Solskjaer's already under huge pressure at Manchester United. But sacking him would be a cowardly move from Ed Woodward and the Glazers, who have seen off a succession of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson's exit

  • Man United suffered yet another humiliating Premier League defeat on Sunday
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were beaten 2-0 by West Ham to leave them in 8th
  • Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has sacked three bosses during his reign
  • Solskjaer deserves more support from Woodward and the Glazer family 

David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho will all have sympathy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this morning as the pressure starts to grow on the under-fire Manchester United manager. 

Moyes was the 'Chosen One' to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as he was 'cut from the same cloth' as the legendary Scotsman. 

Van Gaal arrived in Manchester on the back of a successful World Cup with Holland but he was only allowed to serve two years of his three-year deal before he was axed. 

Ed Woodward has escaped the firing line since he replaced David Gill at United in 2013

Ed Woodward has escaped the firing line since he replaced David Gill at United in 2013

The Glazer family (including Avram left and Joel right) have let Woodward run the club

The Glazer family (including Avram left and Joel right) have let Woodward run the club

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho originally on a temporary basis in 2018
Mourinho was sacked after losing the dressing room

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) replaced Jose Mourinho originally on a temporary basis in 2018

David Moyes was sacked after nine months
Louis van Gaal left the club after two years

David Moyes was sacked after nine months while Louis van Gaal left the club after two years

And then there was the 'Special One' who was supposed to return the glory days back to United but everything fell to pieces in the third year which was somewhat inevitable. 


With Mourinho dispensed of in December 2018, United decided to turn to a legend in Solskjaer on a caretaker basis. 

He impressed in his temporary role but it has turned sour ever since with United winning just five of their 19 games since the Red Devils won away at Paris Saint-Germain. They have lost 10 of those 19. 

This would usually be the stage when fans and former players start to turn on the head coach but it feels different this time around. 

Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are among the pundits who insists Solskjaer needs time when they were quick to turn on Mourinho when he was starting to fail.  

It's now time to look further up the pecking order with the Glazer family and Ed Woodward, who earns north of £4m-a-year, more at fault than Solskjaer. 

Solskjaer is more astute to turn on his bosses in the same way Mourinho did. The Portuguese jokingly said on Sky Sports' Super Sunday that he cried in order to convince Woodward he needed to sign a centre back last summer. 

Executive vice-chairman Woodward declined Mourinho's request which left the former Chelsea boss is in a foul state before a ball was even kicked during United's pre-season tour of America. There was only ever going to be one outcome when he threw his toys out of the pram.

Woodward has shown he is more at home when he's agreeing deals with True Religion as Manchester United's 'official denim partner' or New Era as 'official leisure headwear' partner than he is at signing stars. 

The 47-year-old, who has a close connection with the club's owners due to his previous fine work in the commercial department, is clueless when it comes to making football decisions. 

United's transfer business has been farcical ever since David Gill quickly followed Sir Alex Ferguson out of the Old Trafford exit door. 

The first summer window in 2013 sums it up with United chasing several of Europe's top talents before ending up with a certain Marouane Fellaini. 

United made a derisory double offer of £28million of Fellaini and Baines and ended up paying £27.5m for the Belgian by himself. 

Ander Herrera, Daniele De Rossi, Sami Khedira, Cesc Fabregas and Fabio Coentrao were all chased by Woodward but he failed to get any of the prospective deals over the line. 

The deals he has managed to complete have been either extremely overpriced or late due to lengthy talks. 

Paying Alexis Sanchez £560,000-a-week (including bonuses) was a sign of desperation, handing Mourinho a new contract in January 2018 was ludicrous and handing Solskjaer a permanent deal before last season ended was premature.  

United should have wrapped up the Harry Maguire deal in time for the club's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia but Woodward instead decided to meet Leicester's £80m valuation just six days before the new season. 

You may say at least Woodward finally delivered the centre back the club craved for at least two years but he should have been fully settled and up to speed with centre back partner Victor Lindelof before he was thrown in the deep end. 

United have spent close to £850m since Ferguson and Gill left but it feels like they need another £300m — at the very least — to get into a position to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool. 

Mourinho has questioned the hierarchy since he departed and he is right. 

Where is the director of football which the club were supposed to hire in the summer? Surely the majority of technical directors at rival clubs would jump at the chance of taking up the same role at United but it seems like Woodward is scared of letting the power go elsewhere.

Victor LIndelof (left) and Harry Maguire (right) look dejected during United's defeat on Sunday

Victor LIndelof (left) and Harry Maguire (right) look dejected during United's defeat on Sunday

Patrice Evra has called on Woodward and the Manchester United board to make changes

Patrice Evra has called on Woodward and the Manchester United board to make changes

The club have instead been linked with Darren Fletcher and Rio Ferdinand who have ZERO experience when it comes to fulfilling those duties. 

Patrice Evra, who is said to have a close relationship with Woodward and is currently working on his coaching badges with United's Under 18 side, said changes are needed after Sunday's West Ham defeat. 

He wrote on Instagram: 'I think it's time to get our hands dirty! Manchester United board, are you ready to let us help you guys?'

That might be seen as pitch for him to get a sporting director job himself or he might just be giving his friend a nudge to shape up before the situation gets even worse. 

The Glazer family, who also own the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will not be losing any sleep over United's decline as they continue to make large profits from the club. 

They continue to look on from afar with Woodward given the responsibility of leading operations from his London office.  

Woodward has made several big bloopers including handing Mourinho a new deal in 2018

Woodward has made several big bloopers including handing Mourinho a new deal in 2018

Solskjaer needed to be backed this summer but United only brought in Harry Maguire (£80m), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£50m) and Daniel James (£17m). 

Where was the midfield acquisition? Where was the replacement for Alexis Sanchez? What happened to the money made from the £74m sell of Romelu Lukaku?

These are all questions that should be put to Woodward and the Glazer family but they will instead hide by failing to respond to their critics and fans. 

Sacking Solskjaer would be yet another cowardly act by United's hierarchy... now it's time for them to face the music as another inquests starts into the club's demise from title challengers to underachievers.