Louis Van Gaal | 2015-16 Performance Thread

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Ive been rightfully accused of having a bit of an agenda against Morgan but here I go again

I thought we were all pretty much in agreement he was awful against Wolfsburg. And in general has been very underwhelming

Just because we lost yesterday now loads of you think he would have been key for us. I dont see it at all. We have survived often enough without a Morgan type player. It was down to Carrick and Bastian not knowing their roles yesterday. Both were either off form and didnt know their jobs. That combination should be good enough to protect our defence

Regardless of his form, where he would of been positionally is where we got battered, so that would of made a huge difference. Arsenal had acres of space in those gaps, and that is where they killed us.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

He may have picked the wrong team, but he is so stubborn in his approach.
He thinks is 'philosophy' is the be all and end all. He doesn't factor the opposition before setting out his tactics. It feels he has one tactic and he expect it to be better than anybody elses...

It's clear Arsenal are a fast team, who attack with pace and directness, yet we still played a massively high line, with a big gap between defence and midfield, and we was outrun... If Arsenal kept their style yesterday, we could have lost by a good 5 or 6. Even in the second half, when they let us have the ball, they created the better chances.

I've never really been a fan of how we are playing, and I definitely don't see it as a tactic that can work in the Prem.

 

[Nighteyes]

With only two players out injured that's a bit of worry, surely? Ultimately Van Gaal is responsible for the 11 players he picks and the squad from which he picks them.

That's harsh. Both Rojo and Shaw are injured and Blind has been doing very well at CB. Young didn't work out in hindsight but the decision made sense before the game. Had Depay helped him out it might have been a different story. As it is at times you had all of Ozil, Ramsay and Bellerin on that right side.

These are the games that we bought Schneiderlin for, Not starting him yesterday is bad management, no doubts about it.

We have won these kind of games without Schneiderlin. This continuing overrating of Morgan needs to stop.

Last season, we had Rooney, Carrick and Fellaini in midfield and still won. In fact last season is a good reference point. Arsenal started very well in that game as well but once we rode out the first 10-15 minutes we played very good counter attacking football.

The lesson to be learned is not to start like drunken tramps in the games which we have a tendency to do. We've generally got away with it in most games but Arsenal took full advantage of it.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

That's harsh. Both Rojo and Shaw are injured and Blind has been doing very well at CB. Young didn't work out in hindsight but the decision made sense before the game. Had Depay helped him out it might have been a different story. As it is at times you had all of Ozil, Ramsay and Bellerin on that right side.

We saw glaring problems in the first half. Gary Neville pointed them out over and over again.
Van Gaal didn't change a thing until half time. The game was already lost

 

[Nighteyes]

We saw glaring problems in the first half. Gary Neville pointed them out over and over again.
Van Gaal didn't change a thing until half time. The game was already lost

That can happen when you've been blown away in 5 minutes. Understandably the heads dropped from that point on.

 

[Smores]

That's harsh. Both Rojo and Shaw are injured and Blind has been doing very well at CB. Young didn't work out in hindsight but the decision made sense before the game. Had Depay helped him out it might have been a different story. As it is at times you had all of Ozil, Ramsay and Bellerin on that right side.



We have won these kind of games without Schneiderlin. This continuing overrating of Morgan needs to stop.

Last season, we had Rooney, Carrick and Fellaini in midfield and still won. In fact last season is a good reference point. Arsenal started very well in that game as well but once we rode out the first 10-15 minutes we played very good counter attacking football.

The lesson to be learned is not to start like drunken tramps in the games which we have a tendency to do. We've generally got away with it in most games but Arsenal took full advantage of it.

I find it beyond belief that any fan after watching these games against Arsenal year after year can't see the tactical flaws in yesterday's setup.

I think you seriously underestimate football management if you think it was all just a case of our players having a 20 minute slip up.

 

[Adisa]

Complains about aggression when he put Carrick and Basti in the middle of the park.
I've been very positive about him but he has to take a huge part of e blame for yesterday.
He also has to look for an alternative to Blind for some games.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

That's harsh. Both Rojo and Shaw are injured and Blind has been doing very well at CB. Young didn't work out in hindsight but the decision made sense before the game. Had Depay helped him out it might have been a different story. As it is at times you had all of Ozil, Ramsay and Bellerin on that right side.

It's not harsh. It's a statement of fact. You're using a lack of "choices" as mitigation. Bearing in mind how few injuries we had, then there's only one person to blame for this alleged lack of options.

 

[NK86]

Simply put, he isnt perfect and he will get things wrong, even Fergie fecked up from time to time.

I don't disagree and frankly apart from the first 20 mins we didn't actually play that bad. Think we just didn't get going. Which is a problem we have seen for the last few matches where we seem to be sleeping for the start of matches. This is an issue which LVG needs to look into and fix.

 

[Getsme]

I don't disagree and frankly apart from the first 20 mins we didn't actually play that bad. Think we just didn't get going. Which is a problem we have seen for the last few matches where we seem to be sleeping for the start of matches. This is an issue which LVG needs to look into and fix.

Yep, last year if was the opposite.

 

[Kag]

He got it wrong yesterday. And it will happen from time to time.

Blind should have been moved over to left back and I thought as much before the game. Jones coming in would have added some aggression into the defence and strengthened the unit.

Young isn't a serious option at left back against the best teams in the league, something I stressed in the match thread just before kick off. Against Sunderland at home, yes, we can get away with it due to the amount of possession we will have, but not against Arsenal.

The midfield selection was wrong. We bought Schneiderlin for games like these. I've read a few odd arguments suggesting his absence was right due to his performance midweek.

Well, they're wrong. You don't drop players as punishment in spite of them offering the midfield exactly what the team needs the next match. Schneiderlin had started every Premier League game bar one before yesterday and he has been a strong influence on the solidity of our unit.

When Herrera returns, it's about time to make a change in the attacking positions for a little while. Ideally, I'd sit down Rooney for a couple of weeks, but as that is unlikely I'd look at giving Memphis a breather to clear his head.

Games like these happen and I can accept that. City got ripped apart by Spurs. Chelsea are in disarray and Arsenal have just come off the back of bad defeats to both Chelsea and Olympiakos. This was our turn.

What matters now is the response. Van Gaal needs to make the right decisions against Everton and learn from the Arsenal match. The return of players like Jones/Rojo, Schneiderlin and Herrera should be high on his list of priorities. In his defence, he's generally done well to respond to defeat so far, so more of the same will do just fine.

 

[Question234]

Blind was found out in his first real test, factoring playing the most immobile team possible, and again not enough depth at the back. We are seeing the results if we lose someone like shaw our back up is not really good enough. Not playing the likes of morgan, herrera, who are made for these types of games, VG picked the wrong team, the lack of depth at the back costs us big time yesterday

Blind has already been found out, he is put at the back for distribution and to carry the ball out of the defence, he has created chances and assists but when isolated is vulnerable to pace and strength. it's a catch 22 and before you say "we should of bought a ball playing cb" there weren't any out there. Had we had Otamendi left exposed the same thing would of happened to him, depth at the back had nothing to do with it.

You are destined to pin the result on the back 4 while refusing to ignore the mistakes made in MF that gave the arsenal acres of space to work with, it isn't as if we sat behind the ball and made individual errors that lead to goal, they carved us open and had tons of space to work with.

How can you not see that ? People talking about shaw and singings like our brand new rb didn't get raped by sanchez because he was often left isolated with him, not signing players had nothing to do with this loss, blame lvg, hope he doesn't make the same mistake and lets move on.

 

[Nighteyes]

It's not harsh. It's a statement of fact. You're using a lack of "choices" as mitigation. Bearing in mind how few injuries we had, then there's only one person to blame for this alleged lack of options.

It is harsh because both our first choice and second choice LB's are injured. And our third choice LB has been doing excellently at CB so it made complete sense not to change something that was working. So unless you expect LVG to carry around a whole bunch of LB's the criticism is ridiculously harsh. It's not like Young has been torn apart every time he's played a defensive role either. In fact, he was rather good last season at the Emirates.

 

[ZDwyr]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned before, I am sure it has in individual player threads, but the thing that really bothers me about Van Gaal is his team selection. There are players in our starting XI at the moment that just plain and simply do not deserve to be there, yet they continually get selected. Young, Herrera, Fellaini etc all worked hard for this Club last season. They all performed well. Yet they lose their places to undeserving players. It's poor from Van Gaal and if I was a player I would find it disheartening.

As for the Arsenal match well it was a mess. Schneiderlin should have played. Blind shouldn't be a CB against good sides away from home IMO. I am not sure if he instructed BFS to press like a madman in the first half but that was also a strange decision if he did.

 

[Revan]

Blind has already been found out, he is put at the back for distribution and to carry the ball out of the defence, he has created chances and assists but when isolated is vulnerable to pace and strength. it's a catch 22 and before you say "we should of bought a ball playing cb" there weren't any out there. Had we had Otamendi left exposed the same thing would of happened to him, depth at the back had nothing to do with it.

You are destined to pin the result on the back 4 while refusing to ignore the mistakes made in MF that gave the arsenal acres of space to work with, it isn't as if we sat behind the ball and made individual errors that lead to goal, they carved us open and had tons of space to work with.

How can you not see that ? People talking about shaw and singings like our brand new rb didn't get raped by sanchez because he was often left isolated with him, not signing players had nothing to do with this loss, blame lvg, hope he doesn't make the same mistake and lets move on.

Laporte has a release clause at 50m euro. A bit high, but we have money to spend.

There was no-one there is always an excuse IMO.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It is harsh because both our first choice and second choice LB's are injured. And our third choice LB has been doing excellently at CB so it made complete sense not to change something that was working. So unless you expect LVG to carry around a whole bunch of LB's the criticism is ridiculously harsh. It's not like Young has been torn apart every time he's played a defensive role either. In fact, he was rather good last season at the Emirates.

Well if you genuinely believe a lack of choices at left back was a significant reason for us getting our arses kicked then you might have a point...

 

[SammyUnited_83]

For all the money spent and just one real defender on the pitch yesterday. I had no problem in getting rid of some players, but to go into the season with the squad that we have verges of stupidity, especially for a manager of Van Gaals experience. It's not knee jerk from yesterday, it's just quite black and white, our squad is poor and just a couple of injuries highlights the holes quite easily.

My biggest grumble with Van Gaal is he complained about tiredness yet, got rid of a lot of useful squad players, that would have easily gotten us over the line against the likes of Ipswich and Sunderland, which could have meant more rotation.

It's a shame, because he has done a lot that has improved us but his 3 year plan of getting us back to the top seems flawed.

 

[SammyUnited_83]

It is harsh because both our first choice and second choice LB's are injured. And our third choice LB has been doing excellently at CB so it made complete sense not to change something that was working. So unless you expect LVG to carry around a whole bunch of LB's the criticism is ridiculously harsh. It's not like Young has been torn apart every time he's played a defensive role either. In fact, he was rather good last season at the Emirates.

Our defensive options are shite, I hold LvG responsible for that. He seemed hell bent on getting Ramos and that has left us playing Blind at CB, which you can get a way with to a certain extent, but in the big games it just won't work.

If we had bought the class CB that we needed, Blind would be the LB and would do a decent job there, Darmian at RB, leaving Young to replace the (until now) shite Depay. We also needed another RB, as we seem to keep playing players out of position.

His lack of need to give us proper options will be our downfall, because if we had bought correctly the league was there for the taking...

 

[Nighteyes]

Well if you genuinely believe a lack of choices at left back was a significant reason for us getting our arses kicked then you might have a point...

I never said that. There are people on here (with benefit of hindsight) blaming LVG for playing Young there. Playing Young there was the obvious choice imo given the lack of options we had.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I never said that. There are people on here (with benefit of hindsight) blaming LVG for playing Young there. Playing Young there was the obvious choice imo given the lack of options we had.

Yes. Fair point. I went back and re-read the post of yours I first responded to. I misinterpreted it. My bad.

 

[11101]

He screwed up playing Carrick and Schweinstieger together. Plenty of us saw that lineup coming in the predictions because LVG wanted to control possession in midfield. I think he just overestimated our own abilities and the resilience of Arsenal. Schneiderlin instead of Carrick could have really broken Arsenal's game up, and we all know they collapse when that happens.

 

[Question234]

Laporte has a release clause at 50m euro. A bit high, but we have money to spend.

There was no-one there is always an excuse IMO.

okay but blind wasn't why we lost this match. LVG was.

Have you even watched laporte this season? You're telling me he would of been the difference ? Like I said before LVG fecked up badly by benching our most physical and mobile CM and telling BFS to press santi all over the pitch without assigning someone to ozil, carrick didn't have the legs to press and there were pockets of space all over the pitch, call it naive or ego but don't try and start ripping the squad for a losing a match that was so obviously decided by poor tactics and not individual errors.

Neville was screaming it from the get go (look at the space), that's how obvious it was yet some fans still want to sh*t on the squad after yesterday. We basically played 424 for the first half.

 

[Oneunited26]

Blind has already been found out, he is put at the back for distribution and to carry the ball out of the defence, he has created chances and assists but when isolated is vulnerable to pace and strength. it's a catch 22 and before you say "we should of bought a ball playing cb" there weren't any out there. Had we had Otamendi left exposed the same thing would of happened to him, depth at the back had nothing to do with it.

You are destined to pin the result on the back 4 while refusing to ignore the mistakes made in MF that gave the arsenal acres of space to work with, it isn't as if we sat behind the ball and made individual errors that lead to goal, they carved us open and had tons of space to work with.

How can you not see that ? People talking about shaw and singings like our brand new rb didn't get raped by sanchez because he was often left isolated with him, not signing players had nothing to do with this loss, blame lvg, hope he doesn't make the same mistake and lets move on.

Of course not signing enough players at the back was part of the reason why we lost yesterday, having young and blind has part of your back 5 is make shift and will be found out against good teams, which is always the case. We are one injury to smalling is a time bomb waiting to go off

Of course fielding the most immobile midfield and playing a 2 man midfield and front 2 was part of the problem, but let's not hide the fact the defense we fielded yesterday is just not good enough to win a title

 

[Revan]

okay but blind wasn't why we lost this match. LVG was.

Have you even watched laporte this season? You're telling me he would of been the difference ? Like I said before LVG fecked up badly by benching our most physical and mobile CM and telling BFS to press santi all over the pitch without assigning someone to ozil, carrick didn't have the legs to press and there were pockets of space all over the pitch, call it naive or ego but don't try and start ripping the squad for a losing a match that was so obviously decided by poor tactics and not individual errors.

Neville was screaming it from the get go (look at the space), that's how obvious it was yet some fans still want to sh*t on the squad after yesterday. We basically played 424 for the first half.

I agree.

And I haven't been ripping the squad apart. Just said that there actually were good ball playing CB there. Blind will be fine as long as we are organized and in difficult matches, Schneiderlin is a must. He makes the defense click, IMO.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I always think people get too hung up on team selection and formations. This was an issue under Fergie in almost every game. I can honestly count on the fingers of one hand Fergie team selections that weren't criticised before kick-off over the last few years. If we won the game (which happened more often than not) the team selection/tactics never got mentioned again. If we lost, then all the backseat managers started listing the ways in which the game would have definitely been won had Fergie gone with the team/tactics they would have implemented instead.

Picking a team is way more complicated than armchair fans think and has a lot to do with stuff we have no access too, such as fitness/physiological metrics and who's been training well all week. Now Fergie's gone, I'm not going to treat Van Gaal any differently. I also think the team he did pick should have had more than enough quality to beat an Arsenal side that were made looks so ordinary by Olympiacos. What worries me is that you could see this coming, with the sluggish starts in all our recent games. That's the sort of issue a manager is supposed to recognise and take steps to nip in the bud. The fact he failed so spectacularly to do that is a black mark against him, no matter which team he picked.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Of course not signing enough players at the back was part of the reason why we lost yesterday, having young and blind has part of your back 5 is make shift and will be found out against good teams, which is always the case. We are one injury to smalling is a time bomb waiting to go off

Of course fielding the most immobile midfield and playing a 2 man midfield and front 2 was part of the problem, but let's not hide the fact the defense we fielded yesterday is just my good enough to win a title

This is the point. It was a combination. I firstly can't believe Louis was naive enough to play a midfield 2 of Bastian and Carrick knowing Arsenal. If he seriously believes what he said about not knowing what happened in the first 20 minutes, I'm glad someone as rigid as him both in mind and on the pitch is retiring after his contract is up. Also, the defence we fielded was, agreed, most definitely not title worthy. Granted we have issues at left back, Blind has been found out before and was again today.

The things that stood out for me is that this zombie brain dead state with which we usually begin games will kill us. I'm beginning to think LVG's set up has killed all sense of urgency or urge to dominate. We're so passive. The other was LVG's failure to play a midfield 3 and his constant neglect of Herrera. The midfield 3 worked before and it would've worked better if we wanted to press Arsenal or reduce the space they had to work with. Ander provides so much energy in that trio and is far better than Rooney (this shouldn't even have to be said anymore) with his movement, pressing and passing. If he ends up leaving or being offloaded I'll be just as pissed as when we let Kagawa go after mistreating him.

 

[jojojo]

He needs to realise he can't impose the philosophy to every away game and be successful.

We've had better United sides go to Arsenal and sit back, drop deep then cut them open on the counter.

The first 20 minutes were like the last 20 minutes at Leicester where one goal caused insecurity and we were sliced apart.

Just for my own amusement, I thought I'd take a look at our team for the notorious 5-3 at Leicester. Only three of them started on Sunday (DdG, Blind, Rooney). Of the remaining 8, 6 are with other clubs now, the other 2 are Rojo and Herrera.

Basically, a completely new team and a new formation. But still that same doubt that says we don't react to our opponents. We don't go into "weather the storm" counterattacking mode when faced with an opponent that's coming straight at us.

We still set up like the oppo manager has never seen us play, and hasn't prepared his team the week before. We respond to them too slowly. LvG says the team didn't obey orders. Why not? Because they ignored the briefings, the DVDs, the coaching sessions, the pre-match talk? Or because there was an opposing team out there? Either way - it's not the same team that was ignoring him last year. So where does that leave us now.

 

[Manny]

Ive been rightfully accused of having a bit of an agenda against Morgan but here I go again

I thought we were all pretty much in agreement he was awful against Wolfsburg. And in general has been very underwhelming

Just because we lost yesterday now loads of you think he would have been key for us. I dont see it at all. We have survived often enough without a Morgan type player. It was down to Carrick and Bastian not knowing their roles yesterday. Both were either off form and didn't know their jobs. That combination should be good enough to protect our defence

I agree. It's too easy to start blaming team selection

Schneiderlin was bad against Wolfsburg in a way that it can easily fly under the rader. He seemed to only want the ball when he had acres of space. If the space was not there, he'd hide behind the opposition. Absolutely criminal in this system and he was rightfully dropped.

The Schweini Carrick pairing should have been enough to get the job done had Schweini sat deeper. As it was Cazorla needed to be closed down and neither Rooney nor Memphis helped in that regard. In the end, Carrick, Smalling and Blind didn't have the support from the rest of the team to close the space that Sanchez, Ozil and Walcott were enjoying.

 

[Oneunited26]

This is the point. It was a combination. I firstly can't believe Louis was naive enough to play a midfield 2 of Bastian and Carrick knowing Arsenal. If he seriously believes what he said about not knowing what happened in the first 20 minutes, I'm glad someone as rigid as him both in mind and on the pitch is retiring after his contract is up. Also, the defence we fielded was, agreed, most definitely not title worthy. Granted we have issues at left back, Blind has been found out before and was again today.

The things that stood out for me is that this zombie brain dead state with which we usually begin games will kill us. I'm beginning to think LVG's set up has killed all sense of urgency or urge to dominate. We're so passive. The other was LVG's failure to play a midfield 3 and his constant neglect of Herrera. The midfield 3 worked before and it would've worked better if we wanted to press Arsenal or reduce the space they had to work with. Ander provides so much energy in that trio and is far better than Rooney (this shouldn't even have to be said anymore) with his movement, pressing and passing. If he ends up leaving or being offloaded I'll be just as pissed as when we let Kagawa go after mistreating him.

And VG thinks he has this reputation of playing players that are beyond reputation, all I saw was a manager selecting a team on reputation above what the team needs. Like I say, VG should see out his contract and move on, because he seems to never learn

 

[LeftyBlaster]

I agree. It's too easy to start blaming team selection

Schneiderlin was bad against Wolfsburg in a way that it can easily fly under the rader. He seemed to only want the ball when he had acres of space. If the space was not there, he'd hide behind the opposition. Absolutely criminal in this system and he was rightfully dropped.

The Schweini Carrick pairing should have been enough to get the job done had Schweini sat deeper. As it was Cazorla needed to be closed down and neither Rooney nor Memphis helped in that regard. In the end, Carrick, Smalling and Blind didn't have the support from the rest of the team to close the space that Sanchez, Ozil and Walcott were enjoying.

And yet Bastian is a player with vast experience to know that if he pushed up that high it would likely leave Carrick and the back line exposed. I have a creeping feeling it was under instruction to push that high.

 

[Nickosaur]

Blind was found out in his first real test, factoring playing the most immobile team possible, and again not enough depth at the back. We are seeing the results if we lose someone like shaw our back up is not really good enough. Not playing the likes of morgan, herrera, who are made for these types of games, VG picked the wrong team, the lack of depth at the back costs us big time yesterday

Well, yes, if you ignore all our other fixtures so far this season.

 

[jojojo]

Blind was found out in his first real test, factoring playing the most immobile team possible, and again not enough depth at the back. We are seeing the results if we lose someone like shaw our back up is not really good enough. Not playing the likes of morgan, herrera, who are made for these types of games, VG picked the wrong team, the lack of depth at the back costs us big time yesterday

Blind has had problems defending all season, but with Shaw available and Darmian on form (not looking exhausted?) the whole defensive unit was stronger. Smalling having to dive in to the rescue didn't matter so much when Darmian was ready to fill in the gaps. Right now, no one's covering anyone, and when Smalling tries to play the hero (as he has to, too often), no one takes up his duties.

Wolfsburg's early goal was like watching kids football defending. Arsenals did at least represent good attacking players, playing like good attackers.

 

[United22]

Schneiderlin was bought exactly for games like these, he is an anti-Arsenal player and the exact type of player you need to break them up. Woeful from LVG

 

[Oneunited26]

Well, yes, if you ignore all our other fixtures so far this season.

In terms of a high profile team we saw why he should never have been the solution, the problem with VG he picks certain players at the cost of the team.

 

[marlowe78]

and that's why you put an extra man in midfield, do you get it now ? BFS was told to press santi all over and carrick didn't have the legs to cover the space left behind. We needed a third body in midfield breaking up arsenal play, pressing ozil and feeding it back into the attacking players.

I admit schneiderlin had a bad game against wolfsburg so maybe fellaini could of done it, either way putting bodies in midfield is the best way to get at arsenal and it's the way we beat them in this very same fixture last year. 352 with fellaini breaking up play in the middle, it's a tried and proven method so why deviate ?

Thank you for refreshing my memory on that. I didn't bother to look it up but I was quite sure that we had Fellaini in the away game last year. Without Herrera in the lineup, I don't see why Fellaini couldn't at least supply another body in the middle. He would also have been useful for aerials because Arsenal aren't exactly the tallest players.

 

[Getsme]

In terms of a high profile team we saw why he should never have been the solution, the problem with VG he picks certain players at the cost of the team.

He's played well all season along side Smalling, who, along with 9 players other had a bad game.

 

[NinjaZombie]

Schweinsteiger pressing higher than Rooney has to be a Van Gaal instruction. I can't fathom why he's been instructed to do that, but I don't doubt for a second that it's an instruction because Schweinsteiger is not the headless chicken type.

Question is, was Rooney shunted to the left because Memphis was having an utterly shit game, or was it because Fellaini was brought in to do the high press so Bastian could.play deeper and Van Gaal didn't want to (could not?) sub Rooney out?

Also, why not have Rooney press instead of Schweinsteiger? Wtf went on yesterday?

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Schweinsteiger pressing higher than Rooney has to be a Van Gaal instruction. I can't fathom why he's been instructed to do that, but I don't doubt for a second that it's an instruction because Schweinsteiger is not the headless chicken type.

Question is, was Rooney shunted to the left because Memphis was having an utterly shit game, or was it because Fellaini was brought in to do the high press so Bastian could.play deeper and Van Gaal didn't want to (could not?) sub Rooney out?

Also, why not have Rooney press instead of Schweinsteiger? Wtf went on yesterday?

Exactly what I said a few posts back. I think it was under instruction to do that. LVG messed up royally and it's seriously worrying if he can't see where.

 

[Manny]

And yet Bastian is a player with vast experience to know that if he pushed up that high it would likely leave Carrick and the back line exposed. I have a creeping feeling it was under instruction to push that high.

I don't think he was under instruction to press Mertasacker, but he still did. Trying to lead by example maybe? He was shouting something at Rooney and Martial so maybe he was trying to get them to do that press instead.

Schweinsteiger pressing higher than Rooney has to be a Van Gaal instruction. I can't fathom why he's been instructed to do that, but I don't doubt for a second that it's an instruction because Schweinsteiger is not the headless chicken type.

Question is, was Rooney shunted to the left because Memphis was having an utterly shit game, or was it because Fellaini was brought in to do the high press so Bastian could.play deeper and Van Gaal didn't want to (could not?) sub Rooney out?

Also, why not have Rooney press instead of Schweinsteiger? Wtf went on yesterday?

LvG, a stickler for positioning, told Schweinsteiger, his DM, to press higher then Rooney? Really? You can't fathom why he would do that but choose to believe he did anyway. Crazy Dutchman narrative playing out I suppose...

If you watched the post match press conference and interviews, he was highly critical of us not being compact and giving Arsenal too much space.

 

[prath92]

Regardless of his form, where he would of been positionally is where we got battered, so that would of made a huge difference. Arsenal had acres of space in those gaps, and that is where they killed us.

that was exactly the reason most people got pissed at Schneiderlin for. For not covering the midfield properly especially towards the end.

Just for my own amusement, I thought I'd take a look at our team for the notorious 5-3 at Leicester. Only three of them started on Sunday (DdG, Blind, Rooney). Of the remaining 8, 6 are with other clubs now, the other 2 are Rojo and Herrera.

Basically, a completely new team and a new formation. But still that same doubt that says we don't react to our opponents. We don't go into "weather the storm" counterattacking mode when faced with an opponent that's coming straight at us.

We still set up like the oppo manager has never seen us play, and hasn't prepared his team the week before. We respond to them too slowly. LvG says the team didn't obey orders. Why not? Because they ignored the briefings, the DVDs, the coaching sessions, the pre-match talk? Or because there was an opposing team out there? Either way - it's not the same team that was ignoring him last year. So where does that leave us now.

How about you take matches against some other teams ? For instance the game against City where we tactically outthought them completely even though we could have imploded being 1 down? Or this season against Southampton when even though we were poor in the first 20 minutes we slowly got back and took the game to their throats making it impossible for them to even get out of their half till about the 80th minute or so. Or the game against Wolfsburg last week where we conceded in the 4th minute where we got back and scored 2 goals and dominated till about 75th minute or so? I don't understand why you take 2 random games where we lose as if we haven't had any improvement in between?