Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

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No idea what his style of play is, we just seem to let other teams dictate the play. We need better players in midfieldmwe cannot continue to carry mata matic and pereira.
 
There is no hiding and bullshitting this season. Bad or good, he will be paying the price of his decisions.
 
Today's game could have been under Mourinho, no clear style of play and average when in possession with sporadic moments of high pressing.
 
Fully expect the team to be closer to the lineup at the end of the match. Expect the below changes from today’s starting lineup

Axel or Maguire for Rojo
Pogba or Fred for Matic
Lingard for Mata
James or Greenwood for Andreas
 
Today's game could have been under Mourinho, no clear style of play and average when in possession with sporadic moments of high pressing.
It could have been under Mourinho because it's the same players. It's not going to look miraculously different.
 
Ive been encouraged by pre-season. Not expecting miracles but don't feel too concerned. Just call me Pollyanna.
 
It could have been under Mourinho because it's the same players. It's not going to look miraculously different.

I wonder how long the players will be held responsible for the absence of clear ideas and style when building from the back. Let's see how we fare against Chelsea and Wolves. Having a style is for me more important and predictive than the actual results which might be fluky.
 
I love Ole and I hope he'll turn out to be good. If not we can finally sack Ed and get a DoF. It's a Win-win.
 
I love Ole and I hope he'll turn out to be good. If not we can finally sack Ed and get a DoF. It's a Win-win.
Ed won’t be sacked. He’s the Glazers’ pet. He has overseen three managerial failures all appointed under him and he’s still safe. I don’t think Mourinho was a failure, the minute he started kicking up a fuss with Ed, it’s written on the wall he would lose his job. Doesn’t matter if Ole is a legend and a fan favourite, he would lose his job before Ed I’m sure of that. Only way Ed goes is if the Glazers sell the club which won’t happen anytime so soon.
 
I wonder how long the players will be held responsible for the absence of clear ideas and style when building from the back. Let's see how we fare against Chelsea and Wolves. Having a style is for me more important and predictive than the actual results which might be fluky.
You're assuming the players are good enough to play the style you expect. Having better players is more predictive than having a style.
 
You're assuming the players are good enough to play the style you expect. Having better players is more predictive than having a style.
If there's an attempt at establishing a style or pattern of play it will be discernable even with bad players. To illustrate this look no further than LVG's United in the early days
 
You're assuming the players are good enough to play the style you expect. Having better players is more predictive than having a style.

Nobody on here suspected that Liverpool might win 97 pts and the CL because nobody did rate their players particularly highly. I remember a combined United Liverpool XI on here back in October 2017, almost none of the Liverpool players made it, it was all United.

Nobody expected City to win 100 pts with a defence of Walker, Delph, Stones and Otamendi.

So, no, style is at least as important as the players and it's naive to think that the current players are incapable of playing a particular style. They might not be able to play it as well as City or Liverpool but the team still should have a style.
 
If there's an attempt at establishing a style or pattern of play it will be discernable even with bad players. To illustrate this look no further than LVG's United in the early days

Indeed.
 
Nobody on here suspected that Liverpool might win 97 pts and the CL because nobody did rate their players particularly highly. I remember a combined United Liverpool XI on here back in October 2017, almost none of the Liverpool players made it, it was all United.

Nobody expected City to win 100 pts with a defence of Walker, Delph, Stones and Otamendi.

So, no, style is at least as important as the players and it's naive to think that the current players are incapable of playing a particular style. They might not be able to play it as well as City or Liverpool but the team still should have a style.
I don't take notice of 'combined 11s' they are nonsense. They have bought good players to fit a specific style that's the difference. We've changed one starter so far this summer. To me it's also clear we're looking to press high and play out from the back. Unfortunately as soon as poor players like Mata are brought into this it fails, it will be a worry if Solskjaer doesn't recognise this.

We finished above 14 teams despite having 'no style', you would expect a few of them to over take us if it's as easy as just having one with whatever players they have.
 
If there's an attempt at establishing a style or pattern of play it will be discernable even with bad players. To illustrate this look no further than LVG's United in the early days
Yes it looked good pre season until we played teams that were trying in competitive games. Then he started changing it every week until something stuck.
 
Jury's still out on Ole.

Our fitness is much better, but we still look poor bypassing a press without hoofing it up.
 
Needs to put his money where his mouth is and reward Gomes with minutes ahead of Mata...
 
Yes it looked good pre season until we played teams that were trying in competitive games. Then he started changing it every week until something stuck.
Okay? I may be missing sonething but how does that tie into the discussion?

Edit: engaging the unrelated point LVG ditched lineups but never ditched his system. It's why every postgame interview was him defending his philosophy. Not to say any of that is relevant right now
 
Not at all. The when is key, s it still means that Ashley Young is our captain even when he isn't going to be a first 11 every week.

He is probably a leader in the dressing room, that's why. Seen clips from trainings, and it looks like the players like him.
There's no signs of him being nr 1 on fullback over Shaw or AWB, and the LW is crowded. He'll be a backup player, we all know that, so does he, so no reason to be so dramatic and negative.
 
Okay? I may be missing sonething but how does that tie into the discussion?
Unless I'm missing something the discussion was around having a style being a better predictor of positive results than having better players. LVG imposed a clear style in pre season, yes but as soon as the competitive games started it was useless as players like McNair and Blackett were found out.
 
He is probably a leader in the dressing room, that's why. Seen clips from trainings, and it looks like the players like him.
There's no signs of him being nr 1 on fullback over Shaw or AWB, and the LW is crowded. He'll be a backup player, we all know that, so does he, so no reason to be so dramatic and negative.
Where was I dramatic?

Captains are supposed to play. Not just be given it because they have seniority.
 
Where was I dramatic?

Captains are supposed to play. Not just be given it because they have seniority.

I agree with this. A captain is supposed to be a leader on and off the pitch - making someone who really shouldn't be starting many games makes a mockery of the captaincy
 
Happy with him trying to implement hard press, serious work ethic etc, but can't get over the fact he gave new contract to Young, Mata and Jones. Not to mention Matić who looks like he cemented his place in the first eleven, while he offers nothing on the pitch.

To be fair, we got rid of fellani, Valencia and lost Anders. Imagine losing those 3. Yeah they are not great but squad would be even more bare.

I think people don't see the bigger picture sometimes. Imagine if we let Jones leave and we couldn't get maquire done and now Baily is injured.

Young is versatile enough to cover AWB and Shaw if needed. Mata, we need midfielders and especially players that can play on the right wing, as we not signing one this window
 
Where was I dramatic?

Captains are supposed to play. Not just be given it because they have seniority.

LvG isn't here anymore. If that was the case, he wouldn't have said when he plays.
 
Don’t care what anyone says, him starting or wearing the armband makes us look like a joke.

I think he's keeping it due to a lack of alternatives. If De Gea had signed a new contract I am pretty sure he would now be club captain. Pogba has said he wants to leave and other senior players like Mata and Matic aren't guaranteed starters.

There just isn't a good candidate right now.
 
I think he's keeping it due to a lack of alternatives. If De Gea had signed a new contract I am pretty sure he would now be club captain. Pogba has said he wants to leave and other senior players like Mata and Matic aren't guaranteed starters.

There just isn't a good candidate right now.
Then along comes Harry :). Also Mctominay looks to have a leader in him
 
Pre season is over and from now on there is no excuses anymore.

Following problems seems to continue from last season and soon there will be serious questions about who’s responsible.

1. There is no pattern in our build ups and what’s our style? Defending with the whole team against a not fully fit second string team in pre season, is that our style?

2. Mistakes right left and centre. Heavy touches, bad passes, unorganized, players jogging around, silly fouls. A few mistakes in pre season doesn’t count but when our starting line up (except Pogba) can’t keep possession for more the three four passes in a row then something is wrong. (AC Milan had zero problems with our pressing, in fact they where schooling us in how to keep possession against a dysfunctional team)

3. We where supposed to press with intensity as high up as possible but several of our starters was jogging around more then ten yards away from action. How is it possible? Successful pressing needs to be synchronized. Are players stupid or don’t they get the right instructions? Mata and Pereira shouldn’t be near a future line up if we intend to play with intensive press. Pathetic.

4. We don’t have a midfield. Apart from Pogba we don’t have enough quality to dominate games on a regular basis.

5. Most of our chances comes from individual brilliance. The team doesn’t create enough chances. That’s a huge concern.

6. Who’s our leader and captain? It’s painful to see a bunch players without leadership. Give us a Alpha male please.

Maguire will hopefully bring stability and leadership to our defense. Getting him was a must.

Dybala should have the ability to hold on to the ball longer then three seconds so we can have some sort of possession. Hopefully he will unlock tight defenses and pass between the lines much better the we do today. Another must.

Finally we need a new midfielder. Otherwise our chances to finish top four will dramatically decrease.

Matic is finished. Pereira should be sold. Fred isn’t secure enough to partner a two man midfield. McTominay is our only good option together with Pogba but he isn’t fully ready to be a automatic starter. Expecting him to deliver top performances on regular basis is naive.

Ole has plenty of challenges in front of him. He desperately needs new players and a good start, otherwise this can be ugly.
 
Beat Conte, Bielsa, Pochettino all while shielding the whole squad from a shit storm of a transfer window. Could have easily brought out the pitchforks talking about how he got schooled by one of the above.

All goals and assists from the academy.

Stamped his identity on the team. Laid the foundations and seems to have built a strong belief and spirit in the squad this pre season.

One of the most successful preseasons in many years.

Massive contrast to Mourinho last season huh?
 
The challenge for solskjaer is getting the right guys. For example, he’s clearly earmarked longstaff and possibly Sancho as the ones he wants now or next season. In the meantime what do you do, wait and use what you have and hope a deal gets done, or go and get partey and Dybala, second choices who are not exactly what you want but would command big fees and wages and keep this rolling mess of a squad going? Should have went in high and early on longstaff, hit them with 30m start of June I think it would have done it. His price is the product of hype since then.
 
Beat Conte, Bielsa, Pochettino all while shielding the whole squad from a shit storm of a transfer window. Could have easily brought out the pitchforks talking about how he got schooled by one of the above.

All goals and assists from the academy.

Stamped his identity on the team. Laid the foundations and seems to have built a strong belief and spirit in the squad this pre season.

One of the most successful preseasons in many years.

Massive contrast to Mourinho last season huh?

Cmon ffs, it means nothing mate.

I hope that he starts the season well, but preseason results should not be making anyone giddy.

So often they are an illusory phenomenon in football.
 
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