absolutely nothing wrong with that view despite your melodramatic response.

Also, well done on believing that we should consider our options if we are in a relegation fight come January we should consider options but that shouldn't be the case. I mean, it's absurd how low people want the standards at this football club to be. If he can't get top 4 he shouldn't be at this football club.

You’ve proved my point, most people calling for his head have no idea who will replace him. By the touchy tone of your reply I guess you don’t have any idea either.

To just sack anybody from any position without a thought out replacement and plan in place is even more reckless than sacking the man already in the position.

I would describe that as the feckin blatantly obvious instead of melodramatic.

Melodramatic would be to stomp your feet like a teenager and shout at the telly for Ole to be sacked and humiliated against Liverpool without a care in the world for whoever the club cares to bring in next.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

This is a top 6 squad, at the very least. We are playing like relegation fodder. Teams like Brighton are passing it around better than us; it really isn't that much to demand at United, you have to know how to pass and move.

The pass and move thing has been a problem long before Ole came. I have been tearing my hair out over that. Too many of them just wait for the ball to land at their feet and then just stand still. It is no wonder teams just sit back, they don't need to mark anybody. Pass the ball and start running further up field to receive another pass.

 

[red4ever 79]

The pass and move thing has been a problem long before Ole came. I have been tearing my hair out over that. Too many of them just wait for the ball to land at their feet and then just stand still. It is no wonder teams just sit back, they don't need to mark anybody. Pass the ball and start running further up field to receive another pass.

I dont understand why our players are so static. Frustrating as hell. Whole coaching set up is average

 

[red4ever 79]

For the record, let us be crystal clear, but for the fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a former United player who distinguished himself notably in the Champions League final in 1999, his appointment as Manchester United manager would have been considered a joke. Nothing about his resume entitles him to be Manchester United manager. Absolutely nothing. The current run of form over eight games at United, if replicated across a 38 game season would likely see United relegated. At a club the size of United, that entitles fans to express every bit of anger we can muster.

People really ought to stop this revisionist nonsense.

By all means acknowledge that we have appointed a wholly inexperienced and unsuited manager for one of the biggest jobs in world football and point out that we are standing by him purely on sentiment and nostalgia, but don't present false indignation and protest as rational argument. For goodness sake, this is Manchester United, not Molde! There are standards at this club, expectations and traditions. The side that Ole now oversees is better than the results that he has produced with it. On numerous occasions Ole has revealed his lack of tactical acumen, limited skills at in-game management and poor first team selection.

Whilst I am not calling for Ole's sacking, I absolutely do hold him responsible for the performance of the team on the pitch. As such it is right that he should be critiqued and challenged given the overall poor recent results. He is the manager for goodness sake.

My concern here is that we are seeing a steady lowering of the bar. At one time, it was expected that we would win the league, then that we would compete for it, then we should finish in the top four, then the top six, now even the top six might be stretch. This is just not acceptable and wil never be accepted by those who love this club and value what it has represented for the greater part of the last 30 years.

Top post. I think the same

 

[DomesticTadpole]

For the record, let us be crystal clear, but for the fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a former United player who distinguished himself notably in the Champions League final in 1999, his appointment as Manchester United manager would have been considered a joke. Nothing about his resume entitles him to be Manchester United manager. Absolutely nothing. The current run of form over eight games at United, if replicated across a 38 game season would likely see United relegated. At a club the size of United, that entitles fans to express every bit of anger we can muster.

People really ought to stop this revisionist nonsense.

By all means acknowledge that we have appointed a wholly inexperienced and unsuited manager for one of the biggest jobs in world football and point out that we are standing by him purely on sentiment and nostalgia, but don't present false indignation and protest as rational argument. For goodness sake, this is Manchester United, not Molde! There are standards at this club, expectations and traditions. The side that Ole now oversees is better than the results that he has produced with it. On numerous occasions Ole has revealed his lack of tactical acumen, limited skills at in-game management and poor first team selection.

Whilst I am not calling for Ole's sacking, I absolutely do hold him responsible for the performance of the team on the pitch. As such it is right that he should be critiqued and challenged given the overall poor recent results. He is the manager for goodness sake.

My concern here is that we are seeing a steady lowering of the bar. At one time, it was expected that we would win the league, then that we would compete for it, then we should finish in the top four, then the top six, now even the top six might be stretch. This is just not acceptable and wil never be accepted by those who love this club and value what it has represented for the greater part of the last 30 years.

Just wait until the aim is to stay in the PL. The income this club generates we should be challenging for the title.

 

[InspiRED]

100% agree he deserves more respect. 100% disagree he deserves more time.

 

[fastwalker]

100% agree he deserves more respect. 100% disagree he deserves more time.

How I wish I had your way with words!

 

[mattsville]

I think bar a relegation threat he will still be the manager next season, with the past 3 managers it has been very much don't finish top 4 and you are sacked, I think the attitude has changed there with Ole and the powers that be agreeing on a complete gutting of the squad to lay a new foundation, today he mentioned that in his press conference they agreed on the strategy and it will hurt us in the short term (I have no problem with that if we are on the right track long term), also the biggest concern I have had so far this season is the lack of attacking intent, not the results, again in his press conference he mentioned that is not their intent and at times with confidence low sometimes the players are taking easy options and not taking enough risks, still not convinced on that but don't understand why he would say that if it were not true, but it will take fullbacks and particularly midfielders getting in behind opposition defence regularly to convince me anything has changed, there just not enough player committed to attack. I think the biggest challenge for him is to instill that in every match, we have to attack, we will get caught out at times and be involved in high scoring games, and will win some and lose some, don't care, after the boring crap of the previous 3 managers I think I speak for most when I say we just want to at least see attacking football and identify with the history of our club again. Please no more cagey shadow boxing shit trying to keep it tight, yes our defence is better but don't use that as our go to strategy, use it to attack more knowing we have more security when countered, it's mentality, we need to be braver.

 

[Sky1981]

Ole did say about us not taking risks, he was probably thinking about the sideways and backwards passing. We need someone in there who can take that risk.

High level football isn't about risk. It's about tactical approach which to our blind eyes seems to be taking risk.

City didnt score 100 goals because they took more risk, but because they're well drilled.

Taking riskier approach might work in an odd moment, but over the course of 38 games we cant rely on taking risk alone.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

He deserves more respect but not more time. Manchester United is not a training course for average managers to learn their trade.

100% this.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

High level football isn't about risk. It's about tactical approach which to our blind eyes seems to be taking risk.

City didnt score 100 goals because they took more risk, but because they're well drilled.

Taking riskier approach might work in an odd moment, but over the course of 38 games we cant rely on taking risk alone.

We aren't taking risks and we certainly aren't well drilled.

 

[RUCK4444]

I dont understand why our players are so static. Frustrating as hell. Whole coaching set up is average

Can’t agree more, the lack of movement in this team is incredible. It’s been probably the most mind numbingly painful thing to watch for me in recent times.

Its been an issue for a very long time, I fail to believe each of the managers we have had (including Ole) have not tried to address this.
It’s something that anybody with basic knowledge of the game would look to address.

 

[Xaviboy]

Think if we don't see any improvement in performance or results before xmas and we continue to lose games theres no way they can keep Ole as manager. Us fans wont accept it and seeing us down the bottom end of the table is unacceptable. He will be in charge nearly a year come December but apart from getting the players really fit apparently as he keeps saying there has been no improvement in our style of play. You would think after a year with working with the majority of the players in the squad you would see some sort of style of attacking football for us fans to be encouraged by. We are crap against teams the sit back and at moment we can't seem to create any open play chances. He didn't address midfield in the summer and that was a huge mistake. The man jumps of his bench in our games to go to touch line to act on giving instructions to players but it's like he doubts himself and looks clueless. He seems to be watching different game of football to us fans if he thinks we have been creating chances but not getting any luck.

 

[fergiesarmy1]

Think if we don't see any improvement in performance or results before xmas and we continue to lose games theres no way they can keep Ole as manager. Us fans wont accept it and seeing us down the bottom end of the table is unacceptable. He will be in charge nearly a year come December but apart from getting the players really fit apparently as he keeps saying there has been no improvement in our style of play. You would think after a year with working with the majority of the players in the squad you would see some sort of style of attacking football for us fans to be encouraged by. We are crap against teams the sit back and at moment we can't seem to create any open play chances. He didn't address midfield in the summer and that was a huge mistake. The man jumps of his bench in our games to go to touch line to act on giving instructions to players but it's like he doubts himself and looks clueless. He seems to be watching different game of football to us fans if he thinks we have been creating chances but not getting any luck.

Live in Manchester and no uprising from us fans on the horizon against Ole yet. Most are blaming other issues discussed elsewhere.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Giving him more time is asking for trouble. Love the man as much now as i did before he took over, what he's done for the club will never be forgotten but lets get serious and start heading in the right direction.

 

[momo83]

I disagree. They try but the attacks break down fairly fast. City has more chances created against them then us and they are a much better team and possession based. Teams defend against us because they know how good the defense is and also that we can't create many chances when trying to break low defenses. The teams that try to play "normal" get undone, like Chelsea.

There are major positives in this season for the team but they are not evident to us the fans; we conceded wonder goals from Neves and headers from 2m tall Lindegard and that is seen in the results (also Tuanzebe bad pass vs Arsenal). The defense is genuinely good right now, something i have not seen with United since the days of Ferdinand and Vidic. The mid and attack are complete crap though, especially without Pogba and Martial.

How can you notice or factually state what you admit is not evident to you?

 

[Kappa123]

He doesn't need time or respect

As a manger he's been awful for the club, he needs to get out.

 

[Xaviboy]

Live in Manchester and no uprising from us fans on the horizon against Ole yet. Most are blaming other issues discussed elsewhere.

I do agree with you that there are other areas of the club that needs addressing big time and others need to be held accountable for if things go belly up for Ole. I hope they don't as we all respect Ole just been horrible to watch since March. He made mistake not upgrading the midfield and now not buying a striker is backfiring. I feel it can't get any worse then it has been can it?

 

[fergiesarmy1]

I do agree with you that there are other areas of the club that needs addressing big time and others need to be held accountable for if things go belly up for Ole. I hope they don't as we all respect Ole just been horrible to watch since March. He made mistake not upgrading the midfield and now not buying a striker is backfiring. I feel it can't get any worse then it has been can it?

Honestly mate I think it’s gonna get worse before it gets better, we are likely going to lose Sunday and it hurts me saying that. Wouldn’t surprise me to some of the living dead return after that to start playing as they are the wrong stuff mostly. Couple of changes in January another major reshuffle in summer that could involve Ole then and then it’s time for results.

 

[joseph_p]

Live in Manchester and no uprising from us fans on the horizon against Ole yet. Most are blaming other issues discussed elsewhere.

So to what do you attribute our current downfall ?

 

[Rood]

I much prefer respect and constructive criticism of Ole over hate and bile, and Symth is right to condemn personal nastiness against him. But most of that article reads to me like mitigation for mitigation's sake; pointing to parallels with Fergie, pointing to injuries, pointing to the shite situation at executive level. Smyth covers the poor results and performances we've had this season in two sentences, then it's on to more mitigation:



If 14 wins from 17 count for something, does the dreadful end to last season count for something too? I tend to agree with @Rood 's opinion on the podcast that both the good and bad from last season should be put to bed and we should focus on what we've produced this year, but if we do that the fact remains (in very difficult circumstances, fully granted) results have been bad, performances have been average at best, mostly bad and there are very few players we can point to as having improved under Ole. I have no interest in personal, nasty comments about a United legend and there are critical factors outside of Ole's control at play but if anyone can say with a straight face they're happy with the fruits of Ole's labours with this team I'll be their booking agent.

Whether you're grudgingly willing to give him more time as we rebuild and worry about changing another manager mid-season is another matter.



I'm not sure what that means either. For me people being less than impressed about Ole's success at Molde is the same as the likes of Neil Lennon not being seen as some top class manager because he succeeded in Scotland (granted there are differences between Celtic's cakewalk and what Molde did in 2011 and 2012). It's purely based on the strength of the league versus the PL, not a slight specifically on Norwegian football.

Obviously no one is happy about where we are and Ole could have done a better job, but I think anyone would struggle with the thin squad and major injuries.

I also think there were signs at the start of the season of the nucleus of a good team and we were creating enough chances to win matches before crucial injuries.
The defence was the focus of the summer and we are now conceeding very few chances compared to last year so that is a clear area of improvement, I'd like to see Ole given a chance to improve the midfield and attack with a few more signings. Then he can truly be judged.

on the last point, Ole won the league with Molde for the first time in their history so although its obviously not top level football, that is some kind of acheivement at least. Compare with Lennon who wins with Celtic in a 2 team (even 1 team for a while) league.

@Rood

I agree with you that in the first 3-4 games we were unlucky - but even then we should have done better and I also remember the start of last season when Lukaku missed a golden clear cut chance probably in every of his first four games that could have changed the course of play. Ole does definitely get a special treatment from those who are still on his side, but he also gets too harsh a treatment from those who aren't. For me he's just not shown anything whatsoever to indicate he's got it.

I mean the first sentence in that piece really tells the story of what the rest will be:

"The choice is simple: potential long-term success under Solskjær or guaranteed long-term failure under a load of different managers"

It creates a little safety net by stressing "potential" long-term success, which could apply to any manager anywhere at any time. Trouble is, we've nothing to go on there. And then it conclusively states that anyone else is a guaranteed long-term failure.

I haven't seen one piece defending him that actually specifies what - as a coach and tactician - makes him competent enough to be a viable long-term manager.

I dont actually agree with every bit of the article but the general premise is one I support.
I doubt anyone is trying to argue that Ole has shown he is a great coach and I would mention that we are supposed to have a whole coaching team so thats not all on him either.
The match on Sunday will be one of his first major tests tactically this season so lets see where we are at, the form book says we have no chance but he has shown better results against better opposition when the aim for fast transition works best so there is at least some hope

For a manager, recruitment is as important as the coaching side and that is where we have really failed over the last few years - we had 2 very well rated coaches with many trophies on their CV but still ultimately failed due primarily to poor recruitment (of course there were other factors as well). It is clear that there has been a major change in strategy since Ole came in and so far its been the most successful summer of recruitment since Fergie left, the major issue is that we only got 3 players when we probably needed 5. So there are signs of a good start to a squad rebuild but it is being done in a way (clearing out a lot of experience and focusing on youth) which was unlikely to see instant short term success.

Nowadays there is not much patience in football, in fact there never really was but the need for instant success is greater than ever - if we end up in a relegation battle then Ole will have to go but hopefully we can at least get some of the results that our chance creation suggests we deserve and get some reinforcements in the next couple of windows.

 

[fergiesarmy1]

So to what do you attribute our current downfall ?

There isn’t a current downfall, it’s been a straight path since gollum.

 

[Womp]

The choice is simple: potential long-term success under Solskjær or guaranteed long-term failure under a load of different managers

What about a third choice: potential long-term success with a better manager who has shown they're capable of that success?

 

[fergiesarmy1]

What about a third choice: potential long-term success with a better manager who has shown they're capable of that success?

Tried that one, see plans 2 and 3.

 

[Womp]

Tried that one, see plans 2 and 3.

They were both the wrong appointments, doesn't justify hiring a manager who is clearly out of his depth. You don't settle for a below average manager because hiring great ones hasn't worked for you in the past.

 

[Bastian]

Obviously no one is happy about where we are and Ole could have done a better job, but I think anyone would struggle with the thin squad and major injuries.

I also think there were signs at the start of the season of the nucleus of a good team and we were creating enough chances to win matches before crucial injuries.
The defence was the focus of the summer and we are now conceeding very few chances compared to last year so that is a clear area of improvement, I'd like to see Ole given a chance to improve the midfield and attack with a few more signings. Then he can truly be judged.

on the last point, Ole won the league with Molde for the first time in their history so although its obviously not top level football, that is some kind of acheivement at least. Compare with Lennon who wins with Celtic in a 2 team (even 1 team for a while) league.




I dont actually agree with every bit of the article but the general premise is one I support.
I doubt anyone is trying to argue that Ole has shown he is a great coach and I would mention that we are supposed to have a whole coaching team so thats not all on him either.
The match on Sunday will be one of his first major tests tactically this season so lets see where we are at, the form book says we have no chance but he has shown better results against better opposition when the aim for fast transition works best so there is at least some hope

For a manager, recruitment is as important as the coaching side and that is where we have really failed over the last few years - we had 2 very well rated coaches with many trophies on their CV but still ultimately failed due primarily to poor recruitment (of course there were other factors as well). It is clear that there has been a major change in strategy since Ole came in and so far its been the most successful summer of recruitment since Fergie left, the major issue is that we only got 3 players when we probably needed 5. So there are signs of a good start to a squad rebuild but it is being done in a way (clearing out a lot of experience and focusing on youth) which was unlikely to see instant short term success.

Nowadays there is not much patience in football, in fact there never really was but the need for instant success is greater than ever - if we end up in a relegation battle then Ole will have to go but hopefully we can at least get some of the results that our chance creation suggests we deserve and get some reinforcements in the next couple of windows.

The match on Sunday won't really prove anything, one way or the other. They are the best team in the league and they'll attack which is the only way we can actually score, so strangely, it might suit us. Or we might get totally destroyed. It's the 5 games after this one that will really count.

Recruitment is key but I have definite doubts about the decision-makers of our recruitment under the previous three managers so structure comes into that. We had a good summer in so far that we didn't buy bad players, ill-fitting players, drama-queens. But absolutely terrible when you consider the lack of bodies for midfield, to address the elephant in the room. And we may also have paid well over the odds for Maguire.

I was happy to see Lukaku and Darmian sold, even Sanchez shipped off on a loan, as well as Smalling. It would obviously have been better to sell them, but alright. However, this "new journey" Woodward has talked about is neither new nor is it well prepared. We had months to find suitable targets and we failed. There is no way 50+ scouts and a bunch of analysts cannot find a couple of midfielders that fit a long-term plan as well as not being disruptive twats in the dressing room. It doesn't add up. Was it a money saving exercise or does our "recruitment team" alienate players 90% of the time?

Crucially we have not yet seen any signs of progression in the team's style of play or its cohesion under Ole. Yes, it's not all on him but he selects his backroom staff, and he's done little but gush over how amazing it all is. Moyes was rightfully ridiculed for having replaced everyone with his elite Everton buddies, but our coaches now all have question marks hanging over them. Certainly not elite.

I think we lost a lot when Faria decided to up and go. Certainly aligns with our free fall into mediocre territory and ever more frequent injury pile ups. I'd be a lot more comfortable with Ole at the helm if he had 2-3 proven top coaches.

 

[Mcking]

I agree with the article. I don't think Solskjaer's got it, but it's a rebuild and there will be highs and lows. We are struggling to score goals, but if you look at our midfield and attack with the injuries, it is incredibly weak. The likes of McTominay, James, Pereira, Chong, Rashford, Mata, Young and Lingard aren't what I'd expect to play like peak 2008-2011 Barcelona. Most of those are bang average players, and it shows. The likes of West Ham, Leicester, Bournemouth and the top 5 has much better players.
It is obvious that we've started from the defence, and its an area we've looked solid. With luck and work from our medical team(?) we'd have Martial, Pogba and Shaw back soon. Those are our three most-gifted players and we still have Wan-Bissaka to get back to full fitness. With them back in the team, we could then see what Solskjaer could do and maybe some improvement. The most important thing is to get to another transfer window and enter into the next stage of the rebuild. With better midfielders and attackers, maybe we'd improve going forward just as we've improved in defence with better defenders. I was wary of going into the new season with Solskjaer at the helm, but we've committed and we've got to ride the storm and exercise some patience. Patience is what I'm advocating.

 

[fergiesarmy1]

They were both the wrong appointments, doesn't justify hiring a manager who is clearly out of his depth. You don't settle for a below average manager because hiring great ones hasn't worked for you in the past.

Tried that with birds, didn’t work out so well. Stick with the one you actually like is my new philosophy

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I'm not one for blind faith. SAF was given time but he had proven pedigree, keeping LVG or Mourinho would've been much smarter moves if we're going down the route of short term pain to trust a manager for long term success.