Mr Nice Guy v hairdryer: the dilemma facing Solskjær before crunch games | Jamie Jackson


The Norwegian rarely reprimands his players in public but could they do with a dressing-down every now and then?

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is the touchline Mr Nice Guy whose breezy demeanour may be counterproductive. To find a sighting of the manager scolding a Manchester United player is akin to a search for Lord Lucan: it could take some time.

Why does it matter? Because players, even subconsciously, can ease off, or just blithely fail to heed orders. There is, of course, little point in mindless venting with no material aim. But for a No 1 to be able to show who the No 1 is via a mid-game shock-and-awe lecture to stop aberrations is vital or performances will dip.

Continue reading...