Manchester United Seasonal Blog 2018/19 - Ole Ole Ole Ole

[murf]

it weren't for the injuries (more the implications if/whenit gets worse than current situation) I'd put you as favourites for 3rd.

With the odds above, if forced, I'd easily be lumping on Utd and Arsenal at those odds.

[thebillfella]

Wondering whether the increased tempo / pace and clearly fitter players (thus by implication more intense training regime?) under Ole may also be contributing to the injuries now being experienced? Or is it just coincidence / bad luck?

[Darbyand]

Only one league game (albeit Arsenal away) before the international break so I'd expect to have a pretty much full squad for the final push. I'm assuming PSG will finish the job this week so domestic matters only from then on.

[liquidfootball2]

There may well be a reason United haven't appointed Olé yet besides the one I keep pointing to, the fact that they can afford to wait.

The other and perhaps, at least imo outstanding candidate is Spurs' Pochettino. The main point against him, besides the amazing run Olé's been on, was always thought to be Daniel Levy and just how much of a problem getting him out would be?

I'm fairly sure there will have been unofficial moves to sound him out, how far would he be prepared to go to leave if he so desired. The rest is just speculation, but surely there's a reason United haven't just added to the general happy mood amongst their fans by making Olé's appointment permanent.

If for example, the plan had always been Poch, but Solskjaer's success has given them a wonderful and easily obtainable alternative, then they may now have had some kind of assurance that Poch would be prepared to break his contract to move or some such similar scenario. Legally they may have been into the implications too, as I know from the fiasco with Marco Silva going from Watford to Everton things can get messy.

United have though perhaps something to go on and are prepared for it, and if so they should go all out for Pochettino imo, even now and even given Olé's outstanding success over a part of a single season.

United are far from the finished job, there are still frailties especially in defence, and a lot of transfer business needed this summer to get them really competitive with Liverpool and City, to at least give them a chance of competing.

I think Solskjaer's done an absolutely outstanding job, but it is still only over a part of a single season and dealing mainly with general motivation, tactics and training, he couldn't have done any better, but its still not every aspect of management, and not over several years. There may be a sporting director in time but the manager has an influence too and works with him, Pochettino has this experience and must still be in their sights.

Pochettino with his recent comments is almost shouting from the rooftops

"We have a relatively low and inflexible wage structure, our stars like Erikssen won't renew, Harry's started making noises about trophies, we haven't won the league since 1961, no transfers, a new stadium to finish paying for, so we may compete for a second class trophy like a domestic cup but not the league.

Despite reaching the Champions league quarter finals after beating the Bundesliga leaders Dortmund 4-0 on aggregate, as well as challenging the top two for so much of this season despite no transfers at all, he's saying it'll take another five or ten years, well past some of these current players' time at Spurs. Financially Spurs can't compete as those ahead of them won't stand still.

'Spurs can't go anywhere, get me out of here'

[liquidfootball2]

After last night, with Madrid's shock exit and in such an ignominious way too, it wouldn't be so surprising if Real Madrid came calling for Pochettino, although their fans apparently now want Mourinho back, and that is perhaps more likely as he's known to be favoured by the president of the club (or president in waiting).

[thebillfella]

It's now a really tough choice between the two, which is probably another reason why United is using the option to delay permanent appointment until the end of the season. Hoping that Perez flexes his influence at Real to target Mourinho over Pochettino otherwise the decision may be made for United.

[forestfan]

Probably already suggested, if United take Poch, do Spurs take Ole?

Can’t see Jose revitalising a broken, ageing Real squad. If he has £500m to spend then perhaps, but if they have those kind of finances available why was Ronaldo not replaced last summer?

[murf]

Sky had some great stats earlier on Ole's win percentage in his first X matches for Man U being the best ever. Taking the crown off some bloke called David Moyes. Whatever happened to him....

[forestfan]

Sky had some great stats earlier on Ole's win percentage in his first X matches for Man U being the best ever. Taking the crown off some bloke called David Moyes. Whatever happened to him....

Yeah, I remember that first game, 4-1 at Swansea was it, seamless transition...

Surprised Moyes hasn’t found work this season by the way. If he wasn’t pigeonholed as a “quick fix” manager he could easily do what he did at Everton again at a club of comparable size. Once you’re seen as damaged goods though, it’s harder to get owners and fans to buy into that I suppose. Celtic would seem a sensible fit perhaps.

[liquidfootball2]

Can’t see Jose revitalising a broken, ageing Real squad. If he has £500m to spend then perhaps, but if they have those kind of finances available why was Ronaldo not replaced last summer?

Looks like he'll be given the opportunity anyway


Jose Mourinho 'almost 100 per cent' certain to return to Real Madrid after European champions' defeat to Ajax

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/20 ... JP9xmjFwyl

[forestfan]

Name on the trophy?

A final against City, Liverpool or Spurs would be some occasion.

[thebillfella]

Football, bloody hell.

[Maldini]

That’s a remarkable victory with the team he had available. That midfield.

[forestfan]

That’s a remarkable victory with the team he had available. That midfield.

Yeah, looked like the worst United midfield since Fergie tried to match Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets with Park Ji-Sung and an ageing, out of position Giggs.

Penalty was extremely generous but PSG were pretty poor on the night. Sides through so far - United, Spurs, Ajax and Roma/Porto. Who would have predicted that? Some big names in the other half of the draw but it’s wide open.

[liquidfootball2]

Agree on the penalty being harsh by our current premier league interpretation, but PSG don't deserve anything, United were decimated, TEN first team players out including their talisman Pogba.

That's just incredible, United reserves overturning a two goal deficit in Paris.

Just awesome, Solskjaer will be given the keys to Old Trafford, Manchester and the World after this...


Can the premier league get four in the last eight, Tottenham and United there, City almost certain....

And will Liverpool try?

Enjoying it, c'mon Olé do a di Matteo and win the thing now.

[Tacalabala]

Seam of the pants stuff at times, but bloody hell!

Call me a sadist, but I'd love it if we were drawn with City next

[Darbyand]

What a night, what a photo

[Tacalabala]

What a night, what a photo

Imagine being a United player and having those three pushing you on, how could you not be inspired?

[forestfan]

Seam of the pants stuff at times, but bloody hell!

Call me a sadist, but I'd love it if we were drawn with City next

Then Liverpool in the semis, and Spurs in the final - winning manager gets the United job long term

[Zimmerman]

What is this bullshit

3 months ago I was revelling in Uniteds fall from grace and then staring down the barrel of mediocrity for the next decade.

Now, despite Liverpool being as good as they’ve been for about 25years (aside from that one Suarez season).... my footballing life is still somehow ruined, yet again, by them #%^*+=#% down the east lancs road!!!

[Magic]

Surprised Moyes hasn’t found work this season by the way.

The market for boring, out of their depth managers who play a tedious brand of defensive football must be shrinking...

[Magic]

Now, despite Liverpool being as good as they’ve been for about 25years (aside from that one Suarez season).... my footballing life is still somehow ruined, yet again, by them #%^*+=#% down the east lancs road!!!

What price Bayern vs Man Utd in the QF?

[Zimmerman]

I’m going to Munich next week so will be even harder to swallow!

[thebillfella]

I recon we may need to sign Ole sooner rather than later before Real start sniffing around him rather than Poch!

[liquidfootball2]

I recon we may need to sign Ole sooner rather than later before Real start sniffing around him rather than Poch!

Mourinho looks favourite

[Zimmerman]

Why the #%^* would Real take him back?

They’ve got an aging squad, is he the man for the job of rebuilding? Is it a rebuilding job or am I being premature based on their relative struggles?

Would Hazard be willing to work for Jose again (was there any bad blood between them... I know he was involved in the Physio debacle and was generally a bit average that season).

[liquidfootball2]

I'm not arguing for it, just stating that that's the way its looking, he apparently would be the popular choice too. I've long tired of making sense of the politics at Real

[Zimmerman]

It was a rhetorical question, wasn’t asking you per se (apologies if it came across that way).

[murf]

What is this bullshit

3 months ago I was revelling in Uniteds fall from grace and then staring down the barrel of mediocrity for the next decade.

Now, despite Liverpool being as good as they’ve been for about 25years (aside from that one Suarez season).... my footballing life is still somehow ruined, yet again, by them #%^*+=#% down the east lancs road!!!

Don't worry. It won't last. Look at the stats from their big games (CL, top 6 etc). Roughly 30% possession. Few shots. Yet lots of wins and draws. Those good results from those poor stats just aren't sustainable.

Well, that's what I'm telling myself anyway....

[Maldini]

I just wish they’d hurry up and give him the job so we can start the ‘When will OGS be sacked sweepstake’.