Aye totally. It’s a double edged sword though as on the one hand if the sponsorship money starts to dry up it might finally be the catalyst for the owners to sell up but on the other hand for that to happen the club would have to be in a really bad way. Sad state of affairs all together.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 2021/22 Discussion
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
- Status
Aye totally. It’s a double edged sword though as on the one hand if the sponsorship money starts to dry up it might finally be the catalyst for the owners to sell up but on the other hand for that to happen the club would have to be in a really bad way. Sad state of affairs all together.
Or course there is, but as you say that relies on the people running the club making the correct decisions. Like you I am sceptical that will happen. Their track record so far is far from inspiring.
We set up in a similar way, with the double pivot and non attacking full backs. No one properly screens our CBs and DDG stays v deep. There's no link between midfield and attack and so we revert to crossing, without a real aerial threat, and long direct balls to fast strikers. Lukaku was average for us and Martial as 9 is something many of us were crying out for long ago but the actual playing style isn't hugely different in my opinion. I remember Mou when he joined us saying Conte had just won the league with a counter attacking side and that was what he planned to do. We definitely run more under Ole but results would point to it being for the sake of running and Ole's idea that United have to outwork everyone, plus the plethora of injuries we have had would point to at least some mismanagement of workload/responsibilities in games (obviously this is not ole's fault alone).
Pressing is not about chasing the ball aggressively until you get it back or run yourself into the ground, Pep's Barca were the masters of it and it's not like you'd consider players like Iniesta, Xavi etc 'high intensity' - they pressed in certain areas, if they didn't recover the ball a niggly foul would stop the play and it's what you see at City although they're not on the same level as that Barca side. Once they had the ball, they'd keep it and recover whilst slowly fatiguing the opponent (this part we most definitely don't do because we pass without any urgency and usually in non threatening areas). I mentioned Southampton because I don't think anyone will argue they have better players than us/ we should be better than them and yet there's a consistency to how they press under Hassenhuttl that is missing with us, it emphasises how important hands on coaching is and that's not something I think any of our coaching team really has.
I am a little worried about Ole not rotating key players over this busy Christmas period.
Maguire, Fred, Rashford, James, Martial have pretty much every single game and they'll probably be gassed by March, which is exactly what happened last year.
I know we haven't got that many options from our Stunning Bench of Awesome Quality (TM) but jesus wept I fear for the long term fitness for these guys. No wonder we have an injury crisis every year.
Maguire, Fred, Rashford, James, Martial have pretty much every single game and they'll probably be gassed by March, which is exactly what happened last year.
I know we haven't got that many options from our Stunning Bench of Awesome Quality (TM) but jesus wept I fear for the long term fitness for these guys. No wonder we have an injury crisis every year.
That sounds good in theory, but in practice it is near inevitable that we will not take advantage of other teams dropping points. Countless occasions towards the end of last season we messed up an opportunity to win after Chelsea draw or lost.
Same will happen this season.
Not that I am a Ole supporter by I have to say Injuries have killed his tempo. We massively missed the quickness of McTominay yesterday. He along with Rashford and Martial are the players who we can least afford to be injured. We were even doing fine without Pogba but McTominay is a huge player for Ole's system. Big blow to Ole.
If Ole knows something that is PR stuff. Lately after every defeat he casually throws phrases about the future, long term plans and things like that. Now, he knows that City game is more than a game so he will rest most of the squad against Wolves which will be perfect excuse after defeat. "We gave kids a chance, great experience for them, building for the future, FA and fixtures schedule, bla bla bla"
Think he is doing quite well given the circumstances - definitely see champions league qualification especially if we can add players who you know want to play.
Yesterday's result did not surprise me one bit. In fact I had a fear we will lose because that's what we do against a struggling team. Give them their form back and give struggling players like Pepe a break. I was even joking with my friend before the game that this will be the game we make Pepe look like a prime Robben and we somehow managed to do that.
What disappointed me the most is our attitude in the first half. We did not even try to compete with them in the first half, when in comparison we looked a much different and somewhat better side even in the second half. How come every second week our players look so lethargic and then the next match they again come firing up and looking like a different side. That worries and frustrates me the most.
He failed on so many levels, but as long as a majority of the fans buy the things he says, nothing will happen. We will stay unimportant for the time being
I’m really starting to dislike ole the manager. Laughing and smiling after being comprehensibly beaten by a shockingly poor Arsenal side is completely unacceptable.
He gives the impression that he knows he’s bullet proof.
He gives the impression that he knows he’s bullet proof.
Yeah I think he has mismanaged the number of games he has given key players. Like why are Rashford, Martial, Maguire playing in the League Cup against Colchester when you have the crazy holiday fixture period coming up. I know you want to be competitive and give yourself a chance to try and win some silverware in the cups, but the main focus has to be on the league. his job depends on it, so sacrifice those side competitions to keep players as fit as possible for league matches.
The Arsenal game was pathetic, and it's one of those games where it's hard to think that this team will ever reach another level with him as manager.
We cannot make our players faster, Matic + our back 2 are so damn slow. Rashford and James looked really tired, we do not really have much squad depth. You can criticise him for buying maguire though.
Not gonna disagree with anything of that. That may all be correct. Don't know about the fullbacks part, they seem to be part of the plan when we've played at our best. May be Shaw's not good enough. But from what you're saying I'd conclude we need more/better players. Midfield, attack and squad. What we got is not good enough. Not now, not before Ole and not after Ole, if he is to be replaced.
Have not seen many Southampton games this season. They keep this pressing up game after game, squad/injury wise they're fine, etc?
he needs to go ASAP, our board - owners and Ed are so inept for keeping a clueless wannabee manager at the helm...Ole and co are destroying the club we love.
We need to adopt a better style then. Using our brains rather than just working hard with fast counter attacks.
I honestly have no idea what point you’re making?
My point was that LVG also did a full rebuild, Ole isn’t the only one to have this excuse. LVG though had a much more acceptable PL win rate during his rebuild though.
Knee jerk when out of 21 games we've won 8 and have failed with the remainder results ?
I know we have no devine right to win anything, but ambition is predicated on a right mindset. What's tiresome is our club underperforming in every conceivable aspect and fans being overly content with the circumstances of the position we are in. How do you guys do it?!
I'm simply saying that LVG did slighty better than Ole but spent way more money.
No he isn't. Safe to say there hasn't been much of a short term improvement but he's not made it any worse either. The club has been in a downwards spiral for years. At least he's got rid of most of the deadwood. Makes it easier for someone coming in to shape the squad to their liking.
I'm not sure what style our players can do at this level tbh.
Slightly better is an understatement, LVG finished his first season on 70 points.
He only spent 30m or so more and even today, 40odd mil would still buy you Blind and Rojo.
United had never gone 500 minutes without scoring from open play until...Solskjaer.
United have never gathered under 30 points in the PL era by Boxing Day until... Solskjaer.
United had won their last 4 matches to open a new calendar year until...Solskjaer.
Since getting the job full-time, Ole Gunnar Solskajer's win rate at Manchester United is just 29.5%.
Ole Trivia.
United have never gathered under 30 points in the PL era by Boxing Day until... Solskjaer.
United had won their last 4 matches to open a new calendar year until...Solskjaer.
Since getting the job full-time, Ole Gunnar Solskajer's win rate at Manchester United is just 29.5%.
Ole Trivia.
Imagine if this is the stats of a new manager We have, some random bloke from Spain who brought Cardiff down. He'll be getting dog abuse.
You're complaining about players being out causing us to suffer when the fact remains we have dropped countless points to teams with a comfortably worse squad than us. It's not just been this season but a chronic issue with Ole from last season. Be it 4-0 to Everton or 2-0 to Huddersfield (where star players were fit), or Crystal Palace or 10-man Southampton this season where again, the team was fully fit... or more recently to Watford or Bournemouth. You can't keep saying its difficult to outplay teams when the sides we face are worse in quality.
Madness.
But NO! Don't look at his record as permanant manager. It's a sin or something.
I think we have to come to terms that he is not getting sacked anytime soon. Most likely he will be getting rest of the season and will be assessed by the board then.
We should only look at his record before he got the job and also only look at our wins. Don't think about the defeats.
These are fecking Moyes-esque comments! At least with Moyes though he looked like he was bothered after defeats instead of fecking smiling after abysmal performances like this one.
Positive energy, you will know this impact later on . Long Term man long term !
The system I expect is a playing pattern, one that you can see clearly specially in attack.
Liverpool, City, Wolves, Norwich, Leicester, Sheffield, Burnley all these teams have it some are better than others but you know what you’ll be seeing when you watch them. They train this attacking patterns so the movement and the way they attack is clear, like I said before we dont have this we mostly depend on individual brillance to get a gol that’s why we look so dull when in attack.
On the other hand comparing Ole to SAF is just insulting please dont do it, Im tired of debating here how the quality between the two of them is worlds appart.
Now on comparing Ole to the other managers, besides talking about it on every single conference as an excuse to justify poor results what is he exactly doing that the rebuild is so clear for you to see?
Is it the “getting rid of deadwood” thing? Cause the way I see it he got only Darmian and Sanchez (on loan) from the deadwood category, Lukaku, Herrera, Fellaini, Smalling all would of them would be getting a fairly amount of minutes at the moment.
And to be fair Mourinho also sold some players that we could categorize in the deadwood list, Rooney who was past it, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin. LVG sold Kawaga, Bebe, Welbeck, Buttner.
The way I see it Ole is doing just what any other manager would do/has done sold players than he doesn't like but somehow here this been branded as “clear the deadwood” when is nothing new.
Maybe is it the way he buys/plays/promote youngsters?
Ole has put faith on AWB, James, McTominay (who was already playing with Mou but to be fair has taken a major role since Ole’s arrival) and a consolidated Rashford. Also giving time to Greenwood and less to Williams.
But again, this is nothing either LVG or Mourinho didnt do. LVG brought Luke Shaw, Martial, Depay amongst others and promoted Rashford. Mourinho way less from youngsters only bought Bailly and promoted McTominay.
But again I see nothing special to mark Ole as the great youngster promoter, he’s doing fairly around what other managers have done but again this somehow is looked as the great rebuilding he’s making.
Maybe is that he’s bringing back the DNA in ManUtd, whatever that means, by bringing only English players? First I don’t see the point in overpaying for a player only because he’s english and second I dont see whats different about the players he bought that we can categorize then as having ManUtd DNA. For all we’ve seen Maguire is a decent defender but no where near the world record fee we pay to get him, AWB is a good defensive right back but he was no unearthed stone, thats why we paid what we paid for him. James is a raw youngsters with qualities and flaws, for all we know he may end up as a bargain or as a flop only time will tell.
So again I ask, besides repeating in every interview as an excuse, exactly whats he’s doing thats so different to the other managers that this rebuild is so clear for you to see?
Last edited:
Well based on your comments, we had Pogba for two full seasons, and how many league titles did we win? if one player was the reason why we win or lose games then the whole system is messed up! Stop defending Ole, he is a shit manager accept it
He doesn't come across nearly as stressed as he should do. I suppose thats what happens when you know you're very safe in your job.
I said long time before. In really good time before Ole and United bought Maguire. He is and will not be the key factor to top 4 this season. It a really good nr.8. Since i found McTom good enough for a top 4 side. But unlucky he is out of injury now.
City couldn’t pay him. United shall keep Smalling instead and waiting with a new CB. Solve what your most needed. Pogba is a nr.8 But we can see when Mourinho rely too much on Pogba. Same with Ole time. It is ok that the boy want to play for a top winning team. But be professional Pogba. You are under the contract. Not only the club pay you. But the fans keep this club alive. That shall be motivation enough. Keep your best and when the right good price is coming. Then you still think United will not be a top club in the near future. Then you can have a intern conversation with the board. So nothing from Pogba this season. Out with injury cost United many lost. I fear that. If United will be without him. United have no nr.8 to step uo, no alternative good enough nr.8. The central area of the battle and park. You cant lost central midfield battle.
So instead of a top CB i suggested a top nr.8. Bruno Fernandes was heavily linked then Longstaff a bit. Fernandes may cost United around 50-60 mill £ mill. But he will help to open up tight defend. Even another RW and maybe nr.10 is miss. If you use Fernandes as nr.8. With Pogba out with injury.
Then the line up and another path could lead. No Maguire, but Smalling still in the team
Bissaka - Smalling/Tuanzebe - Jones/Lindelof - Shaw + James/Greenwood - McTom/Fred - Fernandes/Pogba - Rashford/James + Fernandes/Greenwood/Pogba - Martial/Rashford
4411 line up that shall be good enough injury free, before the season start. United should be good enough with Maguire and Pogba injury free too. But Maguire not the key factor. It is Pogba or the alternative nr.8 option.
So hardest went for a CB. Mad3 his trust on Pogba, McTom and Greenwood. Tried desperately on a nr.10 in Dybala and Eriksen. And didn’t got a nr.10. End up on the most difficult path to the top of the mountain which is calling top 4. United was never on a path that lead to the top of the mountain, calling premier league champion. Just for dreamer before the season start.
So Ole and United end up on the steepest hill/path to the top of mountain calling top 4. A more difficult path he could choose. So he might reach the top/top 4 and survive. If no, he might be survive. By giving time, come with better tools and choose another path. A path that are calling. Go and buy a new top quality nr.8, RW and nr.10.
He will get top 4. Giving endless time and money. There are many paths leading to the top. And there some dangerous and not possible. By not bringing on the others key factors. And for reaching top 4/ch.league. There are might time left. It’s not over yet.
So if Ole has figured out what he really need and get it. 6 points behind Chelsea is not a difficult task yet and winning Uefa cup is still there to take. It is down the manager decisions. Which path he is choosing. And of course the expectations of the club, board and fans. A club like United, shall at least. Battle for ch.league spot each season. One of the biggest club in the world. The truth is you are not winning premier league each season.
So can’t come with excuse and tell it is rebuilding process that need two season to get top 4.
I think this club has a long goal to become a consistent top winning team again. But the short goals are top 4 and ch.league each season. It was Ole choices to let go Smallin, Lukaku and Sanchez. Replacements before let them go shall be more safer. Special if you dont get what you need/replacement.
Rebuilding factor is just excuse to gain time and throw your poor decisions under the carpet. Peoples have observed your decisions making. So if the person that decide if you will still be the permanent manage. This a evaluation and constructive of manager in first half season from the day he got the permanent. After Paris game. Herrera out with injury and United start to loose against half and bottom team. The clear signs of the need was there to know by Ole and his coaching staff. Whole summer shall be enough time, to solve United biggest problems and fixed two/3 key areas. Weakest links.
So if the club decide and back him for another t.w. This January window. Then i am ok with that. But after that. Not consistent winning and improvement. I think he shall go and left the permanent. 6 point up to Chelsea, winning Uefa cup. By winning consistent. Are not a big task ask. If he get 1 or 2 right transfer in January and Pogba injury free and back to his best/lucky with the injury. So i end my evaluation of the manager here. From the day he got the permanent job. Just evaluation. Not keep or sack sides. Just mind observations. About his previous decisions.
City couldn’t pay him. United shall keep Smalling instead and waiting with a new CB. Solve what your most needed. Pogba is a nr.8 But we can see when Mourinho rely too much on Pogba. Same with Ole time. It is ok that the boy want to play for a top winning team. But be professional Pogba. You are under the contract. Not only the club pay you. But the fans keep this club alive. That shall be motivation enough. Keep your best and when the right good price is coming. Then you still think United will not be a top club in the near future. Then you can have a intern conversation with the board. So nothing from Pogba this season. Out with injury cost United many lost. I fear that. If United will be without him. United have no nr.8 to step uo, no alternative good enough nr.8. The central area of the battle and park. You cant lost central midfield battle.
So instead of a top CB i suggested a top nr.8. Bruno Fernandes was heavily linked then Longstaff a bit. Fernandes may cost United around 50-60 mill £ mill. But he will help to open up tight defend. Even another RW and maybe nr.10 is miss. If you use Fernandes as nr.8. With Pogba out with injury.
Then the line up and another path could lead. No Maguire, but Smalling still in the team
Bissaka - Smalling/Tuanzebe - Jones/Lindelof - Shaw + James/Greenwood - McTom/Fred - Fernandes/Pogba - Rashford/James + Fernandes/Greenwood/Pogba - Martial/Rashford
4411 line up that shall be good enough injury free, before the season start. United should be good enough with Maguire and Pogba injury free too. But Maguire not the key factor. It is Pogba or the alternative nr.8 option.
So hardest went for a CB. Mad3 his trust on Pogba, McTom and Greenwood. Tried desperately on a nr.10 in Dybala and Eriksen. And didn’t got a nr.10. End up on the most difficult path to the top of the mountain which is calling top 4. United was never on a path that lead to the top of the mountain, calling premier league champion. Just for dreamer before the season start.
So Ole and United end up on the steepest hill/path to the top of mountain calling top 4. A more difficult path he could choose. So he might reach the top/top 4 and survive. If no, he might be survive. By giving time, come with better tools and choose another path. A path that are calling. Go and buy a new top quality nr.8, RW and nr.10.
He will get top 4. Giving endless time and money. There are many paths leading to the top. And there some dangerous and not possible. By not bringing on the others key factors. And for reaching top 4/ch.league. There are might time left. It’s not over yet.
So if Ole has figured out what he really need and get it. 6 points behind Chelsea is not a difficult task yet and winning Uefa cup is still there to take. It is down the manager decisions. Which path he is choosing. And of course the expectations of the club, board and fans. A club like United, shall at least. Battle for ch.league spot each season. One of the biggest club in the world. The truth is you are not winning premier league each season.
So can’t come with excuse and tell it is rebuilding process that need two season to get top 4.
I think this club has a long goal to become a consistent top winning team again. But the short goals are top 4 and ch.league each season. It was Ole choices to let go Smallin, Lukaku and Sanchez. Replacements before let them go shall be more safer. Special if you dont get what you need/replacement.
Rebuilding factor is just excuse to gain time and throw your poor decisions under the carpet. Peoples have observed your decisions making. So if the person that decide if you will still be the permanent manage. This a evaluation and constructive of manager in first half season from the day he got the permanent. After Paris game. Herrera out with injury and United start to loose against half and bottom team. The clear signs of the need was there to know by Ole and his coaching staff. Whole summer shall be enough time, to solve United biggest problems and fixed two/3 key areas. Weakest links.
So if the club decide and back him for another t.w. This January window. Then i am ok with that. But after that. Not consistent winning and improvement. I think he shall go and left the permanent. 6 point up to Chelsea, winning Uefa cup. By winning consistent. Are not a big task ask. If he get 1 or 2 right transfer in January and Pogba injury free and back to his best/lucky with the injury. So i end my evaluation of the manager here. From the day he got the permanent job. Just evaluation. Not keep or sack sides. Just mind observations. About his previous decisions.
Clownshoes of a manager overseeing a circus of a squad.
Pull the plug.
Pull the plug.
He'll be sacked at the end of the season IMO.
If we don't finish in top 4 or win Europa then we would have wasted two full seasons, thanks to Woodwards' incompetence.
Ole at the wheel with Sean Longstaff at heart of our midfield, and we have folks buying into Ole's vision of challenging Liverpool and City for the league in 2021/22 
My mind this season has gradually shifted from keeping Ole to sacking him. There just has been no consistency in development of players and strategy for me to justify sticking with him.
I’ll eventually look at this loss as the straw that broke the camel’s back, although availability of Pochettino contributes to my current feelings as well.
I’ll eventually look at this loss as the straw that broke the camel’s back, although availability of Pochettino contributes to my current feelings as well.
Heartbreaking to see a club legend have his reputation dragged through the mud like this, but Woodward must surely put him out of his misery soon (and hopefully follow him out the door). With Pochettino and Allegri both available it really is crazy that we're carrying on with this failed experiment.
We got half-decent to decent cover for GK, LB, RW and at a stretch CD. One injury or a player needing a rest, we'll struggle to put up a team. IMO we maybe got 8-9 players who should be in a MUFC starting XI. And that's still a pretty young and inexperienced team. We've seen this team play from really poor to really good, as expected befor the season started. This team needs a bit more time, a few better players and some of the youth to show they're good enough. OGS seem to be moving us in the right direction.
- Status