Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come under the accusation of having waded way \u2018out of his depth\u2019 by a former team-mate, John O\u2019Kane, who had spent two years with the Norwegian as a player at Old Trafford, with the latter claiming that the only reason the Glazers hired him was to restore a feel-good atmosphere so as to deflect animosity from the fans.<\/p>\n
United\u2019s recent results have not exactly been scintillating, having lost three of their past four games in all competitions, with only two of their wins all season having come by more than a one-goal margin, and that is after 10 games played. Both of those victories were against Premier League sides who were winless at the time, with\u00a0Leeds\u00a0only just notching their first and\u00a0Newcastle\u00a0still winless.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Kane, the defender who spent five years at United during the 1990s before moving on to Everton\u00a0and\u00a0Burnley, opined:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know Ole was brought in to appease the fans, because it was toxic under Jose Mourinho,\u201d he told\u00a0The Mirror.<\/p>\n
\u201cOle has come in and he’s a lovely guy – but he’s not the manager for United. He’s out of his depth.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the coaching staff he’s got there \u2013 they’re just not good enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cMike Phelan is a top bloke, one of the nicest blokes I’ve met in football, but look where he’s come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cKieran McKenna, a former Under-18s coach, Michael Carrick \u2013 they’re all learning on the job and this is the biggest club in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need a better manager in there, but all the fans love Ole, don’t they?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Glazers are clever people, they’ve basically appointed a patsy who they know the fans will never go against.\u201d<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t be off the mark to say that Solskjaer and Cristiano Ronaldo are both staple nostalgic elements in the United squad, especially the latter who certainly lifted the ambient mood after sealing his respective return to Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, euphoria depending largely on sentiments have a predictably short shelf period, before the demanding, vocal ones in the stands start clamoring for positive results on the pitch.<\/p>\n
The Red Devils enjoyed a tremendous summer transfer window that witnessed the exciting arrivals of superb youngster Jadon Sancho, World Cup winner Raphael Varane and one of the greatest of all time – Cristiano Ronaldo.<\/p>\n
Now, having buttressed their squad\u00a0 to be top-notched and as good as anyone else\u2019s – on paper at least – in the Premier League, the Norwegian United boss has nowhere to scurry behind to hide if the results don’t match the talents currently lined up in the squad.<\/p>\n
Not that Solskjaer are unfamiliar with doubters with the pitching forks, and it must be conceded that he does have a tendency to turn the tables and whip up a splendid souffl\u00e9 when least expected to, especially when the pressure starts to mount.<\/p>\n
Despite the current pressure building up and the dismal form, United sit two points off the top of the table and being able to keep pace with the rest of the big six would certainly go a long way in helping Solskjaer validate his credibility and that he is not, as his former teammate O\u2019Kane has put it, \u2018out of his depth\u2019.<\/p>\n
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