Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager Of Molde
There’s nothing to say about Ole’s footballer career that you haven’t heard before, and I reckon you will have noted his success in charge of United’s reserves as well as his success so far for Molde who are closing in on the Norwegian league title.
After six games, Molde were sitting in the 10th spot out of 16 teams with only eight points and a negative goal difference, but Ole was able to lead the team out of mid-table and incredibly looks like landing the title in his first season in charge of the club.
Pros
His 20legend banner at Stretford end says it all about how appreciated he is at Old Trafford, which means he will have the backing of the fans from day number one, which will be a massive advantage to him.
He has a great relationship with Fergie, and already knows a lot about life in Manchester United, after becoming the longest overseas squad/staff member during his time at the club. Solskjaer’s managerial abilities seem to work out quite well too, and I don’t doubt that he can make a decent career as a manager.
Molde have never won the Norwegian championship, despite 2011 being the club’s 100th anniversary, so it’s safe to say that (barring a disastrous collapse with five games to go) he has turned a runner-up mentality into what seems to be a winning formula.
When it comes down to the way of play, the Norwegian 38-year old fancies his side to keep the ball on the floor and play a passing game. 4-3-3 has been the chorus, combined with a rotation system leaving no players safe in the starting line-up for the next game, no matter what the status in the squad.
Cons
Nevertheless, I feel that he hasn’t got enough managerial experience and that by quite a long mile. A couple of seasons as the reserves’ coach and one (or two-three) good seasons in the Norwegian Tippeliga, still can’t hide his lack of experience at the highest level.
With fewer trophies to his name than any other candidate apart from Premier League veteran David Moyes, it would be a major surprise even giving his cult status at the club, for United to hire such a youngster in managerial terms.
Another point to add is that he’ll never get enough experience before Sir Alex retires, and he’ll most likely call it a day within a few years (well that’s what we think) As well, it’s important to add that in contrast to most Tippeliga clubs, he haven’t been forced to sell for economical reasons, because of Kjell Inge Rokke (a rich Norwegian businessman) contributions to Molde’s economical situation.
Saying that though, Solskjaer has not been able to spend gazillions on players like a certain Roberto Mancini, but he has had the advantage of not having to sell to make the economical wheels at the club keep turning, which is something other clubs can’t afford.
