Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | W15 D2 L4
- Thread starter Tom Van Persie
- Start date
This is the real acid test for OGS. I'll happily park the bus and take draws for Chelsea and Liverpool match, it'll be a miracle if he can conjure up a win with our remaining attackers.
Just because someone doesn't share your opinion doesn't means he is a troll. Gain some perspective please. I've always been a big fan of Mourinho and I still am.
If your not trolling then you must have been in a coma for 4 years if you think Jose was beating PSG
Grow up please.
Honestly what happens now IF we do go off the rails a bit? With the injuries we've now got, and the fixture list being tricky, it could happen.
Couldn;t of been that much sense as the tweet has been deleted
Speaking to Betfair, Berbatov said: “Paris Saint-Germain are a great team and deserved to win on the night but I didn’t think United were that bad and some of the comments about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘being found out’ were ridiculous.
“He has got them into the top four – something no-one thought was possible this season – but they lose one game to a team full of superstars and people start talking sh*t again.
“It’s the way of the world these days but everyone who understands football knows what a good job Ole has done.
“The big difference on Tuesday was the first goal – even the best and most creative teams have to rely on set pieces sometimes – which gave PSG the confidence to play, and control the game.
“The injuries to Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial obviously played a major role as United lost their pace and directness up front.
“It’s often hard for subs to integrate themselves into these type of games quickly, and PSG made it as hard as possible for Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata to settle.”
Now let's see if he can make us peform without our 2 best players. Another challenge where his ability will be tested . I am actually loving this period, which will tell us if Ole is good enough to take over.
Exactly what i was thinking. As much as i would love to have the entire team against Liverpool, these kind of situations are where we'll see the managers management take frontstage. Next manager appointment needs to be spot on for our sake. All these help bringing out how deep Ole can dig to get a result.
Maybe, Maybe not, we shall never know for sure.
But in my opinion, what is pretty sure, if Mou had still been here, we would not be in 4th, and the football would still be dire, the chances of Martial resigning would be almost zero, and the chance of Pogba and others staying would be slim.
I for one was never stupid or naive enough to expect Ole to win every game, and I am very happy at the big changes since Ole arrived.
If 3 or 4 bad games were enough to destroy the majority of good games, then no manager anywhere would last a season, and especially SAF at the start of his time with United.
Having diverse opinions is important, but it helps if expectations are realistic.
It’s more the fact that it had jumped 2 votes in those circumstances but I take the point about non fans.
Unfortunately, it seems what I said previously about our team being just told to attack with very little/no structure holds some truth.
Solskjaer has said that he believes that it is individual brilliance, not tactics that win games. We have certainly been following that trend recently.
Our attack--even general play--has looked chaotic and disorganised which has led to a lot of poor performances in games, which we have only been winning through individual brilliance.
It was why I did not think he should be appointed as permanent manager, but now he has practically confirmed it himself I am even more concerned about him being selected.
None of the best teams lack tactical discipline, so until he changes that attitude and there is evidence of a structure being implemented in our play he cannot be chosen as manager.
Solskjaer has said that he believes that it is individual brilliance, not tactics that win games. We have certainly been following that trend recently.
Our attack--even general play--has looked chaotic and disorganised which has led to a lot of poor performances in games, which we have only been winning through individual brilliance.
It was why I did not think he should be appointed as permanent manager, but now he has practically confirmed it himself I am even more concerned about him being selected.
None of the best teams lack tactical discipline, so until he changes that attitude and there is evidence of a structure being implemented in our play he cannot be chosen as manager.
I don’t think anyone could argue individual brilliance doesn’t quite often win games but I think you’re taking an over simplistic view.
I’m sure Ole and co aren’t just saying go out there and score more than they do. They set the team up with the tactics to press, contain, use the wings etc.
But if the crosses are constantly too high or Lukaku puts every header 5ft over the bar we’re either drawing or losing.
The two previous managers was so focused on tactics that it sucked the joy out of playing football for the players. He's just saying that whichever tactics is employed there is still room for the players to improvise and make a difference on their own.
He is just giving encouragement to the players and downplaying his own effect.
Also tactics can be implemented to certain extent but is the player the makes the difference. Thats why he failed in Cardiff and a success here so far.
To suggest there is no attacking positional training done in training is just absurd accusation. When you can see recently with arsenal where it was shown the tactical attwcking play.
The Spurs game was a CLEAR showing of it.
OGS has been here for 12 games... 12 fecking games! It takes years to build a squad capable of competing at the top level. This is not even his squad, he’s managed to assemble a competitive first team but everything after that is absolute shit. Losing to PSG, a far superior side, is his defining moment? Whoever thinks that needs to screw their fecking head on!
I’m not saying he’s without doubt the best option for us going forward but he’s been given a job until the end of the season. Let’s wait until the end of the season and then reassess, I don’t understand why people are so desperate for the club to make a decision so hastily
I’m not saying he’s without doubt the best option for us going forward but he’s been given a job until the end of the season. Let’s wait until the end of the season and then reassess, I don’t understand why people are so desperate for the club to make a decision so hastily
But but but...theres no structure and tactics.
Dare we hope.
He's been perfect imo. And looks extremely likely to continue to be perfect going forward. Sign him up.
He's been perfect imo. And looks extremely likely to continue to be perfect going forward. Sign him up.
He deserves praise but he objectively hasn’t been perfect...
I think the only issue left for OGS to show his abilities in, is to assess his current squads abilities and to make the sort of ruthless decisions that marked Sir Alex's multiple squads.
In terms of managing people he has been incredibly positive.
Tactically the team is playing better
What has held back other young managers has been over familiarity with some players and a reluctance to spot players declining.
No one is perfect at it, even SAF got it wrong with Stam but he spotted that others had peaked like Ince, Hughes and Rooney and made radical plans to replace them.
Picking new players is a bit of a lottery and we didn't spend money in January so that is difficult to assess, but if he spent 3 hours with Woodward then I hope it was to assess the squad and agree a succession plan to overhaul it.
In terms of managing people he has been incredibly positive.
Tactically the team is playing better
What has held back other young managers has been over familiarity with some players and a reluctance to spot players declining.
No one is perfect at it, even SAF got it wrong with Stam but he spotted that others had peaked like Ince, Hughes and Rooney and made radical plans to replace them.
Picking new players is a bit of a lottery and we didn't spend money in January so that is difficult to assess, but if he spent 3 hours with Woodward then I hope it was to assess the squad and agree a succession plan to overhaul it.
It's very easy to get excited about Ole. But I think the PSG game showed some crucial flaws. It wasn't a terrible result when you consider what people would have thought our chances were before he took us over.
All that being said, sticking Mata and Sanchez on at the same time, so early killed the game for us. Was always an uphill task with Lingard and Martial going off injured. But he should have atleast used Lukaku and maybe stick either him or Rashford out wide. Their wingers bombed our full backs second half because they no longer needed to worry about our pace and that was the beginning of the end.
All that being said, sticking Mata and Sanchez on at the same time, so early killed the game for us. Was always an uphill task with Lingard and Martial going off injured. But he should have atleast used Lukaku and maybe stick either him or Rashford out wide. Their wingers bombed our full backs second half because they no longer needed to worry about our pace and that was the beginning of the end.
Ole or not we need a feck load of players in the door.
Some fans will judge Ole on the upcoming games against Chelsea, Liverpool, City, and the return game against PSG. if we lose all those games the previous 10 games will be forgotten and he will start to get slated.
Funny old game, Football
Funny old game, Football
Which is a load of bollocks really because of injuries and our squad not being upto scratch. If he's winning in the games we should be winning then all thats holding him back in the quality of the squad. If we get back to winning ways once this difficult patch is over that will tell us Ole is the real deal imo and what he needs is backing.
You make it sound like he is merely Zidane at Real Madrid
This same squad last season:
Under Ole, with no shackles and far more confidence, we should be able to compete against the top sides. Injuries to Lingard and Martial shouldn't change that.
In truth, I don't care so much about the result but I'd rather not see another performance similar to the PSG one.
The next few games will be a test for OGS and I suspect that he will have to find a new tactic while Martial and Lingard are out - as we saw in the second half of PSG shoehorning Mata/Sanchez/Lukaku into a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 doesn't work. A diamond or a 4-4-2 without out and out wingers with Pogba on the left (a la Zidane) and both Young and Dalot on the right would be my choice.
If he sticks with the old tactics and loses then we might be entitled to question his tactical nous or lack of.
But not on the back of his performance so far. The team's performance has improved markedly and he has identified a preferred starting XI which his predecessor failed to do in 3 years. That preferred starting XI was performing reasonably well in the first half against PSG until the injuries. Nobody knows what would have happened without the injuries but a comfortable win for PSG was not the favourite outcome that is for sure.
What the changes did was to emphasise the weaknesses that are already in the squad. Right back is a big weakness - note how many teams choose to attack Ashley Young, note how the Spurs game changed when Son switched from a central forward to wide left. PSG exploited this to the full. The other big change was the lack of pace on the break allowing PSG to attack in greater numbers - in many ways Martial, Rashford and Lingard are among our best defenders simply by staying upfield (note our much improved defensive record under OGS who is brave enough to leave the trio upfield vs Mourinho who had them as auxiliary full backs).
None of these weaknesses are on OGS - who has by any standards covered them up very well - and it's simply wrong to say they are. The subs exposed United's weaknesses and one of the world's top teams exploited them. I'd have brought Dalot on instead of Mata but it's easy to be wise after the event and let's not forget PSG got their break via a daft set piece - another weakness that predates OGS by a long time.
We still have an imperfect squad with a weakness on the right, only one top centre half and a back up cast that is no better than mid table quality. Despite this the current manager is getting a far better tune out of them than his predecessor.
If he sticks with the old tactics and loses then we might be entitled to question his tactical nous or lack of.
But not on the back of his performance so far. The team's performance has improved markedly and he has identified a preferred starting XI which his predecessor failed to do in 3 years. That preferred starting XI was performing reasonably well in the first half against PSG until the injuries. Nobody knows what would have happened without the injuries but a comfortable win for PSG was not the favourite outcome that is for sure.
What the changes did was to emphasise the weaknesses that are already in the squad. Right back is a big weakness - note how many teams choose to attack Ashley Young, note how the Spurs game changed when Son switched from a central forward to wide left. PSG exploited this to the full. The other big change was the lack of pace on the break allowing PSG to attack in greater numbers - in many ways Martial, Rashford and Lingard are among our best defenders simply by staying upfield (note our much improved defensive record under OGS who is brave enough to leave the trio upfield vs Mourinho who had them as auxiliary full backs).
None of these weaknesses are on OGS - who has by any standards covered them up very well - and it's simply wrong to say they are. The subs exposed United's weaknesses and one of the world's top teams exploited them. I'd have brought Dalot on instead of Mata but it's easy to be wise after the event and let's not forget PSG got their break via a daft set piece - another weakness that predates OGS by a long time.
We still have an imperfect squad with a weakness on the right, only one top centre half and a back up cast that is no better than mid table quality. Despite this the current manager is getting a far better tune out of them than his predecessor.
People criticizing Ole now forget one thing: every manager needs time. Guardiola was called a fraud in his first season with City. Sarri is likely gonna lose his balls trying to coach Chelsea's players to play his style(I believe Sarriball is the term come up by people to mock Sarri, not to admire his football). Even the best of the world struggle and need time. You often hear people say that manager need time to implement his style, he needs to bring in his own players. They forgot all that with Ole because he has done really well so far.
You have every right to have doubts about Ole as he was the manager that relegated with Cardiff and only did well with Molde in the Norwegian league. But it's unfair and crazy to complain about what he has done at United. Up till this point, he has done an amazing job making up 11 points, getting United in the top 4 in less than 2 months, some even said it's a miracle.
You have every right to have doubts about Ole as he was the manager that relegated with Cardiff and only did well with Molde in the Norwegian league. But it's unfair and crazy to complain about what he has done at United. Up till this point, he has done an amazing job making up 11 points, getting United in the top 4 in less than 2 months, some even said it's a miracle.
Sarriball is supposed to be a compliment, it was based on the fast paced 1 touch football Napoli played, especially when countering.
Yep. The showing at PSG was like the second half of Spurs and Leicester where we ran out of ideas and hung on....except that PSG scored. Not denying he's been a brilliant caretaker manager, but so far, that's all he's been.
If he loses those games because of injuries and lack of personnel, no-one will hold it against him. But if he loses because he is outwitted tactically like he was in the second half against Spurs and in the PSG game (injuries not withstanding), I reckon he shouldn't get the job.
Nobody worries about losing, but there's a way to lose. Sevilla and PSG aren't it (though the latter isn't as disgraceful as the former). His comment about individual quality winning games as opposed to in-game tactics also worried me.
Great news that rumours are building as to his permanent contract.
With a top-draw DOF by his side assisting with the squad rebuild I think we could be onto something truly magical here.
I think something people don't give enough credit is the fact that for Ole this job is it, the pinnacle of management. Do you think he'd be off to Barca or Real if they came calling?
I don't think you could say this for Poch, Zidane, Allegri, Simeone or any of the other candidates. I don't think they'd see this job in the same way that he does.
For me, as a fan who was brought up on Sir-Alex alone, that's huge.
It's the way it should be, and with a long-term manager and structure (even if we're not as successful as we were under sir-alex, which lets face it - is the reality considering the increase in competition) would bring back that mystique and appeal which we've lost with the recent turnover.
Also I think another underated aspect, and it might sound silly but - I'd support Ole for far longer during the tough times as opposed to, well, basically any other outside candidate. Same as with Sir-Alex, you didn't jump to the sack race thread as soon as you hit a bad stretch of form or a lackluster transfer window.
For me Ole's the man, I think anybody else would be missing a wonderful opportunity to put this club back where it belongs.
I don't know. It sounds like a ridiculous nickname someone makes up to mock you, then everyone starts to call you that and nothing you can do about it. I said it with a small hope that United fans would stop using Ole-ball.(omg)
I’m telling you for a fact, it’s not opinion. it’s a compliment. you can use it how you like but it won’t make sense.
We all could see as fans that we were being outplayed in midfield because they had extra men in there. Surely all the coaches could see this also. Fred or McTominay could have been introduced, instead of any of the 2 brought on. It was 0-0 at this time.
People have been judging him during 10 games unbeaten run and wanted him as a permanent manager so why shouldn't he be judged if we lose all these games you mentioned? I just hope our board is not that stupid (they probably are) and don't make a final decision on next manager until the end of the season. Judging a manager from 10 matches is crazy, especially as we still can't be sure whether it is Ole or "anyone but Jose" effect on the squad. I guess we will find out soon, interesting to see how we bounce back from PSG.
Fred has barely played and McTominay looks out of his depth. He brought on Mata who is calm on the ball. That was the only real choice he had. Don't you think if we had a great defensive midfielder he would have brought him on, or played him from the start? This isn't his squad and the squad is crap.