Lot of mixed feelings right now. The first one being disappointment yesterday with Ole, my biggest one until now after seeing us playing such a conservative game at home against a vulnerable Arsenal, the team conceding more chances in the league (and one of the most in Europe), allowing them to have a presence in the game and giving them wings on the second half by getting even deeper than before.
To keep insisting on Lingard as a starter, someone who shouldn't even be part of the squad, the double pivot with Pogba being tied at the back, the reluctance to start Greenwood in a league game when we have nothing up front and he's got the ability to score goals (our biggest problem for me), it's difficult to understand.
I'm not a big fan of Fred but he's been energetic this season, he's got decent technique and played his part to keep us on the surface against Leicester in the last 20 minutes or so. If you want to play 4-2-3-1 for some reason, play with Fred and McTominay and move Pogba forward to use his talent and creativity near the box where we're missing it. I don't have a problem with Pogba being a ghost if he gets 3 or 4 balls in dangerous positions to make the difference, something that Lingard, Mata or Pereira are incapable of doing.
Yesterday I saw that Rashford has scored one goal from open play in the last 18 games, Lingard hasn't scored in the league since December, Pereira like 20 games without scoring, and so on. For me it's obvious that we're bottling it in the opposition box more than anywhere else, but if you keep starting all the bottlers at the same time while leaving Pogba away from the box, Greenwood on the bench, you're shooting yourself in the foot.
I have time for Solskjaer but he needs to help himself with the line ups, take back some of the "let's go" spirit he brought initially and leave the current excess of calculation aside. And more importantly, recognize the lack of maturity and mental strength in a squad where the only proper captain is someone who came this summer, something that explains many things and situations that happen on the field regularly.
For me this January should be about adding some experience and leadership to release the pressure from certain shoulders and elevate the composure of the team. Even if it's 2 or 3 loanees in the mould of the classic Henrik Larsson, or Edgar Davids when he went on loan to Barcelona and changed the face of that team under Rijkaard, but something needs to be done.
This team needs creativity and goals as Solskjaer said, but without experience, characters and clear references out there those potential signings (and I'm thinking about the likes of Maddison, McGinn, David Brooks, Longstaff and that profile) will be at risk of being pushed down by the collective anxiety and lack of determination in the team.
I think there's a little spark of hope for Ole to turn this around, when I see us being one of the teams conceding less chances and goals in the league. For all their faults, almost every player is giving 100 % on the field, they're playing for the manager and adding an extra mile of work to try to make us solid. If they can keep that attitude and hard work, some players step up to score goals (if they're allowed to) and we hit some good form at any point, I can see us improving the general displays as a consequence and fighting for top 4 and the Europa, with a pair of accurate additions in January.
It's not like Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea or even Leicester are flawless and invincible, and I expect them to drop points regularly too. I'm not really expecting much from us at the moment and lots of 'ifs' need to happen, but we know football can change dramatically and heroes can become villains (and the opposite) in a matter of weeks, so I'll leave the door open to be surprised in a positive way.