Louis van Gaal

Being forced into a position like yesterday doesn't make him flexible. The only time I remember him being flexible this season was I think in our first game of the season against Swansea. We were struggling badly and he changed the formation at half time. Against Arsenil in the second half we had 10 men behind the ball and won easily because Arsenil committed defensive suicide.
I don't get what you mean against Yeovil. If we start with a 3-5-2 it's because he was more worried about defence than attack which is a shocking decision considering the opposition.

I don't think he used the 352 because he was worried about our defence, the 352 is more about controlling the midfield and having possession, but in case it goes wrong you can pull back to 5 at the back. Unfortunately, we don't have wingbacks and we don't have a strong enough presence in midfield to make it more efficient. It doesn't work with our players, otherwise I have no problem with it.

Also, I don't think he was forced ibto a back 4 yesterday, he still had Smalling and McNair (I think) on the bench so he could have easily kept on with the 3.

OK, lets look from that aspect: He knows that he doesn't have a real wingbacks but he persists with them every week because it gives him a better control of the game, ie possession and numbers in central midfield. Yet, we don't have a strong enough presence in midfield and he decides to put a natural striker there. Yes, Rooney have an energy but he simply is not a midfielder, at least not yet and struggles badly there.

So, why he plays with wingbacks if he knows that he doesn't have them? Why he doesn't play Herrera in midfield instead of Rooney? I think it's because he really doesn't trust his defence enough and because he believes that Rooney can protect a back line better than Herrera. For me, it's a negative mindset, not because he likes that way but because he doesn't have much of a choice and because of that we are seeing what we are seeing.

He plays di Maria up front because he possess pace (as he said himself). How about Wilson then? It's not also like Rooney doesn't have a pace either. He's trying to stretch the pitch but he fails somehow. Why? Because he has wrong set of players on a wrong positions and incompetent defence that he's trying to protect better, pulling people out of their natural positions and creating a real mess.

Because I personally have seen improvements in terms of the way the whole team functions. The attacking play also hasn't been all bad, it's only the last month or so we've looked a little toothless, which is why I see all the negativity as a bit of a kneejerk reaction although you have been critical for a while which I kinda respect as you're not just judging it on a few poor results. As Jie says, the 3-5-2 isn't necessarily about concentrating on defence it's about attaining and then maintaining ball possession.

I also look at our performances against the better sides, against Chelsea who I still rate as the best side in the league it was an even game and we got a well earned point with a late equaliser, showing fight which we didn't have last season. Away to City was an even game, we went down to 10 men and they got a bit edgy and we could've nicked a point in a game which has been tough for us of late. We comfortably disposed of Liverpool and played some good football, they had their chances but didn't have the quality to take them. Arsenal away was a good away performance against a side who always have alot of possession, yes we rode our luck but after half an hour there was only going to be one winner for me and we should've been 3-0 up before they pulled one back. Played well and beat Everton at home who we also struggled against last year and how we weren't 2/3 up against Spurs by half time was a mystery to everyone, inevitably tired in the second half mainly due to the timing of the game. Both Southampton games have been 2 of our worst performances for different reasons, at St Mary's we couldn't defend or keep possession but fortunately scraped 3 points. At home we had all the possession in the world but didn't create anything until we went behind, then Mata missed the target with 3 chances.

If anything we have been guilty this season of not being able to transfer a good performance in matches against the smaller teams which means that I'm also less worried, that's something that I think will improve next season when Van Gaal is a season wiser in the division and he's made more summer signings to get closer to his complete squad. If we were once again getting outplayed by the sides around us we'd have had more reason for concern IMO.

I don't think he lacks flexibility so much as he lacks trust in the squad he has at his disposal, a more combative cm like Strootman and a world class centre half could see him be more willing to switch his formations up when he see's they're not working (it would also give him the ability to play the right players in the right position if he insists on staying with a 3-5-2), he also had the chance to bring Smalling on for Evans yesterday but instead chose to bring on a forward to give us more attacking impetus.

Above everything I like the way he speaks, he's confident, he see's the club as his club now, he's always honest in his interviews, only a couple of occasions has he used excuses to explain results, other than that he's said we weren't good enough. Every week with Moyes it was, we were the better side we should've won when everyone could see we got massively outplayed. He's just a very convincing person to listen to and I am certain he will get it right.

I said at the beginning of the season that it was all about progression this year, a top 4 finish and being a better side is progression in my opinion and despite what people think I believe we are a much better side this year and as I said I am almost certain we'll finish top 4.

Next year I won't be so forgiving, he'll have the chance to make more signings and offload players he doesn't think fit into his philosophy, enough and he'll also be a year wiser in terms of knowing how to play in the Premier League.

Fuck me. A few paragraphs would of done :lol:
I can respect your analysis. You've been critical when needed and given praise when needed.
For most people VG came with a clean slate. Like I said before, I witnessed his meltdown at Barcelona and it really did leave a bad taste in my mouth. Even now when i speak with Barça supporters about VG they still think he's a clown even though he won them trophies. Hopefully performances will change and I can get rid of that bad taste and my negativity because believe me I don't get any joy out of always seemingly criticising him.