It's a fairly solid indicator of how busy he was. It's not like he had to deal with any crosses is it?
Louis Van Gaal | 2015-16 Performance Thread
- Thread starter Nighteyes
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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.
Well no. A keeper can go a whole game without making a single save and lose 5-0. So it's not a great indicator truth be told.
That's how WBA away usually play.
One thing he has done is integrated a lot of youth players into the first team. I like that he's constantly giving guys a chance on the big stage. It doesn't only help us in the long run if one of five players he throws out there manages to perform well, but it also helps our youth program because it motivates players since they see a realistic chance to reach the top level. It should also show promising youngster from elsewhere that if a move to the youth program of a big club is imminent, we're a good choice due to our pretty open policy towards young players.
I'm curious to see what his plan with Januzaj is next year. He really can't go out on another loan, but he has to perform for this team.
I'm curious to see what his plan with Januzaj is next year. He really can't go out on another loan, but he has to perform for this team.
It is in the games being mentioned so the point would remain valid.
City and Villa in a deadlock, things are suddenly looking better again.
Our 8 goals against this season (3 of the 8 against vs. Arsenal) are nothing to be sneezed at. Can you imagine this squad if we go on to solidify the attack?
As much as I've cursed our recent games, LVG has fixed two-thirds of the team (backline, midfield) and he should be given a decent chance to fix the last part.
Our 8 goals against this season (3 of the 8 against vs. Arsenal) are nothing to be sneezed at. Can you imagine this squad if we go on to solidify the attack?
As much as I've cursed our recent games, LVG has fixed two-thirds of the team (backline, midfield) and he should be given a decent chance to fix the last part.
He's winning me over more and more to be honest. Love how he couldn't give a feck what anyone thinks about him, his personality and supreme confidence in himself is exactly what we needed in the new manager coming in. A lesser manager would have wilted under the pressure long ago.
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Still believe in Van Gaal and think he will get the balance right eventually, I don't agree with everything he's done, in particular I think his handling of the Rooney situation has not be so good. Nonetheless, I think he is implementing a solid system which will put us ahead of other clubs in the league. We've also had some bad luck considering we've had RVP and Falcao turn to shit, and then Di Maria not bother for 80 per cent of last season.
Do not want to look like a "half empty glass" guy, but I do not believe that LvG has tactically improved our midfield or defense. We try to keep the ball at all costs, that is why the opposition have less chances, and that is exactly why our strikers are suffering. We are being over-safe imo. The game against Arsenal showed that our defense and midfield struggle against quality, fast opponents. Hopefully, LvG is indeed a genius and knows exactly what he is doing, however, I cant see us winning any major trophy with him in charge.
Are you saying that our defense is only good because of our tactic?
I'm fecking staggered by this post to be honest. Our midfield and defence is clearly well drilled tactically.
And Arsenal was one game. You're using one poor game to negate the positives that have been brought about in eleven others. It's stupid.
Anyway, in the space of a week we've just gone top of our CL group and closed the deficit at the top of the table to two points.
Can't knock it.
Can't knock it.
Not only that but keeping the ball is a tactic and is our defense, which means that LVG improved our midfield and defense almost exclusively through tactic.
That is how the best teams in Europe play. They just are better at it that their attack don't suffer from it. Attacking at the cost of an organised structure is all fun and one hell of a ride but it simply doesn't work against the best teams which we have seen time after time against City and Chelsea domestically and pretty much every top European side. We need to get better at our possession game and do it well enough and work on transitioning faster which will add the final piece to our play. Abandoning this in favour of a less structured approach is going to lead us nowhere.
Exactly, to me the shots on target seems to be the most irrelevant statistic. If the goalkeeper can catch the ball, is it a better shot than when it's just besides the post? You've got to shoot between the keeper and the post, it doesn't matter in which way you fail, if you fail. The Lingard goal was aimed to exactly fit in the corner, if he's a tiny bit off to the right, it doesn't count as a shot on target. It's seems to me like a logic that a player should blast it on goal as soon as het gets a chance. "Testing the goalkeeper" appears to be important also. Why? It's their goalkeeper, not ours, shouldn't they test him themselves? Beating the goalkeeper is what's important to the players.
Van Gaal wants the players to take a look at the GK, and aim for the corner. So the shots on target stat will never look as great as with players who blast it at goal and hope it's a bit off to one side of the goalkeeper.
The players at the back have been superbly drilled. locking the door well. boring but you'll always get at least a point keeping a clean sheet
we should be top of that group and if we could have scored a goal v siddy or CP we're top of the tree.
united are boring but steady which makes for boring shit to watch. is it because LVG is so concerned about the back we have trouble going forward with intent?
Were only looking good, because Arsenal and City keep stuttering, Chelsea are nowhere to be found, also I wonder how long will Lecister stay 3rd, they have to fall down the table eventually
So its down to everyone else?
I've written in other threads about my own personal frustrations with LVG's brand of football, but I do think he deserves time to make it work and probably a little more credit for what he's done well since becoming our manager. From a player recruitment perspective LVG (with Woody) has been very impressive IMO. I look at the squad he's assembling and there's so much undoubted quality. We've spent money, we've spent big money, but so have other clubs but not a fraction as well. Beyond recruitment, it's also been heartening to see our manager so willing to take a punt on youth including local lads like Lingard. This is the United way. A fundamental part of our DNA, from Busby's Babes to the class of 92, and it's fantastic that our manager is in sync with that. Would Mourinho or Pellegrini given our youngsters as many opportunities as LVG? I doubt it. He's also started to turn OT into a fortress again having conceded just 1 goal in our 6 home Pl games. Whilst I'm not presuming that we can mount a credible title challenge this season, this is certainly the type of platform from which one could be launched. Ramble over, let's cut the man some slack and see where we are at the end of the season. In fact more than just cutting him a bit of slack, let's start showing him a bit of faith!
Even then though, our start to the season has still been fairly decent. 24 points from 12 games isn't too bad a return, and even if there was a more dominant side this season, we'd generally only be 4-6 points off top most of the time. Granted, there's still a lot for us to improve on, but the fact that the league is arguably quite poor right now shouldn't take away from the fact that we're near the top. We're still there, ultimately, which is what's important.
If he has a hand in the way Smalling's developed, then I give him great credit.
Still think we're too conservative.
Still think we're too conservative.
The league is defintely poorer this year, especially in terms of quality players. I dont think theres a single world class player in the PL right now, no offense to Vardy but when hes the PL `s top scorer, and with the PL being the richest league in the world, teams have been paying silly money for average players
De Gea? Smalling? Sanchez? Ozil? Silva? Aguero?
Lets face it, the minimum expectation now is to win the league this season. I know a lot of people here do not want to acknowledge it but you can see the hidden aspirations behind the frustrations. I mean:
1) Losing 3-0 against Arsenal is unacceptable;
2) Dominating City but letting them get away with a draw is not deemed not good enough;
3) 0-0 draw with Palace is deemed not good enough (where Liv had just lost
);
4) winning 2-0 against West Brom is begrudgingly acceptable.
but if we managed to draw against arsenal, spanked city, get a 1-0 win against palace and wipe the floor with west brom, we will be comfortably top of the league. That is what United fan want and screaming for.
So in conclusion, the minimum expectation is for Van Gaal to win the title this year. Anything less and he should go. We should not kid ourselves that we are happy with a "title challenge". We are afterall, Manchester united. Once we accept this, then the whinging will make more sense.
1) Losing 3-0 against Arsenal is unacceptable;
2) Dominating City but letting them get away with a draw is not deemed not good enough;
3) 0-0 draw with Palace is deemed not good enough (where Liv had just lost
);4) winning 2-0 against West Brom is begrudgingly acceptable.
but if we managed to draw against arsenal, spanked city, get a 1-0 win against palace and wipe the floor with west brom, we will be comfortably top of the league. That is what United fan want and screaming for.
So in conclusion, the minimum expectation is for Van Gaal to win the title this year. Anything less and he should go. We should not kid ourselves that we are happy with a "title challenge". We are afterall, Manchester united. Once we accept this, then the whinging will make more sense.
Yes, but they were tired from their 5000 miles trip to Russia, while United's trip to Russia before the Palace game was only 4500 miles...3) 0-0 draw with Palace is deemed not good enough (where Liv had just lost
I thought heavy criticism after the Arsenal game was fair though, you can always lose a game and also 3-0 against an opponent of this quality. But they crumbled and that shouldn't happen. There was also a problem with attacking initiative and creativity, but the problem is adressed and seems to decrease quite fast.
I've been a critic of LVG because of playing style being so slow, uncreative, so I am delighted that his recent statement recognises that we need pace and creativity injected into the wings.
Maybe we will see Adnan recalled and given an extended chance
Maybe we will see Adnan recalled and given an extended chance
Recent? He's been saying it since he arrived, the only problem is that he doesn't want to sign a stop gap like Pedro as he'd prefer to work with what he has already and academy players, he thinks United should be the best in Europe and so compete for the best players and that's not really a problem at all, that's ambition.
Our net spend this summer was £27m according to transfermarkt. The money is there for a world class winger, it's about tempting him to come, and LvG still thinks Depay has the potential to be class so it's the right wing position unless Lingard makes it his own this season.
his recent statement is more blunt
The reason I am happy to see that is because he booted a lot out in the summer, Welbeck, Nani who could play the wing roles but now he recognizes that we don't have enough options and that Mata isn't a winger!
Welbeck doesn't offer creativity as a winger and Nani was long done. We'd be no better off with them here now.
we will have to agree to disagree on that
From a wide position Welbeck offered industry but his delivery was always poor and the only creativity he offered was his short link up play.
Nani's done nothing in the last couple of years to suggest he'd be good for our level.
Yep, Welbeck was a hard-worker as a winger and had some excellent games there, but wasn't much better than a squad player. I'd have actually been in favour of giving Nani another season, but it's hard to blame LVG for getting rid of him either.
Certainly, I'd argue Mata offers us more than either of those two would.
I think having the option of Nani on the wing would make a material difference. Hasn't he done quite well this season?
Not that Van Gaal would play him.
Not that Van Gaal would play him.
I watched Nani the other day against Ajax, safe to say he was as inconsistent as ever, really frustrating to Watch.
I've decided to be patient, LVG's got this and next season, hopefully he'll have us playing attacking football but if he doesn't we'll have someone in his place come 2017.
Good man. He has earned that patience.
Although, he'll most likely be gone in 2017 regardless of success or not
We weren't in Russia before the Palace game.
Ahh and we also won the league in SAF's last year because of luck ? C'mon, which teams have been completely convincing ? The competition is not a sprint. You will have those dull games where you'd be better off picking your nose then watching the game, but the most important thing is to bring the points home. Can we not say the reverse ? That Arsenal and City are higher then us because we have been stuttering in the games we should have won ? United are improving that is crystal clear. The first target was getting us back in the CL. Check. The target this season is to build on that and hopefully have a better finish then 4th. Yes the football isnt as attractive as a victoria secret model, but its all about the little steps that will hopefully lead to the main target and that is to be crowned champions of the PL again. A title which suits this club like a pair of gloves.
Yes and no. I expect to win the league this season, especially because LVG improved us as much as he did which many people have hard time to admit. But if he doesn't make it we definetly wouldn't sacked him because of that.Lets face it, the minimum expectation now is to win the league this season. I know a lot of people here do not want to acknowledge it but you can see the hidden aspirations behind the frustrations. I mean:
1) Losing 3-0 against Arsenal is unacceptable;
2) Dominating City but letting them get away with a draw is not deemed not good enough;
3) 0-0 draw with Palace is deemed not good enough (where Liv had just lost
4) winning 2-0 against West Brom is begrudgingly acceptable.
but if we managed to draw against arsenal, spanked city, get a 1-0 win against palace and wipe the floor with west brom, we will be comfortably top of the league. That is what United fan want and screaming for.
So in conclusion, the minimum expectation is for Van Gaal to win the title this year. Anything less and he should go. We should not kid ourselves that we are happy with a "title challenge". We are afterall, Manchester united. Once we accept this, then the whinging will make more sense.