The “Ole In” Brigade

[Mainoldo]

A “world class coach” that would bin half of them off and sign Lukaku for £90m.

Btw Ole is a lot better of a manager than he gets credit for. I think he at least deserves a bit longer because his team hasn’t even properly taken shape or developed yet. Patience is required. I think we’re improving nicely so let’s just wait and see before upturning everything yet again. Give Ole a couple more players and then let’s see.

Not every world class coach is Jose Mourinho. Did Pep want Lukaku and Matic?

I’m not waiting forever for Ole to get his team shaped without him actually proving he deserves the time. like I said above Klopp warranted the faith. Being the middle of nowhere doesn’t.

 

[Mainoldo]

Of course money will have to be spent, that's a given.

What I mean is I don't expect he'll spend as recklessly as Jose did. He was basically spending for spending's sake, not selling to lower the wage bill and raise funds. He bought players like Sanchez which destroyed the morale at the club and ousted a hugely talented player in Martial. Alienated De Gea our best player the previous 4 years.

In general our games are far, far, far more enjoyable to watch than at any point under LVG or Jose! This is without our most creative outlet in Pogba as well bear in mind.

I said I'm undecided if Ole will or not, its probably more likely he won't but at this point in time, I still wouldn't rule it out. I can see Pep leaving in May if I'm honest and City falling off a bit. I think Chelsea and ourselves have a real chance to climb up the table with that in mind if Ole gets genuine support in terms of player acquisitions.

Weather its Jose, Ole or Poch... the same problems surrounding scouting and transfers remain with the board / scouting team so I honestly don't see the benefit in changing manager.

Bare in mind what a managerial change means, its a complete reset again and further time in "transition". Players Ole rates and plays, Poch might not. Playing style will change, transfer targets change...

It's simply delaying any hope of getting some kind of long term stability back.

I can see Pep leaving too and I do believe us and Chelsea look like we are building teams to challenge. But the way City are run I cannot seen them messing up the managerial appointments like we have.

 

[matt10000]

So ole took a shit squad that finished 2nd. Gutted the deadwoods. Buy 3 brilliant purchases. But ended up with a squad that 6th best?

Which is it?

It is called a re-build.

You need to clear players out and until you can replace with what you want there may be a temporary dip. We are replacing with young squad for the future and the consistency won’t happen over night.

 

[El Zoido]

Not every world class coach is Jose Mourinho. Did Pep want Lukaku and Matic?

I’m not waiting forever for Ole to get his team shaped without him actually proving he deserves the time. like I said above Klopp warranted the faith. Being the middle of nowhere doesn’t.

And where was Pep’s City side before the chequebook came out? Could you imagine Pep with this team? I don’t think he’d be doing any better than Ole, I really don’t. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying Ole is as good of a manger as Pep, but we were a really dysfunctional mess and looked like we were in a tailspin. Personally I think the future looks bright for the club and this group of players, and Ole should get a lot of credit for his part in that.

I agree with almost every decision he’s made in terms of building and shaping the squad. He’s sold or phased out nearly all of the players we wanted him to ditch, and he’s bought and promoted all the right players too. I would definitely trust him with next summers transfers. He’s united the club and the players all love him. Personally I’m excited to see what happens once we have a couple more additions and players like Greenwood & Williams are more established. I just get a good feeling from this team right now.

 

[fergiesarmy1]

Didn't Liverpool lose 6-1 to Stoke in the last game of the season prior to Klopps appointment? They were a shambles before he joined. In his first incomplete season, he built the foundations that have seen them stay competitive.

That was Gerard’s last game I believe and they were straight to Dubai after the game on the lash from the ground, already downed tools for that game.

 

[Mainoldo]

And where was Pep’s City side before the chequebook came out? Could you imagine Pep with this team? I don’t think he’d be doing any better than Ole, I really don’t. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying Ole is as good of a manger as Pep, but we were a really dysfunctional mess and looked like we were in a tailspin. Personally I think the future looks bright for the club and this group of players, and Ole should get a lot of credit for his part in that.

I agree with almost every decision he’s made in terms of building and shaping the squad. He’s sold or phased out nearly all of the players we wanted him to ditch, and he’s bought and promoted all the right players too. I would definitely trust him with next summers transfers. He’s united the club and the players all love him. Personally I’m excited to see what happens once we have a couple more additions and players like Greenwood & Williams are more established. I just get a good feeling from this team right now.

It’s fanboi blind faith. Pep built one of the best teams this league has seen your acting like he brought Messi, Marcelo and Toni Kroos. He brought Kyle Walker, Mendy and Leroy Sane. If we brought them we’d still be saying we need another £500m. Like Keefy said it’s how you spend the money.

Don’t dog out Pep just to make your point and don’t tell me about Mourinho trying to explain to me that Ole for some reason is the only manager in the world that can manage Manchester United. It’s foolish.

 

[El Zoido]

It’s fanboi blind faith. Pep built one of the best teams this league has seen your acting like he brought Messi, Marcelo and Toni Kroos. He brought Kyle Walker, Mendy and Leroy Sane. If we brought them we’d still be saying we need another £500m. Like Keefy said it’s how you spend the money.

Don’t dog out Pep just to make your point and don’t tell me about Mourinho trying to explain to me that Ole for some reason is the only manager in the world that can manage Manchester United. It’s foolish.

If you’re this deluded there no helping you, I’m sorry. I feel for you.

 

[matherto]

We're really good against the big teams and struggle against the smaller teams.

We just got two back to back good results against smaller teams that I fully expected us to lose.

If we add the right quality (big if I know) then surely the smaller team games take care of themselves and we can focus on maintaining good results against our rivals?

Doesn't seem that hard in the grand scheme of things, considering the transfer strategy clearly changed after the Sanchez debacle and we started identifying players that aren't solely there to sell shirts.

 

[Mainoldo]

If you’re this deluded there no helping you, I’m sorry. I feel for you.

Don’t worry about me from your response back it’s quite clear who is the deluded one. I mean by all means it sounds like you don’t rate Guardiola. You’ll be telling me Sam Allydence could have been as good as SAF if he got the funds.

 

[Falcow]

I am Ole in for the rebuild, and actually “never Poch” as well if and when time comes to replace him with a different coach - bad results or just to take a step forward.

But to put Moyes and Poch in the same sentence has to be some sort of a crime, if it isn’t already. Moyes didn’t go to Champions League final. Moyes never challenged for the league - hell he couldn’t do that with the squad that won the league a year before. Moyes’s Everton was a tough team but they hardly set the world on fire with the football they played. Yakubu same as Harry Kane?

Well Moyes did end up as united manager hence why the comparison is not completely unfair and both have the same empty trophy cabinet.

Yes of course Harry kane is a far superior player to Yakubu. We can hardly blame moyes for not having kane in his everton team, come to think of it, poch had far superior players all over the pitch but still won nothing.

 

[RedorDead21]

I’m defo all for Ole getting all of this season and if we don’t manage to bring in some re-inforcements in Jan i’ll Always think we could have done more if he doesn’t make it to next season. However, he’s managed to coach some ultra rapid attacking players to be a successful counter attacking force. That’s pretty much it thus far. We should be far better in possession than we are for me. Interplay pretty much sucks. I’ll go with “it’s a personnel issue” as I love Ole but anyone else and I’d be calling them out for being an average coach at this stage.

 

[Sky1981]

It is called a re-build.

You need to clear players out and until you can replace with what you want there may be a temporary dip. We are replacing with young squad for the future and the consistency won’t happen over night.

I know. I agree if you put it that way. I do.

 

[Listar]

they have a game in hand on us?

Not anymore

 

[Shark]

It is called a re-build.

You need to clear players out and until you can replace with what you want there may be a temporary dip. We are replacing with young squad for the future and the consistency won’t happen over night.

Is Ole a good enough manager to challenge for the title/CL at one of the biggest clubs in the world though? I and many others get that there’s a rebuild required, but you could literally bring in any Tom, Dick or Harry to rebuild United and I’m sure they’ll bring in a few good players. If management was as easy as that David Moyes would have succeeded here. The question is if Ole can actually bring United back to the top which is far from likely from what I’ve seen so far.

 

[Member 113277]

Pretty sure we had a "world class coach" in Jose and if anything it hurt us more thanks to his mentality.

Honestly I think this is the best the squad has looked in years with long term in mind.

The average age of the squad has dropped a lot. The young lads are being tasked with taking spots in the side and as the weeks and months go by they are doing just that.

Going into next season, Greenwood and Williams will be key players. Martial and Rashford are really starting to step up and deliver like we've cried out for for years.

Functional midfield pairing.

Solid RB.

Young is gone at the end of season. Matic will follow if we get CM's in, need the scouts and Judge to deliver on that before Matic moves on.

Good post. I started following Utd right at the end of the Atkinson era and saw the first few seasons under SAF, which remind me of what is happening today - a rebuild and a shed load of inconsistency.

I agree that the squad is looking much better, there is still deadwood to be removed and 3-4 good signings required (some in order to release dead wood), but overall there seems to be a sense of purpose building. The development of McTominay has been important (and plaudits to Ole for giving him a sustained opportunity) and Fred is now looking something like he ought to - I think he will improve further, too; for the future.

Mason Greenwood has the potential to be a star - he can become a higher number goal scorer than either Rashford or Martial (though those two are developing into top quality forwards and Rashford is more an 'inside forward' in old money, IMO, than a out and out striker). I've thought for a few seasons that Vardy has been arguably the most naturally gifted goal scorer in the league (as detestable a personality as he has), but Mason has the potential to exceed him, as he has better technical skills, two effective feet and supercooled blood running thought his veins when in front of goal - this is at 18 - with good luck protecting him from serious injuries, I think we seeing the emergence of a future great.

Williams is also looking like a potential first team future first choice.

The future is bright, but there are going to be some reverses on the way to being a truly competitive top 3 contender - let's keep the faith, I'm much more excited by what I'm seeing now, than during the 'bounce' a year ago, when cathartic release and pure energy drove a series of victories - that (as enjoyable as it was) was not going to last, what I'm seeing now looks sustainable and a platform for the next step up into a consistently effective team.

 

[IamjustDimitar]

United and Chelsea are both in a similar transition. There was a lot of love around here for Chelsea in the beginning of the season, but obviously both teams will be inconsistent this year. OGS may not be the manager in two years. But what he is doing is laying a pretty good foundation for the future. It is a completely different thing taking over a good foundation with potential to improve then taking over the train wreck toxic Jose Mourinho left behind.

 

[matt10000]

Is Ole a good enough manager to challenge for the title/CL at one of the biggest clubs in the world though? I and many others get that there’s a rebuild required, but you could literally bring in any Tom, Dick or Harry to rebuild United and I’m sure they’ll bring in a few good players. If management was as easy as that David Moyes would have succeeded here. The question is if Ole can actually bring United back to the top which is far from likely from where I’m standing.

No one knows the answer to that but for the first time since SAF, if he does go in two years time, the squad will be a hell of a lot better than when he took over. Sacking him in the mean time will just disrupt the process and I dont think anyone in the world is going to come in and win us the league in the next two seasons so why not let Ole have a crack at it.

 

[Nikelesh Reddy]

Oh it’s clear he isn’t the right man. As clear as Phil Jones not being our main CB. But good post.

Out of Interest, what are the issues? As except for the overall running of the club Ole’s issues are bigger than the team.. to me.

For me the biggest issue is the lack of quality,creativity and composure in the midfield.If Pogba stays fit until the end of the season then that should help us tide over this season,but if he leaves next summer then that’s a huge hole in the heart of our central midfield.So finding the right balance in our midfield is by far the biggest issue that we are facing right now...

Apart from the midfield I also think we need more variety in our attack.We need a centre forward who can hold the ball up and play with his back to goal against teams who play with a low block.Martial can do it to a certain extent but he needs to be far more consistent if he wants to seal the number 9 slot for the next few years...

 

[passing-wind]

Solskjaer won't be here in three two years time, he's not a United level manager. The whole scenario with Haaland also points to players having a lack of desire to play under his tenure. We need a more established coach to lead this team forward. We have underperformed massively since he was given the permanent role and if anyone thinks otherwise Solskjaer has even admitted this himself.

 

[Kag]

This keefy guy is gonna be the all time record redcafe poster by the Summer.

Wouldn’t be the worst thing. A lot of what they say is on the right lines. At worst, a touch overly optimistic, but certainly not irrational, thick and prone to a tantrum. They also have a basic command of English, which is an increasingly pleasing sight to the eye.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

How is the Mourinho team terrible and a trainwreck when it ended in second place the season before?

I know the confidence and structure got destroyed near the end, but Ole lifted that from the start.
Although the lack of attacking patterns and a good style has cost us with time.

 

[crossy1686]

Solskjaer won't be here in three two years time, he's not a United level manager. The whole scenario with Haaland also points to players having a lack of desire to play under his tenure. We need a more established coach to lead this team forward. We have underperformed massively since he was given the permanent role and if anyone thinks otherwise Solskjaer has even admitted this himself.

You don’t know any of this.

We’re a mediocre side producing mediocre results, Solskjaer can’t say that can he? We missed a bunch of penalties at the start of the season and have battered teams and still dropped points so perhaps we could be doing better if the on field decision making was better.

Fergie missed out on many, many players, like Zidane, Ronaldinho or Thuram, and that was after winning the treble. So maybe that speaks volumes about what players think of his management tenure also?

 

[dal]

We should have just have gave the job to Neil Lennon then.

you think Ferguson was a great tactician, he absolutely wasn’t, he brought quieroz phelan etc, the Neil Lennon comment lazy. Even phelan said he was basically running the club at one point

you obviously need credentials Ole has won two leagues and if you look intothis achievement in detail you won’t right it off by sayin “oh yh Norwegian league”.

im not Ole in or Ole out. I just think he should be given until summer 2021 before making any rash decisions.

I totally agree with his transfer strategy so far he’s had pogba and martial out for most of the season he’ll he’s over performing.

A top 6 finish would do me this season then push for top 3 in 2021.

It’s very frustrating I know changing things won’t help

 

[beer&grill]

And where was Pep’s City side before the chequebook came out? Could you imagine Pep with this team? I don’t think he’d be doing any better than Ole, I really don’t. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying Ole is as good of a manger as Pep, but we were a really dysfunctional mess and looked like we were in a tailspin. Personally I think the future looks bright for the club and this group of players, and Ole should get a lot of credit for his part in that.

I agree with almost every decision he’s made in terms of building and shaping the squad. He’s sold or phased out nearly all of the players we wanted him to ditch, and he’s bought and promoted all the right players too. I would definitely trust him with next summers transfers. He’s united the club and the players all love him. Personally I’m excited to see what happens once we have a couple more additions and players like Greenwood & Williams are more established. I just get a good feeling from this team right now.

Sorry, but that's exactly what you are saying. If Lewis Hamilton was at Williams Mercedes(the worst team in the F1 standings), do you believe he would finish last? I'm sure he wouldn't compete for the first place, but I'm also sure he wouldn't finish last. Also, if George Russel(the last place in the standings) would drive Hamilton's car, do you believe he would finish first? If you believe that Hamilton would be last while Russel would be first, that means F1 is all about building the best car and drivers have no bearing on the results. The same could be said about football, if it's all about buying players and building a very good squad, why are the clubs giving astronomical wages to managers? Surely they can use those funds on buying even more world class players.

 

[ZenMaster Coltrane]

No one knows the answer to that but for the first time since SAF, if he does go in two years time, the squad will be a hell of a lot better than when he took over. Sacking him in the mean time will just disrupt the process and I dont think anyone in the world is going to come in and win us the league in the next two seasons so why not let Ole have a crack at it.

A total misreading of the situation. Effective managers have to be able to develop and improve players. Top level coaching is a heavily intuitive process. How you read players, motivate and handle them differently, create tension to spur performance etc... This is all enhanced by a winning environment. So, besides having an abject recruitment and academy strategy/structure, the conditions for young player development through the first team are non-existent. So just throwing away seasons with a totally inadequate coach is an asinine plan...risking players' opportunities to improve, resulting more likely in stagnation or regression. EW, aided by OGS, has successfully lowered the standards and expectations. People are content with basic signings at this point, when there's maybe only 3 quality outfield players (at current levels) who would make up a starting XI league winning side. If you bring in a top coach, you know that players will grow and improve.

 

[90 + 5min]

Not every world class coach is Jose Mourinho. Did Pep want Lukaku and Matic?

I’m not waiting forever for Ole to get his team shaped without him actually proving he deserves the time. like I said above Klopp warranted the faith. Being the middle of nowhere doesn’t.

One year? Forever? Please. This is not Football Manager. Hadn't Klopp won CL least year and his team were beating everyone now (except us) you wouldn't even bring him up and you would say he was waste of time.

I can see Pep leaving too and I do believe us and Chelsea look like we are building teams to challenge. But the way City are run I cannot seen them messing up the managerial appointments like we have.

So are we or are we not rebuliding? So if you can see that and you know what happened last 5-6 years you would be over the moon looking att what is happining right now.

It’s fanboi blind faith. Pep built one of the best teams this league has seen your acting like he brought Messi, Marcelo and Toni Kroos. He brought Kyle Walker, Mendy and Leroy Sane. If we brought them we’d still be saying we need another £500m. Like Keefy said it’s how you spend the money.

Don’t dog out Pep just to make your point and don’t tell me about Mourinho trying to explain to me that Ole for some reason is the only manager in the world that can manage Manchester United. It’s foolish.

Well, I think that no club would be pleased with just buying Walker, Mendy and Sane. Neither ManCity who also (under Guardiola) bought Rodri, Mahrez, Laporte, Stones, Silva, Ederson, Jesus, Danilo, Gundogan, Cancelo, Nolito, Zinchenko and more. Spent almost 1 billion despite inherited lots of stars.

Solskjaer won't be here in three two years time, he's not a United level manager. The whole scenario with Haaland also points to players having a lack of desire to play under his tenure. We need a more established coach to lead this team forward. We have underperformed massively since he was given the permanent role and if anyone thinks otherwise Solskjaer has even admitted this himself.

So now it is Solskjaers fault Haaland signed for Dortmund? What's next? Solskajer fault for temperature rise? His fault for war in middle east? I'm impressive how far anti-Ole brigade has come. No thinking whatsoever how and what the team and club looked like one year ago. And what Solskjaer has done to improve it.

 

[Mainoldo]

you think Ferguson was a great tactician, he absolutely wasn’t, he brought quieroz phelan etc, the Neil Lennon comment lazy. Even phelan said he was basically running the club at one point

you obviously need credentials Ole has won two leagues and if you look intothis achievement in detail you won’t right it off by sayin “oh yh Norwegian league”.

im not Ole in or Ole out. I just think he should be given until summer 2021 before making any rash decisions.

I totally agree with his transfer strategy so far he’s had pogba and martial out for most of the season he’ll he’s over performing.

A top 6 finish would do me this season then push for top 3 in 2021.

It’s very frustrating I know changing things won’t help

That Neil Lennon comment was lazy but you want me to sit hear and read that Solskjaer can emulate success like a SAF because he won two Norwegian titles?

Which comment really is the lazy one?

 

[ReddBalls]

That Neil Lennon comment was lazy but you want me to sit hear and read that Solskjaer can emulate success like a SAF because he won two Norwegian titles?

That's the benchmark? SAF?

No sane person would expect anyone to emulate what he did.

 

[Mainoldo]

One year? Forever? Please. This is not Football Manager. Hadn't Klopp won CL least year and his team were beating everyone now (except us) you wouldn't even bring him up and you would say he was waste of time.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will never win a premier league title. I’ll make a bet with you right now if you think differently and we can both wait this out in real life not FM like that means anything to me. Haven’t played that game since 08

So are we or are we not rebuliding? So if you can see that and you know what happened last 5-6 years you would be over the moon looking att what is happining right now.

Worst start ever in the premier league what exactly should I be over the moon about

Well, I think that no club would be pleased with just buying Walker, Mendy and Sane. Neither ManCity who also (under Guardiola) bought Rodri, Mahrez, Laporte, Stones, Silva, Ederson, Jesus, Danilo, Gundogan, Cancelo, Nolito, Zinchenko and more. Spent almost 1 billion despite inherited lots of stars.

Have a breather compose yourself and explain to me why you have just provided me with Pep’s transfer catalogue over 4 seasons. If Ole was to last that like, we can all pray he’s doesn’t he would too have a similar catalogue. Shock horror clubs with money spend money

So now it is Solskjaers fault Haaland signed for Dortmund? What's next? Solskajer fault for temperature rise? His fault for war in middle east? I'm impressive how far anti-Ole brigade has come. No thinking whatsoever how and what the team and club looked like one year ago. And what Solskjaer has done to improve it.

I didn’t want him anyway as we need midfielders and was baffled why we keep getting linked with strikers to add to the limited service they are given. All Solskjaer has some is knock down a wall he ain’t building sh*t.

 

[Mainoldo]

That's the benchmark? SAF?

No sane person would expect anyone to emulate what he did.

So what the hell we waiting for with Ole? To keeps us a top four level team?

 

[ReddBalls]

So what the hell we waiting for with Ole? To keeps us a top four level team?

I think most of us expects him to make the team challenging for the league in a year or two and hopefully keep it up after that, not equalling the greatest manager to ever grace the game.

 

[Mainoldo]

I think most of us expects him to make the team challenging for the league in a year or two and hopefully keep it up after that, not equalling the greatest manager to ever grace the game.

So you are excepting Ole to take us to a tile or very close to one in the next two years?

If so you expect this because we gave Fergie time so we should give him time? Or we are moving in the right direction and you can see this plan getting us a title?

 

[Fosu-Mens]

If you think that passion, mentality and counter-attacking football is enough to win the league or compete long term at the highest level, then you should be "OGS in".

If you think that "knowing the club" or "he can make us like the United of old" is what will make him successful... Sorry, football is not that simple.

What OGS has improved, while difficult to quantify and compare, is the players or the squads' mentality and moral. Hopefully, this will continue to improve until we get a new manager since it can be an important building block for the next man in.

Regarding the composition of the squad (type of players suited to play a certain type of football), transfers in, current and assumed future prefered playing style, I do not see any signs that we will be able to compete tactically or technically. We can compete with teams in regards to passion and physicality, but this is not enough anymore to compete at the highest level. Top football has evolved technically and tactically to the level that effort and physicality are not enough to win a majority of the games over time.

The main question should be: Is the improvement in the squads' mentality enough to offset the increasingly technical and tactical gap between us and the top teams in the EPL and Europe? I think not.

 

[ReddBalls]

So you are excepting Ole to take us to a tile or very close to one in the next two years?

If so you expect this because we gave Fergie time so we should give him time? Or we are moving in the right direction and you can see this plan getting us a title?

I expect him to challenge for the title because he will, if the team continues to improve the way it has since a bad start to the season. But it won't happen over night.

 

[midnightmare]

How is the Mourinho team terrible and a trainwreck when it ended in second place the season before?

I know the confidence and structure got destroyed near the end, but Ole lifted that from the start.
Although the lack of attacking patterns and a good style has cost us with time.

Would you say that LvG inherited a title-winning squad because he took over from Moyes just a season after we won the title? I wouldn't. The squad needed huge upgrades - just like ours even after finishing second. Hark back to that summer and everyone was talking about Liverpool being challengers to City...not us. This was because you could see where each team was headed. We do have hindsight now, so let's see:

1. Matic was already done by the second half of the season - it was showing, but he was one of Jose's favourites and "undroppable"
2. Valencia was done too - but somehow Jose continued playing him game in, game out
3. Young was ageing, Mata was done too, of course. Zlatan was gone. Lukaku, we know by now, wanted to be out at the earliest too (his words, from all his recent interviews)

Effectively, DdG was all that stood between us and repeated rammings from the opposition. We lacked creativity from wide areas and Jose had stunted the development of Martial as well as Rashford with his bizarre preference for Lukaku and Alexis...with even Fellaini preferred as an option in attack over these.

So no, that "squad" was not the second best. We desperately needed midfielders, full-backs, a RW / RF, a 10 and a CB. We now have FBs covered and the CB too - but clearly still need the 10, RW/RF (James should be backup and Ole mentions this even in his recent podcast) and another midfielder.

In addition, we needed to clear the immense quantity of overpaid underperformers - some of who still remain with us. To me, this situation qualifies for "train wreck" as a descriptor.

 

[Shark]

So you are excepting Ole to take us to a tile or very close to one in the next two years?

If so you expect this because we gave Fergie time so we should give him time? Or we are moving in the right direction and you can see this plan getting us a title?

These are questions that are constantly being evaded. All you’ll hear is we’re on the right track and he’s rebuilding. Will it end in us challenging for major titles? Who the feck knows but sure let’s give Ole a crack at the whip because there’s nobody else that could do any better. What better place than Manchester United to learn on the job such as how to beat the mighty Watford, Villa and West Ham consistently. If Ole fails sure why not give another rookie a shot?

 

[90 + 5min]

1. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will never win a premier league title. I’ll make a bet with you right now if you think differently and we can both wait this out in real life not FM like that means anything to me. Haven’t played that game since 08

2. Worst start ever in the premier league what exactly should I be over the moon about

3. Have a breather compose yourself and explain to me why you have just provided me with Pep’s transfer catalogue over 4 seasons. If Ole was to last that like, we can all pray he’s doesn’t he would too have a similar catalogue. Shock horror clubs with money spend money

4. I didn’t want him anyway as we need midfielders and was baffled why we keep getting linked with strikers to add to the limited service they are given. All Solskjaer has some is knock down a wall he ain’t building sh*t.

1. I don't need the bet. Did you say so when Porto won Champions League? When Leicester won Premier League? If or when he wins, there is no 100% answer. I can say that I think that he will not leave club without trophy. What trophy remains to be seen. What he is doing now is creating something good for the sake of squad and mostly club.

2. Well, if you asked youself last december if you would like being in position where club is not toxic anymore we all know what the answer would be. We are better of in every aspect since last year. Time is required for medals and trophies and nothing is done in a year.

3. I just proved to you that even Guardiola, with inherited stars, needed almost 1billion to already team full of stars. And they are struggling right now. So if you get rid of Ole, don't you think that a new manager would buy lot of players? Or do you think they would be happy with what they got and suddenly start winning titles? Even Klopp who is on everyones lips needed time and money to get it right. Thing take time.

4. The answer was not for you but for the other guy making it like it was Solskjaer fault. I agree with you that first and most we should be looking at midfielders. But a striker wouldn't hurt.

 

[EngimaMK]

And where was Pep’s City side before the chequebook came out? Could you imagine Pep with this team? I don’t think he’d be doing any better than Ole, I really don’t. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying Ole is as good of a manger as Pep, but we were a really dysfunctional mess and looked like we were in a tailspin. Personally I think the future looks bright for the club and this group of players, and Ole should get a lot of credit for his part in that.

I agree with almost every decision he’s made in terms of building and shaping the squad. He’s sold or phased out nearly all of the players we wanted him to ditch, and he’s bought and promoted all the right players too. I would definitely trust him with next summers transfers. He’s united the club and the players all love him. Personally I’m excited to see what happens once we have a couple more additions and players like Greenwood & Williams are more established. I just get a good feeling from this team right now.

This 100 percent. You're spot on matey. I thunk even pep would struggle with the squad we have amassed over the years. Lots of deadwood, lot here for a paycheck and not to graft.

Ole has identified the promising youth, ditched the deadwood and bought fairly well. I genuinely think his plan was to improve defense year 1, improve midfield year 2 and add finishing touches (attackers if necessary) year 3.

The players clearly like him and as someone else said, it's about managing egos at this level. The egos he couldn't manage have been shipped.

I think the future looks bright(ish). That said I wouldn't be surprised if itn goes wrong. Just more confident than I was a year or two ago. In fact, more confident since at any time since fergie left.

 

[Dec9003]

These are questions that are constantly being evaded. All you’ll hear is we’re on the right track and he’s rebuilding. Will it end in us challenging for major titles? Who the feck knows but sure let’s give Ole a crack at the whip because there’s nobody else that could do any better. What better place than Manchester United to learn on the job such as how to beat the mighty Watford, Villa and West Ham consistently. If Ole fails sure why not give another rookie a shot?

Nobody is evading any questions mate.
I believe that if Ole keeps improving the squad as he is then yeah we can challenge for major honours.
If he fails to do that, then he’ll be rightfully sacked, is that unfair?
Nobody knows if Ole will work out, just as nobody knows if any manager will work out at any job, it’s not an exact science as we’ve seen with our previous managers.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Would you say that LvG inherited a title-winning squad because he took over from Moyes just a season after we won the title? I wouldn't. The squad needed huge upgrades - just like ours even after finishing second. Hark back to that summer and everyone was talking about Liverpool being challengers to City...not us. This was because you could see where each team was headed. We do have hindsight now, so let's see:

1. Matic was already done by the second half of the season - it was showing, but he was one of Jose's favourites and "undroppable"
2. Valencia was done too - but somehow Jose continued playing him game in, game out
3. Young was ageing, Mata was done too, of course. Zlatan was gone. Lukaku, we know by now, wanted to be out at the earliest too (his words, from all his recent interviews)

Effectively, DdG was all that stood between us and repeated rammings from the opposition. We lacked creativity from wide areas and Jose had stunted the development of Martial as well as Rashford with his bizarre preference for Lukaku and Alexis...with even Fellaini preferred as an option in attack over these.

So no, that "squad" was not the second best. We desperately needed midfielders, full-backs, a RW / RF, a 10 and a CB. We now have FBs covered and the CB too - but clearly still need the 10, RW/RF (James should be backup and Ole mentions this even in his recent podcast) and another midfielder.

In addition, we needed to clear the immense quantity of overpaid underperformers - some of who still remain with us. To me, this situation qualifies for "train wreck" as a descriptor.

Teams always needs uppgrades. It was the same with Chelsea before Conte took over from Mourinho when they had been as bad as us. He did bring in Kante to improve the midfield and they won the league. Alonso and Luiz in too
and if we had bought those two this place would go crazy. A good manager can improve a team which Conte did. He made Moses perform great which would be similar to a manager getting Lingard to perform here.
I personally considered them a bigger mess than us since Ivanovic got old, Terry retired and they had midfielders not performing and a Diego Costa fighting with everyone. Although they sorted the defense out with Luiz and the midfield with kante and for one season at least he made Costa perform for them before he wanted to sell him.

People said Real was a wreck last season, but Zidane has got them back on track. That is what top managers do.
He did buy a lot though.
If Woodward didn't want to give Ole more money I guess fair enough it was hard for him to get the players needed.
Although wasting the money on Maguire was not the right call if that was the case when we needed improvements up front and in midfield.