Are the parallels to be drawn? Both took on jobs on a caretaker basis after the outgoing manager sucked the life out of the club with turgid displays, potentially losing the dressing room and a string of media comments which alienated the club's fans. Both oversaw a remarkable turnaround in form leaving supporters clamouring for them to get the job full time. It will be interesting to see how Solskjaer gets on next season when he inevitably gets the job - are these results based solely on Flicker style tubthumping and a wave of relief that Mourinho is no longer in charge or is there more substance to him? Edit: SolSKjaer
Realistically, I think its actually Ferguson managing them more than we're led to believe, with Ole as the face of the management team.
Ferguson has only been down to the training ground once and in the dressing room twice. I know he was a genius of football management but this feels outstretched even for him. Difference between Flicker and Ole is that the former had to unify a team to go against all odds, where the latter is just allowing players to have freedom to express themselves and play the 'United Way' (hate those phrases but it's true). It isn't just Solksjaer though, it's the whole team he's brought with him or is using from the previous setup. Carrick and Phelan are invaluable as well.
I honestly think solksjaer is just the puppet or face they have put in charge. The players are in charge of that club like what Chelsea were when terry cole and lampard were in control. They stopped playing for jose and got him sack now they are world beaters. Ole couldn't manage a jot at cardiff they were awful now one of expensive squads in country has decided they want to play again hes a world beater. Im sure mike phelan has more imput than ole does.
Agree re Fergie's influence but think Ole has done a lot more than just allow players to express themselves. He has also got them defending very well and has adapted the teams tactics to suit the opposition. Last night he seemed happy to stay compact just to ensure they were still in with a chance in the last 5-10 mins. And the game plan paid off. His tactics against Chelsea and spurs also relied upon them defending well and being clinical when they broke on the counter. He deserves all the credit he is getting in my opinion.
I did hear (could be ballax) that both Fergie and Cantona are assisting where needed. Could just be rumour as the turnaround has been more or less instant and no one can explain why. His past record at Cardiff wouldnt give you much hope so theres something going on.
But his record everywhere other than Cardiff has been exceptional, including his spell coaching at Manchester United. The Cantona rumour is just that. A Rumour
Was speaking very top-line there. I didn't say all he'd done was allow players to express themselves and was merely just commenting on the link between him and Flicker and how they had very different scenarios to overcome.
You can't judge him purely based on Cardiff. He has done wonders with Molde in Norway and he has very good credentials from working with the Man UTD reserves.
That's fair enough. Just heard a lot about him allowing players to express themselves and think that sometimes overshadows the great work he has done in organising the team both defensively and offensively.
Personally I think flitcroft was just a good motivator who was forced to use Keith hills planned tactics of 5-3-2 and planned team selection when Hill got the boot I think it was 2nd weeks before he wanted to bring the new system in. As soon as we had an injury and flitcroft had to come up with his own tactics he failed miserably and he quickly showed himself for the horrible person and terrible manager that he really was. Solksjaer on the other hand has had success using different lineups and different tactics as needed and because of this I think there are very few parallels to draw between the two
I’ve always felt it’s very harsh to judge him on the Cardiff job, basket case of a club at the time & not the kind of circumstances for a young manager to do well in. They’ve got the biggest wage budget in the world & are the second biggest spenders in the world over the past 5 years, they should be doing well, Pogba, Fred, Sanchez, Martial, Rashford, Lukaku, De Gea, these are all top quality players that top clubs wanted or would sign if available. Even Shaw, Lindelof, Bailly & probably a few others, quality players who have all underperformed for way too long. Yes Solskjaer is doing great but they should be comfortably finishing above the likes of Arsenal & Spurs in the league.
