Louis van Gaal | Manchester United manager

Status
Not open for further replies.
Pogue Mahone said:
The Ronaldo "problem" is really no different to the Di Maria "problem".
Click to expand...

It sort of is. Ronaldo was a winger-cum-striker, with almost zero defensive input. Di Maria is a winger-cum-central midfielder who puts in a massive defensive shift. Clearly playing three strikers with Ronaldo is not the same as playing three strikers in front of Di Maria. And Herrera is much more of a defensive worker than Scholes was.

I agree with you on the three strikers, but you have to concede that it's not a valid comparison.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
The Ronaldo "problem" is really no different to the Di Maria "problem". You're still picking a team with four players who like to get involved centrally and do all their best work in the final third. Which is why playing three strikers (plus Di Maria and Ronaldo) will always leave us a bit too narrow and vulnerable on the counter. The fact Ronaldo was much more likely to get a goal means feck all really and doesn't take away from the point I'm making. Fergie realised the team would function better with Tevez on the bench and had the balls to make that decision.

Anyway - and foor the umpteenth time - I'm not making a theoretical argument here. I'm basing this on how we've been repeatedly ripped apart by mediocre teams whenever Van Gaal picked the three of them. Which contrasts with us looking much less vulnerable when circumstances forced him to pick fewer strikers. If he persists with the three of them and we continue to look as vulnerable as we have done, then questions need to be asked and this idea that "oh Fergie would have done exactly the same" holds no water.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. Although for me it isn't the 'Di Maria problem', it's simply the 'playing 3 strikers at once' problem...

We've seen that Mata has lacked 'impact', and I agree that his contribution over the last 3 games hasn't been massive, but one thing he does that seems to go unnoticed is holds the position of a number 10. He can be underwhelming, but he at last fills the position he's played in.

Rooney on the other hand has become almost synonymous with 'doing more than is needed' in whatever position he plays - a CF via a box to box midfielder - he's everywhere. Much to most fans delight. But he's playing the number 10 the shape of the team suffers due to Rooney's business and lack of positional discipline.


Ultimately, Rooney is a striker, and the number 10 role in modern football has become a specialist position - there aren't many top, top teams who just take a striker in his late 20s and plonk him in that role.

To make it worse, LvG has openly stated that Rooney, as his captain will start pretty much every game. So it seems this is set to continue.

And then on top of that you have the 'playing two number 9s together' problem that has undoubtedly cost us points already. RvP and Falcao are players that should each be leading the line. They confuse and complicate each other's game when played together and perhaps most importantly - playing them both deprives us of an extra body in midfield (thus as @Pogue Mahone said mediocre teams have walked through us).

I'm fine with LvG putting Rooney for in Mata - he's made Rooney his captain and now has to deal with the consequences of that. But regarding the two number 9s, Van Gaal has to pick one over the other. Otherwise we're almost playing with 10 men.
 
JUPITER said:
I completely agree. Although for me it isn't the 'Di Maria problem', it's simply the 'playing 3 strikers at once' problem...

We've seen that Mata has lacked 'impact', and I agree that his contribution over the last 3 games hasn't been massive, but one thing he does that seems to go unnoticed is holds the position of a number 10. He can be underwhelming, but he at last fills the position he's played in.

Rooney on the other hand has become almost synonymous with 'doing more than is needed' in whatever position he plays - a CF via a box to box midfielder - he's everywhere. Much to most fans delight. But he's playing the number 10 the shape of the team suffers due to Rooney's business and lack of positional discipline.


Ultimately, Rooney is a striker, and the number 10 role in modern football has become a specialist position - there aren't many top, top teams who just take a striker in his late 20s and plonk him in that role.

To make it worse, LvG has openly stated that Rooney, as his captain will start pretty much every game. So it seems this is set to continue.

And then on top of that you have the 'playing two number 9s together' problem that has undoubtedly cost us points already. RvP and Falcao are players that should each be leading the line. They confuse and complicate each other's game when played together and perhaps most importantly - playing them both deprives us of an extra body in midfield (thus as @Pogue Mahone said mediocre teams have walked through us).

I'm fine with LvG putting Rooney for in Mata - he's made Rooney his captain and now has to deal with the consequences of that. But regarding the two number 9s, Van Gaal has to pick one over the other. Otherwise we're almost playing with 10 men.
Click to expand...

Really?
I think half Mata's problem is that he doesn't position himself like a number 10. He's either too high or deep (which is alright - however he tends to drop deep and do nothing much with the ball. Playing safe)
He's rarely in the pocket of space you want him in (where Silva camps for the whole game). He can't handle the congestion and physical pressure, he can't shield the ball under pressure, so he drops deep to find space, yet still does little other than 'tick things over'.

I don't think it's natural to Rooney either, but, in my opinion, Rooney positions himself better and puts forward a more convincing number 10 imitation than Mata.

Neither are proper numbers 10s, but I prefer Rooney there all day.
 
JUPITER said:
I completely agree. Although for me it isn't the 'Di Maria problem', it's simply the 'playing 3 strikers at once' problem...

We've seen that Mata has lacked 'impact', and I agree that his contribution over the last 3 games hasn't been massive, but one thing he does that seems to go unnoticed is holds the position of a number 10. He can be underwhelming, but he at last fills the position he's played in.

Rooney on the other hand has become almost synonymous with 'doing more than is needed' in whatever position he plays - a CF via a box to box midfielder - he's everywhere. Much to most fans delight. But he's playing the number 10 the shape of the team suffers due to Rooney's business and lack of positional discipline.

Ultimately, Rooney is a striker, and the number 10 role in modern football has become a specialist position - there aren't many top, top teams who just take a striker in his late 20s and plonk him in that role.

To make it worse, LvG has openly stated that Rooney, as his captain will start pretty much every game. So it seems this is set to continue.

And then on top of that you have the 'playing two number 9s together' problem that has undoubtedly cost us points already. RvP and Falcao are players that should each be leading the line. They confuse and complicate each other's game when played together and perhaps most importantly - playing them both deprives us of an extra body in midfield (thus as @Pogue Mahone said mediocre teams have walked through us).

I'm fine with LvG putting Rooney for in Mata - he's made Rooney his captain and now has to deal with the consequences of that. But regarding the two number 9s, Van Gaal has to pick one over the other. Otherwise we're almost playing with 10 men.
Click to expand...

I’m ok with on several point, most of all, but none on the fact that he’s anywhere every time. Well, make it clear, why Rooney is a special player, is that in big games he asked to do a job, and he does it pretty well every time.

When he’s really focused and the coach ask him a very particular job, he does it very well. I think that he’s the best when he’s asked something by the coach, close a playmaker, or closing a wing. His tactical sense and his passing range are a serious asset here.

Speaking about Wazza and number is a misjudgment, I don’t think that he’s a playmaker at all, when he’s positioning there, he doesn’t take the game for him, he’s not Scholes, he help us in defending, give the ball wide and bomb in the box, as a striker does. He’s too attacking minded for a 10, and too defensive (or running everywhere) to be a number 10.

But I think that against City, he will be as important as RVP or Smalling or De Gea, and LVG wil have to assign him a role in this game, rather than doing nothing like Moyes did last year against them
 
Speak said:
Really?
I think half Mata's problem is that he doesn't position himself like a number 10. He's either too high or deep (which is alright - however he tends to drop deep and do nothing much with the ball. Playing safe)
He's rarely in the pocket of space you want him in (where Silva camps for the whole game). He can't handle the congestion and physical pressure, he can't shield the ball under pressure, so he drops deep to find space, yet still does little other than 'tick things over'.

I don't think it's natural to Rooney either, but, in my opinion, Rooney positions himself better and puts forward a more convincing number 10 imitation than Mata.

Neither are proper numbers 10s, but I prefer Rooney there all day.
Click to expand...

Mata hasn't been asked to play like a #10 in our past two games. He's quite clearly been instructed to play deeper and hold some sort of line with the other advanced central midfielder, be it Herrera or Fellaini. He's quite evidently a #10 and was at Chelsea, when he was one of the very best players in the league.
 
Kag said:
Mata hasn't been asked to play like a #10 in our past two games. He's quite clearly been instructed to play deeper and hold some sort of line with the other advanced central midfielder, be it Herrera or Fellaini. He's quite evidently a #10 and was at Chelsea, when he was one of the very best players in the league.
Click to expand...
Not just talking about the last two games.
We'll have to disagree about him being a number 10, though I can see where you're coming from as he played behind the striker.
Maybe I'm being harsh, but to me he's a glorified second-striker, with the added ability to see a final pass and take set pieces. That's not to say he isn't good though.

My opinion is that he comes deep regardless of where he's played. And that's because if he doesn't, and that typical number 10 'pocket of space' is congested - he'll struggle to get his foot on the ball for long enough.
He didn't have this problem at Chelsea, who moved the ball from front to back quickly, and didn't look to pin teams back.

I agree that he was one of the best players in the league though.
 
Last edited:
Kag said:
Mata hasn't been asked to play like a #10 in our past two games. He's quite clearly been instructed to play deeper and hold some sort of line with the other advanced central midfielder, be it Herrera or Fellaini. He's quite evidently a #10 and was at Chelsea, when he was one of the very best players in the league.
Click to expand...

Blind was a holding midfielder, Fellaini was more or less man-marking Fabregas and Mata was clearly supposed to be our most attacking central midfielder. playing behind a lone striker.

If that's not operating as a number 10, it's as near as makes no difference.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Blind was a holding midfielder, Fellaini was more or less man-marking Fabregas and Mata was clearly supposed to be our most attacking central midfielder. playing behind a lone striker.

If that's not operating as a number 10, it's as near as makes no difference.
Click to expand...

Fellaini and Mata were alternating throughout. Mata is inherently more attacking but it's clear that we were set up with Mata and Fellaini infront of Blind as opposed to a pivot of Fellaini and Blind with Mata infront of them as a genuine #10. We haven't played that way at any point this season.
 
Brightonian said:
Januzaj was our best attacking player against Chelsea, a game about which the consensus seems to be that we played pretty well. Why is he suddenly getting all this snide criticism? It's only down to poor finishing from other players that he didn't get an assist or two under his belt. The Caf would be singing his praises if RVP had slotted home that sublime through-ball, or laid it off for Mata to pass into an empty net.
Click to expand...

I think Januzaj has been inconsistent this season and he needs to develop consistency if he is to be played each game out wide. I do not agree with your opinion that this is snide criticism.

Also Angel di Maria seems to be better on the left flank due to his excellent crossing and also Januzaj's best performances have been on the left flank too, then outside of these we have no top wide players.

For this reason 4-3-3 becomes difficult, I have no problem with RVP and Falcao fighting for the striker position and Rooney + Mata for CAM. I do not think we have the depth in wide players to play this formation though.

I also do not like the idea of then switching to the diamond if a wide player cannot play because we would not be highly proficient in that system, if we are to play the diamond then it is important we train it to a high standard.

The only way I would be content with 4-3-3 is if Louis van Gaal rates Valencia + Lingard highly or he has plans to buy a top RW in January and thinks until then Valencia + Lingard can do a job.

I would play 4-3-3 against City and even Arsenal but against Palace, if Falcao is fit, I would see how we are progressing with the diamond.
 
Empire said:
I think Januzaj has been inconsistent this season and he needs to develop consistency if he is to be played each game out wide. I do not agree with your opinion that this is snide criticism.
Click to expand...

He's started two games. Other than that all he's had is a handful of ten-minute cameos. How on earth can you possibly say that he's been 'inconsistent' based on such a small sample. By the same logic I could argue that in half of the games he's started this season he's been our best attacking player.
 
Brightonian said:
He's started two games. Other than that all he's had is a handful of ten-minute cameos. How on earth can you possibly say that he's been 'inconsistent' based on such a small sample. By the same logic I could argue that in half of the games he's started this season he's been our best attacking player.
Click to expand...

Louis van Gaal clearly believes he can challenge for the title, if he is to play 4-3-3 and trust Januzaj and so drop RVP or Falcao then he has to have performed better than he has imo.

Otherwise when you have a player of Falcao's ability available then one can understand why he is chosen ahead of Jaznuaj. We know what Falcao can produce and even if he gets anywhere close to it then he will be deadly this season so in order for Adnan to be chosen ahead of him (when Falcao is fit again) he must perform to a top level whilst he has the chance.

Also I must point out what might be only a ten minute cameo to you is likely an opportunity to assess a player for Louis van Gaal. Januzaj needs to make the most of any minutes he gets, that's going to be the standard under Louis van Gaal one would think.
 
Empire said:
Louis van Gaal clearly believes he can challenge for the title, if he is to play 4-3-3 and trust Januzaj and so drop RVP or Falcao then he has to have performed better than he has imo.

Otherwise when you have a player of Falcao's ability available then one can understand why he is chosen ahead of Jaznuaj. We know what Falcao can produce and even if he gets anywhere close to it then he will be deadly this season so in order for Adnan to be chosen ahead of him (when Falcao is fit again) he must perform to a top level whilst he has the chance.

Also I must point out what might be only a ten minute cameo to you is likely an opportunity to assess a player for Louis van Gaal. Januzaj needs to make the most of any minutes he gets, that's going to be the standard under Louis van Gaal one would think.
Click to expand...

None of this really has anything to do with my post. You said he'd been inconsistent, I pointed out that he's barely played. He certainly hasn't had enough minutes to deserve that criticism.

I'm not actually arguing that he should start against City. I'm just amazed that he's getting criticism on here after being our best attacker against Chelsea. Whether or not he seized the 'opportunity' represented by 4 minutes against Burnley or 9 against QPR is hardly relevant compared to an excellent showing for 90 minutes in our last match, against the best team in the league.
 
Brightonian said:
None of this really has anything to do with my post. You said he'd been inconsistent, I pointed out that he's barely played. He certainly hasn't had enough minutes to deserve that criticism.

I'm not actually arguing that he should start against City. I'm just amazed that he's getting criticism on here after being our best attacker against Chelsea. Whether or not he seized the 'opportunity' represented by 4 minutes against Burnley or 9 against QPR is hardly relevant compared to an excellent showing for 90 minutes in our last match, against the best team in the league.
Click to expand...

The point I have been making is that we should not switch from the diamond to 4-3-3 outside of the games that demand it (just yet). I have not seen consistently very good to excellent performances from Januzaj and even then there is still the question of lack of squad depth out wide. This is not a criticism, you are making it into one, it's merely a point. I am not expecting him to be consistently brilliant (in which case it would be a criticism) but simply stating if he had been every time he played then I can understand wanting to drop Falcao and if he will perform like this in the next two or three games then I also can understand switching formation but that remains to be seen.

We know what RVP can do, we know what Falcao can do, if they come anywhere close to their best then who knows what we are capable of this season.

The Januzaj point has cropped up in regards to a formation change where he replaces one of the strikers. I don't think it is criticism to imply he has not done enough thus far for us to abandon the diamond and drop Falcao.

By 'step it up a few levels' I mean perform to a ridiculously good level that we can justify playing Angel di Maria not in his best position, playing Rooney behind RVP, putting Falcao on the bench and even then switching to a formation where if we get an injury out wide we are going to have to bring in Valencia.

The original post you replied to was in response to a point another poster made that we should forget about the diamond. That statement must therefore be taken in context, other posters have been highly critical of Adnan no doubt and so any post now made that is not positive appears to be snide criticism in your opinion.
 
Empire said:
The point I have been making is that we should not switch from the diamond to 4-3-3 outside of the games that demand it (just yet). I have not seen consistently very good to excellent performances from Januzaj and even then there is still the question of lack of squad depth out wide. This is not a criticism, you are making it into one, it's merely a point. I am not expecting him to be consistently brilliant (in which case it would be a criticism) but simply stating if he had been every time he played then I can understand wanting to drop Falcao and if he will perform like this in the next two or three games then I also can understand switching formation but that remains to be seen.

We know what RVP can do, we know what Falcao can do, if they come anywhere close to their best then who knows what we are capable of this season.

The Januzaj point has cropped up in regards to a formation change where he replaces one of the strikers. I don't think it is criticism to imply he has not done enough thus far for us to abandon the diamond and drop Falcao.

By 'step it up a few levels' I mean perform to a ridiculously good level that we can justify playing Angel di Maria not in his best position, playing Rooney behind RVP, putting Falcao on the bench and even then switching to a formation where if we get an injury out wide we are going to have to bring in Valencia.

The original post you replied to was in response to a point another poster made that we should forget about the diamond. That statement must therefore be taken in context, other posters have been highly critical of Adnan no doubt and so any post now made that is not positive appears to be snide criticism in your opinion.
Click to expand...

In which case you and I are mostly in agreement. I do think the criticism of Januzaj which I responded to originally (and elsewhere on the caf since the Chelsea game) makes little sense though. You're saying that he hasn't yet done enough to merit us abandoning the diamond for his sake, which I agree with. But lots of people seem to genuinely think he has been poor. (Doing the all too common caf thing of confusing not playing with playing badly.)
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Posted this in the Hererra thread but probably more relevant here.



Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Disagree. Cast your mind back to the Albion game - yes, Rooney was suspended, so LvG didn't have a choice there, but he took the decision to bench Falcao, opting for a more solid formation in anticipation of the tough matches ahead.
 
Brightonian said:
It does feel as if, coming out of this injury crisis, we're on the verge of having... not a settled 'first XI' exactly, because big clubs simply can't do that anymore, but a settled system in which changes involve swapping good players for other good players, rather than constantly experimenting to try and find a system which even works. Sometimes it feels like we haven't had that settled framework for years and years, maybe even since the latter half of 2011.

-Rafael and Shaw are clearly now our first-choice FBs.
-Blind already looks very settled sitting in front of our back four. Carrick will provide his competition when he's back to full fitness.
-Herrera was unlucky to fracture a rib (not the sort of injury we have to worry about becoming a tendency), but the plan is clearly for him to join Blind as the core of our midfield.
-Di Maria may be the side of a diamond or he may be the wing of a 4231, but his role is clear and he's doing it well.
-Mata may not have been at his most dangerous against Chelsea, but we basically know that in every game either he or Rooney will be playing in the hole.
-RVP, Falcao and possibly Rooney will be fighting it out for either one or two CF positions.
-Fellaini provides us with the tactical option, whether we want to add some height to compete for headers or man-mark a key opposition player.
-Januzaj is the youngster who doesn't have to play every game but will get loads of minutes, given that he can fill in for so many of our more senior star players when they are out, and will also play when we need wingers on both flanks.

I suppose what I'm essentially saying is that for the first time in ages the line-up dilemmas which we're debating in match threads are mostly decisions between various strong options, rather than fundamental questions about what our formation should be, how we should play, and which players we should be building the team around. There are holes, of course - our CB situation is still very much in the air, and Herrera's and Rafael's positions could both do with proper back-up. But those are specific problems to solve within a framework which feels like it might now be up and running.
Click to expand...

Yeah we're slowly assuming a solid, defined shape which the players seem to understand and feel comfortable in. Like you say, it's been a few years since you could say that about the team. What we're essentially missing is that strong spine that a title-winning team generally has - basically, we're a centre-back with real leadership qualities and a dominant central midfielder away from a title-challenge. Something that can hopefully be sorted by August 2015.
 
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "LvG is a very good coach. He changed the system here and I'm convinced he will do it as well at Manchester United."

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "If you see our (Bayern) ball possession today, I would say the first steps were the benefits from Louis van Gaal."
 
Adnan said:
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "LvG is a very good coach. He changed the system here and I'm convinced he will do it as well at Manchester United."

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "If you see our (Bayern) ball possession today, I would say the first steps were the benefits from Louis van Gaal."
Click to expand...

No Bayern München fan would dispute what Rummenigge said, but then there's also this popular saying:

The best decision ever made by Uli Hoeneß & Co. after the CL victory of 2001 was hiring Louis van Gaal to revolutionize the way Bayern München plays. The second best decision was sacking him 20 months later.

That obviously doesn't mean he'll turn United's locker-room into the same shithole as at Bayern München in 10/11, but there are certainly high risk factors involved when LvG has to deal with huge egos, because the Dutchman's is most certainly even bigger. :lol:
 
Bazi said:
No Bayern München fan would dispute what Rummenigge said, but then there's also this popular saying:

The best decision ever made by Uli Hoeneß & Co. after the CL victory of 2001 was hiring Louis van Gaal to revolutionize the way Bayern München plays. The second best decision was sacking him 20 months later.

That obviously doesn't mean he'll turn United's locker-room into the same shithole as at Bayern München in 10/11, but there are certainly high risk factors involved when LvG has to deal with huge egos, because the Dutchman's is most certainly even bigger. :lol:
Click to expand...

I'm sure he has mellowed with age :nervous:
 
Bazi said:
No Bayern München fan would dispute what Rummenigge said, but then there's also this popular saying:

The best decision ever made by Uli Hoeneß & Co. after the CL victory of 2001 was hiring Louis van Gaal to revolutionize the way Bayern München plays. The second best decision was sacking him 20 months later.

That obviously doesn't mean he'll turn United's locker-room into the same shithole as at Bayern München in 10/11, but there are certainly high risk factors involved when LvG has to deal with huge egos, because the Dutchman's is most certainly even bigger. :lol:
Click to expand...

We need that so I'm glad that's the case. A top club needs a manager like that imo. Ofcourse he needs to ensure he doesnt go overboard but I think he realizes this is his last bug job and will act accordingly.
 
Blue always red said:
I'm sure he has mellowed with age :nervous:
Click to expand...

Yup, Van Gaal seems to have taken the next step in his managerial evolution with his stint as the Dutch national team coach. They are a relatively tough of players to manage and sometimes the egoistical forces at play can destroy the dressing room morale. But under Louis they all seemed to work in the harmony evidenced by the gritty performances in the summer and general camaraderie at display from within the camp. Then again, it was probably the last World Cup for the likes of Van Persie, Robben and Sneijder so that might've come into play. As would the relatively high number of young players who're eager to please and gullible by nature. Anyway, all signs point to Van Gaal having learnt his lessons and toned down the high strung demeanor with age, particularly when dealing with players who're a bit advanced in their age, something that always troubled him in the past. Bit early to pass conclusive judgement but the signs are promising so far. Long may it continue.
 
More stuff on LvG
“My colleague Ed Woodward [the United executive vice-chairman] asked me in the summer, ‘What’s Louis about?’ I told him: ‘First of all, you get a very good coach. Second, you have to be prepared that some difficult things can happen. Third, you have to be patient because he needs time to change from the old to the new.’ It was always called the Van Gaal system.”

Difficult things? “His mind is very offensive,” Rummenigge says. “He didn’t care so much about the defence. His mind is that the midfielders and the attackers are the most important players on the pitch. Sometimes his overall global view of the tactics looked a bit arrogant, but it was successful, especially in the first year, when we won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and reached the final of the Champions League. All that in 12 months — and then, after that, we had certain difficulties.”
Click to expand...
 
Just watched his Press conference for tomorrow's game. He's clearly very high on Rooney as a player and said he is a guaranteed starter tomorrow. I know he's said in the past that the captain always plays but he was also talking about his record in derbies. He probably rates him higher than half the CAF.
 
Bazi said:
No Bayern München fan would dispute what Rummenigge said, but then there's also this popular saying:

The best decision ever made by Uli Hoeneß & Co. after the CL victory of 2001 was hiring Louis van Gaal to revolutionize the way Bayern München plays. The second best decision was sacking him 20 months later.

That obviously doesn't mean he'll turn United's locker-room into the same shithole as at Bayern München in 10/11, but there are certainly high risk factors involved when LvG has to deal with huge egos, because the Dutchman's is most certainly even bigger. :lol:
Click to expand...

It's weird, he always talks about balance, he should apply that to his ego.

Either way without a director of football he will be in charge of who he buys and I am sure he understands why he fell out with players over the years and so will only sign those that respond with 'how high' when he commands 'Jump'.
 
Ole'sbodyguard said:
Just watched his Press conference for tomorrow's game. He's clearly very high on Rooney as a player and said he is a guaranteed starter tomorrow. I know he's said in the past that the captain always plays but he was also talking about his record in derbies. He probably rates him higher than half the CAF.
Click to expand...
TBF more and more CAF members started to rate Rooney since it was obvious how much we miss him in the last three games.
 
Jerch said:
TBF more and more CAF members started to rate Rooney since it was obvious how much we miss him in the last three games.
Click to expand...

Maybe so, but a fair proportion of the CAF thought LVG would dispense with him and would not use him as a number 10 over Mata or Kagawa. What's happened is LVG has made him his captain and played him in precisely the position many on the CAF said Rooney is not suited to.
 
.Rossi said:
"We have only lost one away game in the league and all I can remember about Leicester is the referee's decsions."
Click to expand...

I recall him saying something like that but not that, something more like 'We have lost only one away game in the league and had the referee made a different decision then you would not ask this question' and it was in response to a journalist criticising the away form.
 
Everybody bar some United fans and rival fans rate Rooney very highly. We just watch him too often that we scrutinize every misplaced pass or control he does. As for van Gaal, I really think he perceived ego would not be a big problem at United. We have a culture where we idolize the manager and treat him like the main brain of the operation. At every other club he's been, that was not the case. Add to that the fact that we really don't have that many egos in the playing staff. It shouldn't a big issue long term.
 
Watch from 6:05

@.Rossi



He did get asked a question but he did not shy away from blaming the team but also touched upon 'certain circumstances' that were responsible for the loss.
 
charlenefan said:
Have we?
Click to expand...
I think so.
Ole'sbodyguard said:
Maybe so, but a fair proportion of the CAF thought LVG would dispense with him and would not use him as a number 10 over Mata or Kagawa. What's happened is LVG has made him his captain and played him in precisely the position many on the CAF said Rooney is not suited to.
Click to expand...
And now when he was out we saw that he can do more than Mata in the number 10 role. At least i am thinking that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.