Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeased Manchester United fans that were disgruntled at the end of last season with the assurance that change was coming. Jack Wilkinson examines whether he has been able to deliver on such a promise…
It was the consequence that signalled the beginning of Manchester United’s dismal demise at the conclusion of last season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sensational start – a draw out of his first 11 matches and 10 wins – turned into nothing more than a distant memory from now Theo Walcott rattled in Everton objective to finish a humiliating defeat on Merseyside.
Gary Neville declared the performance at Goodison Park”rancid” and, even after apologising to the travelling United fans unfortunate enough to be present in person, Solskjaer promised alter – wholesale shift.
It was a steely statement of intent out of this Sir Alex Ferguson textbook and, five months on, the manner in suggests it’s a promise he’ll honour.
Ferguson was barking orders out before the ink had dried on his Manchester United contract in 1986. Then-chairman Martin Edwards has been advised of this Scot’s desire to sign as many as eight players, and Steve Bruce, Brian McClair and Viv Anderson were signed up within 18 months of his birth.
That decisiveness from the transport market appears to have rubbed off Solskjaer.
Players deemed no longer fit for function are shown the door by any means required. Whether it be the financing, the departures of Antonio Valencia along with Ander Herrera, or Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Darmian’s sales and pushing of loan prices including Chris Smalling and Alexis Sanchez – there’s a ruthless edge to United’s payments.
One thing Solskjaer has to learn, though, is the capability Ferguson had time and time to adapt his playing style remain competitive and to suit new employees.
Following the humbling defeat at Everton, Solskjaer set out the fundamental principle he wishes to define his own time. “I need my group to be the hardest working team in the league,” he said. “That is exactly what we had been under Sir Alex.”
While that addresses the initial concerns over his team work-ethic of Solskjaer, it is hard to realize how that translates into the observable change in fashion United fans have been longing for.
United’s initial their four last year after the defeat at Everton, and also four Premier League games this season, give very little indication about what he will settle , aside from the simple 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 run a mean of 106.9km per match – all positive signs which Solskjaer’s philosophy has been executed.
On the other, an alarming drop in both interceptions and winning the ball up the pitch imply it is going to take some time to allow your squad to juggle their supervisor’s requirements.
And time is what’s going to determine Solskjaer’s odds of success – moment. Will he be granted the time to see out the job he has started?
Ferguson famously got before he won his first league title, but it is a commodity in the game. Results have clouded decision on United’s start but advancement slim, is being made to decide on the dressing area refresh Solskjaer promised.
“It does take time,” Neville said. “Not only to really get people in the dressing room all facing the identical direction, yet to get the quality in that is needed.
“It took Pep Guardiola 12 months, three move windows. It is taken four years or Jurgen Klopp three to influence the culture at Liverpool and find a team in what he’d say is his style, his culture and exactly what he would like to do.
“This is going to be a long game at Old Trafford. Solskjaer will want the assistance, to play the game that is extended. He’s going to need quite strong leadership during the subsequent two or three seasons to be in a position to have those four or five move windows that he wants”
United are on their clean slate at the seven decades which have passed since the retirement of Ferguson. Following the results of the three under Louis van Gaal David Moyes and Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer’s tenure is one that’s functioning but has to be given time where they feel they belong to restore the club.
Read more here: http://blackpresident.us/?p=60654
Loading ...