A Phoenix Called Solskjaer | Spurs and Derby Reaction.

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Just when you thought Ole was out and down for the count, he does what was considered the impossible, beating Spurs and Manchester City in the space of three days with a relatively inferior side.

What can be considered more impressive is the way Manchester United performed in those games. Not only did they score two goals in both matches but they totally dominated and were deserving winners.

I am not going to lie, I did not believe he could do it despite the fact that in the back of my mind I knew that we were fantastic against the top 6 sides for reasons I have mentioned in previous posts. Tottenham were the side I thought we could scrape something out of and most definitely did not even consider taking all three points away at the Etihad.

I did not even watch both matches because I was that nervous on Ole's behalf. Twitter updates served me well and a few cold cans of Guinness.

Obviously I had to watch both matches back and I was incredibly awed at certain performances by the United players in the derby.

Rashford, Martial, Fred, McTominay, James, Wan Bissaka were all incredible against Manchester City. Rashford particularly seems determined to prove a point. He has been talismanic. Sometimes as a fan you look to a player on the team to give the others belief, a somewhat standard bearer like the Michael Keans, Cantona's and Ibrahimovic during Mouriho's tenure.

Not only has Rashford been playing above 100%, he looks like he is going to score every time he has the ball around the opposition box. He looks like he is running on a confidence high and more.

The Players are Doing it for Solskjaer!

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Before the Spurs game it came out that Ole had sat the players down and let them know that he might be sacked if he did not end the week on a positive. The validity of this can definitely be questioned but regardless the writing was on the wall.

The OleOutters were gathering up on Twitter with the sacking of Pochettino and Emery encouraging them even more. It was infuriating to watch and read the undeserved abuse and hate directed to Ole.

For Ole to see his players battle so hard to keep him in a job that must have given him that extra confidence that indeed his project is working. Modern day footballers will often not hesitate to throw the manager under the bus, and more rare is when an entire team is fully behind the manager.

Ole has often quoted the match vs Everton last season where Manchester United conceded 4 goals in a spineless performance that left the manager seething. On that day in the post-match press conference he did not mince his words.

You will not see some players play for United again

Despite the fact that he comes off as a 'nice guy' Solskjaer has proved on several occasions that he is truly a 'Babyfaced Assassin'.

Not only did he eff of Lukaku, Sanchez and Smalling he has not been shy to take poor players out of the team and navigating that process like a seasoned politician.

When Solskjaer says nice things about a player who seemingly doesn't have a future at the club, you can almost guarantee that player is gone.

I wouldn't be shocked if Pogba leaves in January because Solskjaer has nothing but nice things to say about the player and an injury that never seems to heal. Anybody remember how Sanchez was injured and ended up moving to Inter on loan? Yep!

Final Thoughts

The next couple of games in the league this month are very winnable but they are exactly the games we tend to lose or draw. Hopefully the Pogba situation is not just about buying time until he moves him on in January and we can have his creativity over the next couple of games.

That creativity to unlock low lying blocks is exactly what we need in the team. Looking forward to the next couple of weeks as we move into the Christmas holidays.

Have a good day. Bye!


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10 comments
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Definitely the case that United need to stay focused and beat Everton this weekend. If they don’t and revert to the kind of performances they put in against Villa and Sheffield United then all of that momentum and feel good factor will evaporate.

Personally, I reckon Pogba is just playing for time before he leaves. Still United can use that to their advantage as now he is in the shop window then he’ll need to perform to get an interested buyer

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This time I do feel like we have turned somewhat of a corner but having Pogba back even from the bench in the game against Everton will be a massive boost. Every time we have had a massive chance to cut the points difference we have always faltered.

I have also come to terms with Pogba leaving. If he is not willing to do the donkey work like Fred or McTominay, despite it not being in his game then we can afford to sell him and bring in someone like Maddison and Jadon Sancho.

I have my fingers crossed for a proper window in Jan and also in the Summer.

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If you guys hadn’t equalised that would have been the perfect weekend for Spurs. We win, Wolves lose, Chelsea lose, Arsenal lose, United sneak a point.

With Liverpool walking away with the league the battle for 4th place is probably the big story in the EPL now

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I was always resigned to the fact that we would not beat Everton. That is just how we are at the moment. The last bit of creativity left is Juan Mata and he has no legs let alone strength to combat Everton players.

Spurs meet Chelsea next and if you beat them you are into 4th by Christmas. Mourinho V Lamparf will be tasty.

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Spurs v Chelsea is always tasty and Mourinho v Lampard adds some special sauce to it! Looking forward to a very entertaining game

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Nice read :)

I'm a red as well and hoping the team is slowly turning the corner. Still think we need a centreback and a commanding center midfielder - Fred is mostly awful!

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Thanks.. Nice to meet another Red on here. I totally agree with you on the CB signing because Lindeloff is extremely weak on challenges especially in the air.

Midfield is also our most niglected area but I just don't agree on Fred. For Fred his partner in midfield matters the most. Put him next to Matic the sloth or Perreira a headless chicken and you get a poor Fred. Put him next to McTominay a combative midfielder with legs and you get the 9/10 Fred who has torn it up against Spurs and City.

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Agreed regarding Lindeloff, he's got a mistake in him every game too.

I'm not even sure Fred is a centre mid, I don't know where I'd play him. If he's a better player when a kid with 0 caps is playing, something isn't right!

Let's hope for a decent performance today, Everton have been poor but have also been a bit better of late.

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I think we forgot to mention one more horrendous player, Luke Shaw. Wan bissaka is fantastic on the right purely as a defender but offers little going forward but Shaw offers nothing at all.

What we have seen today is how much we miss a creative spark in midfield be it Pogba or a Madison who makes those incisive passes.

Pogba might be back for Watford so lets wait and see.

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