Louis van Gaal | Manchester United manager

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devilish said:
Its ridiculous. This guy has been around for ages taking jobs which are more stressful then the OT one and still doing well. You don't believe it? Just look at Vidic interview in Italy as the journalists were at his neck from day 1 asking him if he talked with Chicarito over a prospective deal with Inter. The guy had been with Inter for few days and on his first interview for the club, he's already expected by the media to become some sort of agent who lure United's players to Inter's favor. No wonder why the likes of Vialli and Zola described the EPL as some sort of holiday resort when compared to the stressful Serie A.

In the North football is a sport or a job. Down in the South of Europe (and South America) its everything.
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I'm just confused as to why you have quoted me here I was merely laughing at the joke you made about him pulling a hamstring if he didn't have a holiday! I wasn't going into the politics of the English premier league being like one massive holiday camp! Was merely laughing at a joke! Personally I don't think he will have a holiday and will want to get straight into the action and I wouldn't want it anyother way!
 
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Sam said:
Have you even seen the Dutch squad? Robben and RVP aside its unbelievably short on quality. Man for man the likes of France, England, Italy, Chile, Columbia all have better players. So to get to the semi's is a massive testament to the management and the players.
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I agree with this wholeheartedly!
 
Dans said:
Let's hope his style won't mirror that of the Dutch team these past weeks. Bar a freak win against Spain, who dominated them in the 1st half until the goal, they have played utterly boring football.
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They didn't score a lot but boring they were not. And there is no need to be apprehensive about how he'll get us playing. This guy breeds attacking football and always has been doing that.
 
I agree Holland didn't play well v Argentina but Chile/Mexico ain't good teams? Not sure if BarneyLFC and us r watching the same World cup.
 
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Dans said:
Let's hope his style won't mirror that of the Dutch team these past weeks. Bar a freak win against Spain, who dominated them in the 1st half until the goal, they have played utterly boring football.
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I don't get boring when I think of the Dutch performances at all? They played good attractive attacking football with a team made up of mostly average footballers (Barring the obvious Robben and RVP). It was anything but boring though!
 
fallengt said:
I agree Holland didn't play well v Argentina but Chile/Mexico are good teams. Not sure if BarneyLFC and us r watching the same World cup.
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Of course not, he's a liverpool supporter who is automatically biased against van Gaal now ;)
 
Stretford Red1978 said:
I don't get boring when I think of the Dutch performances at all? They played good attractive attacking football with a team made up of mostly average footballers (Barring the obvious Robben and RVP). It was anything but boring though!
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The last two games they spent mostly passing the ball backwards, especially Kuyt. I always thought they would rely too much on the individual skill of Robben to have a hope in this tournament and I think that was their issue - they had no one who could cut through the Argentinian defence (and I concede that they have been equally boring and difficult to break down). Depay didn't have much impact and was perhaps the only other player who might have been able to create something. I guess it's working with what you have to a degree and United should have better players that are found in the Dutch national team (bar Robben) so we should be safe.
 
Stretford Red1978 said:
I'm just confused as to why you have quoted me here I was merely laughing at the joke you made about him pulling a hamstring if he didn't have a holiday! I wasn't going into the politics of the English premier league being like one massive holiday camp! Was merely laughing at a joke! Personally I don't think he will have a holiday and will want to get straight into the action and I wouldn't want it anyother way!
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!
 
Both sides played very defensively and effectively cancelled each other out.

Holland really lacks quality, with only Robben's pace the proven weapon they have this world cup. So when teams set out to defend, it's not so easy to make use of that pace on the counter attack. Which is what happened the last two games.
 
Dans said:
The last two games they spent mostly passing the ball backwards, especially Kuyt. I always thought they would rely too much on the individual skill of Robben to have a hope in this tournament and I think that was their issue - they had no one who could cut through the Argentinian defence (and I concede that they have been equally boring and difficult to break down). Depay didn't have much impact and was perhaps the only other player who might have been able to create something. I guess it's working with what you have to a degree and United should have better players that are found in the Dutch national team (bar Robben) so we should be safe.
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I get what you are saying about passing the ball backwards but compare that to us last season when it became the mantra to pass the ball backwards and there is a stark difference already. What I mean to say is that it didn't infuriate me like it did last season because there was plenty of attacking football to balance it out. I agree with what you are saying about working with what you have though and agree that we will have better players for him to work with.
 
BarneyLFC said:
He's a good manager. I don't think he's done spectacularly well with this squad though. Once Casillas decided he was going to forfeit the matches against them and Chile, Holland haven't had to face an opponent who are considered a really good international side (up until tonight).
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I think fans of Chile, Mexico and Costa Rica would find that comment quite arrogant.

You're worried. Which is fair because van Gaal is a world class manager. Yes we know he's not a Ferguson but he's a hell of a lot better than David Moyes. Roll on next season!
 
Thisistheone said:
I think fans of Chile, Mexico and Costa Rica would find that comment quite arrogant.

You're worried. Which is fair because van Gaal is a world class manager. Yes we know he's not a Ferguson but he's a hell of a lot better than David Moyes. Roll on next season!
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They are all worried and rightly so!
 
tombombadil said:
Both sides played very defensively and effectively cancelled each other out.

Holland really lacks quality, with only Robben's pace the proven weapon they have this world cup. So when teams set out to defend, it's not so easy to make use of that pace on the counter attack. Which is what happened the last two games.
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That has been the case totally this WC for almost every team. Everyone (France, Netherlands, Argentina, every "minnow" team) is setup to counter attack and when they do have the ball, they don't have a player who can find a killer pass and struggle when they are on the ball. That is one of the reasons why I think there have been some boring games this WC.
 
bleedred said:
That has been the case totally this WC for almost every team. Everyone (France, Netherlands, Argentina, every "minnow" team) is setup to counter attack and when they do have the ball, they don't have a player who can find a killer pass and struggle when they are on the ball. That is one of the reasons why I think there have been some boring games this WC.
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I think that's every World Cup. Minnows will frustrate more talented teams. In fact, this is common in football, full stop.
 
In work and all Liverpool fans(There are 5 in my team in the office/most of my family members) are suddenly calling LVG an arrogant prick and taking the piss, despite the fact that LVG has been around for years and not one bad word! I wonder why? I mean they were getting worked up and angry about him ...They are a funny bunch that lot!
 
They had a go at him for going against his philosophy and principles that made him one of the top managers. Also, critical of his comments post match about certain players refusing to take the first penalty, and throwing Cillisen under the bus by saying he would have brought Krul on if he could. They believe information like that shouldn't have got out.
 
Mitchell Nicholas said:
They had a go at him for going against his philosophy and principles that made him one of the top managers. Also, critical of his comments post match about certain players refusing to take the first penalty, and throwing Cillisen under the bus by saying he would have brought Krul on if he could. They believe information like that shouldn't have got out.
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Err that's rather unfair by SBS to be fair. Can't believe they were criticizing him for going against the attacking philosophy he's historically famous for. One also has to consider that in all his previous stints as manager at club level Van Gaal has had some exceptional talent to work with so he could afford to be flamboyant.

That is not the case with this current Dutch team filled with inexperienced Eredivisie players - with only Robben as a genuine creative threat and RVP as the only world class striking option. Their midfield is outfitted with average talent - Wijnaldum, a Swansea player, a Norwich player etc in Strootman's absence and the defence lacks quality too - with four 20 odd year olds taking up the bulk of playing time.

It's better to be pragmatic in tournament football if it gives you a shot at winning rather than going all guns blazing and being torn to shreds on the counter enroute to being jettisoned in the group stages. It's a good feat to bring this mediocre group of players to the semi-final when no-one expected them to make this far. Can't fault him for the post match comments either. He's just stating the obvious with Krul's substitution - who's their designated penalty specialist..
 
Invictus said:
Err that's rather unfair by SBS to be fair. Can't believe they were criticizing him for going against the attacking philosophy he's historically famous for. One also has to consider that in all his previous stints as manager at club level Van Gaal has had some exceptional talent to work with so he could afford to be flamboyant.

That is not the case with this current Dutch team filled with inexperienced Eredivisie players - with only Robben as a genuine creative threat and RVP as the only world class striking option. Their midfield is outfitted with average talent - Wijnaldum, a Swansea player, a Norwich player etc in Strootman's absence and the defence lacks quality too - with four 20 odd year olds taking up the bulk of playing time.

It's better to be pragmatic in tournament football if it gives you a shot at winning rather than going all guns blazing and being torn to shreds on the counter enroute to being jettisoned in the group stages. It's a good feat to bring this mediocre group of players to the semi-final when no-one expected them to make this far. Can't fault him for the post match comments either. He's just stating the obvious with Krul's substitution - who's their designated penalty specialist..
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I agree with their criticism if his post match remarks, but not with their criticism of him going against his principles. The comments could have stayed within the Dutch team. At least at united, he's not restricted by nationality.
 
The United Irishman said:
In work and all Liverpool fans(There are 5 in my team in the office/most of my family members) are suddenly calling LVG an arrogant prick and taking the piss, despite the fact that LVG has been around for years and not one bad word! I wonder why? I mean they were getting worked up and angry about him ...They are a funny bunch that lot!
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Every news report I see about Van Gaal online, the comments section are all Liverpool fans calling him this and that. If he wasn't United's new manager, the comments section would be empty, I'm sure.

Good to see we're already winding people up before a ball is even kicked.
 
Mitchell Nicholas said:
I agree with their criticism if his post match remarks, but not with their criticism of him going against his principles. The comments could have stayed within the Dutch team. At least at united, he's not restricted by nationality.
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Hmm you're probably right about the post match remarks mate. But maybe it's just a cultural thing. Van Gaal and a lot of continental/ South American managers don't care much about subtlety and keeping appearances. Most of them are surprisingly honest with their appraisal and mince no words while addressing the press - even though it might be quite abrasive at times. That said you're correct - he has to be more careful henceforth. Especially when dealing with the media at United. They're adept at twisting words and adding disproportionate amounts of pressure just like Catalan media at Barcelona which played a massive hand in him being released as their manager. Maybe he could follow Pochettino's lead and employ a translator/ press advisor. :D
 
I don't mind some "bad" (wrong word actually) decisions by our manager, SAF made them as well at times. If you don't risk anything you won't acchieve anything most of the time. If you risk something from time to time, you will reap the awards from time to time as well, ppl will call it luck, but funny how mostly only great managers are lucky.

I much prefer brave ppl who make their decisions based on different aspects to those who take ages to decide and in the end complain about being unlucky (step up ... (you all know who)).

Can't wait for next season!
 
The United Irishman said:
In work and all Liverpool fans(There are 5 in my team in the office/most of my family members) are suddenly calling LVG an arrogant prick and taking the piss, despite the fact that LVG has been around for years and not one bad word! I wonder why? I mean they were getting worked up and angry about him ...They are a funny bunch that lot!
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That's what rival fans do. It's wishful thinking, heaping the pressure on, all that. Whereas Brendan Rodgers throwing the league away at 3-0 up against Crystal Palace is a thing that actually happened.

It's a big ask to win two penalty shootouts in a row. LVG didn't force his way into a corner, he got through that first penalty shootout and got that Dutch side as far as anyone would have and that's all that matters.

These same fans were all looking forward to the new boss of Manchester United going out at the group stages before the World Cup started. Now all they have left to cling to is the fact he didn't win the thing.

If there is a complaint it's that on paper maybe the Dutch shouldn't have had to take it to penalties against Costa Rica and then he could have played the switch trick last night. But on the pitch no one else had much luck with CRC.

The two best sides are in the final.
 
Well first of all i haven't followed LVG before this WorldCup, and i don't know much about how his teams played at Barca and Bayern, but i was always excited at the prospects of hearing from people here that his teams played exciting football, because its been so long we haven't see our team play attacking football.

There are two things, the first is i am worried about is the style of play he used for Holland and if he's going to use the same with us, because frankly i didn't like the way they played, except the Spain match in which they were awesome in attack. If it was down to the players he had, and if he thought this was the only way they could perform and get far in the tournament then i am impressed by him rather than disappointed by their attacking play.

Secondly i was impressed at the way he used his players, and setup his teams to defend and not give chances away, completely nullifying the threat of the opposition very much like Mourinho, and it would give me soo much confidence going into any big match that we will find a way to win just like Mourinho team does, and it would actually make us a better cup team than in the Ferguson Era, and we might have a better chance in winning the Cpl and Cup competitions, because i really feel this is where SAF lacked he was the best manager and i loved him to bits, but tactically he was weak and against top sides away we usually lost against them, against Barca in the Cpl for example he went in against them twice playing open football with 2 in the middle, rather than setting us in way which would have atleast given us a chance against them when everyone of us thought we would be very open and they will pick us off.

So overall i want people to answer who have actually followed him maybe Barca or Bayern fans can answer it better, will his style of play be very different than his current Holland side and how attacking would it be? .
 
@Fahad Jawaid :

Don't worry about that man. His preferred formations are the typical Dutch 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. The 5-2-1-2 he used at the World Cup was an emergency option after Strootman got injured. Van Gaal had a detailed discussion with some of his senior players and they decided it would get the best out of what they have given the paucity of god midfielders to implement a 4-3-3. He is tactically flexible though and played even a rigid 4-4-2/ 4-5-1 at Alkmaar. So expect a lot of change in formations while he assesses to our players' strengths, in-game rejig of schemes (eg He changed the formation atleast 3-4 times against Mexico to exploit weak spots in the opposition). His style of play was pragmatic primarily to stifle opposition teams instead of being open and conceding loads in the process.

Overall I think our team will be more attacking because that's Van Gaal's default setting. Difference is that unlike the Dutch national team he can actually sign who he wants (for most part) to suit his football philosophy. That said, don't be surprised if he decides to park the bus against stronger opposition. He's Jose's guru after all. ;)
 
Was very dissapointed with the style of play they put in during the world cup. It was like old Fergie - crap football but still able to win. I am confident anyway, hes really better material here.. When you look at poor average at best players like Janmaat, Blind, Indi, Snejder, Kuyt, and compare it to what we have in Rafael, Herrera, Welbeck, Mata, Shaw, Evans, Rooney, Adnan.. we will certainly play different kind of football. It wont be straight away, it needs time, we surely need another CM who can run and is able to defend and attack..(Strootman/Vidal) so we can play Total Voetball.. but again club football is different to international.. managers have more time to teach players what they want to play.. I am confident
 
m1y2 said:
Was very dissapointed with the style of play they put in during the world cup. It was like old Fergie - crap football but still able to win. I am confident anyway, hes really better material here.. When you look at poor average at best players like Janmaat, Blind, Indi, Snejder, Kuyt, and compare it to what we have in Rafael, Herrera, Welbeck, Mata, Shaw, Evans, Rooney, Adnan.. we will certainly play different kind of football. It wont be straight away, it needs time, we surely need another CM who can run and is able to defend and attack..(Strootman/Vidal) so we can play Total Voetball.. but again club football is different to international.. managers have more time to teach players what they want to play.. I am confident
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You think Fergie's teams played crap football?
 
Plugsy said:
You think Fergie's teams played crap football?
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In his latter years they did. Like our 12/13 team we played pretty underwhelming stuff for large parts of the season the comebacks and lots of goals masked over it but the style was quite meh.
 
Giggs impressed by van Gaal

Ryan Giggs has revealed the details of his first meeting with new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, explaining how the Dutchman convinced him to become his assistant at Old Trafford.

During a press conference to launch REUNITED14, a pre-season friendly that will see the Reds face Valencia at Old Trafford on 12 August, the club legend was quizzed on van Gaal and the subjects that were discussed when the pair met in May.

"When we met at the end of last season we went through the players who are here and some of the players he liked that will maybe come in. Two have already come in," said Giggs. "It's always hard during the World Cup because a lot of the players you're looking at could still be part of the World Cup, or they’ve just gone out and are now going on holiday for a rest. I'm not sure how many players will come in - we'll have to wait and see.

"I flew out and spent a couple of hours with him. We went through players who were at the club - ones who may be going, ones who may be coming in. I was there to find out how he works, what he likes and give him an insight into anything he might not know about Manchester United. He knew a lot, as you might expect. But any little thing I could help him about I tried to. We didn’t dwell on what happened last season."

Expanding on his point, Giggs continued: "Louis has a clear philosophy and he sticks to that philosophy. He won't be afraid of taking over Manchester United. He'll relish it.

He’ll look forward to it. He's been at Bayern, Barcelona... he’s been at huge clubs. Obviously, in my view, Manchester United is the biggest.

"He's not scared about the challenge, he’s not apprehensive - he can't wait. He has the experience to do it. It won’t be easy. It never is. The Premier League's a tough league to win but that's what we'll try to do. I was excited about how forthright and how clear he was about what he expects from the staff and the players."

When pressed on Holland’s performance in Brazil, where they were tipped for glory until a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Argentina saw them exit the competition at the semi-final stage on Wednesday, Giggs was unsurprisingly impressed by his new boss.

"It was disappointing to see them go out last night but it's been a fantastic campaign for him, starting with a result nobody could have foreseen. The 5-1 against Spain was maybe the standout performance of the tournament. Obviously it’s been great for the United fans to watch and for the players to see him do so well.

"It's excited everyone. He's mixed up his formations and he’s juggled around the players. To get to the semi-finals of the World Cup is a great achievement. He'd have liked to have gone further but it wasn't to be. The group he was in... to get out of that was an achievement in itself, so I'm sure he'll be pleased to go so far."

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ManUtd&pageNo=2
 
m1y2 said:
Was very dissapointed with the style of play they put in during the world cup. It was like old Fergie - crap football but still able to win. I am confident anyway, hes really better material here.. When you look at poor average at best players like Janmaat, Blind, Indi, Snejder, Kuyt, and compare it to what we have in Rafael, Herrera, Welbeck, Mata, Shaw, Evans, Rooney, Adnan.. we will certainly play different kind of football. It wont be straight away, it needs time, we surely need another CM who can run and is able to defend and attack..(Strootman/Vidal) so we can play Total Voetball.. but again club football is different to international.. managers have more time to teach players what they want to play.. I am confident
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Interesting what you say about the Dutch players: apart from Robben, who is by far the best and most influential player for Netherlands, I'd hate to see any of the others joining United. LvG has excelled at taking them to the semis in spite of the average quality involved.
 
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