11 May 2015 15:38:08
I don't think even the most avid LVG supporter could claim this season has been an unmitigated success. We're back in the CL, that's it. And it's the minimum one should expect from a club with our financial resources.
Do we blame the manager for our slow build up or do we look at the squad he inherited and say it was the inevitable result of a failure over a number of years to invest in the right sort of players, capable of exhibiting the speed of thought and action required to break down packed defences? A failure compounded by Moyes, but essentially starting during the Ferguson era.
In order to address this fundamental issue, the club took 2 big gambles in ADM and Falcao, neither of which have yet paid off. Shaw brought speed to the left back position, but unfortunately has suffered through injuries, similarly Rojo. Blind is a decent plodder. As a result, we are still the slow development team we were last season, which accounts for our inability to break down resolute defensive postures.
The transfer market will determine our efficacy next year. Depay shows a clear intent.
11 May 2015 15:56:53
i would disagree i actually think we have a good team that is capable of quick football.
have a look at what people where saying about the team after we beat spurs ,scouse and city.
we played good football at a high tempo which shows the team can play high tempo football .
have a look at some of the football swansea and southampton have produced with what would be considered lesser players .
11 May 2015 16:20:28
i repeat myself but its really simple.
someone attacks us,we do good against them.
If they park the bus,we have no clue.
11 May 2015 16:25:53
We are definitely capable of fast football, but that's not how LVG is set up. To play with speed you need movement in the middle, ball players at the back and pace on the wings. Unfortunately, Fellaini and Blind are far too slow, Mata isn't quick enough (and doesn't keep the width enough) to be an effective winger, and our cbs have terrible distribution.
The biggest issue is LVG's obsession with players holding their position. It's very difficult to produce fluid attacking football when players are being forced to operate within an enclosed space of the pitch. We can keep the ball for as long as we like, but so long as the opposition know exactly where our players will be on the pitch, we're too predictable and easy to contain.
11 May 2015 16:30:48
Totally right Danny. I lost count how many times we won possession on Saturday for Blind to then drop 10 yards back to sit in with Jones & Smalling. The players think position first rather than disturbing opponents and that is the managers philosophy at play. We have lost that gung-ho spirit which is why we can't break teams down, hopefully it will come back.
11 May 2015 16:52:59
I think Danny partially makes my point. To quote - Fellaini and Blind are too slow, and Mata isn't quick enough. Same could be said of Valencia, who's a one trick pony. Neither Rooney nor RVP are the quickest. ADM is quick but has struggled. Falcao doesn't appear to be as sharp as he was pre-injury. Young isn't Hazard. Januzaj? His vision and distribution has been woeful, but I think he will now start to improve (or is he a Macheda?) We set up well against teams that give us space and time.
The validity of the counter argument is that our innate slowness is compounded by tactics which may be utterly unsuitable for the EPL and a resolute lack of interest in adjusting them to meet the occasion. For example, West Brom played with 4 CBs effectively nullifying any aerial threat from Fellani - ergo, attack on the ground.
Let's see what happens in the summer. As I said in the beginning it has not been a resoundingly successful season. There remains a sense of underachievement notwithstanding the shortcomings within the squad.
{Ed025's Note - you have to give players a bit of time shaw, for a team in transition i think united have done pretty well, the problem a lot of you have is that you have been spoilt with all the glory years mate, instant success even with a massive budget is seldom achieved..
11 May 2015 17:01:37
We have players capable of fast flowing football who are suited to that style of play but for some reason LVG has decided to keep his philosophy(stubbornness).
Utd have not been pretty to watch this season, far from it, yes, we have had injuries(so has everyone else)
We have a new manager(who should have done better)
We had to integrate new players(so did a lot of other teams)
We have had De Gea who singlehandedly has saved LVG's job and saved our season(if more people were true to themselves they would admit that)
They say Rome wasn't built in a day, well neither was Rochdale and that's a bit of a mess to be fair.
Anyways who cares, we got Champs league next year and new players to look forward to, hopefully a whole new outlook.
11 May 2015 17:22:18
you don't have to be quick to play high tempo football.
11 May 2015 18:41:20
I think we'll play further up the pitch and higher tempo, once we can defend. I suspect that has been the overriding issue all season. When Carrick plays we have a stronger defence and play faster and further up the field with some real quality it has to be said. That can only improve with strong defensive additions. There are a lot more reason to be cheerful than not.
11 May 2015 17:24:15
Ed - I know supporters of other clubs think that we want it all and we want it now and it is just sour grapes because we are so used to winning. But I genuinely think those of us that are critical just want us to play in a way that we are capable of, we keep taking the Volvo out for a spin when we have a Ferrari parked next to it.
We don't expect all our players to have world class performances every game, nor do we expect to win every game. What we do expect is for the players not to be hamstrung by strange tactical decisions and to play like we want to out score opponents not tick boxes on a managers list of personal demands of each player. We are a team of box tickers.
Even allowing for a new manager with new ideas and new players having to adjust, the standard and most importantly mentality is not what Man Utd have been known for and it should be better.
I am not expecting miracles, I am just expecting the tools at our disposal to be used efficiently or what they were designed for at the very least!
{Ed025's Note - i can appreciate that beast, it just looks to outsiders like me that you are petulant and dont appreciate the good work that has gone on in such a short time mate..
11 May 2015 18:35:10
Well said ed025, a bit of realism there. We have been blessed for so many years. I think LVG was looking for a solid base to build on after the kick in the teeth of last season. Confidence was shot, a lot of dead wood so to speak. He has come in, granted spent a lot of money, but we have progressed, now if we were to spend big again this summer and not kick on, there will be serious questions asked but until that time and hopefully it does not come, let's give this very succesful and experienced coach the benefit of the doubt eh?
{Ed025's Note - im with you angel and think anything else would be unfair mate..
11 May 2015 19:23:14
Perhaps we need three options, Agree, Disagree and Agree with the Ed
11 May 2015 21:29:00
Van Gaal has done his job in securing fourth, and should be commended. But there was a huge amount of money pumped into the club during the summer and the fact that our most influential player is a 33 year old defensive mid says a lot about the manager's philosophy. LVG has certainly earned the right to have another season, but the general performances must improve if he wants any chance of achieving his goal of challenging for the title.
11 May 2015 21:56:50
I think Beast is correct when it comes to the boring football. Most of us want our team to play a certain way. Of course we don't want to lose, but we also don't want to win like a Leeds United of old, eking out gritty 1-0 victories with little enterprise. In reality some compromise between safety and excitement may be necessary to win a championship.
Maybe we are spoiled by success, but can anyone say that they did not expect us to do better against the lower teams this season, given the amount if dosh we spent?
By the way, I'm a great believer in Shaw. I think he will prove to be our best purchase of the season. I like Rojo too. Both of them add some excitement to the team. Let's hope that ADM can show his mettle next season, because if he can and we can find our new Carrick, another midfielder, a centre and right back, I believe we can compete for the championship.
11 May 2015 22:32:48
Agree RedMan. So many times I have agreed with the Ed but not the post attached to it. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Such a conundrum!