Head of Sport asks " Is Ole really that bad a manager ? "

Head of Sport asks " Is Ole really that bad a manager ? "


Surely Cardiff City's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot be as bad a manager as he appears to be. Can he?
Monday 7th April 2014.

PAUL ABANDONATO

Head of Sport Paul Abbandonato takes a sideways look at the management style of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Surely, surely, surely Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not as bad a manager as he appears to be right at this moment in time.

This is a man, so we’re led to believe, who was perceived in boardrooms across Europe as one of the top young bosses in the making.

Wanted by Aston Villa, West Brom, plus other clubs on the continent, even tipped as a potential Manchester United manager one day, Solskjaer’s arrival in Cardiff was viewed by many as a football coup.

Mehmet Dalman had succeeded where other chairmen failed in persuading Solskjaer to come. Malky Mackay, so Vincent Tan had deduced, was definitely taking the club back down.

Solskjaer was the highly-rated individual to not only keep Cardiff in the Premier League, but even get them charging towards the top 10.

The way Cardiff played against Crystal Palace, they won’t even be charging towards the top 10 of the Championship.

Live: Join us for the big Cardiff City inquest with Nathan Blake at 1pm Monday

Solskjaer is a genial individual who may yet prove, whether with the Bluebirds or elsewhere, that the pre-Cardiff managerial reputation he forged was completely justified.

However, on the evidence of what we have seen thus far, you will struggle to find too many in Wales buying into that theory.

Tinkering to keep things fresh is one thing, but Solskjaer’s team selections and tactics have, I’m afraid, been spectacularly flawed.

This is not being said with the benefit of hindsight. I was confident of a Cardiff victory at West Brom... until Solskjaer’s decision to pick five defenders, thus surrendering control in the midfield, completely deflated my optimism before kick-off.

Likewise with the Palace game. This, I was utterly sure, was Cardiff’s moment to begin their great escape.

Then, around 2pm on Saturday, I learned Solskjaer had chosen Kenwyne Jones and not Craig Bellamy. Cue complete deflation again.

It was a team set up to fail. It did and for that the manager has to take complete responsibility.


" Fraizer Campbell, "

10 times the striker Jones can be, was stuck out of position on the wing, instead of being handed the chance to use his speed to run in behind the cumbersome Palace back four.

Cardiff could have won this game by utilising the pace, movement, creativity and vision of Campbell, Zaha, Bellamy and one of Noone or Daehli.

Instead, they chose route one rubbish against a team managed by Tony Pulis, the master himself of that aerial game. Actually, Cardiff were so inept trying to mirror Stoke City they made Pulis’ Palace look more like Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool at times!

On the rare occasions Jones did manage to win a header, there wasn’t a Bluebirds team-mate within 20 yards of him. Meaning Palace just picked up the second ball and began going forward themselves.

It was the biggest pile of garbage I have seen from a Cardiff team since Dave Jones’ highly expensively assembled side just lumped the ball up in hope towards Jon Parkin and Jay Bothroyd during a play-off semi-final against Reading.

Funnily enough, as I recall they lost that one 3-0 at Cardiff City Stadium, too. Must be something about the tactics.

Solskjaer claimed afterwards that Jones had done okay in a first half which he thought Cardiff had the better of. If the manager really does believe that, then his team are in even worse trouble than we feared.

The fans would rather have an honest ‘I got it wrong’ assessment because at least that way lessons can be learned and everyone confident next time out Cardiff will get it right.

But instead of getting it right, Cardiff keep getting it wrong as Solskjaer reverts to what hasn’t worked before.



" Kenwyne Jones "

had offered next to nothing previously to warrant being chosen in the starting X1 for Cardiff’s most important match of the season.

His, however, wasn’t the only flawed Solskjaer selection. Why on earth, having ditched them previously, has the manager suddenly turned back to Ben Turner and Andrew Taylor in his defence?

There are groans amongst Bluebirds fans every time Turner has the ball. The opposition almost stand off him, letting him just lump it forward so they can recapture possession.

Taylor was shocking at left-back as Cardiff crashed 0-4 at home to Hull and instantly dropped. Yet he’s back in the fold... and was just as bad on Saturday. The space he afforded Jason Puncheon for the game changing opening goal was unforgivable. Surely Declan John or Kevin McNaughton would be better bets.

Then, with Cardiff 0-2 down and 12 minutes left to play, finally Solskjaer saw what 26,000 others inside the ground had from the start. Kenwyne Jones was ineffective so had to be taken off. Trouble is, the manager sent on Don Cowie in his place. As super-subs go, that was never going to be a David Fairclough moment?

You almost had to rub your eyes to check what you were seeing actually was happening during these horror-strewn 90 minutes of ineptitude.

Were you to pick a composite Bluebirds-Palace X1, the side would be Cardiff dominated. Why did Palace win so comfortably, then?

Because they were organised, disciplined, resolute and wanted to win more. That’s why.

Let’s not make Palace out to be world-beaters. They had Joe Ledley in the number ten playmaker’s role. I’ve written an awful lot about Ledley since he made his Cardiff City debut in a League Cup game against MK Dons fully 10 years ago, talked up his efforts for club and country.

He has many strengths, but playing in the hole as the main creative force isn’t one of them. Yet Cardiff’s hapless defending enabled Ledley to set up one goal and score another.

It’s not Ledley’s natural role, but he was effective for the team. In fact, that sums it up. Under Pulis, Palace were a team. the Bluebirds looked a bunch of individuals.

The manager said afterwards his team lacked belief and ran out of ideas. But isn’t it his job to give them those qualities?

In fact, I’m not surprised they became devoid of belief because lumping 50-yard punts up to the big centre-forward isn’t a style which suits ball players like Daehli, Bellamy, Zaha, Campbell Mutch and Noone.

So where do Cardiff go from here? Well, I don’t believe Solskjaer is as bad a manager as he appears to be. He can’t be.

But only he can win us over from here on in. And the correct team selection and choice of tactics would be a start.

Thus far, unfortunately, Solskjaer has got those horrendously wrong.

Cardiff City are hurtling towards the Championship. Hurtling there without a fight is the most damning thing of the lot.

I don't think he's that bad

I can't see this attractive football that everyone's talking about - but I can see his vision and what he wants to achieve - but I can't see that happening this season

Let's be honest aswell - he's been out in a really difficult situation and I think that any manager would struggle at our club at the moment

I don't think he's that bad

I can't see this attractive football that everyone's talking about - but I can see his vision and what he wants to achieve - but I can't see that happening this season

Let's be honest aswell - he's been out in a really difficult situation and I think that any manager would struggle at our club at the moment

the way Malky set up, and the squad he had to play his brand were never going to be ideal for any incoming manager........but OGS brought in 7 to bring balance.....and the big concern for me isnt just not picking up points,he hasnt settled on what players he wants and doesnt want..or a system, rotation can only work from a position of strength,and confidence..ive never witnessed anything like this swapping and changing in a relegation battle...have you?....

He is the worst manager in our club's history, its a fact!

14 prem games, 10 defeats.....thats 71% defeat percentage!

He needs to do the right thing and f*ck off back to Norway!

He is the worst manager in our club's history, its a fact!

14 prem games, 10 defeats.....thats 71% defeat percentage!

He needs to do the right thing and f*ck off back to Norway!

At this moment in time

He has also come into a club which is being run in a quite bizarre way

A team set up to lose yet it was our most arguably attacking line up this season

The reality is Ole should have had the balls to stick with a set of players... I would have preferred him to have put Eikrem and whoever else he fancied in the team and just stuck with them rather than chopping and changing so much!

Head of sport for what the shit rag echo or something equally full of crap?

Head of sport for what the shit rag echo or something equally full of crap?

I know ' Head of Sport ' FFS

It is hard to swallow ain't it - the "head of sport" for a rag that's got a record low readership and advertising revenues, inaccurate stories on a daily basis with grammar only suitable to a 4 year old....

The sentiment of keeping ones house in order is relevant here - jokers at that joint #goingbust

It is hard to swallow ain't it - the "head of sport" for a rag that's got a record low readership and advertising revenues, inaccurate stories on a daily basis with grammar only suitable to a 4 year old....

The sentiment of keeping ones house in order is relevant here - jokers at that joint #goingbust

It was supposed to be "Head of spots" but the got the spelling wrong again.

I didnt read it but PAUL ABANDONATO has always been a bit of a joke, his opinion is always right and he will rattle on about it until everyone agrees. This is the guy who contstantly praised the wonderful Toshack throughout his managerial campaignes for Wales.

The reality is Ole should have had the balls to stick with a set of players... I would have preferred him to have put Eikrem and whoever else he fancied in the team and just stuck with them rather than chopping and changing so much!

I agree with this. He is not really good at giving a player confidence and sticking to that player no matter what. Some degree of tinkering in forward positions is healthy to promote competition in the squad, but this has to be done in a talented way like picking the best players more often, the in form players, giving some players a run of games etc. It can be said that you should try to tinker a bit when things are not going well, but you have to look at the squad quality and realise that it is not like you can bring in the reserves and win most games.

Regulars: Marshall, Caulker, Medel, Campbell

Squad rotation:
Hudson - given some games, but then suddenly dropped. Injured
Eikrem - slowly getting more minutes and his first start, then dropped completely as soon as he makes a blunder pass
Dahlie - playing so well that he picks himself for the team really. Still, why not let him play in the starting lineup more regularly?
Kenwyne Jones - Given a game, then dropped, given a game, dropped for a long period, then given a game.
Fabio - given games, then dropped after some defensive errors, given games slowly improving, then dropped in some matches.
John - Given complete confidence as left back, then dropped completely after the Everton game.
Turner - given games, then dropped, given game, dropped etc
Cala - dropped, given game, dropped, given game, dropped ....
Bellamy - given games, dropped sometimes
Mutch - mostly regular, some injuries
Noone - in and out of the team
Berget - not given a chance
Zaha - in and out all the time. Really lack of gelling with the other players, like if he finally get's the ball into the box there are no players running into the box. Sometimes he tries to do it all by himself, like getting past 3 players. A sign of not being mature enough.
Taylor - suddenly getting a few games. Not really playing well though..
KTC - in and out of the team all the time.
McNaughton - getting a few games and then dropped completely, despite some promising signs of form. What was that all about? Why not him instead of Taylor last few games?
Gunnarsson - performed a level below what is required in Premier League. Mostly dropped, but oddly picked for important game.

Out:
Cornelius - needed to develop to make an impact, so I guess it was ok. Question maybe a loan deal would be better.
Odemwingie - probably no point in the exchange deal with Jones. The target man tactics does currently not work. Jones is an awful finisher.

The thing about OGS is that he has no experience in a relegation battle. He was always on the winning side as a player and if you look at his managerial CV and you'll find that OGS always managed top teams with good players at his disposable. He managed the United reserves and won everything with them, the same at Molde. There was no such cries that he was tactically inept then so i dont think that is all there is to it.
What we know now is that he is not a manager for a struggling team. He doesn't adapt his style to the players he has at his disposal. He tries to play "his way" ,playing football that doesn't suit the squad and thats ultimately been his downfall.
If the club sticks with him and he gets to pick his players, gets a pre season I would not be surprised if he will be a lot more successful. Cardiff will be a contender in the championship and that suits OGS style much more than a relegation battle.

He is the worst manager in our club's history, its a fact!

14 prem games, 10 defeats.....thats 71% defeat percentage!

He needs to do the right thing and f*ck off back to Norway!

Good thing no one said the same about our ex manger that he can f..k off back to Scotland isn't it