Ole Gunnar Solskjær is yet again in the spotlight due to United’s bad form, taking only 1 point from 12 in the league. Manchester United fans all over the world are demanding the board to sack the manager and bring someone in with more experience at this level. Several names like Conte, Zidane, and Ten Haag have been identified as potential replacements. But is this the right time to part with the Norwegian legend?
Ole’s Negatives
Tactics
United mostly play in a 4-2-3-1 under Ole. Last year when we played teams with this formation, the opposition didn’t have much space to go forward due to how compact we were. However, this year following the arrival of Ronaldo, the wingers and Fernandes are obliged to help the veteran press the opposition. This in effect means that there is a big gap between the midfielders and the forward line. Any opposition with a good manager exploits this easily, leaving our structure widely exposed. The backline is not used to such free-flowing attacks, and we’re unable to look settled while defending.
In an interview after United’s 4-2 loss against Leicester, Pogba said, “To be honest, we have been having these kinds of games for a long time. We have not found the problem, conceding easy goals, stupid goals.” The problem is yet to be found after 13 games into the season. By the manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world. This is utterly embarrassing and eye-opening.
For a club like Manchester United, having a top-class manager is an utmost priority. Jose Mourinho won trophies with us having worse players.
Merely getting top 4 every season and not winning titles is not good enough. Manchester United is a club that needs to at least challenge for the title every other year. After the visible progress over the last couple of seasons, Ole has failed to make his team look like they can win silverware. On paper, we might have the best players, but on the pitch, they appear nowhere good enough.
Fringe Players
Handling Donny van de Beek has also been a tough job for Ole. The 2019 Ballon D’or Nominee has featured in only 20 Premier League matches since his arrival and is looking frustrated as he’s not being given even enough chances to prove himself. Eric Bailly is also in a similar situation. After the arrival of Varane, the Ivorian has turned into the 4th choice center back. Ole doesn’t even give him a chance when Varane is out injured and Maguire isn’t 100% fit.
He doesn’t trust these players, and this stubbornness of Ole to only play his ‘favourites’ in the lineup is not faring very well.
Ole’s Positives
Successful Squad Rebuild
Ole has massively improved the squad since he’s arrived, letting go of players like Smalling, Fellaini, Sanchez, Valencia, Darmian, and Young. If you compare Mourinho’s squad for his last match against Liverpool as United manager, and the squad Ole has now, there has certainly been a monumental shift. There has been a progression over the years. It is also notable that without winning any silverware last season, Ole was still able to attract the likes of Ronaldo, Varane, and Sancho to join the club. United managers in the past have been unhappy with the lack of spending, however, Ole has mostly gotten the players he wanted. He somehow knew the trick to get cash out of the Glazers’ pocket. Not only has he rebuilt the transfer strategy of the club, but he’s also got us to a position to build further, a young team with a bright future.
Youth given a chance and taking it!
Earlier, managers used to neglect the players from the United academy. However, Solskjær also regards the academy highly, bringing in the youth regularly into the first-team training. Elanga, Mejbri, and Shoretire are among the players who are regularly called up.
Under him, the growth of academy players Greenwood and Rashford has also been electric. His experience as a forward has helped them immensely.
A Happy ‘United’ Squad
Also, after Ole took over the reins following the departure of Mourinho, he turned around the mood at the club. Players like Pogba and Shaw played way better and looked way happier than they did under Mourinho.
Despite the recent run of bad results, there’s no visible evidence that the players are falling out with the manager. Even the news around the club suggests that Man United players want Ole to be successful at United.
My Opinion On Ole Out
United handed Ole a 3-year contract earlier in the year, despite the loss against Villarreal in the Europa League final. Sacking Ole now is going to cost the club massively, diminishing our chances of getting a CDM in January.
Ole’s contribution to the club can be compared to that of Lampard’s at Chelsea: both have completely transformed their clubs’ outlook. However, when Lampard became rusty he was relieved of his duties. Abramovich then hired a top-class manager in Thomas Tuchel, who led them to Champions League glory. This is also required at United because we have players who have the quality to win titles. Ole hasn’t quite been good enough to take us that final step.
However, despite Ole’s several tactical flaws, the man has certainly brought a positive vibe to the club. I’ll always be grateful for the work OIe has done rebuilding the team, overhauling the academy, and making us dream again.
That is why in my opinion, Ole should remain at the club in whichever way possible. Maybe the Football Director, Technical Director, or even the Assistant Manager, but not as the Manager. Merely a stunt at Cardiff and Molde isn’t good enough to be the United manager. Whoever we bring in to replace him has to have more experience at this level.
