Sunday 6 January 2019 12:38, UK
Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the right man for Manchester United in the long term? The Sunday Supplement panel discuss United's options.
Solskjaer has enjoyed a dream start to life in interim charge of United, enjoying five wins from five in all competitions since taking over from Jose Mourinho.
Having overseen such an upturn in fortunes, some fans have suggested that Solskjaer be given the job on a full-time basis, with the attacking football that United have been playing under the interim boss more what fans have come to expect from their side.
Speaking on the Sunday Supplement, the Daily Telegraph's northern football correspondent James Ducker believes that Solskjaer could well be given the opportunity, but feels the pressure is on for United to get this appointment right after years of stagnation.
"There is always a chance," Ducker said of Solskjaer's chances of getting the job.
"At the moment it is only on a interim basis, with the overwhelming choice being Mauricio Pochettino.
"Where it gets interesting for the United hierarchy is if he goes on an extraordinary run between now and the end of the season. They flourish in Champions League, big wins in Premier League, get into top four, maybe win the FA Cup, then the momentum from the fan base becomes pretty irresistible
"The thing with Solskjaer is he naturally radiates positivity, he is friendly, likeable, who will put arms around people's shoulders. He understands the fabric of the club.
"The structure needs urgently addressing. One thing about Pochettino is that he has experience of working while structural change is being implemented with Southampton and Tottenham.
"It is not just about a Director of Football for United, they need a whole group of people with recruitment expertise around them. There is an acute lack of footballing expertise at the top of the club, and it has resulted in one of the most abysmal, scattergun, recruitment strategies imaginable.
"The guy who comes in, yes he has to be a coach who develops and fulfils talent, the Rashfords, the Martials, the Lingards, the club feels there is a lot of talent there that has been wasted, but there has to be a much, much wider thinking - a short, medium and long term vision, something the manager has to buy into.
"We are at the point now where United have to get this right. There is a big gap to catch up with Liverpool and Mannchester City, if they get this appointment wrong, you have to wonder how long it will be before they are back at the top table."
The long term view is of paramount importance, says The Independent's Jonathan Liew, having seen United get it so badly wrong in recent times.
"United fans have had five or six years of drudgery" Liew said. "They just want to feel like the biggest club in the world again, and Solskjaer speaks to that, that part of United that want to be that bit arrogant again.
"Over the long term, though, that club needs some vision, some strategy, some tactical plan. It needs a plan of how it wants to play football in 2019.
"You cannot tell if someone is going to provide that long term vision in five weeks. Yes Solskjaer has improved the mood around the club, but he is going to need to show a different side to his management."
