Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to settle on his best Starting 11
Fri Aug 01, 2014 3:02 pm
I know I know, it’s pre-season, so I’m not going to read too much into it, but I’m a fair man. I’ve criticised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since he joined the club, but I’m starting to see signs that his style is coming through in the team.
Against Yeovil last weekend, we came out as 4-1 winners. Many fair observers would admit that it should have been more than that, and Yeovil were fortunate to get the first goal after goalkeeper David Marshall damaged his finger.
During both the first and second half, there was an urgency to get the ball forward at all opportunities. I still maintain former manager Malky Mackay had us playing as we should have been in the Premier League with the quality of squad we had, but the early indications this season will be that we will attack, attack and attack.
Whether it was this tactic or the fact we may be fitter than them due to the pre-season we have undertaken, but the endless onslaught towards Yeovil’s goal meant they looked shattered towards the end of the game and we pounced.
Solskjaer is getting to the point where he has too many midfielders, too many strikers and too few defenders. Our squad is bigger than I can remember it being in a very long time with 28-32 players, including the final year academy players. He needs to decide who he wants to play regularly, who he wants as their backup and who he needs to move on. I don’t envy him, as the majority of the players I’ve seen in pre-season have impressed me with their aptitude and dedication to perform.
The point about the lack of defenders is my only worry. With Ben Turner going off injured against Yeovil, we are now down to three centre-backs in the squad. If Leeds follow through with their interest in Mark Hudson, we could be down to two. From all the rumours swirling around, it looks like we may be signing Jose Fonte from Southampton, although Spurs have reportedly entered the race and I am not sure we could compete with them.
For what it is worth, my starting line-up based on the games I’ve seen in pre-season would be Marshall, Declan John, Hudson, Matt Connolly, John Brayford, Peter Whittingham, Jordon Mutch, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Mats Daehli, Adam le Fondre and Federico Macheda. On the subs bench you would have Simon Moore, Fabio da Silva, Aron Gunnarsson, Juan Cala, Kim Bo-kyung, Kenwyne Jones, Javi Guerra.
That’s a hell of a team for the Championship in my opinion. Add to that Craig Noone when he returns from injury, and if the rumours are true that there’s a chance Gary Medel will stay, albeit a small one, then we are going to be a hard team to beat come August 8.
http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/01/ole-gunna ... i-4813169/?
Against Yeovil last weekend, we came out as 4-1 winners. Many fair observers would admit that it should have been more than that, and Yeovil were fortunate to get the first goal after goalkeeper David Marshall damaged his finger.
During both the first and second half, there was an urgency to get the ball forward at all opportunities. I still maintain former manager Malky Mackay had us playing as we should have been in the Premier League with the quality of squad we had, but the early indications this season will be that we will attack, attack and attack.
Whether it was this tactic or the fact we may be fitter than them due to the pre-season we have undertaken, but the endless onslaught towards Yeovil’s goal meant they looked shattered towards the end of the game and we pounced.
Solskjaer is getting to the point where he has too many midfielders, too many strikers and too few defenders. Our squad is bigger than I can remember it being in a very long time with 28-32 players, including the final year academy players. He needs to decide who he wants to play regularly, who he wants as their backup and who he needs to move on. I don’t envy him, as the majority of the players I’ve seen in pre-season have impressed me with their aptitude and dedication to perform.
The point about the lack of defenders is my only worry. With Ben Turner going off injured against Yeovil, we are now down to three centre-backs in the squad. If Leeds follow through with their interest in Mark Hudson, we could be down to two. From all the rumours swirling around, it looks like we may be signing Jose Fonte from Southampton, although Spurs have reportedly entered the race and I am not sure we could compete with them.
For what it is worth, my starting line-up based on the games I’ve seen in pre-season would be Marshall, Declan John, Hudson, Matt Connolly, John Brayford, Peter Whittingham, Jordon Mutch, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Mats Daehli, Adam le Fondre and Federico Macheda. On the subs bench you would have Simon Moore, Fabio da Silva, Aron Gunnarsson, Juan Cala, Kim Bo-kyung, Kenwyne Jones, Javi Guerra.
That’s a hell of a team for the Championship in my opinion. Add to that Craig Noone when he returns from injury, and if the rumours are true that there’s a chance Gary Medel will stay, albeit a small one, then we are going to be a hard team to beat come August 8.
http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/01/ole-gunna ... i-4813169/?
Re: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to settle on his best Startin
Fri Aug 01, 2014 3:45 pm
Fabio for Declan John, and hopefully we can get another CB in. Marshall will not be ready for the Blackburn match. 
Starting 11 is gonna change match to match. Expect 2-4 changes each time. What worries me is OGS attacking style of football at away games, hopefully he has learned so we can defend a point on a rainy Tuesday night away from home. Vs Blackburn I hope for 1 point but afraid it might be zero
Starting 11 is gonna change match to match. Expect 2-4 changes each time. What worries me is OGS attacking style of football at away games, hopefully he has learned so we can defend a point on a rainy Tuesday night away from home. Vs Blackburn I hope for 1 point but afraid it might be zero
Re: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to settle on his best Startin
Fri Aug 01, 2014 3:58 pm
No he doesn't....
We really are for once, one of the big guns in the championship with the parachute payments. The big clubs finish the season strong, because they have fresher players then. Ole will rotate all season.
Malky and Jones were brought up in that 1970's Liverpool ethos and we died at the end of each season. Luckily for us we went up in a poor season and all our rivals blew up as well.
We obviously need another CB, but I have always believed Connolly is a better Ball playing CB than turner and Ole may pick horses for courses. Playing Eikrem at wingback is an option that Ole has trialled pre season, so he may be third choice if all fails during a game
We really are for once, one of the big guns in the championship with the parachute payments. The big clubs finish the season strong, because they have fresher players then. Ole will rotate all season.
Malky and Jones were brought up in that 1970's Liverpool ethos and we died at the end of each season. Luckily for us we went up in a poor season and all our rivals blew up as well.
We obviously need another CB, but I have always believed Connolly is a better Ball playing CB than turner and Ole may pick horses for courses. Playing Eikrem at wingback is an option that Ole has trialled pre season, so he may be third choice if all fails during a game