Solskjaer's Press Conference - West Brom

Dante

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On West Brom
“They’ve had some players out with covid. We played them before the restart with two 11s and both 11s were good teams.
Slaven is a good coach, I’ve known him for many years, chirping in my ear when I've as playing against him.
“I expect a good team who will come and cause his problems, but I focus on us and I want to see more of what we’ve been good at. I want to see us dominate. “
Secrets to home and away form?
”It’s not as easy as why don’t we win at home why don’t we do so well, every game lives its own life, there are reasons behind that and, as I said, the best game we played at home this season was against RB Leipzig,
“Home and away is not the same, in Norway there are a few hundred fans and they help. Here it’s sterile.
“The Everton game last time out showed a Man United team as we want to see it. We scored some good team goals and I was very pleased with that last performance.”
Solskjaer on Pogba
“Paul’s had a difficult season last season, had COVID now, those three games he played for France helped, I spoke to Paul and he felt towards end of Portugal and Sweden game he felt stronger for it, he played well, they qualified, I think he’s only going to improve.
“Paul is a very important player and very important person for us and to have him in form and happy is gonna be important.”
Light at the end of the tunnel?
“Yeah, it’s welcome news for the players and the club but the biggest plus is for fans that can come and watch games again, watching on TV, not getting close contact with players that you admire and adore, you’re a fan of a club for a reason and you love the players.
“Hopefully we can get back to that but it’s up to the government and society get the infection rate down in general because it’s an issue. “
On home record
“Home and away now is different, not like it used to be. We’ve had four home games in the league,the first one we look at having no preparation and Palace deserved it. Tottenham deserved win after Anthony sending off, other two games if we had our fans might have sparked that little extra X Factor we needed in two close games.
“Our best win this season was against Leipzig at home though. It’s something we wanna correct and get our first win hopefully against West Brom but it’s a different sensation playing in front of the Stretford End without fans, they normally score a goal for us.”
Solskjaer on Greenwood
“You have to take a step back sometimes, the boy’s only 19, he’s had a fantastic year, if we go a year back I left him out of the Carabao Cup against Chelsea, Mason stayed back and played against Doncaster in the Checkatrade Trophy to get game time, that’s how far he’s come. Now he’s got 19 goals, made his England debut, scored in his first Under-21s game and of course the headlines are gonna be about when he scores and doesn’t play.
“Everyone’s allowed to not be well, if you’re not well you can’t train. He’s been away eight or nine days from training, we’re just building him up again and I have no doubts about him.
“He has a very good head on him and the talent is there for all to see.”
Move to five subs
“Those go hand in hand, we had a very good managers’ meeting the other day where we discussed it. Player Welfare has to be at forefront of our heads, mental and physical health and 2020 is a year no one could have foreseen and nobody knows the after-effects of it, but we can use common sense with fixture scheduling as well and we as managers need to look after players when they’ve played too many games. We need to try and give them rest when possible.
“It’s a complex situation for many of us and I know loads of injuries happen towards end of games and if you have the chance in the last 15 or 20 minutes to take players off, instead of making three [subs] you might save some injuries. Fatigue is the main cause, you might be late in a tackle and hurt someone else or yourself.”
Solskjaer on dementia
“I can’t claim to be an expert on the subject but of course we’ve seen it close hand with Nobby [Stiles] and Sir Bobby [Charlton] as well, it’s a serious issue, the good thing is it’s raised awareness.
“I need to know more about it myself as well so we in football can help raise discussions. The debate is going, that’s good, progress has to be made with kids in training, not allowed to head a ball in training before such an age and I just want to say that football has a big responsibility here as well with the profile of what we’re doing.”
Press conference begins - Injury update
“The short version is it’s Luke Shaw, Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones are the only ones who didn’t join in parts of the training today, some are in different stages after internationals, recoveries and working back after illness and fitness and we’ll make a decision tonight but most of them have joined in today and some yesterday, so it’s looking good.
“Possibles but some of them are probably some doubts. Marcus joined for the first time today, hopefully no reaction, Bailly first day today so no, him and Marcos Rojo joined for the first time for a month, so they’re not ready, Victor, we’ll have to check tomorrow because his back is not great.”
Fred on United squad rotation
“There are a lot of games but what’s good about it is we’ve got a really good group, and we will need everyone.
“That’s the best thing about having the group: we will be able to help each other, because there will be injuries, knocks and niggles.
“Getting a consecutive run of games and a consecutive run of wins is the goal. We know our strengths and we know what we need to work on. As I said, we have a good group and we want to try and get a good run of victories in this intense period."
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...-news/man-utd-press-conference-recap-19313151
 
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Pexbo

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In all seriousness Phil Jones should not be a professional athlete.
 

Web of Bissaka

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Cheers OP for sharing.

Good comments again, overall.

Is it just me that find his "needing fans in the stadium" to be irritating bad comments?
Sounds like we're the only one that badly needed fans cheer to boost our player's motivations. Other teams don't have problems getting the wins and points without the presence of fans. It's embarrassing to constantly talked about it to be honest.
 

united_99

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Cheers OP for sharing.

Good comments again, overall.

Is it just me that find his "needing fans in the stadium" to be irritating bad comments?
Sounds like we're the only one that badly needed fans cheer to boost our player's motivations. Other teams don't have problems getting the wins and points without the presence of fans. It's embarrassing to constantly talked about it to be honest.
I think he is constantly asked about it i.e. why our home form in the league has been so bad but the away form so good. He probably doesn’t know the answer either so keeps mentioning the fans.
 

Posh Red

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Cheers OP for sharing.

Good comments again, overall.

Is it just me that find his "needing fans in the stadium" to be irritating bad comments?
Sounds like we're the only one that badly needed fans cheer to boost our player's motivations. Other teams don't have problems getting the wins and points without the presence of fans. It's embarrassing to constantly talked about it to be honest.
Just seems like an easy excuse to deflect the question, whilst also praising the fan base. Don’t really see an issue with it
 

12OunceEpilogue

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In all seriousness Phil Jones should not be a professional athlete.
I honestly think he'd prefer not to show his face around the training ground, he can't be being taken seriously as a professional these days. He's had mockery all along, and some of it has stepped over the line for me, but we've reached the point where it's just sad to see him still hanging around with nothing to offer the club.
 

ayushreddevil9

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Exactly. There’s literally no way to discuss home form right now without mentioning the absence of fans, seeing as they’re the primary reason teams win more games at home than away.
Doesn't affect other teams but only us I guess. Hmm.
 

Andycoleno9

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What is up with Mason? From this quotes i understand that it is something else then some injury
 

Tom Cato

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Cheers OP for sharing.

Good comments again, overall.

Is it just me that find his "needing fans in the stadium" to be irritating bad comments?
Sounds like we're the only one that badly needed fans cheer to boost our player's motivations. Other teams don't have problems getting the wins and points without the presence of fans. It's embarrassing to constantly talked about it to be honest.
The reason he mentions it is to pay a tiny tribute to the matchgoing fans that want to go to Old Trafford. EVERYONE misses the atmosphere at matchday. Why would he not talk about missing the fans when 75,000 roaring people make up such a vast part of the entire point of the spectacle?

All it is is a nod' and aknowledgement that football the fans at Old Trafford and stadiums all over the world are sorely missed, and welcomed back at first opportunity.

There isn't a club or player in the Premier League that isn't tripping to have fans back in the stadium. Fans are a key part of the identity of the game and without them, football is different.

So thank you Ole and every other player and manager that mentions fans in the stadium, it's nice to know that we still matter.
 

Tom Cato

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19 replies on a PC the day before our first game in two weeks is pretty telling. There's not much excitement or belief in the PE teacher left.
You have it backwards. This place comes alive when it goes bad. Because then everyone who gets off on complaining have something to bond over.
 

UnofficialDevil

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The reason he mentions it is to pay a tiny tribute to the matchgoing fans that want to go to Old Trafford. EVERYONE misses the atmosphere at matchday. Why would he not talk about missing the fans when 75,000 roaring people make up such a vast part of the entire point of the spectacle?

All it is is a nod' and aknowledgement that football the fans at Old Trafford and stadiums all over the world are sorely missed, and welcomed back at first opportunity.

There isn't a club or player in the Premier League that isn't tripping to have fans back in the stadium. Fans are a key part of the identity of the game and without them, football is different.

So thank you Ole and every other player and manager that mentions fans in the stadium, it's nice to know that we still matter.
A bit of an exaggeration. You've forgotten about the prawn sandwich. But yeah we all do miss the atmosphere and football isnt the same.
 

Pogue Mahone

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But by his very own logic all teams should stand on a solitary point or less after four home games.. Fact is he's worse at motivating players even though they're younger, and by extension, hungrier.
No. His own logic is that maybe our home record would be less bad if we had fans at our games. You can tell this by the words he used.
 

wolvored

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Cheers OP for sharing.

Good comments again, overall.

Is it just me that find his "needing fans in the stadium" to be irritating bad comments?
Sounds like we're the only one that badly needed fans cheer to boost our player's motivations. Other teams don't have problems getting the wins and points without the presence of fans. It's embarrassing to constantly talked about it to be honest.
Exactly. How come the same doesnt happen in the away games. Its just another excuse to use when he hasnt a clue.
 

Bobade

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I honestly don't know what people want him to say instead? We've had a poor run of home form. I would be surprised if he has any other explanation for it, he probably has no idea himself. I can see how you would know why we lost individual games but the reasons for this are far less clear, even for the manager.
 

Mr Smith

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Sounds like Tuanzebe might be playing against West Brom with Jones out, Bailly not ready, and Lindelof a doubt.
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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Cheers OP for sharing.

Good comments again, overall.

Is it just me that find his "needing fans in the stadium" to be irritating bad comments?
Sounds like we're the only one that badly needed fans cheer to boost our player's motivations. Other teams don't have problems getting the wins and points without the presence of fans. It's embarrassing to constantly talked about it to be honest.
When we win away does he come to the defence of the opposition saying how much they missed their fans. . .

It’s just a nonsense bone he’s refusing to let go of; we shouldn’t be without a win at home at this stage of the season - I don’t care if it’s in front of one man & his dog or 70k+.
 

Snow

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When we win away does he come to the defence of the opposition saying how much they missed their fans. . .

It’s just a nonsense bone he’s refusing to let go of; we shouldn’t be without a win at home at this stage of the season - I don’t care if it’s in front of one man & his dog or 70k+.
No, why would he? His full time job is managing Manchester United. Other teams aren't his business.
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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No, why would he? His full time job is managing Manchester United. Other teams aren't his business.
Point flew way over your head.

Yes his job is with Manchester United, well done for stating the obvious.

Using fans as an excuse/reason when we lose at home but making no mention when win away renders the point useless.

But as his job is United I guess fans only affect us & not the opposition :rolleyes:

It’s time for him to move on & get results.
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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He used the absence of fans as an excuse for our home form, but that's like saying that the only reason we won away is because the other teams are missing their home fans. It just shouldn't be bought up as an excuse really.
This./

If it’s an issue for us it was just as much an issue for Everton before the international break.

No fans is no excuse for not winning a home game so far this season.
 

matsdf

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Maybe United miss the fans more than other teams because well, we have the most match going fans? Does that sound so ridicilous?
 

alexthelion

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Jesus Christ, is there anything the Ole-outers won't make into an issue to attack him with?
 

Dr. Dwayne

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Rubbish. 76.000 fans that cant be heard? Are home games are famous for being too quiet. Other teams with much smaller stadiums are being equally affected if not more.
Our.

Playing in front of empty seats at home has to feel a bit off, moreso in a larger ground, so I'd argue it's a bigger leveller at OT than at, say, Craven Cottage.