Ole Gunnar Solskjaer isn’t Manchester United ’s biggest downside. much of the blame for the club’s ills lies with ED Woodward.
The executive vice-chairman has overseen an outlay of £1 billion in terms of transfer fees and salaries, however huge prizes and even regular
Champions League qualification still elude him. throughout his tenure, United have raised solely minor trophies just like the Europa League, fa Cup and League Cup.
The lack of a long-run strategy since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 has value the club the chance to build a coherent squad capable of challenging for the key honours.
However, whereas Woodward, the managers he has churned through, and also the players he has signed all carry variable degrees of responsibility for United’s failures, ultimately, the buck stops with the glazer ownership.
The Florida family has been asleep at the wheel, failing to match the expertness of
Liverpool , of Manchester city and of equally resourced clubs across the continent.
The rot at old Trafford is in depth and established.
Nevertheless, Solskjaer is clearly out of his depth. The Norwegian has started to take on the haunted look of David Moyes from his disastrous spell in charge. The decline cannot be arrested through Solskjaer’s work alone.
After the defeats to Manchester city and Liverpool, Solskjaer claimed progress by stating that the way of the defeats was somehow an improvement. There can be a grain of truth there however there isn’t constant deflection to fall back on after a loss to a capable but middling Burnley side on Wednesday.
The occasional flop is inevitable with a developing team however, at now, Solskjaer’s appointment is looking like the flop.
He was awarded the job – initially as a stop-gap then as a permanent appointment – to cover up the fact that Woodward had – and still has – no credible plan for the long run of the soccer club. Nothing in his managerial career has prepared Solskjaer for this role.
Moreover, it’s turning into apparent that his authority has started waning within the dressing room since the initial enthusiasm of his appointment wore off.
There are mutters of discontent and rebellion, with even club captain Ashley Young electing to force through a move to put down six months before the expiration of his contract.
He is not the sole player to express his discontent with life at old Trafford. The players were starved of capable offensive plans below Mourinho, however Solskjaer is hardly delivering something additional profound.
The signing of Daniel James from Swansea pointed to the No.1 tactic at old Trafford for the season to come – knocking the ball into the channels for counterattacks.
The squad is uneven and if anyone is to attain with these players, it’s to be done with more sophisticated coaching. however Solskjaer and his coaching team, together with Michael Carrick and mike Phelan, look to be unaware of their own plan of action shortcomings and, therefore, are unable to resolve them.
The club has been robust in their message that Solskjaer is safe, no matter a unsatisfying end to the season. however the ex-striker would do well to bear in mind that Woodward won’t risk his own position as the Glazer’s favorite employee.
Woodward has been noticed in France within the last few weeks and there are rumours that Luis Campos will join from Lille as a director of soccer, which would go some way towards solving a long-standing downside.
The arrival of a competent director of soccer was aforesaid to be one amongst the strain created by Mauricio Pochettino in an opening discussion via intermediaries, with the Argentine not keen to take the job before summer. If a director of soccer is appointed, it’d mean Woodward stepping back from soccer affairs.
The arrival of Campos wouldn’t be a demand of Solskjaer’s; he merely lacks the authority to make such requests. it’s additional possible the club is being set for an additional manager, should their hand be forced.
Woodward and also the club stay desperate for the team – and for Solskjaer – to succeed, however the end is also coming faster than it appeared at the beginning of January.
Someone will soon need to take the blame for the mess and there’s very little to no likelihood of either Woodward or the Glazers facing the music.
