Louis Van Gaal | 2015-16 Performance Thread

Van Gaal: The verdict

  • 1) Sack him now.

  • 2) Sack him at the end of the season.

  • 3) Let him see out his contract and part ways after that.

  • 4) Extend his contract.

  • Undecided (between 1 and 2).

  • Undecided (between 2 and 3).

  • Undecided (between 3 and 4, if things improve before his contract expires, extend).


Results are only viewable after voting.
If we fail to get out of the group is that it for LVG? We are not going to win the league. One of the two domestic cups might happen if we get a little lucky.
If that happens then he'll need top 3 and a trophy to keep his job. If we end up going into the Europa League, I hope we go all out to win it.
 
Anybody with half a brain (clearly excludes a decent chunk of the drooling nuFootball mob on here based on that poll above!) can see what LvG is trying to do.

He is NOT satisfied with sitting back and defending desperately before hitting teams on the counter, even away from home
He KNOWS that football has changed and you can no longer play 4-4-2 with out-and-out wide men
He IS aware that certain aspects of our squad require improving but he refuses to spend money for the sake of it on average players

LvG is exactly the man we needed. Hard-headed, arrogant and with nothing to prove. A man who can make the tough decisions, let players leave, bring players in and introduce a completely new, modern style of football to Manchester Utd. All while completely ignoring the opinions of journalists, pundits and daft supporters who expect us to win every game 14-0

In 3 years time when we are raking in the trophies again he will be sat their on a beach somewhere with his wife with a knowing smile on his face while we fawn over whatever manager put the icing on his cake

Money post. Totally agree.

We have too many fair weather fans spoilt by years and years of SAF genius. SAFs gone, we have to start again.

We lost more than a year because of the effects of the Moyes debacle. LVG is playing catch up and Im positively amazed at the progress he has made so far. As fans, we may not see the results on the pitch yet but I think thats just a matter of time. Having said that, we are 2nd in the league, despite supposedly playing so badly and not having any clue!!!

A parallel from not too long ago: I remember when Beckham was preparing to leave United, Barcelona made the first very public bid, but people all across Europe scoffed at the idea as Barcelona were considered way too small time and uncouth for a player of Beckham's quality. Thats how poorly Barcelona were considered then. We all know what happened next, largely thanks to the few years LVG spent at the Nou Camp instilling his footballing philosophy.

We are in a similar position to what that Barcelona team was then. As LVG says, 'its a process' and we are going about it in a methodical and systematic way, as you would expect any world class organisation who was implementing a once in a generation cultural change. As long as LVG can implement his ideas and critically his successor builds on the philosophy, we will reap the benefits for years to come. Once Ronaldo and Messi slow down and our financial power really kicks in, I can only see a very bright future.

I don't know whats so hard to understand?
 
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We were fine, had plenty of chances and controlled the game well. A horrible injury to Shaw and the incompetence of some of our players coupled with bad luck made it happen. Nothing wrong with LvG today.
 
Can't fault him today. not his fault players couldn't hit a barn door. Our tactics were spot on.
 
Has anyone got his post match comments? Not seen anything.
 
Money post. Totally agree.

We have too many fair weather spoilt by years and years of SAF genius. SAFs gone, we have to start again. We lost more than a year because of the effects of the Moyes debacle. LVG is playing cstach up and Im positively amazed at the progess he has made so far. As fans, we may not see the results on the pitch yet but I think thats now just a matter of time. Having said that, we are 2nd in the league, despite supposedly playing so badly and not having any clue whatsoever!!!

A parallel from not too long ago: I remember when Beckham was preparing to leave United, Barcelona made the first very public bid, but people all across Europe scoffed at the idea as Barcelona were considered way too small time and uncouth for a player of Beckham quality. Thats how poorly Barcelona were considered then. We all know what happened next, largely thanks to the few years LVG spent at the Nou Camp instilling his footballing philosophy.

We are in a similar position to what Barcelona were then. As LVG says, 'its a process' and we are going about it in a methodical and systematic way, as you would expect any world class organisation to implement a once in a generation and enormous cultural change. As long as LVG can implement his ideas and critically his successor builds on the philosophy, we will reap the benefits for years to come. Once Ronaldo and Messi slow down and out financial power really kicks in, I can only see a very bright future.

I don't know whats so hard to understand?
Well that's utter nonsense in fairness. Van Gaal left after six months by 'mutual' consent with Barcelona 12th. He had bugger all to do with their current position. Signing Ronaldinho changed their fortune.
 
pre match sounds like it was bit of a mess

United’s preparations were disrupted when Marouane Fellaini, who has been filling in as an emergency striker for injured captain Wayne Rooney, fell ill yesterday and was only passed fit to take a place on the substitutes’ bench.

It meant that Anthony Martial, United’s £58million teenage signing, was handed a full debut but only after almost missing the team bus for the short journey from their city centre hotel to the stadium.





Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Shaw-suffers-horror-injury.html#ixzz3lqqG73aS
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
 
Well that's utter nonsense in fairness. Van Gaal left after six months by 'mutual' consent with Barcelona 12th. He had bugger all to do with their current position. Signing Ronaldinho changed their fortune.

Not according to many many people closely associated with Barcelona, especially during this 'tiki-taka' era. Im only taking my opinion form what I have read.
 
Not according to many many people closely associated with Barcelona, especially during this 'tiki-taka' era. Im only taking my opinion form what I have read.
What exactly could he have done in those 6 months to have shaped their future? He was a disaster in his second spell.
 
What exactly could he have done in those 6 months to have shaped their future? He was a disaster in his second spell.

Please tell me you're not being serious? And Im not talking about his 2nd spell.

There are so many top top football people, many of whom worship Barcelona who eulogise about his impact! A brief goole search will find you loads of evidence!

And Im sure there ALOT more in Spanish language. Would be interesting to read Marca from that time and see how they considered his legacy.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...-barcelona-manager-between-1997-and-2000.aspx
http://www.theguardian.com/football...s-van-gaal-barcelona-shaped-seven-top-coaches
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-day-bury-humiliate-tell-Zinedine-Zidane.html
 
Please tell me you're not being serious? And Im not talking about his 2nd spell.

There are so many top top football people, many of whom worship Barcelona who eulogise about his impact! A brief goole search will find you loads of evidence!

And Im sure there ALOT more in Spanish language. Would be interesting to read Marca from that time and see how they considered his legacy.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...-barcelona-manager-between-1997-and-2000.aspx
http://www.theguardian.com/football...s-van-gaal-barcelona-shaped-seven-top-coaches
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-day-bury-humiliate-tell-Zinedine-Zidane.html
You specifically mentioned 2003 and them turning their fortunes around. The first link says he thought Barcelona could have 11 academy graduates in the team and they did 9 years after he left. All it can do is credit him with giving Valdes, Puyol, Iniesta and Xavi their debuts. Not one of those played did he bring to the club. The second is just a list of managers who played for him or worked with him. The third is Xavi being complimentary about his management style. One of the articles, can't remember which actually correctly credits Johan Cruyff with implementing the vision of La Masia. Van Gaal is being credited with way more than he has actually done there. We can't pretend a man who had to leave when his team was 12th in the table did a great job just off the back of failing to get Holland to the World Cup.
 
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He has a very difficult job, people go on about how much we spend, but the truth is we were so far from the level we should be at, that the Money we spent isn't gonna make us title favourites.
You don't just go out and buy a Messi or Ronaldo, these kind of players aren't usually available, so instead we took the youth approach and bought Martial and Memphis who are some of the best Young players around.

Our success won't come in a instant that's for sure, even if LvG have two more average seasons only finishing in top 4, we will have a squad with huge potential for the next manager to use and all the players will have been well coached to play a more intelligent brand of football, which is required nowadays.

The winning mentality has to be build again, it was taken away with alot of the more experienced players leaving and of course Sir Alex.

What LvG has to achieve for me is top 4, i will enjoy the ride if that goes to plan. SAF is gone, we will have to fight on the same premise as everyone else now.
 
LVG got the team setup right, but his subs wrong.

Thought we were the better team last night, and deserved to win
 
Money post. Totally agree.

We have too many fair weather spoilt by years and years of SAF genius. SAFs gone, we have to start again. We lost more than a year because of the effects of the Moyes debacle. LVG is playing cstach up and Im positively amazed at the progess he has made so far. As fans, we may not see the results on the pitch yet but I think thats now just a matter of time. Having said that, we are 2nd in the league, despite supposedly playing so badly and not having any clue whatsoever!!!

A parallel from not too long ago: I remember when Beckham was preparing to leave United, Barcelona made the first very public bid, but people all across Europe scoffed at the idea as Barcelona were considered way too small time and uncouth for a player of Beckham quality. Thats how poorly Barcelona were considered then. We all know what happened next, largely thanks to the few years LVG spent at the Nou Camp instilling his footballing philosophy.

We are in a similar position to what Barcelona were then. As LVG says, 'its a process' and we are going about it in a methodical and systematic way, as you would expect any world class organisation to implement a once in a generation and enormous cultural change. As long as LVG can implement his ideas and critically his successor builds on the philosophy, we will reap the benefits for years to come. Once Ronaldo and Messi slow down and out financial power really kicks in, I can only see a very bright future.

I don't know whats so hard to understand?

I've said it before and will say it again. There are a significant percentage of supporters who demand immediate, entertaining, winning football. Nothing else will suffice and they're fecked if they're going to put up with any kind of "transition". They have a right to this. That's the mentality.

Personally I was very entertained by us against PSV and as far as I'm concerned we're shaping up very nicely. Some of the stuff we played last night was a joy.
 
Said a few weeks back that I still have faith in Van Gaal. I have long been of the belief that great teams, except Barcelona perhaps, are built on the basis of a good defence. We have made massive strides in that department, including midfield protection. Attacking cohesion isn't as much about drills and organisation as defensive work, and that understanding sometimes takes longer. But I do think we will get it though. We have some promising young attacking players, but I think it is something that will just click at some point. We do another another player though, obviously.
 
I've said it before and will say it again. There are a significant percentage of supporters who demand immediate, entertaining, winning football. Nothing else will suffice and they're fecked if they're going to put up with any kind of "transition". They have a right to this. That's the mentality.

Personally I was very entertained by us against PSV and as far as I'm concerned we're shaping up very nicely. Some of the stuff we played last night was a joy.
People's complaints are mostly to do with the style of football. Transition or not it's not too much to expect Man United, with the players they have to be capable of breaking down the team currently bottom of the table at Old Trafford. I'd agree though that last night was an improvement but set against what we've seen previous that doesn't take a lot.
 
He has been extremely underwhelming. I have no idea what his philosophy is and what the process is, but United under Van Gaal have been unimpressive.
Whats even more ludicrous is Lvg's been going on about philosophy for 12+ months, yet as soon as we're in trouble he abandons all philosophy and put a tree on. Abandon all football and resort to kicking it to Fellaini's head. Whats that about?
 
Whats even more ludicrous is Lvg's been going on about philosophy for 12+ months, yet as soon as we're in trouble he abandons all philosophy and put a tree on. Abandon all football and resort to kicking it to Fellaini's head. Whats that about?

Its called a Plan B.
 
Whats even more ludicrous is Lvg's been going on about philosophy for 12+ months, yet as soon as we're in trouble he abandons all philosophy and put a tree on. Abandon all football and resort to kicking it to Fellaini's head. Whats that about?
Something that we would all complain about if he didn't have it.
 
Whats even more ludicrous is Lvg's been going on about philosophy for 12+ months, yet as soon as we're in trouble he abandons all philosophy and put a tree on. Abandon all football and resort to kicking it to Fellaini's head. Whats that about?

Being pragmatic. I love his philosophy but I equally love that he can abandon it to get the result when shit hits the fan. Being 100% stubborn hasn't exactly worked out perfectly for the likes of Wenger.
 
Whats even more ludicrous is Lvg's been going on about philosophy for 12+ months, yet as soon as we're in trouble he abandons all philosophy and put a tree on. Abandon all football and resort to kicking it to Fellaini's head. Whats that about?

What I don't understand about both your post and the one you're replying to is surely you actually understand it right?

Like, you might not necessarily agree with his philosophy or the use of Fellaini but neither of them are completely off the wall intangible things that you need a PhD in football to understand.
 
Being pragmatic. I love his philosophy but I equally love that he can abandon it to get the result when shit hits the fan. Being 100% stubborn hasn't exactly worked out perfectly for the likes of Wenger.
Lousy plan though is it? Not something I would expect from a world class manager like him.
 
A plan that is against all rules and norms of how he wants to play football. Panic plan more like.

Well yes obviously Plan B is gonna be different to the original plan. Its used when the original plan didn't work. So of course its gonna be different.

It's not exactly unique too. Loads of teams use this approach in the dying moments of the game when they need a goal. Hardly a stick to beat LvG with.
 
What I don't understand about both your post and the one you're replying to is surely you actually understand it right?

Like, you might not necessarily agree with his philosophy or the use of Fellaini but neither of them are completely off the wall intangible things that you need a PhD in football to understand.
My understanding is that he hasn't got any other ideas of how to save games other than playing hoofball. Quite a shitty managerial performance this. I expect much better than that from a supposedly world class manager.
 
When was it ever effective?

Luckily I don't have time to remember every moment of every match, but from the top of my head right now:

v Club Brügge to give us an important lead before the away leg
v WBA (a) last season
v Spurs last season in the run in for 4th place?

others can fill in the rest.
 
Lousy plan though is it? Not something I would expect from a world class manager like him.
Taking out our midfielders to play all 4 strikers when we were creating feck all was something Sir Alex did frequently, rarely paid off too but when it did, everybody hailed him as a genius.
 
Luckily I don't have time to remember every moment of every match, but from the top of my head right now:

v Club Brügge to give us an important lead before the away leg
v WBA (a) last season
v Spurs last season in the run in for 4th place?

others can fill in the rest.
v QPR (a) last season (Fellaini came on at half time, scored the first goal in a 2-0 win)