Why are Manchester United struggling for form with the squad at Solskjaer’s disposal?
Cast your mind back to the 28th of March 2019…
The day that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed full-time manager of Manchester United.
The club had yet to drop a point in the Premier League since Solskjaer’s appointment and just 9 days before they shocked the world of football by knocking PSG out of the Champions League in an astonishing night in Paris.
There was a feel-good factor around Old Trafford, but it was more than that. It felt exciting to watch Manchester United play again, attacking football was the way, a return to the DNA which United are universally known for.
What Happened?
So, what happened to this identity? The signing of Bruno Fernandes may have ultimately made Manchester United a better team that wins more games and is more competitive in the league.
Now the signings of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and the remarkable return of Cristiano Ronaldo further bolsters a squad brimming with quality.
However, what does seem to have been lost in time is that front foot attacking style, taking matches to the opposition, and counter-attacking with urgency and meaning.
In his earlier days Solskjaer also showed a willingness to change his mind about significant players. He introduced Fred for example into the team on a regular basis after he had impressed when given a chance.
Now though, the tables have turned, and Fred’s performances have dropped significantly.
His carelessness in possession is a source of ever-increasing frustration from the United fanbase but Solskjaer doesn’t seem willing to drop him.
Ole’s Favouritism
His stubbornness in his favouritism is becoming a problem.
It’s holding back the career of the once highly touted Dutch international Donny Van De Beek who is desperate for a run of games.
I was there at Old Trafford when West Ham knocked Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup last week and whilst the result was bitterly disappointing, the performance from Van De Beek and Matic in holding midfield was a major positive.
Between them they controlled the midfield, and Van De Beek was particularly impressive with both his range of passes and defensive tenacity. Yet Van De Beek didn’t see a minute against Aston Villa at the weekend after a display which saw him awarded Man of the Match.
Ole needs to let go of this stubborn blindness before it costs his side more league points and another Champions League group stage exit.
I understand his cautious approach around Sancho after the 21-year-old’s slow start to life at Old Trafford, but he must find a way of integrating Sancho into the starting 11 soon. Otherwise, fans will be feeling a sense of deja vu after similar treatment to Van De Beek.
He needs a chance to play regularly with his new teammates as there is no doubting his world class talent and what he can bring to the team if given the licence. He could also help Manchester United find an identity again as whilst he isn’t a conventional Ryan Giggs type winger, he is a positive thinking player.
Sancho, Fernandes, Greenwood and Ronaldo could be a formidable front four if they all click and are given licence to play a freer flowing, attacking way.
This negative approach to games, parking the bus as soon as a lead looks vaguely vulnerable needs to change. Not only is it not the United way but it’s also not the best way to get the most out of this group of players which is bursting with attacking talent.
Ole needs to find a way to get his attacking players on the same wavelength as well as making changes to the midfield to ensure that said attacking players aren’t feeding of scraps all game.
United need to gain more control of games and ultimately that comes from the midfield. Ole said the signing of Varane could allow his side to play a more positive formation but he hasn’t stuck to that promise so far.
He needs to put faith in the back 5 and go with just one holding midfielder, allowing him to play Pogba and Fernandes alongside each other in the number 8 role which is Pogba’s most effective position.
Then a front three of Sancho (hopefully Rashford soon) Greenwood and Ronaldo with Cavani as an impact player off the bench, has a lot of promise.
It’s make or break time for Ole’s tenure, he’ll always be a club legend for his time as a player but there is growing concern that his time as a manager will be yet another post Ferguson failure.
It’s in his hands and his alone to change that narrative.