PAUL INCE has warned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he’s playing with fire if he cannot excite Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s one-time midfield guv’nor ( right) has delivered a damning verdict on the fare being served up at the Theatre of Dreams, believing the passion is being sucked out of fans.
And he says that unless the club’s Norwegian boss can find a route to goal – and quickly – the situation will blow up in his face because the supporters are crying out to be entertained.
Ince does not expect the tipping point to be reached this afternoon, but says it could be around the corner if matters do not improve.
He said: “I signed for Manchester United on the same day as Danny Wallace and Gary Pallister, and my first match for the club was against Millwall at Old Trafford. We won 5-0 and I thought to myself, ‘ This is easy’.
“Seven days later, we’d lost the derby 5- 1 to Manchester City and the punters thought that Alex Ferguson’s new signings were mugs.
“There were more than a few in the Old Trafford crowd who were moaning and groaning during the next few months – but they stuck with us.
“The reason they gave us that time is they could see we were part of a Manchester United team that was trying to have a go – trying to win a game of football by outscoring the other team and trying to create chances.
“They could accept being unlucky, or losing to a better team.
“But they were so passionate about the team and passionate about seeing exciting football.
“Where’s that gone? It’s not so much the Theatre of Dreams any more. Just a theatre.
“They turn up to be entertained. If you’re lucky, they clap. Somehow, they’ve lost their passion.
“I think it’s because they’ve not
MANCHESTER UNITED are careering towards disaster unless drastic action is taken to halt their current slump, reckons Paul Ince.
The club’s ex-skipper says there is no vision from the top, no structure to the Red Devils’ recruitment, no leadership in the dressing room – and, worryingly, no goals in the side.
Ince did not absolve boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer either as he painted a bleak picture prior to today’s clash with Liverpool.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” said Ince. “I’d ask one question: In which direction is the club headed?
“Are they going to blood the kids? I don’t know. Are they going to give Ole £300million in the transfer window? I don’t know – nor do the supporters.
“Now, if the youngsters from the academy can’t bridge the gap to the first team, then the executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward (above, right) needs to take some pressure off Ole and explain how they are going to get back on the up.
“He’s come out and given Ole a vote of confidence recently, but the fans want to know what the plan is.
“If he’s going to give youth a chance, tell them. If not, tell them – but please give them something. From where I’m standing, they’ve got nothing.
“And I don’t see it improving massively before they can do something in the January window. The situation they have – the lack of goals – was entirely avoidable.
“They’ve had all summer to address it. And now it could get worse before it gets better.
“Everyone is looking at the game against Liverpool, but I think a lot depends on the next two matches – against Norwich City and Bournemouth.
“There’s clearly a lack of confidence and leadership. No one is barking orders at anyone. When Newcastle scored their winner a couple of weeks ago, no one said a word.
“Harry Maguire tries, but where are those leaders demanding standards are maintained?
“When I came in, Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes were setting the levels. Then Peter Schmeichel and Steve Bruce, then myself and Roy Keane, before it passed down to Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, and then Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
“I watched the interview David de Gea gave after the defeat at Newcastle – and this is someone who has been a Manchester United player for eight years now.
“He was being asked questions and was struggling to explain what was going on.
“He didn’t have a clue – and, coming from a senior professional with a wealth of experience at the club, it was worrying.” Solskjaer’s United lack attacking edge, says Paul Ince... and the stats say Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal (left) were miles better than Ole