I was at the game. Ole at the wheel wasn't sang one time and Ole, Ole one time I think at the beginning. The fans were more battling the Liverpool fans just trying to be louder than them. When Ole clapped the fans they didn't clap back or respond. In the Stretford end most people said he has to go and its the worst they have literally ever seen the team play.
Even with Moyes I don't remember seeing United play so bad. When Liverpool whooped us on Old Trafford, I believe, by 3-0 we were still performing. They had the better chances, but we weren't dominated or anything. This was a complete slaughter. Liverpool could have easily banged another 5 and I wouldn't have been surprised. And what pisses me off the most is that Liverpool actually didn't play that well. It was like man vs children at the local pitch. They did nothing and still managed to put 5 past us just because they felt like it. This is a sacking offence to any manager who doesn't have a credit in the bank like Fergie did. Ole is a nobody as a manager. Why is he still here, I have no idea. It sets a very bad precedent when you allow every mediocre Joe to deliver such results and not only not get sacked, but also get rewarded a brand new contract.
The point I made was that managers have their limits. That shouldn't be arguable really. Without the right players they can only achieve so much. Liverpool, with injuries, dropping from from first to third, going through a terrible run of results, is your proof of that. They finished close to us because we were awful in the run in. The gap should have beem way bigger. If it's utter nonsense that a manager's influence has its limits the missing players shouldn't have made a difference to their form right.
None of this is me defending Ole. He's had the time and money to sort out the playing talent. You can't coach players to pass a ball. Pep doesn't buy cloggers and train them up. He only buys guys who fit right in.
It's no proof at all because even though Liverpool suffered a lot last season, they were still neck and neck with us. Fergie suffered slumps, as well, that is normal. What is not normal is when we can't win a single match without looking like a bunch of amateurs for close to 4 years now. When was the last time we dominated a team? We just went out, did the 3-0 job and moved on the next? Even when we win, we look utterly shambolic and chaotic in every way. Even with Moyes we had results against the smaller teams where we looked to have just another day at the office. With Ole even when we get a big result like the 4-1 against Newcastle, it is totally undeserved. And I'm firmly on the opinion that Moyes was the worst manager in charge of United I've witnessed. Granted, since most of my life I've watched Fergie, there has not been many to choose from, but Ole is up there, for sure.
As far as whether you can coach players to pass the ball, positioning, when to press, when not to, etc. Yes, you can. You absolutely can. You cannot transform a player to become a great player or anything, but you can absolute make them play better. Conte took our rejects and made them champions. Young is no world beater, never was, but with the right coaching he can do the job. I'd argue it would be the same with Fred. He's obviously not United quality, but even he can contribute to a title winning squad, if a coach that knows what he is doing is brought in and explains to him what he needs to do, what not to do, how to play, etc. Fernandes shennanigans during the pitch are especially grating to watch as to the lack of coaching we're experiencing. No coach is gonna tolerate his 50 yard shots or mindless pressing. This is entirely on our coaching staff.
Remember when SAF won a title with Cleverley, a 30 years old Rooney, a 35 years old Carrick, a 40 years old Scholes and Buttner, Valencia, old man Pat and a defence of Johnny Evans and Smalling? You think those players are good to play for any top team? Now, SAF to me is the greatest manager in world history, but he is still no magician. These players performed because they were coached right and knew what to do. In contrast, Ole can buy the entire World starting XI and we'd still look shit. Why? It all goes back to the coaching. Which is why top managers are few and far between and the rest is filled with your Brucies, Ole's, Koemans, etc who have a very basic understanding of the game.
The bedrock of all football tactical acumen.