Until we use the players we have in a settled manner (injuries accepted), it’s impossible to know what the team is capable of. Ole chops and changes far too much in his formation and team selection, which prevents players from building a rhythm and an on pitch understanding between individuals.
These stats for the current season show the problem clearly.
Manchester United under Solskjaer 2020-21 season
(Premier League and Champions League Matches Only)
Total: P16 W9 D1 L6 F34 A27
4-2-3-1 system
P11 W6 D1 L4 F22 A20
4-4-2 diamond system
P3 W2 D0 L1 F8 A3
3-4-1-2 system
P2 W1 D0 L1 F4 A4
- Solskjaer has not started with the same XI in back to back games this season.
- The 4-1 win against Newcastle and 0-0 draw against Chelsea are the only Premier League games in which he has named an unchanged starting line-up
- United have gone behind in 10 of their 16 Premier League and Champions League matches this season
- United have conceded at least twice in seven of those 16 games
- Nine - a third - of the 27 goals shipped this season in those 16 games have come in the first 20 minutes of matches
- In the 3-2 defeat to Leipzig, the back five and goalkeeper David De Gea cost a combined £227.7 million
Solskjaer has altered his selections repeatedly, with the midfield the area of the team that has undergone the most upheaval. He has used 11 different midfield combinations in United’s 16 league and European matches, nine of which have only been utilised once.
Different defensive combinations used this season:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw - 6 times
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles - 5
De Gea; Fosu-Mensah, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw - 1
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw - 1
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Shaw, Telles - 1
Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Maguire, Shaw - 1
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Telles - 1
Different midfield combinations used this season:
McTominay, Fred, Fernandes - 5 times
Pogba, Matic, Fernandes - 2
Pogba, McTominay, Fernandes - 1
Matic, Fred, Pogba, Van de Beek - 1
McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes - 1
Van de Beek, Matic, Fernandes - 1
Matic, Fred, Fernandes - 1
Fred, Van de Beek, Fernandes - 1
Matic, Van de Beek, Fred, Fernandes - 1
McTominay, Pogba, Van de Beek - 1
Matic, McTominay, Fernandes - 1
Different attacking combinations used:
Greenwood, Rashford - 3 times
Mata, Martial, Rashford - 3
Greenwood, Martial, Rashford - 2
Mata, Rashford, James - 2
Rashford, Cavani, Martial - 2
James, Martial, Rashford - 1
Rashford, Martial - 1
Greenwood, Martial - 1
Greenwood, Cavani, Martial - 1
We can’t go on like this and expect to win things.
And if we appoint a DOF, how on earth does he scout players using Ole’s preferred style of play as a template?