Van Gaal - the character

This whole dossier business is a classic example of how he handles the media. Badly. I guess that's the difference between the disdain and "putting the hacks in their place" that people were hoping for and the clumsy, always have to have the last word, dont know when to stop talking side of his personality that I guess most people were not.

I havent particularly changed by views RE his personality specifically. I still like his honesty, I still find him interesting to listen to.
 
Interesting. Anyone else got a take on this dossier stuff?

You see, I personally think that stuff can be spun either way. I saw Fergie get rattled by even more nobodies than Big Sam but then it was never him not being able to handle the media or being too sensitive or a flaw in his personality.
 
Locka said:
Interesting. Anyone else got a take on this dossier stuff?

You see, I personally think that stuff can be spun either way. I saw Fergie get rattled by even more nobodies than Big Sam but then it was never him not being able to handle the media or being too sensitive or a flaw in his personality.
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Depends if you're winning or not.
 
I like him and I actually wish he was more fiery like he was earlier. He has an arrogance about him which some won't like, inevitable.
 
I think that when he was at Bayern, he went into the Bayern changing room.
He took down his trousers to show his players his balls.
This is probably his most ballsey move.
 
Yep. He's been far more timid and reserved than I expected when he came in. I want to see more of him being a bit of a dick basically..
 
sunama said:
I think that when he was at Bayern, he went into the Bayern changing room.
He took down his trousers to show his players his balls.
This is probably his most ballsey move.
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No way! This definitely did not happen! What?!
 
SirAF said:
I love van Gaal but I hope to see some anger in the future too!
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I assure you, there is plenty of anger there.
He hasn't shown it publicly yet, but its a virtual certainty we will be treated to it soon.
He once shouted at a player so hard, that his dentures fell out. :wenger:
 
sunama said:
I assure you, there is plenty of anger there.
He hasn't shown it publicly yet, but its a virtual certainty we will be treated to it soon.
He once shouted at a player so hard, that his dentures fell out. :wenger:
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That's quite a bump!

:drool: though
 
Varun said:
I like him and I actually wish he was more fiery like he was earlier. He has an arrogance about him which some won't like, inevitable.
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He is a fans dream, you just know he pi**es off the ABUs. The press can't make him out, they want to attack, but all they really have is the football is dross and yet the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool are still to overtake us. So he is getting results.
They want to get him on long ball and he shows possession, short passes and explains the difference between long ball to forwards and long balls to keep switching sides.
I actually love him for that.

His character is what we needed after Fergie, because with Fergie everyone just saw intimidation of the ref's. Now, that has disappeared, we don't win because of us, not the ref, or the other side.
 
Shamwow said:
I used to like him a lot but recently I have noticed more and more some of the aspects of his personality I don't like:
  • Doesn't play formations I want him to play
  • Doesn't use the players I want him to use
  • Draws against West Ham
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Why did you liked him in the first place ?
 
I remember him saying he cries at least once a day. To be honest with you he strikes me as borderline insane, as if his perception of the world differs from the 'norm', but it's fine providing he can build a great team and I'm sure he will.

I want to see more media battles, this is the man who was so pissed off at the media when they were in Holland he had them thrown out of their hotel late at night, they spent the night looking for alternative accommodation not knowing whether they'd find it or not.

Giovanni likened him to Hitler.

Perhaps his English is not fluid enough to do this, Blind + RVP probably get it!

 
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SalfordRed1960 said:
He is a fans dream, you just know he pi**es off the ABUs. The press can't make him out, they want to attack, but all they really have is the football is dross and yet the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool are still to overtake us. So he is getting results.
They want to get him on long ball and he shows possession, short passes and explains the difference between long ball to forwards and long balls to keep switching sides.
I actually love him for that.

His character is what we needed after Fergie, because with Fergie everyone just saw intimidation of the ref's. Now, that has disappeared, we don't win because of us, not the ref, or the other side.
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Aye.

I actually want him to use his presence more, think that'l come with time. Its pretty much a given that he'l have outbursts here, just wont be Van Gaal if it doesnt.
 
Empire said:
I remember him saying he cries at least once a day. To be honest with you he strikes me as borderline insane, as if his perception of the world differs from the 'norm', but it's fine providing he can build a great team and I'm sure he will.
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He is clearly insane:

- He pushed a kid to the ground infront of his grandad, just to show him that he had to work more.
- He showed his bollocks to his team.
- He changed his goalkeeper for a penalty session during a World Cup.
- He did a kung-fu kick, on the touchline.
- He explained that he was always spooning with his wife.
- He attacked a referee, during a pre season game.
- He sold Riquelme.
- He bought Braafheid.
- He blew a fuse on a tv set as a pundit because he wasn't asked more questions.
- ...etc
 
JPRouve said:
He is clearly insane:

- He pushed a kid to the ground infront of his grandad, just to show him that he had to work more.
- He showed his bollocks to his team.
- He changed his goalkeeper for a penalty session during a World Cup.
- He did a kung-fu kick, on the touchline.
- He explained that he was always spooning with his wife.
- He attacked a referee, during a pre season game.
- He sold Riquelme.
- He bought Braafheid.
- He blew a fuse on a tv set as a pundit because he wasn't asked more questions.
- ...etc
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That was staged.
 
JPRouve said:
He is clearly insane:

- He pushed a kid to the ground infront of his grandad, just to show him that he had to work more.
- He showed his bollocks to his team.
- He changed his goalkeeper for a penalty session during a World Cup.
- He did a kung-fu kick, on the touchline.
- He explained that he was always spooning with his wife.
- He attacked a referee, during a pre season game.
- He sold Riquelme.
- He bought Braafheid.
- He blew a fuse on a tv set as a pundit because he wasn't asked more questions.
- ...etc
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That last one was fake if I recall, just some thing they did to advertise the channel.
 
Just remembered I made a post on here once about Van Gaal - the poet. Posted this in May:

One of the most ridiculous and hilarious things about Van Gaal is that he wrote actual poems and read them dead serious at a press conference (not ironic like Cantona's seagul metaphor), it was his way of communicating how he felt about a new job.

I believe he did it when he became Holland national team coach in 2000 and also at Ajax when he returned as a Director of Football in 2004. Tears in my eyes laughing everytime I see it, although you might have to speak Dutch to fully comprehend how ridiculous it is.

Van Gaal The Poem



Translation:

Here, at Ajax, lays my heart
A club, fascinating, always apart (different)
Called by many, God's sons
For me, the cradle of football icons
My memories go back to 'De Meer' (old stadium of Ajax)
There also was a special atmosphere

I'm going to follow my feelings now
And will be DoF in the Arena somehow
In my life-phase this is a new chance
And my old love gets an extra stimulance
That's why from my mouth it will convincingly sound:
Today, the circle really is round (things have come toghether)
 
I think he seems like a pretty weird and unpleasant man, exceptionally smug and arrogant. Which wouldn't matter that much if he delivered results. Now that he doesn't, it doesn't help to the overall picture. He's very hard to like, at least for me.

Henrik Larsson said:
Van Gaal The Poem

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Great find. What a freakshow.
 
Empire said:
Perhaps his English is not fluid enough to do this, Blind + RVP probably get it!

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Van Gaal is a fully qualified PE teacher and it shows. He isn't even really angry here, just applying his version of the 'hair dryer' when the squad slacked off during training.
 
JPRouve said:
That's even more crazy, borderline stupid.
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It was a joke and quite a good one that, since it played on popular gullibility about his personality based on his media image and showed that he can laugh at himself. Allowing for the fact that you may well be on a wind-up yourself, it seems, otherwise, that you actually fell for the gag hook, line and sinker.
 
Jev said:
I think he seems like a pretty weird and unpleasant man, exceptionally smug and arrogant. Which wouldn't matter that much if he delivered results. Now that he doesn't, it doesn't help to the overall picture. He's very hard to like, at least for me.


Great find. What a freakshow.
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'Freakshow'

I find people who use terms such as those to describe people different to themselves to be unpleasant and arrogant, quite ironic actually.
 
Empire said:
Perhaps his English is not fluid enough to do this, Blind + RVP probably get it!

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I once read something about Team Japan's former coach Philippe Troussier. What it said was that Troussier was explaining everything in French on the training ground and his interpreter (and assistant) was doing a tremendous job at making sure the Japanese translation matched Troussier's 2 cents whenever the man was not happy with something. If that's necessary, I would like to see Albert Stuivenberg make the translation while the players see the non-verbal extent of Van Gaal's fully blown anger. Sometimes, the non-verbal part can speak a lot in itself.
 
Empire said:
'Freakshow'

I find people who use terms such as those to describe people different to themselves to be unpleasant and arrogant, quite ironic actually.
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I think it's quite endearing that he would write a poem and read it aloud at a press conference but of course it's quite strange as well. I have nothing against that, though, but would you say his general demeanour is not arrogant?
 
Blzbud said:
It was a joke and quite a good one that, since it played on popular gullibility about his personality based on his media image and showed that he can laugh at himself. Allowing for the fact that you may well be on a wind-up yourself, it seems, otherwise, that you actually fell for the gag hook, line and sinker.
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I did felt for it.
 
LVG is fine. I like him even though he can be prickly (but I would be too if I had to deal with the British press). I like that he respects the club and I honestly believe he is a good person. I feel though that if he had a team of Daley Blind type players it would suit him more. Don't think he's good at catering or cajoling or flattering millionaire players with big reputations. I think his big problem is underestimating the football culture in England - it has nothing to do with using your brain as such. Trying to get players to change a whole concept that they grew up with is probably not the way to go at the moment imho.
 
JPRouve said:
Why did you liked him in the first place ?
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He's a character and I like straight talking people. I also heard that he's a really nice caring guy, for instance he apparently treats all the non-playing staff at the club really well.
 
Shamwow said:
He's a character and I like straight talking people. I also heard that he's a really nice caring guy, for instance he apparently treats all the non-playing staff at the club really well.
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He is still that man, why wouldn't you like him anymore, your preferences shouldn't change that.
 
JPRouve said:
He is still that man, why wouldn't you like him anymore, your preferences shouldn't change that.
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I just feel that dropping points against West Ham is an aspect of his personality that I will never learn to love.
 
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