Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

[Kag]

Given a choice of Poch, would still sack him in the summer as things stand .But If he gets top 4 he deserves one more season and he should continue.

The damage was too much from March 2019 to Feb 2020 and couple of good performances with an inspired signing wouldn't change my opinion.

For the current season we are at 1.62 points per game. Since he took over, its 1.72 and thats mid table form. He is so lucky that our top 4 chasers are equally bad or we wouldn't be even having this conversation now. Fair play to him, we are still in a shout for CL and that's our minimum target. So let's see where we are end of the season.

I think you’re so off the mark it’s almost unbelievable. That run was short term pain for long term gain. There is so much progress in place and it baffles me that you can’t see it. You also appear to work on this bizarre pretence that top four (or not) is the black and white barometer by which you assess for suitability and success. It’s plain weird, and not how the club will view his time in charge. There’s a more holistic view to be had.

 

[bond19821982]

I think you’re so off the mark it’s almost unbelievable. That run was short term pain for long term gain. There is so much progress in place and it baffles me that you can’t see it. You also appear to work on this bizarre pretence that top four (or not) is the black and white barometer by which you assess for suitability and success. It’s plain weird, and not how the club will view his time in charge. There’s a more holistic view to be had.

Well, I can use the same argument against your point. You are knee jerking based on last 3 results and completely ignoring what happened from March 2019 to Feb 2020. Football was awfully bad, tactically outwitted by championship teams and had the lowest ppg at one point (worse than Moyes).
So no, it just isn't a black and white barometer -
if the winning run continues we will get top 4 convincingly which means he would have had a nice second half of the season. At that point, we can agree that he deserves another season.

Until that point, I simply don't want to accept that he is the man to take us forward. Let him prove himself rather than we supporting him emotionally based on the player he used to be.

 

[Kag]

Well, I can use the same argument against your point. You are knee jerking based on last 3 results and completely ignoring what happened from March 2019 to Feb 2020. Football was awfully bad, tactically outwitted by championship teams and had the lowest ppg at one point (worse than Moyes).
So no, it just isn't a black and white barometer -
if the winning run continues we will get top 4 convincingly which means he would have had a nice second half of the season. At that point, we can agree that he deserves another season.

Until that point, I simply don't want to accept that he is the man to take us forward. Let him prove himself rather than we supporting him emotionally based on the player he used to be.

No I’m not. Take more notice of what I post and you’ll see I’ve been fairly consistent for a long time, even in spite of the trickier periods we’ve had to endure.

 

[pratyush_utd]

We need to win this weekend. We have been wasting every chance to get into top 4.

First big test this weekend?

 

[iluvoursolskjær]

There was a point during that [LONG] period between PSG last season and the arrival of Bruno that I gave up on Ole. I forget* which game it was but - despite me being desperate for it to work - it was the last straw bringing me to the feeling that irrespective of how we finish the season, the situation up until that point had been so bad it would be best for all parties to thank Ole for his services in difficult circumstances and move in a different direction.

It's crazy what a difference one signing can make but no one can argue against our form since January. I still have my concerns with how bad we looked without Bruno and conscious how one or two injuries would render us useless again, but if we can get CL football - potentially enabling us to sign the likes of Sancho - while playing the way we currently are till the end of season I'd be filled with renewed optimism having Ole at the wheel.

*3-3 at Sheffield followed by 2-2 at home to Villa. 18 points from 14 games and ninth in the table, 8 points off Chelsea sitting in fourth.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I'm really cautious to get giddy, these false dawns have become far too common with us over the years, but we are playing some great stuff. I am worried about how overly reliant we seem to be on Pogba, Bruno and Matic though. We absolutely need a backup creative midfielder and DM.

People only give credit recently. What about the time when we beat City away, Spurs home, Norwich, Brighton, Chelsea, Newcastle, drew to Liverpool and others. We didn’t rely on Pogba, Bruno & Matic. It was Scott, Fred & Pereira/Lingard in midfield.

His man management is great and I think that we can all be giddy when it comes to that. Tactically, I'm skeptical because we have seen how disjointed we are when a single important player is out which means that the system doesn't elevate our players but our players elevate the system. Now, it's not the end of the world because as long as we strengthen in depth I believe that Ole will be a safe manager, he won't do things that will put us in trouble, you could compare his status to Pellegrini with City, he won't do miracles but he is currently a solid option.

No manager will be able to get something in consistent basis with Lingard & Pereira as attacking mid. Replace Silva & De Bruyne with those two, Pep will be battling for 4th place now. You can’t expect creativity come from Lingard & Pereira. But you can expect creativity from Pogba, Bruno and also Sancho if we sign him. If one of them got injured, we still have two of them to create chances for us.

 

[Womp]

People only give credit recently. What about the time when we beat City away, Spurs home, Norwich, Brighton, Chelsea, Newcastle, drew to Liverpool and others. We didn’t rely on Pogba, Bruno & Matic. It was Scott, Fred & Pereira/Lingard in midfield.



No manager will be able to get something in consistent basis with Lingard & Pereira as attacking mid. Replace Silva & De Bruyne with those two, Pep will be battling for 4th place now. You can’t expect creativity come from Lingard & Pereira. But you can expect creativity from Pogba, Bruno and also Sancho if we sign him. If one of them got injured, we still have two of them to create chances for us.

We've always been able to beat teams who gave us space on the counter. IMO counter attacking football is the easiest football to teach, especially when you have the pace we have in the side. Those players and results you mentioned also coincided with some very dull, ineffective football that struggled to beat teams we should have been beating, which is why I'm being cautious right now.

An injury to Bruno and we could be back to that, especially as prior to his signing we were struggling for the most part and as Norwich has shown, the quality of our play is severely impacted and we look lost for ideas when both he and Pogba are not in the side.

As I said, I've seen these good patches with us before, I'm gonna reserve judgement a little longer, until I see some consistency before I start losing myself in elation, claiming we are back.

 

[Zen86]

IMO counter attacking football is the easiest football to teach

If it was that easy then everyone outside of the top 4 would do it.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

We've always been able to beat teams who gave us space on the counter. IMO counter attacking football is the easiest football to teach, especially when you have the pace we have in the side. Those players and results you mentioned also coincided with some very dull, ineffective football that struggled to beat teams we should have been beating, which is why I'm being cautious right now.

Jose Mourinho was losing to Spurs at home and Liverpool in humiliating ways with that exact line up.

 

[keithsingleton]

Well, I can use the same argument against your point. You are knee jerking based on last 3 results and completely ignoring what happened from March 2019 to Feb 2020. Football was awfully bad, tactically outwitted by championship teams and had the lowest ppg at one point (worse than Moyes).
So no, it just isn't a black and white barometer -
if the winning run continues we will get top 4 convincingly which means he would have had a nice second half of the season. At that point, we can agree that he deserves another season.

Until that point, I simply don't want to accept that he is the man to take us forward. Let him prove himself rather than we supporting him emotionally based on the player he used to be.

I'm all over this, stated from day one I don't think he can take us to that level. Hoping he keeps improving and I end up eating humble pie. Defensively he's definitely got his work cut out even though recently not doing bad.

 

[Womp]

Jose Mourinho was losing to Spurs at home and Liverpool in humiliating ways with that exact line up.

He also wasn't good enough for the job so he's hardly the standard here

 

[Womp]

If it was that easy then everyone outside of the top 4 would do it.

A lot of the smaller teams do try it though? They sit deep and break, it's the easiest attacking patterns to coach in football, it's hardly a controversial view. It doesn't require extended periods of dominance, it doesn't require as much intricy due to the larger amounts of space etc.

West Ham did it against Chelsea, just recently. West Ham are coached by Moyes, who everyone would agree is absolute shite

 

[Zen86]

A lot of the smaller teams do try it though? They sit deep and break, it's the easiest attacking patterns to coach in football, it's hardly a controversial view. It doesn't require extended periods of dominance, it doesn't require as much intricy due to the larger amounts of space etc.

West Ham did it against Chelsea, just recently. West Ham are coached by Moyes, who everyone would agree is absolute shite

Good to see you’re sticking to your guns, despite having no idea what you’re taking about.

 

[Womp]

Good to see you’re sticking to your guns, despite having no idea what you’re taking about.

As opposed to you who hasn't provided a single valid point

 

[Zen86]

As opposed to you who hasn't provided a single valid point

Have you much experience of football coaching?

 

[Womp]

Have you much experience of football coaching?

Quite a bit actually, yes. When you sit deep and hit trams on the counter you do so against teams that have commit players forward, impacting both the team's numbers in defence, the defensive shape and how high the defensive line is. This is then much easier to take advantage of with pace.

It's why players who are purely pacey can look phenomenal with space, but quite poor without the required coaching and technical ability against compact defences. Our own Dan James is a great example of this.

There are countless examples, us earlier in the season beating the better teams by counter attacking but looking clueless against teams that defended deep, for example.

It requires longer periods of intelligent movement, larger periods of dominance, more patience, there is less space to operate and generally speaking the ball can't travel as much distance. Unlike counter attacks where the ball can travel extremely far distances due to more space being offered. Not to add, it often results in space behind, with reduced numbers, causing defenders ro commit to challenges, with support, they may not have done.

Its by no means easy to implement and the quality of players you have when counter attacking is obviously still highly important, but I don't think it's as difficult to coach as other types of offensive football.

The reason the smaller teams can't do it as well is simply due to coaching potentially but imo more importantly due to inferior personnel.

 

[Striker10]

It's not right to talk about Ole tactically yet. This is Oles first season so still making the team his own. Also growing up, I wanted us to be better in position but we always struggled because our instinct is play with pace. Certain teams suit certain teams, especially if they have no personality. If I closed my eyes and watched us recently, I'd think it a Sir Alex team. To even consider switching managers at this point, is really really silly. The players are playing for the manager.....you change manager and it would set us back years. If we win a trophy this season and there is no divine right...but if we do, that'll be great but Ole deserves respect. When we went on a bad run, I don't remember him losing his composure and blaming people or throwing his toys out the pram. I think people need to realize we're not the same team that started the season. Even when our momentum was broken.....we've come back with the same spirit. Of course we just need to keep focused one game at a time.

 

[Womp]

It's not right to talk about Ole tactically yet. This is Oles first season so still making the team his own. Also growing up, I wanted us to be better in position but we always struggled because our instinct is play with pace. Certain teams suit certain teams, especially if they have no personality. If I closed my eyes and watched us recently, I'd think it a Sir Alex team. To even consider switching managers at this point, is really really silly. The players are playing for the manager.....you change manager and it would set us back years. If we win a trophy this season and there is no divine right...but if we do, that'll be great but Ole deserves respect. When we went on a bad run, I don't remember him losing his composure and blaming people or throwing his toys out the pram. I think people need to realize we're not the same team that started the season. Even when our momentum was broken.....we've come back with the same spirit. Of course we just need to keep focused one game at a time.

I agree, we've been playing some great stuff at times, but I feel like both the players and staff have a long way to go yet before everyone is wholeheartedly convinced, especially with our history of being burnt post SAF

Cautiously excited is probably a good way to put it

 

[Zen86]

Quite a bit actually, yes. When you sit deep and hit trams on the counter you do so against teams that have commit players forward, impacting both the team's numbers in defence, the defensive shape and how high the defensive line is. This is then much easier to take advantage of with pace.

It's why players who are purely pacey can look phenomenal with space, but quite poor without the required coaching and technical ability against compact defences. Our own Dan James is a great example of this.

There are countless examples, us earlier in the season beating the better teams by counter attacking but looking clueless against teams that defended deep, for example.

It requires longer periods of intelligent movement, larger periods of dominance, more patience, there is less space to operate and generally speaking the ball can't travel as much distance. Unlike counter attacks where the ball can travel extremely far distances due to more space being offered. Not to add, it often results in space behind, with reduced numbers, causing defenders ro commit to challenges, with support, they may not have done.

Its by no means easy to implement and the quality of players you have when counter attacking is obviously still highly important, but I don't think it's as difficult to coach as other types of offensive football.

The reason the smaller teams can't do it as well is simply due to coaching potentially but imo more importantly due to inferior personnel.

You could be similarly dismissive about any style of football. What it boils down to is what players you’ve got at your disposal and how well you do your system.

We did it well, give him some credit.

 

[Matriac]

Ole nominated for Manager of the Month, would be well deserved to grab it now.

Get ya votes in!

 

[El Zoido]

Ole nominated for Manager of the Month, would be well deserved to grab it now.

Get ya votes in!

Any of them would be fair winners imo.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

We've always been able to beat teams who gave us space on the counter. IMO counter attacking football is the easiest football to teach, especially when you have the pace we have in the side. Those players and results you mentioned also coincided with some very dull, ineffective football that struggled to beat teams we should have been beating, which is why I'm being cautious right now.

An injury to Bruno and we could be back to that, especially as prior to his signing we were struggling for the most part and as Norwich has shown, the quality of our play is severely impacted and we look lost for ideas when both he and Pogba are not in the side.

As I said, I've seen these good patches with us before, I'm gonna reserve judgement a little longer, until I see some consistency before I start losing myself in elation, claiming we are back.

Anyone will struggle with Pereira & Lingard as your attacking midfield. Replace Silva & De Bruyne with Pereira & Lingard in Pep's starting XI, are you telling me City will not be struggling to fight for even top 4? .

We beat Norwich twice in the league without Pogba & Bruno this season.

 

[Foxbatt]

Leicester did win the PL with those counter attacking football. Ole has been tactically naive in most games he has lost. This is his second gig at top level football and he messed it up at Cardiff and obviously with an inferior team. This is his first time with top class players. I am not convinced he is the man to make us with the PL or the CL but obviously if he gets us into the CL spots and win us a trophy this season he should be given next season and more importantly new and better players too. We need three players in my opinion. A top class CB and a top class defensive midfield player and a top class striker( Not a potential top class) but one who is on top of his game right now.

 

[AshRK]

We've always been able to beat teams who gave us space on the counter. IMO counter attacking football is the easiest football to teach, especially when you have the pace we have in the side. Those players and results you mentioned also coincided with some very dull, ineffective football that struggled to beat teams we should have been beating, which is why I'm being cautious right now.

An injury to Bruno and we could be back to that, especially as prior to his signing we were struggling for the most part and as Norwich has shown, the quality of our play is severely impacted and we look lost for ideas when both he and Pogba are not in the side.

As I said, I've seen these good patches with us before, I'm gonna reserve judgement a little longer, until I see some consistency before I start losing myself in elation, claiming we are back.

Sheffield or brighton or even spurs hardly gave us any space and yet we were able to beat then. Its funny whenever we beat any side the narrative is they are giving us spaces and when we struggle to win the narrative is ole doesn't know how to break the bus parked by other side. Brighton hardly played any expansive football, we just made our own goals.

Also, apart from that one goal against brighton none of them were countet attacking goals. The whole myth that we just play counter attacking football is not true. I agree ole still has to improve his management on tactical fronts but I do see some improvement especially with the addition of bruno. Look at Wan bissaka's movement now in comparison to start of the season. He goes forward more often and is not afraid to cross. Look at Martial and Greenwood's movements, both are making some smart movements. Surely Ole has worked on these things.

 

[Striker10]

Well, I can use the same argument against your point. You are knee jerking based on last 3 results and completely ignoring what happened from March 2019 to Feb 2020. Football was awfully bad, tactically outwitted by championship teams and had the lowest ppg at one point (worse than Moyes).
So no, it just isn't a black and white barometer -
if the winning run continues we will get top 4 convincingly which means he would have had a nice second half of the season. At that point, we can agree that he deserves another season.

Until that point, I simply don't want to accept that he is the man to take us forward. Let him prove himself rather than we supporting him emotionally based on the player he used to be.

We're on a 15 game unbeaten run. Pogba was injured most of the season. The board only bought Fernandes in Jan. We had much to do. I can tell you, that your opinion only matters to you. I think most people can see that we are a much more stable team. And that's all there is to say. I think what's important is starting next season well....continuing form but I just feel you're being much to harsh.....I think you underestimate the problems we've over come and actually people are looking at the team now and being objective as opposed to biased...

We went on a terrible run and I think a lot of that was bad apples in the dressing room. We've a few young players or players who are still developing. We see a good team spirit at the moment. We see the new players mostly delivering with the exception really of James. We're playing great stuff. But of course we can do better. So we need to build on what we have for next season ....but there's still much to play for. I think it's backwards thinking to look at the past rather then the future because this is not the same squad. Players are playing with a good degree of confidence but you want to destabalize us and for what? Just don't make sense. The players back Ole. That's shown in a maturing squad.

 

[ReddBalls]

It is so fascinating that people honestly believe that changing the players mentality, the way they play and their understanding of their role in a system is done in a month or two. Equally fascinating is the belief that Ole was doing a shit job between the PSG game and sometime around February. If he did a shit job in that period, United would not have looked as good as they do now.

United's worst period under Ole was after he got the job and up until the international break. People on here rightfully mocked Moyes for taking a vacation before starting his job at United. I believe Ole went straight to preseason mode the minute he got the job, and he continued working on fitness until the international break (there were quotes with him saying preseason lasts til international break, but I can't fin them). I believe he also used that time to weed out the bad apples which obviously would lead to some discontent and insecurity in parts of the squad.

This approach would not only explain the bad results in that period and the subsequent injuries, but it would also explain why United now look like the fittest team in the league.

The only way to get results, whatever you do, is laying down the groundwork first. You have to saw before you reap.

 

[bond19821982]

We're on a 15 game unbeaten run. Pogba was injured most of the season. The board only bought Fernandes in Jan. We had much to do. I can tell you, that your opinion only matters to you. I think most people can see that we are a much more stable team. And that's all there is to say. I think what's important is starting next season well....continuing form but I just feel you're being much to harsh.....I think you underestimate the problems we've over come and actually people are looking at the team now and being objective as opposed to biased...

We went on a terrible run and I think a lot of that was bad apples in the dressing room. We've a few young players or players who are still developing. We see a good team spirit at the moment. We see the new players mostly delivering with the exception really of James. We're playing great stuff. But of course we can do better. So we need to build on what we have for next season ....but there's still much to play for. I think it's backwards thinking to look at the past rather then the future because this is not the same squad. Players are playing with a good degree of confidence but you want to destabalize us and for what? Just don't make sense. The players back Ole. That's shown in a maturing squad.

Just like my opinion matters to me, yours matters only to you. Don't talk on behalf of others ( means talk only for yourself)

Basically you are saying if a manager has all his best players available he will win or we shouldn't expect him to win against the likes of Astana or relegation fodders or League one teams ? Nice logic, as you rightly said - your opinion matters just to you.

Oh yes , the 15 run unbeaten that includes Tranmere, LASk,Derby and Club Burge. So pardon me if I wait until the end of season to get excited.

 

[Crackers]

It is so fascinating that people honestly believe that changing the players mentality, the way they play and their understanding of their role in a system is done in a month or two. Equally fascinating is the belief that Ole was doing a shit job between the PSG game and sometime around February. If he did a shit job in that period, United would not have looked as good as they do now.

United's worst period under Ole was after he got the job and up until the international break. People on here rightfully mocked Moyes for taking a vacation before starting his job at United. I believe Ole went straight to preseason mode the minute he got the job, and he continued working on fitness until the international break (there were quotes with him saying preseason lasts til international break, but I can't fin them). I believe he also used that time to weed out the bad apples which obviously would lead to some discontent and insecurity in parts of the squad.

This approach would not only explain the bad results in that period and the subsequent injuries, but it would also explain why United now look like the fittest team in the league.

The only way to get results, whatever you do, is laying down the groundwork first. You have to saw before you reap.

Great post.

 

[ReddBalls]

Great post.

Thanks, mate.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Just like my opinion matters to me, yours matters only to you. Don't talk on behalf of others ( means talk only for yourself)

Basically you are saying if a manager has all his best players available he will win or we shouldn't expect him to win against the likes of Astana or relegation fodders or League one teams ? Nice logic, as you rightly said - your opinion matters just to you.

Oh yes , the 15 run unbeaten that includes Tranmere, LASk,Derby and Club Burge. So pardon me if I wait until the end of season to get excited.

I don't know what's the problem with Tranmere, LASK, Derby & Club Brugge? In those run, we also beat Chelsea & City twice.

 

[Berbasbullet]

It is so fascinating that people honestly believe that changing the players mentality, the way they play and their understanding of their role in a system is done in a month or two. Equally fascinating is the belief that Ole was doing a shit job between the PSG game and sometime around February. If he did a shit job in that period, United would not have looked as good as they do now.

United's worst period under Ole was after he got the job and up until the international break. People on here rightfully mocked Moyes for taking a vacation before starting his job at United. I believe Ole went straight to preseason mode the minute he got the job, and he continued working on fitness until the international break (there were quotes with him saying preseason lasts til international break, but I can't fin them). I believe he also used that time to weed out the bad apples which obviously would lead to some discontent and insecurity in parts of the squad.

This approach would not only explain the bad results in that period and the subsequent injuries, but it would also explain why United now look like the fittest team in the league.

The only way to get results, whatever you do, is laying down the groundwork first. You have to saw before you reap.

That’s true and to add to this didn’t Klopp have an initial difficult time perhaps for similar reasons?

 

[reddev3]

I think he is starting to look the part and more importantly the vast majority of of fans are enjoying watching Utd again for the first time in years, would you really want to risk messing that up by bringing someone new in?

 

[ReddBalls]

That’s true and to add to this didn’t Klopp have an initial difficult time perhaps for similar reasons?

I would believe so. Pep too, for that matter.

 

[Alemar]

I don't know what's the problem with Tranmere, LASK, Derby & Club Brugge? In those run, we also beat Chelsea & City twice.

I agree. You can only beat those whom you face. Besides, our run is hopefully far from over yet, and may potentially reach over 25 games

 

[RedSky]

Oh yes , the 15 run unbeaten that includes Tranmere, LASk,Derby and Club Burge. So pardon me if I wait until the end of season to get excited.

Absolute utter rubbish. 10 of the 15 were Away and we've played plenty of tricky opponents. Pathetic point.

Competition	Club	Leg	Score	Result
FA Cup	Tranmere Rovers	A	0:6	Win
EFL Cup	Manchester City	A	0:1	Win
Premier League	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	0:0	Draw
Premier League	Chelsea FC	A	0:2	Win
Europa League	Club Brugge KV	A	1:1	Draw
Premier League	Watford FC	H	3:0	Win
Europa League	Club Brugge KV	H	5:0	Win
Premier League	Everton FC	A	1:1	Draw
FA Cup	Derby County	A	0:3	Win
Premier League	Manchester City	H	2:0	Win
Europa League	LASK	A	0:5	Win
Premier League	Tottenham Hotspur	A	1:1	Draw
Premier League	Sheffield United	H	3:0	Win
FA Cup	Norwich City	A	1:2	Win
Premier League	Brighton	A	0:3	Win

 

[Heardy]

It is so fascinating that people honestly believe that changing the players mentality, the way they play and their understanding of their role in a system is done in a month or two. Equally fascinating is the belief that Ole was doing a shit job between the PSG game and sometime around February. If he did a shit job in that period, United would not have looked as good as they do now.

United's worst period under Ole was after he got the job and up until the international break. People on here rightfully mocked Moyes for taking a vacation before starting his job at United. I believe Ole went straight to preseason mode the minute he got the job, and he continued working on fitness until the international break (there were quotes with him saying preseason lasts til international break, but I can't fin them). I believe he also used that time to weed out the bad apples which obviously would lead to some discontent and insecurity in parts of the squad.

This approach would not only explain the bad results in that period and the subsequent injuries, but it would also explain why United now look like the fittest team in the league.

The only way to get results, whatever you do, is laying down the groundwork first. You have to saw before you reap.

Great post! It’s frustrating for those that want us to be straight back amongst the elite of European football, but there’s a lot that needed undoing after over 5 years of mismanagement and rot setting in.

 

[kaiz]

That’s true and to add to this didn’t Klopp have an initial difficult time perhaps for similar reasons?

I would believe so. Pep too, for that matter.

Yeah. Klopp also struggled to break down teams early on, leading to the endless complains about the oppositions were too defensive or the entire population in the box. Pep was called a fraud in his first season at City. You have to admit having doubts is reasonable though. We are lucky that Ole has the patience and the temperament to play the long game and the endurance to overcome the huge pressure from the fans and media. Also credit to the board for understanding what he is trying to do and supporting him at a crucial time by bringing in Bruno Fernandes.

 

[onetwo3oclock4oclockrock]

Solskjær has now got the 4th highest win percentage of all Utd managers, and when we win tomorrow, he will go past Magnall (1903-1912), and move into third.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Manchester_United_F.C._managers#Statistics

 

[Womp]

Sheffield or brighton or even spurs hardly gave us any space and yet we were able to beat then. Its funny whenever we beat any side the narrative is they are giving us spaces and when we struggle to win the narrative is ole doesn't know how to break the bus parked by other side. Brighton hardly played any expansive football, we just made our own goals.

Also, apart from that one goal against brighton none of them were countet attacking goals. The whole myth that we just play counter attacking football is not true. I agree ole still has to improve his management on tactical fronts but I do see some improvement especially with the addition of bruno. Look at Wan bissaka's movement now in comparison to start of the season. He goes forward more often and is not afraid to cross. Look at Martial and Greenwood's movements, both are making some smart movements. Surely Ole has worked on these things.

I've already alluded to our improvement since Bruno came in, that was part of my premise - how reliant we are on him. Also no-one has claimed we only play counter attacking football, I don't know what you are talking about. My post was responding to another's post who referred to big games we won to justify not to be cautious, big games in which we did play counter-attacking football.

He may well be improving players, that's the minimum expectation for a manager in today's climate, if he wasn't doing that, he would be getting rightly sacked ala Mourinho. I'm happy with Ole and he's doing well as of late, but I don't seem to have my head in the sand about how great everything seems to be under him, as I've made that mistake far too often with this club in the past.

 

[AshRK]

I've already alluded to our improvement since Bruno came in, that was part of my premise - how reliant we are on him. Also no-one has claimed we only play counter attacking football, I don't know what you are talking about. My post was responding to another's post who referred to big games we won to justify not to be cautious, big games in which we did play counter-attacking football.

He may well be improving players, that's the minimum expectation for a manager in today's climate, if he wasn't doing that, he would be getting rightly sacked ala Mourinho. I'm happy with Ole and he's doing well as of late, but I don't seem to have my head in the sand about how great everything seems to be under him, as I've made that mistake far too often with this club in the past.

Fair enough. I think it would be best to judge him at the end of this season. I am happy with the way he has managed us since Bruno joined but consistency is the key.

One thing I really like about him is his man management. It has been top notch since he joined and the below quote further proves it.

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