Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

[Zen86]

We’ve regressed as a team this season and Ole will be feeling the pressure more than at any other time in his United tenure, considering the squad he has at his disposal.

We look completely unbalanced as a side. Last season, we were actually quite solid for the most part and simply struggled to break down teams that parked the bus, and in doing so were liable to concede the odd goal in the closing stages of the match. So far this season we’ve not even been that. We’re completely open at the back and we’re still struggling to create opportunities up front, despite adding to both defence and attack.


I would love Ole to be a success here but the signs are saying otherwise. I’m not an acolyte of Ole, but I’ve always maintained that he should get a fair crack at it. Now he’s had time to build his team, and he’s done a better job than those before him in fairness, but we really should be doing better than we are. We’re in a pretty big hole right now. I’m sure he’ll eventually pull us out of it but we shouldn’t be there in the first place, not if we ever want to win the league again.

 

[Strelok]

Imo for the first time in his tenue here there is definitely something wrong with the dressing room atm. If not he hadn't made the Cavani sub. It made no sense at all.

The Ronnie fan boys will jump on me but imo this signing has been bad for the team's harmony since he seems to be given too much privilege. He started to be bigger than the team. We started to become a Ronaldo FC. People blindly worship him because of his status and fame. Ole is scared of his influence and what the media, the fans, the top hierarchy would say if he doesn't play him. He knows what's right but he doesn't have the balls to do it for the sake of the team. He still wants to make everyone happy. But by doing so he's actually making everyone unhappy. Cavani is unhappy because he was subbed off too early. Ronnie is unhappy because he didn't start and didn't score. It doesn't solve a fecking thing this way.

People keep saying he's not the right guy to win us things. I don't know about that but let's not deny the fact he had transformed us from a team that our only wish was to get into top 4 each season to the now where we'd be disappointed if we can't win the title this season. I don't know what the next manager would bring. Maybe he'll be the right one to win us things. Maybe he'll be another disaster like Jose, LVG, Moyes. We'll have to start all over again and our wish is back to getting into top 4 each season. No one knows. But chance is, imo a disaster is much more likely looking at how we're run, our board and the history of their decisions.

I was a big Ole in but I'm on the fence now after how he treated Cavani. I don't think the dressing room would like that either. However I still hope Ole could succeed here. Part is because imo he deserves it after all the hard work he's done to get us here, part is because he's one of our legends. And the biggest part is for once we're looking like we're going in the right direction after years of disasters and disappointment. But Ole must do something about that dressing room issue and sort that out asap. Or his tenue won't be much longer here. Once a manager loses his dressing room it's simply a matter of time.

 

[DutchSerb]

I've been fed up with Ole since forever. His coaching style is that of a coward. Why do we keep sticking to this double pivot where we don't have the personnel for? Where is the 433 after his comments? This club has the most talented squad it's had in years, we have the players to play the style of football that's required and expected from a top side. I'm not even worried about the results. As long as we lose points playing attacking football, create loads of chances and are clearly the better side. Sadly this is hardly the case most games. This team isn't even fun to watch right now. Most days, watching United feels like a chore. Ole needs to switch it up quick. I mean, can it really get worse than this??? And yes, 433 with 1 CDM not named Fred can work. Will it? Well we'll never feckin know, would we? I would love to see Ole limit AWB's offensive duties which he obviously stinks at anyway (him not holding up the ball all day on the wing would be a dream), for more defensive stability and let Pogba finally for the first time in his Utd career be a true box-to-box.

Rant over.

(Yes that CDM should be Scott)

 

[TsuWave]

the main argument against sacking Ole - which is that we will not end up with anyone better.

you think Ole is elite or hard to replace?

 

[Jerry Garcia]

It’s time for the Ole roller coaster ride to come to an end. How many times can we have these long periods of utter mediocrity? His tactics are so poor and I’m so tired of his interviews. He has an amazing squad and yet has no idea how to set up against a team that sits deep - the same issue that has been there since he took over.

We had one of the best fixture lists you could ask for and now are going into one of the most intense periods of the season looking like 11 individuals. How anyone can defend Ole at this point is beyond me.

 

[Trip721]

7 games into a three year contract. He isn’t going anywhere until 2022.
And who is going to replace him? I’m in the OleOut bot as well but no idea who can replace him mid season.

 

[Chairman Steve]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Those kids need to stop pushing their anti-Ole agenda!

 

[SAFMUTD]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Exactly.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Of course the last two league games have been disappointing. But we have a good record against our rivals under Ole. I relish watching the big games and there's nothing to suggest we need to be fearful of the upcoming fixtures, it's a good thing for us really.

We've seen it before when we've hit some bad form and Ole's under pressure but each time before we've bounced back and gone on a run.

We did not do well against the top teams last season. We struggled to score at all

 

[Robbie Boy]

I disagree with most of this but you’ve mentioned what I think is the main argument against sacking Ole - which is that we will not end up with anyone better.

That would be one hell of an argument to put forward.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Imo for the first time in his tenue here there is definitely something wrong with the dressing room atm. If not he hadn't made the Cavani sub. It made no sense at all.

The Ronnie fan boys will jump on me but imo this signing has been bad for the team's harmony since he seems to be given too much privilege. He started to be bigger than the team. We started to become a Ronaldo FC. People blindly worship him because of his status and fame. Ole is scared of his influence and what the media, the fans, the top hierarchy would say if he doesn't play him. He knows what's right but he doesn't have the balls to do it for the sake of the team. He still wants to make everyone happy. But by doing so he's actually making everyone unhappy. Cavani is unhappy because he was subbed off too early. Ronnie is unhappy because he didn't start and didn't score. It doesn't solve a fecking thing this way.

People keep saying he's not the right guy to win us things. I don't know about that but let's not deny the fact he had transformed us from a team that our only wish was to get into top 4 each season to the now where we'd be disappointed if we can't win the title this season. I don't know what the next manager would bring. Maybe he'll be the right one to win us things. Maybe he'll be another disaster like Jose, LVG, Moyes. We'll have to start all over again and our wish is back to getting into top 4 each season. No one knows. But chance is, imo a disaster is much more likely looking at how we're run, our board and the history of their decisions.

I was a big Ole in but I'm on the fence now after how he treated Cavani. I don't think the dressing room would like that either. However I still hope Ole could succeed here. Part is because imo he deserves it after all the hard work he's done to get us here, part is because he's one of our legends. And the biggest part is for once we're looking like we're going in the right direction after years of disasters and disappointment. But Ole must do something about that dressing room issue and sort that out asap. Or his tenue won't be much longer here. Once a manager loses his dressing room it's simply a matter of time.

Nothing wrong with the dressing room at all. Did you see the Telles/Ronaldo celebrations against Villareal? The togetherness when Martial scored?
Just spitballing now to try and find something wrong with the team (which you’re supposed to support) and with Ole.

Don’t know how you think we’ve become Ronaldo FC either. How did you come to the conclusion that Ronaldo isn’t happy??

 

[Strelok]

Nothing wrong with the dressing room at all. Did you see the Telles/Ronaldo celebrations against Villareal? The togetherness when Martial scored?
Just spitballing now to try and find something wrong with the team (which you’re supposed to support) and with Ole.

Don’t know how you think we’ve become Ronaldo FC either. How did you come to the conclusion that Ronaldo isn’t happy??

If we're not a Ronaldo FC then tell me why Cavani was subbed?

And you really think Ronaldo can be happy if he doesn't start and doesn't score?

 

[TsuWave]

so without the 95th minute winner against Villarreal and the late pen save vs West Ham we wouldn’t have had a single win in 6 games? (without mentioning the contentious win against Wolves)

 

[Ixion]

Van Gaal got top 4 and a trophy, Mourinho got 2nd place and 2 trophies. People act like Ole has worked miracles but the truth is we are one of the richest clubs in the world and we can throw money at players/wages and do just enough to compete unless they're David Moyes. Ole has now had longer than all of them and you can't point to anything he's done that the others didn't/couldn't do. People talk about bringing the feel good factor back but it's just down to the fans affinity for Ole, we've played a lot of shite football in 2021.

 

[PoTMS]

Can someone explain why we gave him a fresh new better paid contract again when his current one ended at the end of the season? Getting rid of him will cost us more now. This club is run by idiots.

 

[The Oracle]

Anyone remember the famous pitch from Woodward?

The particular manager wasn't pleased with the approach which described Man Utd as being 'Like an adult version of Disneyland'

Yet here we are with a fictional 'manager' who really is living in a fantasy land of make believe, where endless season's will pass by without a single trophy in sight.
We don't even have an identity to the way we play:
- Are we a possession based team? No
- Are we a pressing team? No
- Are we a counter attacking team? No
- Are we a Tiki-Taka team? No
- Do we rely on individual brilliance to bail us out and paper over the cracks until the next match? Yes

Therein lies the problem


My beloved football club has been described as being 'Like an adult version of Disneyland'

... and right now we have Mickey Mouse in charge.

 

[Foxbatt]

I've been fed up with Ole since forever. His coaching style is that of a coward. Why do we keep sticking to this double pivot where we don't have the personnel for? Where is the 433 after his comments? This club has the most talented squad it's had in years, we have the players to play the style of football that's required and expected from a top side. I'm not even worried about the results. As long as we lose points playing attacking football, create loads of chances and are clearly the better side. Sadly this is hardly the case most games. This team isn't even fun to watch right now. Most days, watching United feels like a chore. Ole needs to switch it up quick. I mean, can it really get worse than this??? And yes, 433 with 1 CDM not named Fred can work. Will it? Well we'll never feckin know, would we? I would love to see Ole limit AWB's offensive duties which he obviously stinks at anyway (him not holding up the ball all day on the wing would be a dream), for more defensive stability and let Pogba finally for the first time in his Utd career be a true box-to-box.

Rant over.

(Yes that CDM should be Scott)

At least some sense. Yes it is a lot more than just McFred. It is the full backs too. We push both of them too high up. None of them are good in crossing. Let them hand about a bit back instead of opening so much space and getting the CBs dragged wide.

 

[Hoboman]

Can someone explain why we gave him a fresh new better paid contract again when his current one ended at the end of the season? Getting rid of him will cost us more now. This club is run by idiots.

 

[Infestissumam]

Can someone explain why we gave him a fresh new better paid contract again when his current one ended at the end of the season? Getting rid of him will cost us more now. This club is run by idiots.

because, like you said, the club is run by idiots. Such a dumb and unnecessary move, it's not like he had any leverage ... teams wouldn't exactly line up to lure him away. We just never learn.

 

[pascell]

We're 7 games into the season.

When do you give him until?

 

[Oldyella]

This team needs a Carrick. Someone with some discipline in midfield. It would transform us from a group of superb individuals into a superb team. McTom could do this. Fred no chance. At the moment they are both all over the place chasing shadows most of the time.

No chance. McTom is nowhere near Carrick

 

[Siorac]

but Ole has a good record in the league against the big clubs

In last season's equivalents of the next seven fixtures, we got 9 points out of 21. And that's with counting Watford away as a win.

 

[Desert Eagle]

Van Gaal got top 4 and a trophy, Mourinho got 2nd place and 2 trophies. People act like Ole has worked miracles but the truth is we are one of the richest clubs in the world and we can throw money at players/wages and do just enough to compete unless they're David Moyes. Ole has now had longer than all of them and you can't point to anything he's done that the others didn't/couldn't do. People talk about bringing the feel good factor back but it's just down to the fans affinity for Ole, we've played a lot of shite football in 2021.

And when Ole gets sacked the feel good factor will be gone just like when every manager gets sacked. Treating this fleeting feeling as crucial to our club is why we are Vibes FC

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Can someone explain why we gave him a fresh new better paid contract again when his current one ended at the end of the season? Getting rid of him will cost us more now. This club is run by idiots.

Same reason we extended Jones, Mata, and Bailly. Have to "protect their value", of course!

 

[WR10]

You know, it’s funny. We all know football results mean very little for shareholders of $Man Utd stock. Which means it means little to glazers. Ole has managed to revive Uniteds brand and marketing machine over the past 3 years.

Why would they sack him now? (Ps I’m not in favour of keeping Ole, he should have been long gone)

 

[Juansar_07]

It has really been a scrappy start to the season after a decent first couple of games. The next 21 points in the PL till the Arsenal game mingled with CL games in between are either gonna be intensely gritty or severely agonizing. This run of fixtures will somewhat define Ole's fate in the season thereafter.

 

[misterparsley]

I see there's a lot of discussion going on regarding the midfield issues and the style of football under Solskjaer. Reading through our manager's quotes today, how he values McFred's abilities to break up play and to cover lots of ground and how he prefers a clearly direct style, it got me thinking.

So, i would like to ask a question: Let's presume that Solskjaer is here to stay. Let's also presume that, a year from now, both Ronaldo & Cavani are gone and in their place is Erling Haaland. We have also addressed the midfield by adding Declan Rice and Kalvin Philips to the already existing McTominay and Fred, but Pogba has bid farewell. The 4231 remains. The route-one football, the overall tactical approach off and on the ball is what we're witnessing today remain too.

Let's also presume that Klopp and Pep have stayed at their respective clubs. How would you feel about our chances to win the title? Would you be content with this nod to the days of yore, or would it be a matter of concern that a small fortune will have been spent to form a midfield and an attacking line that's suited specifically to one type of football? My second question is: Does the stabilization of the club after a tumultuous period and the progress in small increments warrant the absolute trust in an unproven (at the highest level) manager to go completely against the grain of modern football tactics?

Please, no "anyone but Solskjaer would win the PL" or "i'd rather live the dream than do what other clubs are doing" answers. Solskjaer talks a lot about the Ferguson days and United's DNA. The truth is that SAF, throughout the 90s and for the most of the 00s, did go against the grain. In an age when football tactics were becoming more defensive, he valued a game of many possessions, and he always tried to give his flair players the opportunity to fully express themselves on the pitch. This is probably what Solskjaer adheres to. But Ferguson was in a league of his own. Unlike what we've been witnessing thus far from Solkjaer, he wasn't chopping and changing systems and personnel just to survive. For many years, and despite what many believe, he also was ahead of the curve as a tactician on the island(even before he came to OT): He broke the traditional "hard men" centre-halves pairing by introducing a sweeper-like defender next to the stopper. He also moved away from the British midfield duo of one-all-attacking/one-all-defending to two dynamic who could both defend, attack and take care of the ball. The way he wanted his SS to operate between the lines was also very innovative. We must also not forget that, in the first years of the PL, nobody experimented with inverted wingers/inside forwards more than him. There, one can argue, lies the big difference between then and now.

So, what do you think? Will it be worth the risk? If Pogba leaves on a free, we're talking about an investment of around 300 million Euros on top of the money we have already spent under Solskjaer.

Another great post @TheRedDevil'sAdvocate - I really enjoy your contributions to the forum.

From my point of view I love nothing more than fast, direct football. First time passes from midfield releasing forwards running at pace and bearing down on goal. The likes of Rashford in full flight is a thing of beauty. As aesthetically pleasing as Barca (of old) and City are, I find the football quite boring. Don't get me wrong, its clever and it's effective (obviously). We have shown during Ole's tenure that when the game suits we can be devastating. But now I think teams are wise to us and Ole doesn't have an answer. The plan B ,if you like. I also think the players have started to lose confidence in his approach, and it's showing on the pitch with the performances, stretching back to the final games of last season into this one. We are regressing and games these days are hard to watch, no clear reaction to bad results which I think is damning.

So we need a new approach. Ole has tried to bring back the football from "days of yore", but it's not happening. The good news is this squad is capable of adapting (they are good players and great in some cases) to another manager's ideas. I'd like to keep the fast direct football, but also be able to keep the ball when we need to - a kind of hybrid approach. But please coach us to defend properly, as every team seems to find it embarrassingly easy to create chances against us. I don't think we should be spending any more with Ole in charge. It's time for a change of manager.

 

[LJJT]

Van Gaal got top 4 and a trophy, Mourinho got 2nd place and 2 trophies. People act like Ole has worked miracles but the truth is we are one of the richest clubs in the world and we can throw money at players/wages and do just enough to compete unless they're David Moyes. Ole has now had longer than all of them and you can't point to anything he's done that the others didn't/couldn't do. People talk about bringing the feel good factor back but it's just down to the fans affinity for Ole, we've played a lot of shite football in 2021.

Mourinho won the europa whilst embarrassing in the league to make it happen. He destroyed the whole place. Lvg was a disaster. Both filled the squad with absolute dross. I have loved the ole era so far, this season is frustrating and I hope he can turn it around as we’ve made huge strides up until now.

 

[red4ever 79]

Mourinho won the europa whilst embarrassing in the league to make it happen. He destroyed the whole place. Lvg was a disaster. Both filled the squad with absolute dross. I have loved the ole era so far, this season is frustrating and I hope he can turn it around as we’ve made huge strides up until now.

The Ole era. He will be remembered for Mcfred and losing multiple semi finals and a final.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

When do you give him until?

Until the season is beyond the point of saving.

 

[He'sRaldo]

At least when Pep opens the chequebook, he wins trophies and plays good football. Why is Ole splurging? To play shite and finish top 4?

Maguire, Varane, AWB, Donny, Bruno, Sancho, Cavani, and Ronaldo, all for top 4? It's ridiculous.

 

[Acole9]

It's an obvious sarcasm, mate. Didn't you read the first line in his post ?

You never know with some people. Seemed a bit mixed to me.

 

[dove]

Worst manager since Moyes that's for sure. Ole is just like any of us, he has good ideas but he is just simply not good enough coach to implement it. This season is shambolic so far and it will only get worse. Results are finally catching up to the performances. We have been mostly shite for the best part of 2 years, it's about time we go back to midtable where we belong with out clueless coaching staff in charge.

 

[Infestissumam]

ten games left in October/November.

PL - Leicester (A)
CL - Atalanta (H)
PL - Liverpool (H)
PL - Tottenham (A)
CL - Atalanta (A)
PL - Man City (H)
PL - Watford (A)
CL - Villareal (A)
PL - Chelsea (A)
PL - Arsenal (H)

that's a really tough run of games. Curious to see where we are after that ...

 

[Bobcat]

We’ve regressed as a team this season and Ole will be feeling the pressure more than at any other time in his United tenure, considering the squad he has at his disposal.

We look completely unbalanced as a side. Last season, we were actually quite solid for the most part and simply struggled to break down teams that parked the bus, and in doing so were liable to concede the odd goal in the closing stages of the match. So far this season we’ve not even been that. We’re completely open at the back and we’re still struggling to create opportunities up front, despite adding to both defence and attack.


I would love Ole to be a success here but the signs are saying otherwise. I’m not an acolyte of Ole, but I’ve always maintained that he should get a fair crack at it. Now he’s had time to build his team, and he’s done a better job than those before him in fairness, but we really should be doing better than we are. We’re in a pretty big hole right now. I’m sure he’ll eventually pull us out of it but we shouldn’t be there in the first place, not if we ever want to win the league again.

Agreed.

Not getting a CM this window is going to be the end of him, but really hes gotten plenty of backing now and its his fault he did not address it. Unless Pogba plays there, and hes a liability defensively, we have zero penetration through the middle and unless Bruno drops down, we have to rely on Shaw and AWB to get the ball forward

One thing i noticed this season is the amount of stupid school boy errors we seem to be doing. Easy passes being over/underhit, clearances right into trouble and players making greedy and daft decisions in the final third. Is it lack of focus? Are we just fecking around in training? Players downed tools?

Either way. The Doomsday clock is getting very close to 12 now

 

[pascell]

Until the season is beyond the point of saving.

That would be now if he's going to carry on as manager

 

[Robbie Boy]

I suppose one of the things has always been this illusion of progress. Ole is merely being measured against himself, or the worst of Jose and LvG. That is setting the bar really, really low to be perfectly honest. Jose got a higher points total 2nd place finish, LvG won us an FA Cup and finished top four in one of his two seasons. Saying Ole has been better, is actually more subjective than some make out. Measuring his success season-on-season against himself, is pretty ridiculous given he's achieved nothing of note.

Now, me personally, I've enjoyed his reign infinitely more than the other two for various reasons. Under Jose and LvG things felt broken and negative most of the time. I appreciate what he's built here and the fact that he's restored some much needed positivity. This is the first time a new manager will come in with a good canvas to work it. I feel some of this 'cultural reset' stuff is totally overblown, but there's something behind the premise. I know Bout is a major factor in our youth recruitment in recent times, but it feels like Ole has had a positive hand in this too.

I honestly don't feel he's ever been too successful with what he's done on the pitch. And again, some of this is overstated. It's all been very average for me, but it was infinitely more enjoyable than under Jose and LvG. I felt this season he would have to improve along with the squad, but it's obvious he hasn't. I'm not going to go into Ole out mode, but I'm at the stage where it feels like it's the start of a long, painful divorce.

 

[Martialfc]

Is anyone still annoyed about Ole smiling? I am.

 

[hobbers]

I suppose one of the things has always been this illusion of progress. Ole is merely been measured against himself, or the worst of Jose and LvG. That is setting the bar really, really low to be perfectly honest. Jose got a higher points total 2nd place finish and LvG won us an FA Cup, and finished top four in one of his two seasons. Saying Ole has been better, is actually more subjective than some make out. Measuring his success season-on-season against himself, is pretty ridiculous given he's achieved nothing of note.

I don't think it's subjective I think it's objectively delusional.

Unless Ole wins something you cant say he's been more successful than LVG or Jose. The history books will not remember a manager who spent £400m and achieved nothing with it.

 

[Abhinav]

Wtf was he doing smiling in the post mach interview. He should be seething and showing his team that the performance was unacceptable. He needs to set the standards daily and not accept mediocrity.