SHOULD SOLKSJAER LEAVE MANCHESTER UNITED?

By Pranay Chawla

Ole Gunner Solskjaer has only been at Man United for ten months, and yet people are already calling for him to leave. He may think that Manchester United is a ‘work in progress’, but some fans still believe that he is leading United even further away from the top four. Should he be given a chance, or should they give someone else the job?

Solskjaer has led the team to six wins, six draws and four losses in sixteen games this season, leaving him with a win ratio of 37.5%. It is worth pointing out that David Moyes, now infamous among United fans as one of the club’s worst ever managers, won 52.9% of their games. Solskjaer may have led Manchester United to victory many times when he played for them, but as a manager many people do not agree with his decisions – especially his substitutions, which have been criticised as coming far too late on in the game and not effective enough to change the game. On the other hand, several fans and pundits alike are pointing to Klopp’s dismal eight-place finish in his first season at Liverpool, which has improved to a very close second place last season.

Over the summer, the former Manchester United player bought James, Maguire and Wan-Bissaka over the summer, and also sold and released many players, including Lukaku, Herrera and Valencia. Maguire may have become the most expensive defender with Solskjaer’s £80 million bid, but he has been on top form this season, as have James and Wan-Bissaka. The Norwegian has also made good decisions in other places, like the match against Liverpool on 20th October. Liverpool had previously won all their eight games, leaving them with an unbeaten start to the season. However, Solskjaer’s tactics and an excellent team performance led to United picking up a point, and left Liverpool’s record broken.

So, should Solskjaer stay? He may not have a very good win ratio, but it is only a few months into the season. His plans to improve the club are certainly starting to make an effect, and the match against Norwich shows that they can produce some wonderful performances on their day. They are not afraid to attack instead of defend, as shown by their sixteen shots – a sharp contrast to Mourinho’s often bemoaned defensive style. They easily picked up the three points, due to James and McTominay, both of whom have been on top form lately. His focus on developing academy graduates into first team players – Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Tahith Chong included – is certainly a step forward from some disastrous moves the club has made in the transfer market in recent years.

Overall, I think that Solskjaer should stay. He is improving the club both on and off the pitch, as is shown by his tactics, transfers and the more positive attitudes of players since Mourinho was sacked. Solskjaer and his open, attacking tactics will likely be given time to produce results by the United board, as Liverpool also did with Klopp – who has now produced a regularly title-challenging side. It may take time, but for now, at least, Solskjaer is being given just that – time to develop and improve a struggling United side.