Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has been sacked. The latest chapter in the half sporting tragedy, half farce that has been life at Old Trafford came to its sad but inevitable conclusion as the former forward was brought to book in the wake of yesterday’s latest humiliation, against Watford at Vicarage Road.
The sporting tragedy here is to consider the revered position the baby-faced assassin was held in and deserving of following his heroics in 1999 European. His knack of being in the right place to execute the most famous and important toe-poke of all time typifying his enormous contribution to Manchester United as a player.
The man from Molde was admittedly a left of field choice to replace Jose Mourinho – who in my view never should’ve been sacked – but in the early part of his reign could hardly have gone any better. Ole won his first six games in charge, something no United manager had achieved since Sir Matt Busby’s time.
In the world of modern football, with the bigger clubs, a manager is only as good as their last win. To that end, Solksjaer’s debit column ended up loaded with bad defeats. Not just bad defeats, but reversals against those whose conquest means most to the Red Devils and their hoardes of devotees was simply a bridge too far for him to retrieve the situation
Given the money that has been pumped into buying players and the calibre of those recruited – even during his tenure – the failure to annex a trophy in that time is a fairly damning indictment of his stewardship.
However, as disappointing as the eventual outcome of the period has been with regard to how the team has performed and been managed, there are several mitigating factors which require even Ole’s harshest critics to admit history will look upon his time in the dugout more favourably.
He undoubtedly improved the club’s prospects and standing, initially at least. Did he get as much out of them as might have been the case? Not by a country mile. But it must be acknowledged several crucial factors conspired against him.
Chief among them, the continued mismanagement of the club by the Glazers and their obedient little lapdog Ed Woodward. On the non-playing side, it is not fanciful to opine operations have lacked proper management since David Gill left there.
A list of examples the length of your arm exists to back up that theory. The amount of money the Americans have taken out of the club and diverted to their gridiron franchise in Tampa Bay. No wonder they could afford to sign Tom Brady!
Sacking Louis Van Gaal the day after he’d guided them to the FA Cup was another farce. As was the defenestration of Mourinho not long after he had garnared two trophies for the red half of the city.
For me, mind you, the ineptitude of Woodward et al when it comes to transfer dealings has been the biggest impediment to United getting back to where they should be and need to be. For they are not there at present. Sadly, the mid-table mediocrity which is currently their lot completely befits them.
Shortcomings regarding transfer activity were not just confined to the signing of players either. Their failure to offload troublesome bundles whilst at the same time jettisoning some of those who should never have been let go. Angel Di Maria and Romelu Lukaku come to mind.
Now, United being linked to nearly ever player on the transfer market is nothing new. What is, though, are the number of players who they genuinely have gone after but not been able to lure into their fold over the last decade or so.
Sergio Ramos, Matias de Ligt, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Pedro, Erling Haaland, James Maddison, the list could fill every seat in the Camp Nou. Then there were the lads they did manage to nab but long after they began their pursuit of the targets. Which in some cases meant a marked diminishment in the productivity and therefore value of the acquisitions.
One consequence of the shoddy workmanship at board level which nobody seemed to consider was how unattractive the dithering could make the club look to potential replacement managers. As it is, as things currently, stand, most of those that they would potentially be trying to woo are already spoken for.
Of course, in the football world today money can make almost anything happen. However, having missed out on Antonio Conte and with Pochettino currently under contract in Paris and Brendan Rodgers seemingly not interested (telling in itself) you have to wonder what master plan they have left up their sleeves at this stage.
A clueless one if their appointment of Michael Carrick on an interim basis until another stand-in can be found to the end of the season. God help whoever it ends up being.
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