Solskjaer may yet be turned into the fall guy
OLE MAY BE AXED TO COVER UP BIGGER FAILINGS AT CLUB
WEDNESDAY night at Old Trafford was as bad as it has been for United all season.
Another defeat, another poor performance, more questions asked and abuse of the club hierarchy and owners.
The discontent at the Glazers from the fans isn’t a new thing, but the match-going supporters have become more vocal in their opinions of the American-based family who bought the club back in 2005.
The Burnley defeat was a new low in a season of lows as the Clarets won at Old Trafford for the first time since 1962 – and the fans know where they’re laying the blame.
Anyone watching the game on Wednesday will have heard the anti-Ed Woodward and Glazer chants, but also the pro-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer repertoire.
The Stretford End ensured the manager knew the Norwegian has their backing as he trudged down the tunnel after a second defeat in four days.
But, the bigger issue for Solskjaer is that while he is only a very tiny part of the problem the club find themselves in, he would be the easiest fix should the hierarchy decide to go down that route.
There’s absolutely no suggestion the Treble-winner’s job is under threat at this stage.
The understanding from those above him and in the background at Old Trafford is that this is a rebuild that will take time and they’re fully behind Solskjaer during these difficult times.
Things can change, clearly. And although Woodward wasn’t there to hear the chants about him on Wednesday night, he was present for the Norwich game and it can’t have been pleasant for the former investment banker.
And while he’s spoken earlier in the season about the effect negative press and comments has on him and his family, it will likely take more than fans singing about bonfires to get the 48-year-old to walk away from the job he’s held since 2012.
Things need to change for there to be improvement at Old Trafford and the list is long. New owners, somebody new in charge of football operations, new manager, new players. They’re all possible solutions to the situation the club find themselves in.
And, unfortunately for Solskjaer, the easiest one to solve in that list is a new manager.
It’s not in the plans at the moment, but further down the line he could find himself the fall guy in an attempt to cover up failings higher up the club.
Earlier this week it was announced that United’s share price had gone up from $16.22 (£12.41) to $20.22 (£15.47) from October. Which means the market capitalisation the value of all its outstanding shares added together - has catapulted from $2.68bn (£2.05bn) in mid-October to around $3.33bn (£2.55bn).
As far as the Glazers are concerned Woodward is doing his job and he’s doing it well. New commercial
As far as the Glazers are concerned Woodward is doing his job and doing it well
Charlotte Duncker
deals, new partnerships and limited edition kits being bought by swathes of fans in the Megastore backs up what Woodward said back in 2018.
“Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business,” the executive vice chairman told investors nearly two years ago.
And there lies one of the biggest problems.
Until that changes there’s going to be no urgency from the owners to sell or get rid of Woodward.
Solskjaer isn’t a master tactician and in reality there are better managers out there who would be better suited to the job but he is by no means the key problem.
The issue the Norwegian has is that there could become a time where he becomes the simplest solution.