THREAD:

Man Utd: the 19 months between Bruno & CR7 signings*

•87 played
•52 Wins, 20 draws, 15 defeats
•59.8% win-rate (higher than any #MUFC manager in history)
•180 goals - 2.1 a game

*Significant dates as both dramatically changed the way the team played/needed to play Enthralling entertainment:

Scored 4+ in 11 games (every 7.7 games)
Scored 5+ in 8 games (every 10.8 games)

Comeback wins:
14 come from behind wins

Across an 87-game spell, Utd scored 4+ goals, or came from behind to win, less than EVERY 4 GAMES on average.

THREAD:
The reason there’s ever been an OleIn or OleOut debate, is fans are divided into 2 groups:

1) want to win some trophies now.
2) want to set the club up to challenge consistently for big honours (ideally with typical Utd principles)

How you view his work depends on that: No manager in the world would win the title either of the last 2 seasons with the squads Utd had. With City & Liverpool well established as 2 of the greatest PL teams EVER, 3rd then 2nd have been the ceilings, for anyone else. That’s what Solskjaer achieved. The max. possible.

I hate the fickleness of fans. Just because Utd are what they are now, doesn’t mean you were right all along. Solskjaer’s been excellent for 2 years, & lost his way for a month. I genuinely don’t believe any other man achieves what he has the last 2 yrs. Right now, huge ? marks… He could excel again, or he could fade away. But, in absolute certainty, either way, Utd will be left with a much better squad, academy, recruitment, sports science, & football structure than when he started. Recent form aside, the club is getting much closer to what’s needed…

THREAD on #MUFC form:

2019-20:
Avrg. Media prediction: 5th
Actual finish: 3rd

2020-21:
Media prediction: 4th
Actual finish: 2nd

Tactical coaches both sns:
Solskjaer, McKenna, Carrick

It’s too simple to suggest current problems are just about coaching, so what’s gone wrong… Focusing on a few key issues:

1) Rashford absence

Rashford played most games the last 2 years, & completely changes the dynamic of how Utd play, with his direct running, runs in-behind, & combinations with Shaw. The majority of attacks have come that side. His return is crucial

Didn’t expect focus on OGS, but plenty is, so let’s address:

Think “anti-Utd” & “scoreline bias” is palpable

After HT in those games:

Chelsea concede double shots-on-target of Utd, double the shots in the area, 3 more shots total, lost possession more, & made more clearances⏬

https://twitter.com/tobygilles/status/1437875721893040128

Chelsea have a superior midfield (even when McTominay is fit), & the perfect striker for playing with 10 men (Lukaku’s incomparable physical athleticism). Yet, they still had just 1 shot at goal & 1 shot blocked vs Liverpool. And also lost 5-2 to West Brom with 10 men in April…

THREAD: Recently several raised eyebrows about me calling Solskjaer “the saviour”. I have no doubt.

It’s little to do with winning games (something he’s actually done at the 3rd best rate in #MUFC history).

It’s about making sure Manchester Utd remains Manchester Utd. Unique… Without that identity, the essence of what hooked me on #MUFC is gone. We’d no longer be different

The success of Utd is built on trust, longevity, youth, courage. A homegrown core. Risk & reward. Development. Family. Players who get u on your feet, but work their socks off too.

Thread: Sancho to #MUFC - what to expect:

- a superb value-for-money long-term deal. “Long-term” is key. Utd get a top talent for up to 10+ yrs.
- Caveat is, I wouldn’t expect a superstar from day 1. Sancho is 21, & needs to adapt to a new team.
- Transition quick as knows MCR? - However, on right relationship with AWB will need developing. AWB improved a lot going forward last season, but room to grow. Timing, movement, cohesion in tandem key to the best Sancho

- Similar story when playing with Greenwood at CF. Cavani style should click straight away.

A QUICK THREAD on #MUFC’s recent failure to win semi-finals, to add vital context to what will no doubt be the media’s latest crusade against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer... Firstly, it must be acknowledged as an achievement to even get to 4 semi-finals in the first season & a half as permanent manager. Had #MUFC not done that, this narrative wouldn’t be possible. Compare to these records of a couple of recently much-revered managers below...

#MUFC games scoring 3+ goals:

Jose: 21.5%
LVG: 25.2%
Moyes: 25.5%
OGS: 32.4%
OGS since Jan: 41.5%
This season: 50%

Win %

LVG: 52.4%
Moyes: 52.9%
OGS: 55.6%
Jose: 58.3%

OGS since Jan: 63.4%
OGS this season: 61.1%

Klopp’s first 3 seasons: 52.3% (best season 57.4%)

Big picture Solskjaer is rebuilding #MUFC into a sustainable attacking team, while maintaining a win % that surpasses the others. All while removing yrs of deadwood; dealing with Raiola’s disruption; while advancing youth, & reinvigorating the academy. Further results WILL come with maturity

MISCONCEPTIONS UTD:

#MUFC have made mistakes post-SAF, but behind-the-scenes they've already put them right. Yet, many fans, journalists, & ex-players choose to stick with the narrative that the club is poorly run: analysis hasn't caught up! A THREAD of 10 common misconceptions: 1st a DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to have inside knowledge of the club. Everything detailed below is via available sources & my own observations & analysis

Any figures given are approximate from publicly available reports/websites

Special credit to UWS interview with Ed Woodward

Often asked, how long will this rebuild take?

I had #MUFC down for top-4 this szn, but injuries have been crippling.

Top-4 next szn. Title “challenge” in two szns.

How is that possible when currently experiencing worst PL start? And ‘x’ points behind Liverpool?

Read on... #MUFC are laying the ground work for soon to be rapid improvements.

1) young players will be much more developed in 2 szns - think how Rashford & McTominay have just clicked this szn.

2) Only 4 signings settling in so far. Expect at least another 6 over next two summers.

...

A THREAD:

The media’s propensity for negatives, along with lazy journalism, has seen little attempt to really understand what Solskjaer’s #MUFC tenure has entailed, or his qualities. Instead, simply citing bad results to mean bad management

Here’s the OTHER side of the story... 1) No “top job” on his CV is a nonsensical argument - it’s often been proved this is NOT required. Guardiola & Zidane both had less experience when they got the Barca & Real jobs. Conte & Simeone had not coached top-flight European teams when they got Juventus & Atlético jobs...