When Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Manchester United faced two managerial options: follow the model of the Anfield Boot Room, appoint from within and draw on the experience and the infrastructure that had underpinned the most successful period in the club's history and in the history of the English game. Or throw it all up in the air and try to start again.

United had senior players such as Ryan Giggs, at the club who were coming to the end of their careers, who knew how Ferguson worked, who understood the pressures of operating at one of the biggest clubs in the world, who knew how unforgiving the spotlight would be as the boss, and who had the medals and titles to command the instant respect of their peers.

However Ed Woodward, the club's executive vice-chairman, did not travel that road. He chose to turn his back on all that experience. David Moyes came in and jettisoned Ferguson's backroom staff. A fine manager and a decent man, Moyes soon became paralysed by the demands of the job. United have not been the same since. Not even close.

Ed Woodward has a choice to make - keep Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or go after a bigger name

Now, three failed appointments down the line and chewing on last week's veiled criticism about the running of the club from the most recent of them, Jose Mourinho, Woodward faces what is effectively the same dilemma.

Does he stick with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the unfashionable choice but the man who knows how United works, who knows what it takes to win the biggest trophies, who understands the traditions of the club and who, after victory over Brighton, has now won all seven of his matches in charge? Or does he throw it all up in the air and try to start again?

Woodward's instinct will be to go for a big name. So he will be thinking Mauricio Pochettino, Zinedine Zidane and Diego Simeone. Solskjaer might be a United legend but he's not quite galactico enough for Woodward, a man starstruck by reputations.

It is important to understand this about Woodward. He is an over-promoted accountant who craves acceptance in football, and that is why he is drawn to big reputations. It is as if he believes they bring him credit by association. It is as if he thinks they are his short-cut to being considered a football man.

Manchester United have jettisoned the boot room experience of Sir Alex Ferguson

Sure, Woodward deserves some credit for appointing Solskjaer as caretaker manager in the first place. Woodward has at least begun the process of clearing up the horrible mess he created by hiring Mourinho and allowing him to stay in position for far too long while he systematically dismantled the ethos of the club.

The next bit is the hard part. Woodward, like most observers of the English game, is a big fan of Pochettino and is said to be preparing to try to lure him away from Spurs. Pochettino, who has done a brilliant job in north London, has not exactly hurried to rebuff suggestions that he could be the next United boss.

Ye if Woodward turns his back on Solskjaer by sending him back to Molde in May, he risks making exactly the same mistake he made when he appointed Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho. He risks making a lunge for a big name when the answer to United's problems is standing right in front of him in the form of the caretaker who has transformed the fortunes of the club in one month.

Solskjaer has brought back that atmosphere, winning his first seven games in caretaker charge

Why not give it Solskjaer on a permanent basis? Why not let him build on the results he has achieved already? Why not let him continue the process of recovery and repair? So far, he has had to be a healer as well as a manager, and he has done the job as if he were born for it. There is an energy about the club now that it has not had for years. Why throw that away?

Solskjaer is largely unproven, but then the last three managers were laden with experience and Van Gaal and Mourinho were laden with honours. It didn't do them much good. They looked outdated and tired, refugees from another football age. Solskjaer has none of that kind of baggage.

Everything about him yells enthusiasm for the job. Sure, it's a minimum requirement but Mourinho never seemed to acquire it. Solskjaer already looks more comfortable in it than any of his three predecessors. It fits him. United are starting to look like United again.

It's a huge task. Everything about United under Woodward and the ownership of the Glazer family suggests that this is a club who are atrophying through lack of care and investment. Off the field, they look tired. Compare them with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs and their infrastructure looks worn.

Woodward is blinded by reputations, hence his pursuit of Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino

That is another reason to give it to Solskjaer. Mourinho, in particular, appears to have been surprised by the amateurishness he encountered in the United hierarchy. It wasn't the United he was expecting. It might not be the United that Pochettino is expecting, either.

For Solskjaer, there are no surprises. Solskjaer knows United inside out. Loving the club is not essential but it helps. Under his leadership, United are united and they have begun to harness the power of the club's history again.

Paul Pogba is looking like the world beater he is, Marcus Rashford is brimming with confidence, Victor Lindelof is drawing comparisons with Nemanja Vidic and David de Gea is still Superman.

For Woodward, the answer is there in front of his eyes. Sure, it is a risk appointing Solskjaer but recent history suggests it will be a bigger risk to chase an outsider. Woodward has made that mistake three times. To do it again would be to invite the same misfortune.

Despite Woodward's love of big names, there is no real reason not to give the job to Solskjaer

Let's celebrate Bielsa... for his footballing style

I don't understand the hysteria around Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa sending scouts to watch opposition training.

The 11 Championship clubs who were signatories to a letter demanding a more thorough investigation into the matter can huff and puff as much as they want but Leeds have not broken any rules. If you don't want someone studying your set-pieces, plant a row of leylandii.

Nor can I grasp why there is a movement to beatify Bielsa because he took an hour to demonstrate to the media that he works hard at his job.

Somewhere in the middle is the fact that, when they have a good day, Leeds are playing the most attractive football of any team in England. That is the best reason to celebrate Bielsa's presence in the English game.

The hysteria around Marcelo Bielsa and Spygate is baffling - but so has been his beatification

London 2012 were dirtiest Olympic Games ever

Every now and again we are fed the lie that sport is getting cleaner. Every now and again, we are confronted with the truth.

Last week a 32nd medalist from the London Olympics, Georgian freestyle wrestler Davit Modzmanashvili, failed a retrospective test. It was the 117th failed test from London 2012.

At the time of the Games we were told it was a new dawn and that the problem of doping was under control. Sadly, the latest bust means the London Olympics are now officially the dirtiest Olympics ever.

Mertesacker must get his priorities right — and fast

Per Mertesacker is Arsenal's academy manager but on Thursday night, instead of watching Arsenal v Tottenham in the FA Youth Cup, he went to the 02 Arena to act as a television analyst for the NBA game between the Washington Wizards and the New York Knicks.

Mertesacker loves the NBA, apparently. The problem is he appears to love it more than actually doing his job.

Arsenal v Spurs in the FA Youth Cup is likely to be the biggest game of the academy season and Mertesacker went on a jolly instead. If he'd rather watch basketball than football, he ought to do Arsenal a favour and get out of the club fast.