I don't think Ander was forced on him, I think ADM and Falcao were to an extent, but who would say no to them. However the fact he seem determined to repackage ADM and is playing Falcao obviously until he scores a goal in the last game of the season. We all know the sort of players still needed to blend with the new ones bought this season. However, I can just see the board throwing a curve ball in there that will completely destabalise everything LvG wants to do. Ed Woodward wants us to be on a par with Real and that is what they do, buy the latest shiny object whether it is needed or not.
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Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 31
- Goals
- 8
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 6
- Status
I'm not sure, Falcao has had a hard time getting into the team and his inability to find some form or score goals, for example against Cambridge, will see him probably soon enough on the bench again. With di Maria it really looks like he has no idea how to use him.
Di Maria was singled out by van Gaal before we signed him and he was explaining why he sold Welbeck and signed Falcao. One was simply not as prolific as the other to him. Van Gaal also went on the say after the transfer window, how great it is how the club and board supports him and how he could just sign the players he wants. Moyes seemed to get the players he wanted as well, he just took longer to decide who he wants. I really don't see from what we know, that the board sign players the managers don't want. Let's wait and see, the scenario you are describing doesn't have to come true, I think Herrera will improve and see more match practice this year.
I don't think Woodward or the Glazers would hesitate given how they treated the annointed David Moyes, I actually think his sacking would be swifter and more ruthless than David's. The fact is, a gifted manager like him shouldn't be having problems coaxing performances out of a squad like ours and it's his fault that he didn't look to do more to solve our defensive issues. His major problem is that he can't come to terms with the decline of his boy wonder and with a defence like ours we can not carry one let alone two underperforming, one paced strikers. We need pace, trickery and energy and usually when you surround Rooney with that he will score bucket loads.
LVG publically stated that "we have to play 352 because we dont have op qaulity wingers like di maria". He actually said the prior to us getting Di Maria. He then plays Di Maria every where but wide and says we play 352 due to "lack of balance".
He contradicts himself a lot in what he says in interviews. I think alot of this is a.) the language issue and b.) he doesnt want to call out some of the centre backs as not been good enough to play in a 4, or that the likes of young and valencia cant play as a traditional full back.
So whist he's protecting the team he's providing some fickle fans and the media with a stick to beat him with.
As for Ander being forced on him. Out of everyfootballer in the whole squad i would think that Herrera would be right up Van Gaals street.
Unfortunatley for herrera is role in the leicester collapse has maybe lead Van Gaal to think Herrera and a young inexpreianced back 3 is a recipe for disaster. Now we have rojo, shaw and rafa back plus carrick and blind then i think we'll see more of Herrera - possibly starting on saturday.
I think one of the main issues is finding a position for wayne rooney!
I think LvG is actually popular with the players and he cares about their welfare. If reports about this summer tour are anything to go by. He has asked and has supposedly got it vastly reduced. He wasn't happy about the number of games when he came in last summer. That is where there is a big clash with the money men at the club, the other commercial commitments the players have to carry out on a day today basis when maybe they should be resting.
I agree with this and think that in hindsight, He probably wouldnt have signed Falcao. But then again its only a loan and it allows him to use Wilson sparingly for now.
Again, qouting he said that "i dont like rooney as a numer 9"
I personally think Rooney has been well below the standard required. His form in part has been overlooked and excused because in playing out of position or atleast in a new position he does have an excuse.
However, in making him captin, then saying he doesnt fancy him as a 9 its almost like we are creating a position for him to play in which is currently detrimental to the team.
Id like to see herrera start and id like to see rooney play off falcao with Di maria wide. Mata would then have to miss out but so be it.
I do understand Van Gaal's problem. He has three potentially great centre forwards and nowhere near enough games for all of them to shine. I personally think he should take the hard line and rotate Van Persie, Rooney and Mata and just stick to a 4-3-2-1 and forget about Falcao. The latter was brought in to instantly make an impact and potentially be the difference between 4th and 5th, however he just isn't showing the form and fitness to be this player. He isn't a player we particularly need to worry about upsetting and if he earns us a few points from the bench that could potentially be the difference, he'll have been worth the fee.
That way you could find consistency with 3 of Blind, Fellaini, Carrick & Herrera behind 2 of Rooney, Mata & Di Maria behind 1 of Rooney & RVP. That's 8 player's fighting for 6 positions which to me would be a good balance between consistency and competition.
Obviously the likes of Wilson, Januzaj, Falcao used most often from the bench.
I do also agree with the above though, finding a position for Wayne Rooney has been a problem for our last 3 managers. He isn't a great number 9, isn't a great number 10 and isn't a great central midfielder (although he has had many exceptional games in all these positions, just without any consistency). He is above average in all these positions and works really hard but he really is position-less.
Doesn't matter who you have up front, the team isn't balanced and we're not creating a lot of chances for the strikers. I mean, if you've got 3 defenders and 2 wingbacks, all of which have the ball for large parts of the game then you're not going to create much in my opinion.
I'll be honest, we look better defensively with a back 3 but I'd much rather watch entertaining football. Last 6 weeks or so its been like watching Utd from last season.
I'll be honest, we look better defensively with a back 3 but I'd much rather watch entertaining football. Last 6 weeks or so its been like watching Utd from last season.
I think that is the fact that is getting to people most.
Hardly we were putting in cross after cross last season we are in no way having he ball on the flanks as much to even put in a cross!!
Valencia gets the ball quite a lot, but cannot decide what to do with it.
Replace the aimless crosses of last season with aimless possession of the football this season. Same net result. Boring football.
I'd rather take my chances with 30 crosses and Falcao and RVP in the box than our CBs seeing more of the ball.......
I still can't this Ander doesn't play more, in fact I would go as far as saying it is almost criminal.
He’s with Blind our best buy this summer, and for me, he solved more problems for us than Di Maria and Falcao, and LVG is an absolute j**k not playing him week in week out. He’s not worse than Mata and would do better for us than him or Rooney.
The fact is that LVG is afraid to choose between Roo and RVP upfront and decided to play them both in a system where he can play all his big ‘names’
LVG is seeking for balance for his team, but he has the material to do so. So yeah the team might be ‘worse’ individually, but far better as a unit.
I still think that he can be a tremendous player under LVG, but he prefers a striker in this position, a number 10, or even a player like Strootman injured for the last 12 months… At Arsenal he would be better than Ramsey, at Pool better than all this team, and he’s staying on the bench for us
I had a lot of doubt about how LVG will select his players as his recruitment seemed to be less balanced to needed, but I trusted him, but it’s fair to say that we’re still far from a top side and are struggling….
LVg, do your f***** job and play a decent team. You’ve got Di Maria and Herrera ready to explose midfields with pace and aggression and good player upfront… but no he still plays his philosophical players
The fact is that LVG is afraid to choose between Roo and RVP upfront and decided to play them both in a system where he can play all his big ‘names’
LVG is seeking for balance for his team, but he has the material to do so. So yeah the team might be ‘worse’ individually, but far better as a unit.
I still think that he can be a tremendous player under LVG, but he prefers a striker in this position, a number 10, or even a player like Strootman injured for the last 12 months… At Arsenal he would be better than Ramsey, at Pool better than all this team, and he’s staying on the bench for us
I had a lot of doubt about how LVG will select his players as his recruitment seemed to be less balanced to needed, but I trusted him, but it’s fair to say that we’re still far from a top side and are struggling….
LVg, do your f***** job and play a decent team. You’ve got Di Maria and Herrera ready to explose midfields with pace and aggression and good player upfront… but no he still plays his philosophical players
I honestly don't see why we cant play Herrera/Fellaini/Di Maria and Carrick/Blind in the same midfield.
While Mata is great on his day, he lacks the industry a diamond needs. Herrera can play the AMC position while adding creativity with work rate too.
While Mata is great on his day, he lacks the industry a diamond needs. Herrera can play the AMC position while adding creativity with work rate too.
I said this in another thread and had some right moaning come my way. Fact is, we have not being any better of late compared to last season. A blip, I hope.
I said something like this the other day, and was called mental.
I believe Di Maria was a 'marquee' signing. As much for Woodward's benefit as van Gaal's. He wouldn't say 'no' obviously, and I doubt 'force' was needed to persuade van Gaal, but he isn't treating him like a player he hand-picked and had a proper £60 million plan for.
Falcao, in my opinion, was 100% a PR exercise, and Herrera just seems like a long-term club target who effectively was part of the package for any united manager this summer (a bit like Shaw.)
i agree that the shaw and herrera deals where done prior to appointing Van Gaal and where finalised without even discussing it with him.
However, i dont for one minuted think Van Gaal would accept players being signed on his behalf. I have already mentioned in this thread that prior to signing Di Maria, Van Gaal named him as one of his dream signings. He also said that he doesnt fancy Rooney as a number 9, clealry had the same opinion on Welbeck and Hernandez and thats why Falcao was signed.
In his first press oncference he whinged about the rediculous summer tour and made comment that people at United are more interested in making money thatn they are about a winning team. I am absolutley certain he will have total say in signing coming in and out.
LVGs decision to play Fellaini against Cambridge was the correct one, he was very good when he cam on vs QPR and also we needed his height and physique for set pieces.
Herrera scored a nice goal with Yeovil, but he was generally poor in that game. Also for the people that say he didn't have any chances, last time he played 2-3 games in a row, he was also poor and didn't convince.
Herrera scored a nice goal with Yeovil, but he was generally poor in that game. Also for the people that say he didn't have any chances, last time he played 2-3 games in a row, he was also poor and didn't convince.
Herrera would excel at Chelsea.
He's an obviously good player. For me you have him, Carrick and Mata as a three, playing the roles Cesc, Matic and Oscar do for Chelsea.
Blind as the fourth choice rotation option. Ideally you'd have our best midfielder AdM in there but for the sake of balance we have to waste him out wide.
He's an obviously good player. For me you have him, Carrick and Mata as a three, playing the roles Cesc, Matic and Oscar do for Chelsea.
Blind as the fourth choice rotation option. Ideally you'd have our best midfielder AdM in there but for the sake of balance we have to waste him out wide.
Herrera would add a bit of tempo to the side. I think we need him.
Move along Juan, new cutie in town.
It seems like LVG had no say in this transfer. Baffling. Let him play. We paid 30 million. I'm actually pissed off about Herrera and di Maria. You can talk philosophy all you want and trying to learn the English game but LVG is having a complete mare handling these two.
Has his interview from the presser popped up anywhere yet?
I recorded the press conference on MUTV. It was a nice interview, he understands that at Manchester United you don't always get to play. That it is a big squad, so sometimes you have to wait. That you have to take your chances when they arrive. Also that he considers himself a good professional and will always be available to help his teammates when needed. Said nice things about Michael Carrick as well.Nice lad.
Thanks.
That sounds promising, as opposed to all the negative stories about LvG not rating him or that we would sell him as soon as possible. I wonder if LvG has told him that he has a big place for him once he gets the all mighty balance right.It was promising. He seemed very relaxed. He still only looks about 15 and that he should be at home doing his homework.Thanks.
It was promising. He seemed very relaxed. He still only looks about 15 and that he should be at home doing his homework.
It's hard to believe he's 25. Hopefully the fact he was part of the presser indicates that he'll start tomorrow.Maybe thats the problem, van Gaal thinks he is just a young 16 year old from the academy that he is easing in.
Could be.
He has to leave.
We'll struggle, He'll come on and play well, then be back on the bench for the next game. Story of the season.
I'm just happy it's not Mata or Fellaini keeping him out. Less hate directed their way.
But it's an awful waste of money at this stage. If he doesn't trust him then sell him now. Bilbao having a poor season, maybe we'd get half our money back.
But it's an awful waste of money at this stage. If he doesn't trust him then sell him now. Bilbao having a poor season, maybe we'd get half our money back.
Oh, no doubt.
It was never going to work out was it? I mean, he's an actual proper midfielder who runs and passes.
That kind of nonsense isn't accepted at United.
That kind of nonsense isn't accepted at United.
Hasn't Fellaini been doing that for us?
If I was him, I would hang on. The way LvG is managing us, he might be going first.
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