Can van Gaal still save his job?

[LawCharltonBest]

I didn't think the "LvG out" thread was relevant to this question

Do you you think he can still earn himself a 3rd season? If not, why? And if so, how?

Personally, I think if he either gets top 4 or wins the FA Cup he will stay. But some will think he needs both, and some will say he'll be gone even if he wins every match from now on. So I'm very interested in your opinions...

 

[coolredwine]

If he gets us to 4th this season, he will be here next season.

 

[Von Mistelroum]

Absolutely. I don't think we want to lose him at all. If he gets 4th, the cup, even a very close 5th place, I think he'll stay for sure.

I'd actually be surprised to see him leave whatever he does between now and the summer as he's seemed assured in his position and there haven't really been any signs from the board that they are unhappy, or much of a backlash from the fans to worry about.

 

[villain]

Think if he manages to secure the FA Cup and a top 4 finish he'll still be here next season.
Unless he offers to resign, which is highly unlikely.

 

[Robbie Boy]

For some reason, it just doesn't feel like he will be sacked.

Unfortunately, I fully envisage him being here next season. Plenty on here seem 100% confident Mourinho is coming (hence all these new Mourinho related threads) but I'm just very unsure about the whole thing and unfortunately, I feel LvG will get the third year of his contract. With Moyes, it just felt like he was going to be sacked sooner rather than later but I feel like we have long since passed that point with LvG and he is somehow still here. He should have been sacked a long time ago and he has come through the worst of it by the looks of things. I don't get all this Top 4 stuff either; yes Moyes was sacked when it became mathematically impossible to get Top 4, but that doesn't mean that LvG will suffer the same fate.

 

[applemacdan]

He should still go.

4th Place and FA Cup is a nice way for him to leave, but its still quite a mammoth task to achieve. Lets not forget this was our first win in 5 games.

Reality is, we will lose the West Ham replay on Pens and scrape 4th place on the last day of the season.

He would leave with a bit of his reputation in tact, if either 4th place or FA Cup is achieved, which will be satisfactory for all parties.

 

[Hammerfell]

He still needs to leave, he's shown he can't take us any further. The poor run of form we've had this season is completely unacceptable, a few good results towards the end of the season shouldn't mask that.

 

[Rado_N]

I bloody well hope not.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Think if he manages to secure the FA Cup and a top 4 finish he'll still be here next season.
Unless he offers to resign, which is highly unlikely.

Hmm, makes you think though!

I think it's unlikely too but if I were LvG and retiring in a year anyway, I'd be tempted to go out a year early on a high with the FA Cup.

 

[Striker10]

You see this kinda response all the time. It's like a tug of war. He has not been a complete failure. He's done some good but we need stability and we risk a lot if we don't get Jose. LVG is a short term solution and that will hamper us though if Giggs was taking over - it might not be a massive problem. We need to interject some confidence. I don't think Jose was disappointed in getting the sack. He was more concerned with how people saw him. We do need to strengthen but I think we need to improve the quality of the experienced players. The kids have done well.

 

[Honest John]

You see this kinda response all the time. It's like a tug of war. He has not been a complete failure. He's done some good but we need stability and we risk a lot if we don't get Jose. LVG is a short term solution and that will hamper us though if Giggs was taking over - it might not be a massive problem. We need to interject some confidence. I don't think Jose was disappointed in getting the sack. He was more concerned with how people saw him. We do need to strengthen but I think we need to improve the quality of the experienced players. The kids have done well.

Not much different to Ferguson's early years.

 

[steeeb]

I'm convinced he'll be here next season but most likely as DoF with Mourinho as manager.

 

[Honest John]

Fergie would have bitten your hand off for a tilt at 4th and the FA cup in 1987

 

[RedDevil@84]

Surely he can. All he needs is to win the league and the FA cup.

 

[Oneunited26]

Absolutely. I don't think we want to lose him at all. If he gets 4th, the cup, even a very close 5th place, I think he'll stay for sure.

I'd actually be surprised to see him leave whatever he does between now and the summer as he's seemed assured in his position and there haven't really been any signs from the board that they are unhappy, or much of a backlash from the fans to worry about.

If the board see any sense they will sack him next season, if VG gets 4th its not him doing good, he has just been very lucky of how bad everyone else has done. and if they want to ride on that luck to save themselves some money, they truly are lost

 

[SSSSnake]

This is my greatest fear. We get fourth and Woody and the Glazers think that's enough to justify him staying. We'll see for sure in July I guess but I hope we don't lost the chance of getting Jose. We all want to see Jose vs Pep in the greatest Manc derby next season.

 

[Blodssvik]

What the feck is the point of keeping him for one last season on a path that most likely lead nowhere? No succession plan seem to be in place apart from maybe Giggs. It's insanity to think the situation resembles early Fergie years. Our trajectory is downwards even if we'd fluke 4th for a second season.

 

[11101]

If we finish strongly and end up 4th or even 3rd then yes, especially if he brings the FA Cup. He has introduced all the right ingredients for a very good team he just needs to figure out how to use them properly. Mentality is the biggest issue. Unless we already have Mourinho or equivalent lined up i don't think he's going anywhere.

 

[Bastian]

It's not just about whether we scrape into the top 4 or not. It's about player acquisition, it's about squad balance, it's about a very undignified early CL exit and subsequent Europa League exit. It's about terrible performances and lack of direction. It's about not having a back up plan when plan a goes to pieces.

Frankly, it's laughable that the idea of him being here next season is even being pondered.

 

[ravi2]

Absolutely. I don't think we want to lose him at all. If he gets 4th, the cup, even a very close 5th place, I think he'll stay for sure.

I'd actually be surprised to see him leave whatever he does between now and the summer as he's seemed assured in his position and there haven't really been any signs from the board that they are unhappy, or much of a backlash from the fans to worry about.

What?

 

[ravi2]

I am shocked by some of the posts in this thread.
Both our football and results are just as bad as under Moyes, if not worse.

His tactics, man management and player acquisitions have been questionable.
I do not understand any reasoning for keeping him for another season, especially when Mourinho is ready and willing to manage MUFC.

 

[Castia]

He's gone regardless imo. Scraping a 4th place finish isn't a good season along with failing to get out of the Champions League group stage (piss easy group as well) and ultimately getting knocked out of the Europa by Liverpool it's been a farce.

 

[Akshay]

Sadly, top four will probably be enough to satisfy the board. I'd only want him staying on if we put together a run and somehow grab 3rd and the FA Cup. Not going to happen, mind.

 

[devilish]

It depends on whether Mou has a precontract signed or not

 

[Raw]

Nope. Even FA Cup and top 4 won't save him, it'll just be a nice parting gift for LVGs final season in management.

If it were any other season, we'd likely be hovering above 10th place. This season was supposed to be the season to really challenge for the title, and we would have had a brilliant chance at it with all the other top teams dithering. Instead we're struggling for a top 4 place again.

And we're still not playing entertaining football.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

It's not just about whether we scrape into the top 4 or not. It's about player acquisition, it's about squad balance, it's about a very undignified early CL exit and subsequent Europa League exit. It's about terrible performances and lack of direction. It's about not having a back up plan when plan a goes to pieces.

Frankly, it's laughable that the idea of him being here next season is even being pondered.

To be fair, If he scrapes 4th and wins the FA Cup, then on paper it has been our best season since Fergie left. Which is weird to say, but true!

Regardless of style of play and direction etc, it is difficult to see him getting sacked after our strongest season since Fergie!

 

[Pyroblazer]

No he is gone and Jose is a done deal.

 

[Lentwood]

If we get top 4 give him another year. Predominantly because I'm thinking do we really want Mourinho who seems the likely alternative and also because our squad is still very young. I think I would rather another season where the young players get regular football than a new man come in and want to just achieve quick wins by selecting/buying senior players.

One more season then Pochettino with a youthful, hungry but more mature side would be the deal for me

 

[glazed]

Top four just makes him more expensive to sack - but not much more. He only has a season and is obviously not that into it any more. There seems to be a residual squabble about having Jose, but there's no real sense that the old guard can win that one. Turning the club into a cultural museum of the class of 92 doesn't withstand much scrutiny as a business pan.

 

[villain]

If we get top 4 give him another year. Predominantly because I'm thinking do we really want Mourinho who seems the likely alternative and also because our squad is still very young. I think I would rather another season where the young players get regular football than a new man come in and want to just achieve quick wins by selecting/buying senior players.

One more season then Pochettino with a youthful, hungry but more mature side would be the deal for me

Pretty sure Pochettino is close to signing a new deal with Spurs this summer, that's what I last read a month or two ago anyway.

 

[Varun]

His job has already been given to someone else for next season. Let's hope he finishes in the top 4 and goes out on a decent note.

 

[Leftback99]

If he got 4th i think it's highly likely we'd keep him. To get 4th would mean an excellent run of results over the next 8 games making it a more difficult decision for the board than it seems at this point.

 

[Kaos]

No! 4th or not he's an absolute fraud of a manager, we've regressed so much under him, why on earth would we sanction that for another year?!

 

[RedRover]

If he got 4th i think it's highly likely we'd keep him. To get 4th would mean an excellent run of results over the next 8 games making it a more difficult decision for the board than it seems at this point.

It's not more difficult if that decision has already been made.

Lots of noise about Mourinho. Wouldn't surprise me at all if it's already done and dusted.

 

[NK86]

Sadly, top four will probably be enough to satisfy the board. I'd only want him staying on if we put together a run and somehow grab 3rd and the FA Cup. Not going to happen, mind.

You would want him to stay after this clusterfeck of a season if he got 3rd and FA cup?

 

[Akshay]

You would want him to stay after this clusterfeck of a season if he got 3rd and FA cup?

Yes, although like I said, I highly doubt we'd be able to achieve that. To do it, we'd have to go on a pretty strong winning run which we haven't shown the capacity for all season. If LVG can manage it with the injuries we have right now, it'd restore a little of my faith in him.

 

[LexiRed]

I know this might not be a popular opinion, but Luke Shaw's injury threw us off immensely. He offers so much going forward and is so solid in defense, that I truly believe we could have won quite a few more games had he not broken his leg. If he can make a full recovery and return to form I think that we could be in place to do very well next season even if you even if LVG is still our manager. It does not excuse his lack of tactical innovation, but we would be much better off having Shaw back where he can combine very well with Memphis/Martial down the left and strike fear into opposing defenses.

 

[NK86]

Yes, although like I said, I highly doubt we'd be able to achieve that. To do it, we'd have to go on a pretty strong winning run which we haven't shown the capacity for all season. If LVG can manage it with the injuries we have right now, it'd restore a little of my faith in him.

Well, fair fecks to you then. Nothing will help me get confidence in him. Coming third with a good flourish in the last 8 games after we have been largely shite the last 30 won't matter to me.

 

[Slops]

I think he will go at the end of the season regardless of what happens between now and then. It'll be dressed up as a mutual agreeent to end his contract.

However, it'd be very nice for him if he pulls off a good end to the season with 4th and/or the FA Cup so he's remembered just a little more fondly.

 

[POF]

With only one season left on LVG's deal, United need to plan for the future irrespective of performance. With one of the best managers in world football available, I would be in favour of replacing Van Gaal with Mourinho in the summer even if United win the league by 20 points.

Luckily for the decision makers it's an absolute no brainer because LVG has been terrible.