Louis van Gaal | Manchester United manager

[Listar]

Have it occurred to anyone that the sacrifice van gaal made in pre season and the first few matches of 3-5-2 has generate a bit of positivity recently? Granted, it was a total disaster then, but in hindsight it did give us some flexibility in choosing a formation.

Now we are able to play with a few formations, even though not totally comfortable in them, but this may give us an edge going forward. Also we can accommodate injuries better like we'd seen in the arsenal game. We may not be as lucky with a 4-4-2 consisting of youngsters and wingers at the back. This is also what is different from the SAF era and definitely an upgrade from Moyes.

And to put it in perspective, Liverpool fans are complaining about Brendan 4-3-3, whereby when it fails, there is no plan b. We are somehow fortunate to have plan b plan c and maybe even plan d because of what we have done in preseason.

Look hard enough, and you may be able to find a silver lining in every disaster.

 

[sglowrider]

Said that to my Dad when I saw that interview. Why do people use expressions like that with people who clearly don't have the best command of the English language.

Also, Rooney got those ear pieces as his interview was being conducted from the studio so he needed to hear the questions being asked.

You will notice that the more parochial reporters are like that. Example. BBC Worldwide's rookie reporters interviewing some foreign person versus a seasoned reporter who has seen it and done it all. Big diff in how they structure a question, tone of voice and body language.

Shreeves albeit a nice guy is just some parochial reporter who doesn't seem to have noticed the increasing number of foreign players and managers to want to change his methods. He has probably used 5 syllables words before when he interviewing a Rooney or an english speaking Falcao. The other cynical view is that he wants to ensure there is a power equation in his favour by speaking in a language that he is most comfortable in. (You do this at work when you are abroad especially where in some countries English is looked upon as the more cosmopolitan language.)

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Well done Karen

 

[Nighteyes]

Putting Geoff Shreeves in his place......Top man! Give him an another year just for this

Shreeves: "This win puts you in the top 4..."
LVG: "What, now? Already?
Shreeves: "Yeah...."
LVG: "Ha, fantastic"

Give him two extra years

 

[Brightonian]

He did not mean confidence to play the attractive football you imply but to just move the ball about without hesitancy and panic, to be function and create chances, something the players played are very capable of doing.

He was especially critical of the first 20 - 25 minutes and let's face it, we don't need the players you mentioned to not play how we did in that part of the game, he said the poor performance in possession is what gifted Arsenal those chances and when we started keeping the ball for the last hour of the game then we created chances.

Ah ok. Yeah, completely agree - the first 20-25 minutes shouldn't have happened with any group of players from our squad, they're all capable of better. But such a changed team and changed formation seemed to have them all completely rattled.

 

[2 man midfield]

Putting Geoff Shreeves in his place......Top man! Give him an another year just for this

Shreeves: "This win puts you in the top 4..."
LVG: "What, now? Already?
Shreeves: "Yeah...."
LVG: "Ha, fantastic"

Give him two extra years

"It's a big day for you, it's a significant moment isn't it?"

"No..."



Love how he doesn't go along with procedure in these things. Would be far too easy to just agree, provide a soundbite and let media duties wash off his back.

 

[Mark_GrumpyLion]

Shreeves: "This win puts you in the top 4..."
LVG: "What, now? Already?
Shreeves: "Yeah...."
LVG: "Ha, fantastic"

He looks like a mighty fine cnut, but Ithink he does great with Press Conferences, doesn't let them get away with shite.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Only one person's opinion, obviously, but interesting none the less regarding his man management skills, although I'm not sure what else he would expect him to do than congratulate Huntelaar for getting Holland though.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-skills-are-giving-manchester-united-a-boost?


Also, this is worth a quick gander:

http://www.squawka.com/news/ryan-gi...-louis-van-gaal-and-sir-alex-ferguson/229613?

 

[Empire]

Ah ok. Yeah, completely agree - the first 20-25 minutes shouldn't have happened with any group of players from our squad, they're all capable of better. But such a changed team and changed formation seemed to have them all completely rattled.

That is true but to that I would argue the manager felt it was the best tactics to win. I think the players need to get used to it, this season is a preparation for next when we will look to challenge for the league and do our best in the champions league.

When a side play with a high line and dominate possession I can see Louis van Gaal using 3-5-2 and hitting them on the counter, the games against Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern, those types of teams.

We can use 3-5-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 so he has options and I can see him trying to use one consistent line up with the odd change here and there but changing the structure of the side and strategy based on the opposition.

I honestly have no worries about him in the big games because he seems to be very good at predicting how a match will play out and choosing the appropriate tactics, he will get it wrong sometimes but I think more often than most he will get it right.

As for now, this could be the line up against a Barcelona or Bayern based on this team next season:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - De Gea - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - Jones - - - - Smalling - - - - - Rojo - - -
Rafael------------------------------------------Shaw
- - - - - - - - - Fellaini - - - - Carrick - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rooney - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - di Maria - - - - - - - - - Falcao - - - - -

Defend for our lives and hit on the counter, if he can train his netherlands side to do it then surely he can train this United side too. And I think it would make us dangerous away from home in a two legged tie in the champions league, in fact the opposition manager surely will have to make adaptations since if he drills the defence to be solid then it will be two vs two on the counter, against Arsenal too many times it did not work but when it did as soon as we won the ball back it was played very very quickly to the forwards.

The defence is just a mess though in terms of injury proneness, he needs to sign a number 2 left back, a number 2 right back but we can't trust Rafael to stay fit so without a doubt somebody who could perform fantastically in the first team if need be, fortunately McNair looks good but still he needs to go into next season with 5 centre backs, 4 of which will have no injury problems, and he needs to sign a second choice left footer.

On top of that we need more quality in central midfield or at least a player with Fabregas level creativity to break down parked buses.

He also needs better wingers for when we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

 

[JTW95]

Kieran Gibbs is also a long time friend of ours...

Was kind of emotional watching that

That was one of our greatest ever teams.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Anyone know if his presser is today or tomorrow?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Anyone know if his presser is today or tomorrow?

Tomorrow.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Anyone know if his presser is today or tomorrow?

I think the press conferences are on Thursday only if we're playing far away from home (London, Southampton or Newcastle)

 

[SirAF]

That is true but to that I would argue the manager felt it was the best tactics to win. I think the players need to get used to it, this season is a preparation for next when we will look to challenge for the league and do our best in the champions league.

When a side play with a high line and dominate possession I can see Louis van Gaal using 3-5-2 and hitting them on the counter, the games against Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern, those types of teams.

We can use 3-5-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 so he has options and I can see him trying to use one consistent line up with the odd change here and there but changing the structure of the side and strategy based on the opposition.

I honestly have no worries about him in the big games because he seems to be very good at predicting how a match will play out and choosing the appropriate tactics, he will get it wrong sometimes but I think more often than most he will get it right.

As for now, this could be the line up against a Barcelona or Bayern based on this team next season:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - De Gea - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - Jones - - - - Smalling - - - - - Rojo - - -
Rafael------------------------------------------Shaw
- - - - - - - - - Fellaini - - - - Carrick - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rooney - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - di Maria - - - - - - - - - Falcao - - - - -

Defend for our lives and hit on the counter, if he can train his netherlands side to do it then surely he can train this United side too. And I think it would make us dangerous away from home in a two legged tie in the champions league, in fact the opposition manager surely will have to make adaptations since if he drills the defence to be solid then it will be two vs two on the counter, against Arsenal too many times it did not work but when it did as soon as we won the ball back it was played very very quickly to the forwards.

The defence is just a mess though in terms of injury proneness, he needs to sign a number 2 left back, a number 2 right back but we can't trust Rafael to stay fit so without a doubt somebody who could perform fantastically in the first team if need be, fortunately McNair looks good but still he needs to go into next season with 5 centre backs, 4 of which will have no injury problems, and he needs to sign a second choice left footer.

On top of that we need more quality in central midfield or at least a player with Fabregas level creativity to break down parked buses.

He also needs better wingers for when we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

Pretty good analysis, which I agree with.

That would be a terrific team for next season, and then we're not even factoring in inevitable new transfers.

 

[Phil Duck]

I dont even know what the philosophy is. I dont know why Falcao is still not playing games when it was "nothing serious". The lack of info is so annoying. People commenting how honest he is in his interviews is laughable. He's honestly telling you nothing at all. Brilliant.

Ferguson was also like this, there's no point in fans and journos knowing what happens inside the club, it is useless.

 

[SirAF]

Ferguson was also like this, there's no point in fans and journos knowing what happens inside the club, it is useless.

I agree with this. I prefer AON Training Complex to be like Fort Knox.. no need to dish out information on this and that.

 

[El-Manos]

Kieran Gibbs is also a long time friend of ours...

"Too far for Ronaldo to think about it..."

 

[SirAF]

Said that to my Dad when I saw that interview. Why do people use expressions like that with people who clearly don't have the best command of the English language.

Also, Rooney got those ear pieces as his interview was being conducted from the studio so he needed to hear the questions being asked.

Absolutely! I'll never forget when that cnut, Shreeves, tried to trip up Ronaldo after the Middlesbrough match in 2007.

Ferguson gave him a proper bollocking afterwards

 

[stepic]

I'm pretty sure a side like this would look great on the ball:

DDG
Rafa Smalling Evans Shaw
Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Mata
Rooney Falcao​

no point looking great on the ball if we're defensively weak, though. that line up would get destroyed defensively. i think with the diamond we need two of Blind, Carrick, Fellaini and (hopefully) Strootman.

 

[Brightonian]

no point looking great on the ball if we're defensively weak, though. that line up would get destroyed defensively. i think with the diamond we need two of Blind, Carrick, Fellaini and (hopefully) Strootman.

Given that Blind is a proper DM and Herrera and Di Maria both get through a massive amount of workload and are good defensively, I think there's plenty of defending in there. Chelsea play Fabregas and Matic in midfield, and Fabregas is much worse defensively than either Di Maria or Herrera. If you play good football and dominate the ball (which that side would, against most PL teams), you don't need multiple DMs.

And Fellaini doesn't make us more solid, defensively. He makes us better at defending set pieces, but he's also much less reliable at the basic work of defending than someone like Herrera.

 

[stepic]

Chelsea don't play a diamond with two strikers, though.

LVG stopped playing exactly the line up you suggested earlier this season because of its defensive frailties. I can't see him going back to it without someone like Strootman in there, or obviously some defensive reinforcements.

 

[.Rossi]

Turned on our Christmas lights today

 

[gasmanc]

I don't want to keep harping on the Moyes comparisons, but with that personnel, he'd have gone ot the Emirates and gotten thrashed.

Let's put this in perspective, we had a back five of Valencia (winger), McNair (19yrs & 4 apps), Smalling (25), Blackett (20 & 5 apps), Young (wrong footed & winger), and if it hadn't been for Dein inexplicably adding 8 minutes of injury time and Giroud thrashing in a wonder strike, they'd had kept a clean sheet.

This for me is testament to the extraordinary preparation and hard work that goes on, on the training field. The players who didn't play today (or who came off early): Rafael, Jones, Evans, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Herrera, Januzaj, Falcao, Mata. Some by choice, most by injury.

We've had our ups and downs. There have been frustrating moments, but he took over a team bereft of confidence, at it's lowest ebb in twenty years. Oversaw an exodus of players, has suffered a legendary injury crisis, but still guided us to fourth place after 12 matches. He's gotten performances out of players like Fellaini that have shocked even his most ardent critics.

There are so many positives to Van Gaal. I do think he will guide us to the top four, I think it will be a bumpy ride but to me there seems a belief and unity in the squad that was missing last year. Most importantly, he has made us look really solid in our toughest period despite missing all his senior defenders. Moyes was criticized for wanting to make us hard to beat. Yet the real criticism on that front was that he failed. If we'd played dour football but gotten results, fans wouldn't be happy but he'd still be in a job.

We've seen the players play multiple systems this season already, somewhat competently too. This is a long term process but one which will serve us well. The tactical fluidity of our continental counterparts has always been a trump card over english sides.

There is a lot of work to be done, but for me there is ample evidence that the club is heading in the right direction. I expect many more bumps along the road.

This is a great post, very much echoes my feelings on the bumpy start, yes it's been frustrating at times but the signs that we are recovering and working together very much as a team, are there.

 

[gasmanc]

His hands are massive
Anyone that steps out of line gets a bitch slap round the lughole, no wonder the players are pulling their weight.

 

[.Rossi]

His hands are massive
Anyone that steps out of line gets a bitch slap round the lughole, no wonder the players are pulling their weight.

Great comment on the United FB page.

"Why does our boss look like The Grinch?"

 

[gasmanc]

Great comment on the United FB page.

"Why does our boss look like The Grinch?"

Which player said that ? Bet it was Wayne

 

[.Rossi]

Which player said that ? Bet it was Wayne

Was some fan from Asia

 

[Moriarty]

I see Johnny Giles has changed his mind. When he was first appointed, Giles called him a "chancer" or something like that, but I read an online article in one of the Irish papers where Giles has done a 180 and now professes respect and admiration. I did think that three month estimate was highly optimistic to say the least but even though we haven't exactly set the league on fire, it looks to me though he's knitting together a bloody good squad.

 

[.Rossi]

I see Johnny Giles has changed his mind. When he was first appointed, Giles called him a "chancer" or something like that, but I read an online article in one of the Irish papers where Giles has done a 180 and now professes respect and admiration. I did think that three month estimate was highly optimistic to say the least but even though we haven't exactly set the league on fire, it looks to me though he's knitting together a bloody good squad.

Giles is a tool. The Panel last night said to him that, if an owner is giving over 100 million quid of his own money to a manager, he has a right to know who the manager is buying and what he's doing with the money.

Giles, of course, thinks thats bullshit

 

[Garethw]

His hands are massive
Anyone that steps out of line gets a bitch slap round the lughole, no wonder the players are pulling their weight.

With hands that big he's probably got a cock like a bullock dangling between his legs.

 

[gasmanc]

With hands that big he's probably got a cock like a bullock dangling between his legs.

He's got the balls to match apparently.

 

[.Rossi]

Rumour has it, he's dropping RVP on Saturday

 

[gasmanc]

Does this mean Falcao is fit ? Surely we're 2 upfront at home to Hull, would like to see him partner Wilson with Rooney behind.
What times the presser ?

 

[Garethw]

Rumour has it, he's dropping RVP on Saturday

It's about time too. If Falcao isn't fit then Wilson deserves a start.

 

[Brightonian]

Rumour has it, he's dropping RVP on Saturday

From where?

Hopefully, anyway. Long overdue.

 

[iBoss]

He wasn't going to play RVP twice in three days anyway.

 

[Moriarty]

Rumour has it, he's dropping RVP on Saturday

Hopefully off Beach Head. Seriously though, Van Persie looks in need of a rest. Maybe a couple of weeks off would do him the world of good. He hasn't had a break from playing since the start of last season.

 

[Pexbo]

If he gets us Top 4 this season, with the injuries he's up against, I don't know how anyone could criticise him.

 

[ricky-romeo]

i want to see wilson getting a start this weekend. could be the game for him to open his goal account for this season. while he looks impressive from his limited time on the pitch so far, he never really had a great chance infront of goal.

maybe a cameo appearance from falcao as well. doubt it though

 

[Empire]

Does anybody think his long term vision is 4-1-2-1-2?

I think Luke Shaw and Rafael can be the full backs in this formation so then it's a matter of him signing back ups who can also do it.

It's either that or 4-3-3, preferably with Angel di Maria as a LCM, Herrera RCM and Carrck or Blind holding but I can't see him moving Angel di Maria into the middle with Rooney preferred there.