Louis van Gaal | Manchester United manager

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The Man Himself said:
Not sure if this has been shared before. A presentation on management by Van Gaal and it is very recent. In all the gloom which has taken over the site, I hope this gives people some comfort that we have got an intelligent man in place and who knows how to set things right, and he will. Wanted to make other thread but many will turn it into some kind of moaning thread as they do for each thread, hence sharing here so all discussions stay at one place. Click on subtitles button for English subtitles.

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That was great thanks. It also seems to confirm we will be in for Strootman at some point soon!
 
In case anyone hasn't read it.

I liked the snippet below a lot.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...-at-Manchester-United-but-I-will-deliver.html

Before I can start with the questions, Van Gaal beats me to it. He lays his palm on the desk. “I have a notebook, for you,” he says. “It’s always what I show my players. You can make the system that we’re playing now.”

He is inviting me to prove to him that I understand how United now line-up.

I’m on the back foot. The gauntlet has been thrown down.

“You want me to?” I say.

“Yeah, of course,” he says. “You can do that. Or not?”

By now I feel a prickly heat. I say: “I’ll have a go, but you’re going to tell me I’m wrong.”

Van Gaal gives me a penetrating look: “You are a little bit ... shy?”

Three-quarters of an hour later, I leave his office feeling drained. This was the first time in 30 years I had been called “shy”. But what followed was a series of fascinating insights into Van Gaal’s philosophy on football and his plans for United, which are based on youth, “always the long-term”, and guiding the players through a three-month crash-course in how he wants them to operate.

Every great coach is resolute about their philosophy. Van Gaal is entrenched. It must be his way or no way at all. Last season, I confess, I was worried about United after a disastrous campaign. I was concerned about where the club would go next. There was talk straight after David Moyes left that a foreign manager would come in. I had seen what had happened at other clubs, where a 60-year philosophy is ripped up in favour of three-year cycles, with each new manager turning the culture upside down. I left Carrington feeling that Van Gaal is, in fact, true to the traditions laid down by Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson. I’m not saying he will stay 25 years. But he holds to the same principles.
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Adebesi said:
Reading the biography, I'm really struck by how in the past he has always taken a very holistic view of a club and seen the first team as merely one part, even if it is the most senior part, of a larger group.

I keep thinking about his first press conference when he talked about how his focus was on the first team, that is a huge job and he wasn't focusing on the youth or the reserves as much. I can't remember exactly what he said but it was something to that effect. If true it seems to run counter to all his basic managerial instincts and process. I hope it won't be too inhibiting on him and his ability to transform the club the way he wants to.
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In my opinion, he interpreted that question in a scouting/recruiting sense for the levels below the under 18's. I think it is clear to see that he sees first, u-21 and u-18 teams as important as a whole group in the way that we are lining up and playing our football in those three teams.
 
ScarleyUtd said:
Er, it's happened before for us. That's the reality.

I'm not saying we don't need to sign and I don't think he is either – in certain areas. But putting your faith in young players can work. Look at Bayern. Or us in the past.
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Like I said of they are good enough, I would not want united trying to make youngsters work if they are not going to improve united. Under fergie yes we brought youngsters through, but the strength of united's success has been very good scouting with smart signings , more than allot of academy players coming through
 
FromTheBench said:
Seems to be committed to 3-5-2 judging from that for the time being.
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Has more chance of it working with a fit Shaw and Rafa in at WBs. Even so, still feels like we're a CB short no matter whether we play 3 or 4 at the back. Not so sure either Jones or Smalling are CBs tbh (both seem more utility players rather than specialist CBs) as neither look accomplished or confident playing there. We can play 3-5-2, just not with the 3 that we've got, or the injuries we have.
 
Empire said:
Yeah because players like Paul Scholes grow on trees...
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Or what had Paul Scholes proved when he was 19-21 ? You are never going to know about young players unless they are tested in real conditions and as can be seen by the Blackett promotion, some who look unready at U21 level can take the first team environment up better than the supposed stars at that level. Relying solely on youth is not a good strategy but so is ignoring them entirely for the big money signings. We have spent big money on players this calender year and we look like we want to, but may fail, so balancing it out with a few youth should workout, for the time being.
Also people should not discount the fact that the Boss is new to this league, is still settling in the club and might need time himself to really decide on the areas he wants to spend heavily on.
 
I hope the players Win on sunday, they are creating an environment which is very difficult for any manager to work in! Get a win and LVG's week will be far easier and the press and pundits can talk about something else for a week.
 
itso 7 said:
Or what had Paul Scholes proved when he was 19-21 ? You are never going to know about young players unless they are tested in real conditions and as can be seen by the Blackett promotion, some who look unready at U21 level can take the first team environment up better than the supposed stars at that level. Relying solely on youth is not a good strategy but so is ignoring them entirely for the big money signings. We have spent big money on players this calender year and we look like we want to, but may fail, so balancing it out with a few youth should workout, for the time being.
Also people should not discount the fact that the Boss is new to this league, is still settling in the club and might need time himself to really decide on the areas he wants to spend heavily on.
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Louis van Gaal has a good eye for talent, he decided when some of the very best players in the world today were ready to make the step up to first team football therefore if he thinks certain youth players have the quality to play in a team that will win the championship next season (this is his objective) then we should trust his opinion.
 
Empire said:
Louis van Gaal has a good eye for talent, he decided when some of the very best players in the world today were ready to make the step up to first team football therefore if he thinks certain youth players have the quality to play in a team that will win the championship next season (this is his objective) then we should trust his opinion.
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Which is what I was trying to point out. The extremes of either strategy won't work, the trick lies in establishing a perfect balance between heavy investment and faith in youth. LvG strikes me as a kind of guy that will frustrate a lit of muppets once he is established because he will pass up on a Vidal for the benefit of a younger player. There will never be a better opportunity for youngsters than this LvG reign.
 
New formation:

Smalling - Evans - Rojo
Carrick
Herrera - Vidal
Mata
Di Maria - RVP - Rooney
​
Like Cruyff's Barca.
 
Van Gaal can not complain if things does not go his way after the season is finished. He has been given the luxuary to rebuild a team that his predecessor was not given. Albeit, his predecessor did not imbue the club with any confidence that he was the right man to take United forward. Nevertheless, with the players at his disposal, expectation should be set that we should achieve champion league football for next campaign and perhaps some domestic trophies.
 
So his philosophy is just buying world class players and ignoring youth. Just another player to stunt Cleverley's growth and he's not even really a midfielder.

Feck this. His philosophy is bullshit.
 
Would have loved to see how he and Keane would have got on if Keane was a player under him.
 
Amadaeus said:
Van Gaal can not complain if things does not go his way after the season is finished. He has been given the luxuary to rebuild a team that his predecessor was not given. Albeit, his predecessor did not imbue the club with any confidence that he was the right man to take United forward. Nevertheless, with the players at his disposal, expectation should be set that we should achieve champion league football for next campaign and perhaps some domestic trophies.
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:lol:

That's an understatement.
 
Louis van Gaal: Manchester United need a miracle to win the Premier League

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...need-a-miracle-to-win-the-Premier-League.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/louis-van-gaal-admits-manchester-4096692

I assume this was in the Friday conference with a newspaper section separately for Sunday papers ?


"Now here the selection is not in balance. There are five No 9s and six No 10s and so on. And we don’t have defenders.”

This quote is interesting.


Mentions needing defenders still but no mention of midfielders.
 
FromTheBench said:
Louis van Gaal: Manchester United need a miracle to win the Premier League

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...need-a-miracle-to-win-the-Premier-League.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/louis-van-gaal-admits-manchester-4096692

I assume this was in the Friday conference with a newspaper section separately for Sunday papers ?


"Now here the selection is not in balance. There are five No 9s and six No 10s and so on. And we don’t have defenders.”

This quote is interesting.


Mentions needing defenders still but no mention of midfielders.
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I think that is just the stance he is taking with the media/fans to downplay expectations. He is an extremely wily and shrewd manager isn't he. It's hard to convince Angel Di Maria to come here on the basis of contesting for champions league places. I am beginning to think 1 or 2 more signings, a defender and a midfielder, might be imminent and we should be looking to challenge for the title now with these potential signings. You just don't go to Di Maria, a champions league winner, and tell him we are out of Europe this season and are contesting for the 3rd or 4th place in the EPL, wanna come join us?. He will just laugh in your face and ask you to feck off. I really think we should be challenging for the title. We just need a proper defender and a midfielder to partner Herrera. We have plenty of quality and potential in the forward areas to fire us to a title ala 12/13.
 
The number of our No 10s in his eyes seems to grow with every press conference! I swear in his first/second press conference he said we had 4 No 10s, and now we have 6? :confused::lol:
 
izec said:
Chicharito should go too or at least before Welbeck. We have six no10s and he still keeps Shinji?
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Then we will be down to two strikers, one of whom is injury prone. Only one of Welbeck/Chicha will leave this window.
 
RDCR07 said:
Then we will be down to two strikers, one of whom is injury prone. Only one of Welbeck/Chicha will leave this window.
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Wilson? Chicharito really offers nothing for us anymore, he wont be happy sitting on the bench either.
 
RDCR07 said:
Then we will be down to two strikers, one of whom is injury prone. Only one of Welbeck/Chicha will leave this window.
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I don't imagine we'd let both go, I think we'll sell one and replace whichever one we sell by promoting Wilson from the youths.
 
Today will be real test for him. After losing our first game and with all this injuries we really need good tactics to win this game.
 
AltiUn said:
I don't imagine we'd let both go, I think we'll sell one and replace whichever one we sell by promoting Wilson from the youths.
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Thats absolutely fine by me. I would keep Hernandez over Welbeck. When it comes down to it, Hernandez will score more goals than Welbeck even if it means less playing time. He has proven that time and time again. And if RVP or Rooney is out, I don't care how flashy Welbeck is or how long good his link up play is, he aint going to guarantee goals. But Hernandez is a real poacher and has saved us by scoring important goals over the past three seasons.
 
FromTheBench said:
Louis van Gaal: Manchester United need a miracle to win the Premier League

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...need-a-miracle-to-win-the-Premier-League.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/louis-van-gaal-admits-manchester-4096692

I assume this was in the Friday conference with a newspaper section separately for Sunday papers ?


"Now here the selection is not in balance. There are five No 9s and six No 10s and so on. And we don’t have defenders.”

This quote is interesting.


Mentions needing defenders still but no mention of midfielders.
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That's an old quote already if I remember. LvG said it before the Valencia game if I remember correctly.

He has already said he needs three months to get the players playing as he wants and so that would indeed make it a miracle if we do win the EPL this season.
 
Glock17 said:
So his philosophy is just buying world class players and ignoring youth. Just another player to stunt Cleverley's growth and he's not even really a midfielder.

Feck this. His philosophy is bullshit.
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Cleverley is 25 this year, so I'd hardly class his as young.
 
Mitchell Nicholas said:
I'd love to see a Premier League team really try this as their main formation.
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Our defence ain't as good as that Barca team's, unfortunately. We'd have to ride a few bad results, but once it clicked, I think it would work quite well. A midfielder like Vidal is fairly crucial, though.
 
“I have to give a lot of information and now we are in the process of a lot of information. For example, I have to drive at this moment on the left side and then I have to pay a lot of attention to drive properly. It costs me a lot of energy.”
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:lol:
 
I think I find him the most interesting manager to listen to. He's blunt and authoritative in his demeanour but everything he speaks is purposeful and has an impact. He also goes into such detail to explain his point. I think it's fantastic. Even when things aren't working out, with LVG, we will know his roadmap for the future, let alone see it, and I like that.
 
So we have gone from four number 10s to six number 10s without signing anyone? I'm tired of his bollocks.
 
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