Old Trafford is smiles better with Solskjaer
REGAIN SENSE OF FUN
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer’s first few days back at United were dominated by the idea of putting smiles on faces.
Whether it was making the fans smile or the players smile, it seemed a big part of Solskjaer’s brief was simply to lift the gloom that had descended over Old Trafford.
If his positive soundbites were the first phase of that then the performance and the result at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday night was a significant step forwards on the pitch.
The 5-1 demolition of Cardiff and the style of football glimpsed in the Welsh capital suddenly had the Old Trafford faithful counting down the hours until Solskjaer’s home return on Boxing Day today.
The players certainly seemed to enjoy the freedom they’d be given to play by Solskjaer against Cardiff.
They may be culpable for the demise of Jose Mourinho, but there was undoubtedly a sense of freshness and fun in the way they played against the Bluebirds.
Solskjaer will hope that can continue against Huddersfield and it was the two goal hero in south Wales who may best epitomise his Old Trafford reign.
Jesse Lingard has always played football with the sense of fun first and foremost in his mind. Even Mourinho was charmed by Lingard’s ‘naughty but funny guy’ routine.
Solskjaer will look to bring a lot more to Old Trafford than simply putting smiles on faces again, of course, but if he wants his team to play with joy, then Lingard can be key to that. His celebrations and social media profile may count against him for some, but he showed in Cardiff that he can play as well.
Lingard is a modern English footballer, capable of linking midfield with attack and his movement and ability to carry the ball forwards were crucial to some of the slick football United played.
Goals from Lingard bookended the Mourinho reign at United, but his contributions this season have been well below the standards he’s set previously. He’s not alone on that front in the United dressing room. It was at this stage of last season that the 26-year-old hit top form and today should bring back happy memories for him. Solskjaer will hope the Christmas fixtures at Old Trafford are certainly more enjoyable than they were a year ago. Lingard’s double on this day was only good enough to earn United a point at home against Burnley, while they were held to a goalless draw by Southampton four days later. Avoiding those sort of slips will be key to getting smiles on faces. United can’t afford to cede more ground if they are to close the gap on the top four. Home games against Huddersfield and Bournemouth give Solskjaer the perfect opportunity to keep the momentum going and Lingard can again emerge as United’s key man. Tyronne Marshall