If I compare Ole to our previous two managers just based on what I see:
- Our forward press is better organised, but we don't capitalise as much as we should on balls won in the opposition half. A trait basically non-existent under LvG or Mourinho.
- Capacity to counter-attack is about on the same level as Mourinho, but I don't remember us being any good at it under Van Gaal.
- Possession play is poor but I feel like there is an attempt to work on it like under Van Gaal, but I didn't feel that we worked on that aspect at all under Mourinho. But unlike LvG, Ole doesn't mind being pragmatic when he's disappointed in its implementation, whereas with the former it was the only way of playing.
- Ability to work the ball out of defence, or transitioning from defence to attack, better than under Mourinho, not as laboured as under Van Gaal, but a good two levels beneath what the better teams offer.
Another view is that he almost got us into the top 4 when he joined. Did it last year, and again this year.
But we are no where near being genuine contenders for the league or even being good enough to take a CL group stage for granted and that's just based on the players we got.