LVG always had the look of a socks and sandals kinda guy.
United under LvG: verdict so far!
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LVG always had the look of a socks and sandals kinda guy.
There has been issues with the squad/results/tactics/formation for sure. It was not exactly surprising either, Van Gaal has been a notorious slow starter.
New League, after a World Cup year, signings at the end of August, reduced pre-season, picking up the pieces of a disastrous season, players out of form, injuries, too many first team players transfers (all or a combination of these) give him more than a reasonable excuse for the performances so far. But it was been painfully evident to some of the few who supported LvG that there is definite progress being made unlike Moyes.
The only thing that surprises me, is that you've been posting. I fully expect someone like Ekeke going off like this.
Yup. He's a brave preatorian who got his face smashed by a shield.
It's finally clicked,surely. Look at the first 35 minutes today and the Spurs first half. Our opponents have no answer for us and we arent giving the anything to work with in those periods. The only reason Liverpool offered anything was because they werent at Old Trafford, even then I sensed it was more guts than out right quality.
Just playing the right players doesn't make you win matches.
He's slowly winning the sceptics over and seems to have stumbled upon the winning formula.
What a man.
LVG is great, I like him. That is all.
My head hurts too much to write a longer post.
Really? I'd be over the moon if we finished second but wouldn't feel like it was particularly deserved. It was looking increasingly likely LVG wasn't going to make the right decisions until his hand was almost forced. Lets hope he's learnt something.
This will go a long in showing if LVG has what it takes to take us further, in my opinion. RVP shouldn't start another game unless something happens to Rooney. He should only come on to keep Rooney fit.
I agree with you, for example we were good in the first half against Arsenal, but we lacked something upfront, Mata fixed that.
Exactly, one could say that the only thing that's changed is the improvement on the injury front. Other than that the playerd to use in this formation have always been here and we could have done a lot better if he wasn't obsessed with trying funny shapes and pampering big egos.
I don't buy a coach needing time to adapt to a new league. It was painfully obvious some of his decisions were flawed even to us amateurs. He was trying to adapt the formation to fit too many attacking players despite being woefully out of form. Playing Rooney, Di Maria out of position and keeping Mata and Herrera out of the team. Probably cruel thing to say but not having RvP due to injury has probably been to our advantage.
Credit where due for finally realising his mistakes.
I don't think it's that simple really. I mean, the man himself said he's going to take some time, most of his previous jobs indicated that he was doing to take some time to settle in, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying different formations.
Don't you think it has a lot to do with players understanding what he wants from them now.
Very clear over the last 5 games that certain players have stepped up now. Smalling looks more comfortable, Carrick added some calmness, Herrera understands his role, Mata has found out how to play a role and so on.
It's very simple really! Not recognising his mistakes is blind faith of the man.
There's been a distinct change in playing style/philosophy over the last few games starting with Arsenal game.
Once he stops messing around and makes weird decisions, he can be a very decent manager
Wherever you finish in the league is what you deserve, over the last 20 PL games we are top of the table. The football as a spectacle was not great early on but many posters have gone through the numerous reasons and don't intend to go through them yet again. I know everyone on here thinks they are better at picking the team and the tactics than the manager but none of us ever have or ever will.
The point is the team, not specifying any particular players, are understanding the "philosophy" and the "process" more and more and we are now looking more like a team rather than a group of talented individuals who either were off form, injured, not applying or not able to apply the game plan. But it has gradually come together and will continue to improve, probably with the odd blip.
Let's just agree to disagree here. At this point, I'm seen nothing to change my optimism at the start of the season. I'm over to RAWK to drink some scouse bitterness
Yes! Forums are all about sharing different opinions.
without reading, let me guess the current mood is....
he's doing well
he's doing well
Yes, you finish where you deserve etc etc....but we haven't put in top 2 performances apart from 2 games. DDG has saved our skin so many times when the rest of the team were clueless. I'm not saying we need to play amazingly every single game, but we were genuinely pathetic quite often.
Everyone here knew playing Rooney up front and playing Herrera and Mata were the right choices. The difference has been huge as soon as this happened. Sure, its probably not just a change of players, and thats where theres a hole in your second point, the philosophy, whatever it was, wasn't working and LVG has changed things. Probably partly due to the exclusion of certain players. To pretend this was all part of the plan is naive, I think.
I was on after the Spurs game saying I was really pleased with the performance.
Obviously, the first half today was bloody brilliant.
Was I wrong to criticise Van Gaal though? I don't believe so - we've served up some absolutely tumescent crap this season.
It seems now though that we've settled on a system that works in terms of effectiveness and entertainment.
We're in a good position now, but still some very taxing fixtures.
The philosophy can only work if the 11 players understand it the same way, that's one of the reasons why Van gaal is a slow starter, the players have to understand and apply a collective concept and on top of that they have to respect LVG's specific instructions from game to game.
My take on LvG will be very similar to most on here I assume, but:
I was losing faith in him, the selections, the substitution and the formations, along with slow build up etc, was making us boring to watch, and the results where shakey. I didn't want him sacked because I don't want to become a club like that, but also thought that giving a bit of time is only fair.
After the last 2 matches and style of play, he has definitely encouraged me that going into next season should be a positive step forward for the club. Bring in a few of the right players and this team could click
I was losing faith in him, the selections, the substitution and the formations, along with slow build up etc, was making us boring to watch, and the results where shakey. I didn't want him sacked because I don't want to become a club like that, but also thought that giving a bit of time is only fair.
After the last 2 matches and style of play, he has definitely encouraged me that going into next season should be a positive step forward for the club. Bring in a few of the right players and this team could click
That doesn't account for going from dire football with no attacking, to playing decent football with attacking and even good old counter-attacking.
LVG was never trying to do what he's done recently. He was trying to do something else and it was pants. We were playing different football. Thats as clear as day. So to say that now all of a sudden his philosophy has clicked is wrong. He may have found something that works now and I hope he sticks with it.
Last two games he finally seems to have found the balance he has been looking for all season, if we can finish strongly and secure a top four spot it will be a big step forward and provide a good base to move forward from. It's been a mixture of good and bad from LVG this season for me his biggest mistakes were insisting on playing two up front and playing Rooney in midfield, RVP and falcao should have been left out a lot earlier.
Hopefully he sticks with this formation, doesn't bring RVP or falcao back in and we continue to play as we have done in the last two games until the end of the season?
Hopefully he sticks with this formation, doesn't bring RVP or falcao back in and we continue to play as we have done in the last two games until the end of the season?
Imagine how frustrating it will be when RVP comes back in and Rooney is shifted back to midfield at the expense of Herrera!
I hope not!
Me too, but you never know with that crazy Dutchman.
I had a huge post in the pipeline to try and push Thomas Rongen... Not after today, LvG you are winning me over...
Agreed. He persisted with RvP and Falcao for too long but he has now found a well balanced team playing 4-1-4-1 where Rooney is played in his best position and Fellaini, Herrera and Mata are all finding form when they are also allowed to play in positions that are suited to their playing styles.
After performance and style from last 2, I'm prepared to shut my mouth for a while
I hope LvG is insightful enough to not do that. Although, its inevitable that RvP will play again at some point.
It will also be interesting to see what he does once Rojo and / or Shaw returns to the fold. Will that spell the end of Blind as left back, and how does that implicate the midfield of Herrera and Carrick? I have a niggling fear that Herrera will be back on the bench, at least against City if not the Villa match.
Of course, lots can happen between now and then, but that and the RvP conondrum will reveal his thoughts about a few key aspects of the squad.
Of course, lots can happen between now and then, but that and the RvP conondrum will reveal his thoughts about a few key aspects of the squad.
We really have been excellent in the big games. We'll be alright under van Gaal, I'm looking forward to next season.
I know there will a queue of "I told you so" bastards.
Beginning to share the same faith as me?
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