Manchester United fans appeased with the assurance at the end of last season that change was forthcoming. Jack Wilkinson assesses whether he’s been able to deliver on such a promise…
It was the result that signalled the beginning of Manchester United demise at the conclusion of last season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer beginning – a draw out of his first 11 games and 10 wins – turned into nothing more than a distant memory by now Theo Walcott rattled to complete a humiliating defeat Merseyside.
Gary Neville labelled the operation at Goodison Park”rancid” and, after apologising to the traveling United fans unfortunate enough to be there in person, Solskjaer promised alter – wholesale shift.
It was a statement of intention right from their Sir Alex Ferguson textbook and, five weeks , the manner in suggests it is a promise he’ll honor.
Before the ink had dried on his Manchester United contract in 1986, Ferguson was barking out orders. Then-chairman Martin Edwards was advised of this Scot’s wish and Brian McClair, Viv Anderson and Steve Bruce were signed up in 18 weeks of his arrival.
That decisiveness in 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 necessary. Whether it be the sales of Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Darmian, the departures of Ander Herrera along with Antonio Valencia, or the funding and pushing through of loan prices for Alexis Sanchez and Chris Smalling – there’s a ruthless edge to United’s dealings.
One thing Solskjaer has yet to master, however, is the capability Ferguson had time and time again throughout his reign at Old Trafford to adapt his playing style to match new employees and stay competitive.
Following the defeat at Everton, Solskjaer set the fundamental principle he wants to specify his own time. “I need my group to be the hardest working team in the group,” he said. “That is what we had been under Sir Alex.”
While this addresses the first concerns on his team work-ethic of Solskjaer, it’s difficult to determine how that translates into the shift in playing style United fans are longing for.
United’s first four Premier League matches this year, along with their final four last year after the defeat at Everton, give indication as to what he will pay , other than the simple fact that it is extremely much still a work in progress.
On the one hand, United have enjoyed more ownership, won more duels, conceded fewer goals, and run a mean of 106.9kilometers per game – all positive signs that Solskjaer’s doctrine is being executed.
On the other, an alarming drop in winning the ball up the pitch and the two interceptions suggest it is going to take time for your squad to juggle their manager’s demands.
And time is what will determine Solskjaer’s probability of achievement – time. Will he be given the opportunity to see out?
It is a commodity in the modern game, although until he won his first league title ferguson famously got time, six-and-a-half years. Outcomes have clouded decision on United’s beginning into the time, but progress has been made to choose the dressing area refresh Solskjaer promised.
“It does take some time,” Neville said. “Not just to get people in the dressing room all facing the same direction, but to get the quality in that is needed.
“It took Pep Guardiola 12 months, three transfer windows. It’s taken Jurgen Klopp four or three years to affect the civilization in what he would say what he wants to perform and is his culture, his style, and find a team completely.
“This is going to be a very long game at Old Trafford. Solskjaer is going to require the aid, to play the extended game. He is going to have really strong leadership over the next two or three seasons to be in a position to get those four or five move windows he needs.”
United are on their clean slate at the seven years which have passed because Ferguson’s retirement. Following the results of the prior three under Louis van Gaal David Moyes and Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer’s tenure is one that’s functioning but has to be granted time to where they believe they belong to reestablish the club.
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