If it wasn't for another spineless English referee it could have been a different story. But you are talking shit here again, Bayern wasn't playing as well as in the weeks before, but the match was balanced and could have gone both ways
I agree Van Gaal's brilliance disguised the lack of quality players in this generation, I mean from 3rd to not qualifying makes it clear how important a manager can be. But the in England well respected Hiddink couldn't even beat Iceland and Turkey with about the same players Van Gaal beat Spain.
Dutch football is mostly in decline for financial and political reasons. If the Brexit happens and the pound weakens a decline of English football is inevitable. English clubs are already second best when it comes to buying (and having to sell) the very best players. When you can't go just wave your valuable pounds around and drain the continent from it's talents, the TV-money will decline rapidly also and when the foreign managers aren't attracted by the money anymore, the tactical level will drop to pre-PL standards, from which only Ferguson managed to escape.
Several times the population size, and you need one of the (actually quite regular) spells of self destruction by the Dutch to boast about slightly outperforming them? You are at Wales level ffs, the English national team has been nowhere near the Dutch over the last 40 years. You really want to go there? That's not because the Dutch are natural born footballers, but because of tactical guile and innovation and good schooling of youngsters, the things Van Gaal tried to bring to United.
I agree, but concerning football, mostly not his own lack of adaptability.
Maybe it will remembered as United's last and final chance to restore greatness.
No, it's your universe where there's no place for facts. You can't manage to make a point without twisting the facts or just outright making them up.
Because there appears to have been a mismatch between club and manager. At least it didn't work out, that happens, in the end didn't manage to get the thinking players his style needs and failed to keep momentum with his new style. I'm sure the idea that the manager was just shit is very reassuring for you, but the problem is much bigger than that. Bayern sacked Van Gaal too, but at least they were stuck with their choice for the direction of the club. The years that Bayern is a possession based attacking team and each year one of the favorites to win the CL started by hiring Van Gaal and the change to his style of football and the choice for youngsters. United just picks a big name has been like it's a guarantee for success, breaks with the new style and stops the development of the academy and to spend big on players who aren't wanted by Real, Barca or even another English club.
I don't really mind the sacking that much, I think it's a shame that it didn't work out, but in hindsight I think he failed to keep and gain momentum after the spring of 2015 and sign a playmaker who not only understood enough of the style to do his basic job in it, but who really understands the possibilities of it and make it fluent and very creative. Sacking is also an inherent risk of the way he is, the job he does is always about change and that will never be a smooth process. What I do mind is that United isn't continuing the chosen direction of a passing game and young players.
So the question remains, can United be successfull without Ferguson? There's no reason at all to take it for granted and the choices this board made don't make the future look any brighter to me.
