Manchester United are loving life under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having won their first three games over the Christmas period against Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth. The shackles have come off for United’s star players such as Paul Pogba are now absolutely flying under the Norwegian gaffer.
The Red Devils have hit an incredible 12 goals in just three games under their new boss and look a completely different animal, albeit against three of the poorer sides in the division. They travel to Newcastle tonight in another winnable game and if they win it, their new gaffer will equal a 73-year-old record set by the great Sir Matt Busby.
Manchester United have not won their first four league games under a new manager since Sir Matt Busby lead his side to a flying start in the 1946-47 season. United beat Grimsby, Chelsea, Charlton and Liverpool at the start of that campaign on their way to finishing second in the Football League, in the first season of action following the end of World War Two.
It is remarkable that no other manager has achieved this feat in the years following, with even Sir Alex Ferguson failing to make such an instant impression. Fergie took over the reigns midway through the 1986-87 season and actually lost his first game in charge to Oxford United 2-0. That was followed up by a draw at Norwich and a 1-0 win at home to QPR before they again lost, this time away at Wimbledon. Fergie did lead them away from the relegation zone to an 11th place finish but it did take five seasons before they won the very first Premier League and began their period of dominance in English football.
Comparatively, his successor David Moyes actually made a better start to life as a Manchester United manager, scooping seven points from his opening four league games. He began life with a 4-1 win over Swansea before a creditable 0-0 draw with Chelsea. A 1-0 defeat at Anfield was damaging but Moyes’ boys bounced back with a 2-0 win over Palace.
Jose Mourinho won his first three Premier League games as Man Utd gaffer but had his winning run ended by those pesky cross-city rivals, Manchester City. That 2-1 home defeat was preceded by wins over Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull City giving him nine points out of a possible 12.
So Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can continue his perfect start to his Manchester United managerial career tonight with a win over Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle side and he can, for a week at least, be considered ‘equal’ with Sir Matt Busby.
