Holland were both lucky and very reliant on the brilliance of one player to win games, other than that the performances were bland and they bored me in all games except for half an hour against Spain.
United under LvG: verdict so far!
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We were very good for about forty minutes, across halves, and that would be gratifying if wed done that before but we haven't and promptly went to shite after conceding, suggesting that good period was a reflection of Swansea more than anything else. If that's progress, especially after all this philosophy talk, we're fecked.
But my biggest concern with Van Gaal is his inability to judge basic football ability and performance (see Herrera and RVP). I know we're rebuilding and all but let's at least do it with the right players in the right positions.
But my biggest concern with Van Gaal is his inability to judge basic football ability and performance (see Herrera and RVP). I know we're rebuilding and all but let's at least do it with the right players in the right positions.
Pretty much. Their squad was full of mediocre/past it players, so I let it slide. I still remember threads about LVG saying, one thing we won't get is dull football like Moyes
It was not a good performance at all. Possession means feck all if you cant create chances and convert them. Possession based football is brilliant when you have the ball, put your opponents under continuous pressure by moving the ball fast and unpredictably. We are doing neither. Moreover, our defence still looks as shaky as it did at the start of the season, we still have no balance, whereas the main contributor to our positive results is still DDG. LvG is in charge and the buck stops with him. I have seen nothing from him to suggest that he can finish above Chelsea under Mou or City under Pellegrini. Our fans were afraid that we could into Arsenal by playing regularly in CL but winning feck all in England and Europe, and at the moment, with the squad we have, United may miss CL again. If that happens, I see no point in continuing with van Gaal.
Remember last season when people in a way to put a spot on Liverpool's surge claimed that one game a week allowed them to get enough rest in between, have more extensive time to train and prepare and means all their focus was on a single goal.
Yeah we've been in their situation but the football is absolute dire, our players aren't showing much individual qualities, we look like a team that has never met each other and a team with no idea what the goal is, and where the goal is to be frank.
Imagine if we did have Europa League this season
Yeah we've been in their situation but the football is absolute dire, our players aren't showing much individual qualities, we look like a team that has never met each other and a team with no idea what the goal is, and where the goal is to be frank.
Imagine if we did have Europa League this season
You see Giggs always whispering in his ear. Is there some internal sabotage going on again from within?
Fellaini is a Plan B not Plan A. Mata should have started there to link with ADM and Herrera.
DDG, Blind and Herrera and maybe the resurgence of Ashley Young are sadly the only thing we have to hold onto.
I'm fast losing faith in him mainly because even after this long he can't decide on his best side. It took a public outcry for him ditch the 3-5-2, the same for him to drop Falcao and push Rooney uptop and it he will need it again to realise that playing Van Persie at all costs is dragging us downwards. Why should a manager of his calibre get so much wrong ? Why can't he get things right before the fans and the press get on his back? In every game he makes a terrible selection, one that everyone can point out from a mile out and that decision will hurt us and waste a sub. Today it was McNAIR and Robin, next week it will be another and on and on until we finish seventh again.
What and then have another disjointed summer with the new manager trying to asses the squad followed by panic buys at the end of the transfer window and then endure another season of transition. No thanks.
This is one of the things thats annoyed me the most about his managerial style, doesn't give a sense of togetherness or team unity but instead just separates himself from the players when it matters the most.
We were bad at the back, organisation or personnel? I don't know, but they had far too many balls into the box from setpieces and open play that seemed to go more or less uncontested. We were bad at the front. Chance creation and finishing - we were the epitome of a no-end-product team.
Whether that's form, training or something else I don't know. I'm not sure that I'd blame the management though. Even if I can't praise them for it.
Amazingly we weren't bad in the middle and we even moved "the middle" into their half of the field for a good chunk of the game, which felt like progress to me. Which probably means that we're back to that horrible question of balance. Sunderland at home next, and I'm oddly hopeful.
Whether that's form, training or something else I don't know. I'm not sure that I'd blame the management though. Even if I can't praise them for it.
Amazingly we weren't bad in the middle and we even moved "the middle" into their half of the field for a good chunk of the game, which felt like progress to me. Which probably means that we're back to that horrible question of balance. Sunderland at home next, and I'm oddly hopeful.
I'd rather take a risk, then continue splashing 100+ million quid to try to get to top 4 with no realistic chance of winning anything. I am absolutely sure Woody thinks the same. If we are not in CL next season, Louis will be replaced.
Thata the problem with Van Gaal. He makes good observations yet wrong conclusions.
Falcao plays shit? Ill play him regardless.
Herrera plays well in midfiled? Ill put him on the bench.
TBH, if this is the LVG philosophy and this is the brand of football were going to play under him, CL league or not, I want him gone at the end of the season. Adapt to the utd way with width or f*** off I say....enough of this hoof it to Fellaini s***, Were better than this
Van Gaals priority last summer should have been an experienced world class central defender but without champions league football on offer it was very hard for him to attract a player like Hummels or Godin. It's very possible we will be faced with the same dilemma this summer with no champions league football on offer to attract the best but Van Gaal will get another summer even without champions league football and he should be able to sign a few more decent players
We are still clearly seeing the damage and effects of taking a massive risk on a tactically unqualified manager like Moyes has had and it could be a long while yet before we are fully back on track and competing for the top trophies again. I still feel Van Gaal can get the 4 top level players he needs in the summer to balance out the squad and once he does then I think we may see a much better Utd next season under Van Gaal.
We are still clearly seeing the damage and effects of taking a massive risk on a tactically unqualified manager like Moyes has had and it could be a long while yet before we are fully back on track and competing for the top trophies again. I still feel Van Gaal can get the 4 top level players he needs in the summer to balance out the squad and once he does then I think we may see a much better Utd next season under Van Gaal.
We're not playing good football right now but what exactly is the United way? We haven't played good football since Ronaldo left and we had a proper midfield in our team.
Well I'm pretty sure with the players we got this summer Moyes would be doing much better.
I doubt the players believe in his philosophy, whatever that is, and that's gotta be the end of him come the end of the season.
Let's just hope we sneak 4th so the next manager and the club has champions league football.
I doubt the players believe in his philosophy, whatever that is, and that's gotta be the end of him come the end of the season.
Let's just hope we sneak 4th so the next manager and the club has champions league football.
You just get the feeling he'll look at the fact that we've conceded two goals today and decide to go 3 at the back again.
The same football that helped us win trophies even without Ronaldo, Wingers. Yes Valencia, Young are not the best wingers but Di Maria is a quality Winger and just like when Ronaldo was at utd 1 winger was enough to get us playing WC football, Di Maria is that player for us now. Carrick/Blind and Herrera are quality enough CM that can get us playing better and play with a Proper #10 and 1 striker will go along way to improving us. We need to using Fellaini as a target man and Hoofing it to him
The players don't look like they're enjoying there football under him and thats the only conclusion I can make.
4 4 fecking 2.
I think we might have some deja vu and the Everton away game will seal his fate. Calling it now.
This Fellaini thing just doesn't compute. It's got nothing to do with the Van Gaal of old, it's awful if it's part of our long term thinking and it's still pointless if it's just a short term thing - we've got other options.
And that's kind of a big problem because if this season is partly about building and creating a stepping stone to the future, then we're not really doing that. And short term it doesn't look particularly good either.
And that's kind of a big problem because if this season is partly about building and creating a stepping stone to the future, then we're not really doing that. And short term it doesn't look particularly good either.
must admit, I do miss those Fergie rants on the touchline...put the fear of God into the players, no matter who they were. Even Cantona, a character who one wouldn't think reacted well to yelling, said that he wasn't immune to the Fergie blast and said that he was usually spot on when a player was performing not up to his usual standard....
I don't know where else to put this but I am bothered that Giggs is immediately placed as AM of the first team when players like Solskjaer have had to start from the bottom and learn their way to the top. I would feel more comfortable if someone more experienced were providing van Gaal input on preparation for matches.
Where is the improvement? Still waiting.
Exactly. I think the squad is being programmed to abide by a set philosophy and in the process has become robotic. Although he has purchased flair players it seems to me the flair is being coached right out of it team. It's about statistics, keeping the ball. The players seem terrified to take risks, and are not playing with any adventure the way it was under Sir Matt, Tommy Docherty, Ron Atkinson, and to a large degree under Sir Alex.
Great professionals are panicking even under slightest of pressure. The spirit of adventure is missing from the squad. We are more concerned not to lose than winning.
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Is anyone seeing a pattern here?
It's the exact same as last season...
Uncertain in the first half with a good run of form over Christmas, followed by utter shite and what seems to be a downward slope in the 2nd half of the season
It's the exact same as last season...
Uncertain in the first half with a good run of form over Christmas, followed by utter shite and what seems to be a downward slope in the 2nd half of the season
My opinion of LvG and the team is not based on today's game.
Will it end up with us looking for a new manager in the summer though?
I'm tired of this crap football, personally. But that's the heart speaking, not the head. But van Gaal needs to start getting it right and keeping it that way, or there's no point keeping him.
I don't understand why many say our squad is not good enough. To be fair, most of the worst have gone or are out on loan. Managers always moan about not having enough quality or the right players. Our squad consists of some of the best players in the world in most positions. Players who have excelled at their previous clubs and at international level and have won plenty of domestic trophies.
Like a lot of you, I'm also getting fed up with things. Our play is just so slow at times its mind-numbingly boring to watch. It's starting to feel a lot like last season, and though it's probably a knee-jerk reaction after today's defeat, I'm now starting to wonder if we'll manage any better than seventh.
The cleverest thing LvG has done so far is lower expectations. Given the money spent and the players in our squad, we should be challenging for the title and other honours. We aren't even close in the title race, we went out of the League Cup with our tail between our legs, and the highlight of our season has been beating the likes of Cambridge and Preston in the FA Cup.
The cleverest thing LvG has done so far is lower expectations. Given the money spent and the players in our squad, we should be challenging for the title and other honours. We aren't even close in the title race, we went out of the League Cup with our tail between our legs, and the highlight of our season has been beating the likes of Cambridge and Preston in the FA Cup.
Today lost has nothing to do with Van Gal's tactics,
I think we have some overly paid players which cant do their job.
Some of our player look like they past it or they are just clueless.
I think we have some overly paid players which cant do their job.
Some of our player look like they past it or they are just clueless.
It really doesn't.
We have got some very good players but there's an element of doubt over almost all of them.
Was Mourinho right to get rid of Mata? Is Van Persie finished? Does Di Maria even want to be here? Will Falcao ever be a top player again?
It was the same last season under Moyes. People in denial about our squad. Saying Kagawa was a brilliant player. Zaha should get more games. Hernandez needs to play.
Even if you think Van Gaal isn't up to the job don't kid yourself about the size of the task he faces.
Our squad is a lot, lot better than last season, it is that they aren't being managed properly.
He does have a big job, but he is he using the players properly. Rooney out of position, ADM not always playing where he should. Persisting with a past it and now it seems injured RvP. Changing the defence today, why? He needs to sign more players, but I bet replacing RvP wasn't in his thoughts. Half the defence is not up to it. He still doesn't know if he will have DDG? It is a nightmare and some of it is of his own making.
Tactical turtle is at it again, keeps playing his best friend Van Persie despite his constant piss poor performances, never get's on the touchline or shows any emotion after the game. (Apparently we dominated today, despite Fabianski having about zero save to make)
What worries me most is, if you can't get top 4 when all your rivals are having terrible seasons, how on earth is he going to get there next season? Is he going to spend another £150million because he can't even get this lot playing cohesive football and it's got to the point where you can predict how every away game is going to play out. Also since the new year, we haven't beaten anyone in the top half of the table which is shocking.... No way are we winning the league under this guy in the next 2 years at this rate.
What worries me most is, if you can't get top 4 when all your rivals are having terrible seasons, how on earth is he going to get there next season?
Is he going to spend another £150million because he can't even get this lot playing cohesive football and it's got to the point where you can predict how every away game is going to play out. Also since the new year, we haven't beaten anyone in the top half of the table which is shocking.... No way are we winning the league under this guy in the next 2 years at this rate.Before the game started 90% of the caf were happy with the XI picked. They lost. No excuses about people being played out of position. Not today.
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