Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes "nobody cares" about Old Trafford's fear factor anymore and has cast doubts over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's credentials to take Manchester United back to the top.
Palace beat United 2-1 on Saturday to inflict Solskjaer's first defeat of the new Premier League season, with the Reds now having won just three of their last 15 games, stretching back to last season.Palace, Cardiff City, Burnley and Wolves are among the teams to have taken points from their visits to Old Trafford in the past season or so.
And Jordan believes United are fortunate to have picked up the four points they currently have.
“Because it’s Manchester United, we’ve watched all of their games because there is more focus on Manchester United,” he said on TalkSport.
“On one hand you could say, two penalties put Manchester United five points better off so we would have a different look at Man United because they would be second.
“But if you look at the manner in which Man United are playing, I’m sorry because I know Man United fans will start yelling and screaming, but up to 60 minutes against Chelsea they were getting bossed.
“Chelsea were the better side in that game by a long way and nobody could see anybody other than Chelsea scoring goals. Now conventional wisdom was defied and Chelsea capitulated.
“But anyone else other than Chelsea on that day, of that sort of perceived stature, wouldn’t have capitulated and I don’t think Man United would have won that game."
Jordan admitted the win for Palace — which came courtesy of two breakaway goals and a missed Marcus Rashford penalty — was fortunate, but believes Old Trafford doesn't scare away teams like it did when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of United.
He also questioned Solskjaer's position as manager.
“With respect, Palace got very very lucky and Roy (Hodgson) talked about ‘riding their luck’ and ultimately pulling a result out of nowhere," he added.
“But looking at that performance; there is no fear factor, nobody cares about Old Trafford because that image is gone.
“And I don’t think it is going to come back under the stewardship of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because part of that image, as we know, was (the) best players winning games.
“But also, was this figure at the very head of Manchester United as a football operation which was Ferguson.
“Are you seriously saying to me that the serious times of Man United, with Liverpool and Man City disappearing into the horizon, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to operate at the level that is required? I don’t think so!”
