Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

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Idxomer

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Mercedes cars have engines, don’t they? The one we have wouldn’t power a go-kart. As we persist with car analogies, I reckon you can criticise the driver all you want, but until we’re not playing knobheads in midfield we’re going to struggle hugely.

Ole may be responsible for not having brought one (or two) in; we don’t really know. My hunch is that he’d like one desperately.
He brought players in literally every position except the midfield, he even got backups for Shaw and Bruno without getting a midfielder.

The blame should be entirely on him for not prioritizing the obvious problems we have in that area.
 

emperortan

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So did di Matteo after taking over mid-season. Tuchel also lost the CL with a monster of a PSG side. Should that have been held against him?

Tuchel is a good coach and is doing a good job over at Chelsea, but this constant fawning over him is seriously weird, especially when you go to the other extreme of calling Ole clueless or out of his depth even after tangible signs of progress over the last two seasons.

If I remember correctly, we had a slow start last season as well (I remember the Maguire pulling Shaw's shirt defending) but we steadied enough to actually look pretty fecking good for most of the season. I'd say going out of the CL even during that phase was extremely poor from Ole, but we built something really good after the first few weeks.
Yeah that's how football working nowadays, that helped Chelsea won big titles. I fear this year would be another no-big-title season for us. If that happens, the board should act ASAP.
 

Tom Van Persie

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The irony is lost on many people. The same people criticising Ole are the same people calling De Gea finished, Lindelof average at best, McFred the worst midfield pairing at any big club anywhere, James championship level etc etc

Yet the club are progressing in league positions and just broke the all time top flight unbeaten away record. You'd think we were in Arsenal's position
This is what I don't understand. We have an awful manager and shit players yet we finished 2nd in the best league in the world last season and just broke a PL record. :confused:
 

Kag

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He brought players in literally every position except the midfield, he even got backups for Shaw and Bruno without getting a midfielder.

The blame should be entirely on him for not prioritizing the obvious problems we have in that area.
The messy situation he inherited and the personnel that subsequently left dictated that we clearly had to prioritise accordingly. Van de Beek is the only signing I’m looking at that I don’t really understand at this point. A more appropriate midfielder that could play in the pivot would have been more helpful. Aside from that, we’ve plugged holes where we had to at the time.

There’s one more big one to plug and then we’re set. I don’t think the club has the stomach for it, though.
 

Eriku

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Even LVG improved us from the Moyes days, and Mourinho for a brief period from the LVG days. It's always about how much the improvement is. Tuchel improved them enough for winning the biggest trophy in club football and has people fawning over their squad for some reason. Our improvement hasn't resulted in any success but regular CL footy.
Di Matteo also managed to propel Chelsea to an ECL title. How good did he turn out to be?

Arteta beat Chelsea to the FA Cup title. What does that say?

Simple accounting like this not even a year into Tuchel’s reign is probably not the best indication.
 

Bobcat

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Di Matteo also managed to propel Chelsea to an ECL title. How good did he turn out to be?

Arteta beat Chelsea to the FA Cup title. What does that say?

Simple accounting like this not even a year into Tuchel’s reign is probably not the best indication.
Its also worth remembering that Tuchel was only two games away from a complete disaster season. They fecked up on the last day of the season and had it not been for Leichester also shitting the bed they would have ended up outside of top 4.

Then you have the CL final, where Pep fecked up trying to be clever. Two key games that was all the difference between hero and zero.
 

Trophy Room

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He's done a brilliant job so far of improving the quality of the squad, and to be fair, consistency with positive results. It's no fluke that we've challenged and qualified for the champions league whilst he's been around. I'm sure he's evolved as a manager too.

I just don't know if he and his coaching team have the tactical/coaching nous to beat the other top managers in the league over the course of the season. Chelsea for example look so well-drilled in a short space of time - I have no doubt we would have won the league this season with Tuchel, Pep or Klopp in charge given the comparative quality of our squad.
 

NZT-One

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Ole's type of management is just as much a philosophy as Pep,Tuchel or Klopp playing possession, Counter or Pressing.

It's just more a focus on the quality of the player than a way a team should focus in playing in a certain way.

I'm actually loving it because the quality of our team outshines even Man City in my opinion with our CDM the only position left to chop and change.

Team has improved and its great to watch. The United team is nearly built to a level of perfection.
Jesus wept... A really perfect team that gets a lucky win against the mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers after being somewhat outplayed for 60 odd minutes.

You might be right, that Oles approach is just as valid as the approaches of Pep, Tuchel and Klopp. But lets not act as if they deliver the same goods just yet. We don't have a lot to show for while the other coaches have. Their structured approaches also seemingly make it easier for new players to be integrated and they aren't as reliant to keep your 1st team in topform pretty much throughout the season.

For the record, I am also against getting rid of Ole now, and even if I acknowledge that Conte and Zidane are good managers, I also wouldn't go for them as I would fear they would turn too much upside down as the clubs infrastructure in Fletch and Murtough might be not as resilient enough yet. I am fine with Ole but he has to get a Queiroz, Burac or Faria figure who takes care of the obvious issues in built-up and chance creation. Because just jumping from one problem position to the next doesn't feel like the smart thing to do and getting rid of Fred won't change much. I also agree, better midfield players surely would help us but I completely disagree that this would be the only available route to go. I just don't want to partly write-off parts of the season just because the squad isn't perfect yet. As others said, Chelsea make it work without a standout CB, City is able to produce incredible offensive numbers with Gundogan and Ferran Torres in attach and no top striker and Liverpool has almost no depth.
 

Borys

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So who adviced him to throw in more attackers despite us not creating any chances and conceding a lot? Looks like somebody lost the plot.
Anyway, I'd replace the whole coaching staff at this point, Ole should stay but changes are required.
 

RedSinha

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So who adviced him to throw in more attackers despite us not creating any chances and conceding a lot? Looks like somebody lost the plot.
Anyway, I'd replace the whole coaching staff at this point, Ole should stay but changes are required.
This place is already a toxic cesspool after a hardfought win. Imagine Ole subbing in more defenders and parking the bus. This place would explode with negativity.
 

NZT-One

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This is what I don't understand. We have an awful manager and shit players yet we finished 2nd in the best league in the world last season and just broke a PL record. :confused:
Who said, that he is an awful manager? This sort of hyperbole doesn't really help the situation. Yesterdays match wasn't great and it showed some things, that have been criticized last year and the year before already. Acting dumbfounded that people point that out, is weird.
 

E-mal

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Its also worth remembering that Tuchel was only two games away from a complete disaster season. They fecked up on the last day of the season and had it not been for Leichester also shitting the bed they would have ended up outside of top 4.

Then you have the CL final, where Pep fecked up trying to be clever. Two key games that was all the difference between hero and zero.
The point is Ole could have messed that same chance up if he was in Tuchels position.
For example, his first season when we gave up top 4 finish after a good run of form just like Tuchel did last season.
 

Dinghy

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Do you people realise that we have improved every year since Ole has been here? Like that is obvious right?
It's mental. I could understand it if we'd gone backwards, but we've improved each year and the player recruitment is better than in a long long time. Some fans truly deserved the shit we saw under LVG, Moyes and Mourinho. Our clueless manager just broke the unbeaten away record, imagine if we had a decent one.
 
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Borys

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This place is already a toxic cesspool after a hardfought win. Imagine Ole subbing in more defenders and parking the bus. This place would explode with negativity.
We could have tried 3 man midfield, Matic at the back, Fred right, Pogba left. But that would mean we can only play 3 strikers which is not acceptable for our manager.
 

roonster09

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So who adviced him to throw in more attackers despite us not creating any chances and conceding a lot? Looks like somebody lost the plot.
Anyway, I'd replace the whole coaching staff at this point, Ole should stay but changes are required.
Did he?

Cavani came on for awful James, moved Greenwood to RW. So attacker - attacker change
Martial came on for Sancho and played LW. Like for like change. Attacker - attacker change

In the last few mins, Dalot came on for Greenwood and we moved to 3 at the back.
 

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Who said, that he is an awful manager? This sort of hyperbole doesn't really help the situation. Yesterdays match wasn't great and it showed some things, that have been criticized last year and the year before already. Acting dumbfounded that people point that out, is weird.
We had some numpty who claimed he's worse than Arteta yesterday.
 

Tom Van Persie

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Who said, that he is an awful manager? This sort of hyperbole doesn't really help the situation. Yesterdays match wasn't great and it showed some things, that have been criticized last year and the year before already. Acting dumbfounded that people point that out, is weird.
Diabolical manager, getting by on individual brilliance.

Shocking performance today, lucky to get all 3 points.
Nearly 3 years and we still serve same crap every week. Squad with an amazing potential severely handicapped by our coaching staff. He is our Arteta. Imagine what a good manager could do with this team.
Get him out of the club now. We were shambles tactically. I was wrong about him, I thought he is a mediocre manager, he is probably less than mediocre.
Actually probably worse than Arteta, he managed to win a trophy after all :lol:
Terrible coach. 3 years in, ridiculous amounts spent and we are still quite regularly being placed off the park by teams with far inferior players and resources. If any fan is happy to continue playing underdog under this manager who is very clearly out of his depth, all power to you
 

E-mal

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Do you people realise that we have improved every year since Ole has been here? Like that is obvious right?
Results have improved but perhaps not commiserate to the amount spent on recruitment.
What has definitely not improved is performance. We have no clear ideology and we fail at the basic things that we had issues with 2 seasons ago.
 

Borys

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Did he?

Cavani came on for awful James, moved Greenwood to RW. So attacker - attacker change
Martial came on for Sancho and played LW. Like for like change. Attacker - attacker change

In the last few mins, Dalot came on for Greenwood and we moved to 3 at the back.
James was pretty bad but he was at least putting some effort, in contrast to Bruno Pogba Sancho and Greenwood. We gave up on midfield when Cavani stepped on the pitch. 72' Martial enters for Sancho, we play Martial Cavani Greenwood Bruno in line.

When we can't play McFred our plan B is to throw in more attackers.
 

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Tuchel was appointed on 26 January 2021. Premier League table since that day reads like this:

PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints
Man City23180554
Chelsea22136345
Liverpool22133642
Man Utd22118341
The CL final has papered over the fact that league-wise, Tuchel still has a lot to prove.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Zidane has never had to build a team and Conte is one of the most exhausting people to ever sit on a bench. He'll get fired or leave after 2 seasons because everyone can't take more of him.
Zidane doesn't need to build a team here though.

It's pretty much ready to win.
 

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Results have improved but perhaps not commiserate to the amount spent on recruitment.
What has definitely not improved is performance. We have no clear ideology and we fail at the basic things that we had issues with 2 seasons ago.
If by ideology you mean, we go out with the intention of playing the same way every game then yes we don't have that.

We clearly try to be adaptable and have a pragmatic approach to squad management. We do seem to have a preference for physically gifted players.
 

Strelok

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He's the current stick of choice to beat Ole with. Previous holders include Poch, Rodgers, Ancelotti, Nuno, Hassenhuttl, Arteta and Lampard, depending on that particular weekend's results.

He is looking good though.
This :lol:

He didn't look that good against us with PSG though. With all the stars there.

However imo it's legit to question some of Ole's tactical decisions last match. One thing I don't understand that it was clearly we were badly overrun in the midfield and couldn't progress the ball at all but he didn't ask Bruno to drop back a bit to help out and link the play.
 

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It's mental. I could understand it if we'd gone backwards, but we've improved each year and the player recruitment is better than in a long long time. Some fans truly deserved the shit we saw under LVG, Moyes and Mourinho.
They're just spoilt, they want us to destroy every team we face and get all pissy when an opponent actually plays well. We finished 2nd last season despite having a very average start to the season, this year we've started well and yet the team still gets shit. Personally I think the signs are looking good for us, Varane looked fantastic yesterday and immediately fixed our issues from high balls, a big weakness when Lindelof plays fixed. Currently it's clear that Ole doesn't have a good plan B for our midfield when he can't play McFred and they're trying to fit Pogba into the team which is tricky because clearly we don't have the right DM in the squad to make it work.

We're going to be a little unpredictable at the start, even more so when Ronaldo comes into the first team as we've got 3 new starters. Some adjustment time is required, if we're still having these weak performances come October, thats when as fans we should be getting concerned. But as of now, that was a very good win against Wolves who will be a tricky opponent to face for our rivals. Think we got a little lucky with the timing of the fixture as they clearly haven't got their attacking game going yet. Once they start being more clinical they'll be a decent PL team.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Do you people realise that we have improved every year since Ole has been here? Like that is obvious right?
The argument is whether we can make another improvement to the next step.

I've seen nothing that suggests we can.
 

Giggsyking

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People who do not want to admit that our performance over the past seasons with him was below average are even 1. blind. or 2.Wums.
 

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Who said, that he is an awful manager? This sort of hyperbole doesn't really help the situation. Yesterdays match wasn't great and it showed some things, that have been criticized last year and the year before already. Acting dumbfounded that people point that out, is weird.
Literally lots of people have said that. Today he’s been called worse than 99% of managers. Yesterday he was worse than Arteta and a fraud.
 

Carl

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People who do not want to admit that our performance over the past seasons with him was below average are even 1. blind. or 2.Wums.
Define below average, because 2nd and 3rd in the league doesn't sound very average to me.
 

bond19821982

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Think we have reached to a point and ask - is the just the results we are concerned about ? Shouldn't we be seeing a free flow style consistently? We have been good in bits and pieces under Ole but when can you expect the consistency? Surely, it can't take 3 years ?

People who think this is just based on 3 games this season just need to relax. It's not!

Don't tell me we need another midfielder to actually get some consistency. He spent 300m and just now got one of the GOAT as well.
 

Giggsyking

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My hope and only hope, is the faith in the absolutely world class squad we have. Nothing I trust him with tactically.
 

Leftback99

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This :lol:

He didn't look that good against us with PSG though. With all the stars there.

However imo it's legit to question some of Ole's tactical decisions last match. One thing I don't understand that it was clearly we were badly overrun in the midfield and couldn't progress the ball at all but he didn't ask Bruno to drop back a bit to help out and link the play.
Yeah the midfield is a big issue that he needs to get a handle on.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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They're just spoilt, they want us to destroy every team we face and get all pissy when an opponent actually plays well. We finished 2nd last season despite having a very average start to the season, this year we've started well and yet the team still gets shit. Personally I think the signs are looking good for us, Varane looked fantastic yesterday and immediately fixed our issues from high balls, a big weakness when Lindelof plays fixed. Currently it's clear that Ole doesn't have a good plan B for our midfield when he can't play McFred and they're trying to fit Pogba into the team which is tricky because clearly we don't have the right DM in the squad to make it work.

We're going to be a little unpredictable at the start, even more so when Ronaldo comes into the first team as we've got 3 new starters. Some adjustment time is required, if we're still having these weak performances come October, thats when as fans we should be getting concerned. But as of now, that was a very good win against Wolves who will be a tricky opponent to face for our rivals. Think we got a little lucky with the timing of the fixture as they clearly haven't got their attacking game going yet. Once they start being more clinical they'll be a decent PL team.
Strawman. No one has said that.

A lot of the issues from that performance yesterday though is that they were present at various points in prior seasons.

Those type of performances can't be a theme or a recurring thing for the season if we want to contend/win at the end.

Hopefully after the international break, we come back firing and smash Newcastle.
 

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James was pretty bad but he was at least putting some effort, in contrast to Bruno Pogba Sancho and Greenwood. We gave up on midfield when Cavani stepped on the pitch. 72' Martial enters for Sancho, we play Martial Cavani Greenwood Bruno in line.

When we can't play McFred our plan B is to throw in more attackers.
We didn't play Bruno, Martial, Cavani, Greenwood in line. It was one pic and people somehow decided we played 4-2-4. There will always be a move where you have players trying to beat the trap.

There are few pics which shows Fred in the box with Bruno deeper and same with Pogba.

We didn't throw more attackers, we replaced shit player with better player and later like for like replacement, a fresh player replacing exhausted player.
 

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The argument is whether we can make another improvement to the next step.

I've seen nothing that suggests we can.
Well given that we drew a lot of games last season, do you think that this could have been one of those scenarios? We went behind in our away games an incredible amount of times, yesterday felt like one of those games we would have conceded in last year. The vast majority in the matchday thread were saying that it was only a matter of time before we conceded. Yet we didn't and we got the win. We were a little lucky, granted. But at no point yesterday did I feel we would lose and I was confident we'd win at half time as despite playing poorly we didn't concede.

If we can do the job against Newcastle that will be 10 points from the opening 4 games. Sounds like a good, promising start to me.
 

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Think we have reached to a point and ask - is the just the results we are concerned about ? Shouldn't we be seeing a free flow style consistently? We have been good in bits and pieces under Ole but when can you expect the consistency? Surely, it can't take 3 years ?

People who think this is just based on 3 games this season just need to relax. It's not!

Don't tell me we need another midfielder to actually get some consistency. He spent 300m and just now got one of the GOAT as well.
So you’re asking to see consistency as he’s signed one of the best players in the world. A player who hasn’t actually played under him yet?
 
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