This.
Guardian Interview - Louis van Gaal: ‘I thought Manchester United could buy every player'
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Comedy post.
Exactly. It's the syndrome of the clueless new-money puffed-up jobsworth. Does not know how the job works, yet refuses, because of ego, to let the professional get on with it. Nouveau Riche twats? Ed Woodward is an excellent representative of the Glazers and their values, but a hellishly poor one for poor old Manchester United. Any time I see or hear of him I feel a wave of sadness.
Good shout.
If we're excluding that Uefa Cup win, the CL win, the two further CL finals and the dozen of domestic titles he really doesn't have that much to show on his CV, aside from that top 3 at the World Cup.
Yes. The LVG interview highlights the structural problems at the club and the lack of any football plan. Even footbal decisions, such as managerial appointments and player signings are carried out with all emphasis on taking cynical commercialisation advantage. This is no way to build a coherent team. LVG is doing us a favour by letting us know the true extent of the commercial cynicism at the expense of football development.
Listening to Duncan Castle's podcast today and it is a damning picture of shambolic football naivety that emerges.
Chatting with supporters on the cafe today it seems there is a split in the support regarding Olé's permanent appointment reflects a far more dangerous and potentially cataclysmic split in the United set up. This split concerns the idiotic favouritism shown by the board, to average performing English players like Jones, Smalling, Rashford and Young who have all been given extended contracts while foreign players such as Hererra and DeGea have had their contracts run down. DeGea, easily our best player since Fergie left, wants out according to Duncan Castles because he feels disrespected and Hererra too felt undervalued after he was asked to take an actual cut in his salary. Such amateurish shenanigans from the board can have serious impact at this crucial moment of the rebuild.
Apparently this perceived favouritism has split the dressing room with the foreign players disgruntled and questioning both the board's and OSG's favouring of certain English players whom Woodward values regarding the commercial promotion of a sense of Manchester United's English romanticism. Bringing in Olé (a reminder of the class of 92)and possibly more of the class of 92, like Rio for technical director has been part of Woodward's romanticising PR feel good, marketing factor.
This will no doubt pay commercial dividends but is a very dangerous route to tread down regarding football dividends. There should be no place for nostslgia and romanticism today as other clubs prove ruthless in their pursuit of winning.
According to Castles the English players like 'Rashy' are fully behind their manager whereas the other group don't have faith in him. If this is all true then such a split could have some devastating consequences regarding our football performance level as team cohesion, togetherness, team morale and actual hunger and ambition will all be negatively affected with the potentiality for melt down.
So instead of we fans, calling each other out regarding those not supporting the manager Versus those having naive blind faith in him we'd be better off not focusing completely on Solksjaer but rather seeing the antagonism played out in this thread as symptomatic of a far deeper split in the United set up , caused entirely by even more shitty board decisions, a split that could have explosive consequences as we attempt to rebuild.
He mentions Herrera as one of his best players yet barely played him. Also played Rooney in every game even though he doesn't seem to have been happy with him. He probably changed his mind on Rooney when it was too late.
It is bloody good he is still not around. Would have totally destroyed us given more time.
It is bloody good he is still not around. Would have totally destroyed us given more time.
This is an insightful and authoritative post. I have no way of knowing if the 'English players' theory stands up. But I do know that with Ed at the helm, there is no way forward for Manchester United except the nose dive way.
People can accept that he’s making some valid points while also not liking him though.
While he’s no doubt right about the transfer stuff, he’s also very quick at talking about others and not mentioning his own failings. He clearly thinks very highly of himself and takes any chance he gets to excuse his poor approach.
Mourinho dropped him after 5 games though. If there was some sponsorship contract giving us extra money per game Rooney starts it would be very odd. Although Woodward might have negociated something like that. Maybe Mourinho just had the balls to not try to please Woodward financially in the end or could actually convince him to accept giving up that extra income for the team. With Zlatan and Pogba around we maybe earned more money starting them instead per game
.The Herrera part is indeed strange. Van Gaal once said in an interview that, if I remember correctly, Poulsen, a mere squad player, was the best pro he worked with. Because they once had a talk about tactics the next game, and Poulsen thought he shouldn't be played because another player's qualities would work better this game. Probably not exactly the same here (Herrera always wants to play), but what I mean is we don't know about what happens backstage and what was their working relationship. Should put an end to the bad rumours about their relationship on some Dutch forum at the time.
Very good interview with a serious football man. Regardless of his public persona, the guy knows football, and knows con artists. He is also very clear and professional about the squad he found. Especially explaining Rooney was "over the hill" but still one of the better players. And that the captaincy was designed to control him off the pitch... I've always had respect for Van Gaal and feel he was a strong enough character near enough to the end of his career to be fairly philosophical about the chaos he found around him at United. Didn't stop the football being awful though.
The thing though it didn't seem that LVG liked Herrera. I am sure Herrera was a hard working team player even in training though and always fighted hard. A good pro no doubt, but LVG never seemed to have rated him a lot.
Even though he often played very well in the big games against City and Liverpool in particular with his pressing and ability to play at high tempo.
The reason we did think that LVG didn't like him was due to playing too fast and also taking too many risks. LVG liked his passing to be safe and tactical.
Also, this is where the cheapening of Man Utd as a club set in for me. DiMaria was an awful signing in so many ways, clearly still in love with Madrid, looking for any out but not really wanting to go, a British record signing who didn't perform and left as soon as he could. And all that while wearing the number 7. Suddenly, Man Utd was a club that attracted by paying big money, and was spurned at the first opportunity.
True....Nerd Alert!!!!
Maybe we should look at Loss %. you could draw some games which are crucial and still do well isn't it? Look at pool this season. They just lost 1game but still didn't win the league
Still, LVG is our worst manager (statistically) post-Fergie.
- In 2014/15 LVG's team came FIRST in possession % in the league and LAST with shots per game (tied with Saints).
- In 2015/16 LVG's team lost top spot in possession to Arsenal; came 19th with aerial duels won; managed to commit the most fouls per game (with Palace); and ended 20th with long key passes.
Ah but that was exactly what I wanted to point out with the Poulsen anecdote. It's not about liking, he loved Poulsen (and Poulsen loved him), but didn't play him much. Herrera has qualities but also many limitations, reasons to play or not play him at certain games. But LVG apparently liked him.
What? I can't believe what i just read here. Surely you are joking, right?
this is before Jose though isn't it, then LVG finally did drop him and put that theory to bed. So a year after getting his 5 year contract he was still being a pisscan captain of Man United (and England), stinker performances on the pitch, then telling the world he was now a deep lying playmaker. You would have thought LVG of all people wouldn't have stood for thatMourinho dropped him after 5 games though. If there was some sponsorship contract giving us extra money per game Rooney starts it would be very odd. Although Woodward might have negociated something like that. Maybe Mourinho just had the balls to not try to please Woodward financially in the end or could actually convince him to accept giving up that extra income for the team. With Zlatan and Pogba around we maybe earned more money starting them instead per game
I saw the headlines and thought 'Oh no Louie give it a break'. Then I read it, and glad I did. A great interview.
Loved the technical bits he was explaining especially the difference between City and Liverpool's style. Even an idiot like me could understand.
Woodward should have told him the truth in December. He would have stayed professional until Mourinho came in.
It's a damn shame Woodward burnt his bridges here as it seems he would have made a good technical director, or at least advise on the football side.
Edit - Also he wasn't bitter, just disappointed with the way his sacking was handled, but at the same time, still staying respectful to the club - irrespective of his toxic fall out with old Ed.
Loved the technical bits he was explaining especially the difference between City and Liverpool's style. Even an idiot like me could understand.
Woodward should have told him the truth in December. He would have stayed professional until Mourinho came in.
It's a damn shame Woodward burnt his bridges here as it seems he would have made a good technical director, or at least advise on the football side.
Edit - Also he wasn't bitter, just disappointed with the way his sacking was handled, but at the same time, still staying respectful to the club - irrespective of his toxic fall out with old Ed.
Clueless or trolling; does it matter, really?
Good post.
Little bit off topic, but i can't help myself. I rate this guy so so high. One of the best managers ever. Sure i am maybe overreacting here but he was like Fergie. Master in building teams, master in winning things, tactical genius and he was creator of the best team that i have ever watched( Ajax). Sure Pep's Barca was great but that Ajax, that style of play and those players who he created were just 
.
His problem was that he was old school "i am the boss" manager. Today, club owners and instagram players just don't like that type of manager anymore.
.His problem was that he was old school "i am the boss" manager. Today, club owners and instagram players just don't like that type of manager anymore.
What about Guardiola? He seems to have that "I'm the boss" persona.Little bit off topic, but i can't help myself. I rate this guy so so high. One of the best managers ever. Sure i am maybe overreacting here but he was like Fergie. Master in building teams, master in winning things, tactical genius and he was creator of the best team that i have ever watched( Ajax). Sure Pep's Barca was great but that Ajax, that style of play and those players who he created were just
His problem was that he was old school "i am the boss" manager. Today, club owners and instagram players just don't like that type of manager anymore.
I am not sure in that. He is new era manager. Friendly and all that
What I see is another version of Wayne Rooney, he wanted a bigger contract and use the narrative going on in the press to appease the fans when true story was Wayne telling Ferguson to sign Ozil and SAF reminded him he’s not in a position to decide that.
LVG is a bitter ex employee playing on the current narrative to get one over Manchester United. This same man ridicule Ole’s appointment, he was also desperate to get a Job in the premiership all because he wanted to prove a point to Manchester United, telling players to choose Manchester city over United.
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I think LVG dropped Rooney for one game against Stoke and played with Depay together with Martial. Depay had a terrible game and after that Rooney played all games up to he got injured even not playing well. Then Rashford got his chance when Martial and Keane was also out and he pretty much saved our season and helped us win the cup. Had Rooney not got that injury he would have played up front to the end of that season and we would probably not have won anything without Rashford.
Well that is is his problem. He is extremly stubborn and since he wants to be the boss he often do not listen to others with a different view. That is why he did keep playing the same football with us even though it failed time after time again. Once he manage to get things right then sticking with it might work out well as did happen with Ajax. Although when it is not then he is totally destroying teams due to not being open to change his mind.Little bit off topic, but i can't help myself. I rate this guy so so high. One of the best managers ever. Sure i am maybe overreacting here but he was like Fergie. Master in building teams, master in winning things, tactical genius and he was creator of the best team that i have ever watched( Ajax). Sure Pep's Barca was great but that Ajax, that style of play and those players who he created were just
His problem was that he was old school "i am the boss" manager. Today, club owners and instagram players just don't like that type of manager anymore.
It seems we are pretty fecked regardless of who is manager. I have basically resigned myself to the very high possibility we may disappear from success from many years to come.
Correct. More the success, longer the rope.
I probably should have been more clear. That summer, when United signed Ibra, Pogba and Mkhitaryan was a huge change for me. It was the first time post Fergie that the club signed top class players in positions they really needed. Mkhitaryan didn't work out in the end but he was the type of player the club really needed (fast, creative attacking player).
LVG had 2 seasons to build a squad, spent a fortune and it was shambolic. He went from the best group of 4 strikers in the league (RVP, Rooney, Chicharito and Welbeck) to a past it Rooney and 3 kids. This was at a time when the price of top class attackers was sky rocketing.
His signings in defence (Darmian and Rojo) and midfield (Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger) couldn't get in the team.
If he was given another season, I shudder to think what the team would have looked like.
The club owners liked that part just fine. If there is one thing he did right, it was he was the boss that as a magnet attracted all criticism. It wasn't about the owners, about the players, about the referees. And this was needed.
Interesting insight. His admission of Rooney being over the hill is a surprising one. Everyone knew it but the 'my captain shall always play' mantra really made it seem as though he had a blind spot with him.
Yeah how LVG did deal with our attack was terrible. Persie and Rooney did get older and we needed to replace them within 1-3 seasons. In order to solve that he brings in Falcao for a one year loan who also had injury problems before and there was big doubts about him finding form. He also sells Welbeck and Hernandez and only brings in Martial as a striker in his second year. I guess Depay like Martial could play up front too and on the wing, but it was not great management of our attack. Also Di maria as his big signing also fails and he has no idea how to use him in the best way.
In the end he didn't really solve anything in either short or long term and made everything worse. I think Luke Shaw has done well this season and could be great in the future, but not sure how much he was a LVG player. Martial still have potential, but don't think he will be a big sucess in the end.
Yeah that is crazy. He probably had a blind spot, but changes his view now to make himself look less stupid playing him in all games.
Really didnt make sense for a supposed authoritarian manager, the gameplan was to keep possession and its Rooney giving the ball away all the time. Then in the media the other players were being blamed for him looking so poor
We should have paid Van Gaal up with a muzzling clause.
It's tedious listening to his bilge now.
He's even admitting that Rooney wasn't that great, yet made him captain and didn't replace him.
Bit like Jose, slag your squad off, when you've had ample time to sort it!
It's tedious listening to his bilge now.
He's even admitting that Rooney wasn't that great, yet made him captain and didn't replace him.
Bit like Jose, slag your squad off, when you've had ample time to sort it!
He did shut up for a year, while collected the money.
But what do you want? Journalist requests an interview, Van Gaal answers questions. God Louis will never admit personal failure, but otherwise answers straight and interesting. The alternative is boring lies. If it's about respect, United is bigger than its current owners and management, and he never has disrespected that United.
Smacks of politics. Almost every one of us could see Rooney was done back then. But he was a senior player and had just been given a big contract, Van Gaal felt he had to tread carefully. I always admired the way Mourinho got rid of Rooney. Moyes, showing off his inferiority complex, really did the club solid when he didn't get rid of Rooney, despite Ferguson practically paving the way for him to do so.
Still, Van Gaal failed because 1 shot on target every game was never going to cut it at United.
There was no way Moyes could come into the club and sell Rooney.Smacks of politics. Almost every one of us could see Rooney was done back then. But he was a senior player and had just been given a big contract, Van Gaal felt he had to tread carefully. I always admired the way Mourinho got rid of Rooney. Moyes, showing off his inferiority complex, really did the club solid when he didn't get rid of Rooney, despite Ferguson practically paving the way for him to do so.
Still, Van Gaal failed because 1 shot on target every game was never going to cut it at United.
That would have been way too major a move, as after all, let's not forget Rooney was actually one of the better players that season.
The thing is an angry Rooney has often played better than a Rooney just getting what he wants. Drop Rooney and he wants to bounce back. LVG playing Rooney in all games was far from optimal.Smacks of politics. Almost every one of us could see Rooney was done back then. But he was a senior player and had just been given a big contract, Van Gaal felt he had to tread carefully. I always admired the way Mourinho got rid of Rooney. Moyes, showing off his inferiority complex, really did the club solid when he didn't get rid of Rooney, despite Ferguson practically paving the way for him to do so.
Still, Van Gaal failed because 1 shot on target every game was never going to cut it at United.
If he feared Rooney so much that he could not drop him it shows how weak LVG was as a manager. Mourinho dropped him after 5 games and even Moyes didn't play him in all games.
Everytime Woodward is mentioned, substitute it for the Glazers. They will sell up if we stop buying the merch.