Would you sack or keep Ole? (Poll reopened)

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

The idea that Ole doesn't have the players to play the way he wants or to play anything other than counter attack doesn't make sense. I mean if Guardiola came here I expect us to try to dominate possession even with Lingard or Pereira. If Klopp came I expect to see gen gen pressing. If Van Gaal came back we will start playing boring possession call again. Setien went to Barca and people were talking about 1000 passes or some shit like that

Coaches have identical style of play that they will try to fit into a club even if the players there are not good enough. They would just wait till the transfer window to get players that fit that system. I remember watching Brighton pass Tottenham around, some of the players were shit at it but they still attempted it. This idea that Ole can't play any other way because his players are not good enough is just another excuse for his tactical inability

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Pressing high and generating transitions is still counter attacking imo.

Well even so, if we say that gegenpressing is a form of counter attacking then it's clearly a polar opposite from what Ole has been trying to instil here so I've no idea what you're orginal point was when you posted:

He didn't start out that way at Liverpool though did he?

He's changed from pure counter attacking to a more possession based style as he's built the squad and he's also found the team couldn't keep up the pace for a full season in England.

His system is pretty much the same now as it was at Dortmund, his gegenpress is still in full flow, just that his players are better now so when they have good possession, they are much better with it.

 

[Mainoldo]

He put two goals on a plate for us in the Burnley match. This tired myth about Wan-Bissaka needs to die. He isn't Cafu but he is nowhere near as bad as many on here write, and he has many years to improve before he reaches his peak.

It’s not a myth it’s just concrete visual evidence. It’s clear to me that Fred can’t shoot but if he scores two goals this Saturday I’m not going to claim this as a myth. Just because AWB isn’t the best at crossing doesn’t mean he can’t deliver a few good balls. At the end of the day he’s a professional footballer.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

One thing I will say though - this 'new transfer strategy' has led to us refusing to buy both Maguire and Fernandes, only to return for them in the following transfer window, tail between our legs. In Maguire's case, we ended up paying £20m more than we might have under Jose. I'm still seeing nothing other than a scattergun approach - it's all spin and myth and fans have again been duped by it.

Maguire - see above.
AWB - no-brainer, best available defensive RB in the league.
James - recommended by Giggs.
Fernandes - refused to buy him then went back in for him 6months later.

That's only if you believe you know the full story mate. I'll tackle the Maguire and Fernandes ones first, you can call this scattergun, reactive or haphazard transfer activity; or you can see it like this, the club identified the two of them as number one targets and didn't want to bring in just anyone else rather than bide their time.

There's a chance after the WC that Leicester gave us a straight "feck off" and we know Maguire didn't push for the move then. One season later and he really pushed for it so who knows the truth there. The idea Leicester were gonna sell him for 60m after the WC is pie in the sky stuff by the way. We may have been force to wait a year but we landed our number one CB target.

Fernandes, looks like Sporting played hardball in the Summer and throughout Jan, with Spurs also interested in the Summer. We finally got the deal done on decent terms and got our number one CM target.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

That's only if you believe you know the full story mate. I'll tackle the Maguire and Fernandes ones first, you can call this scattergun, reactive or haphazard transfer activity; or you can see it like this, the club identified the two of them as number one targets and didn't want to bring in just anyone else rather than bide their time.

There's a chance after the WC that Leicester gave us a straight "feck off" and we know Maguire didn't push for the move then. One season later and he really pushed for it so who knows the truth there. The idea Leicester were gonna sell him for 60m after the WC is pie in the sky stuff by the way. We may have been force to wait a year but we landed our number one CB target.

Fernandes, looks like Sporting played hardball in the Summer and throughout Jan, with Spurs also interested in the Summer. We finally got the deal done on decent terms and got our number one CM target.

Nice explanation but I'm not convinced.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Nice explanation but I'm not convinced.

Yeah I don't think any of us should be "convinced" in fairness.

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

Pressing high and generating transitions is still counter attacking imo.

It's still reactive as opposed to proactive. The opposition still have to make a mistake.

I don't think it matters if the transition occurs in your half or theirs.

Klopp would lose his s*** if he reads this. The whole point of his pressing is to win the ball high up and transition quickly while being closer to goal. The way he has trained liverpool to do this in packs is as big of an achievement as Pep's system was. The difference between Klopp and Ole style is night and day.

 

[Withnail]

Well even so, if we say that gegenpressing is a form of counter attacking then it's clearly a polar opposite from what Ole has been trying to instil here so I've no idea what you're orginal point was when you posted:



His system is pretty much the same now as it was at Dortmund, his gegenpress is still in full flow, just that his players are better now so when they have good possession, they are much better with it.

The point as that as you say his players are better now but he has also built a team capable of retaining possession.
There was also definite shift towards retaining possession going into last season as the players had run out of steam the year before.

The point was around a manager evolving his approach and tweeking things as he develops the squad.

If Ole can't show he can do that that would be another reason to get rid. However, I'd like to see how the team are playing when everyone's back and Fernandes has been integrated.

 

[red4ever 79]

Always the same after anything other than a loss.

He's had a charmed time here - from getting the job in the first place from Molde, to keeping his job through worse ratio than Emery.

It'll continue on and on, since the fanbase is desperate for some reason to see him succeed (rather than to simply find the best fit manager for Utd), and because he's the dream manager for the Glazers and Woodward.

Good luck to him.

11% increase in a week for being knocked out of a cup and producing no shots on target in the second half in a game we needed to score 2.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

...we could get a short term new manager bounce...

We could, of course, but in this particular case there's a certain factor to consider, namely that nothing indicates that Ole has lost the players in any shape or form.

If we sack him now, it isn't inconceivable that the new man would face a squad that are positively unhappy about losing the last manager.

 

[b82REZ]

IF Ole ends up being a success here, feels like it'll be such a disappointment to some of the posters on here considering the argument repeated is mostly lack of tactics and incompetence, inspite of evidence and argument against it.

This whole rhetoric that people who have voted to sack somehow will be disappointed if Ole turns around is the most top red comment repeated on this forum and is completely untrue.

Also what fecking evidence? There was someone here making the same claims in here the other day but when I pushed him for evidence he trotted out some BS how were too stupid to see the plan and then put me on ignore. So I ask you this time, what is this plan and these tactics that some of your apparently are seeing but the majority of us seem to be missing. If you argue we play direct counter attacking football like the other poster you're delusional.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

IF Ole ends up being a success here, feels like it'll be such a disappointment to some of the posters on here considering the argument repeated is mostly lack of tactics and incompetence, inspite of evidence and argument against it.

Oh yeah, “I’d hate it if our manager made us amazing” said no fan ever

 

[Judas]

You'd have to be one of the biggest losers if you'd actually be disappointed if Ole makes us successful because you voted against him in a poll and may have said he wasn't the man for the job on an internet message board.

 

[Withnail]

We could, of course, but in this particular case there's a certain factor to consider, namely that nothing indicates that Ole has lost the players in any shape or form.

If we sack him now, it isn't inconceivable that the new man would face a squad that are positively unhappy about losing the last manager.

I agree. I definitely wasn't saying we should do it.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

You'd have to be one of the biggest losers if you'd actually be disappointed if Ole makes us successful because you voted against him in a poll and may have said he wasn't the man for the job on an internet message board.

I bet all those United fans who doubted Ronaldo (and there were loads), calling him nothing but a show pony, hated when he turned into the best player in the World and won us multiple titles & a PL/CL double.

 

[Withnail]

Klopp would lose his s*** if he reads this. The whole point of his pressing is to win the ball high up and transition quickly while being closer to goal. The way he has trained liverpool to do this in packs is as big of an achievement as Pep's system was. The difference between Klopp and Ole style is night and day.

That's pretty much what I said.

You still rely on the opposition misplacing a pass or dispossessing them so if you're saying its not technically 'counter-attacking' you have to admit it's very close.

 

[e.cantona]

This whole rhetoric that people who have voted to sack somehow will be disappointed if Ole turns around is the most top red comment repeated on this forum and is completely untrue.

Also what fecking evidence? There was someone here making the same claims in here the other day but when I pushed him for evidence he trotted out some BS how were too stupid to see the plan and then put me on ignore. So I ask you this time, what is this plan and these tactics that some of your apparently are seeing but the majority of us seem to be missing. If you argue we play direct counter attacking football like the other poster you're delusional.

Evidence? What the club tells us, which is pretty much all we'll know of what's goinig on behind the scene. Games we've played. Players in/out. Squad composition and injuries. Etc.

I'm very limited in my understandings and often wrong on many things. No footballing genius. Why don't you explain what's lacking in our tactics, and overall if you can, and what we should do different?

 

[b82REZ]

Evidence? What the club tells us, which is pretty much all we'll know of what's goinig on behind the scene. Games we've played. Players in/out. Squad composition and injuries. Etc.

I'm very limited in my understandings and often wrong on many things. No footballing genius. Why don't you explain what's lacking in our tactics, and overall if you can, and what we should do different?

Well there is no evidence of progress in any of the things you listed. The composition of the squad is absolutely the worse thing about Solskjaer, he gutted it to the level of a mid table club. The often used line of him culling deadwood is a defence I see of him regularly when in reality he cut the squad and marginalised players who could have contributed this season.

The overall management of the squad is atrocious too. There's a reason we have so many long term injuries and that goes back to his decision to sell first team players. The excuse of he was hampered by the board is just that, a convenient excuse. If he knew he wasnt going to backed to replace players he shouldn't have sanctioned their departures.

Tactically I genuinely don't know how we set up or what his long term vision is in this regard. We absolutely should be seeing this 12 months into his tenure. In big games we set up to contain and hit on the break and its has been successful in two of our big games this season. But against the other 14 teams in the league we look clueless with no obviously tactical direction. Also the insistence of trying to play out of the back constantly is baffling.

Despite what you have previously insinuated I would absolutely love Ole to turn this around. He was one of my favourite players growing up. But rose tinted glasses aside he is not a top coach, and nothing I've seen has suggested he will become one.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Well there is no evidence of progress in any of the things you listed. The composition of the squad is absolutely the worse thing about Solskjaer, he gutted it to the level of a mid table club. The often used line of him culling deadwood is a defence I see of him regularly when in reality he cut the squad and marginalised players who could have contributed this season.

The overall management of the squad is atrocious too. There's a reason we have so many long term injuries and that goes back to his decision to sell first team players. The excuse of he was hampered by the board is just that, a convenient excuse. If he knew he wasnt going to backed to replace players he shouldn't have sanctioned their departures.

Tactically I genuinely don't know how we set up or what his long term vision is in this regard. We absolutely should be seeing this 12 months into his tenure. In big games we set up to contain and hit on the break and its has been successful in two of our big games this season. But against the other 14 teams in the league we look clueless with no obviously tactical direction. Also the insistence of trying to play out of the back constantly is baffling.

Despite what you have previously insinuated I would absolutely love Ole to turn this around. He was one of my favourite players growing up. But rose tinted glasses aside he is not a top coach, and nothing I've seen has suggested he will become one.

My personal opinion is basically that Ole was told that "this is the narrative - you understand what it means to be United and that means young academy players. This will be the party line as we sell off big-earning first team players to trim down the wage-bill. Keep talking about the old days and nodding towards the CO92 and Fergie, in the meantime."

 

[Chesterlestreet]

I agree. I definitely wasn't saying we should do it.

I know, mate - just quoted the relevant part there in order to make the point.

 

[e.cantona]

Well there is no evidence of progress in any of the things you listed. The composition of the squad is absolutely the worse thing about Solskjaer, he gutted it to the level of a mid table club. The often used line of him culling deadwood is a defence I see of him regularly when in reality he cut the squad and marginalised players who could have contributed this season.

I suppose of the players we maybe should have kept are Herrera, Lukaku and Smalling. Herrera as far as I know wanted to leave. Lukaku wanted to leave since he came? Might be many reasons to sell. Influence on the rest of the squad. Been a lot of talk of the right character. Also performance wise he didn't contribute that much. We wanted more players in. Didnt happen. Smalling I don't know. After the fact maybe we should have kept him. But again maybe many things play into the decision to sell or buy. We replaced him with Maguire.

The overall management of the squad is atrocious too. There's a reason we have so many long term injuries and that goes back to his decision to sell first team players. The excuse of he was hampered by the board is just that, a convenient excuse. If he knew he wasnt going to backed to replace players he shouldn't have sanctioned their departures.

We don't know these things. Just guesswork. As far as we know we tried to get more players in.

Tactically I genuinely don't know how we set up or what his long term vision is in this regard. We absolutely should be seeing this 12 months into his tenure. In big games we set up to contain and hit on the break and its has been successful in two of our big games this season. But against the other 14 teams in the league we look clueless with no obviously tactical direction. Also the insistence of trying to play out of the back constantly is baffling.

Playing from the back is a tactical decision. Learn now and reap reward later. We've had lots of injury. Young squad.

 

[momo83]

To those always arguing that Ole is a mediocre manager because he stayed in Norway all those years.

Did you ever consider that maybe he chose to stay close to his home community while his kids were growing up in their formative years? His career always came first when he was a player. Maybe it was time for his wife and family to have some priority. By all accounts manager wise he is still young. So staying with Molde until his kids got older makes sense to me.

Not sure what the age of those using the years in Molde argument as a negative is, or if it's just a difference in thinking for Nordic people compared to other parts of the world. To be a top athlete you need to put yourself first, but there comes a time when you should have different priorities.

Yeah. He jumped at the first chance to leave Molde to join Cardiff... but later on stayed at Molde despite Real Madrid and Bayern going in for him.

 

[momo83]

Whether or not Ole is a good enough manager, right now is totally irrelevant. For me no manager will be able be successful until the squad and the recruitment process is up to scratch.

So at best a new manager would make no difference, or would paper over the cracks for a bit longer. At worst we'd get back to an unmotivated demoralised squad.

So you think the recruitment of Maguire, AWB, James and Fernandes have not been up to scratch?

 

[b82REZ]

I suppose of the players we maybe should have kept are Herrera, Lukaku and Smalling. Herrera as far as I know wanted to leave. Lukaku wanted to leave since he came? Might be many reasons to sell. Influence on the rest of the squad. Been a lot of talk of the right character. Also performance wise he didn't contribute that much. We wanted more players in. Didnt happen. Smalling I don't know. After the fact maybe we should have kept him. But again maybe many things play into the decision to sell or buy. We replaced him with Maguire.



We don't know these things. Just guesswork. As far as we know we tried to get more players in.



Playing from the back is a tactical decision. Learn now and reap reward later. We've had lots of injury. Young squad.

Just a list of excuses absolving the blame on him and not acknowledging the actual points I made.

You said you can only base your assumptions on what Ole and the club have stated publically, yet when I did that in regards to decisions on transfers that's just guess work according to you. Ole has publically stated money was available as well as stating he was happy going into this season with this squad.

Just picking your last point as an example. It's a poor tactical decison to play that way as we do not have the personnel to do it effectively yet he persists.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

The often used line of him culling deadwood is a defence I see of him regularly when in reality he cut the squad and marginalised players who could have contributed this season.

The obvious assumption is that he intends to replace these players in time. Not that he thinks we're perfectly fine with the current options as such.

As has been stated numerous times already, the "he didn't replace 'em!" argument only makes sense when predicated on the notion that he was supposed to achieve anything of note this season. If his employers are fine with a "transitional" season, he hasn't done anything horribly wrong in that respect.

He has also been very unlucky with injuries to certain players - that happens. Ask Pep. You could also ask Pep about the likelihood of young, inexperienced players performing consistently well (I believe he commented on that, specifically - with regard to United - the other day).

 

[b82REZ]

The obvious assumption is that he intends to replace these players in time. Not that he thinks we're perfectly fine with the current options as such.

As has been stated numerous times already, the "he didn't replace 'em!" argument only makes sense when predicated on the notion that he was supposed to achieve anything of note this season. If his employers are fine with a "transitional" season, he hasn't done anything horribly wrong in that respect.

He has also been very unlucky with injuries to certain players - that happens. Ask Pep. You could also ask Pep about the likelihood of young, inexperienced players performing consistently well (I believe he commented on that, specifically - with regard to United - the other day).

The predicted notion is top 4 or CL by hook or by crook. That's been the case for every manager post Fergie and the same should be applied here. It's all well and good talking about the future but you can't neglect the present which we have done.

This notion that we cant plan for the future while having higher expectations for the here and now has only started this season.

I have no idea what you're rambling about with Pep, but every manager has to deal with injuries and ensure their squad is equipped to deal with them.

 

[Ish]

Think the ones who wants to keep him aren't even in caf.

What the poll shows, for me is the number of glory hunters here in caf. Not all of course.

That’s quite harsh. I know you had a disclaimer at the end, but I don’t see the link between not having faith in Ole’s managerial ability to glory hunting. I mean, there are many reasons to not think he’s the right man to lead us forward, just as there are reasons & things I believe he has done well during his time as manager.

I mean, Ole is a legend, so if there’s anyone who didn’t want him to do well from the “off” - I’d question their sanity as a United fan, tbf. I think 99.9% of us wanted (& still do) him to succeed.

Im not saying this about you because I haven’t been following much of your post history in fairness, but both extremes of the “in/out” brigade are a tad....weird. I’d gladly change my vote to “keep” if Ole turns it around. Seems there are some (again, not aimed at you at all) who are so hellbent on being proven right on an (mostly) anonymous football forum...that they are blinded by the slightest bit of praise or criticism he receives.

 

[dellboyy]

So you think the recruitment of Maguire, AWB, James and Fernandes have not been up to scratch?

Yes, they're spot on. But as a whole, our squad is still severely lacking in both depth and top level quality.

 

[Cardozo]

Im not saying this about you because I haven’t been following much of your post history in fairness, but both extremes of the “in/out” brigade are a tad....weird. I’d gladly change my vote to “keep” if Ole turns it around. Seems there are some (again, not aimed at you at all) who are so hellbent on being proven right on an (mostly) anonymous football forum...that they are blinded by the slightest bit of praise or criticism he receives.

Theres not many 100% Ole in, that are passionately Ole in and cant wait to post their views. They're more likely to respond occasionally along the lines of "give him time and let's not knee jerk".

But then you have a the 100% Ole out crowd who feel passionate about it and post here at every opportunity or jump on the people saying let's stick it out.

It is a little silly. We're all just a bunch of fans who want the best for United. No need to demand explanations of evidence from the other side for their view. Enough people hold eaxh view to support their argument.

Appreciate that makes a boring thread but we're gaining nothing going at each other. Ole will be around until end of the season, let's see what he can do.

 

[Ish]

Theres not many 100% Ole in, that are passionately Ole in and cant wait to post their views. They're more likely to respond occasionally along the lines of "give him time and let's not knee jerk".

But then you have a the 100% Ole out crowd who feel passionate about it and post here at every opportunity or jump on the people saying let's stick it out.

It is a little silly. We're all just a bunch of fans who want the best for United. No need to demand explanations of evidence from the other side for their view. Enough people hold eaxh view to support their argument.

Appreciate that makes a boring thread but we're gaining nothing going at each other. Ole will be around until end of the season, let's see what he can do.

Yeah. Hopefully top 4 and an improvement in the football along the way!

 

[e.cantona]

Just a list of excuses absolving the blame on him and not acknowledging the actual points I made.

You said you can only base your assumptions on what Ole and the club have stated publically, yet when I did that in regards to decisions on transfers that's just guess work according to you. Ole has publically stated money was available as well as stating he was happy going into this season with this squad.

Just picking your last point as an example. It's a poor tactical decison to play that way as we do not have the personnel to do it effectively yet he persists.

In my opinoin the points you made aren't very good. And I belive I adressed them?

You blame Ole for lack of management, transfers specifically if I read you correct, yet you ignore what's being communicated by Ole and the club on this point. This won't be a quick fix seem to be a big point communicated from the club.

You complain about no tactics (or is it bad tactics? most go with no tactics), yet you don't propose a solution to what should be done with the squad at our disposal. Looks like the players we're going for/have gone for will fit in to this kind of system quite nicely.

When should Ole start implementing his tactics, like playing from the back if that is what he's going for? Van Gaal kept going on and on about implementing his philosophy. He's got experience and sucess. Probably one who understands that tactics isn't changed over night.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Theres not many 100% Ole in, that are passionately Ole in and cant wait to post their views. They're more likely to respond occasionally along the lines of "give him time and let's not knee jerk".

But then you have a the 100% Ole out crowd who feel passionate about it and post here at every opportunity or jump on the people saying let's stick it out.

Sure @Cardozo, yet amongst the most prolific posters in this thread are:

Fergiesarmy1 371 - strong in
Mainoldo 250 - strong out
Enigma_87 243 - out
Class of 63 206 - strong in
el3mel 189 - strong out
Massive Spanner 177 - thinks Ole’s a bit shit, but rather ambivalent. Doesn’t buy the excuses
momo83 176 - out
Regulus Arcturus Black 167 - hates the bollocks excuses, ambivalent, thinks we should expect miles more, can't help but myth bust the bollocks.
b82REZ 164 - out
Foxbatt 163 - out
Bilbo 157 - strong in
Bobcat 153 - strong in
Rafaeldagold 144 - strong in
dove 136 - strong out
Majima 134 - out
SteveW 130 - strong in in in
Leftback99 127 - chief excuse maker, strong in



It’s about as 50/50 as it gets so stop spouting nonsense man.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Theres not many 100% Ole in, that are passionately Ole in and cant wait to post their views. They're more likely to respond occasionally along the lines of "give him time and let's not knee jerk".

Literally the top poster in this thread annihilates that fallacy.

 

[Leftback99]

Sure @Cardozo, yet amongst the most prolific posters in this thread are:

Fergiesarmy1 371 - strong in
Mainoldo 250 - strong out
Enigma_87 243 - out
Class of 63 206 - strong in
el3mel 189 - strong out
Massive Spanner 177 - thinks Ole’s a bit shit, but rather ambivalent. Doesn’t buy the excuses
momo83 176 - out
Regulus Arcturus Black 167 - hates the bollocks excuses, ambivalent, thinks we should expect miles more, can't help but myth bust the bollocks.
b82REZ 164 - out
Foxbatt 163 - out
Bilbo 157 - strong in
Bobcat 153 - strong in
Rafaeldagold 144 - strong in
dove 136 - strong out
Majima 134 - out
SteveW 130 - strong in in in
Leftback99 127 - chief excuse maker, strong in



It’s about as 50/50 as it gets so stop spouting nonsense man.

Which myths have you busted?

 

[momo83]

Yes, they're spot on. But as a whole, our squad is still severely lacking in both depth and top level quality.

Pogba, De Dea, Lindalof, Fred, Martial, Rashford, Matic, Shaw, McTomminay , James , Maguire , AWb

Milner, Henderson, Fabinho, Wjnaldon, Trent, Robertson, Matip Salah, Mane, Firminho, Allison, VVD.

If we had Liverpool’s squad and had made Liverpool’s signings and were still doing as poorly as we are doing. Would people be saying “under the right manager those players have the potential to become the best team in Europe” or would they be saying “poor recruitment, old midfield, not signed quality players the board are stingy and only spent £160m in 4 years “

Head to head our signings came with greater expectations... no one looked at our signings and said “ohh what a rubbish player” on the contrary Liverpool were laughed at for paying £39m for Salah and signing Milner, Henderson used to get ridiculed like Lingard, the signing of Robertson didn’t even make the back pages, Matip was a free from lord knows where

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Which myths have you busted?

Every single one of your awful posts in here.

Generally the Klopp and Fergie comparisons, the shit about him doing better than other managers and a host of other shite.

 

[Leftback99]

Every single one of your awful posts in here.

Generally the Klopp and Fergie comparisons, the shit about him doing better than other managers and a host of other shite.

Like a couple of days ago when you couldn't even get the season right when attempting to 'bust a myth' (in your own mind).

 

[dellboyy]

Pogba, De Dea, Lindalof, Fred, Martial, Rashford, Matic, Shaw, McTomminay , James , Maguire , AWb

Milner, Henderson, Fabinho, Wjnaldon, Trent, Robertson, Matip Salah, Mane, Firminho, Allison, VVD.

If we had Liverpool’s squad and had made Liverpool’s signings and were still doing as poorly as we are doing. Would people be saying “under the right manager those players have the potential to become the best team in Europe” or would they be saying “poor recruitment, old midfield, not signed quality players the board are stingy and only spent £160m in 4 years “

Head to head our signings came with greater expectations... no one looked at our signings and said “ohh what a rubbish player” on the contrary Liverpool were laughed at for paying £39m for Salah and signing Milner, Henderson used to get ridiculed like Lingard, the signing of Robertson didn’t even make the back pages, Matip was a free from lord knows where

Disagree. World class we have De Gea. Rashford is approaching world class and his top years. Pogba has the ability of a world class player without any consistent application. The rest are either not consistent enough, young and inexperienced, or simply not good enough.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Like a couple of days ago when you couldn't even get the season right when attempting to 'bust a myth' (in your own mind).

The one where you reckoned Poch should've/would've been sacked after his first 11 games at Spurs? purposely stopped at that bizarre number 11 because he won the next two on the bounce and ignoring that by this stage in his first season at Spurs, 24 matches, he had 43 points and a win-rate of 54%.

As I said then, that’s the kind of start to a season we’d all have been delighted with from Ole or any new manager for that matter, and unlike Poch, Ole had the added bonus of coaching the squad (and future planning) for 6 more months than Poch leading into his first season.

Yeah, I'd say that was one of my best myth busts that one, thanks for reminding me of the kind of bollocks I can't help myself but constantly rebuff from you.

 

[Zen86]

I talk about shit loads more, just have a look at my post history. However, whenever I talk about Ole so far it's the most important figure by a mile when judging his season so far. Everything else is well, nothing more than personal opinion with a mixture of either pessimism or optimism depending on which side of the fence you fall on.

I'm hopeful it increases massively now he has Fernandes and soon Pogba back, his PL win rate will ultimately decide if he stays in the job or not.

Hopefully. We are 5th at the end of the day though, so it’s not as bad as the % suggests. I know it’s tight in the middle of the table, but we’re only 6 points off 4th place, which we can easily make up.

Fernandes is a key piece that we’ve been severely lacking, so here’s hoping he hits the ground running.