Ole’s former team-mates who are now pundits refusing to call a spade a spade

[moxdevil]

It really is odd that saying someone is poor at a particularly job is seen as an attack on the person. Why so much incompetence is allowed to exist. Become pretty pointless asking an ex United player whether Ole should keep the job.

 

[crossy1686]

Does this really need it's own thread?

 

[Phil]

You guys care too much about this

Because ultimately these old boys have influence. Look at how G Nev influenced public opinion on the super league.

They're harming the club by having ulterior motives and not calling it like it is because Ole's their mate. Would be great if we had analysts influencing the club in a positive way but it's an old boy's club.

 

[Glideman]

To be honest these pundits opinion shouldn't matter. A competent board makes this a non discussion by doing the most obvious thing and sack an underperforming manager.

 

[devilish]

Players who are left on their own device tend to play football in the way they like to play. When that doesn't work they get demoralized and that effects their game. We're talking here about 20 year old something people who are playing a football game. Its not as if they are war veterans who are few meters away from Gold Beach during D Day.

Its the manager's and the coaching team's job to drill players so that doesn't happen.

 

[crossy1686]

To be honest these pundits opinion shouldn't matter. A competent board makes this a non discussion by doing the most obvious thing and sack an underperforming manager.

It doesn't matter. It's people getting upset that another person won't say their mate should be sacked. Strange thing to be annoyed about to be honest

 

[Godfather]

Does this really need it's own thread?

Yes

 

[Eplel]

Does this really need it's own thread?

You can ignore the thread if you don't like it.

 

[El Zoido]

It's fine that Ole's friends won't call him out on TV. Sky shouldn't even have them on. But I think pundits in general are not heavy in on criticising managers. I don't recall Nuno getting much heat either, after the 3-0 last week all the talk was about their poor performance, not much of a focus on the manager. When you talk about tactics and setup, that's a roundabout way of criticising the manager without being so direct. But I don't have a problem at all with Ole's friends not calling him out, if I put myself in their shoes, I wouldn't go in on a friend either, even if I felt like he was doing a shite job. A friendship is more important than satiating a rabid fanbase.

 

[crossy1686]

Yes

At least change the title then to "Mates won't say their mate is shit at his job and should be sacked, on global television" then.

 

[Tincanalley]

Someone - sorry I can’t remember who - had a great post last week about how can you expect those who trained with him, played with him, lost with him, won with him… how can they call for the sacking of their mate. A lot of truth in that.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Neville is doing just as much damage as Ole.

Why are we the only club in the world that seems to ignore the most important part of a football club?!

 

[Godfather]

I mean nobody can take anything he has to say about United serious at this point right?

 

[Fortitude]

It's fine that Ole's friends won't call him out on TV. Sky shouldn't even have them on. But I think pundits in general are not heavy in on criticising managers. I don't recall Nuno getting much heat either, after the 3-0 last week all the talk was about their poor performance, not much of a focus on the manager. When you talk about tactics and setup, that's a roundabout way of criticising the manager without being so direct. But I don't have a problem at all with Ole's friends not calling him out, if I put myself in their shoes, I wouldn't go in on a friend either, even if I felt like he was doing a shite job. A friendship is more important than satiating a rabid fanbase.

If you’re roasting players and basically putting them out there to be slaughtered by fans and media alike, but stop [well] short of apportioning any blame to staff and go so far as to deflect from the job they’re doing, it’s not only a display of old boy mentality, it’s incredibly harmful to those you’re effectively running out of the club as some fans will turn on the players named without a pause for thought.

All this talk of friendship simply means they should abstain from our games if they are incapable of commenting on them objectively.

 

[ooeat0meoo]

Does this really need it's own thread?

Hell YEAH!

I'm so sick of ex-players making excuses for the lack of leadership, quality, and commitment

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

If you’re roasting players and basically putting them out there to be slaughtered by fans and media alike, but stop [well] short of apportioning any blame to staff and go so far as to deflect from the job they’re doing, it’s not only a display of old boy mentality, it’s incredibly harmful to those you’re effectively running out of the club as some fans will turn on the players named without a pause for thought.

All this talk of friendship simply means they should abstain from our games if they are incapable of commenting on them objectively.

This really is the crux of it for me.

They’ll lay into certain players with absolutely no filter, making assertions they really can’t back up & peddling dangerous narratives but when they’re mate OgS continues to serve up the worst United performances we’ve seen in some time it’s crickets.

For me it’s about credibility, these pundits don’t have to worry about it because Keane, Souness, Neville & Richards just make for good viewing so who cares if Neville continues to talk out the other side of his face most of the time. For feck sakes the man fired his own clubs manager a few games into a season then has the front to say he doesn’t think OgS should go because he regrets his decision, it’s fecking ridiculous.

 

[El Zoido]

If you’re roasting players and basically putting them out there to be slaughtered by fans and media alike, but stop [well] short of apportioning any blame to staff and go so far as to deflect from the job they’re doing, it’s not only a display of old boy mentality, it’s incredibly harmful to those you’re effectively running out of the club as some fans will turn on the players named without a pause for thought.

All this talk of friendship simply means they should abstain from our games if they are incapable of commenting on them objectively.

I agree.

 

[Blood Mage]

Neville and Ole probably have dinner at each other's houses often. They're very good friends and Neville is totally compromised in his assessment of the club while Ole is manager. They shouldn't even be giving him airtime where United are concerned until Ole is sacked.

 

[pratyush_utd]

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We should stop hiring good manager because few failed. That is some logic.

 

[Norris]

Schmeichel

Aah ok, cheers.

 

[pratyush_utd]

Neville and Ole probably have dinner at each other's houses often. They're very good friends and Neville is totally compromised in his assessment of the club while Ole is manager. They shouldn't even be giving him airtime where United are concerned until Ole is sacked.

They shouldn’t give him airtime when United is concerned. He is probably at his worst when he covers United. Should stay away

 

[dannyrhinos89]

It’s really annoying how much our ex players talk about the club.

They themselves are a major problem among other a major problems.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

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Incredible outlook on life’s he's got, if you aim high and fail, settle.

 

[Acole9]

Gary Neville is the biggest troll going in football punditry. I just can't listen to him anymore, full of contradictions.

 

[Trequarista10]

Does anyone genuinely think Micah Richards would call for his former teammates to be sacked in the media?

It's easier said than done. It's all a bit of a charade now trying to get someone to say something that they know they won't say.

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

These lot should go into politics.

 

[11101]

I don't mind so much that they won't throw their mate under the bus, but it really annoys me that they don't hesitate to properly lay into our players. Shaw, Maguire, Fred, AWB, Bailly, etc. etc. It's not at all fair on the players who are only this bad because of who the manager is.

Notice how they never say a bad word about the academy lads, no matter how bad they are. It stinks and doesn't help the club at all.

 

[Abraxas]

It's frustrating to watch but I'd say it's logical. I'm not sure I'd want to talk badly about a good friend's position within his company, regardless of whether it was also part of my job to talk about the industry. You can skirt around that subject, which is what they do.

Ultimately Gary Neville and co aren't the ones charged with ensuring the wellbeing of the club so for them I can see the motivation to protect a friendship. All blasting Ole would do is sound good on TV for its "honesty" but in the cold light of day wouldn't be such a good feeling.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

At least change the title then to "Mates won't say their mate is shit at his job and should be sacked, on global television" then.

Except they re being paid a lot of money for airing their views in public - they aren't just mates having a chat. How Neville can say what he does given his record of sacking managers at Salford FC is quite unbelievable - I'm not sure why he doesn't get called out for the hypocrisy?

 

[Ralph1386]

Did former Chelsea players like Joe Cole, John Terry, Drogba, Ashley Cole come out to defend ir protect Lampard when it clearly wasn’t working last year??

 

[Thiagoal]

Well here’s a former player (at least) that can see our performances for what they are…Ole effectively starting a back 7 plus DDG at home! Criminal given the money spent yet the board don’t seem to give a toss.

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[Yorkeontop]

You guys care too much about this

Probably but it's understandable. These are very prominent media voices and had illustratious career at the club, their opinions carry weight as a result.

 

[moses]

People looking for the truth and honesty on Sky TV. I don't know how to break this to you folks ...

 

[AndrewMac]

FC United family and friends is what they're more interested in.

Neville always has an agenda to some of the arguments he makes, but Keane was disappointing today. I think Kelly Cates did well to call Neville out today, in regards to if Jose and Gaal (who were not at their peak) failed does that mean there are no other managers around? Furthermore what is their solution?

The straight blunt question they must ask, is if Pep or Klopp were in charge of United would we be doing better? If the answer is yes, then Ole is a major issue.

 

[eire-red]

You'd swear it was all on the players, and that coaching doesn't really matter. Maybe 20 years ago when every team played 442, tactics and coaching were less pivotal.

I'm not absolving the players here, we've seen some shocking performances this season. But when everyone is this bad, you have to start to point the finger at the coaching staff.

I'll keep saying it, just look at the job Tuchel has done at Chelsea, with much the same players. Chelsea, a team who couldn't defend under Lampard, are now top of the league, won the CL, and a very solid outfit. All of that is down to coaching and tactics of the highest order.

But for United, for some reason it's about courage, and passion and 'personality'. I'm sorry, that's not the modern game.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Michael Owen goes in hard on Ole, studs up…

 

[Peter Parker's Mask]

Apart from Neville, who else isn't criticizing Ole? Scholes, Owen ripped into him today.

Ferdinand?

 

[Fortitude]

I don't mind so much that they won't throw their mate under the bus, but it really annoys me that they don't hesitate to properly lay into our players. Shaw, Maguire, Fred, AWB, Bailly, etc. etc. It's not at all fair on the players who are only this bad because of who the manager is.

Notice how they never say a bad word about the academy lads, no matter how bad they are. It stinks and doesn't help the club at all.

Exactly. Either you do the whole lot or none at all. Don't pick out your favourite punching bags from the team/squad and doubly lay into them because you can't/daren't breach the old boy code of conduct.

 

[crossy1686]

Except they re being paid a lot of money for airing their views in public - they aren't just mates having a chat. How Neville can say what he does given his record of sacking managers at Salford FC is quite unbelievable - I'm not sure why he doesn't get called out for the hypocrisy?

Exactly and Sky will be loving this. Do you think we talk about the post match or this thread exists if Neville and Keane throw Ole under the bus at the end of the game? How many times do you think the clip of Neville avoiding the sack question will be viewed on the socials this weekend? More or less than Souness and Micha saying he should go? You know the answer to these questions, we all do.

Who cares if Neville doesn't want to say his mate should be sacked? His opinion on matters is generally very good, if he wants to be a hypocrite on this particular matter then let him. Not sure why there's this need to hear Neville utter the words like it will release the kraken when he does, he hammered everything today, he didn't defend anyone, he called everyone out and both him and Keane said something had to change. There was stuff said today between the lines that was so clear Stevie Wonder could read it.

 

[crossy1686]

I don't mind so much that they won't throw their mate under the bus, but it really annoys me that they don't hesitate to properly lay into our players. Shaw, Maguire, Fred, AWB, Bailly, etc. etc. It's not at all fair on the players who are only this bad because of who the manager is.

Notice how they never say a bad word about the academy lads, no matter how bad they are. It stinks and doesn't help the club at all.

It's easy to target the player because they can't speak out and say "I'm just doing what the manager has told me to do!" and if they do then the managers finished. So maybe that's the plan? Hammer the players until they speak out and point the finger?