08 Apr 2021 08:14:40
Important game tonight, would anyone be surprised if Ole underestimates the opposition and rests a few?
If we turn up we can win this competition. I think top 4 is nailed on now and 2nd to 4th is not a big deal, so full focus on the Europa is required.
We get ourselves into strong positions in the cups but so far have blown it. Time for Ole and the layers to stand up and be counted.
1.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 09:04:14
We can't underestimate our league position. Utd could quite easily go on a bad run. We have seen Ole over play players. There are 8 league games left.
He certainly should have rested a few players against Soceidad in the 2nd leg.
2.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 09:26:47
mh top 4 is a certainty. Assuming West ham Chelsea Liverpool and spurs all lose and draw 1 game from their lazy 8 we would have to lose 5 of our last 8 games.
There is nothing to suggest they will win all 8 in fact they can't as they have to play each other.
Top 4 is fine unless we have the biggest collapse of all time.
3.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 09:44:48
For me Ole's biggest weakness as a coach is that he rarely rotates his team and often plays his strongest line up when it's not needed.
Ole will name the strongest 11 he has available for every game, so I don't see him underestimating Granada and going with a weaker side.
If key players don't play it's because they are injured, suspended or not fit enough to start.
4.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 09:59:08
The guy can't win, every rotation he makes is slated as playing a weaker team and every time he leaves them in is also bad management.
5.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 10:53:19
Not true Spenno. Solkjaer is slated because he is too rigid in his thinking. He can't work out how to utilise talented players to get results while resting his first choice.
Case in point; Bruno overplayed with Mata and DvB hardly getting a kick. OK so Bruno is perhaps better than either of them but switch to a 433 and play them both as 8's with a DM behind and you have what should be a talented attacking force. I'm not saying this should be the set up against the top teams but it should be enough to break down lesser teams when we don't need two DMs.
The fact that Solksjaer can't do these basic requirements of a football manager is why he gets slated.
6.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 10:56:10
Well said spenno.
7.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 11:11:51
He can't win a semi final, Spenno, that's for sure. Let's hope he gets it right tonight as this is his best opportunity to prove he has a winning mentality.
8.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 12:40:42
Most of us are complaining on here that Ole can't get past a semi, but can we all have a moment for his long suffering wife🤣.
9.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 14:04:23
Ken,
Loo at Liverpool, they went on a very bad run, so anything is possible.
10.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 14:49:20
Mh you worry too much. 🤣.
11.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 14:59:47
Start your strongest side, kill the game off and then sub off the big hitters imo.
12.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 15:35:43
That's my philosophy with Championship Manager too.
{Ed077's Note -do you mean the video game?}
13.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 15:59:46
shappy his first team ain't brilliant at times so who is he going to rotate them with?
14.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 16:22:46
Ken,
Your probably right.
15.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 17:08:33
Funky, I suppose that's the skill in managing a squad of players with varying levels of ability.
I completely agree that this squad isn't half as good as many believe and when Ole leaves they might well see that.
I see it as a squad full of young players with potential, rather than top players in their peak years.
My suggestion earlier in the season was to just send out a weaker team of squad players and kids in the cup games and just see what happens.
Top sides with their best 11's get knocked out of cups all the time, a poor performance from the side, an unfortunate draw against a fellow top side, an unbelievable performance from a "smaller" side, or just a bad luck or poor refereeing. Any of those things can knock a top side out of a cup, its why cups are so hard to win.
On one hand now we are complaining about the number of injuries, but then on the other players like Mata and Donny have played very few minutes. They're not bad players, so give them the cup games at least.
Or maybe we could have used players like Mata and Donny in those games against sides that play a low block, clever passers of the ball.
I think a lot of the time context is needed when judging the manager, with many people giving into the hyperbole, especially after a loss.
Yet the reality is that while this side isn't a top class side, there is a feeling that certain players haven't been used enough and others have been used too much. It has contributed to poor form, injuries and fatigue with many players in the squad.
It's fine to critique the manager, as long as context is included and personal biases placed to one side.
16.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 18:00:51
I hope so mh🤞ðŸ‘. No way they will win all theirs and no way I see us losing 5 from 8. I think 2nd is now a real target but el comes first for me from here on in.
We need to be winning this. Its great for our seeding too in the cl we don't really want to be in the 3rd pot it makes groups harder.
{Ed077's Note - we were in pot 2 for the UCL draw this season (20/21) if I recall correctly.
17.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 23:16:27
We were and we need to stay there. Our previous el win and semi appearance helped our rankings.