Solskjær has been here before, will this time be different?
Tuesday 12th October by Tom Ball
Manchester United fans would have left Old Trafford without a feeling of frustration, but relief. A 1-1 draw with Everton seemed more like an escape as Rafael Benitez’s side were the better team, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s critics reemerged as a result.
A blockbuster transfer window instilled hope and belief that this season would be the season in which they clicked everything into gear and became one-fourth of a trailblazing title race. Their title credentials have been put into doubt as league leaders Chelsea won on Saturday while a thriller at Anfield reminded everyone of the metric tonne of quality that Liverpool and Manchester City possess.
The Red Devils only sit two points off the leaders in West London and remain very much in contention. For many, that is slowly becoming within a mathematical vacuum. City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all played each other already. Those are the only two games Chelsea have not won. Liverpool remain unbeaten, while City have avoided defeat since their opening day loss to Spurs, despite visiting both Anfield and Stamford Bridge.
This analysis of the difficulty of each team's opening fixtures can then be pitched alongside United’s performances. They have been given a game or looked second best in all of their last six matches, winning just two of them. They are now heading into a period where they play Leicester, Liverpool, Spurs, City, Chelsea and Arsenal all before the end of November.
Now, Solskjaer has made a name for his performances in games against the ‘Big Six’, but if these results come but they are once again finishing the season without a trophy and miles off the title, then what is it worth? They beat their noisy neighbours back in March, but that was a City team that were Champions-elect.
Solskjaer is hardly as divisive as his predecessor’s, Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal left a sour taste at the club. Negative football and high expectations post-Sir Alex Ferguson were considerable contributions to their downfall. Ole came in as an interim manager, smashed the job interview and gave the board no choice but to hire him.
However, this United team is screaming out to be taken to the next level. Many are beginning to believe Solskjaer isn’t the man to do that.
Marcus Rashford presents a great example of Manchester United’s current dilemma. After a World Cup in which Rashford spent much of it as England’s first-choice substitute, he looked set to step up to the first-team squad.
That World Cup was three years ago, just after Solskjaer was given the United job permanently. Since then Rashford has seen Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka not only come into the squad but displace him in the pecking order, not just for Gareth Southgate, but for many England fans.
The difficulties for Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood to get game time for their national side also presents a pattern in scouting opinions of United’s young future outside of Carrington. These three players have all the talent you need to make it to the summit of World Football, however, you cannot help but worry about this development.
The players that displaced Rashford in the squad have all seen a well-constructed development. Many will be talking about Mo Salah’s performance against Man City on Sunday, on the other hand, Phil Foden was that good in a game littered with World Class players, Gary Neville couldn’t bring himself to give all the Man of the Match credits to just one of them.
Phil Foden is that good because of the talent he possesses, the same talent Rashford possesses, except Foden is being mentored and coached by arguably the world’s best at it. While Rashford has spent 5 years now in an underachieving club, his development stagnating, while many of his peers accelerate past him.
Solskjaer’s sole job isn’t to win Rashford individual awards, yet for a club who have their young English future right in front of them, ready to conquer the league the club did for so many years, you wonder as to whether Solskjaer’s time could be up.
Without sounding patronising, Solskjaer has put a huge metaphorical arm over the football club. The fans aren’t repulsed by him like previous managers, when the team clicks it's electrifying, the players love him and seem happy with the culture around the team, but they cannot afford to keep falling behind. Finishing second last season was good, yet the club was again trophy-less while seeing Chelsea and City battle for the Champions League, and Liverpool navigating their best period in over 30 years, there needs to be some forward thought, for the young talent as well as the club’s success.
The list of candidates to bring in will be a who’s who of the management world. United still have that draw and a squad that demands high standards. There is a low chance the club would not go all out with their search for a replacement if it were to commence.
However, we have seen contrasting fortunes in recent years with the choice to axe managers. Chelsea sacked club legend Frank Lampard after some poor form, much to the sadness of their fans. On the other hand, his replacement was lifting the Champions League months later.
Spurs axed Mauricio Pochettino months after making a Champions League final only to see the club trend the wrong way from there.
There is likely to be a feeling of trepidation around sacking a man who has provided so much improvement to the club over the last three years. The Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Goal sackings were never difficult for the fans or the club to take. Their lack of likeable qualities and stubborn defence of their philosophy forced United fans to the opposition.
Solskjaer has done a million and one wonderful things at Old Trafford that he will be thanked and remembered for. However, it is necessary to decipher when the “I Love Ole, but…” attitude becomes too dangerous to the club's development and improvement.
Again, this sounds patronising, but a manager’s relationship and the fans’ opinion of the man behind the manager is of vital importance to the club’s culture. The Arsenal faithful’s impatient and shortsighted dismissal and eventual rejection of their beloved Arsene Wenger has left the club in a much worse place than it ever was under the frenchman. The fans’ impatience was proven. Many within Old Trafford are likely unsure whether the slow loss of backing from United fans is a signal of impatience or the contrary.
One thing Ole has made a habit out of is reversing these low points. It never descends to a point of no return and Solskjaer has never seemed to bring his employers to a point of ‘no choice’. It’s tough fixtures like the ones on the horizon that he usually does this. This, and their Champions League group stage campaign will no doubt be a test for Ole. A test that if he fails will almost certainly cost him his job.
When looking at the context of the entire season. If you look at the three signings they have made, the squad they currently have, this is it, no real excuses can be made, the standards are the highest they have ever been. Take one look at who was sat on the bench at the start of the Everton game and tell me it is not concerning that even after making his three subs, there was no impact, no ruthlessness.