Few would deny that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done a sensational job at Manchester United so far.
A run of nine wins and one draw has seen a total transformation right across the board. All of a sudden, players such as Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof are hitting the heights wearing wide smiles.
So why not give Solskjaer the job now? What else must he do to earn it full-time? That’s a compelling argument for many United fans. And it might also be for those figures currently profiting from the Norwegian’s guidance.
But one note of caution: a caretaker manager’s relationship with his players is often much different to that of a permanent boss. The dynamics can change when everyone knows he’s going to be there for much longer.
At the moment, the squad are still buzzing from Jose Mourinho’s exit and the much happier mood around the place. But the minute Solskjaer signs a longer contract, everyone starts asking about plans for the future rather than simply enjoying this joyous revival. Much more responsibility falls on Solskjaer’s shoulders, which changes the way he thinks and probably behaves.
That’s something the decision-makers at Old Trafford have got to weigh up: is their old player better suited to a quick fix than achieving sustained success?
Fulham, of course, are miles away from both. You worry for their financial health should relegation hit. So many recent arrivals, no doubt on good money, would be hard to shift if they went down.
And it’s difficult to see the logic in signing Lazar Markovic hot on the heels of Ryan Babel. Did the front man get the nod because he’s Aleksandar Mitrovic’s mate? Whatever the truth, before looking elsewhere Fulham badly needed to bolster that chaotic defence and I’m not sure Havard Nordtveit represents the solution.
You look at Huddersfield’s January transfer activity and you can tell that they’re now planning for the Championship. Look at Fulham’s and it resembles a wild gamble that could go badly wrong.
