Louis van Gaal | Manchester United manager

[Catt]

If Moyes had concentrated on signing players rather than creating divisions within the team, he might have done a bit better.

Wrong thread but I don't think it would. It was ill fitted from the start.

 

[Barca84]

No response to my points I see. Thought not. And I don't know and I don't care. But we need a world class CB in here in January. Current youth / reserve players would do better like McNair. Anyone frankly.

Dylan..you're hilarious but only in the way that angry young men with the idea that they have all the solutions are. I'll ask again.....all those players who should have been sold by now according to you, who would you have replaced them with? Answer the question without getting hormonal please ta.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I can't see Van Gaal getting as much time as Moyes, if we're mid table come February he'll be gone. Not that I'd condone that, in fact I feel with him we should give at least 2 seasons leeway - although I thought that with Moyes too but the majority of fans don't have the patience unfortunately.

In fairness you get the impression most fans are still behind LvG, not just in the stadium but general views, Moyes last year?.. not so much.

 

[MajicRed]

What have you heard?

Pretty much that really.... Garay is a definite possibility - not like all the 300 other times where we've been linked with him.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

No response to my points I see. Thought not. And I don't know and I don't care. But we need a world class CB in here in January. Current youth / reserve players would do better like McNair. Anyone frankly.

I like McNair. If might keep him in if he continues to play well and can keep fit. Still think he will sell someone and sign another CB. Depends who is available. All these defensive injuries are not something new, they have ben going on for years. Problem is we just kept replacing brittle defenders with yet more brittle defenders.

 

[Hed Zitin]

If he doesn't beat Palace he will be under some extreme pressure.

 

[pacifictheme]

So I just read this from Robbie moron Savage. Such a bitter failed United player. But wondered what you guys thought of it..

"Manchester United are level on points with West Brom. Don't get me wrong, I think Alan Irvine is doing a great job there, but United have spent £150m on new players and that is unacceptable. When are we going to start asking serious questions of Louis van Gaal in press conferences because I haven't heard it yet."

I would say that although we are doing worse, I feel more confident and I am more positive than I was at this stage last season. It was a difficult start this season with so many players coming in (and having lost most of our back 4). Some of our signings didn't start until after the start of the season either which doesn't help. Weirdly I think we are playing better now than at any other stage, we're starting to look better at the back and we look more incisive going forwards. Its unfortunate that at the exact point we started playing better, we've played the two best teams in the league. If we don't beat Crystal Palace then questions need to be asked, but the last 2 games have weirdly given me every confidence that we can and will rise up the table. We've actually played well in both games. Compare it to last season when we got crushed by Man City and didn't trouble Chelsea at all. I think top 6 by Christmas, top 4 by the end of the season, personally. My only concern is that our defensive injuries are just crippling us.

 

[Dylan94]

Dylan..you're hilarious but only in the way that angry young men with the idea that they have all the solutions are. I'll ask again.....all those players who should have been sold by now according to you, who would you have replaced them with? Answer the question without getting hormonal please ta.

I don't have all of the solutions. I never said that I did. But I know problems when I see them and those 3 are problems. Respond to my points without sounding like an ignorant egotist. Ta.

 

[ivaldo]

Yes we are. That's the point I made earlier too. People may say that we're moving in the right direction and playing better - i don't think we are at all at the moment - but this is a results business at the end of the day. LvG's results with a significantly better squad and no European football have been worse than David Moyes' so far and the results against Chelsea and City have been the same. Again, not saying I wanted Moyes, or Moyes is the better man or anything like that. But it is something to consider.

Honestly? You can't see the football being played is better?

Moyes didn't try to play his own brand of football, it was just a poor imitation of Fergies. LVG is rebuilding a team and creating an ethos. He's also had to deal with an average of 10 senior players injured at any one time. Defensively we have been crippled time and time again, there's definite reason for optimism.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

So I just read this from Robbie moron Savage. Such a bitter failed United player. But wondered what you guys thought of it..

"Manchester United are level on points with West Brom. Don't get me wrong, I think Alan Irvine is doing a great job there, but United have spent £150m on new players and that is unacceptable. When are we going to start asking serious questions of Louis van Gaal in press conferences because I haven't heard it yet."

I would say that although we are doing worse, I feel more confident and I am more positive than I was at this stage last season. It was a difficult start this season with so many players coming in (and having lost most of our back 4). Some of our signings didn't start until after the start of the season either which doesn't help. Weirdly I think we are playing better now than at any other stage, we're starting to look better at the back and we look more incisive going forwards. Its unfortunate that at the exact point we started playing better, we've played the two best teams in the league. If we don't beat Crystal Palace then questions need to be asked, but the last 2 games have weirdly given me every confidence that we can and will rise up the table. We've actually played well in both games. Compare it to last season when we got crushed by Man City and didn't trouble Chelsea at all. I think top 6 by Christmas, top 4 by the end of the season, personally. My only concern is that our defensive injuries are just crippling us.

Don't take any notice of that frustrated ballroom chancer.

 

[JackXX]

I hope the club has patience you can't just keep sacking people. You can see we are a good side in the making it would be mad to start heaping pressure on the manager and players. Last season with Moyes I saw no direction and therefore no hope or light at the end of the tunnel. It's a lot different this season, there is a plan and I think we improve every week. The results are not good enough we all know that but I believe LVG is the right man to get us back to where we want to be. Without these stupid individual mistakes from the likes of Evans, Jones and Smalling we would be in a different place.

 

[Ixion]

So I just read this from Robbie moron Savage. Such a bitter failed United player. But wondered what you guys thought of it..

"Manchester United are level on points with West Brom. Don't get me wrong, I think Alan Irvine is doing a great job there, but United have spent £150m on new players and that is unacceptable. When are we going to start asking serious questions of Louis van Gaal in press conferences because I haven't heard it yet."

After we beat QPR I remember him saying Chelsea and City would tear us to shreds and stick 3-5 past us. He's a clown.

 

[nemanja nemagic]

We will come good. Maybe not this season, but I am of the mind that LVG will get more time than Moyes anyway. We will finish higher in the current campaign than we did last season. Whether that is in a Champions League spot or not remains to be seen.

I see a lot of people castigating our defenders; and a lot of it is justified. Serious question marks have to be placed against the names of Smalling, Evans and Jones; on whether the risk of sticking with them through their never-ending injury woes is worth it. Will they reach their potential? Did they have potential to be that great anyway? We may never find out if they can't string any games together - our patience can't go on forever. Rojo hasn't been that bad, but then he's not a top class centre back. A good addition to the squad nonetheless. Mcnair to his credit has been fantastic whenever called upon so far this season. Those calling for Rafael to be sold need to check their heads however, they have short memories. He was one of our best players during our title winning '12-'13 season - and whenever he returns from injury he is invariably very good.

We need another top class centre half, that much is clear. Lots of encouraging positives to take out of today's game, yet we leave it with 0 points. LVG will be successful here; it will just probably take longer than one season.

 

[Devil may care]

In truth, you could make a case that the lack of accurate passing and Rooneys first touch could be put on LVG shoulders.

Do players have no self responsibility nowadays? Rooney's first touch has never been good enough for a CM so you can argue he should not be played there by LvG, but players being slack and sloppy with their passing is down to their concentration.

The two times that Aguero was easily able to by pass our defense and run straight at De Gea, who fault was that? He is not organizing our defense well and has bought a terrible defender in Rojo. That's totally on him.

Organizing the defense and the defenders executing what they are told to do are not the same thing, I think we can all admit we have arguably the least intelligent group of senior CB's in the league, only one of them was bought by him and yet even then nothing can be done about the idiocy he displayed in getting injured, I doubt our coaches ever instructed him to do that mad dashing lunge into midfield.

 

[Boycott]

So I just read this from Robbie moron Savage. Such a bitter failed United player. But wondered what you guys thought of it..

"Manchester United are level on points with West Brom. Don't get me wrong, I think Alan Irvine is doing a great job there, but United have spent £150m on new players and that is unacceptable. When are we going to start asking serious questions of Louis van Gaal in press conferences because I haven't heard it yet."

I would say that although we are doing worse, I feel more confident and I am more positive than I was at this stage last season. It was a difficult start this season with so many players coming in (and having lost most of our back 4). Some of our signings didn't start until after the start of the season either which doesn't help. Weirdly I think we are playing better now than at any other stage, we're starting to look better at the back and we look more incisive going forwards. Its unfortunate that at the exact point we started playing better, we've played the two best teams in the league. If we don't beat Crystal Palace then questions need to be asked, but the last 2 games have weirdly given me every confidence that we can and will rise up the table. We've actually played well in both games. Compare it to last season when we got crushed by Man City and didn't trouble Chelsea at all. I think top 6 by Christmas, top 4 by the end of the season, personally. My only concern is that our defensive injuries are just crippling us.

My issue is we are overplaying this issue of time. It happened under Moyes where he looked way too far forward, talking about his plans for the future but in doing so he neglected the task at hand and getting the maximum outcome at the present time. I'm not expecting a win every game but I don't want it to be the case where every time we drop points we revert to "it's getting better, we'll start hitting form" because we've had these false dawns before.

The objective of any manager is to get the most out of his resources to gain a positive outcome. Work with what you have at the present time. What we have is better than other teams. We should be at least on 20 points. Fans can play down the money we spent this summer as an anomaly for Manchester United but we can't deny we've messed up this season so far.

Money spent is a long term forecast. We're looking at what these players can do that can take us come May to a good finish. However when so much is spent you expect to go up a level from the off.

We've played 2 of last season's top 10. We're currently playing catch up despite having an easy start comparatively.

LVG's reputation will buy him time. It'll also mean he'll still receive faith because he's done it before. But in the present moment we are below par and that has to go down to him. We've won 3 out of 10 games. Other managers in other clubs will feel the scrutiny and pressure from a bad start. We're no different. At the end of the day the manager's task is the same at Manchester United, Newcastle, QPR. To win, to bring success. The barometer of which they get judged is different of course.

Top 4 is our objective. We're 4 points off so you can say it's not too bad. But then you have to say we've ballsed up an easy start.

 

[Pink Moon]

So I just read this from Robbie moron Savage. Such a bitter failed United player. But wondered what you guys thought of it..

"Manchester United are level on points with West Brom. Don't get me wrong, I think Alan Irvine is doing a great job there, but United have spent £150m on new players and that is unacceptable. When are we going to start asking serious questions of Louis van Gaal in press conferences because I haven't heard it yet."

I would say that although we are doing worse, I feel more confident and I am more positive than I was at this stage last season. It was a difficult start this season with so many players coming in (and having lost most of our back 4). Some of our signings didn't start until after the start of the season either which doesn't help. Weirdly I think we are playing better now than at any other stage, we're starting to look better at the back and we look more incisive going forwards. Its unfortunate that at the exact point we started playing better, we've played the two best teams in the league. If we don't beat Crystal Palace then questions need to be asked, but the last 2 games have weirdly given me every confidence that we can and will rise up the table. We've actually played well in both games. Compare it to last season when we got crushed by Man City and didn't trouble Chelsea at all. I think top 6 by Christmas, top 4 by the end of the season, personally. My only concern is that our defensive injuries are just crippling us.

Do you think you maybe feel more confident because the team now contains world class talent like Angel Di Maria, Falcao, a fit Robin van Persie as well as very good additions such as Blind and Shaw? There's nothing wrong with what Savage has said IMO. I think that questions should absolutely be asked of LVG's performance to date as well as why he hasn't strengthened the centre of defence with two huge stalwarts leaving in the summer.

 

[Hed Zitin]

What do you expect the media like Savage to do? The results are piss poor. The manager has every reason to be criticised for that.

I like LvG and I blame the players, but he is due a lot of flack.

 

[Dylan94]

Honestly? You can't see the football being played is better?

Moyes didn't try to play his own brand of football, it was just a poor imitation of Fergies. LVG is rebuilding a team and creating an ethos. He's also had to deal with an average of 10 senior players injured at any one time. Defensively we have been crippled time and time again, there's definite reason for optimism.

It might be better but it's not as improved as it should be 3 months into the season. We're still not winning enough games or scoring enough goals and a) this is a results based league at the end of the day, and b) with all the attacking quality we have: they should be doing a lot better. You can't argue with that.

 

[JUPITER]

He might not even need to buy a world class CB for now. We just need a solid defender who wants to defend and puts himself about. Seems silly thing to say, but just one that will play every game and can lead the line.

It not like we are being tactically outdone or embarrassed or hes making mistakes. Its the individual mistakes at the back that is costing us (that and injuries)

I agree with this and have been saying the same.

Personally, I'd be happy to see him bring in a couple of PL war-horses like Shawcross and Vlaar to tide us over 'til the summer.

 

[united_99]

With relief?

In all seriousness though I'd be surprised if DDG wouldn't personally drive a couple of those to the airport.

Good to hear he has at least extended his contract as our bus driver. Now all he needs to do is extend it as our goal keeper as well.

 

[Barca84]

I don't have all of the solutions. I never said that I did. But I know problems when I see them and those 3 are problems. Respond to my points without sounding like an ignorant egotist. Ta.

You don't have any solutions Dylan never mind all. My response - who would you have replaced them with? Answer the question.

 

[itso 7]

Results are obviously disappointing but we look like a team with a plan and are improving every game. However, I think it's time for LVG to really start thinking about that trainwreck of a defence. The senior players haven't really shown that they should be starting ahead of the likes of McNAIR and we know that Thorpe was ahead of McNAIR last season, so it got me thinking; if we partnered Carrick and Blind in midfield we would be more solid there so why not just say feck it and give Thorpe his chance? Obviously his philosophy demands that he fields a left footed CB on the left side of defence but teams are winning titles all over the place fielding two right footed centre backs. Then there is EXPERIENCE but are our ''experienced'' centre backs applying that experience in games to justify holding back talented youngsters, though?
Then another thing is we need Herrera back in the team ASAP and we need Di Maria back in the centre. We are losing too much by pushing ADM out wide. Maybe a 4-2-2 with Carrick and Blind at the base and Herrera -Di Maria behind the front two?
Whatever he does from here on in it's clear that we need to go on a run or questions will be asked and I don't think Ed will repeat a Moyes- if we are struggling by Christmas Ed will pull the trigger.

 

[Getsme]

Do players have no self responsibility nowadays? Rooney's first touch has never been good enough for a CM so you can argue he should not be played there by LvG, but players being slack and sloppy with their passing is down to their concentration.

Of course they do, but if something isn’t right on the pitch it’s up to the manager to sort it out of it. I said in another thread, that for all our attacking talent we look toothless going forward, in fact we have scored less goals after 10 games this season than at the same stage last season. The manager has to take responsibility for that, as he has to take responsibility for all other aspects on the pitch, it’s his job to get it right.
Saying that, I fully believe LVG will get it right, it’s clearly a work in progress and as usual our injuries have played a huge part in our slow start to the season. Even though we have six less points than we had this time last season I’d much rather be where we are now, at least we can see the direction LVG wants to take us.

 

[Dylan94]

You don't have any solutions Dylan never mind all. My response - who would you have replaced them with? Answer the question.

And you clearly don't either. My Answer: for now - Paddy Mc Nair and Michael Keane. In January: Ezequiel Garay and Nevan Subotic.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

You wonder how thing might have been without the subs he had to make. Carrick having to play at CB, McNair having to come on for Rojo. The he gave Wilson an experience of a Manchester derby. Would bringing Herrera on later in the game given us more threat?

 

[Americano]

If we're not in the top 4 by May LvG is gone. Bottom line.

I can't say I"m satisfied with his performance but I just don't think it's that simple.

We would have to be on target for a disappointing finish AND have a better managerial option available to replace him. I am not sure who that would be.

 

[DatIrishFella]

I can't say I"m satisfied with his performance but I just don't think it's that simple.

We would have to be on target for a disappointing finish AND have a better managerial option available to replace him. I am not sure who that would be.

Jurgen Klopp, believe he's doing fantastically well in the Bundesliga!

 

[Devil may care]

Of course they do, but if something isn’t right on the pitch it’s up to the manager to sort it out of it. I said in another thread, that for all our attacking talent we look toothless going forward, in fact we have scored less goals after 10 games this season than at the same stage last season. The manager has to take responsibility for that, as he has to take responsibility for all other aspects on the pitch, it’s his job to get it right.
Saying that, I fully believe LVG will get it right, it’s clearly a work in progress and as usual our injuries have played a huge part in our slow start to the season. Even though we have six less points than we had this time last season I’d much rather be where we are now, at least we can see the direction LVG wants to take us.

I share Souness belief that once the match starts the players have to be able to adapt in-game when things aren't baring fruit, the manager can't hold their hand all of the way. I agree in the first half we were toothless but we had 3 good chances in the second. The issue for me is that RvP doesn't have the legs to play up top alone now, and Blind/Fellaini/Rooney is not a midfield that will ever control a game, while Di Maria is wasted out wide. I do think LvG needs to redress the balance of his set-up but we don't have a game controlling CM and RvP was our only fit senior striker so he had limited options today, but I don't think the result was down to anything but individual idiocy.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

And you clearly don't either. My Answer: for now - Paddy Mc Nair and Michael Keane. In January: Ezequiel Garay and Nevan Subotic.

As long as he doesn't give penalties away like yesterday. Depends which of them would be a good level head in that defence.

 

[Blodssvik]

Get a bit of emperor's new clothes feeling at the moment about these mega improvements people are talking about.
I think we are going to see mixed results for a while. We need to improve defensively as well as in attack. Don't agree with those who think our attack is amazing so far.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Jurgen Klopp, believe he's doing fantastically well in the Bundesliga!

If he gets them relegated he will have done wonders.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Get a bit of emperor's new clothes feeling at the moment about these mega improvements people are talking about.
I think we are going to see mixed results for a while. We need to improve defensively as well as in attack. Don't agree with those who think our attack is amazing so far.

LvG did warn about this. Also the attacking isn't fantastic, but at least we are attacking. Not just putting crosses in or hoofing the ball.

 

[Getsme]

LvG did warn about this. Also the attacking isn't fantastic, but at least we are attacking. Not just putting crosses in or hoofing the ball.

Yet we have scored one goal less than this time last year. I'll say it again, our forwards are getting as easy ride thanks to everyone focusing on our defensive issues. They need a kick up the arse as much if not more than anybody else.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Yet we have scored one goal less than this time last year. I'll say it again, our forwards are getting as easy ride thanks to everyone focusing on our defensive issues. They need a kick up the arse as much if not more than anybody else.

Our midfielders can contribute goals. Rooney has missed three games through his own fault, Falcao is injured just as he gets off the mark and RVP is not his usual self. Hard to say what a change of circumstance will make.

 

[Dylan94]

As long as he doesn't give penalties away like yesterday. Depends which of them would be a good level head in that defence.

I think either could be. Garay would be perfect though. He's world class. He's got a good level head, big game experience, great composure - 89.2 percent pass completion rate in 10 Russian Premier League games so far this season, and he can score at the other end too. There are questions over his tackling ability if he came to the premier league but I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem after a few games to adjust his style.

 

[Getsme]

Our midfielders can contribute goals. Rooney has missed three games through his own fault, Falcao is injured just as he gets off the mark and RVP is not his usual self. Hard to say what a change of circumstance will make.

Something's not right at the moment, our build up play is good but as soon as the players see the goal they tend to take the wrong option, really can't wait to see Falcao getting a few games.

 

[itso 7]

You wonder how thing might have been without the subs he had to make. Carrick having to play at CB, McNair having to come on for Rojo. The he gave Wilson an experience of a Manchester derby. Would bringing Herrera on later in the game given us more threat?

There is that too, the amount of injury inspired changes he has had to make in the last few months is unreal. Apart from fecking up the rhythm of the team it also takes away from him the only options he has available, on the bench, to change the course of matches.
He has done well but we now need tangible deliverables,points on the board. What I like most about this team is the way we have responded to adversity since that 5-3 meltdown.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think either could be. Garay would be perfect though. He's world class. He's got a good level head, big game experience, great composure - 89.2 percent pass completion rate in 10 Russian Premier League games so far this season, and he can score at the other end too. There are questions over his tackling ability if he came to the premier league but I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem after a few games to adjust his style.

Rojo doesn't want to punch his lights out as well does he? That would be a start.

 

[Verminator]

Wow!
We have had an average of 8 players out injured. We have drawn against Chelsea and narrowly lost a hard fought derby with 10 men for 50+minutes.
We look a lot more solid in defence midfield and attack despite losing our best players in those areas to injury or suspension, and we have fighting spirit which went missing for a year. Despite this, it has been mainly individual errors that have cost us in most games.
That anyone should be blaming the manager at this stage, is mind-blowing.
I enjoy watching us now. I am confident that, with a nearly full team, we will beat nearly anybody in front of us (barring defensive brain farts)
Moyes got more slack, and it was obvious the direction he was taking us.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Wow!
We have had an average of 8 players out injured. We have drawn against Chelsea and narrowly lost a hard fought derby with 10 men for 50+minutes.
We look a lot more solid in defence midfield and attack despite losing our best players in those areas to injury or suspension, and we have fighting spirit which went missing for a year. Despite this, it has been mainly individual errors that have cost us in most games.
That anyone should be blaming the manager at this stage, is mind-blowing.
I enjoy watching us now. I am confident that, with a nearly full team, we will beat nearly anybody in front of us (barring defensive brain farts)
Moyes got more slack, and it was obvious the direction he was taking us.

I think the majority are happy with the manager. As you say the number of injuries has halted any momentum we might have gained and most of the goals conceded have come from brainfarts from our defenders. I am actually pretty optimistic as long as he is left to get on with his job. It's the media which bother me. You know what they are like if they smell blood.