Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion

[SAFMUTD]

Because of what's been bought by previous managers, we need better players. Be it Ole, one of the previous managers or a new one. We needed and need to buy better. I believe most of this forum is in agreement of that. What he has bought was needed. Maybe bar James, who at the very least look like a pretty good squad player, long term.

How is it words without substance? If he ain't got the players, what's he supposed to do? What should he have done differently?

He’s got the players to be performing better and specially to be showing a style.

Thats my main concern with him, he isn’t implementing a system at all, we haven’t developed a clear style in the whole year he’s been in charge and you don't need great players to do that, feck even Norwhich has a clear style implemented thats a clear case of lack of quality in the players but you can see which system they follow and how the manager wants them to play.

feck not many teams in the premier league have the quality we have in attack, we looked disjointed and undercoached just watch our games when in attack it seems all improvised, someone gets the ball and the movement around is almost nonexistent thats why the players hold the ball for too long and we keep seeing dull toothless football, thats not a lack of quality in the players thats clearly lack of coaching.

Of course we look great when given space on the counterattacks because that barely needs coaching there you need speed and quality in your players to finish those chances, where you really see the coaching job is when facing low block opposition thats when you need a plan and a proper attacking system.

All I see with Ole are excuses, minimizing our squad, starting by minimizing the players by calling them “the boys” feck that shit him calling them youngsters is just to lower the pressure on the team while we are terribly failing he has managed to convince a great part of the fans that being this shitty and getting suck poor results is acceptable because it will “take time” to rebuild, I would accept that if I see some improvement but feck we played better when he first arrived we have stagnated with him there’s no improvement at all.

What can he do differently, he could start by at least not pretending this shit circus is ok, at least having autocritic besides saying “we didn’t want it enough, we weren’t good enough” with a freaking smile on his face game after game.

 

[SAFMUTD]

The club was second from bottom when SAF took over. SAF had already won the Scottish League a few times when Scotland was a good footballing nation. He had beaten Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to win the Cup Winners Cup too. What has Ole won to compare with that? The League in Norway. He then got Cardiff relegated at the first big opportunity he had. Might as well get the manager who won the league in San Marino or the Faroes?

Stop this nonsense, stop comparing SAF who’s arguably the best manager in the history of the game with Ole. There’s really no point, its like comparing Pele or Messi with Lingard.

Everytime someone says Sir Alex also blabla so we must persist with Ole, Its like someone saying Messi also went a couple of games without scoring so we bust insist with Lingard.

 

[Resch]

Look at the Arsenal match, Shaw lost the ball against 4. A big mistake by Shaw, but most of the team was not moving. 4 players in front of Shaw stood right next to each other, it took 2 defenders to cover all of them.
That is a coaching problem. The lack of movement, lack of positioning, etc. happen because our players have no idea what to do on the pitch.

 

[SAFMUTD]

Given all the specifics since the summer, I still don’t know if OGS has ‘failed’ and can’t mske that view yet. Given the circumstances I think our results are on par.

But we made our choice in OGS and we should back that choice til at least this time next year, and afford him 6 or more new players in that time.

1) I dont know how has he convinced so many that this is acceptable and expected and not a complete failure, he has clearly failed and thats the reason why after leaving this job he wont get another chance at any team, not even relegation level, in the premier league. Thats not an opinion thats just a fact and a clear indicator of failure.

2) I dont think any team in the world should be commited to a manager for two years and 9 new players before starting to demand results, specially if there are no signs of clear improvement.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

When Chelsea were struggling against Arsenal at the weekend Lampard made changes at around 30 minute mark and that transformed the game. Ole was far too passive and slow to make any positive changes, on top of bad team selection.

 

[saivet]

Thats my main concern with him, he isn’t implementing a system at all, we haven’t developed a clear style in the whole year he’s been in charge and you don't need great players to do that, feck even Norwhich has a clear style implemented thats a clear case of lack of quality in the players but you can see which system they follow and how the manager wants them to play.

I think we have seen his system and it's a basic counter attacking one. The huge problem is it's not a very effective one and now we've become predictable I won't be shocked if the bigger teams it has worked against will nullify us in the second half of the season like Arsenal did yesterday.

 

[SAFMUTD]

I think we have seen his system and it's a basic counter attacking one. The huge problem is it's not a very effective one and now we've become predictable I won't be shocked if the bigger teams it has worked against will nullify us in the second half of the season like Arsenal did yesterday.

I would agree but we dont use it often, against lower opposition we tend to play, a very poor, possession football. We have played counterattacking football against top sides only.

 

[Judas]

When Chelsea were struggling against Arsenal at the weekend Lampard made changes at around 30 minute mark and that transformed the game. Ole was far too passive and slow to make any positive changes, on top of bad team selection.

That's OleBall. I think we're all used to his slow and passive, or non existent reaction to what's happening on the pitch. He's unbelieving uninspiring on the touchline, I pray he's better behind the scenes.

 

[red4ever 79]

Ole is not the man to take us forward. Poor tactical nous, cant get the team to deliver any consistency. Poor team selections, not picking players on form, but rather picking players on name. Our recruitment was targeted in the wrong areas. We were significantly weakened in midfield and up front and failed to address those. Maguire looks no better than Smalling.

I hope Ed had agreed something with Poch to come in at the end of the season.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Don't think fear is what they need.
They need proper instructions on how we should move the ball in attack in order to create chances.

Effort is not the big problem even if it sometimes is a bit bad.
We are not mentally very strong either as a group and Ole is a big part in that.
His subs and changes has never given us any wins.
We got a draw against Sheffield, but conceded late.

Think fear is the wrong word. There are players who know they are safe, because there isn't anybody to displace them. Yes that is the clubs fault, but Ole has gone along with it. If the club do not back him properly or realise that maybe, just maybe he isn't up to the job anyway, then we are on the road to nowhere.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

A lot of the stuff he's saying in the media makes him look weak and like he's pandering to the players.

The tail is wagging the dog.

 

[Ronaldo's Love Child]

Woeful PR management by the United board.

OGS was appointed manager on nothing more than sentiment. OGS was managing Molde for a reason.......no other teams wanted him.

So we sack Jose mid-season and no other top drawer managers are available. Presumably the board felt OGS was available and would act as a Jose-antidote in the short term..........so far so good.

OGS probably peed his pants when he was offered the position of temporary manager at United but instead of sticking to our guns we changed our minds and offered him the position of permanent manager much earlier than we had originally planned.

OGS is on script saying we need a rebuild (which we do) but it seems we're digging ourselves in a hole by constantly repeating it as how can the board sack OGS now? Come to think of it, at what position in the table would OGS definitely be sacked (with the exception of the relegation places) ?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I have to agree with RVP that he smiles too much.

The last manager frowned all the time. This one smiles all the time.

The players must be so fecking confused

I get where he is coming from. Could you imagine SAF's face if he was stood on that touchline, most managers in fact. Even after the game most managers would not be grinning like a Cheshire cat. It sends out the wrong message.

 

[red4ever 79]

Just watched his post match interview. He said Pogba's people have decided he is to have an operation. Surely it is the club and the medical staff at Utd who should decide? Or did I miss something? Mind you I wouldn trust our medical staff as far as I could throw them either.

 

[Judas]

I get where he is coming from. Could you imagine SAF's face if he was stood on that touchline, most managers in fact. Even after the game most managers would not be grinning like a Cheshire cat. It sends out the wrong message.

Yep, it might be his personality, but it isn't a good look, and doesn't do him any favours to present himself like he does, especially after performances like that.

 

[pocco]

Ok but we have never even heard of him trying to be anything but a positive influence in the dressing room. When Chelsea’s players forced their managers out the same names came up of players downing tools, who amongst ours have there actually been reports of doing this?

They said the same about a lot of our players under Jose, including Pogba. Then during the winning run under Ole, many felt like it was 2 fingers up at Jose from the players.

Let's not pretend that Pogba has always been regarded as a positive influence, I honestly only hear that from posters on here. Other people don't forget some of the things he's done which point to the contrary.

 

[red4ever 79]

I get where he is coming from. Could you imagine SAF's face if he was stood on that touchline, most managers in fact. Even after the game most managers would not be grinning like a Cheshire cat. It sends out the wrong message.

I get what RVP means. When Jessie came off Ole was giving it the old high fives and smiling. What kind of message does that send to the player. Dont worry Jessie you dont score or create and are shite, but I am still happy with you. Ole doesnt have that ruthless streak. Lingard, Shaw should be nowhere near the team. Deadwood still hanging around, Jones, Rojo, Young, Matic. Sanchez will be back in 5 months as well.

 

[Judas]

They said the same about a lot of our players under Jose, including Pogba. Then during the winning run under Ole, many felt like it was 2 fingers up at Jose from the players.

Let's not pretend that Pogba has always been regarded as a positive influence, I honestly only hear that from posters on here. Other people don't forget some of the things he's done which point to the contrary.

What else has he done? What have you read in The Sun?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

1) I dont know how has he convinced so many that this is acceptable and expected and not a complete failure, he has clearly failed and thats the reason why after leaving this job he wont get another chance at any team, not even relegation level, in the premier league. Thats not an opinion thats just a fact and a clear indicator of failure.

2) I dont think any team in the world should be commited to a manager for two years and 9 new players before starting to demand results, specially if there are no signs of clear improvement.

Exactly. If the manager isn't good enough there's no point in backing him with new signings.

 

[pocco]

There are too many factors beyond OGS control for me to come to that conclusion yet. Namely lack of quality depth in squad, and even after that, lengthy injuries to pogba and martial.

I don’t think 5th place and still in 3 cups is a trainwrick at all given that context. In fact better than I expected at start of season.

Going forwards more lengthy injuries to McT and Pogba and without equal replacement makes 2nd half of season as tough.

If you are objective and fair, these things can’t be just waved away. So I simply don’t know if OGS has long term potential or not right now, and am satisfied with his performance given the specific circumstance.

Being 5th place is a bit of a falsehood really. 8 wins out of 21 is bloody awful. I'd love to know where we'd sit other seasons at this point. We're only so high up because other teams have also imploded, but we're not measuring ourselves against those teams.

There is literally nothing for Ole supporters to argue his case with other than "he plays youngsters" and "he might do better with a world class team".

 

[pocco]

What else has he done? What have you read in The Sun?

You have a short memory.

 

[fergosaurus]

.

I wrote in another thread that the real trick the board missed was getting in Rodgers over the summer, whose CV is even better than SAFs was when he joined.

.

What?

Brendan Rodgers

Swansea City

• Football League Championship play-offs: 2011[31]

Celtic

• Scottish Premiership: 2016–17,[84] 2017–18[128]
• Scottish Cup: 2016–17,[89] 2017–18[129]
• Scottish League Cup: 2016–17,[81] 2017–18,[130] 2018–19[99]

Sir Alex Ferguson

St Mirren

• Scottish First Division: 1976–77

Aberdeen

• Scottish Premier Division: 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85
• Scottish Cup: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
• Scottish League Cup: 1985–86
• Drybrough Cup: 1980
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1982–83
• European Super Cup: 1983

Keep in mind Rodgers had no competition in the SPL during that time and Sir Alex was bossing it with Aberdeen in a much higher quality league while making a mark in Europe. Rodgers is a good coach and finishing runner-up in the PL is much more significant than anything he did in the SPL but still falls way off Ferguson's CV pre-United.

 

[AneRu]

There are too many factors beyond OGS control for me to come to that conclusion yet. Namely lack of quality depth in squad, and even after that, lengthy injuries to pogba and martial.

I don’t think 5th place and still in 3 cups is a trainwrick at all given that context. In fact better than I expected at start of season.

Going forwards more lengthy injuries to McT and Pogba and without equal replacement makes 2nd half of season as tough.

If you are objective and fair, these things can’t be just waved away. So I simply don’t know if OGS has long term potential or not right now, and am satisfied with his performance given the specific circumstance.

We clearly need midfield reinforcements to have a hope of having a decent season but you know who will be at the forefront of shielding the blundering board when we don't? That will be Ole.

The Pogba situation needs addressing but who will shield both player and the board? Ole again. The guy is abusing his legendary status within the club to facilitate the strangling of this club as a competitive outfit.

 

[Judas]

You have a short memory.

So help me. Tell me all the stuff that makes Pogba a "virus" that isn't from Jose or the tabloids, that you know for a fact. Please, we'd all love to know the truth.

 

[united for life]

I think we have seen his system and it's a basic counter attacking one. The huge problem is it's not a very effective one and now we've become predictable I won't be shocked if the bigger teams it has worked against will nullify us in the second half of the season like Arsenal did yesterday.

So what‘s the plan? Sack the manager every year? No thanks. For the first time since SAF, I see work being done to properly build the team. Good summer signings, players who don’t want to be there are sold and youngsters are given a proper chance. We won’t see results immediately. It will take time until we sign the right players and until our young players mature (Tuanzebe, Williams, McTominay, Greenwood.... great potential there).

Managers better than Ole have failed at the job since they all had short term vision. let’s really stick by our manager this time.

 

[Godfather]

So what‘s the plan? Sack the manager every year? No thanks. For the first time since SAF, I see work being done to properly build the team. Good summer signings, players who don’t want to be there are sold and youngsters are given a proper chance. We won’t see results immediately. It will take time until we sign the right players and until our young players mature (Tuanzebe, Williams, McTominay, Greenwood.... great potential there).

Managers better than Ole have failed at the job since they all had short term vision. let’s really stick by our manager this time.

80 millions for Maguire is still considered a good signing?

 

[united for life]

80 millions for Maguire is still considered a good signing?

unfortunately, these days yes. Overpriced, I agree, but a good upgrade to whatever was there last year. At least w are signing to strengthen the right positions, not just signing another Sanchez

 

[Godfather]

unfortunately, these days yes. Overpriced, I agree, but a good upgrade to whatever was there last year. At least w are signing to strengthen the right positions, not just signing another Sanchez

He isn't an upgrade to Smalling. Better passing but a worse defender. And that's what we need right now. We already have a CB stealing a living by being able to pass the ball to a teammate without being able to defend. That's Lindelöf.

Also that Sanchez argument is so so flawed. Yes he didn't turn out well. But we got Van Persie although we had strikers. We probably wouldn't get him now with that all brand new and brilliant transfer strategy. Well guess what. That guy almost single handedly won us a league title.

 

[McGrathsipan]

Just watched his post match interview. He said Pogba's people have decided he is to have an operation. Surely it is the club and the medical staff at Utd who should decide? Or did I miss something? Mind you I wouldn trust our medical staff as far as I could throw them either.

Thats a fecking damning indictment if true.

Either the United Medical Team didnt pcik it up or else we are being fecking played and dictated to by his cronies.

 

[SAFMUTD]

So what‘s the plan? Sack the manager every year? No thanks.

Managers better than Ole have failed at the job since they all had short term vision. let’s really stick by our manager this time.

I agree.

Whats the plan? Keep buying new players every year? No thanks.

Better players have failed at the job, lets stick by our squad this time.

 

[Roboc7]

So what‘s the plan? Sack the manager every year? No thanks. For the first time since SAF, I see work being done to properly build the team. Good summer signings, players who don’t want to be there are sold and youngsters are given a proper chance. We won’t see results immediately. It will take time until we sign the right players and until our young players mature (Tuanzebe, Williams, McTominay, Greenwood.... great potential there).

Managers better than Ole have failed at the job since they all had short term vision. let’s really stick by our manager this time.

I think the plan is to play like Molde and hope that nostalgia can be used to disguise outdated and very basic tactics. We’ve seen Ole’s vision it’s same as what we have now with some better players so he might eventually get us in the top four if all goes well. Persisting with a bad manager is no better than sacking managers.

 

[saivet]

So what‘s the plan? Sack the manager every year? No thanks. For the first time since SAF, I see work being done to properly build the team. Good summer signings, players who don’t want to be there are sold and youngsters are given a proper chance. We won’t see results immediately. It will take time until we sign the right players and until our young players mature (Tuanzebe, Williams, McTominay, Greenwood.... great potential there).

Managers better than Ole have failed at the job since they all had short term vision. let’s really stick by our manager this time.

So we should stick by a manager who is clearly out of his depth because others failed.

Ideally, we sort out our structure first, but even that shouldn't stop up from sacking a manager clearly not good enough.

The only positives you mention are a rebuild yet out squad is paper thin and these good signings, while improvements, they only feel marginal and there are major flaws with all of them.

 

[united for life]

So we should stick by a manager who is clearly out of his depth because others failed.

Ideally, we sort out our structure first, but even that shouldn't stop up from sacking a manager clearly not good enough.

The only positives you mention are a rebuild yet out squad is paper thin and these good signings, while improvements, they only feel marginal and there are major flaws with all of them.

not because others failed, because he is rebuilding. We can’t afford to keep changing managers/changing the club’s direction every year. Like you said, we need to sort out the structure first.

 

[Judas]

I just dread to think the level of talent we'll be desperately clawing at in the summer judging by how things currently look. Grim.

 

[united for life]

I think the plan is to play like Molde and hope that nostalgia can be used to disguise outdated and very basic tactics. We’ve seen Ole’s vision it’s same as what we have now with some better players so he might eventually get us in the top four if all goes well. Persisting with a bad manager is no better than sacking managers.

so you want to play like Liverpool and Man City with the squad we have? Hate to say this. But we’re not good enough. Not playing like Molde, just working with the material available at the moment.

 

[united for life]

I agree.

Whats the plan? Keep buying new players every year? No thanks.

Better players have failed at the job, lets stick by our squad this time.

Though I appreciate the sarcasm, I don’t agree. we need to buy the right quality players as part of our rebuilding. Can’t just change the manager every year... what I see this season is good signings, good opportunities for youngsters and a plan

 

[SAFMUTD]

Though I appreciate the sarcasm, I don’t agree. we need to buy the right quality players as part of our rebuilding. Can’t just change the manager every year... what I see this season is good signings, good opportunities for youngsters and a plan

We also need to hire the right quality manager as part of our rebuilding.

Serious question, do you think Ole would get a top job elsewhere?

 

[Judas]

Ole is and never has been the long term answer. If we can get to the end of the season and not be mid table it would be a miracle and I think he could be relieved of his duties and walk away with his head held reasonably high. The most scary thing is the idea of going into next season with him and backing this "vision" for years.

 

[FreakyJim]

His football is outdated and shit, it’s like Mourinho’s United but with more youngsters.

 

[izec]

He could be the leader of Scientology with the nonsense he spouts.

He is either deluded or incompetent, probably both.