Sports

Soccer-Solskjaer pays for transfer failures and lack of ruthlessness

Published

3 years ago

November 21, 2021

As he reflects on his exit from Manchester United on Sunday after nearly three years in charge, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will no doubt consider what might have been at Old Trafford.

What if he had been less nice and more ruthless with his players? What if he had been more aggressive in his transfer requests to the club’s hierarchy and what if they had delivered on those?

The Norwegian was handed the chance to restore United to the levels of success they enjoyed during his time as a player under Alex Ferguson’s management but he left with the team seventh in the league and without winning a trophy.

If Solskjaer had been able to bring in the players he identified as part of his overhaul of the squad, however, the success United fans craved may have come much closer.

The list of players United reportedly attempted to sign — but didn’t — shows that, while Solskjaer’s forgiving nature and tactical decisions were clearly factors in his downfall — the club’s recruitment mistakes also played a key role.

The first player Solskjaer made clear he wanted was compatriot Erling Haaland, who he coached at Norwegian club Molde.

The centre forward is one of the most exciting attacking talents in the game but United were unable to sign him from RB Salzburg and he joined Borussia Dortmund.

United were in advanced talks to sign Jude Bellingham, the highly promising England midfielder, when he was still playing for second tier Birmingham City but he also went to Dortmund.

Portuguese full back Joao Cancelo was on the club’s radar during his time in Italy with Inter Milan and Juventus but he ended up in Pep Guardiola’s title-winning squad at Manchester City.

BLUE HALF

Spanish defensive midfielder Rodri, was identified by Solskjaer as a player to fill a longstanding weak spot in his side — but he also headed to the blue half of Manchester.

Atletico Madrid’s England right back Kieran Trippier and German international Kai Havertz, now with Chelsea, were also targets that failed to arrive.

United’s owners did, however, back Solskjaer with big-money signings including winger Jadon Sancho who arrived after over a year of talks with Dortmund, France centre half Raphael Varane and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Before that Bruno Fernandes was brought in from Sporting Lisbon and added much needed quality to the side and ultimately there was enough quality to win at least some of the games that United lost this season.

“I don’t think Ole can complain about the time that he has been given and the money that he has been afforded. I don’t think he can complain about the players delivered to him,” said former United skipper Gary Neville on Sky Sports.

Critics of Solskjaer have pointed to the unclear tactics used, most noticeably in the 5-0 home mauling by Liverpool and the lack of a consistent style of play.

The United squad certainly has no shortage of attacking talent but Solskjaer was ultimately undone by the poor displays of his back four and the lack of defensive quality – or shape — of his midfield.

The United manager continued to show faith in out-of-form players such as Aaron Wan Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire — loyalty which cost him dearly in his final month.

The Norwegian and the club’s hierarchy also chose to keep players on the pay-roll who were clearly no longer central to his first-team plans – the likes of Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Eric Bailly, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Diogo Dalot.

For all the references to returning to the “United way” of his playing days, Solskjaer did not show Ferguson’s ruthlessness in moving players quickly out of the door when they were no longer needed.

Whether that was down to Solskjaer’s “niceness” or those above him thinking it was more economical to keep existing squad players than pay for new recruits to replace them is unclear.

But the result was a squad with too few quality options for a manager who struggled to get the best out of what was available to him.

(Reporting by Simon Evans, Editing by Ed Osmond)

Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

16 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

16 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Sports

Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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