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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
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He has a really shit nose.
Why do heads get massive when you get older?
He has a ginormous head right now (look at his pics standing next to Giggs), but not so much in his younger years...
Looks like he has picked up lots of stuff and kept it in his head..
I'm not sure he was ever young looking at him in the photos, he's had a tough time obviously.
It wouldn't surprise me that after these weeks of observing have past, he will say this squad is good enough. He is not big on signings as I've said before he got appointed.
I'm convinced he'll still want a top midfielder. But from the start I've said that he'll be happy to supplement our defence and wide men with the youngsters pushing for spots in those positions, and I'm more sure of that than ever.
But the midfielder is so patently needed, especially if Carrick's out for a while, that I think we'll see another significant signing there.
So, three-four weeks showing them the ropes, assessing the bastards - then heads will roll. Or not. Seems reasonable.
Still, if he has ideas already about who will be surplus to requirements, he'd hardly name names at his first ever presser.
I reckon the Carrick situation will have consequences too - if what he said is anything to go by, he regards the injury as very unfortunate. He'll be getting someone in - which he might've done anyway, of course, but he surely will now.
Still, if he has ideas already about who will be surplus to requirements, he'd hardly name names at his first ever presser.
I reckon the Carrick situation will have consequences too - if what he said is anything to go by, he regards the injury as very unfortunate. He'll be getting someone in - which he might've done anyway, of course, but he surely will now.
As soon as I saw this I knew that someone would post this referring to Rooney, poor Tony, at least he has a better head of hair then Wayne 
Very excited to see which of the youth players he'll be giving first team opportunities to.
This is interesting.
Yeah but that Ajax team were ridiculous. Look at the line up for the CL final that year.
Edwin Van Der Saar
Michael Reiziger
Danny Blind
Frank De Boer
Frank Rijkaard
Clarence Seedorf
Edgar Davids
Jari Litmanen
Finidi George
Ronald De Boer
Marc Overmars
With Winston Bogarde, Nwankwo Kanu and Patrick Kluivert on the bench.
There is a quick fix...train indoors or board it up with, you know, wood.
What's up with his walk? It's incredibly camp.
I think his biggest challenge will be to be able to assess quickly who all will take to his philosophy and how quickly and decide on them thereafter. Because, I personally see a lot of players in this squad who could take a long time to at to his ways or actually may never and if he keeps and trusts too many such players, it's going to be a long season of adjustment that could never actually come to anything. So hopefully he quickly decides on who's going to make his coaching job harder and replaced them adequately.
I am pretty sure I heard Giggs say that he will be taking over in four years time i.e. after van Gaal's contract ends. Will try find the video again. It was recent, like two weeks ago.
this did not happen.Yes there was a lot of talent that came through together, but you have to give him credit for bringing them through and putting faith in them. Just like we give Ferguson credit for bringing through the class of 92.
Seems pretty clear that LVG has had zero time to think about United until now. Understandably. Herrera and Shaw were not his ideas. Would have been more along on the transfer front of Holland had not gone so far in the WC!
Makes sense that he would want to get a feel now for who he has to work with in the squad. But that was a similar situation with Moyes: coming in late; needing to have a look at the squad; leaving transfers until late.
Hopefully whatever list that Woodward worked from for Herrera and Shaw has some more names that LVG will agree with though. Multiple players still needed.
Makes sense that he would want to get a feel now for who he has to work with in the squad. But that was a similar situation with Moyes: coming in late; needing to have a look at the squad; leaving transfers until late.
Hopefully whatever list that Woodward worked from for Herrera and Shaw has some more names that LVG will agree with though. Multiple players still needed.
Arthritic hip.
The difference is (hopefully) that LVG can identify very quickly what is needed at our level due to his experience at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern, whereas Moyes was at the wrong end of the learning curve.
Edwin Van Der Saar 2 years a pro, free
Michael Reiziger < 1 million, was a striker the year befor
Danny Blind Not wanted in bigger leagues
Frank De Boer about 22
Frank Rijkaard 34, free from Milan
Clarence Seedorf 17
Edgar Davids about 22
Jari Litmanen about 22, < 1 million
Finidi George about 21 < 1 million
Ronald De Boer about 22 < 1 million
Marc Overmars about 22 < 4 million
With Winston Bogarde, Nwankwo Kanu and Patrick Kluivert on the bench:
About 23, 18 and 18.
Might be a year off, might not get the transfer fee in pounds completely right. The point is they were big names after that. This was really a very young team with just one big name.
Well, I would be shocked if Woodward would want to leave transfers until the last minute again anyway.
Yes, although we don't know where the blame lies between those two. Given Moyes already had the Dithering Dave nickname at Everton, I'm inclined to think he was the main reason for last summer's farce but, as long as Woodard has learnt those lessons (and the signs are that he is getting clued up), I think we should be ok this year.
Brilliant.In case the training grounds in a giant glass dome.
He's such a boss. I know it was said already but it's such a contrast to Moyes.
And I love how he gets angry when they ask him the same question. Journos will have a tough time with him.
And I love how he gets angry when they ask him the same question. Journos will have a tough time with him.
Absolutely no need to 'assess' the likes of Anderson and Young, they should be shipped out immediately.
Good article on Van Gaal and how methods with the Netherlands might translate at United :
http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/d...ating-Van-Gaals-Manchester-United-Next-Season
Team Focus : Teams must resist dominating Van Gaal's Manchester United next season
The first day in a new office can be daunting for even the most steadfast individual. Unfamiliar surroundings, the pressure to make a good first impression - these factors, and more, are enough to unsettle anyone. However, one man who is unlikely to be unnerved by the task ahead of him is Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman started work as Manchester United boss on Wednesday on the back of a splendid World Cup campaign with Netherlands, which understandably has supporters optimistic ahead of the new season.
While the Oranje could not go one step further than South Africa 2010 and win the competition, a 3rd place finish is not to be scoffed at. Netherlands secured their final position with a resounding 3-0 win over hosts Brazil on Saturday and the full-time whistle at Mane Garrincha brought an end to Van Gaal’s tenure as head coach of the national team.
Having agreed to succeed David Moyes as United boss back in May, the 62-year-old is now presented with the chance to better his predecessors' record at the Old Trafford helm. The former Premier League champions ended a disappointing 7th in England’s top tier last season to compound a miserable campaign that culminated in Moyes' sacking. The chance to appoint Van Gaal clearly convinced the United board to part ways with the former Everton boss and they pursued his signature once the Scot had been relieved of his duties.
Supporters gained a thorough insight into his managerial ability at the World Cup and will have been suitably impressed by the Oranje’s showing in South America. Only Germany (7.17) gained a better WhoScored rating than Netherlands (7.12) at the 2014 World Cup, reflecting how impressive the Dutch were over the summer. They were at the very best in the group stages in particular. Netherlands scored the most goals (11) from the opening 3 games, with Daley Blind, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, amongst others, drawing the admiration of the spectators in Brazil.
Interestingly, only Iran (29.7%) averaged less possession than Netherlands (39.5%) in the group stages, with the onus on soaking up pressure and then hitting the opposition on the counter attack. The plan clearly worked - Netherlands had more fastbreak attempts (6) than any other team and Robben (4) more than any other player.
However, once the knockout stages of the competition came around, Netherlands’ average possession rose to 55.3%, coinciding with a more toothless Dutch attack. In the last 4 games, they netted 5 goals, 3 of which came in the victory against Brazil. Incidentally, the win over the hosts saw them have their lowest share of possession (42%) in their 4 knockout round matches.
The approach was fairly obvious, but it remains to be seen whether Van Gaal can integrate this gameplan in the Premier League ahead of the upcoming season. Granted, 6 teams averaged more possession than United (55.4%) in England’s top tier last term, but their standing in the league means inferior opposition are unlikely to play on the front foot from the off, much like Spain, Chile and, to a lesser extent, Australia did against Netherlands in Group B.
Rather, teams will sit back and wait for United to attack them due to their stature. Mexico and Costa Rica adopted a similar approach in their World Cup meetings with Netherlands in Brazil and came close to causing an upset as they frustrated the opposition, the Dutch relying on a late Klaas-Jan Huntelaar spot kick and a penalty shootout to respectively progress to the quarter and semi-finals.
The performances of the American pairing led to questions being asked of Van Gaal’s ability to alter his tactics to secure victory. Netherlands struggled to break down resolute defences, something Premier League rivals are likely to have noticed, which could see them adopt a similar tactic next season when they face United. This limited the influence of Robin Van Persie in particular, who up until his penalty against Brazil, had failed to net in 324 minutes of World Cup action having scored 3 in Netherlands’ opening 2 games. The striker and Van Gaal will work together once more for United in the upcoming season, but a more reserved approach from opposition teams could limit the attacking influence of 'SuperVan'.
However, it remains to be seen how the team will line up under the Dutchman. Van Gaal favoured a 3-man defence at Brazil 2014, with the system working exceptionally well - Netherlands conceded only 4 goals in 7 games - and could use this depending on how the transfer window pans out. The formation should excite fans, with teams preferring a 4-man defence in the Premier League. The unfamiliarity and entertainment value that comes with a 3-man backline should make for a more enthralling campaign, especially with the business that their rivals have conducted this summer.
Nevertheless, it’s important for fans to approach the new season with caution. While Van Gaal tends to do well when he takes over at a new club, teams found a way to counter his system at the World Cup. Provided United do not lure the opposition into a false sense of security in matches next season, the Dutch tactician may have to endure a rocky start in Manchester when the campaign kicks off next month before finding his feet in England.
http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/d...ating-Van-Gaals-Manchester-United-Next-Season
Full video of his first press confernce here:
The only thing I'm worried about is the signings. We all know after a few weeks he's going to realise the team needs them, so it's a worry we could be doing things last minute again, which wasn't a great decision last year.
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