I think there’s been a clear roadmap for Ole.
Year 1: He took over when we had won only 6 out of our first 17 games, 15 points adrift of the top 4. We finished the season 4 points off the top four.
Year 2: Got us back into the top 4 after selling the likes of Lukaku and Herrera. We finished 3rd. Lost in the semi-final of the FA Cup, lost in the semi-final of the League cup.
Year 3: Finished 2nd. We were top for a few weeks post Christmas and stayed within 5 points of City until the final four games. Lost in the final of the EL. Lost in the semi-final of the League cup and Quarters In the FA Cup.
So he stablished us when he took over. Went from 6th to 3rd, then finished 2nd and he has had deep runs in all the domestic cups before today.
Oh and he has had by far and away the hardest cup fixtures compared to the other top 4-6 sides.
I get why he is criticized, it’s because of the style of play. But people have gotten too used to the high intensity pressing style that Chelsea and Liverpool play that anything different seems wrong to them.
Under Moyes, LVG and Mourinho we had scored 5 or more goals in a game only 4 times. We’ve done it 12 times already under Ole, so we play good football. We have constantly been in the top 3 highest scoring sides whilst he has been in charge. Our issue has been our defence and to be fair to Ole, we’ve also had the most “errors leading to goals” in the league for the past two seasons.
My issue is that I don’t understand what else people were expecting ?. Was Ole meant to win the league at any stage in the past 2 seasons ?
We’ve lost to City in two consecutive league cup semi finals, and to Chelsea in the FA cup semi, games that could’ve gone each way. We lost the EL final after both sides had taken 11 penalties each.
Fair enough to criticize him for his style of play, but there isn’t much of an argument against his results.
But like you said, and I agree, he needs to win something soon. Whilst he has done well so far, the next step for him is to win a trophy and compete for the title, so he deserves the time for it.
My point about Ole is and always has been "Is he United level"?
Your history is there for all to see and admire. What Fergie did with your lot is nothing short of exceptional, and every single team in the EPL is trying replicate what he did with United. You are the best club in the modern era (apart from Liverpool) and clearly there needs to be high expectations.
After Fergie left managers suffered those expectations. They weren't able to replicate a particular style of football, or win the trophies or whatever it may be. They were high level managers, but they simply weren't able to bring United back to the level that they belong.
You brought in Ole to steady the ship, and he did it ... very well might I add. He brought a new attitude to your players, and a togetherness, at least from the outside. You guys improved, without a doubt. Players like Shaw thrived under him. But was it enough?
Is Ole at that United level?
Your greatest chance to win anything was last year. It was completely upside down. Top teams were all over the place whether it be through injuries, Covid, managerial changes. It wasn't the normal year.
You won nothing. Let's be honest. You choked the final. Came 2nd in the EPL when you really should've been pushing much harder to win the thing. Knocked out to the CL early.
Let's not forget that Ole is spent 441m pounds in his time at Old Trafford. 441m. This clearly has an affect on people's expectations. You spend that much, you expect the team to be winning things. He's not.
He inherited a side with Pogba, Rashford, Lukaku, Sanchez, Martial, Matič, Valencia, De Gea, Shaw, Bailly. On paper, it was a decent team. Yes, many of them horribly out of sorts but all fantastic players on their day and brought in for decent money whether it be transfer fees or wages. He inherited a disjointed, overpaid side but still a side with some really really good players on paper.
What were people expecting? To have those type of players at your disposal, and to invest 441m pounds more I think people expected more results. And, I think when you spend that much, when you inherit such a squad those expectations are warranted.
Is he United level? Haven't seen anything that shows it. A stop gap manager that's outstayed his time at the club, yes. But a United level manager? No.
Maybe he proves me wrong. We'll see.