Labouring towards Europe
Promising, encouraging, philosophy. All buzz words, all of which have surrounded Manchester United since before the unveiling of new manager Louis Van Gaal.
Van Gaal was coming off the back of a successful World Cup campaign with what was perceived to be a weakened Dutch side. Their third place finish and the announcement of Van Gaal as the new United manager had fans excited for the potential revolutionary tactics that would bring success back to Old Trafford after a depressing pervious season. This excitement was warranted after all this is a manager who had played an attacking brand of football using a 5–3–2 system which saw Holland score goals for fun, most notably against the than defending World Cup champions Spain. This is the manager who subbed goal keepers for a penalty shoot out in the knock out round, a move which was lauded by the press after Holland progressed thanks to Tim Krul’s heroics. And for all his managerial success in Brazil his club CV read like a whose who of European heavy weights and club silverware. This was to be an exciting revolution at United.
Fast forward to February and United sit in third place on the Premier League table and are one of the favourites for the FA cup, thanks in part to the giant killing victories of Bradford and Middlesborough, on the face of it the Van Gaal revolution is working.
But look beyond the table position and the shortened odds to lift the FA cup and United still feel some way away from being the force that they were and that the fans demand.
No one doubts Van Gaal’s knowledge and his previous success at club management speaks for itself. But United have this season lurched from one mediocre performance to an embarrassing league cup exit to another laboured victory. Fans and media alike continue to discuss the victories over Hull and Newcastle as classy United victories however between these victories and since the formation and starting lineups have been often questionable. And now one of United’s most prodigious young talents, Adnan Januzaj, has spoken of his disillusionment at Van Gaal’s tactics. If players begin to question his tactics can his ‘philosophy’ ever become successful? Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes is never afraid to speak of his clients confusion at his lack of game time, whether thats to be viewed as an agent looking for a big pay day or an actual reflection of United’s tactics is another discussion. However no one can debate the fact that some selections have been a little off. Di Maria, who last season was the leader in assists across the five major European leagues and man of the match in the Champions League final being played as a striker? Its still not clear who was more confused United fans or Di Maria himself who was completely ineffectual in this role. For all the confusion, the positives of LVG’s reign far outweigh the negatives. Daley Blind has become key to United’s midfield, Fellaini has gone from a laughing stock to a valuable squad player and the emergence of Wilson, Blackett and McNair is a sign of positive things for the future. For Blackett and McNair we have to remember both are still under 20 years old and this is the first season in the senior squad, for all the doubters in the media and press, both players look capable of offering United a solid defensive foundation for the future. Its more concerning that the likes of Jones and Smalling seem to have stagnated. Jones and Smalling have much more to lose at present then Blackett and McNair who have youth and excuse inexperience on their sides, Jones and Smalling, well that excuse no longer is warranted as both have now played over 100 Premier League matches between them.
For all the confusion over Louis Van Gaal’s tactics and management the one thing you cannot doubt is who is boss. Louis exudes confidence, Moyes never did, it’s something a manager of Manchester United requires. Van Gaal has a plan and nothing will stand in the way of that plan. So far United have laboured into third in the Premier League table, as the race for the top four heats up and United are able to sit in third place without playing well, its exciting to think that when all of Van Gaal’s plan comes to fruition exciting football will have returned to Old Trafford. Hopefully along with European football, the battle for third and fourth is fierce and United can ill afford any further slip ups. But in Van Gaal they have a manager who accepts nothing but success and his presence on the touch line will be enough for United to qualify for Europe.
