So before Sunday's game and emotions takeover either way, I figured I will create one last article while we are all still somewhat rational.
My question is, after 18 months, how do you rate ole as a manager?
My opinion is that I see a lot of deficiencies especially tactically. He is nowhere near the likes of pep, klopp, poch even the likes of rodgers and nuno appear tactically superior
But I also see a manager who seems to embrace the culture of the club and "tries" to rise to those expectations. Expectations like playing youth, attacking football and success. The outcome has been hit and miss. Thankfully, unlike our last 2 managers, ole appears willing to learn so I am not left feeling as frustrated he will never improve (yet)
he is no magician, he needs time to build a better squad and I am confident he will. With the benefit of hindsight, I see him as the type of transition manager we needed when SAF left.
Despite this, I would not bet a penny he will ever be able to lay a glove on the likes of pep/klopp in a "title race" or another well funded club with a top manager.
The calm before the storm
posted on 25/7/20
If we go down 1-0 early. Am more worried that we are not strong enough mentally to cope with that. First goal hugely important.
posted on 25/7/20
comment by (U22224)
posted 45 seconds ago
If we go down 1-0 early. Am more worried that we are not strong enough mentally to cope with that. First goal hugely important.
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mental strength is one of the big questiion marks about this squad imo. The team stuggles in the face of adversity. Be it going down especially against the run of play, or coming up against a top keeper making worldies. You can almost see the utd players confidence shrink.
Confidence is imo situational competence, so it is not surprising after 7 years of disappointment the collective reaction is here we go again in the face of aversity rather than been there done it like most successful teams have. I feel with successes the players will soon be able to overcome this mental hurdle. This is one of the reasons tomorrow's game is so important imo
posted on 25/7/20
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 3 hours, 10 minutes ago
I think he's good tactically. I do think he has issues when it comes to in game management and subs. We can see the 11 he trusts and even amongst them we can see players that need an upgrade on. We also don't have a bench at the moment where someone can come on a change the game. Maybe some potential there but not really change it. If Sancho does come in, it would give us Greenwood who can do that (and James if he improves). Ighalo is a decent back up and may help see out games in the PL but I don't see him changing games in our favour. Key issues are that we have no one to replace either Pogba or Bruno in the team and Lindelof isn't the best partner for Maguire.
It is difficult to make changes when the options you have don't allow them.
A lot of fans seem to be over reacting to mistakes made by Maguire since the restart. Funnily enough, of you've watched other teams, you'll see they have players making such mistakes, even amongst those you just don't expect it.
The lack of rotation is an issue but it seems it comes down to not seeing the other able to step up when they come in.
One thing I have liked is that he has been as ruthless as possible in getting rid of players who don't want to be here or those who aren't up to scratch. People might counter that by pointing to Lingard or Pereira (or Mata), I'd say until Bruno, we didn't have any other options. And no, Gomes wasn't an option either.
At the start of the season, many pundits put us around 6th and 5th. Listing their reasons as others having better a squad and coach (Spurs), better coach (Emery), or better squad (Chelsea). We're on par to where we are meant to be at the moment.
I said last summer that if we got a 10 (at the time we were linked with Bruno, Eriksen and Dybala), we'd be top 4 as that was a key component we were missing in the system that Ole wanted to play. We got in Bruno in January and we've seen a lift in the side as we finally have a proper ten in the system. Regardless of the result tomorrow, I think we're heading in the right direction.
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You have to admit after the restart, United benefitted the most from VAR
Hopefully, VAR won't be so generous tomorrow
Don't mention the pen you didn't get. You got plenty from Bruno pirouetting and diving and the same with Pogba.
posted on 25/7/20
We have had penalties given against us for opponent smashing the ball nowhere near the goal.
VAR is main reason Leicester City are anywhere near us. Must be 20+ wrong decisions this season by VAR that should have taken seconds. I am tempted to make a video of them. Also we have been wrongly flagged when clean through on goal a few times this season when 5 yds onside to stop us winning the game. Linesmen have flagged to put us off as well but ref plays on and we concede. They whistle when we are clean through but don't when opposition are even after flagging. Refs don't know what red cards are.
posted on 25/7/20
We benefitted greatly when Aston Villa got away with 2 clear fouls in the box but no penalty was given. We benefitted greatly when Romeu studded Greenwood. Williams got headbutted to leave us down to 10 men with no subs left and we conceded at end from same position.
posted on 25/7/20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cFMVPgQuic
It seems VAR ignores anything on Greenwood. Look 1 minute 15 seconds in, Southampton player goes to clear the ball but smashes Greenwood and they don't give a penalty.
Then Southampton home Greenwood gets studded and VAR ignores the red card challenge.
posted on 25/7/20
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 5 hours, 1 minute ago
A lot of fans seem to be over reacting to mistakes made by Maguire since the restart. Funnily enough, of you've watched other teams, you'll see they have players making such mistakes, even amongst those you just don't expect it.
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if maguire and lindelof had ever run into each other the way that VVD and gomez did the other day, we'd have never heard the end of it. the memes would have broken the internet.
posted on 25/7/20
comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 3 hours, 48 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 3 hours, 10 minutes ago
I think he's good tactically. I do think he has issues when it comes to in game management and subs. We can see the 11 he trusts and even amongst them we can see players that need an upgrade on. We also don't have a bench at the moment where someone can come on a change the game. Maybe some potential there but not really change it. If Sancho does come in, it would give us Greenwood who can do that (and James if he improves). Ighalo is a decent back up and may help see out games in the PL but I don't see him changing games in our favour. Key issues are that we have no one to replace either Pogba or Bruno in the team and Lindelof isn't the best partner for Maguire.
It is difficult to make changes when the options you have don't allow them.
A lot of fans seem to be over reacting to mistakes made by Maguire since the restart. Funnily enough, of you've watched other teams, you'll see they have players making such mistakes, even amongst those you just don't expect it.
The lack of rotation is an issue but it seems it comes down to not seeing the other able to step up when they come in.
One thing I have liked is that he has been as ruthless as possible in getting rid of players who don't want to be here or those who aren't up to scratch. People might counter that by pointing to Lingard or Pereira (or Mata), I'd say until Bruno, we didn't have any other options. And no, Gomes wasn't an option either.
At the start of the season, many pundits put us around 6th and 5th. Listing their reasons as others having better a squad and coach (Spurs), better coach (Emery), or better squad (Chelsea). We're on par to where we are meant to be at the moment.
I said last summer that if we got a 10 (at the time we were linked with Bruno, Eriksen and Dybala), we'd be top 4 as that was a key component we were missing in the system that Ole wanted to play. We got in Bruno in January and we've seen a lift in the side as we finally have a proper ten in the system. Regardless of the result tomorrow, I think we're heading in the right direction.
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You have to admit after the restart, United benefitted the most from VAR
Hopefully, VAR won't be so generous tomorrow
Don't mention the pen you didn't get. You got plenty from Bruno pirouetting and diving and the same with Pogba.
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Which Pogba one are you talking about? If it's the one where Dier fouls him, the VAR made the correct decision. Out of all the VAR that has fine for us, the only dodgy one was the Fernandes one. We had the Bailly "handball" go against us. Still, when oppo fans cry about correct decisions going for us, it does show we're back on the rise.
posted on 25/7/20
comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 5 hours, 1 minute ago
A lot of fans seem to be over reacting to mistakes made by Maguire since the restart. Funnily enough, of you've watched other teams, you'll see they have players making such mistakes, even amongst those you just don't expect it.
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if maguire and lindelof had ever run into each other the way that VVD and gomez did the other day, we'd have never heard the end of it. the memes would have broken the internet.
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Since the restart, VVd hasn't been his usual level. And it's not just him. Watch other games with other teams. It's not only United defenders that have struggled.
posted on 25/7/20
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 43 minutes ago
comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 5 hours, 1 minute ago
A lot of fans seem to be over reacting to mistakes made by Maguire since the restart. Funnily enough, of you've watched other teams, you'll see they have players making such mistakes, even amongst those you just don't expect it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
if maguire and lindelof had ever run into each other the way that VVD and gomez did the other day, we'd have never heard the end of it. the memes would have broken the internet.
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Since the restart, VVd hasn't been his usual level. And it's not just him. Watch other games with other teams. It's not only United defenders that have struggled.
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They are getting a free pass from the media because it goes against the narrative
Long may this dip in performance continue