Louis van Gaal

Manchester United are on the brink of something special again thanks to manager Louis van Gaal... he's even making Chris Smalling look good!


You can tell Manchester United are on the brink of being very special again. How? Easy - people have started clutching at straws just lately, desperate to criticise Louis van Gaal’s side.
After Wayne Rooney was sent off against West Ham earlier this season a Twitter rumour started that the Manchester United and England captain had got himself red carded deliberately because he had a private plane waiting, and he needed to depart early for some sort of celebrity social event that evening. Another rumour started that Rooney had fallen out with Robin van Persie, and that’s why they weren’t playing well together for United.

Well I was at Old Trafford that day when United beat the Hammers 2-1, and at around 6pm, long after the final whistle, both Rooney and van Persie were suited up, on the pitch, playing football with their children and seemingly having a great time together. So that killed both of those nonsense rumours at once.It’s interesting that people seem desperate to criticise and bring down Manchester United.

Another example: I’m forever being told that Radamel Falcao was a bad signing. If United had paid £50m for him and given him a six-year contract then the critics might have a point. But his injury record isn’t great so that’s why United only signed him on loan; a shrewd move. Despite not arriving at the club until the World Cup was over, and despite an injury list that would leave Florence Nightingale in pieces, Van Gaal put together a team that faltered for the first couple of months of the season, but entertained us royally in flashes.

It was never going to be smooth. Think about the wreckage of last season. Backroom staff decimated, morale low, players left, others struggled for confidence and form, and United were awful to watch.
I always speak to fans when I go to games up and down the country, and the general consensus at United is that this season, despite a few poor results, the football under van Gaal is a significant improvement from last season, and the fans are happy with that. There are two results that United’s critics seem to be living off – the 5-3 defeat at Leicester and the 4-0 reverse at MK Dons.

United were brilliant at Leicester until an inexplicable decision from Mark Clattenburg gave Leicester a penalty and United crumbled. But people read way too much into that game; they even said it showed Leicester will be fine in the Premier League this season. As I write this they are bottom and haven’t won a game since they beat United. The problems United suffered that day are easily rectified, but critics were too quick to forget how spectacular the football was that took them into a 3-1 lead.

As for the defeat in Milton Keynes, of the five senior players who started that game, three have left (Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa) and Anderson hasn’t started a game since. It was a game van Gaal used to find out more about some of his senior professionals. He probably wasn’t expecting such a beating, but the Capital One Cup wasn’t high on his priority list this season.

So United now find themselves in the top four despite so many people saying they have wasted a load of money and are poor.

The worrying thing for the United haters is that they keep improving. I’m sure there will be dips and they will come unstuck in some matches but just take a look at the last two games. Van Gaal totally out-coached Arsene Wenger with a game plan that earned three points at Arsenal, and then destroyed inferior opposition with some breathtaking football against Hull. Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria are in brilliant form; Michael Carrick’s control and passing are being trusted again; David de Gea is currently the best keeper in the Premier League.

With even more improvement, and maybe more signings to come in January, the Premier League has a lot to fear from Manchester United.  Van Gaal is a man who looks you in the eye when he talks to you and answers your questions. His press conferences are informative and entertaining – he speaks to the fans through the media, which is exactly what should happen. I admire his sincerity. And I even like the way he approached his criticism of the festive schedule in England. He said it isn’t good for players who have families, but then added: ‘I have to adapt, and I shall adapt.’

As much as the United-haters loved last season, they are beginning to dislike this campaign, with United showing signs they are on their way back. They are a joy to watch at times, and if they can get the injury list down and add consistency to their undoubted quality, Van Gaal may be on the brink of producing something extra special at Old Trafford. This manager is even making Chris Smalling look good, so anything is possible.


 www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2856625/Manchester-United-brink-special-thanks-manager-Louis-van-Gaal-ADRIAN-DURHAM.html#ixzz3KkbwzNgG

I have to admit, how he's got Young, Fellaini and Smalling playing VG deserves a hell of a lot of credit. If he can get Valencia to cross a decent ball then I may not need my porn stash.

Van Gaal saying that he is being forced to play a 3-5-2 due to the real fullbacks both being injured (Rafa and Shaw), Young and Valencia are good enough for a wing back role but would be found out defensively if played as fullbacks in a flat back 4. Kinda gathered this myself and have said I think we'll switch to 4 at the back once Rafa and Shaw are back fit, good to hear the 3-5-2 isn't his confirmed choice of formation anyway.

www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2014/Dec/louis-van-gaal-reveals-why-he-plays-three-man-defence-tactic.aspx?pageNo=1

We have the same pundits it seems Charlie. Jenas is on match of the day. You some good some bad and some are down right terrible

Koeman - United should be challenging now

Saturday 10th January 2015 By Kevin Palmer


Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has suggested that Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has already had enough time and money to turn his side into trophy contenders.

Koeman and Van Gaal, who have a famously frosty relationship after a fall-out during their time together at Ajax, will clash at Old Trafford on Sunday in a mouth-watering Premier League encounter, with the Saints boss fanning the flames before the meeting.

Van Gaal has said he made need a couple of years to get United into title winning contention, but when asked whether United should be closer to Chelsea and Manchester City given the money that has been spent by the Old Trafford club, Koeman said: "In [terms of] individual quality of the players, yes."

"It's up to him - if he needs two years more, give him two years more.

"Of course maybe he is doing different to other managers, but I don't believe that you need two years or one year.

"No - it's all about qualities of the players and they have to do that. And the better the players, the easier it is for the manager."

The adaptation process was highlighted by Van Gaal when predicting a three-year transition, although Koeman has hand no problems settling into a new league and integrating acquisitions.

Many predicted relegation for Saints this season given their talent drain over the summer, yet Koeman has transformed them into a side challenging for European football.

"It's an easy answer as a manager to say 'I need time'," he added. "You don't have time in football.

"Okay, you need adaptation of the players, but I think sometimes they are more excuses of the people than to expect something.

"Football is the same in Holland or in Germany. The players are better in Germany and England than we have in Holland, most of the players.

"My job as a manager is not so different to what I did in the last three years in Feyenoord - it is managing a football club, managing a football team.

"Okay, new players. I have better players than I had in the last three seasons. It has to be easier, that adaptation. It's about the quality of the players."

The Dutchman is confident Southampton can better last year's eighth-place finish thanks to the ease of moving from club management on the continent to the Premier League.

www.sundayworld.com/sport/soccer/koeman-united-should-be-challenging-now

True, but I do feel more comfortable with LVG because despite poor results lately I've been seeing improvements week in week out, and we're heading somewhere. With Moyes it was always the same "flatness" and uninspired performances for months. Not everyone might see, recognise or simply like the way LVG is handling this team, but there is a plan in place.

Our defence is looking more and more solid, we're developing a more vertical approach and moving away from the width SAF sticked to for years and years. I agree with LVG that it takes time to revamp a whole system and unlike with Moyes I am ready to give him time because he is the right man to do so and has proven already that we're moving forward. I still think we lack a couple of key players to reach our full potential though. While many are saying we need to buy in defence, I think our weakness is definitely upfront as we fail to score goals: Di Maria, RVP, Falcao, Mata have all been disappointing, inconsistent and playing below their own standards.

On Koeman and his comments regarding LVG, he should be careful what he says: Martinez displayed the same arrogance last year with Everton and look where he is now. Maybe Southampton has taken the league by storm because they weren't expected, but that will be over next season. United, on the other hand, is always expected.