While Manchester United were struggling to score against Bournemouth, over in Italy, the man they let go and failed to replace was banging them in for Inter Milan — again.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice in a 2-1 win away at Bologna on Saturday, meaning he now has nine goals in 11 Serie A games under Antonio Conte. Had he not already been on the books of United, the club's scouting department would probably be recommending they make a move for this guy in January!
Losing at Bournemouth was a reality check for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his United players.
It reminded them of their problems, with recent results having only papered over the cracks.
United went to the Vitality Stadium off the back of a mini-run, but I did not read too much into their three wins on the bounce.
They won 1-0 against Partizan — a side currently fourth in the Serbian SuperLiga — via a penalty in the Europa League.
They got the better of a struggling Norwich side in the Premier League. Then they beat a second-string Chelsea team in the Carabao Cup, with Marcus Rashford's stunning free-kick proving the difference.
There was talk of this — and their 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford in October — being proof of United turning a corner. I didn't see it that way. I still felt the problems were there, lying underneath, and they reappeared on Saturday.
Solskjaer described Joshua King's goal as a 'moment of magic' — and it really was — but United were unable to respond. One startling statistic doing the rounds after the 1-0 defeat was that the Norwegian has now lost more Premier League games as a manager than Jurgen Klopp, despite taking charge of 105 fewer games.
As our table shows, he also has the worst win ratio of any United boss to have taken charge since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013. David Moyes, caretaker Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho all averaged at least 50 per cent but Solskjaer is on 48.9, having lost 13 of the 45 games he has overseen so far.
He has serious work to do to get this club back on track.
For one, they need to recruit right and be smarter in their decision-making. Seeing Lukaku scoring for fun in Italy must make United wonder whether letting him leave in the summer was the correct call.
Conte has got the 26-year-old fit and firing. He now looks like more of an athlete and that is the responsibility of the manager — to get his players properly prepared.
Should Solskjaer have been able to do that, too? They certainly could have done with Lukaku on Saturday.
There is now pressure on United to make sure they tackle January and the summer properly if they are to move forward. As things stand, we have seen little sign of progress.
Zamablnptz
0
Ole needs to understand that the problem is not with his strikers but the midfield. As long as there are no good midfielders there every striker will struggle.
TanIsRed
0
Ole's ego is the main problem lies with in the tactics and his boring formation along with team selection. He should let the E and GO. He definitely needs to find a good leader in the squads who can lead the team to GLORY and surely that isn't Young. Ole should also consider to leave his tactics and boring formation of 4-3-2-1 or 3-4-2-1 to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 for better results.. Experimenting with players and tactics times are over now it's time to stick with plan A or B. Hopefully Ole will do the needful. Let's hope for the best. GGMU...
Vadabdeiuy
0
it's a reason to sack ole'
Woeadipsy
0
have said this thing before that ole Gunnar is not the right man for man united is just destroying united like di matio did to Chelsea united hierarchy if you want united to be united people know sack Ed Woodward and ole and few overrated British like rashford,lingard,Jones, asley young and bring a better coach and better director and chief chairman
Dibbdiltu
0
Wen MU got JM they shld hv supported him to make MU d best but d board make d painful mistake of sacking him
yeah that's the only thing we should do at the time .
Mobdlnort
0
man United mistakes to release this JM instead of pogba who brought him to United?and y he let's the manager to get shacked? what is that really good that he is doing for the team next mistakes United committed lukaku,Alexis, Herrera sorry OGS you don't know what to do
Mobdlnort
0
mntd borders they did a huge mistake you can't shack JS a man who hold a trophy record and you bring in OGS how many trophies that he won so far those are team's with winning history get another better coach if you really want muntd to be the United we know
vaacilpuy
0
Wat counts to MU.. D man at d helm.. OGS no Strategy... No Positioning... Midfield lack deptj Forwards.. Misfiring maybe too tired D young lads are OK but no one leads them
Wen MU got JM they shld hv supported him to make MU d best but d board make d painful mistake of sacking him
Dibbdiltu
0
Olee sign one creative player and striker in janaury plz
its not just about signing a new player .. as a good manager he should know how to make their players get ready to play his ways (physicality , capabilities ,their playing style and etc) and im really wondering what kind of training they've been doing every session when u know that u need to fix no.10 .. is that make sense u just want to wait until January TWs open to fix that problem ? wtf ! struggle team with the clueless manager , ole has been appointed with a wrong job at united !
vaacilpuy
0
Wat counts to MU.. D man at d helm.. OGS no Strategy... No Positioning... Midfield lack deptj Forwards.. Misfiring maybe too tired D young lads are OK but no one leads them
Agree wth ur statement
Dibbdiltu
0
Wat counts to MU.. D man at d helm.. OGS no Strategy... No Positioning... Midfield lack deptj Forwards.. Misfiring maybe too tired D young lads are OK but no one leads them
that's what as a manager should do about his squad.. he should know how to manage his players needs to play his ways . u can see what happen to lukaku now , his physical was fit like he was playing for everton before , his first touch automatically become good again .. thats what ole should prepare for the squad and do u think he could be that way ? i dont think so cuz he's not going to be that way of manager. pep and klopp already good on this ..
Zihbdiry
0
Ole is useless
Nyama12
1
Tony1512
0
Greenwood is the man let him start and see the wonders
vaacilpuy
0
Wat counts to MU.. D man at d helm.. OGS no Strategy... No Positioning... Midfield lack deptj Forwards.. Misfiring maybe too tired D young lads are OK but no one leads them
CraigMoothusamy
0
this better wake him up otherwise next two games his out
Slaphiter
0
if u not win on Sunday I'm go to stop watching football 4ever 😡🤬🤯👹👺
Please don't watch
Vipacdknot
1
no star player will come to man Utd since we have the dumb solksjaer on the wheel. the stars can come at very inflated prices only for money.
Vipacdknot
0
solksjaer is a dumb donkey whereas conte is not. It's as simple as that.
Bihabdiklm
0
Olee sign one creative player and striker in janaury plz
yacdlnsu
2
if u not win on Sunday I'm go to stop watching football 4ever 😡🤬🤯👹👺
mzeereal
3
I pray Ole wake up and have some sense. The team need lots of changes
04Brontok94
0
Inter wanted to swap Icardi plus cash for Big Rom, Solskjaer rejected Mauro and flirted with Dybala. Smfh,I knew we were doomed when we couldn't sing a prolific CF to replace Rom[Crylaugh]
Riwabmnrtz
1
An out and out striker is needed. it may be too late now...
haaadeikms
1
watching this game for a third time .we are rubb
yaobcdpsty
3
U have seen your own stupidness by allowing Lukaku to go without his replacement.
joseadedayo
2
He would have still messed up with lukaku. lukaku and Sanchez made the best choice for their respective careers and its paying real dividends. Ole had lukaku last season and still couldn't make top four. if he likes he should bring Werner, mandzukic, halland and callum Wilson in January and continue to play like cowards, they would still loose to the likes of Bournemouth and westham.
diocknoy
4
Ole you are a total jackass.. Leave Manchester United please