Should Manchester United Sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer After a Dismal Start to the Premier League 2019–20 Season?

It has been six years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and things have never been same again at for record English champions Manchester United. Post the Fergie era, the United board have roped in big names like Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal along with ex Everton boss David Moyes. All these personalities have failed to have had the kind of impact expected from them. After the axing of Mourinho, Ed Woodward roped in former Red Devil’s striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a temporary basis but as a string of victories and the Norwegian against all the odds became the permanent boss. Now under his stewardship, Manchester United are 12th in the league and just 2 points off the drop zone. They are playing the worst football they have managed in ages which brings us to a very important question – is it time for him to go?

Manchester United were never a hire, and fire club and their fans would taunt someone like Chelsea who bring in a manager every season. But how times have changed at Manchester as they stare at the prospect of hiring their fifth full-time manager since the great Ferguson left. What the legendary Scottish gaffer built at United was an era of dominance, a brand of attacking football no one could replicate for ages and one that brought a plethora of trophies.

Comparing it to this season, Ole seems clueless with his team. He brought in good defenders in Aaron Wan Bissaka and Harry Maguire, but the attack is virtually non-existent. How in the world did he let go of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku without finding their replacement is beyond everyone. The squad is dangerously thin and covered with deadwood. At the end of the day, it is the manager who is at the helm of the squad and Ole seemed confident with this mediocre bunch at the start of August.

The football Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to deploy at United was fast counter-attacking high press game which his squad has failed miserably to implement. Three games down the season, the usual suspects Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw strained their muscles as they are just not used to all the running around. The loss of Paul Pogba has hurt the team badly, and one can not help but feel sorry for Ole as his whole plan revolves around the Frenchman.

Another negative aspect of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been his late substations in games. Take an example of the defeat at West Ham United and Newcastle United, Juan Mata was kept on the pitch till the very end despite having a shocker. Being laid back with your substitutions in a league like EPL can never bail you out of trouble, and Solskjaer must know this.

In the end, it does seem the United job was way above the level of someone like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who despite being a club legend has very little pedigree in management. Just like hundred other decisions, Ed Woodward has got this one wrong too and must correct it by letting go of the Norwegian.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2019 04:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).