#OleIn - the club can stick their alleged 3-man shortlist

After a great start to the league campaign, a blip in Switzerland has seen one of the most underappreciated men in football - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - become the subject of wild press and social media speculation and blame yet again.

A new season and a new-look squad - but, in terms of the media and social networks, it's the same old story whenever Manchester United face any sort of blip.

United's Champions League campaign kicked-off with an admittedly disappointing 2-1 defeat in Switzerland, against Young Boys of Bern.

Cristiano Ronaldo, sporting United's stunning new away shirt, had fired the Red Devils ahead with the third goal of his fairytale return to the Red Devils. But the dismissal of Aaron Wan-Bissaka ten minutes before half-time turned the game on its head.

The hosts would go onto dominate proceedings - with 19 shots to United's two, and eight corners to the one of Solskjaer's men. A passionate, partisan home crowd anticipated a famous night for their Swiss heroes; and so it ultimately proved to be.

A three-man centre-half partnership of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf and substitute summer acquisition Varane defended well under immense pressure - but Cameroon winger Moumi Ngamaleu restored parity on 66 minutes.

It looked like United may escape with what would have been a decent point under the circumstances. But a moment of madness from Ronaldo's replacement Jesse Lingard saw the England winger back-pass directly to Jordan Siebatcheu, who bore down on David de Gea and dispatched a winning goal in the fifth minute of added time.

The post-match reprisals have been absurd - with, once again, Solskjaer subject to undue criticism and blame for the result.

The media are lapping it up as usual - with click-bait headlines galore; and the likes of talkSport's Jason Cundy calling for the club to immediately sack the Norwegian. This is despite United being top of the Premier League, unbeaten away in the league since Biblical times, and having put five past fierce rivals Leeds and four beyond Newcastle since the new season got underway.

Much to the glee of the press pack, and click-bait social media pages, the Glazer family are rumoured to have drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Solskjaer. Antonio Conte seems to be the rumoured frontrunner - with Zinedine Zidane and, surprisingly, former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers allegedly in the frame if United part company with a manager they handed a well-deserved new contract to only weeks ago.

Solskjaer, 48, only signed a new deal in late July. It's a three-year deal with an option for a further year. Since then, United have moved to the top of the Premier League. The fact so many column inches are being devoted to reports of a possible sacking are totally and utterly absurd - and hope baseless.

A new squad - featuring the likes of Jadon Sancho, Varane and Ronaldo - continues to bed in; and learn how to play with one another; and that will take some time. Despite that, United have started the new league season with aplomb - amassing ten points from four games, and hitting the net a decent 11 times. Imagine what could be possible when the new-look team really starts to click.

Solskjaer has won 87 of his 156 games in charge. He finished second in the Premier League last season, and led United to a major European finale - while his wider record in Cup competitions is good, albeit stopping short of lifting silverware.

He continues to foster a culture - and with an attacking philosophy; demolishing far more teams than his predecessors David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho combined.

Singular tactical decisions come under the spotlight - but these are tired tropes when you think Solskjaer has masterminded an unbeaten away run that has seen United match or beat every team away from home in the league since February 2020. The trips to the St.Mary's and Molineux this season have ticked that unbeaten tally up to a whopping 30 matches; comfortably a Premier League record.

His man management, too, has been first class. Luke Shaw has become one of the world's best left-backs under Solskjaer's guidance. He has handled the situation with Paul Pogba and his agent Mino Raiola with class. He has three top goalkeepers - De Gea, Dean Henderson and Tom Heaton - at his disposal; and manages to keep them all happy.

The impressive summer signings of course add pressure to Solskjaer - but United's boss deserves far more credit for what he is building; bringing the greatest stability to the club and a sustainable plan for success since the managerial titan Sir Alex Ferguson hung up his hairdryer. United surely can't get everything right, nor win every week - but the media hysteria, the social media comments and the bizarre #OleOut trend every time United don't quite do the business are embarrassing. Scrutinise - yes of course; but get some perspective. Ole in.