One aspect of Ole that is highly underappreciated is just how well he's been able to handle being at the helm of one of the biggest football clubs in history. Many don't realise just how rare & valuable this is.
Let me explain ⤵️
At a big club, what you need most is the ability to manage politics, bureaucracy, redtape & pressure so the players can focus on just playing football.
Many 'tactically astute' managers from smaller clubs fail at a bigger club bc they can't handle this — Ole has excelled in it.
Luke Shaw's comments about Ole last night is a testament to exactly that. The pressure of playing for a big club is monumental. Having the assurance your manager will protect you is the first step a ayer needs to perform at their best.
Many of the current highly regarded 'tactically superb' managers at smaller clubs will never make it at a big club bc that job will no longer be just about coaching, training or tactics.
Imagine a great employee getting promoted to CEO
overnight — Some might thrive, most won't.
The scope of work at a big club when compared to a small one is huge! A big club can have thousands of members of staff employed while a small one can have maybe a few hundred.
A good leader might be able to lead a hundred people but it takes a great one to lead a thousand.
At a small club you call the shots & report to maybe 2/3 above you. At a big one, you call the shots for 100-200 people below you while another 30 are above/beside you waiting to ratify each call.
This fundamental aspect of big club management is something many aren't aware of.
This is one aspect where Ole has done better than I ever expected. And no he isn't able to do it just because he's a club legend, he's able to do it because at the end of the day he's an inspiring leader both in the dressing room & at Old Trafford.
The biggest testament to that is the recent shake-up in United's recruitment structure with Murtough coming in. Many might not see it, but the structural change is huge and seeing the people appointed, it's clear as day light that it has 'The Ole Way' written all over it.
The fact that he's been able to champion the club to do much needed reforms that have gone pending for years shows just how respected he is all across the club.
Combine this with just how scared Glazers are of usually succumbing power and you see the impact Ole has had.
So next time when you're judging a manager based simply on results on the field and 'tactics' and saying be can easily do this at a big club, ask yourself if he's shown the kind of big club management skills needed for it.
You'll start appreciating Ole more then.
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I dont expect any journo to say #mufc are right to back Ole. That doesnt sell clicks. But I do expect them to atleast not drag his name into every single sacking conversation simply bc their lack of research backs that notion.
But that isnt half of whats wrong with this piece ⤵️
This article came out a few mins after Chelsea lost meaning it was prewritten except for a few paras. Classic case of pre-conceived notions being treated as facts on the back of a correlative result.
Also Ole is mentioned only on twitter not once in the article. Very clickbaity.
I understand journos have to churn out content. Trust me, I'm a professional writer who has to meet deadlines so I know the grind.
But the article says CFC are now considering sacking Lampard, I find it hard to believe @TheAthleticUK could get such info mins after the whistle.
Over the last one year of running this account, I've primarily focused on writing threads about the long term aspects of Ole's process — squad building, philosophies, squad introductions etc.
This thread will be a collection of some of my favorites. Hope you enjoy. ⤵️
1. Ole's Squad Building
An in-depth look at the process behind Ole's rebuilding in his first full season in charge of #mufc & how meticulous and well planned it was:
2. My first long thread (before I started naming them).
I used to read a lot of comparisons between Ole & managers at other clubs. This thread is trying to unpack why the United job Ole took over is unlike any other & why his process deserves more time.
Arsenal is still a massive club & it too big a jump too soon for Arteta. He's talented but to manage Arsenal, you need experience. His entire career is 3 yrs as an asst. Arsenal isn't where you learn management 101. The PR designed to give him confidence backfiring doesnt help.
The blame should fall as much on Arsenal as anyone else. They trusted him, built a narrative around him that they've found the next Pep, placed insane expectations on him to reinvent football and with no experience of handling such pressure, he's now understandably panicking.
It's clear Arteta is a good coach, but that's 10% of being a manager, especially at a big club. Can he handle the red tape above him, the politics beside him, can he handle the media narratives, the player expectations & pressure, the million other intangibles that he needs to?
#mufc's squad has 2 primary issues that need solving
1. Midfield Balance 2. Depth vs Balance
Let's take a look at each:
Before I start — this is NOT an 'excuse'
1. Mufc ARE unbalanced 2. Mufc should STILL have won yday
BOTH of these can & is true
Now let's dive in:
1. Midfield Balance
A balanced midfield should:
- dictate play
- maintain tempo
- hold def shape
- press/counter press
- create
+ Lot more
Our options
Pogba, Bruno, VDB, Matic, Fred, McT
No 3 man combo from this can do all of that
Only a 4 man mid can but 💎 has flaws (FBs)
This is bc we've many mids who offer very similar or the same thing
The diff btwn Fred/Matic/McT are evident BUT for each of them to work, you need to start one of the other two at least. Exact same case with Pogba, Bruno, VDB.