If he uses hoofball again because it's necessary and it gets us a goal I will applaud him, especially if that goal wins us the match. Pretty passing is all very well but wins are much better.
Louis Van Gaal | 2015-16 Performance Thread
- Thread starter Nighteyes
- Start date
-
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.
I pressed the wrong option by accident.
I'm not saying we shouldn't have a Plan B and only stick to Plan A even if it doesn't work. That's suicidal. But the Plan B must still be football. Real football. You know one-twos, through passes, good crosses etc. Real team play. We can do it, we have the players for it. Not mindless hoof ball. You see how good teams can defend against it comfortably. Its highly ineffective and wont help us at all.
When you chase a game there's a way to chase a game. Lvg must be able to setup better ways to do it.
Last edited:
There was talk some time ago that Rooney and Carrick went to speak with LVG about dressing room feeling flat and players not enjoying themselves, which LVG confirmed as having informative talk with those 2 players.
Anyone else feels perhaps he decided to give players some more freedom on the pitch, since it seems, at least IMO, that players look more relaxed yet more effective.
Our football wasn't so rigid these last 2,3 matches like it was before that, maybe I'm just imagine it all, but it does look like he's finding balance between philospohy and players decisions on the pitch.
Anyone else feels perhaps he decided to give players some more freedom on the pitch, since it seems, at least IMO, that players look more relaxed yet more effective.
Our football wasn't so rigid these last 2,3 matches like it was before that, maybe I'm just imagine it all, but it does look like he's finding balance between philospohy and players decisions on the pitch.
No wonder Rooney was back to his best trick, spreading the ball out wide right to Valencia with reckless abandon.
We scored 3 in our last four domestic games. That's impressive.
Starting to get those goals along with a tight defense. Keep winning LVG!
I dont really like how we play that much. I understand the whole possession style and whats going on but I am not a huge fan of it.
I do like the fact there is clear progress and I do like where we are heading. Have to say that LVG is making progress which is one sign of a good coaching setup an feel like we have the right guy in charge at the right time. Would love to see him get some success here simply because I am now starting to think he deserves it.
I do like the fact there is clear progress and I do like where we are heading. Have to say that LVG is making progress which is one sign of a good coaching setup an feel like we have the right guy in charge at the right time. Would love to see him get some success here simply because I am now starting to think he deserves it.
Having Martial, a true #9 (and a quite good one), has also helped us immensely. He's keeping defenders busy higher up the pitch and it's creating space for everyone else. There are still times when we aren't on the front foot as much as we should be but I don't have that sense that we can't break a team down. Of course time helps too and we're seeing more comfort throughout the squad as they learn each other.
Well he missed his old friend, I for one cannot take that against him 
True this! Martial presence is big factor for possession based football since we finally have someone up-front capable od keeping the ball when turned back to goal. And it's true that squad learn each others and their movement on the pitch, but somehow they all look much more relaxed to me than before, hope LVG decided to let loose some of his stubborness!
No, it's just your imagination probably provoked by the media trying to gain some momentum from points lost a couple of weeks ago.
What a shit poll
Don't think there's been any change in our style of football, if anything that 44 pass goal against Southampton was a clear signal of the philosophy in effect. The last two games we've looked more fluid because of Martial's impact and the standard of the opposition. October's games will be a better indicator of how far we've come.
Our attacking line up has completely been revamped (the whole team for that matter). It is bound to take time for players to play with each other and be effective. I for one hope that there is more to come as Rooney gains form again and Depay adjusts to the league.
Could be, that's why I asked others for opinion, I've got used to my mind playing tricks on me
Even if Rooney turns up for a spell of 10 or so games, it would be a massive boost for the rest of the team and could springboard us into proper contention in the league. Unfortunately though, I don't see it.
I don't think the philosophy and freedom of the players are opposed at all, so they're a not at different ends of a balance. It's just the understanding of the philosophy and the other players that gets better and better, so it's easier for the players to initiate moves.Could be, that's why I asked others for opinion, I've got used to my mind playing tricks on me
The problem of the flatness in the dressing room was adressed, and was more an issue of personalities leaving as I understood it. Players not enjoying themselves and not having enough freedom on the pitch seemed to me like journalists projecting their own ideas and imaginations on the players.
Whatever happend happend for the better and that's all that really matters.
Either players feel more relaxed, or finally getting used to the full extent of philospohy, or whatever real reason is, but United is starting to look like a team that plays good on the both sides of the pitch, not just defensively and that's something to be very optimistic about.
Long may it continue!
So 18 months after we had just finished the season in 7th(!!!!) position, we now sit top of the table, with the joint best goal difference in the league. We have scored 12 goals in our last 4 matches and could now claim to have 4 or 5 of the best young players in the league
I personally think we should be giving LvG the freedom of the city not whining about "sideways passing" and all that nonsense
I personally think we should be giving LvG the freedom of the city not whining about "sideways passing" and all that nonsense
LOUIS VAN GAAL'S ARMY!!!
Sack VanGaal.... sell Martial
I'm inclined to agree. It's perhaps been forgotten just how poor this team of ours was just over twelve months ago.
We couldn't string four or five passes together, never mind 45.
Last edited:
All this team is missing right now is that one special player who can open up teams at will from out wide. As it is, I expect we will have a few more games like the Newcastle ones until we set that straight.
First time since Fergie retired we are top, right? Finally!
Well we were top of the table in Moyes' first game where we beat Swansea 4-1
until city won 4-0 , so at the end of the round we where secondWell we were top of the table in Moyes' first game where we beat Swansea 4-1
I don't know about Freedom of the City, just yet, but I agree with the rest.
I've said all along it will take time for any manager, but especially with LvG. It's been clear since his first game in charge that he has been implementing a completely new system and it will take a lot of trial and error before it finally clicks properly. Month after month we have seen vast changes in players and the style of football, we have had glimpses of some absolutely masterful stuff and had some rough patches too, but even in the rough patches there have still be improvements in the play from a tactical point of view. I don't think we are there yet, but we are closer than we were and I don't think we are that far off now. As someone said above, we are really just one star player away from perfection, although I would still like to see another CB brought in, even if they are just used for cover.
I'm not getting my hopes up too much just yet, as we are still short in numbers if an injury crisis hits, and we still have to sort out the speed of play and be more incisive, especially in the final third of the pitch , but it is all coming along very nicely indeed.
He got the club back in the CL and he's currently top of the league showing intent to challenge for the title. At the very least people should get off his back and just watch what he's doing.
I don't get why many make it seem like philosophy is an alien word or that they don't understand what he means by it. He clearly means culture like in arganization.
Last edited:
Maybe it's an english thing. We talked ''football philosophy'' even in our shitty youth teams I played in when I grew up. I think it's part of the standard football vocabulary. LvG just refers to it more than anyone else I've heard in press conferences.
The problem is that it is his go-to answer for all questions.
Why did we have no shots on target? Philosophy.
Why does Antonio Valencia keep hitting defenders' shins with the ball? Philosophy.
Why did we have no shots on target? Philosophy.
Why does Antonio Valencia keep hitting defenders' shins with the ball? Philosophy.
Why do I keep answering your questions with philosophy? That is also part of the philosophy.
Fair play to Louis, he's got us back to the top of the pile.
Some may find my views towards Van Gaal contradictory, as I go from full confidence to no confidence in him with the changes in the weather. Football is an emotional game, only a robot would be well reasoned in the immediate aftermath of a loss. In the cold light of day, evaluating where we have been and where we are now, its clear United has made progress though. The manager deserves credit for that.
Van Gaal has found a system he likes, stubbornly stuck with it, and has got the players accustomed to what he wants out of it. It may not be particularly entertaining right now, his selections may confuse, but in United's past three league matches the team has scored nine times: Three against Liverpool, three against Southampton, three against Sunderland. Something is working. If we continue to score three times in every game we will be there or thereabouts come May.
Some may find my views towards Van Gaal contradictory, as I go from full confidence to no confidence in him with the changes in the weather. Football is an emotional game, only a robot would be well reasoned in the immediate aftermath of a loss. In the cold light of day, evaluating where we have been and where we are now, its clear United has made progress though. The manager deserves credit for that.
Van Gaal has found a system he likes, stubbornly stuck with it, and has got the players accustomed to what he wants out of it. It may not be particularly entertaining right now, his selections may confuse, but in United's past three league matches the team has scored nine times: Three against Liverpool, three against Southampton, three against Sunderland. Something is working. If we continue to score three times in every game we will be there or thereabouts come May.
This.
And they keep improving. This will lead to more confidence, better understanding for finding space, better probing, higher pace and more wins.