Asked recently whether the recent sacking of Mauricio Pochettino has left him with sleepless night, Manchester United manager Old Gunnar Solskjaer was typically unruffled in the face of such speculation. Even with his Fergie-era arrogance, not to mention a boardroom that have, at least publicly, backed him, Ole must know in his subconscious that his era in charge of United is coming to an end, alerting those looking for free bets no doubt.
Taking the job during a tenure with homeland club Molde, the former United striker took the theory of ‘new manager bounce’ to its absolute limits, going on an incredible winning run to exorcise the demons left in the wake of a dying Mourinho period. The Old Trafford faithful was thrilled a legend from the clubs most successful era was implementing some Fergie-influenced free flowing football – of course, it wasn’t to last.
After seeing talented duds Sanchez and Lukaku (the later maybe not so much) sold to Inter Milan, the side were left to look worryingly thin. Whilst the Lampard-esque trust in youth is admirable and more than reminiscent of his mentor, the squad doesn’t even hold a candle to that of Liverpool and Man City – perhaps even Chelsea or Spurs. Whilst Solsksjaer has yet to fumble in the transfer market (Sanchez and Lukaku not being his responsibility), perhaps it’s telling that the upper hierarchy at the club are not willing to let him spend the money, instead saving that for a manager with more pulling power.
This weekend’s 2-2 with Aston Villa meant the club currently sit in 10th. Whilst, undeniably, the fixture was a fine spectacle with superb attacking play form both sides, Villa looked the side more likely to disturb the top 4, moving the ball in a far quicker a slicker way in the games early moments.
The result meant the red side of Manchester have only won 1 in 6. Even more damning, they’ve have won only 4 of 14 league games this season.
The fixture list isn’t much kinder to United’s chances of a successful season. Mourinho’s Spurs await on Wednesday, then a Saturday trip to Manchester City to add insult, followed by a trip to Everton on Sunday-week. Even if Solskjaer can upset the odds to win all 3, the Norwegian will not better the 24 points from 17 matches Mourinho had accrued before being sacked on 18 December last year.
Not only would defeat to Mourinho hurt their season, the PR disaster that is losing to a manager you just sacked, never mind it being the outspoken Portuguese boss, might just be too much to bare for the clubs upper hierarchy – with 2.72 on Tottenham winning the match, bonus bets might just be seeing more punters ahead of the match.
Generally speaking, perhaps the fan frustration isn’t in the way United are playing, but rather just how much better their rivals look. Despite the Glazers’ strangle hold over the clubs finances, United are still a world power house when it comes to revenue, looking at the squad you wouldn’t have thought so.
The Old Trafford faithful is no doubt grateful for new faces Scott Mctominay, Daniel James, Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the scene regardless of whether they were paid for or brought through the ranks, however, the failure to bring in a big marquee signing that can actually perform has insured the club stay middle of the road.
Not wanting to get their fingers burnt after the disappointment of Sanchez and Pogba, it seems Solskjaer will have to work with what he’s got, only question is, would Pochettino be doing better?
Knowing that Poch changed the culture of Spurs without breaking the clubs coffers, the tight fisted Glazer’s will happily snatch-up the Argentine if the club move any further away from the Champions League places.