Manchester United boss Solskjaer saw his side emphatically beaten by Everton on Sunday, with Marco Silva’s side winning 4-0 at Goodison Park.
For the Red Devils, it was another chastening experience. Having gone into the game on the back of five defeats from their last seven outings, a huge response was needed.
But Manchester United were meek, barely threatening throughout the encounter. It was not until the 86th minute they managed a shot on target – something unforgivable for a squad as expensive as this.
It was at the back, however, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s outfit were really dreadful.
And Chris Smalling and Phil Jones’ displays were so poor, so dire, they should never pull on the red shirt again.
There is no denying that both players have proven themselves useful club servants over the years.
But neither has become the player that United legend Sir Alex Ferguson expected them to be.
Jones’ Old Trafford career has been marred by injuries.
But, even when fully fit and firing, the England international looks out of his depth and, no matter the opposition, panicky on the ball.
Jose Mourinho thought the centre-back could be United’s John Terry when he took the job in 2016.
And how wrong he was. Jones is a dire excuse for a centre-back at the top level and, despite signing a new contract, has to be sold at the end of the campaign. Even by the end of his tenure, Mourinho knew that too.
Smalling, on the other hand, has served United well.
He was among the best players of the Louis van Gaal era, impressing alongside Daley Blind at the back in the 2015/2016 season.
But he has regressed ever since.
Smalling, on his day, can shine. He was particularly immense in the famous 3-1 Champions League win over PSG last month.
But he is too inconsistent to play week in, week out. And when you cannot trust him, what’s the point of keeping him?
Smalling and Jones are 29 and 27 respectively. They have had their chance to be United greats – and failed to take it.
Sure, Eric Bailly can be rash but, at 25, should be nurtured instead.
Victor Lindelof, at 24, also has time on his side. He and Bailly deserve time under Solskjaer but Smalling and Jones do not.
And, regardless of Ed Woodward’s needless decision-making, Solskjaer should have the sense to field neither of the United stars ever again.