Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

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Like I said in the last post, don't forget that for 6 months, Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James were starting ahead of him in the league, even with Martial injured. And they were and are bad, thankfully for the team Mason took his chances in the UEL and got to the point that he couldn't be ignored anymore. I'm glad for his breakout but best possible manner is a big stretch.
About the record, it's not impressive at all when you consider their game time. Apart from Greenwood, who's special; and Williams, that benefited from Shaw's injury and Young's suspension and sale, he basically just shove them in the pitch in 1 or 2 games to earn the praise, it worked.

Galbraith - 2 minutes in 1 game
Mengi - 6 minutes in 1 game
Ramazani - 6 minutes in 1 game
Mellor - 25 minutes in 1 game
Bernard - 90 minutes in 1 game
Levitt - 90 minutes in 1 game
Laird - 112 minutes in 2 games

Wow, teenager from academy wasn't starting many games from the word go, what a cruel man Ole is.
 
Teenager with world class potential and already twice the player the options are, combined. I rest my case.
Before the lockdown he had the physique of a kid and would go missing in games. Do you guys choose to forget this stuff?
 
Teenager with world class potential and already twice the player the options are, combined. I rest my case.

That's why he got so many games as teenager. If he was regular starter, you would be moaning about burnout and how he was mismanaged.
 
Like I said in the last post, don't forget that for 6 months, Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James were starting ahead of him in the league, even with Martial injured. And they were and are bad, thankfully for the team Mason took his chances in the UEL and got to the point that he couldn't be ignored anymore. I'm glad for his breakout but best possible manner is a big stretch.
About the record, it's not impressive at all when you consider their game time. Apart from Greenwood, who's special; and Williams, that benefited from Shaw's injury and Young's suspension and sale, he basically just shove them in the pitch in 1 or 2 games to earn the praise, it worked.

Galbraith - 2 minutes in 1 game
Mengi - 6 minutes in 1 game
Ramazani - 6 minutes in 1 game
Mellor - 25 minutes in 1 game
Bernard - 90 minutes in 1 game
Levitt - 90 minutes in 1 game
Laird - 112 minutes in 2 games

Absolute rubbish! At the end of the day football requires an entire squad. You need to give chances to your backup players in cup competitions else your youth academy will act as your secondary XI. As much as you want, these kids aren't physically ready yet and hence why their game time is what it is.

Of 50 youngest starting XIs in the league this season, 17 of them were ours! (https://www.transfermarkt.co.in/pre...ttsalter/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2019/plus/1)

We've fielded a staring XI with an average age of 26 or older just 4 times this season in PL, 13 times in total which is a fantastic ratio (https://www.transfermarkt.com/manchester-united/durchschnittsalter/verein/985/plus/0?reldata=&2019)

Name one side in PL which can boast of such numbers (Chelsea, for reference, have fielded a side with average of 26 or older in 16 of their 38 PL games)
 
Like I said in the last post, don't forget that for 6 months, Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James were starting ahead of him in the league, even with Martial injured. And they were and are bad, thankfully for the team Mason took his chances in the UEL and got to the point that he couldn't be ignored anymore. I'm glad for his breakout but best possible manner is a big stretch.
About the record, it's not impressive at all when you consider their game time. Apart from Greenwood, who's special; and Williams, that benefited from Shaw's injury and Young's suspension and sale, he basically just shove them in the pitch in 1 or 2 games to earn the praise, it worked.

Galbraith - 2 minutes in 1 game
Mengi - 6 minutes in 1 game
Ramazani - 6 minutes in 1 game
Mellor - 25 minutes in 1 game
Bernard - 90 minutes in 1 game
Levitt - 90 minutes in 1 game
Laird - 112 minutes in 2 games

So if I understand you correctly - apart from McTominay with 36 matches, Mason Greenwood with 51 games, Brandon Williams with 34 games, Marcus Rashford with 42 games, Dean Henderson with 40 games on loan to Sheffield United, Alex Tuanzebe 11 matches despite being injured most of the season, Tahith Chong 12 with matches, James Garner with 6 matches, Tim Fosu Mensah with 5 matches etc - you don't think we are giving our own youngsters enough chances ?

And then you complain about Bernard, Ramazani and Galbraith not been given enough chances - could that be because they are not ready for it ? And Mengi as talented as he is - the guy just turned 18 !
 
So if I understand you correctly - apart from McTominay with 36 matches, Mason Greenwood with 51 games, Brandon Williams with 34 games, Marcus Rashford with 42 games, Dean Henderson with 40 games on loan to Sheffield United, Alex Tuanzebe 11 matches despite being injured most of the season, Tahith Chong 12 with matches, James Garner with 6 matches, Tim Fosu Mensah with 5 matches etc - you don't think we are giving our own youngsters enough chances ?

And then you complain about Bernard, Ramazani and Galbraith not been given enough chances - could that be because they are not ready for it ? And Mengi as talented as he is - the guy just turned 18 !

Great post.
 
Like I said in the last post, don't forget that for 6 months, Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James were starting ahead of him in the league, even with Martial injured. And they were and are bad, thankfully for the team Mason took his chances in the UEL and got to the point that he couldn't be ignored anymore. I'm glad for his breakout but best possible manner is a big stretch.
About the record, it's not impressive at all when you consider their game time. Apart from Greenwood, who's special; and Williams, that benefited from Shaw's injury and Young's suspension and sale, he basically just shove them in the pitch in 1 or 2 games to earn the praise, it worked.

Galbraith - 2 minutes in 1 game
Mengi - 6 minutes in 1 game
Ramazani - 6 minutes in 1 game
Mellor - 25 minutes in 1 game
Bernard - 90 minutes in 1 game
Levitt - 90 minutes in 1 game
Laird - 112 minutes in 2 games
This is you literally inventing a reason to moan.
 
That's why he got so many games as teenager. If he was regular starter, you would be moaning about burnout and how he was mismanaged.
Says the voice in your head, not me.

Absolute rubbish! At the end of the day football requires an entire squad. You need to give chances to your backup players in cup competitions else your youth academy will act as your secondary XI.
How many? Do you need to keep playing those that showed time and time again that they're not good enough and won't get better instead of giving youth with potential more chances? That's my point.

As much as you want, these kids aren't physically ready yet and hence why their game time is what it is.

Of 50 youngest starting XIs in the league this season, 17 of them were ours! (https://www.transfermarkt.co.in/pre...ttsalter/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2019/plus/1)

We've fielded a staring XI with an average age of 26 or older just 4 times this season in PL, 13 times in total which is a fantastic ratio (https://www.transfermarkt.com/manchester-united/durchschnittsalter/verein/985/plus/0?reldata=&2019)

Name one side in PL which can boast of such numbers (Chelsea, for reference, have fielded a side with average of 26 or older in 16 of their 38 PL games)
I was reffering to the youth record. I don't want all of them playing significant minutes. The more talented, yes. Especially in positions that the squad lack quality. I explained that before too.

So if I understand you correctly - apart from McTominay with 36 matches, Mason Greenwood with 51 games, Brandon Williams with 34 games, Marcus Rashford with 42 games, Dean Henderson with 40 games on loan to Sheffield United, Alex Tuanzebe 11 matches despite being injured most of the season, Tahith Chong 12 with matches, James Garner with 6 matches, Tim Fosu Mensah with 5 matches etc - you don't think we are giving our own youngsters enough chances ?
No and I won't extend on that again, read my posts if you want. Don't know what McTominay, Rashford and Henderson are doing there though.

And then you complain about Bernard, Ramazani and Galbraith not been given enough chances - could that be because they are not ready for it ? And Mengi as talented as he is - the guy just turned 18 !
Never complained, you missed the point just like anant. Just showing that the debut to youth record is overrated.

This is you literally inventing a reason to moan.
Yes. You can't disagree with nothing, everything slighty against Solskjaer in the forum instantly turns into moan, learned that today.
 
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How many? Do you need to keep playing those that showed time and time again that they're not good enough and won't get better instead of giving youth with potential more chances? That's my point.

Hypothetically, let's say Ole relied on the players you listed, 6 months down the line, all the squad players will ask for moves away. Do you really think that is a possible solution? Then you'd moan for not having necessary squad management skills!

Out of interest, which manager, Utd or otherwise would you say has given chances to youth, and it would be great if you could point to a few seasons as well
 
No and I won't extend on that again, read my posts if you want. Don't know what McTominay, Rashford and Henderson are doing there though.

Never complained, you missed the point just like anant. Just showing that the debut to youth record is overrated.

Debut to youth record is overrated ? For whom ? Do you seriously think we would give them their debut if they weren't quality players - they might not be good enough to play for us - but we have over the last 10 or so years produced 30-40 players who play at the equivalent to Premier League or Championship-level - that is a very high number. At Man United it sends a message that we produce quality players and that attracts interest from clubs for the ones who arent good enough and it sends a message to other youngsters that if you come to United you will get a chance at first-team level.

So to call it overrated is a very strange comment.

I forgot - Gomes and Chong have together with Garner been head and shoulders above everyone else at the U23 (not counting Williams and Greenwood) - none of them have impressed a lot when given the chance - which other young players do you think were ready for first-team football ?
 
Says the voice in your head, not me.


How many? Do you need to keep playing those that showed time and time again that they're not good enough and won't get better instead of giving youth with potential more chances? That's my point.


I was reffering to the youth record. I don't want all of them playing significant minutes. The more talented, yes. Especially in positions that the squad lack quality. I explained that before too.


No and I won't extend on that again, read my posts if you want. Don't know what McTominay, Rashford and Henderson are doing there though.


Never complained, you missed the point just like anant. Just showing that the debut to youth record is overrated.


Yes. You can't disagree with nothing, everything slighty against Solskjaer in the forum instantly turns into moan, learned that today.
I’m not even sure what your point is?

He moved a load of shit out and brought through some youngsters. Laird looks to be in the first team now also and Mengi got a debut and will probably get more minutes when Jones, Rojo and Smalling get moved on.

Saying Solskjaer hasn’t given youth a chance is a bit of a strange one. Even his fiercest critics will concede that argument.

Just have a look over at other clubs if you think he hasn’t
 
Like I said in the last post, don't forget that for 6 months, Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James were starting ahead of him in the league, even with Martial injured. And they were and are bad, thankfully for the team Mason took his chances in the UEL and got to the point that he couldn't be ignored anymore. I'm glad for his breakout but best possible manner is a big stretch.
About the record, it's not impressive at all when you consider their game time. Apart from Greenwood, who's special; and Williams, that benefited from Shaw's injury and Young's suspension and sale, he basically just shove them in the pitch in 1 or 2 games to earn the praise, it worked.

Galbraith - 2 minutes in 1 game
Mengi - 6 minutes in 1 game
Ramazani - 6 minutes in 1 game
Mellor - 25 minutes in 1 game
Bernard - 90 minutes in 1 game
Levitt - 90 minutes in 1 game
Laird - 112 minutes in 2 games

:eek:
@rotherham_red explain what’s happened there. I wonder how much minutes Jose was giving out. Mr Anti youth.
 
I can see his point. Ole has been careful and when he has had the chance to choose between an established player or a youth player, he has almost every time chosen the more established player. I thought it was odd that Brandon Williams wasn't on the pre-season tour, and he used Marcos Rojo as a left-back instead. He is doing the same now with Dalot or TFM rather than Laird. Then he realized that Brandon was much better in that position and couldn't hold him back. The same with Greenwood, he didn't use him much at all and he got to the point where he couldn't use Pereira or James much longer. I think people here forget that he used Pereira as an RW instead of Greenwood. However, Greenwood is too good. Even Mourinho would've played him.

McTominay was already an established player. Garner or Gomes hasn't played much. You can definitely argue that Garner should've played in a midfield two before Pereira, or that Gomes should've gotten more chances when we saw that things didn't work. As I said, I don't think Ole has been bad in that department, but in certain times you definitely wanted more. Just look at the lineup against Tranmere. Or even the lineup against LASK. I can't see any other manager giving Pereira and Lingard 40+ matches this season.

Regarding the LASK game, Laird and Mengi should've definitely played and obviously Garner should've been subbed on instead of Pogba.
 
Let's ignore the young players who got many mins, just post young players with few mins and then moan about young players not getting chances :lol:
 
Just to be clear, i've checked the data today, meaning that i've taken the players ages from today rather than the start of the season. Therefore a player who was a teenager during the season but is now 20 won't count in the below table:

Club​
Amount of Players​
Total Mins​
United​
11​
5582​
Arsenal​
2​
4166​
Liverpool​
12​
2866​
Chelsea​
6​
2095​
City​
4​
1768​
Tottenham​
2​
393​

The above records the amount of teenagers who got minutes last season for the senior team. If they got 1 minute or more they'll be in the above table.
 
Just to be clear, i've checked the data today, meaning that i've taken the players ages from today rather than the start of the season. Therefore a player who was a teenager during the season but is now 20 won't count in the below table:

Club​
Amount of Players​
Total Mins​
United​
11​
5582​
Arsenal​
2​
4166​
Liverpool​
12​
2866​
Chelsea​
6​
2095​
City​
4​
1768​
Tottenham​
2​
393​

The above records the amount of teenagers who got minutes last season for the senior team. If they got 1 minute or more they'll be in the above table.

But I can't believe Greenwood didn't start 38 league games. Ole playing youngsters is a myth, him promoting Rashford, Martial to undisputed starter is also nonsense and should be ignored. Mctominay from playing once or twice a game in months to regular starter should be ignored.

In short, Ole doing good job should be ignored.
 
But I can't believe Greenwood didn't start 38 league games. Ole playing youngsters is a myth, him promoting Rashford, Martial to undisputed starter is also nonsense and should be ignored. Mctominay from playing once or twice a game in months to regular starter should be ignored.

In short, Ole doing good job should be ignored.

Thought i'd stress the point further, same filter options, just extended to the entire league:

Club​
Amount of Players​
Mins​
United​
11​
5582​
Arsenal​
2​
4166​
Liverpool​
12​
2866​
Chelsea​
6​
2095​
City​
4​
1768​
Brighton​
7​
982​
Everton​
2​
741​
Norwich​
2​
476​
West Ham​
1​
441​
Tottenham​
2​
393​
Watford​
3​
365​
Wolves​
5​
269​
Leicester​
1​
268​
Aston Villa​
3​
95​
Crystal Palace​
1​
86​
Burnley​
1​
2​
Sheffield Utd​
0​
0​
Southampton​
0​
0​
Newcastle​
0​
0​
Bournemouth​
0​
0​

In short, anyone moaning about youth not getting a chance under Ole is strictly talking out of their fecking arses.
 
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Thought i'd stress the point further, same filter options, just extended to the entire league:

Club​
Amount of Players​
Mins​
United​
11​
5582​
Arsenal​
2​
4166​
Liverpool​
12​
2866​
Chelsea​
6​
2095​
City​
4​
1768​
Brighton​
7​
982​
Everton​
2​
741​
Norwich​
2​
476​
West Ham​
1​
441​
Tottenham​
2​
393​
Watford​
3​
365​
Wolves​
5​
269​
Leicester​
1​
268​
Aston Villa​
3​
95​
Crystal Palace​
1​
86​
Burnley​
1​
2​
Sheffield Utd​
0​
0​


In short, anyone moaning about youth not getting a chance under Ole is strictly talking out of their fecking arses.

Exactly. It's not just promoting youngsters from academy, other youngsters like Rashford, Martial, Mctominay are playing much more important role.
 
Yes. You can't disagree with nothing, everything slighty against Solskjaer in the forum instantly turns into moan, learned that today.
Complaining about Ole not giving youth enough chances is literally a made-up moan because it clashes with reality.
 
@King Andow How does one play young players? By introducing them slowly as they improve. If they improve quickly, they have proved they can handle more game time. if they don't take to the level as quick you give them time, not unnecessary pressure. The only way I'd even entertain not laughing at your posts about this is if you were speaking from the point of view that you were sick and tired of our old squad and hoped we would play youth ahead of all and even if it meant we get relegated you'd stand by that. Otherwise just obviously petty way to have a go at Ole.
 
Teenager with world class potential and already twice the player the options are, combined. I rest my case.
I'm sure Ole had nothing to do with it. Perhaps he knew what he was doing? Perhaps Greenwood wasn't quite ready earlier in the season, he blooded him slowly and built him up to be able to star once he started? I believe they have done things like this with him in the under age sides too, promoted him for a while, then move him back down etc.

Just because he has come in and been phenomenal now doesn't mean he would have been had he started the season. Perhaps he started to click with something during training?

I love how people just assume that if a player is playing well now, he would have been playing to that level had he started when they say. It's not Football Manager.
 
Debut to youth record is overrated ? For whom ? Do you seriously think we would give them their debut if they weren't quality players - they might not be good enough to play for us - but we have over the last 10 or so years produced 30-40 players who play at the equivalent to Premier League or Championship-level - that is a very high number. At Man United it sends a message that we produce quality players and that attracts interest from clubs for the ones who arent good enough and it sends a message to other youngsters that if you come to United you will get a chance at first-team level.

So to call it overrated is a very strange comment.

I forgot - Gomes and Chong have together with Garner been head and shoulders above everyone else at the U23 (not counting Williams and Greenwood) - none of them have impressed a lot when given the chance - which other young players do you think were ready for first-team football ?
He also left Gomes off his list I noticed
Oh, how could I forget. The guy that got 291 minutes in the entire season, playing with the reserves and mainly out of position. Huge chance wasted, clearly not good enough. Good thing we have Lingard, Pereira and Mata that have been great for ages.
It's basically the same with Garner and Chong who played just a little bit more.
 
Oh, how could I forget. The guy that got 291 minutes in the entire season, playing with the reserves and mainly out of position. Huge chance wasted, clearly not good enough. Good thing we have Lingard, Pereira and Mata that have been great for ages.
It's basically the same with Garner and Chong who played just a little bit more.
Ole's approach to introducing youngsters is pretty much the same as managers famous for developing players. Give them a few games here and there, and if they struggle to take the level, have them play with the reserves for a while longer before you try again. Throwing them out there and hoping that they eventually get to grips with it is a terrible approach, and is basically the one you're advocating here.
 
If we end up with the approach of playing youngsters instead of every squad player, we won't have any young players left for reserves and u18 :lol:
 
Ole's approach to introducing youngsters is pretty much the same as managers famous for developing players. Give them a few games here and there, and if they struggle to take the level, have them play with the reserves for a while longer before you try again. Throwing them out there and hoping that they eventually get to grips with it is a terrible approach, and is basically the one you're advocating here.
But do you think that's a fair chance? I'm basically saying the same thing for a while now. I'm against a squad player who wastes almost every chance for ages being favoured in selection. We have a thin/shit squad and one of the best academies around so I don't understand the meltdown when you ponder over that here.

I can see his point. Ole has been careful and when he has had the chance to choose between an established player or a youth player, he has almost every time chosen the more established player. I thought it was odd that Brandon Williams wasn't on the pre-season tour, and he used Marcos Rojo as a left-back instead. He is doing the same now with Dalot or TFM rather than Laird. Then he realized that Brandon was much better in that position and couldn't hold him back. The same with Greenwood, he didn't use him much at all and he got to the point where he couldn't use Pereira or James much longer. I think people here forget that he used Pereira as an RW instead of Greenwood. However, Greenwood is too good. Even Mourinho would've played him.

McTominay was already an established player. Garner or Gomes hasn't played much. You can definitely argue that Garner should've played in a midfield two before Pereira, or that Gomes should've gotten more chances when we saw that things didn't work. As I said, I don't think Ole has been bad in that department, but in certain times you definitely wanted more. Just look at the lineup against Tranmere. Or even the lineup against LASK. I can't see any other manager giving Pereira and Lingard 40+ matches this season.

Regarding the LASK game, Laird and Mengi should've definitely played and obviously Garner should've been subbed on instead of Pogba.
Finally.
 
Like I said in the last post, don't forget that for 6 months, Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James were starting ahead of him in the league, even with Martial injured. And they were and are bad, thankfully for the team Mason took his chances in the UEL and got to the point that he couldn't be ignored anymore. I'm glad for his breakout but best possible manner is a big stretch.
About the record, it's not impressive at all when you consider their game time. Apart from Greenwood, who's special; and Williams, that benefited from Shaw's injury and Young's suspension and sale, he basically just shove them in the pitch in 1 or 2 games to earn the praise, it worked.

Galbraith - 2 minutes in 1 game
Mengi - 6 minutes in 1 game
Ramazani - 6 minutes in 1 game
Mellor - 25 minutes in 1 game
Bernard - 90 minutes in 1 game
Levitt - 90 minutes in 1 game
Laird - 112 minutes in 2 games

Unborn players: 0 minutes.

Sack him!

Listen. This is not Football Manager. You can't play 11 players under 20 year age in Premier League and still win. We have had one of the youngest team ever in our history and you are complaining that we don't give youngsters chance? Discrediting Solskjaer have taken a new form.
 
Unborn players: 0 minutes.

Sack him!

Listen. This is not Football Manager. You can't play 11 players under 20 year age in Premier League and still win. We have had one of the youngest team ever in our history and you are complaining that we don't give youngsters chance? Discrediting Solskjaer have taken a new form.
Pretty much, it's really ok to criticize Ole. But you can't criticize him on not giving youth a chance that's just not close to the truth.
 
This fecking guy got Brandon Williams doing the pre match press conference...

I fecking love this guy as Utd manager.
 
But do you think that's a fair chance? I'm basically saying the same thing for a while now. I'm against a squad player who wastes almost every chance for ages being favoured in selection. We have a thin/shit squad and one of the best academies around so I don't understand the meltdown when you ponder over that here.
What constitutes fair? Neither Gomes nor Chong looked ready for the level, and while I think Garner cut a better figure, Fred and McT are naturally ahead of him for the midfield positions.

As for the LASK game, I agree that it would have been a good game to send out more youngsters, but at the same time, it was clear that he used the game to bring some squad options up to speed. As for why players like Pogba and Martial came on, probably to keep them fresh.

And I don't think it's the idea that we could or should be using more academy players that people disagreed with, it's the idea that Ole isn't good at giving youngsters minutes and managing them. The former is a fair opinion to have, the latter is patently untrue.
 
It's a joke, peeps. A parody of the kind of posts you see from the "Ole out regardless of anything ever" type posters.

Some guy was even saying that Solskjaer was winging it at the moment finishing in 3rd. Truly bizarre.
 
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