Disgruntled Manchester United fans appeased with the assurance in the conclusion of last year that change came. Jack Wilkinson examines whether he’s been able to deliver on that promise…
It was the consequence that signalled the start of the dismal demise of Manchester United .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sensational start – a draw from his first 11 matches and 10 wins – turned into nothing more than a distant memory from now Theo Walcott rattled to complete a defeat on Merseyside.
Gary Neville labelled the performance at Goodison Park”rancid” and, after apologising to the travelling United fans unlucky enough to be there in person, Solskjaer promised change – wholesale change.
It was a statement of intent straight out of their Sir Alex Ferguson textbook as well as five months , the manner in which Solskjaer has gone about transforming United suggests it’s a promise he’ll honour.
Ferguson was barking orders out, before the ink had dried on his original Manchester United contract in 1986. Then-chairman Martin Edwards has been informed of the Scot’s desire and Brian McClair, Viv Anderson and Steve Bruce were signed up within 18 weeks of his arrival.
That decisiveness from the transfer market seems to have rubbed off on Solskjaer.
Participants deemed no longer fit for function have been shown the door by any means required. Whether it be the sales of Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Darmian, the departures of both Ander Herrera along with Antonio Valencia, or even the financing and pushing through of loan deals such as Alexis Sanchez and Chris Smalling – there’s a edge to United’s payments.
1 matter Solskjaer has to learn is the ability Ferguson had time and time to adapt his playing style to match personnel and remain competitive.
Following the humbling defeat at Everton, Solskjaer set out the fundamental principle he wishes to define his time. “I want my team to be the hardest working team in the league,” he explained. “That’s what we were beneath Sir Alex.”
While this addresses Solskjaer’s initial concerns within the work-ethic of his squad, it is hard to see how that translates to the visible change in playing style United fans are longing for.
United’s initial four Premier League matches this year, and also their final four final year following the defeat at Everton, give indication as to what he will repay on, other than the fact it is very much still a work in progress.
On the one hand, United have enjoyed more possession, won more duels, conceded fewer targets, and operate an average of 106.9km per match – all positive indicators which Solskjaer’s philosophy is being implemented.
On the flip side, an alarming fall in winning the ball up the pitch and the two interceptions imply it is going to take time to allow your squad to successfully juggle their supervisor’s requirements.
And time, finally, is what will determine Solskjaer’s probability of success – moment. Will he be granted the time to see out?
Before he won his very first league name ferguson famously acquired time years, but it is a commodity in the game. Outcomes have clouded judgement on United’s start into the time, but advancement has been made about the pitch to go with the much-needed dressing area reset Solskjaer promised.
“It does take time,” Neville explained. “Not just to actually get people in the dressing room all facing the identical direction, yet to get the quality in that is needed.
“It required Pep Guardiola 12 months, three move windows. It has taken four years or Jurgen Klopp three to impact the civilization at Liverpool in what he’d say everything he wishes to perform and is his style, his 31, and get a team.
“This is going to be a long game at Old Trafford. Solskjaer will want the help from up above, to play the game that is long. He’s going to have quite strong leadership during the subsequent two or three seasons to be in a position to have those four or five move windows he wants”
United have been on their clean slate at the seven years that have passed since the retirement of Ferguson. After the results of the prior three under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer’s tenure is one that’s working but must be granted time where they feel that they belong to reestablish the club.
Read more here: http://blackpresident.us/?p=60654
Loading ...