Ole’s farewell interview

Rightnr

Wants players fined for winning away.
Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Messages
14,223
Still on the Ole crusade I see! ;-)

One version requires the individual to be unquestioning of a video released by the Public Relations dept of an organisation in a state of flux and scrambling to manage an incredibly poorly handled situation.

The other version is hardly a massive stretch considering it is exactly how PR depts (and severance packages) work.

Hope you are going to be so unfailing supportive of the next manager :-)
Talking sense to that guy about Ole is like trying to convince Romeo Juliet is not worth it.
 

romufc

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
12,557
Who even said the squad is better ? The only position the squad is better in, is the attack and we have +2 35 years old strikers whom we'll need to replace next 2 years.

AWB isn't better than Valencia at all, Maguire has been a walking disaster and Varane is ridiculously injury prone. The midfield is still the same names he inherited and most fans think they're shit.

I mean we have Maguire, Varane, Donny, Bruno, Sancho who are all good players. Maguire has been a walking disaster for 2 years?

Yes lets talk about the 35 year old attack and forget the Greenwoo'ds Sancho's and the like.

Ole took over with Sanchez as the LW who was only here for the pay cheque.
 

francobaresi

Full Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
5,615
Well... I, for one, am delighted to learn that Ole has made some friends. Because that's what it's all about isn't it. Making friends

Deary me
 

stevoc

Full Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
20,342
The 2018 squad in paper was miles better than the 2013 one.

If you dissect the 2013 squad: Scholes retired, Giggs retired within a year, and within two years Vidic and Rio retired , Nani went to Portugal, Rafael was struggling in France, Fabio couldn’t make it in Championship, Buttner no idea what he did, Anderson went to loan that season in Fiorentina and couldn’t start, Cleverley was shipped within a year in Everton and failed there, Welbeck failed at Arsenal, Kagawa went back to Klopp who was fighting relegation but couldn’t start, Jones became perma-crock, Evans was shipped to Hull City. In pretty much every department - in paper - the 2018 squad was better.

On achievement, the 2013 squad was better . But then, on achievements, the squad Mourinho left was better than this one, until gets proven otherwise and this squad does something.
If you really believe that then I see no point in further discussion really. Also pity the game isn't played on paper.

For me the squad that finished on around 90 points 3 seasons in a row winning two titles in the process was far better than the dross that was cobbled together over the next 5 years. The 2018 squad was probably the worst United squad I've seen in 30 years.
 

Revan

Assumptionman
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
49,627
Location
London
If you really believe that then I see no point in further discussion really. Also pity the game isn't played on paper.

For me the squad that finished on around 90 points 3 seasons in a row winning two titles in the process was far better than the dross that was cobbled together over the next 5 years. The 2018 squad was probably the worst United squad I've seen in 30 years.
Pity that football is not played in paper, indeed. Cause if it did, this squad would have been better than the one Mourinho left.

However, on pitch, the Mourinho’s one was better. Shown by number of points, trophies and that even at its darkest hour, it still managed to do much better than what Ole’s squad did this season.

I think you are using different metrics in your judgement. When it comes to 2013 vs 2018, you are basing it in achievements and how they played in the pitch (the right thing to do). However, when you are comparing the squads of 2018 and 2021, you are doing that based on how they look in paper, not on achievements or in how they looked in the pitch. Use the same standard (how the squads were performing and what did they win), and Jose leaves us with a better squad than Ole.
 

balaks

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
15,335
Location
Northern Ireland
Supports
Tottenham Hotspur
You support Spurs mate, it's pretty obvious you'd have no relatable experience of having a club legend who'd actually won something with this club wanting to sign off with fans in his own words and on his own terms.

About 5 minutes ago your club captain was telling Gary Neville on Sky he wanted out.
So you think its perfectly fine then? I'd be embarrassed if I was a Utd fan.
 

Rusholme Ruffian

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
3,121
Location
Cooking MCs like a pound of bacon
I think you are using different metrics in your judgement. When it comes to 2013 vs 2018, you are basing it in achievements and how they played in the pitch (the right thing to do). However, when you are comparing the squads of 2018 and 2021, you are doing that based on how they look in paper, not on achievements or in how they looked in the pitch. Use the same standard (how the squads were performing and what did they win), and Jose leaves us with a better squad than Ole.
If you're expecting a discussion based on logic then you'll probably be disappointed...
 
Last edited:

RUCK4444

New Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
9,553
Location
$¥$¥$¥$¥$
So you think its perfectly fine then? I'd be embarrassed if I was a Utd fan.
God that word again, what would embarrass you?

A club legend addressing the fans he has an excellent relationship with for decades as he leaves the job?

Strange things must embarrass you bud.
 

Halftrack

Full Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Messages
3,951
Location
Chair
Talking sense to that guy about Ole is like trying to convince Romeo Juliet is not worth it.
Weird post, given that you're chiming in to support some guy's made-up theory backed by nothing. @Tom Cato pointed out some very simple facts: Ole himself stated that the interview was taking place at his request, something that has been backed by well-connected journos.
 

Abraxas

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
6,055
Pity that football is not played in paper, indeed. Cause if it did, this squad would have been better than the one Mourinho left.

However, on pitch, the Mourinho’s one was better. Shown by number of points, trophies and that even at its darkest hour, it still managed to do much better than what Ole’s squad did this season.

I think you are using different metrics in your judgement. When it comes to 2013 vs 2018, you are basing it in achievements and how they played in the pitch (the right thing to do). However, when you are comparing the squads of 2018 and 2021, you are doing that based on how they look in paper, not on achievements or in how they looked in the pitch. Use the same standard (how the squads were performing and what did they win), and Jose leaves us with a better squad than Ole.
This is very true and all, at least in terms of factual observation. However, for the purposes of looking at the squads they left behind (not achievement during tenure) it doesn't leave that much room for debate.

It's not much of an observation to look at a final league table or run of form prior to the sack, but that's never going to be the full story as we're talking about very specific points in time. For the current squad we only have half a story which the next manager has to take on.

I think the "names on paper" approach has merit for the purposes of that discussion, otherwise an interesting comparison is simply shut down. It's slightly unfair on Jose as we have the benefit of knowing the problems that existed within the squad whereas we're short of detail and context for this lot which can only become clear later.
 

Rusholme Ruffian

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
3,121
Location
Cooking MCs like a pound of bacon
Weird post, given that you're chiming in to support some guy's made-up theory backed by nothing. @Tom Cato pointed out some very simple facts: Ole himself stated that the interview was taking place at his request, something that has been backed by well-connected journos.
Well it must be true then in that case - there is literally no other explanation!
 

Tom Cato

Godt nyttår!
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
7,582
Still on the Ole crusade I see! ;-)

One version requires the individual to be unquestioning of a video released by the Public Relations dept of an organisation in a state of flux and scrambling to manage an incredibly poorly handled situation.

The other version is hardly a massive stretch considering it is exactly how PR depts (and severance packages) work.

Hope you are going to be so unfailing supportive of the next manager :-)
Don't think I don't notice the childish thing you're doing with the passive agressive smileys.

Again, if you're of the belief that the club is putting this out there to help themselves and not the publicly accepted fact, its a textbook definition of a conspiracy theory. What's worse is that you're actively refuting credible sources just to play this little game of "what if".

This isn't even a comment on Ole, but I do feel that fans attacking a heartfelt farewell instead of appreciating it is a good argument for why you don't deserve nice things.

The lack of common deceny around this place is palpable.
 

el3mel

Full Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
43,735
Location
Egypt
This is very true and all, at least in terms of factual observation. However, for the purposes of looking at the squads they left behind (not achievement during tenure) it doesn't leave that much room for debate.

It's not much of an observation to look at a final league table or run of form prior to the sack, but that's never going to be the full story as we're talking about very specific points in time. For the current squad we only have half a story which the next manager has to take on.

I think the "names on paper" approach has merit for the purposes of that discussion, otherwise an interesting comparison is simply shut down. It's slightly unfair on Jose as we have the benefit of knowing the problems that existed within the squad whereas we're short of detail and context for this lot which can only become clear later.
Why is there no room for debate ?

His additions to the defense he inherited have the people split on them. Maguire and AWB haven't been that undisputable success to think that the current defense is better than the one he inherited. A lot of people already want Maguire and AWB replaced. Shaw was a starter already when he inherited the team.

He didn't change anything regarding the midfield and we're still playing with Scott, Fred, Pogba and Matic, the players he inherited. Pogba will leave next summer for free anyway.

Bruno has been a success and he did well to promote Greenwood (even though he has been a well known talent in the academy anyway). Rashford has been already here and Martial regressed even more. Sancho looks like a flop.

Cavani and Ronaldo don't have future at the club, they're just here for one more year max or something.

Not to mention the majority of the first team sheet are players +28 years old. We're looking forward to yet another rebuild within 2-3 years from now.

On paper, the only position that improved in the team is the attack and it's thanks to Bruno and Greenwood. The defense and midfield are still shit and the next manager will most probably sign new players in them.
 

Abraxas

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
6,055
Why is there no room for debate ?

His additions to the defense he inherited have the people split on them. Maguire and AWB haven't been that undisputable success to think that the current defense is better than the one he inherited. A lot of people already want Maguire and AWB replaced. Shaw was a starter already when he inherited the team.

He didn't change anything regarding the midfield and we're still playing with Scott, Fred, Pogba and Matic, the players he inherited. Pogba will leave next summer for free anyway.

Bruno has been a success and he did well to promote Greenwood (even though he has been a well known talent in the academy anyway). Rashford has been already here and Martial regressed even more. Sancho looks like a flop.

Cavani and Ronaldo don't have future at the club, they're just here for one more year max or something.

Not to mention the majority of the first team sheet are players +28 years old. We're looking forward to yet another rebuild within 2-3 years from now.

On paper, the only position that improved in the team is the attack and it's thanks to Bruno and Greenwood. The defense and midfield are still shit and the next manager will most probably sign new players in them.
Think you perhaps were misunderstanding my point. I was trying to say there is room for debate.

Whereas if we solely judge the two managers end of life squads on form, league position etc, there isn't really anything to discuss because that's black and white, but only covers that short period. But we know full well football changes and a snapshot in time doesn't define a squad.

But actually, you can delve into some of the points you mention and debate these things. But ultimately it's the next manager that will tell us a lot. If they can take this squad on with just one or two additions and make a competitive unit, it would suggest Oles squad building was not too bad but he didn't get his ideas across or prioritised the wrong signings at the wrong time. Probably both because there's a feeling that no matter what Ole did in the market he just doesn't have it.

If the next manager struggles as well, it starts to paint a picture that we have some serious deficiencies and after 400 million that would speak to poor squad building.

Without that full context it is at least interesting to analyse the squads.
 

el3mel

Full Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
43,735
Location
Egypt
Think you perhaps were misunderstanding my point. I was trying to say there is room for debate.

Whereas if we solely judge the two managers end of life squads on form, league position etc, there isn't really anything to discuss because that's black and white, but only covers that short period. But we know full well football changes and a snapshot in time doesn't define a squad.

But actually, you can delve into some of the points you mention and debate these things. But ultimately it's the next manager that will tell us a lot. If they can take this squad on with just one or two additions and make a competitive unit, it would suggest Oles squad building was not too bad but he didn't get his ideas across or prioritised the wrong signings at the wrong time. Probably both because there's a feeling that no matter what Ole did in the market he just doesn't have it.

If the next manager struggles as well, it starts to paint a picture that we have some serious deficiencies and after 400 million that would speak to poor squad building.

Without that full context it is at least interesting to analyse the squads.
Don't disagree much with this .. but at the same time, say a new manager comes and made the likes of VDB and Sancho the main unit of a title challenging time while Ole signed them and left them rotting on the bench, it'll be illogical to give Ole credit for this manager's success using such players.
 

Abraxas

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
6,055
Don't disagree much with this .. but at the same time, say a new manager comes and made the likes of VDB and Sancho the main unit of a title challenging time while Ole signed them and left them rotting on the bench, it'll be illogical to give Ole credit for this manager's success using such players.
In some sense, yes. Because whatever credit he would get for his operations within the market he would lose even more for his ineptitude in producing a team. But it's not just about those two and that specific example you give, he's bought other players that have been key under him and have had various patches of form which suggests they could go either way.

He can't really win, but he'd be much closer to doing so if we weren't a complete disaster moving forward.
 

Eyepopper

Lowering the tone since 2006
Joined
Sep 1, 2006
Messages
66,929
So you think its perfectly fine then? I'd be embarrassed if I was a Utd fan.
100% fine. Ole wants to maintain a positive relationship with the club and fans.

He owned the situation, I'd much rather this, particularly given its Ole, than an ex manager, who'd overseen some shocking results, bitching and moaning in the press trying to blame everyone but themselves.
 

el3mel

Full Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
43,735
Location
Egypt
In some sense, yes. Because whatever credit he would get for his operations within the market he would lose even more for his ineptitude in producing a team. But it's not just about those two and that specific example you give, he's bought other players that have been key under him and have had various patches of form which suggests they could go either way.

He can't really win, but he'd be much closer to doing so if we weren't a complete disaster moving forward.
But giving Ole credit for VDB becoming a main player under next manager will be like giving Mourinho credit for Fred becoming a starter under Ole, or LVG credit for Herrera becoming starter under Mourinho, or even giving Moyes credit for Fellaini becoming a main player under LVG and Mourinho. They signed these players but they kept them rotting on the bench and didn't trust them, if the next manager revives them, it's their own credit.

Of course, if Maguire becomes the next Rio and AWB becomes the next Dani Alves then Ole should get credit for signing them no problem, as they were, as you said, main players under him.
 

stevoc

Full Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
20,342
Pity that football is not played in paper, indeed. Cause if it did, this squad would have been better than the one Mourinho left.

However, on pitch, the Mourinho’s one was better. Shown by number of points, trophies and that even at its darkest hour, it still managed to do much better than what Ole’s squad did this season.

I think you are using different metrics in your judgement. When it comes to 2013 vs 2018, you are basing it in achievements and how they played in the pitch (the right thing to do). However, when you are comparing the squads of 2018 and 2021, you are doing that based on how they look in paper, not on achievements or in how they looked in the pitch. Use the same standard (how the squads were performing and what did they win), and Jose leaves us with a better squad than Ole.
To be honest even on paper both the 2013 and 2021 squads look much better than the 2018 one to me, regardless of on pitch achievements. For me the 2018 squad was a horribly cobbled together unbalanced group of individuals assembled by 3 managers with completely different plans or not much of a plan at all.
 

Black Adder

Rarer than an eclipse.
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Messages
3,663
Location
Hrvatska
Well that’s up to murtough to earn his salary. Plenty of PL sides and championship sides may have bitten. Norwich, Brentford, Burnley, Newcastle, sheff Utd etc
Supposedly 13 clubs enquired about his health in the summer so I don’t doubt he could have been sold at the time before his injury. He was England squad, you don’t just give them away

https://www.sportbible.com/football...ign-phil-jones-from-man-utd-20211108.amp.html

if that amount want him now, it should have been easy to sell an England defender before the injury
In the last 10 years we've sold only 5 players for a sum bigger or same as 20 mil.

Players like Hernadez, Blind, Smalling left for less than aforementioned sum yet you expect Phil Jones to go for that kind of money.

:houllier:
 

Stack

Leave Women's Football Alone!!!
Joined
Sep 6, 2006
Messages
13,331
Location
Auckland New Zealand
A thread about one topic but where everyone just repeats for the 20th time things they have said in lots of other threads.
 

bonothom

Full Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2014
Messages
843
I'm not entirely convinced we're in a better position than after Mourinho left. If you look at the squad, yes it's stronger but there are a lot of question marks on players futures. Pogba, Lingard, VDB, Cavani, Matic, Mata, Bailly, Henderson, Martial and also Ronaldo if we don't make top 4.All these players could be wanting to leave either in January or at the end of the season. Are we really in a prime position for success?
 

Abraxas

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
6,055
But giving Ole credit for VDB becoming a main player under next manager will be like giving Mourinho credit for Fred becoming a starter under Ole, or LVG credit for Herrera becoming starter under Mourinho, or even giving Moyes credit for Fellaini becoming a main player under LVG and Mourinho. They signed these players but they kept them rotting on the bench and didn't trust them, if the next manager revives them, it's their own credit.

Of course, if Maguire becomes the next Rio and AWB becomes the next Dani Alves then Ole should get credit for signing them no problem, as they were, as you said, main players under him.
I wouldn't specifically award him credit for VDB transfer after being a key player in the event that happens. As you say, each signing has its own context. You could say VDB he gets precisely zero, Sancho a decent amount because realistically he could be a massive long term payoff whereas the utilisation is measured in weeks so isn't particularly pertinent, lots for Maguire and AWB. You can slice and dice it for all of them and it's slightly different if a little abstract.

But I think its more of a sense of whether the squad is left in a position to challenge. That means the squad, the contractual situation of players, the overall development of players. It's more than just incomings and outgoings. Some of that is not particularly visible right now, either because more information is needed or its kind of hard to separate from current performance levels.

My sense is that it's a mixed bag. Signings mixed, we have Pogba to deal with, Cavani and Ronaldo to deal with, some players have developed, others have stagnated. But I am reasonably optimistic. Not necessarily for this season but for what a new manager can do with this platform. Admittedly it could just be my own optimism but I don't think all of Oles work produced nothing.
 
Last edited:

Rusholme Ruffian

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
3,121
Location
Cooking MCs like a pound of bacon
Don't think I don't notice the childish thing you're doing with the passive agressive smileys.

Again, if you're of the belief that the club is putting this out there to help themselves and not the publicly accepted fact, its a textbook definition of a conspiracy theory. What's worse is that you're actively refuting credible sources just to play this little game of "what if".

This isn't even a comment on Ole, but I do feel that fans attacking a heartfelt farewell instead of appreciating it is a good argument for why you don't deserve nice things.

The lack of common deceny around this place is palpable.
My goodness, the fact that people are losing their shit over the fact that some people are questioning whether it is primarily a PR move from the club shows why appointing a 'club legend' is such a bad idea. Particularly a horrendously unqualified club legend. All sense and reason goes out of the window.

Given that you're on 3 boards of directors I thought you'd be well versed on how PR depts and severance agreements work...
 
Last edited:

el3mel

Full Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
43,735
Location
Egypt
I wouldn't specifically award him credit for VDB transfer after being a key player in the event that happens. As you say, each signing has its own context. You could say VDB he gets precisely zero, Sancho a decent amount because realistically he could be a massive long term payoff whereas the utilisation is measured in weeks so isn't particularly pertinent, lots for Maguire and AWB. You can slice and dice it for all of them and it's slightly different if a little abstract.

But I think its more of a sense of whether the squad is left in a position to challenge. That means the squad, the contractual situation of players, the overall development of players. It's more than just incomings and outgoings. Some of that is not particularly visible right now, either because more information is needed or its kind of hard to separate from current performance levels.

My sense is that it's a mixed bag. Signings mixed, we have Pogba to deal with, Cavani and Ronaldo to deal with, some players have developed, others have stagnated. But I am reasonably optimistic. Not necessarily for this season but for what a new manager can do with this platform. Admittedly it could just be my own optimism but I don't think all of Oles work produced nothing.
Don't necessarily disagree. Let's all hope the new manager will be a success.
 

Forevergiggs1

Full Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2019
Messages
3,451
Location
Barcelona
Supports
United
Looking forward to you posting 40 videos of him losing his composure in interviews
Ole was never put under any real pressure in interviews and he still looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. As for him very rarely putting a foot wrong in what he says have you seen any of his pressers in the last 3 years? I will give him credit for being a gentleman though. Still seems to be respected at the club even though it ended badly for him and even though I'm glad he's gone of course I wish him well.
 

stevoc

Full Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
20,342
well come on, it took you 8 hours to understand that you weren't stating a fact :houllier: :lol:
Is that a fact? :lol:

12 hours later and you still don't understand that wasn't the case. We know you don't accept facts preferring your own theories but now we learn that you seem to think you saying something (and repeating it) makes it a fact.

Brilliant. :lol:
 

Jesse > Messi

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Aug 7, 2018
Messages
61
Location
Chester
Poor Ole, red eyed and on the verge of tears.

farewell Ledge
forever and always, despicable the way the club has treated him imho.

You are our Solksjaer! Our Olé Solksjaer…

Honestly will miss him being at the club but it’s been apparent he should of gone after the scousers ripped us a new one
 

golden_blunder

Site admin. Manchester United fan
Staff
Joined
Jun 1, 2000
Messages
119,988
Location
Dublin, Ireland
forever and always, despicable the way the club has treated him imho.

You are our Solksjaer! Our Olé Solksjaer…

Honestly will miss him being at the club but it’s been apparent he should of gone after the scousers ripped us a new one
I agree but honestly I’m more disappointed in the way a section of fans have treated him
 

Steve 007

Full Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2019
Messages
644
Location
London
Ole is and always will be a legend.
I really wanted him to do well and apart from
this season think he’s did do ok. The way it ended was sad and it was time for him to go 3 games ago, the club prolonged the agony. It’s a shame he’s a genuine guy but he just wasn’t up to it.
 

Tom Cato

Godt nyttår!
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
7,582
My goodness, the fact that people are losing their shit over the fact that some people are questioning whether it is primarily a PR move from the club shows why appointing a 'club legend' is such a bad idea. Particularly a horrendously unqualified club legend. All sense and reason goes out of the window.

Given that you're on 3 boards of directors I thought you'd be well versed on how PR depts and severance agreements work...
I'm not sure what you think Oles employment contract says, but I can guarantee you it does not contain a section about termination PR interview and lie about its intent.

The severance package is exclusively linked to the terms of his contract as the terms of termination.

The only way your theory works is if the arrangement was made mutual on the stipulation that Ole attends a interview. For that to happen there would have to be: Everyone lies. Ole lies. The club lies. Journalists lie. For very little gain.

Like, what's even the point? Its not plausible, and has no evidence to back it up.
 

Tom Cato

Godt nyttår!
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
7,582
Well that’s up to murtough to earn his salary. Plenty of PL sides and championship sides may have bitten. Norwich, Brentford, Burnley, Newcastle, sheff Utd etc
Supposedly 13 clubs enquired about his health in the summer so I don’t doubt he could have been sold at the time before his injury. He was England squad, you don’t just give them away

https://www.sportbible.com/football...ign-phil-jones-from-man-utd-20211108.amp.html

if that amount want him now, it should have been easy to sell an England defender before the injury
Phil Jones is a good dude, I hope he's able to make a meaningful comeback.
 

Jesse > Messi

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Aug 7, 2018
Messages
61
Location
Chester
I agree but honestly I’m more disappointed in the way a section of fans have treated him
I couldn’t agree with you more about that section of the fan base. it’s down right despicable some of things I’ve seen said on twitter. It’s not his fault the club is a literal Cluster…..

If you cut the guy we all know he literally would bleed United. He is United through and through after all this ‘Cloub’ (said in a Norwegian Manc accent)! is his club. What have they ever done other than moan that he’s not SAF. Baying for blood like some arsenal fan circa wenger era.

People need to hurry up and wake up. It’s been 9 and half years since Fergie….. as much as it pains me to say that, we don’t have a god given right to win the league year in year out. no one’s ever going to come close to what he did for us