28 Jan 2015 05:19:30
@Ed001
I read a couple of articles yesterday which were heavily critical of Van Gaal's United. What is indeed surprising is that they were from leading journalists that are usually in the "inner circle" at Old Trafford and usually write in a different manner about the club and try to put a positive spin on things and were even very supportive of Moyes till the very last moment. The kind of bold language and criticism used seemed unusual and portrayed the team as going backward under LVG.
I didn't believe you when you said that the press may have had a go ahead from SAF and leaking of stories to get the fans on the club's side if Van Gaal is sacked, but it does look like there might have been some truth in what you said.
{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't on very good authority. I don't like to give out anything on Man Utd or Everton unless it is definite, with them being the main rivals to Liverpool. Otherwise it just looks like I am trying to stir up trouble if it turns out to be nonsense. That is why I am very careful about what I have to say information wise, unlike an opinion when I can just be open.}
Hi ed001, can't seem to find what you originally said. any chance of a repost. cheers
{Ed001's Note - I think it was on the others page, and having looked I notice we don't have archive pages for that, an oversight on our part. Ed033 is going to set that up now, and then I will try and find it and c'n'p it here for you.}
Ed001 just out of curiosity what is your opinion on Uniteds season so far? If you were a United fan would you be content at the moment with the squad, the manager and how we are performing?
{Ed001's Note - my opinion is that it is not good enough. The place in the league isn't far off as good as possible, but performances are far from good enough. There is no sign of any improvements either. If the league wasn't so poor this season, would United be top 4? Not the way they have played, I don't think they would. That has to be a worry, added to LVG's constant backtracking on how long it will take him to fix things, I would be really worried. He is clearly out of his depth. Odd to say when he has managed such big clubs in the past, but they were not so far off the top when he took over. It was very much just taking a team that was struggling, despite having a great side, and getting them going. United is a different problem altogether. It is a team that had declined massively and fallen behind their rivals, while a great club, the team is not great. It was barely even good before the summer signings!
Oh and he needs to stop making things personal, and alienating players like Herrera and Shaw is not a good long term way to build a club. Those are the players he should be building around, not forcing onto the fringes. I just can't see any signs of him learning how to use his players to the best of their ability at all. I mean Fellaini on the right side of a diamond? That is just insane or stupid, not sure which. His strengths are not his mobility, on the side of a diamond mobility is the key factor required, so why play him there, especially when there are options that have that mobility, such as Herrera. You have to put him at the tip, where he can attack the box, as that is where his strengths lie or use a different system.
It just seems like he is being told something, and rather than accepting a diamond would suit his players and working with it, he is deliberately (or subconsciously) trying to prove people wrong. I mean that 3 at the back system he refuses to ditch, despite it not working, says it all for me!}
Interesting views Ed001. It's always good to get perspective from someone on the outside. I think for most of us the league standing is what is keeping LVG safe from criticism if you like. Would you expect him to be gone before his 3 years are up if significant progress isn't made?
{Ed001's Note - from what I have been told, I would be surprised if he is here next season. You are right about the standing, it is keeping him safe, as a top 4 place was about all you could reasonably expect before the season started. I don't think anyone expected Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs to all be so poor as to hand it to you on a plate though!}
LVG has had nothing but luck and hasn't capitalised, look at our draws in both cups for a start - how long has it been since we haven't had a Prem team in the FA Cup? The League Cup would have been a nice run had we stayed in as well. Our opponents all sub-par, DDG saving countless points, No CL so he can implement his ideas in training. The stars are aligned but he is a waste of time.
I agree ED. If LVG was in Moyes's shoes last season with Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton performing much better it would be interesting to see where we would be in the league. Appreciate your time 001.
{Ed001's Note - my pleasure mate. Always enjoy reading other fan's views, it is interesting how different the perspectives are of the same event.}
Ed001,
I think we have the makings of a good team now, they just need to be played in the proper system.
Also, I think Van Gaal has stayed clear of making the big decision imo. You simply cannot play RVP, Rooney and Mata in the same team. That makes us far too slow up front. I would say only one of the three has to play (that being Rooney as he is the quickest of the bunch), and Falcao and Januzaj need to play instead.
Januzaj is still young, inconsistent and makes mistakes but he does inject some pace and movement in our play which is severely lacking and I think he should play ahead of Mata. As good a player as Mata is, he is too slow and lightweight and isn't making much of an impact. Italy or spain would suit him far more.
We do need a commanding CB, a box to box CM (Van Gaal seems to want Strootman but I am not sure he is the right choice as he lacks pace), a RB and many may be surprised, but a pacy winger should be our top priority in the summer. There is just zero movement from the team in midfield, especially without Herrera and that nullifies what Rooney and Di Maria can do as well.
Rojo has played well and is proving to be a strong tough defender, I am sure you would agree.
Thanks Ed001
I agree Red Faith but I think we have a mercurial player in Mata who can change the games with a flick of his boot but we aren't accomodating his talent. He needs pace around him and that is our main problem. He was majestic for Chelsea and we really need to inject some pace (a winger like you say) to get the best out of our £37million signing.
28 Jan 2015 13:53:11
Some interesting thoughts Ed. Fully agree with you in saying that he's out of his depth, he's spent £150m and look no better for it.
Tactics, formations and team selections have all been poor and there is nothing to suggest any of that will change given how stubborn he is.
Player management and performances have been poor, with not one player excelling under him. Up until now, it seemed that players with content with trying to make this methods work, but I hear both players and staff are running out of patience.
Ed001, if we continue to struggle and somehow scrape fourth position, do you think that would save him from being replaced? Or do you think his job would still be in jeopardy if we don't see big improvements on before the end of the season?
Lastly, Ed002 mentioned the other day about someone trying to push another manager towards the club. Seems like that person will not be named, but of curiosity, who do you think would be a good fit Ed01?
Would have to be a young, modern manager for me, someone who can bring a fresh, up-to-date approach with them. The one thing I want more than anything else is for us to start playing attractive football again, it's been a long long time since that's happened. I doubt there would be many attainable targets in the summer, Klopp would be the obvious one, Guardiola the dream one, and De Boer the surprise one.
28 Jan 2015 10:56:10
I think for me the main problem this season has been any lack of progress. I don't think anyone can say we are playing any better in January than we were in August and that's a big deal for a team that is supposed to be rebuilding.
We don't seem to have any real identity on the pitch - we aren't a team that has a strong defence, we aren't a team that attacks really well (though we should be!) and we aren't that team we were under Fergie that never quit. LVG has to take the majority of the blame for this.
I'm not saying LVG OUT or anything, he has the rest of the season to prove me wrong, but if in May we are still playing this way then I won't want to see him back.
Ed001 - I think your point on Herrera/Fellaini is spot on, I also think it's so easy to see that I can't believe Fellaini was ever put there. People complain about making so many fouls, and that was mainly due to him chasing players quicker than him out wide. Baffling.
{Ed001's Note - it is bizarre that a man so experienced can't see these things himself.}