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What is it with the modern age and the demand for instant and constant success? Maybe technology's to blame? Could be the over analysis of the beautiful game and headline after headline. I don't have the answer.
What I do have, though, are some facts from our club's history: Sir Matt Busby. Had never managed a proper club before be took over United. Won his first league title in his 5th season in charge. It's not really fair to to take into consideration how long it took for him to win the European Cup due to Munich (and the fact the competition only started 10 years after he became our manager). But Sir Matt won 5 league titles and 1 European Cup in his 24 years* at the helm (*who knows what would have happened had it not been for that tragic loss; he won old big ears 9 seasons after it, God rest his and their souls). Sir Alex Ferguson. Won his first league title in his 7th season in charge, and his first CL in his 12th season with us. Won 13 league titles and 2 Champions Leagues in 25 years as the boss. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. Has had 2 and a half seasons in charge. Assembled one of the best squads we've ever had**, broken the record for the longest unbeaten away record in the top flight of English football history and has already taken us to one final in Europe. And unlike Busby and Fergie he was already a club legend as a player. And some of you want him sacked already? After 2 and a half years?? I mean seriously, what the absolute £#%&!. Learn something from history, our history, and give the man a break. |
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That's all very well Barry but it doesn't change the fact he looks way out of his depth. That isn't his fault by the way, but nevertheless how long do we allow sentimentality to override football reality? I'd give him the opportunity to sign a top level cdm in the winter window and then see how we are at the end of the season. |
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I'm fairly sure a few of our players will be quite impatient for success, and won't be over the moon at the prospect of hoping the manager learns how to manage at the top level over the next few years. |
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it's not a one-off and ole is not fergie/busby and never will be. soz. fergie lost to some dire shite in europe as well, but there's really no excuse for tonight. we will struggle to finish top two in the league or the cl group. we needed two dms and trippier. we still need two dms and trippier. that isn't ole's fault, but everything else is. it's not on. don't do this to yourselves.
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Do you really believe Ole is good enough for United? Honestly? Hypothetically, if Chelsea or City needed a new boss, and had their pick of any manager in the world, i'm pretty sure Ole wouldn't even be in their top 20 choices. In fact, if Ole wasn't who he was he'd never had got a look in with United. The Glazer's knew he was a cheap, bomb-proof option that would put fans in a bind because they wouldn't want to turn on a club legend. He isn't good enough for a top European side and I don't see him becoming good enough...and his next job in football will show that. |
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I absolutely do believe Ole is good enough for the job, in a large part because I'm sure Fergie supported his appointment. His away record, our position last year and his commitment to playing exciting football all add to my belief that he's the right man for the job (at least for another 14 months, if not more). On and Ole in. |
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if there's another thing we've learned, it's that fergie's support doesn't stop a manager from moyesing it up. |
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Busby took over United over 75 years ago, i'm not sure there is much in the way of modern relevance. Zidane was given 2 years in charge of RM's B team before being allowed to take over the first team. In the equivalent period to Ole's: Won: Champion's League 2nd: La Liga Won: World Club Cup Won: La Liga Won: Champion's League Won: UEFA Super Cup |
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Ole is far different. He's bringing stability and the tradition of the way things ought to have been done. The United way No guarantee he'll succeed, but I'd much rather we support him than bring in the current flavour of the month (again and again until we win something). Quote:
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really don't want to look back on this unique opportunity to have Ronaldo's final good years wasted. The time really is now for this squad, it stacks up against any squad in Europe, even if the midfield is lacking.
The attacking depth is now borderline absurd and we've signed one of the best defenders in the world at his peak. |
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If we’re not right in the mix for both the league and in Europe come the end of the season then Ole needs to go. Probably needs to win something too |
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You can't knock the promising things he has done. He undoubtedly hauled the club back on the right tracks but I'd wager that after the penny finally dropped with the Jose experiment and the club finally realising they can't just chuck names at it, that we could have hired many ex players as 'long term' coaches and they could've done the same.
You'd have to say he's improved from his first couple of seasons. But he's really lacking all too often for me, miserably out his depth but he's got very good players which allows him to compete. I tend to shy away from posting this type of viewpoint as there can be a bit of a condescending contingent on here ready to shut down any poster that can't see the 'miracles' Ole has worked. But there you have it, do not rate im afraid. |
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Second, yes despite all that I don’t think Ole is an elite manager. On no objective criteria could you claim him to be one. (I’m not sure an underarm away run counts). Whether he will one day become one is a separate discussion. But claiming a manger who has won absolutely nothing outside of Norway is right now an elite manager is way off. Oh, and Fergie backed Moyes. Anything we should read into that? Should he have been given more time like Busby was? |
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Do I think he's a top quality manager? The facts answer the question for me: how can he not be (even if he does still make the odd mistake)? |
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Completely agree and will never agree with the 'out of his depth' and 'clueless' nonsense that get's repeated. It's utter tosh. The only sub I disagreed with yesterday was the DVB one, and maybe bringing on Martial instead of Greenwood, but I don't think they would have made a difference. The change to 5 at the back made sense, and even the Lingard sub made sense. We needed someone who could press their back line, that wasn't a job Ronaldo was going to do 60odd minutes into a game, and it's something Lingard can do well. It's pretty much the exact job he had at West Ham last season when everyone was praising him for how well he was playing. The issue was, is and always will be the midfield until it gets sorted out... And Lingard putting them through on goal in the last minute. That probably didn't help. |
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Beek off, lingard on rather than Greenwood, lingard moved into midfield, Fred (someone who can run) off for Martial (the laziest player we’ve got) etc etc. It was like he was on acid. Absolute car crash tactics and strategy. Re ole - he’s done 90% of the job right in my eyes and has assembled a squad that can compete with a huge step change in leadership and mentality. We play football in the tradition of the club and it’s generally exciting stuff. But the last 10% is putting that altogether in a coherent plan that’s effective and successful. Until he’s successful, there will always be doubts about his ability to be successful and he needs to bag a decent trophy this year to advance his case. He certainly has the squad to do it but last night showed what a chaotic mess could be created relatively easily. It was a dreadful performance made worse by the managers decision making. If he continues to do that, he won’t win anything and the argument of whether he’s good or not will be redundant. Personally I have doubts about him and nothing I’ve seen so far has eroded the doubts that grew during last season. |
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