26 Apr 2016 23:11:03
Van Gaal In!
26 Apr 2016 23:39:00
Why? Perhaps when you go to your first game on Sunday you will realise the football we are playing isn't up to scratch.
26 Apr 2016 23:51:02
Another one on the mushrooms.
26 Apr 2016 23:52:25
Van Gaal most definitely out, the game has passed him by.
27 Apr 2016 00:38:59
Thanks gds2, maybe I will. As an Irishman living in Australia for the past 18 years I just found it a little bit difficult to pop round but I'm living in this side of the globe again now so I'll be a little more regular now.
Why?
Van gaal is there to do a job and if he gets top 4 and wins the fa cup then I think he is doing it. For Me at the minute its more about long termism.
Van gaal was specifically hired to
1) come in and clear out the deadwood, which he has done to great effect and there was a lot
2) promote from and improve the academy setup. What is the number of debuts he has given to academy graduates now, 13 is it or something?
Van gaal is also in the process of totally restructuring our previously antiquated scouting system. I think he has signed some good players, yes he has made some mistakes but I think what van gaal is doing now will be central to our future for years to come as it was at Barcelona and Munich.
Most football fans seem very fickle in this day and age, restructing takes time and that it what we are doing at the minute, does anyone remember Barcelona before rijkards team started this amazing cycle of the most dominant team in Europe over the last number of years.
I believe van gaal laid the foundations for that success and I believe he is doing the same here, I would personally like for him to see out the final year of his contract providing he wins fa cup and finishes in top 4.
27 Apr 2016 06:10:34
Hi Seanno3 - i'm a Scotsman but been here in Sydney for 10 yrs now so I do appreciate that it's tricky to take in the games live (even live on TV given the ridiculous time diff in over summer here) .
I do of course watch all the games either live or the following morning before I get the results and I def agree with the majority on here that the football in general has not been great by a far cry, at times its just confusing primarily due to players being played out of position which I just can't get my head around really.
I agree LVG was brought in to do a clear out job on some deadwood which he has done.
Also he has got us champions league football in year 1 and has a realistic shot in yr 2 - with the FA cup that is an improvement on last year.
He has by design or circumstance brought some exciting and talented youngsters through. Yes injury dictated this but he still has got good performances out of them as opposed to going cap in hand in Jan for panic buys.
We have the 2nd best defence in the league too - which given that it was everyones main point of concern at the start of the season should be applauded.
The problem has def been creating chances. This may be due to the lack of truly creative players? or more commonly believed due to the constant slow circulating of the ball and overpassing without any incision - here lies the problem. very few goals but shed loads of possession every game but almost never 5 shots on target. you can't win leagues or games eve if you don't score . and we are used to winning stuff.
I feel LVG gets roasted a lot on here and in the media and his balshy arrogant approach to qns doesn't help but he has done a job of sorts.
The key factor here is that Mourinho is available - if he wasn't then yes, get top 4 and the cup and give LVG another yr see if we ca get some new players in etc and make a contingency plan - he's leaving after next yr no matter what.
BUT
Mourinho is free and a serial winner so we have to upgrade an get him in, its brutal but simple. And for those who lament the fact it will not lead to longevity, LVG was always short term and there are no long term managers in modern football (Wenger the last of that breed and look at the pelters he gets) .
We aren't going to get another dynasty we need a winner for 3-5 yrs, and then after him - another winner then another, that is modern football, big business and quick turnover in personal and tactics etc.
Mourinho in, that Sanches kid, Marqinhos if indeed he's available a winger and a striker and we are in very good shape.
27 Apr 2016 07:06:59
Seano and robbie. I agree re lvg clearing out deadwood etc. And I think he's got a good eye for young talent. That's why I think he should be kept on in some scouting or ambassadorial capacity.
He's bought Darmian schneiderlin schweni who haven't excelled. But he bought mensah and martial who are young and have been a success.
However, mourinho is available and he's ten times better at management than lvg. So it's a no brainer.
The football we've played in the past two years has been dire. Leicester and spurs have shown the way.
27 Apr 2016 08:39:16
Seano
If he gets top 4 and wins the FA cup i expect him to see his contract out and will accept it although not looking forward to another year of his bizarre stuff. If we don't make top 4, he is failure of an appointment and i do not think a club likes us appoints managers to clear out players as his objectives. Its all about winning things and being relevant, we are becoming a irrelevant entity under him in Europe and the league.
We have lost our character under him.
27 Apr 2016 11:56:39
City were in with chance of winning the league and they signed Pep for next season, LVG should be thanked for his time at the club and should definitely be replaced next season. Mourinho is available and barring this season is a serial winner, players will sign for him. The club should be taking steps to secure him before he has his head turned elsewhere.
27 Apr 2016 10:07:22
Top post Robbie. Totally agree with everything you wrote there.
27 Apr 2016 12:00:12
I don't think Chicharito was deadwood! Zaha and Welbeck weren't quite dead either. Rafael and Evra? Questions can be asked of Kagawa as well.
27 Apr 2016 22:09:10
Xavi, Iniesta, Muller, Alaba, Seedorf, Davids, Kluivert . Just a few given debuts by LVG. He sure can spot potential. Just not manage it! Put him in charge of scouting, I his ego would allow it!