Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Good post. Really good.

Only thing I take exception to is the under-coached part, the fact that he’s stood ‘toe-to-toe’ with Peps approach whilst continuing to falter in games we’re expected to dominate points to his inability to coach well for me. We tend to sit back against Peps side & look to Rashford/Martial to do something on the counter - it’s not particularly creative but in fairness has been effective.

You’re bang on that we’re only ever as good as the opposition allows though, I only think that reinforces how poorly coached we are. We enter the field with a better man for man 11 in most games yet it’s the oppositions tactics that dictate the game mostly. We keep trying to replicate the SAF period without the main ingredient, SAF - sentimentality aside, no one can make an argument based on what’s happened on the pitch for OgS.

Thank you!

I don't believe he's that bad, honestly. In fact, if we lose hands down against an opponent whom we'll face soon afterward, i would bet money that Solskjaer will get a result in the second game. But that's where the problem lies, we shouldn't have to do this so often. In some ways, his persistence this season on the 4231, on McFred etc. is a sign that he understands this too. He has to make his plan work. I have my reservations, not about the quality of the players, but more about the team as a collective. But, as others have mentioned, after so much time and money, the buck stops with the manager. He can't claim that this is not his team.

I think in ways thats not always helpful. Theres no coherence to the selection. Theres talk in another thread of next manager and people asking what kind of coach we should be looking to next. We cant really play possession football - Pogba, Bruno, Rashford are all very direct. Fred is very inconsistent. We cant play high press with Ronaldo - theres others not really suited to it but that would be the primary obstacle. I'm sure theres other less extreme examples of tactics but it feels like its quite hard to put out a selection that doesn't have a serious weaknesses in one area or another to exploit. And it feels like the number of ways to hurt the opposition is too limited for there not to be a really obvious way too defend against and limit the damage of (say sitting back and loading the box up when Martial / Rashford are our strikers).

Thanks! I agree with this. You described my fears and my worries perfectly there.

@BlueHaze Cheers, you are very kind.

 

[Micky Targaryen]

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.

This is the most speculative shite I’ve read on here.

 

[dirkey]

If only we had a league consisting on only big 4 so we can consistently challenge for the big 4 trophy. I don’t think I need to remind you on our record against bottom half teams.

Aren’t you sick of watching Ole digging a hole for himself just to see him pluck a good result just when his back is against the wall? But yeah just keep scrapping the barrel mate.

We got 7 points from our games with last year's top 4 members. People forget that the good teams copped on after one year.

 

[Giggsy13]

He really wasn't. He runs around a lot. He can't pass. He's not even that great in the tackle.

Nonsense. He runs around really really a lot. Can he not pass, tackle or do remotely anything a decent midfielder does fine I’ll concede, but he gives it a real go and tries really hard. Tired of the negativity, back Ole or get out mate!

 

[dirkey]

This is the most speculative shite I’ve read on here.

What a useful, well balanced, thought provoking opinion

 

[TsuWave]

Linked to Gareth Southgate? What the feck

Express is a tabloid and shouldn't be taken seriously, right?

 

[dirkey]

Nonsense. He runs around really really a lot. Can he not pass, tackle or do remotely anything a decent midfielder does fine I’ll concede, but he gives it a real go and tries really hard. Tired of the negativity, back Ole or get out mate!

Haha, exactly. I do find it priceless that people genuinely think he was one of our best players. He might have looked marginally better than the dross that was in the side around him in midfield, I'll concede that much. Heaven forbid that I like a midfielder who can actually pass.

Fred has never, ever been a good enough starter for a club with aspirations that our club should have. Sadly, it's only us fans who have those aspirations these days. Board only care about top 4.

 

[VivaJesperBlomqvist]

"That's something that happens in football" I wonder how many times he's blamed football in the dressing room after a disappointing result.

Ole says this all the time. I have a drinking game with my dad and brother every time Ole says “that’s football” after a game.

Bruno attitude is spot on. I bet Ole pisses him off.

 

[Adisa]

"Sacking him after 7 games" is a moot point. This was the season we were supposed to compete. It is clear we won't while he is at the helm.
The only reason to keep him is the unavailability of suitable candidates.

 

[UnitedSofa]

What a useful, well balanced, thought provoking opinion

he’s not wrong though

 

[Red00012]

What if Woodys last call was to sack Ole

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

If only we had a league consisting on only big 4 so we can consistently challenge for the big 4 trophy. I don’t think I need to remind you on our record against bottom half teams.

Aren’t you sick of watching Ole digging a hole for himself just to see him pluck a good result just when his back is against the wall? But yeah just keep scrapping the barrel mate.

No, I've supported United for a long time. I've seen shit times in the past, and this is not a crisis period for the club. We're still rebuilding and ripping it up now in the hope a new guy will come in and take us to the title is naive.

I'm sick of people online catastrophising, it's silly acting like anything is decided at the start of October.

 

[tenpoless]

After reading multiple threads majority of posters seem to think of two big problems that we have
1. Awful coaching, tactics and subs. The midfield is non existent
2. Ronaldo makes us play worse and doesnt contribute defensively

Well guess what both of them were down to Ole

 

[OrcaFat]

Supporting an underperforming manager - who looks like he won't ever be good enough - because you have no faith in the Board, isn't really very rational.

Not supporting our manager when he is probably not going to be sacked isn’t very rational.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Not supporting our manager when he is probably not going to be sacked isn’t very rational.

Touche. Just as well the conversation I was having wasn't stating anything of the sort.

 

[Castia]

Will get to the summer regardless but it’s another wasted year. Thanks for sorting the squad Ole but this team is capable of winning and we need a manager to take us over the line.

Must be gone in the summer we need a top class coach. Ole out.

 

[elnorte]

To be honest, now that he's built a title winning squad, he's deserves time to achieve it on his own terms.

 

[estel_manutd]

We have played 10 games so far this season, losing three, and drawing two. Somehow we are still only 2 points off the top in the league, and in a reasonable position to progress in the CL. We have been very very fortunate given how poorly we have played in these games.

I am hoping against hope that Ole somehow fixes things going forward. It's blatantly obvious that we have lacked control in the midfield and the only way we get that control back is to play three payers in the middle - either Pogba or Bruno miss out - and whoever of those two plays has to play closer to Fred/Scott/Matic/Donny - and not like a false 9.

 

[NewGlory]

Did you guys watch Mo Salah's goal today? Had absolutely nothing to do with coaching, or what rest of the team was doing - was pure mad skill and determination.

Sometimes you also need that. I am first to say that Ole's selections can be weird, I hate how he is stuck on McFred, clearly coaching needs to be better but performances from some of our "stars" are also a problem sometimes.

Let's be honest: Pogba simply wasn't good enough yesterday or we could easily have won it. Ronaldo was also lukewarm. If anything, Cavani was better and was only replaced because Ronaldo has GOAT status.

Our players are the most inconsistent players, in their motivation. I dont think that is coaching, maybe it is management, but it ain't just coaching that Ole is often slammed for

Will get to the summer regardless but it’s another wasted year. Thanks for sorting the squad Ole but this team is capable of winning and we need a manager to take us over the line.

Must be gone in the summer we need a top class coach. Ole out.

Very well said

 

[VivaRonaldo85]

Four points from Villa and Everton at home and we’d be top of the league going into the international break. A nice psychological blow with the top teams all taking points off each other. But we blew it. Joy

 

[copen1945]

Solskjaer will engineer 0 0 draw against Liverpool and 0 2 win against City. For all the fawning over the coaching brilliance of Klopp and Guardiola, Solskjaer will have the last laugh.

 

[NewGlory]

Four points from Villa and Everton at home and we’d be top of the league going into the international break. A nice psychological blow with the top teams all taking points off each other. But we blew it. Joy

yeap. We haven't played any top teams, we should have won all our games if we were title contenders,

 

[red4ever 79]

"Sacking him after 7 games" is a moot point. This was the season we were supposed to compete. It is clear we won't while he is at the helm.
The only reason to keep him is the unavailability of suitable candidates.

Nah I think the Glazers keep him because he acts as a cushion between them and the fans.

 

[Green_Red]

So @Green_Red your real gripe is with DVDB a player that hasn’t even shown a thing since arriving here? Cool!

Yea my post only references one player. What's your agenda? United winning or Ole keeping his job? I want to see United winning and challenging for the league. If that involves Ole as Manager then great, I'll support him 100%, but at this rate we will be lucky to finish top 4. With this current squad that is criminal. I can't support a manager that can't guarantee a title challenge with this squad. Either he changes what he is currently doing because its not working, or he will take us nowhere and eventually be sacked.

 

[Shiva87]

I can't believe we are just 2 points of the top with the results we've put.out there so far. We may be ruing these dropped points in games we should have won.

The good thing is that we still play all of these teams, and will have to make sure we get good results there. Our season will come down to Ole and his staff getting their act together soon.

If we do manage to stay within 2-3 points of this group ( Chelsea, City and Liverpool) in January, we can really be in for an exciting season.

Unfortunately, at this point, it's looks unlikely.

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

The Smiling Assassin. Unfortunately, it’s the club he’s killing.

 

[Deery]

Yea my post only references one player. What's your agenda? United winning or Ole keeping his job? I want to see United winning and challenging for the league. If that involves Ole as Manager then great, I'll support him 100%, but at this rate we will be lucky to finish top 4. With this current squad that is criminal. I can't support a manager that can't guarantee a title challenge with this squad. Either he changes what he is currently doing because its not working, or he will take us nowhere and eventually be sacked.

So I have to have an agenda now because I support the club?

Get a grip of yourself, you’re crying about paying a ticket because we got a draw and now crying that you can’t get a guaranteed title challenge after 7 games.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

"Sacking him after 7 games" is a moot point. This was the season we were supposed to compete. It is clear we won't while he is at the helm.
The only reason to keep him is the unavailability of suitable candidates.

Well he is currently on the same points as Saint Pep the greatest manager in the universe.

 

[Green_Red]

So I have to have an agenda now because I support the club?

Get a grip of yourself, you’re crying about paying a ticket because we got a draw and now crying that you can’t get a guaranteed title challenge after 7 games.

I said "what's your agenda?". Everyone has one. Mine is seeing United playing good football and beating teams like Everton, Villa and West Ham. What's yours? Support a manager who is showing an ineptitude of levels we haven't witnessed as United fans. This is Moyes level mate.

 

[Shiva87]

The Smiling Assassin. Unfortunately, it’s the club he’s killing.

Again, that's just not true. He has finally got the club to the point that it's in a genuine title conversation after 6-7 years.

It's whether he has the ability to take the next step which is in question. On performances so far this season, it's a big No.

Edit:. This is on performances since Ronaldo came in. It's sad that I was more confident before he came in about a title challenge than I am now.

 

[Deery]

The Smiling Assassin. Unfortunately, it’s the club he’s killing.

Baby faced Assassin.

 

[Green_Red]

Well he is currently on the same points as Saint Pep the greatest manager in the universe.

City have played Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal. Our points are the same, but not really...

 

[Deery]

I said "what's your agenda?". Everyone has one. Mine is seeing United playing good football and beating teams like Everton, Villa and West Ham. What's yours? Support a manager who is showing an ineptitude of levels we haven't witnessed as United fans. This is Moyes level mate.

I have no great loyalty to Ole but he is the manager and I have to believe that what he sees on the training ground is what he uses to pick the team. I merely am saying we’ve changed our approach towards games and it will take a little time before it clicks, we are a couple of points of top without playing great football things will get better when it clicks. I’m just not buying into the dramatics just yet…

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Again, that's just not true. He has finally got the club to the point that it's in a genuine title conversation after 6-7 years.

Eh? If we’re in a title conversation now then clearly we were going into Mourinho’s second season also.

 

[United in sin]

To be honest, now that he's built a title winning squad, he's deserves time to achieve it on his own terms.

You can build a house but it doesn't automatically mean you should be trusted to decorate it. Solskjaer for me has shown he lacks the ability to take united to the next level.

 

[Hisha]

Still no poll? Why the hesitancy? @Damien

 

[vimto kid]

No chance. McTom is nowhere near Carrick

Agreed. I’m a huge Carrick fan, but who else have we apart from Scot and Matic? Someone to patrol and control the midfield.

 

[Solius]

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.

I’m convinced some of you lot never watched Carrick.

 

[Forevergiggs1]

Solskjaer will engineer 0 0 draw against Liverpool and 0 2 win against City. For all the fawning over the coaching brilliance of Klopp and Guardiola, Solskjaer will have the last laugh.

Then we go on to lose against Watford, Arsenal and Crystal Palace. Rinse and fecking repeat.

 

[dwd]

City have played Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal. Our points are the same, but not really...

Bring back the Storeytime table!