Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

[el3mel]

I'm ready to bet on Ashley Young being a starter for us again next season. Also Lingard.

 

[Random Task]

Well we know that it is all predictions at this juncture. But we can use existing evidence to inform these predictions and right now that evidence provides little in the way of suggesting that Ole is up to the task.

Existing evidence. You mean you formed an opinion based entirely on the 4 months he has been in charge?

Nevermind that hasn't had a transfer window to begin building his own team yet, or a pre-season to whip the existing players into shape and indoctrinating his philosophy onto them.

Give the guy a fair chance. You may be surprised at the results.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

Every manager needs time and also signings. Right now Ole got nothing. Other 2 managers were judged only in their second season when they got enough time and the team they wanted.

Ole's had half a season as a total free-hit with very little in the way of pressure and expectation. I expect all the other managers would have killed for that luxury. No excuse for not hitting the ground running in August (provided the board supports him in terms of signings). Also, as we keep hearing 'he knows the club inside out'...which I'm told is a massive benefit - we need to see evidence of that.

I do understand that Jose was an incredibly divisive person and I also fully understand why there is a high level of animosity against him.
However, despite all that I still believe that it was a missed opportunity to really get back to challenging for the PL.

We should have been able to push on from that 2nd place finish but alas we have fallen further behind.
I get that people didn't appreciate his tactics but IMO he had to employ those tactics because of our squad capability.
Anyway. That is in the past.
But I don't have the same level of confidence for the future although I really do hope that I am wrong.

This is all true.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Of all the managers since Fergie, the one I'm actually interested in, in terms of who he signs and which direction he moves the team in, is Ole. Partly it's the wildcard factor, because those other managers were not known for playing good football. Van Gaal an attacking manager my foot, especially by the time he moved to United. Holland's last two serious matches of 2014 WC before he joined were both 0-0 borefests, including with Costa Rica.

No words about this. When did you start to watch football? 5 years ago?

 

[fps]

No words about this. When did you start to watch football? 5 years ago?

No, 25 years or so. Moyes played hard, functional football at Everton, based on organisation. Mourinho played hard, pragmatic football at all his clubs, without the ball, counter-attack, and it's not the kind of football I like to watch. Van Gaal, one of my earliest memories of football is watching the 1995 European cup final between Van Gaal's Ajax and Milan, and it being one of the most boring things I'd ever seen.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

I'm ready to bet on Ashley Young being a starter for us again next season. Also Lingard.

Lets hope Ole is a better manager than that...

As I've stated, I'd like to see the club reverse the decision and bring in a top manager in the Summer, not a popular opinion.

Lets just the hope the rabid, bullish 'cult of Ole' posters are right and he can, and does, begin fixing the squad immediately this Summer and then coaches us to play good football and compete next season.

 

[sunama]

I'm ready to bet on Ashley Young being a starter for us again next season. Also Lingard.

Young will be the captain. He'll start every match, as long as he is fit.

 

[sunama]

I do understand that Jose was an incredibly divisive person and I also fully understand why there is a high level of animosity against him.
However, despite all that I still believe that it was a missed opportunity to really get back to challenging for the PL.

We should have been able to push on from that 2nd place finish but alas we have fallen further behind.
I get that people didn't appreciate his tactics but IMO he had to employ those tactics because of our squad capability.
Anyway. That is in the past.
But I don't have the same level of confidence for the future although I really do hope that I am wrong.

Agreed on all points.
I was very disappointed when Woodward pulled funding and accepted that top 4 was good enough.
It was pretty clear that Woodward did not share the same ambition as Jose.
Jose wanted to go for the title this season,while Woodward wanted save money.

 

[Andycoleno9]

No, 25 years or so. Moyes played hard, functional football at Everton, based on organisation. Mourinho played hard, pragmatic football at all his clubs, without the ball, counter-attack, and it's not the kind of football I like to watch. Van Gaal, one of my earliest memories of football is watching the 1995 European cup final between Van Gaal's Ajax and Milan, and it being one of the most boring things I'd ever seen.

Lvg was attacking manager. His all teams played attacking football. Especially that Ajax. It was one of the best teams ever. That season they beat that strong Milan 3 times. So to say something like that about Lvg is just ridiculous.

 

[fps]

Lvg was attacking manager. His all teams played attacking football. Especially that Ajax. It was one of the best teams ever. That season they beat that strong Milan 3 times. So to say something like that about Lvg is just ridiculous.

Well, I didn't watch a great deal of that Ajax side in the mid-90s, that's true. I think by the time he came to United, at least, he wasn't the same manager, and he wasn't having the same effect on his teams.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Well, I didn't watch a great deal of that Ajax side in the mid-90s, that's true. I think by the time he came to United, at least, he wasn't the same manager, and he wasn't having the same effect on his teams.

Yeah, i am still trying to understand what went wrong here. I think( maybe only me in this forum) that he should have stayed one more season. With good transfers that summer, who knows...

 

[tenpoless]

Mata isn't a problem, the problem is if Lingard is first choice with Mata as the only backup... Not enough quality/consistency.

 

[7even]

It's an interview, what do you want him to do, refuse to answer?

People really need to stop giving a shit about public comments. There are press conferences and pre-match interviews scheduled every single week. Managers have to do them and the vast majority just give the most safe, bland, non-controversial answers possible, all of which are either praised or criticised by the fans depending on the current results. Everyone loved when Ole's positive pressers, at first, when he talked about United's standards and how we need to get back to the level we once were, the moment the results went to shit the narrative changed to how he is an unqualified muppet who's too nice and can only bang on about the past. There's no such thing as a good press conference, they're all equally pointless, none of them matter.

You make a lot of valid points and that’s one way to look at it but atm his political correct gospel creates more questions then answers. That’s my concern.

If we don’t qualify to next seasons CL we’re in vulnerable position. My experience in these situations is that a club of our size needs a strong leadership. Either we make a bold prediction or we let the money do the work. Talking yada yada just fuel skepticism and creates negativity.

I wish we a soon as possible made a statement of intention by presenting a top talented youngster like Sancho/De Light/Félix (or similar) to show the rest of the football world that we means business. No yada yada talking. Show them who we are and let our transfers or the results do the talking. Then I’m fine with Ole Gunnar and Woodward smiling around with bulls talk.

 

[Minimalist]

Lets hope Ole is a better manager than that...

As I've stated, I'd like to see the club reverse the decision and bring in a top manager in the Summer, not a popular opinion.

Lets just the hope the rabid, bullish 'cult of Ole' posters are right and he can, and does, begin fixing the squad immediately this Summer and then coaches us to play good football and compete next season.

It’s not just unpopular, it’s a stupid opinion. He’s been picked, give him a season.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

It’s not just unpopular, it’s a stupid opinion. He’s been picked, give him a season.

Time will tell.

 

[Leftback99]

Lets hope Ole is a better manager than that...

As I've stated, I'd like to see the club reverse the decision and bring in a top manager in the Summer, not a popular opinion.

Lets just the hope the rabid, bullish 'cult of Ole' posters are right and he can, and does, begin fixing the squad immediately this Summer and then coaches us to play good football and compete next season.

Someone like Poch i presume? 9 defeats in the last 15 games.

 

[DownRiver]

If De Gea makes another mistake, this is TOTALLY on Ole. There is two matches left, and De Gea has already cost us several games. We NEED to win, and now opposition will be taking many long shots to test him.

Even if Romero is injured, need to give third goalkeeper a chance. Anything is better than Dear Gea at the moment even if he was a wonder before.

 

[devilish]

It may go that way. But a good window, some good off pitch appointments and a good start to the season could change trajectory.

Personally I think every manager, even the absolute worst of them whoever it is in your opinion, has been shafted by the owners and Woodward at least to a degree. Not a degree that absolves their failures but certainly one that made their jobs harder than they had to be. I fear the same for solskjaer too even hearing a club legend spoken about in derogatory terms so soon is pretty disheartening.

I think United's downfall is down to three things

a- owners that can't afford us
b- a structure built around money men who lack the experience to run a top club
c- the wrong choice of managers.

These three are interlinked together.

Now if we really want Ole to succeed then we must surround him with experienced people who are excellent to their job (DOF, HOY, scouts etc), we must provide him with a huge amount of money to invest and we must be patient. Take one of those components and we'll be back to square one.

If United fail then Ole will be blamed as well as he had become part of the very establishment that is ruining the club. He should have asked what the plans were prior to joining with us as permanent manager. If he didn't like the terms then he should have left. His legendary status is worth more then few months of contract as a permanent manager which will end in misery.

 

[Minimalist]

Time will tell.

It will still be a stupid opinion to have at this point in time in spite of what occurs. You’re no expert.

He may well turn out another dud but until then, we’ll see how it goes before getting ridiculous like you.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Someone like Poch i presume? 9 defeats in the last 15 games.

Which is worse than... Solskjaer! And that's with a squad he has been building for years.

 

[devilish]

Exactly. Why all the focus on Mata. He will be a useful squad player. He also strikes me as being surprisingly intelligent and make he will be transitioned into a coaching role.

we have enough players on the wane who think they can become coaches or managers simply because they used to play for us and they can smile a lot. Sky and BT are filled with these sort of people.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

It will still be a stupid opinion to have at this point in time in spite of what occurs. You’re no expert.

He may well turn out another dud but until then, we’ll see how it goes before getting ridiculous like you.

Well, no, not at all.

If the job Ole does is so bad that it sets us back, then my opinion to remove him now will have been the correct one.

You're laughably trying to re-position it so that it appears that you (and in turn Woodward etc) can't be wrong.

If Ole does do an awful job, and wastes next season, then the opinion to remove him now will have been correct.

FFS, wind your neck in and mellow out a bit.

 

[JustAGuest]

If De Gea makes another mistake, this is TOTALLY on Ole. There is two matches left, and De Gea has already cost us several games. We NEED to win, and now opposition will be taking many long shots to test him.

Even if Romero is injured, need to give third goalkeeper a chance. Anything is better than Dear Gea at the moment even if he was a wonder before.

Nonsense. He is still a quality goalkeeper, that doesn't change in a few months.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

Someone like Poch i presume? 9 defeats in the last 15 games.

And 4 years of top 3 finishes on a budget much smaller than his rivals. Plus a decent chance at a CL final this year.

EDIT - ha, just seen the Bournemouth score - so maybe 3 years rather than 4 ;-)

 

[Leftback99]

And 4 years of top 3 finishes on a budget much smaller than his rivals. Plus a decent chance at a CL final this year.

EDIT - ha, just seen the Bournemouth score - so maybe 3 years rather than 4 ;-)

I'm not actually doubting him as a top manager but it just shows the grass isn't always greener. We've learnt ourselves there's no guarantees with going for proven track records. If Poch had a similar set of results with us (with a worse team) the knives would be out for him.

 

[ForestRGoinUp]

It will still be a stupid opinion to have at this point in time in spite of what occurs. You’re no expert.

He may well turn out another dud but until then, we’ll see how it goes before getting ridiculous like you.

If some end up accurately labeling him a dud before others realize it, that is not a stupid opinion. Opposite in fact.

 

[Random Task]

If some end up accurately labeling him a dud before others realize it, that is not a stupid opinion. Opposite in fact.

The guy has only been in charge for 4 months.

On what basis could you possibly label him a dud?

 

[Dec9003]

To claim that Ole will or won't be a success isn't really possible.
We don't know who we will be able to get in the summer, or how much the glazers will be willing to back him.
I think its fair to say that you think he will or won't be a success, but to claim either will definitely happen is pretty difficult to do, football is really hard to predict.

 

[Random Task]

To claim that Ole will or won't be a success isn't really possible.
We don't know who we will be able to get in the summer, or how much the glazers will be willing to back him.
I think its fair to say that you think he will or won't be a success, but to claim either will definitely happen is pretty difficult to do, football is really hard to predict.

You got that right.

Fact is, we (fans of the club) have absolutely no idea how the next 12 months will pan out.

 

[ForestRGoinUp]

You got that right.

Fact is, we (fans of the club) have absolutely no idea how the next 12 months will pan out.

Actually I think people process the information in front of them and do come up with an idea, naturally. Everyone processes it differently of course too.

 

[purgethefallen]

And 4 years of top 3 finishes on a budget much smaller than his rivals. Plus a decent chance at a CL final this year.

EDIT - ha, just seen the Bournemouth score - so maybe 3 years rather than 4 ;-)

A team doing worse than us that he built. But let's get him instead of Ole who hasn't been given a proper chance yet.

If poch had been interim manager, with those results would we have appointed him permanently?

 

[izzydiggler]

You got that right.

Fact is, we (fans of the club) have absolutely no idea how the next 12 months will pan out.

A lot of fans do have a very good idea how it will end, based on years of evidence. There are no absolutes but as with all opinions, they’re based on interpretations of evidence and experience leading to them to offer their thoughts on probabilities.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

If De Gea makes another mistake, this is TOTALLY on Ole. There is two matches left, and De Gea has already cost us several games. We NEED to win, and now opposition will be taking many long shots to test him.

Even if Romero is injured, need to give third goalkeeper a chance. Anything is better than Dear Gea at the moment even if he was a wonder before.

Just rubbish, you're asking Ole to put Grant in, which would be an insane decision, and embarrassing for DDG.

Ole is guilty of not dropping the players that are clearly no good anymore, or even worse not trying hard enough, and that is on Ole, but DDG should be the first name on the team sheet.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Just rubbish, you're asking Ole to put Grant in, which would be an insane decision, and embarrassing for DDG.

Ole is guilty of not dropping the players that are clearly no good anymore, or even worse not trying hard enough, and that is on Ole, but DDG should be the first name on the team sheet.

Yeah, for me you stand by DDG, he's a great player and he's basically given Ole some important results (Spurs comes to mind).

Young playing every game as captain and being given a new contract - on Ole

Jones new contract - on Ole

Martial new contract - on Ole

Mata apparently new contract - on Ole

The football we're watching after 4/5 months of coaching - on Ole

DDG wobble - not on Ole, and the right thing is to stand by him.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Yeah, for me you stand by DDG, he's a great player and he's basically given Ole some important results (Spurs comes to mind).

Young playing every game as captain and being given a new contract - on Ole

Jones new contract - on Ole

Mata apparently new contract - on Ole

The football we're watching after 4/5 months of coaching - on Ole

DDG wobble - not on Ole, and the right thing is to stand by him.

Absolute garbage all that im afraid. Im sure the new contract talks were well under way before Ole came in. And the club probably don't want to lose half the squad on free transfers. We renewed Fellaini's deal and sold him straight after for example.

 

[purgethefallen]

Yeah, for me you stand by DDG, he's a great player and he's basically given Ole some important results (Spurs comes to mind).

Young playing every game as captain and being given a new contract - on Ole

Jones new contract - on Ole

Smalling new contract - on Ole

Mata apparently new contract - on Ole

The football we're watching after 4/5 months of coaching - on Ole

DDG wobble - not on Ole, and the right thing is to stand by him.

Young/Smalling/Jones all signed before Ole was made permanent. Mata would be a useful squad member for one season.

Usual load of cobblers from you, though.

 

[Random Task]

Yeah, for me you stand by DDG, he's a great player and he's basically given Ole some important results (Spurs comes to mind).

Young playing every game as captain and being given a new contract - on Ole

Jones new contract - on Ole

Smalling new contract - on Ole

Mata apparently new contract - on Ole

The football we're watching after 4/5 months of coaching - on Ole

DDG wobble - not on Ole, and the right thing is to stand by him.

Sounds like you have an agenda.

Why aren't you prepared to allow Ole a full season in charge before you declare him a failure?

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Yeah, for me you stand by DDG, he's a great player and he's basically given Ole some important results (Spurs comes to mind).

Young playing every game as captain and being given a new contract - on Ole

Jones new contract - on Ole

Smalling new contract - on Ole

Mata apparently new contract - on Ole

The football we're watching after 4/5 months of coaching - on Ole

DDG wobble - not on Ole, and the right thing is to stand by him.

I agree with some of that, and others less so..

I get Mata, I get Smalling.

I don't get Jones, and the way Martial has downed tools since he signed his deal is alarming.

Young is unforgivable, as are alot of the results, but you get shot down on her atm if you say that too loudly.

No issue if DDG is looked at properly the end of the season, but not now.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

You cannot put it all on Jose, he's gone and Ole is responsible for this team now. It's not as simple as playing Pogba higher or fitness (although we definitely are not fit enough). Lately Smalling has been in the team more, because of this we sit a good 10-15 yards yards deeper because he isn't comfortable with the high line and is a hindrance on the ball. Same goes for Young. Both them and certain other players constantly keep their place no matter how shit they play. He could select others but does not, that is on him. His bad substitutions are on him. His poor in game management is on him. These things are not as a result of anything Mourinho has done either.

As I said I am giving Ole the benefit of the doubt but you cannot excuse him for everything and you cannot use arguments like "Mourinho fault >:^(" to invalidate others who have concerns.

When assessing the impact of our transfer business you cannot put it "all on Ole" because he's not made a single transfer yet!

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Young/Smalling/Jones all signed before Ole was made permanent. Mata would be a useful squad member for one season.

Usual load of cobblers from you, though.

Absolute garbage all that im afraid. Im sure the new contract talks were well under way before Ole came in. And the club probably don't want to lose half the squad on free transfers. We renewed Fellaini's deal and sold him straight after for example.

You both disagree with DDG's form not being on Ole, and Ole making the correct call to stand by him then...?

Or maybe you just jumped in with your usual zeal without actually reading the post properly?

Regarding Smalling, Young, Jones, Martial contracts I disagree. If the manager passionately didn't want them I'm sure he could have stepped in and at least postponed them.

He was at the club, working with them day in-day out. FFS he's sitting smiling with them in the contract renewal photos!

To suggest he's just some little idiot that sits there smiling while players he knows he won't want are given new contracts is actually so fecking patronizing to him.

There is a very worrying theme emerging here of literally anything negative that's happening in Ole's reign being not his fault ('it's Mourinho', 'it's Woodward', 'it's the players'), and anything good, is solely his doing.

Some of you need to get your heads out of the sand and support what's best for the club, rather than what's best to defend a sub-par manager who's already making very questionable decisions.