United under LvG: verdict so far!

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Down to fifth joint level with Spurs.

What's worrying is we'll need close to title winning form from March till the end of the season just to secure fourth place.
 
You can see glimpses of genius in LvG`s work. Some players who have been written off turned out to be valueable again.

However all in all I am a little bit disappointed. Given the money we spent on new players and the names on the team sheet I would have expected us to play more attractive football.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
I've always said - with both Moyes and Van Gaal - that all I want to see if progress.

A manager who has a vision about how he wants his team to play and evidence that the team is improving over time. Regarding the former, he's definitely changed our style of football. Most people aren't enjoying it, though, and he's not making any friends with his team selection either.

I'm sure he would argue that it's not yet his squad and he's doing whatever it takes to get results. Which brings us on to the second part of my initial premise. Have we improved over the course of his reign?


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League table says "yes".
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This really should be required reading for Caf posters - the shear volume of "doom and gloom" posts is starting to get me down. Two big take-aways: 1) Since early November (actually just before the famous LvG "3 months" were up) we've picked up more points that Chelsea, City, or anyone else, and 2) Over that period we've let in 9 goals - that's equivalent to around 24 a season, which is essentially the same as the teams of the CQ era. Of course our awful start is going to cap our possible points total well below the level we need to win the league, but to suggest we haven't improved is ludicrous. And people still talk about our "fragile" defense - it's only on a par with the best defense we've ever had - amazing. LvG has done precisely what he needed to do - he's addressed the defensive problems first (we let in 43 league goals in each of the last two seasons) and, with a more healthy squad, he's making some progress in general play. Having taught us to defend as a team, the next stage is transition when we regain possession. It's not fluent yet but, in every game, there are signs of progress. Contrary to what most Caftards seem to think, it's not easy to change the way a team thinks and plays - it's going to take a while and there are going to be disappointments along the way. I'm excited by the progress and I'm looking forward to more.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
He's nearly as unpopular as Moyes on here at this point. :nervous:

Still believe in him, and believe his track record deserves respect.
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And that wasn't embarrassing enough! Some of the stuff posted on here about Moyes last year was just wrong. It's pretty much the same folk now wanting LvG gone - the spoilt generation.
 
ravelston said:
This really should be required reading for Caf posters - the shear volume of "doom and gloom" posts is starting to get me down. Two big take-aways: 1) Since early November (actually just before the famous LvG "3 months" were up) we've picked up more points that Chelsea, City, or anyone else, and 2) Over that period we've let in 9 goals - that's equivalent to around 24 a season, which is essentially the same as the teams of the CQ era. Of course our awful start is going to cap our possible points total well below the level we need to win the league, but to suggest we haven't improved is ludicrous. And people still talk about our "fragile" defense - it's only on a par with the best defense we've ever had - amazing. LvG has done precisely what he needed to do - he's addressed the defensive problems first (we let in 43 league goals in each of the last two seasons) and, with a more healthy squad, he's making some progress in general play. Having taught us to defend as a team, the next stage is transition when we regain possession. It's not fluent yet but, in every game, there are signs of progress. Contrary to what most Caftards seem to think, it's not easy to change the way a team thinks and plays - it's going to take a while and there are going to be disappointments along the way. I'm excited by the progress and I'm looking forward to more.
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Great point if these stats are true.

I think what LVG needs to start doing is playing based on form rather than price. If ADM is not playing well, he shouldn't be starting.
The reason I think LVG is on the right track - besides his experience - is that he realizes the need to change as evidenced by finally getting rid of three in the back, and that his substitues always work. Under Moyes we never looked like we could improve as the game went on. With LVG at least there is hope. Of course with our supposed attacking talent we are not creating enough chances, and we look devoid of any ideas upfront, but it could be the focus on defending as mentioned in your post.
 
I think we will succeed under van Gaal. I really can't think of any better manager to help us succeed other than Mourinho.
 
The theory that LVG needs to be given a chance to build his own team before we see this supposed 'philosophy' take full effect is pretty damming IMO. We've spent a lot of money this summer and if he does indeed need a certain type of player, it's a lot of wasted money. Blind seems to be the only player we've signed that's in sync with what he's trying to do at the club.
 
Shark said:
The theory that LVG needs to be given a chance to build his own team before we see this supposed 'philosophy' take full effect is pretty damming IMO. We've spent a lot of money this summer and if he does indeed need a certain type of player, it's a lot of wasted money. Blind seems to be the only player we've signed that's in sync with what he's trying to do at the club.
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I'd count Rojo as a good, solid addition as well.
 
ravelston said:
This really should be required reading for Caf posters - the shear volume of "doom and gloom" posts is starting to get me down. Two big take-aways: 1) Since early November (actually just before the famous LvG "3 months" were up) we've picked up more points that Chelsea, City, or anyone else, and 2) Over that period we've let in 9 goals - that's equivalent to around 24 a season, which is essentially the same as the teams of the CQ era. Of course our awful start is going to cap our possible points total well below the level we need to win the league, but to suggest we haven't improved is ludicrous. And people still talk about our "fragile" defense - it's only on a par with the best defense we've ever had - amazing. LvG has done precisely what he needed to do - he's addressed the defensive problems first (we let in 43 league goals in each of the last two seasons) and, with a more healthy squad, he's making some progress in general play. Having taught us to defend as a team, the next stage is transition when we regain possession. It's not fluent yet but, in every game, there are signs of progress. Contrary to what most Caftards seem to think, it's not easy to change the way a team thinks and plays - it's going to take a while and there are going to be disappointments along the way. I'm excited by the progress and I'm looking forward to more.
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This. Well said.
 
caisenma said:
I'd count Rojo as a good, solid addition as well.
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Yeah he's looking quite good after a rocky start. What is positive is the fact that LVG personally wanted those two players and they both also happen to be the stand out players of our expensive summer spending spree. However, what becomes of the rest if things don't pick up? Falcao hasn't been signed yet and is looking like a goner, so he should be excluded. However, Herrera and Di Maria who almost cost a combined 100m are a big worry.
 
Shark said:
Yeah he's looking quite good after a rocky start. What is positive is the fact that LVG personally wanted those two players and they both also happen to be the stand out players of our expensive summer spending spree. However, what becomes of the rest if things don't pick up? Falcao hasn't been signed yet and is looking like a goner, so he should be excluded. However, Herrera and Di Maria who almost cost a combined 100m are a big worry.
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Well as you said, Falcao will likely be a goner but I still think Herrera has a future here. Di Maria... well, that's entirely up to him. As long as he wants to be here, I'm sure we'll be able to accomodate him and sooner or later he'll show the form that he displayed in the beginning of the season.

Can't stress how difficult it is for players to move to a new culture, climate and country. Requires upheaving your family and even though they're rich beyond words, there's still a waiting process for these players to get used to their new surroundings.
 
soapythecat said:
And that wasn't embarrassing enough! Some of the stuff posted on here about Moyes last year was just wrong. It's pretty much the same folk now wanting LvG gone - the spoilt generation.
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Its not about some being spoiled,wish they take things in consideration before calling players or manager names.Like why new X player having a hard time at the moment,not showing same form from last season etc. Like new country,new league,injuries,time to adopt on all those new things are not real reasons. Guess some would sell Vidic and Evra after those few months.
 
soapythecat said:
And that wasn't embarrassing enough! Some of the stuff posted on here about Moyes last year was just wrong. It's pretty much the same folk now wanting LvG gone - the spoilt generation.
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feck do I hate this, people can criticise without being spoilt.
 
soapythecat said:
And that wasn't embarrassing enough! Some of the stuff posted on here about Moyes last year was just wrong. It's pretty much the same folk now wanting LvG gone - the spoilt generation.
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Obviously you haven't seen the lot of Barcelona fans on various forums when the manager and the players are performing poorly; they are a 100 times worse than we are. Guess what: they don't give a feck about being called spoilt. They want to take more of that drug called "winning" as much as we do.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
I've always said - with both Moyes and Van Gaal - that all I want to see if progress.

A manager who has a vision about how he wants his team to play and evidence that the team is improving over time. Regarding the former, he's definitely changed our style of football. Most people aren't enjoying it, though, and he's not making any friends with his team selection either.

I'm sure he would argue that it's not yet his squad and he's doing whatever it takes to get results. Which brings us on to the second part of my initial premise. Have we improved over the course of his reign?


JPxBm2P.jpg

League table says "yes".
Click to expand...
I've never really understood this. It seems to suggest that we can't judge LVG until he's replaced the entire squad. He has 150 million worth of LVG approved signings in the squad! Would it be sensible to replace the entire squad in order to fit in with the view of a 63-year-old manager who probably won't be here in four years? Then we can start afresh and spend another 200-300 million to make a squad for the next manager? A manager needs to work with the squad he's inherited. It's not an excuse for playing disjointed and cautious football, especially when the squad he inherited has an abundance of attacking talent.
 
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Kakeru said:
Obviously you haven't seen the lot of Barcelona fans on various forums when the manager and the players are performing poorly; they are a 100 times worse than we are. Guess what: they don't give a feck about being called spoilt. They want to take more of that drug called "winning" as much as we do.
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I wonder why they support Barcelona? From the city, most of them?
 
Jev said:
I've never really understood this. It seems to suggest that we can't judge LVG until he's replaced the entire squad. He has 150 million worth of LVG approved signings in the squad! Would it be sensible to replace the entire squad in order to fit in with the view of a 63-year-old manager who probably won't be hear in four years? Then we can start afresh and spend another 200-300 million to make a squad for the next manager? A manager needs to work with the squad he's inherited. It's not an excuse for playing disjointed and cautious football, especially when the squad he inherited has an abundance of attacking talent.
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I think you've missed my point. When you're overhauling a squad it will take more than one summer transfer window to do it properly. Especially when the first of those windows ends when he's only worked with the previous squad for a matter of weeks.

The "replace the entire squad" stuff is a strawman, obviously.
 
He seems to be extremely stubborn to the point it gets annoying. Rooney in midfield is just not working and it's time he would try someone else there, like, a proper midfielder
 
We're not playing a true box-to-box midfielder, again. Rooney, Januzaj, and Di Maria are all attacking players. Blind really must be expected by the staff to do a lot of work.
 
We can't judge Van Gaal until he has a chance to finally create the squad he wants to create over the summer. He had about 2 seconds to asses the squad last summer....In January nobody was available.....Van Gaal has been a big disappointment so far and his great mistake was believing he could make his 532 formation work with the current players at his disposal. He has since learned that he has too many players that are either not dynamic enough such as Mata and Herrera or not technical enough such as Fellaini and Evans etc....So another clear out this summer is needed and Van Gaal will hopefully be able to add the likes of Marquinhos, Depay, Nainggolan etc to balance things out.....but I can't see us making the top 4 as our away form is gash and our rivals are looking sharper than us now so that could be a big problem...hopefully not
 
Kakeru said:
Obviously you haven't seen the lot of Barcelona fans on various forums when the manager and the players are performing poorly; they are a 100 times worse than we are. Guess what: they don't give a feck about being called spoilt. They want to take more of that drug called "winning" as much as we do.
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Who cares about Barcelona? I don't support them so it doesn't bother me what people think of their fans.
 
Getsme said:
feck do I hate this, people can criticise without being spoilt.
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We all criticise, fair enough - who wouldn't with some of the football been played, but my point is that those calling for Moyes to be sacked after about a dozen games and those calling for LvG to be sacked are spoilt in my opinion. I doubt many expected much more than a push for top 4 this season, LvG has us in the top 4 (smalling just scored) and people want him sacked.
 
We're getting worse and worse, completely unable to control a game or create chances
 
Are people who were trying to downplay our recent performances going to open their eyes now or will it all be brushed under '2 players injured' and 'we're in top 4 now' bullshit?
 
Approaching Moyes territory. He's lucky we've dropped our expectations so desperately low and that his rivals have been so shite up until now.
 
What I think of LVG currently:
Hi. I'm Louish van Gaaal and I'm the manager of Mancheshter United. I believe more in my fillosophy than I do in playing players in their correct positions
and using a tactic that actually makes sense.
So much so that I play 3 strikers(2 of which are slow as feck but who cares) and put one of them as a defensive mid when my son Daley gets injured.
Hurr durr durr fillosophy.
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Someone please explain to me why Herrera comes on for Blind leaving Wayne fecking Rooney as the DM?
 
akash02 said:
Someone please explain to me why Herrera comes on for Blind leaving Wayne fecking Rooney as the DM?
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Exactly. I refused to believe that someone who has been this successful in management can actually be clueless, but appears Van Gaal actually is clueless.
 
I genuinely think he will walk in the summer. Will take some credit if he gets us in the top 4 but the league is far too difficult for him. The interview Rodgers gave at the start of the season has proven to bang on.

Every single game is a battle and I still don't think he understands that. He expects to win games with posession and that's not how the Pl works.
 
He can blame injuries, but these tactics have been baffling. Rooney in midfield, actual CMs stuck on the bench, Falcao-RVP up front when it's not worked, the constantly slow build up, Rooney now playing DM.

It is almost as if he's trying to prove to the world he is right and his fecking philosophy is the holy grail, even if it is to the detriment of the team.
 
Surely when people sitting in the stands can see that Rooney, RVP and Falcao in the same team do not work, then why does this guy continue to start them every single game? He is the opposite of Moyes, he is far too confident for his own liking. He has made it his personal mission to make this work and I would have had some patience with him if two of the three were younger, but they are all on either side of thirty and have all been abysmal. Surely he'll have his eyes opened after this performance, although it wouldn't surprise me if his arrogance kept them covered.
 
We re getting worse and worse unbalanced and unbalanced

And the worste is that the negativity is coming bakc to the players

Awful United
 
ha_rooney said:
He can blame injuries, but these tactics have been baffling. Rooney in midfield, actual CMs stuck on the bench, Falcao-RVP up front when it's not worked, the constantly slow build up, Rooney now playing DM.

It is almost as if he's trying to prove to the world he is right and his fecking philosophy is the holy grail, even if it is to the detriment of the team.
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Blind's injury could've been avoided if we weren't 24/7 on the backfoot against Burnley at home and controlled the game with something called midfield instead.
 
Fergie couldn't have been that important, could he? Or is it just that Moyes and Van Gaal are a bit shit? Or bit of both?
 
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