03 May 2020 14:35:50
We play devil's advocate. If the season had finished and we finished 5th, would you be happy with Ole keeping his job?


1.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 15:33:25
Absolutely!


2.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 15:48:33
Yes. And If Man City's ban is upheld, we could possibly get CL qualification.

I feel Ole was not quite backed in the Summer window.
Selling our top scorer and not replacing him. Herrera was not replaced, resulting in team's reliance on Lingard, Pereira etc, as starters over a sustained period.
Long term injuries to Rashford, Pogba and McTominay exposed our lack of squad depth as well.

However, 2 crucial transfers in the winter market have helped us onto an unbeaten streak with a fantastic defensive record.

Just wondered if we had Bruno and Ighalo in the beginning of the season.
We could have had more spark in many of the drab draws and converted crucial missed penalties.


3.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 15:48:36
A one word DLIB post. That's one of the signs of the apocalypse! A one word Shappy post and it's game over.


4.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 16:03:35
TRD. We should have gotten Bruno over the line in the summer, that was a big mistake. But Ole played his hand with Lukaku from day one. He dropped him for Rashford who scored 3 goals in 14 games. Lukaku from the bench and the odd game was still getting consistent goals.

We also let Lukaku and Sanchez leave after the window had closed. We could not replace them. Ole talked about youth making up the rest of the squad.

Took over the club in 6th, finished 6th and then on course to finish 5th? Is that really good enough?


5.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 17:12:10
No

It is more than about finishing 5th, it is another season drifting, if indeed we can play next season. Ed002 has given his opinion about Ole as a coach, unless Ole has changed and morphed into a top coach then why just stagger on.


6.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 17:20:33
I wouldn't have him. I'd prefer to get a proper coach in.


7.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 17:52:55
Yep, we are finally going in the right direction.


8.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 17:55:51
Mumbles and the following season rash had 14 goals in 21 league games but more than that is really starting to look a top talent .
I would 100% take rash over lukaku.


9.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 19:19:14
I was saying that Jred because TRD said the he wasn't backed. He let 2 players leave knowing they were not going to be replaced.

Those numbers are decent (5 were penalties) and he has been slowly improving Rashford but will be ever be an elite striker?

From 6th to 6th is the right direction?


10.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 19:31:06
Mumbles. Lukaku wasn't suited to the way we played.
His touch was poor which caused link up plays to fizzle out.
It was best that both parties had gone their separate ways.
That said, the club should have definitely bought a replacement which they failed to.

I believe Ole is growing into the role. 2-3 quality signings will bring the best out of this squad.
Lukaku, Darmian, Sanchez, Young, Smalling, Rojo being cleared.
Improvement from personnals such as Fred, Matic, Shaw etc are positive signs.


11.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 20:15:23
Yes I would be happy with Ole keeping his job. I think he has developed and improved as a manager, as well as developing and improving quite a few of the players such as, Martial, Rashford, Fred, Shaw, plus others.

I've always treated work as a place to develop and improve your skills and football is no different. Carrick and McKenna have also improved as coaches and I think we have begun to look a decent team, first time since Fergie's retirement.

Whether this can be maintained, time will tell but at the moment (or just before the lock down) Ole seems to be getting more things right than wrong.

Let us all get behind him, the staff and the team and hope that the momentum continues and carries us forward.


12.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 20:20:58
No get rid. Club legends should never become Managers i always thought he was a stop gap . Should of backed Jose😷😷.


13.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 20:56:46
Mumbles I think so, I really think rashford has made a step up this season.
I though he was playing some great stuff before the injury.


14.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 21:23:18
Patience!


15.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 21:46:50
Definitely.


16.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 23:27:57
trd did edo2 not say ole has very little to do with ins and outs. so don't try and make him the great one. people above him are pulling the strings. untill that stops we will never be a top side again.

{Ed002's Note - He is one of a number of people with a voice - but identifying targets is not his job.}


17.) 03 May 2020
03 May 2020 23:28:13
Keep. Deserves another season. Had our best players injured for most of the season and has brought the youth through.
Why sack a manager when we’re heading in the right direction?
I rather have a manager who understands the club and what we need with less on his CV than a successful manager who knows nothing about the club. Look what happened with Mourinho.
For the first time I am seeing direction and I’m enjoying it.
Remember. This terrible manager beat the so called ‘messiah’ 3 times this season.


18.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 03:34:29
TRUMOURS. I would take Jose's 3 trophies in one year over Ole's city wins.


19.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 11:30:17
Mumbles, seriously? Are we now counting the Charity shield as a genuine trophy?

At the start of this season I would have said that Ole would need to finish inside the top 4 to keep his job, as has been the standard before him.

Yet, on reflection I don't think it is as cut and dried as finishing in the top 4. As a club we have had a huge fall from grace, and it is a long road back. So in hindsight when considering the season we have had up until this point. We have seen progress, many players are developing and improving, many of the players fans didn't think were good enough have left either permanently or on loan. While others seem to be on borrowed time, with it looking like Jones, Rojo and Lingard not having long term futures under Ole. While the players we have signed have worked out well, that partially goes down to good scouting but also the managers ability to help those players settle and integrate into the squad. Of which Ole has a hand in both.

Where would we be this season if we had a fully fit Pogba, while Rashford, Martial and McTominay have all missed a couple of months due to injury, in the case of both Rashford and McTominay this happened while they were arguably our most in form players.

Likewise where would we have been had the club pushed through the deal for Bruno Fernandes last summer rather than in January?

I think its fair to say injuries to key players and the club not signing Bruno last summer are just as key to where we finish this season as to what tactical decisions the manager makes.

I think it would be fair to give him another year and see where this goes, a couple more key signings in the summer, with continued progression of players like Fred, McTominay, Rashford, Shaw, Williams and Greenwood. If it falls apart next season then Ole will face the same fate as all other managers at United for whom it fell apart.

However, the team is starting to have an identity and is improving, now would be a silly time to sack the manager.


20.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 11:55:32
Completely agree Shappy.


21.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 12:18:59
Meanwhile, Poch doesn't have a club and it seems like potential DoFs are not falling over themselves to work with Solksjaer. How much no DoF and a rookie manager affects our recruitment is unknown, but I don't imagine top players are beating a path to our door because of the manager.

It just seems like the club are making do atm rather than seeking out the very best in managerial and coaching talent.


22.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 14:00:53
Okay shappy, don't count it as a trophy, but can we count the others?

I think it's the perfect time to get in a proper coach. A couple of more transfers, tied in with the hiring of a very good coach would greatly benefit us going forward.

Sticking with Ole is not the right choice. Would love to be wrong but the poor guy is just so out of his depth.


23.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 14:22:23
A proper coach like Jose?
Ole hasn't had a full season yet .
Each to there own i think we have taken a step in the right direction and ole has been a breath of fresh air . Looking above several seem to agree a few won't .
Time will tell, I think we will do well next season, even with amatures, all theses poor players and such a poor manager as people keep telling me.


24.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 14:25:20
Should also say I think the europa and fa Cup ate still winnable if the season restarts.


25.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 14:50:00
MancMan, our biggest transfer target is Jadon Sancho. From what is being said he would happily sign for our club if we can provide UCL football, not on who the manager is.

So who are manager is doesn't appear to be having a negative effect on our ability to sign players. As KDB said the other day, him extending his contact isn't dependent on Pep extending. He has said he has worked under multiple managers and he will continue to.

Angel, of course the others count. My point about the Charity shield is that come the end of the season if that is all you've won you don't chant about it. It's a glorified pre-season friendly. But the League cup and the Europa League do obviously.

If the club sacks a manager while things are going well then how will that look?


26.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 19:49:44
Ah jerd, don't be silly now, sure that Jose was useless, never won us anything 😂

I'd love to be wrong, honestly, I loved him as a player and the romantic in me would love nothing more than to have him steer this club to greatness again.

But after watching us over the last year and a half, I think we have gotten worse tactically, void of answers when not playing counter attacking football and aside from the sheer brilliance of rashford and in the last few games, the new addition of Bruno, we have not been very good.

I mean, Oles record speaks for itself as full time manager, its pretty abysmal for Manchester United. Find ourselves lucky that others seem to be imploding around us.

All of this coupled with the knowledge of ed002, who, let's face it, has an incredible track record of calling things, really leaves me scratching my head as to why we have continued on this path with him?

But I suppose it all makes more sense when we have a bunch of amateurs running the club making amateur like decisions.


27.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 20:46:52
No doubt in 12 months when Poch, Allegri and any other decent manager are doing well somewhere else, people will come on here and say there was no one available this summer, no one was interested in being our manager. The only option was of course OGS. We are drifting.


28.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 21:50:24
Angle

Why are we lucky that others are imploding? If there all so great.
and well run why are they not doing better?

Has ole record really been abysmal? He took over a team really struggling under jose, awful to watch and going backwards. We have improved since then but its a big job sorting out the mess jose left, like he always does after his 3rd year implosing .

If you can't see an improvement then that your opinion but we are a better team than when jose left .
This season imo won't get finished but we are still in the QF of both thd FA and Europe .
Jose was great ole abysmal? not average or below average but abysmal.
I disagree, but your never happy unless your being negative about someone. Looks like its oles turn.


29.) 04 May 2020
04 May 2020 22:06:16
I should also add, fellini and lukaku, sanchez decent players but Jose type players. Players that suit jose and his brand needed moved and ole and the amatures have done that.
But it takes time to build.
Ddg Shaw (I no you can't stand him ) but i rate him, maguire awb, lindelof. Young Williams I like that .
Fred has come on mctom looks a player, I'm not a big fan of matic but to be fair he has done OK pogba and bruno . Again I'm happy add grealish who I like even better.

Rash martial ighalo James I like, we need another and sancho I think would be great. Again I'm happy
This season imo Injuries killed us, dropped daft points but I think would of still got 4th and had a really good chance in both cups.
Thats not abysmal in my book . And would of been better with a fully fit pogba martial mctom and rashford. They where big loses imo.

I like the direction we have taken since Jose was sacked. We looked a shambles before that, under lvg as well . But for me this looks like the first time we have had a clear plan since fergy left .


30.) 05 May 2020
05 May 2020 09:16:47
Shappy, of course you can find one supposed example of a player who's just interested in the money (sancho won't be coming for the weather), but how many players don't we know about declining to sign for us because of Solkswho?


31.) 05 May 2020
05 May 2020 10:11:40
MancMan, I don't think who the manager is plays a huge part in the decision to move your whole family half way round Europe or the world for most players.

Very few managers stay longer than 3 years most player contracts are for 4 or 5 years. Meaning that very few players sign for a club and only have that manager during their time at that club.

If a player is more interested in playing for a specific manager rather than playing for Manchester United then they aren't the right player for our club. We have seen over the past 6-7 years that signing players who come for money or because it's a certain manager hasn't been able to bring us sustained success.

As Keane has said many times playing for Manchester United should mean something, it should be your aim to play for our club and if it isn't then your not the right player for our club.

If a player won't sign because of Solskjaer then clearly they don't really want to play for our club and they would be unlikely to give 100% for our club. As we are seeing with Pogba.


32.) 05 May 2020
05 May 2020 17:21:25
Shappy, answer me this. do you think Everton are more attractive to prospective players with Ancelotti managing them rather than Sam Allerdyce?


33.) 06 May 2020
06 May 2020 08:12:04
Probably not. I rate Ancelotti, but him being manager of Everton isn't going to make them title contenders, him being manager isn't going to add an extra 100k a week to the contract offer to a player, and him being manager doesn't change the fact that you'll be living in Liverpool if you sign for Everton.

The only thing that will change whether a player would consider signing for Everton is if they qualified for the UCL. Players want to play on the biggest stage and win things. Unless Everton's managerial change lifts them to that level it is unlikely to alter who would be prepared to sign for them.


34.) 06 May 2020
06 May 2020 10:02:20
Those are all good points Shappy and they all could be said about Solksjaer and Manchester.


35.) 06 May 2020
06 May 2020 10:38:57
I expect to a small extent the manager does play some sort of role to a player when factoring where they move. I would imagine to a player it would be more important that the manager actually wants them and has some sort of plan as to how they fit into a side more than what the manager has won at other clubs in the past.

Ancelotti had a fantastic UCL record, yet no one will sign for Everton based on that as they aren't even in the UCL. They might not even be in the Europa League.

At this moment in time we need players who want to play for Manchester United, not players who want to play for a particular manager. To that end having Ole in charge shouldn't hurt our chances of signing players.

If players moved to United based on who the manager is then how do you explain the number of high profile players who snubbed us when we had the greatest modern era manager at our club?

Truth is players pick club's on three main factors for the most part. Wages, location and prestige/ chances to win trophies.


36.) 07 May 2020
07 May 2020 14:38:22
Exactly Shappy. Putting aside wages and prestige (with which we can compete with anyone), it's about the chance to win trophies. This is something the calibre of manager directly affects.

So, any player with the choice of several prestigous clubs, all offering decent wages and most in 'better' locations, Utd needs to offer an equal if not better chance of winning trophies. And how many has Solksjaer won in his illustrious managerial career? More importantly, how close does he look to winning trophies?

The alternative has been that we have to pay them way over the odds to join because they know they have sod all chance of winning anything.

Add to that an undefined way of playing with no clear style and I think Solkjaer is a hindrance rather than an asset when it comes to signing top players.

Your right that even Fergie wasn't enough to attract some players but you can't win them all and I would imagine there were some players who were persuaded to join because Fergie was the manager. I can't imagine there is anybody who wants to join because Solksjaer is the manager.