United under LvG: verdict so far!

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I still have FULL confidence in Van Gaal. He's made a few decisions that I and many of the fans don't agree with but that's going to happen. I say get behind the team. Nothing wrong with calling for the way you want the team to be set up but I wouldn't be criticising LVG for it. One of the main things I love about Manchester United is the support and the family feel surrounding the club.
 
Depends on where he goes from here. Play to or strengths and we'll get top 4. Play as we have, with a rigid system and players out of position, and we'll struggle. Disregarding the obvious would be just as bad as Moyes having no clue what to do.
 
I have faith in him longterm. He needs a few more top players and time.

Currently though, we remain one of the most dire teams in the league to watch.
 
Silverman said:
I still have FULL confidence in Van Gaal. He's made a few decisions that I and many of the fans don't agree with but that's going to happen. I say get behind the team. Nothing wrong with calling for the way you want the team to be set up but I wouldn't be criticising LVG for it. One of the main things I love about Manchester United is the support and the family feel surrounding the club.
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Knives were out for Moyes last year, and while I would never go against our manager at the ground, I feel he is very much open game on a messaGe board such as this one.
 
For a supposedly top class manager, he's been far from convincing. Clever play on words, arrogance and confidence in his own ability has been his shield.
 
Mali_Zeus said:
4th spot for this season is and should be the philosophy. If we get it while playing crap I for one wont care really.
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With the players we have, we should be aiming a lot higher and playing much better football. Our level in the table is more to do with the miracles performed by DDG than the "philosophy" of LVG.

I think a lot of people are becoming frustrated that we are not seeing any direction or plan in what LVG is doing. We are becoming painful to watch.
 
caisenma said:
Knives were out for Moyes last year, and while I would never go against our manager at the ground, I feel he is very much open game on a messaGe board such as this one.
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The first knives for Moyes were wielded by certain senior players that refused to accept him from day one.
 
Livewire1974 said:
With the players we have, we should be aiming a lot higher and playing much better football. Our level in the table is more to do with the miracles performed by DDG than the "philosophy" of LVG.

I think a lot of people are becoming frustrated that we are not seeing any direction or plan in what LVG is doing. We are becoming painful to watch.
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This team still needs few more players, 2 or 3 to be aiming at the top. Also we had a lot of injuries and the main goal was 4th spot at the beginning of the season and still is.
He is a new manager and this team hasnt gelled, sure he isnt hepling himself, but as I said minimum is CL spot and next season we can look only better imo.
 
Sultan said:
For a supposedly top class manager, he's been far from convincing. Clever play on words, arrogance and confidence in his own ability has been his shield.
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Think you're under estimating quite how big a job it is, yes you can point to the £150 m spent but to lose Evra, Vidic, and Ferdinand at the same time was massive, whether it was his fault we didn't get a top CB is a mute point but the defence is what is holding us back, and for me he has done a great job with the defence since the Leicester Fiasco, yes it has cost us going forward but for now, and with the injuries that's what he has had to do, he's not playing 3-5-2 to wind people up, he's doing it out of necessity.

Have ultimate faith that once a proper CB is in, and a top RB then we with play 4 at the back.
 
Mali_Zeus said:
This team still needs few more players, 2 or 3 to be aiming at the top. Also we had a lot of injuries and the main goal was 4th spot at the beginning of the season and still is.
He is a new manager and this team hasnt gelled, sure he isnt hepling himself, but as I said minimum is CL spot and next season we can look only better imo.
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If we get fourth then all will be forgiven....for a while.
 
LvG claims to have played Di Maria as a striker due his pace. Its fairly obvious Di Maria has the pace but is not a centre-forward
 
Welcome to the Caf, Ty.
Silverman said:
I still have FULL confidence in Van Gaal. He's made a few decisions that I and many of the fans don't agree with but that's going to happen. I say get behind the team. Nothing wrong with calling for the way you want the team to be set up but I wouldn't be criticising LVG for it. One of the main things I love about Manchester United is the support and the family feel surrounding the club.
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Mali_Zeus said:
Yeah for a while. Until next season..
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When I saw todays teamsheet and formation the first thought I had was "this is not Manchester United". Its looking like an incoherent mess. Yes, we are getting the results, and if we get forth then lets hope it improves next season.
 
C'est Moi Cantona said:
Think you're under estimating quite how big a job it is, yes you can point to the £150 m spent but to lose Evra, Vidic, and Ferdinand at the same time was massive, whether it was his fault we didn't get a top CB is a mute point but the defence is what is holding us back, and for me he has done a great job with the defence since the Leicester Fiasco, yes it has cost us going forward but for now, and with the injuries that's what he has had to do, he's not playing 3-5-2 to wind people up, he's doing it out of necessity.

Have ultimate faith that once a proper CB is in, and a top RB then we with play 4 at the back.
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Where have I said or hinted to the contrary?
 
shabadu84 said:
Depends on where he goes from here. Play to or strengths and we'll get top 4. Play as we have, with a rigid system and players out of position, and we'll struggle. Disregarding the obvious would be just as bad as Moyes having no clue what to do.
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Sums it up. Play to our strengths or fail.
 
Livewire1974 said:
When I saw todays teamsheet and formation the first thought I had was "this is not Manchester United". Its looking like an incoherent mess. Yes, we are getting the results, and if we get forth then lets hope it improves next season.
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If we get 4th LVG will get the players he wants in the summer for the idea which he has for us how to play. I dont think 3-5-2 is a long term solution.
 
Sultan said:
Where have I said or hinted to the contrary?
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Not sure you did, but to say 'For a supposedly top class manager, he's been far from convincing' ,indicates you think he should have done much better, thus believing the job to be a bit easier than maybe I do.

To have us 4th considering our injuries, and non existent top defender, he has been pretty convincing to me.
 
C'est Moi Cantona said:
Not sure you did, but to say 'For a supposedly top class manager, he's been far from convincing' ,indicates you think he should have done much better, thus believing the job to be a bit easier than maybe I do.

To have us 4th considering our injuries, and non existent top defender, he has been pretty convincing to me.
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Stop assuming.
 
I actually dozed off a couple times in the first half so I admit the game was kind of boring, but as soon as I saw him sub Mata I knew the 2nd half would be better.
I have always maintained that LVG knows what he is doing it is just up to most of us to be patient. a midfield of Rooney and Mata will never create enough chances for our strikers and I suspect LVG will soon get rid of Mata. Imagine Fellaini turns and faces our opponents more than Mata and Rooney. LVG knows what his main strikers are capable of doing and I think he is trying to buy a creative midfielder to give them proper supply. Falcao did not score today but you cannot deny he looked really dangerous.
I am not worried about fans turning against LVG because all it takes are a couple good games in a row and all will sing his praises. Its the nature of the beast.
 
The reaction from Caf in the match thread when Wilson came was even bigger comedy gold after he scored.

If LVG can change the system when things are not going good is a sign far from any sort of arrogance.
 
Hed Zitin said:
Don't believe that result was down to the manager. He lucked out against a really rubbish team.
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He made 2 substitutions. Both scored.
The last sub (Herrera), I think was made after 90 minutes.
Give the man credit, where credit is due.
 
To me it's looking more and more likely that he actually has no balls and that was the most shocking thing for those Germans when he pulled his pants down in front of them.
 
the hea said:
To me it's looking more and more likely that he actually has no balls and that was the most shocking thing for those Germans when he pulled his pants down in front of them.
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That was a shock because I heard he had his balls on top and not hanging, I heard too that some players couldn't sleep and they start going to the ladies restrooms to use the toilets, like I said I heard.
 
I think he's trying to get as many attacking players on the pitch as possible and that's becoming a detriment to the way we want to play. Switching Rooney and Di Maria's positions would be a good start and even though I'm a big fan of Mata's he's a final third player. Herrera is better suited to the role Mata currently occupies. He may be sloppier in possession, but he's more physical and wins a lot more ball back.

Hmm. Having read this back, it actually doesn't make sense. The two players I want in midfield are actually worse at keeping hold if the ball. Not going to help with the 'control' side of things. They definitely make us more dynamic going forward though.
 
I'm concern.

We're funnily enough once again being mismanaged right now. Where moyes was pointless and never good enough, lvg is managing our squad poorly right now. Strikers playing in midfield. Midfielders up front and on the bench, a three man defence when it isnt working and we don't have wingbacks - this is mismanagement for me.
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So yeah I was very optimistic during the start but his decision making of late is a big worry.
 
Last night was the first time in van gaal era that I literally feel noncelent after 15 minutes. Didn't celebrated the goals. Couldn't give a damn abt the game. It was that awful.
 
Always feel that writing a criticism of how were being managed over the last year and a half is going to make people jump on you by saying your not a fan etc, when in reality were all united fans here and this is how we express our opinions.

His track record speaks for himself, he's a proven top manager who has brought success in pretty much every club he's been at. But his performance thus far leads a lot to be desired. Nobody here is expecting a league title or a top 2 finish, that was always going to be a stretch too far for any manager we brought in this season. My main concern is that for the money we spent, we should be putting in better performances, even if our results are borderline ok for a top 4 finish this season. we are playing appalling football at times with top top players at our disposal, and yes injuries haven't helped us, but you have to look to the coaching and the management to place blame for this. There are issues all over the park at times, we have players in the wrong positions, playing the wrong formations utilising the wrong tactics and not only have we paid the price in terms of lost points, but we look a million miles away from gelling into a proper team right now.

Now, Van Gaals got all the credentials to pull this together, but we are a few bad results away from falling out of the top 4, its not a guarantee by any measure. I've always maintained that for this season the aim HAS to be a top 4 finish and a massive improvement in our style of play, ready for a push next season with a final splurge of financial investment to have properly rebuilt this team. Im still concerned its looking like we will need another 150m at least to have a side able to challenge in europe and fight for titles, and after the 200m or so spent in 2014, a hell of a lot of that has been wasted.
 
Sultan said:
LvG claims to have played Di Maria as a striker due his pace. Its fairly obvious Di Maria has the pace but is not a centre-forward
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And if pace is such a pre-requisite, then why didn't we keep the pacy striker we already had - Danny Welbeck? That why, Di Maria could be left to excel in his proper position.
 
Oo0AahCantona said:
and after the 200m or so spent in 2014, a hell of a lot of that has been wasted.
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We keep saying that, but how has it been wasted? Look at what weve bought under LVG (i dont care about the Moyes players, hes gone now):

Rojo - already our best CB, which admittedly isnt difficult. Hes a good player for a reasonable fee.

Shaw - expensive but before he joined every fan in the country wanted him at their club. A top prospect that you should gamble on.

Blind - signing of the summer so far.

Herrera - great player who will work well for any manager we might have.

Di Maria - arguably the best in the world in his best position. 60m is punchy but when Bale and Suarez are fetching ~80m its not such terrible value.

Falcao - its a loan.

I dont see any player we have bought under LVG that you would say we shouldnt have bought i.e wasted money on.
 
i don't understand how caf can accuse lvg is stubborn

for a coach so proud of his possession and attacking football, so emphasis on passing and movement, could employ a such negative tactic at the chelsea game of which the whole aim was to deny chelsea to play their own game.

he already mentioned for a few times he doesn't stick to any particular formation. he played his beloved 343 in ajax, 433 (WW) in barca, 4231 in bayern and 442 (MW) in alkmaar, so how he is stubborn in any particular formation?

even with us he has already switched between formations for a couple of times, i just can't understand how he can be stubborn?


the other accusation is his arrogance. i would say such accusation is mainly due to his reputation. at least so far for him being with us he has restrained it very well from showing out his arrogance in front of us.

in my opinion maybe the caf is the arrogant one who pretend we know football better than him, a person who spent almost 40 years in the business and proved himself more than once occasion.


we can call out we don't want to see 532, because it's not entertaining and it's boring. it's well justified and we have all the right to call this out since we are the one who pay out money so that a football club can be in running. and they will listen and they should.

but by doing that i'm afraid our squad needs to have another overhaul. lvg has to get rid of all players who doesn't translate his philosophy in a football pitch, no matter the reason and bring in all his type of players.

no kidding and i would doubt whether if rooney can survive in such a squad at all.

if not, it's always being a compromise to re-manufacture the existing players and we can only see the progress to evolve gradually.

i'm quite sure lvg is disappointed of the progress we have made so far and i'm also quite sure he definitely won't do nothing to change things. for some players if they are not able to cope with the remoding process, i won't surprise those several cutie faces to disappear at the end of the season.
 
11101 said:
We keep saying that, but how has it been wasted? Look at what weve bought under LVG (i dont care about the Moyes players, hes gone now):

Rojo - already our best CB, which admittedly isnt difficult. Hes a good player for a reasonable fee.
Shaw - expensive but before he joined every fan in the country wanted him at their club. A top prospect that you should gamble on.
Blind - signing of the summer so far.
Herrera - great player who will work well for any manager we might have.
Di Maria - arguably the best in the world in his best position. 60m is punchy but when Bale and Suarez are fetching ~80m its not such terrible value.
Falcao - its a loan.

I dont see any player we have bought under LVG that you would say we shouldn't have bought i.e wasted money on.
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That's a fair enough opinion, a few will go down as great signings, and I suppose from our position of weakness we couldn't be picky with either the fee or the players acquired. its just when you look at the sum of money as a whole you would hope that we would be looking at a few more players of the kind of stature that make you go "feck yea that's that position sorted longterm".

I still dont see a "core" of another great side yet, like you do when you see Terry/cahill/fabregas/matic/hazard/costa or Kompany/toure/silva/nasri/aguero. i think by the time we are hopefully truly successful again, theres going to be a lot of expensive role players on our bench come a years time. for example I don't see Herrera/rojo/falcao(in his current state) and blind as starters in a league or champions league winning side, when the competition is absolutely massive. and nobody doubts the class di maria brings, but its just irritiating how we keep buying players for the attacking midfield position when at the start of the season we were already shoehorning in Mata and rooney in the role and we had kagawa on the books and januzaj able to play there, and in any other position be it out wide or up front he looks a shadow of the player we paid the money for which severely limits our options. Im really tired and probably wrong about some of the lads, but i just think its inevitable we'll bring in a strootman/pobga type player to usurp 1 of those midfield spots and spunk big money on another couple of top cb's.

PS just wish we would play rooney upfront lol
 
Certain bit of arrogance is a pre-requisite to manage a club like ours. He's never been averse to changing it around when it doesnt work so that's a relief. Also, just like anyone here, he himself acknowledges that the team will be better going forward if we play the diamond but believes our defence isnt good enough to cope with it.

As I see it, this season he's focusing on results more than performances and in the summer, he'l buy defenders and go back to 4 in the back. It isnt great to watch but as long as it wins us games and gets us the top 4 spot, I wont complain. Mourinho did it last season too, got results while not being great to watch and after a summer where he got the players he wanted, they're tearing teams apart. Unless people here believe LVG is some shit manager, I dont understand all the uproar. This season is about getting back to the top 4. If the manager believes the defence needs an extra man to cover for lack of quality, so be it.

My biggest gripe with him is playing players out of position. Rooney and Di Maria should be playing in each others positions and we'l instantly look a better team.

EDIT: Just to be clear, I'd rather we play the diamond too as I believe we're good enough to win playing that as our improvement in attack will compensate for the weakness in defence but if the manager thinks it wont and we need to play 3 at the back, I'l complain from time to time but will accept it as long as our goals for the season are met and we buy the players to set things right in the summer.
 
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Varun said:
Certain bit of arrogance is a pre-requisite to manage a club like ours. He's never been averse to changing it around when it doesnt work so that's a relief. Also, just like anyone here, he himself acknowledges that the team will be better going forward if we play the diamond but believes our defence isnt good enough to cope with it.

As I see it, this season he's focusing on results more than performances and in the summer, he'l buy defenders and go back to 4 in the back. It isnt great to watch but as long as it wins us games and gets us the top 4 spot, I wont complain. Mourinho did it last season too, got results while not being great to watch and after a summer where he got the players he wanted, they're tearing teams apart. Unless people here believe LVG is some shit manager, I dont understand all the uproar. This season is about getting back to the top 4. If the manager believes the defence needs an extra man to cover for lack of quality, so be it.

My biggest gripe with him is playing players out of position. Rooney and Di Maria should be playing in each others positions and we'l instantly look a better team.

EDIT: Just to be clear, I'd rather we play the diamond too as I believe we're good enough to win playing that as our improvement in attack will compensate for the weakness in defence but if the manager thinks it wont and we need to play 3 at the back, I'l complain from time to time but will accept it as long as our goals for the season are met and we buy the players to set things right in the summer.
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If only everyone had the same level of patience as you!
 
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