PLAN TO LIFT 3PM TV BAN
IT’S NOT ALWAYS BEEN ROSY!
Manager
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (permanent)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (caretaker)
Team Man Utd
Man Utd
Solskjaer has it right on almost every call, be it ins, outs, tactics and man-management, suggesting he can take United back to somewhere near their glorious past under Ferguson.
Three times this season he has beaten Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, including a first league double for a decade, while up until Watford’s shock 3-0 win over Liverpool, his United were the
FOR SALE.. a dream car with one very famous owner.
Roy Keane was a driving force behind Manchester United’s Treble-winning season of 1999, but he has decided to give up on the Aston Martin he bought to celebrate their historic feat.
Keane has put his DB7 sports car on Auto Trader for just under £24,000.
G W D L GF GA Win Ratio 1,500 895 338 267 2,769 1,365
144 84 32 28 244 121
51 27 9 15 86 54
76 40 17 19 130 73
103 54 25 24 158 98 57 19
W 26
14 15 2
L 16
3
GF 40
GA Win Ratio 56
17 only team to have taken points off Jurgen Klopp’s runaway Premier League leaders.
There have, of course, been some brutal low points, the 2-0 home defeat to Burnley just two months ago a sobering reminder United remain a work in progress and at times still vulnerable.
But in simple terms, Solskjaer has given United fans their club back, adhering 73.7% to the Reds’ rich history of advocating youth and playing fast, attacking football, underpinned by a solid defence.
There are still major tests ahead, not least how he handles the ongoing Paul Pogba saga, with United’s £89million club-record signing still desperate to leave this summer.
And despite the uncertainty due to coronavirus, the summer is another huge one in the transfer market, with Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and James Maddison all targets.
Under Solskjaer, United are a more attractive proposition for players than they ever were under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal or Mourinho.
One year in and, with Ole at the wheel, United fans have genuine hope of emerging from the bleak post-Ferguson period into a bright new era of success.
Former United boss Jose Mourinho was subjected to a chastening return to Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side won, courtesy of a double from striker Marcus Rashford. The victory provided further evidence of Solskjaer’s ability to deliver results in big games.
Three days after the Spurs win, Solskjaer masterminded a superb away victory over their local rivals. United blitzed City with two first-half goals to set up a memorable triumph, then sealed a first league double for a decade over the Blues with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in March.
After winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season, United followed up that victory with a first Premier League victory at Chelsea since 2012, to make up further ground on Frank Lampard’s side in the race for a Champions League place.
Three weeks after being given the United job full time, Solskjaer slumped to his heaviest loss. United were abject, with Solskjaer later pinpointing it as the moment he knew he had to get rid of a core of under-performing players.
With a Champions League spot already gone, there was nothing riding on the game for United. But a home defeat to already relegated Cardiff was a humiliation all the same and reinforced Solskjaer’s belief that major changes were required to the squad over the summer.
Burnley’s first Premier League win at Old Trafford was the catalyst for United to go on an 11-match unbeaten run before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus. The shock loss refocused minds and attitudes at United.
FROM BACK PAGE behind closed doors. The move could help prevent supporters turning up en masse at stadiums to try and watch games, even if they are locked out.
That is the nightmare scenario for clubs, police, and emergency services because fans will be desperate to watch the matches – and showing them live on TV would ease the problem.
Discussions are still at an exploratory stage and it remains to be seen whether it will get approval. The Premier League is under huge financial pressure to finish the season because of the demands of TV contracts. Not finishing could cost more than £700million in TV cash.
There is a long-standing 3pm blackout rule designed to protect attendances, but these exceptional circumstances could see a relaxation.