Fair point. We were still slow out the gate and conceded early. In the other two games it took us even longer to get going. Southampton really should have beaten us, for example.
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Louis Van Gaal | 2015-16 Performance Thread
- Thread starter Nighteyes
- Start date
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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.
Fair point. We were still slow out the gate and conceded early. In the other two games it took us even longer to get going. Southampton really should have beaten us, for example.
I think the goal we conceded against Wolfsburg gave us a kick up our arse.
We always start slowly these days. So annoying and so illogical.
It could be worse, we could still have Moyes.
LVG has met his first target (getting back into the CL), the next is to win the title, will he do it? we shall see, but the good thing is he's only got a 3 year contract so we can easily move him on after that. But like i've said he's provided some much needed stability and building a foundation for the next manager.
Yeah, I am sure, Getting knocked out in the 4th round compared to 2nd round is a serious improvement. At this rate we will reach the finals in 3 more years!!!
That's my take on it. He's clearly put in place some solid foundations but we need a new manager from next season. Someone to take the shackles off and let the side play some expansive, exciting, risky attacking football, with pace in abundance. Right now the play is like a regiment afraid of making a mistake and getting a bollocking from the Full Metal Jacket Seargant.
LVG isn't Man Utd calibre, I initially though his confident ballsy style was a breath of fresh air... And after Moyes, it was much needed.
Problem is, the confidence was a mask for arrogance and that's now holding us back. His stubborn persistence with Rooney is a joke. He's too pig headed to eat his words and drop his captain. He's relentlessly sticking with Rooney and isolating Martial on the wing, rendering him ineffective as a goal threat. Anyone that thinks LVG is doing this to prove to anyone that Rooney's legs are gone is nuts.... A dog on the street knows Rooney is past it and should be nowhere near our starting XI.
His cryptic press conferences, reluctance to address the issue head on and his nonsensical irrational team selection/positional play makes me think this is LVG on a complete power trip. Its all about him & not the club.
The famous belief that no one is bigger than the club is being made a mockery of, as Rooney and LVG are both clearly bigger than the club in its current status. Yes, we're 2nd in the league & in decent CL position, but deep down we all know we could be in a better position. If Utd were playing well and in the same place, we'd be fine. But we aren't, we're being shown up too often & all LVG can say is that he's 'disappointed'.
Disappointed? Not as disappointed as I am when I see Wilson hauled off after 45 mins (granted he looked off pace, but after the chances he's given Rooney, I think Wilson deserved more than 45). Not as disappointed as when I see our only realistic goal threat took on in the 72nd minute... And shoved out to the left wing to accommodate a completely ineffective one-time footballer. Disappointed is when you make the right moves and they don't pay off, not when you make the wrong decision and hope it works out.
Being 'disappointed' after lastnight - given the team selection substitutions & positional play - is paramount to putting wet socks on and being 'disappointed' that you have cold feet.
Problem is, the confidence was a mask for arrogance and that's now holding us back. His stubborn persistence with Rooney is a joke. He's too pig headed to eat his words and drop his captain. He's relentlessly sticking with Rooney and isolating Martial on the wing, rendering him ineffective as a goal threat. Anyone that thinks LVG is doing this to prove to anyone that Rooney's legs are gone is nuts.... A dog on the street knows Rooney is past it and should be nowhere near our starting XI.
His cryptic press conferences, reluctance to address the issue head on and his nonsensical irrational team selection/positional play makes me think this is LVG on a complete power trip. Its all about him & not the club.
The famous belief that no one is bigger than the club is being made a mockery of, as Rooney and LVG are both clearly bigger than the club in its current status. Yes, we're 2nd in the league & in decent CL position, but deep down we all know we could be in a better position. If Utd were playing well and in the same place, we'd be fine. But we aren't, we're being shown up too often & all LVG can say is that he's 'disappointed'.
Disappointed? Not as disappointed as I am when I see Wilson hauled off after 45 mins (granted he looked off pace, but after the chances he's given Rooney, I think Wilson deserved more than 45). Not as disappointed as when I see our only realistic goal threat took on in the 72nd minute... And shoved out to the left wing to accommodate a completely ineffective one-time footballer. Disappointed is when you make the right moves and they don't pay off, not when you make the wrong decision and hope it works out.
Being 'disappointed' after lastnight - given the team selection substitutions & positional play - is paramount to putting wet socks on and being 'disappointed' that you have cold feet.
Wilson was injured.
We can't make that conclusion yet. If our poor form continues and he leaves with his tail between his legs, then the club may think we've gone down a blind alley and will look to take up a completely different style of play. The possession style that LVG promotes is completely against United's history and if it looks like we've stagnated, there is nothing to stop us from finding a more attacking-oriented (i.e. counter-attacking) manager and start another rebuild. The new manager would likely start taking apart the squad to fit his own vision, so this period with LVG would all be a complete waste of time in the end.
I don't get where this 'poor form' is coming from. We've had one game against Arsenal where we were total shite and yesterday was just one of those days. Apart for that we have won some very difficult games esp away from home against Everton and Southampton.
And i do genuinely believe we are one world class player who can make something out of nothing away from being a title challenging team. Our defence is solid and so is the midfield we just need that spark, Martial provided that when he was CF, i hope he brings him back there.
Yeah the table clearly shows mourinho is way better.
True
Did a decent job to get us back into the top 4 and there is still an outside chance of a decent run in the league this year.
But for me it would be stupid of the club to keep him for his final year, he needs to go in the summer and we need to bring someone in that can take us to the next level - it's worrying to think what would happen if he just saw out his final year.
The football he plays is shite, might have worked in Europe and there is no denying he has has success - but it's boring and dull. There are plenty of people that I know who aren't renewing next year if he stays, you want to be entertained, excited and he just isn't going to deliver that.
Lastly, I don't understand why he played a stronger team in the last round and then complained players were knackered only to rest them in a game, which had we won, we would be pretty much favorites to win the trophy.
Bring, attacking, exciting football back to Old Trafford.
But for me it would be stupid of the club to keep him for his final year, he needs to go in the summer and we need to bring someone in that can take us to the next level - it's worrying to think what would happen if he just saw out his final year.
The football he plays is shite, might have worked in Europe and there is no denying he has has success - but it's boring and dull. There are plenty of people that I know who aren't renewing next year if he stays, you want to be entertained, excited and he just isn't going to deliver that.
Lastly, I don't understand why he played a stronger team in the last round and then complained players were knackered only to rest them in a game, which had we won, we would be pretty much favorites to win the trophy.
Bring, attacking, exciting football back to Old Trafford.
I voted for "Let him see out his contract and part ways after that."
In a macro-sense, still nothing really to indicate that Van Gaal should be fired or that he should be given another year after next season. He's done his job in terms of transitioning the squad and making the team more solid, and the next manager needs to get us pressing more and playing better football.
We are in the title race in a down year for the title chasers and are solid favorites to qualify from our group with home matches against CSKA and PSV before going to Wolfsburg. That said, we're hardly looking like anything but R of 16 or QF losers. We'd be underdogs against not only the Big 3 in Europe but Atletico, PSG, Juve and a healthier Citeh.
Looking at 2017, when Van Gaal's contract expires, we should be in a good position as long as we sign a couple of players each over the next 2 summer windows.
----------Martial------- (Wilson)
Memphis----------RWF (Mata, Januzaj, Lingard)
------CM-----Herrera--- (Schweinsteiger, Pereira )
--------Schneid--------- (Schweinsteiger, Blind)
Shaw-----------Darmian (RB2, Rojo, Blind)
------CB----Smalling--- (Jones, Blind, McNair)
---------De Gea-------- (Romero)
Nobody aged 30 or over except Schweinsteiger and he should be part of our backup CM trio with Pereira and Blind as long as we sign the one CM we still need.
The backup RB we will need once Valencia and Young go isn't a serious expenditure and Fellaini and Rooney leaving will, in wages and fees, probably be enough to cover one of the two front 6 signings.
TLDR: The United job should be a very good one in 2017. As long as we have a logical, ambitious summer like Citeh did in 2015 (Sterling, De Bruyne, Otamendi) or Chelsea did in 2014 (Costa, Fabregas, Filipe Luis, Remy) in which we address 2-3 major holes in the team with good talent, we'll have a very strong squad.
In a macro-sense, still nothing really to indicate that Van Gaal should be fired or that he should be given another year after next season. He's done his job in terms of transitioning the squad and making the team more solid, and the next manager needs to get us pressing more and playing better football.
We are in the title race in a down year for the title chasers and are solid favorites to qualify from our group with home matches against CSKA and PSV before going to Wolfsburg. That said, we're hardly looking like anything but R of 16 or QF losers. We'd be underdogs against not only the Big 3 in Europe but Atletico, PSG, Juve and a healthier Citeh.
Looking at 2017, when Van Gaal's contract expires, we should be in a good position as long as we sign a couple of players each over the next 2 summer windows.
----------Martial------- (Wilson)
Memphis----------RWF (Mata, Januzaj, Lingard)
------CM-----Herrera--- (Schweinsteiger, Pereira )
--------Schneid--------- (Schweinsteiger, Blind)
Shaw-----------Darmian (RB2, Rojo, Blind)
------CB----Smalling--- (Jones, Blind, McNair)
---------De Gea-------- (Romero)
Nobody aged 30 or over except Schweinsteiger and he should be part of our backup CM trio with Pereira and Blind as long as we sign the one CM we still need.
The backup RB we will need once Valencia and Young go isn't a serious expenditure and Fellaini and Rooney leaving will, in wages and fees, probably be enough to cover one of the two front 6 signings.
TLDR: The United job should be a very good one in 2017. As long as we have a logical, ambitious summer like Citeh did in 2015 (Sterling, De Bruyne, Otamendi) or Chelsea did in 2014 (Costa, Fabregas, Filipe Luis, Remy) in which we address 2-3 major holes in the team with good talent, we'll have a very strong squad.
Results are ok.
Play is horrible.
We can go on with "ok" results for a bit, so seeing out his contract isn't a big deal for me.
On the other hand, I want United to play proper football, where they try to excite;
not to kill the opposition by trying to tire out athletes who knows that's your one and only tactic.
So I'm still between 2&3, but leaning more towards 2, because i think other available managers can do a better job, and LvG isn't meant as long-term solution anyway.
Play is horrible.
We can go on with "ok" results for a bit, so seeing out his contract isn't a big deal for me.
On the other hand, I want United to play proper football, where they try to excite;
not to kill the opposition by trying to tire out athletes who knows that's your one and only tactic.
So I'm still between 2&3, but leaning more towards 2, because i think other available managers can do a better job, and LvG isn't meant as long-term solution anyway.
When Fergie told the world he was retiring in 2002, the wheels just came off completely. Even in 2013 after the announcement was made, we were quite poor. Players tend to do that when they know they are no consequences forthcoming. The point you bring up is a good one, and I would change things up at the end of the season.Hire a manager for the long term, rather than give Van Gaal one last retirement parade.
I think at very least, if we do give Van Gaal the final year, we should get the new manager sorted and announce it so the players know who's coming in after him. That would help a bit at least.
A bit like Bayern players knowing Pep was incoming.
He's already the assistant manager, so for the last few games of the season, he can give the team talks instead.
He's already the assistant manager, so for the last few games of the season, he can give the team talks instead.
feck sake, let me dream of someone other than Giggs for a bit.
Voted 2, and still maintain the opinion that we should let Van Gaal go at the end of the season.
The attack has been sputtering since he took charge. We weren't playing breathtaking football when Louis was appointed, there are some persisting personnel issues; but you'd hope there's be some remedy to that after 18 months at the club, or atleast some scheme would be devised to address that concern. We scored at a rate of 1.6 goals per league game last season. This season we have scored a tepid 1.5 goals per league game, that's as much as a bumbling Chelsea team, and 7th on the overall league table. Same story in the Champions League with 1.33 goals per game in the Group stages. The term United Way is thrown about a lot, but in this case, there is genuine cause for concern, especially after 3 transfer windows, and a year and a half incharge. These aren't teething issues, but symptoms of under-performing players in addition to systemic failure, both of which can ultimately be traced back to the manager.
Some of his decision-making leaves a lot to be desired. Like yesterday for instance, where underwhelming performances of some of our players aside, I thought Van Gaal's substitutions of Young and Rooney were rather poor to be honest. Rojo is a decent crosser and there was no major reason to sub him off. We needed to add some verve to the center of the attack. The duo of Mata and Ander would've helped on that front. But we missed the opportunity, and apart from that game, a lot of the manager's in-game decisions are quite bizzare at times. Then you come to the exodus in the summer, which has unfortunately left us in the red zone. The schedule of footballers is so packed these days, that coupled with a relatively harsh training regimen and the Christmas period, we were going to struggle with form and fitness issues. Ideally you'd want some sort of insurance in key areas, and we're starving up front, which could've been predicted even back then.
Could go on, but a lot of it is much harsher criticism. This summer, we'll be well placed to replace him, and get an upgrade. A manager who won the Champions League just 18 months ago is still unemployed, and the one at Bayern is hinting at leaving when his contract is up. Guardiola might take a sabbatical, but Ancelotti is an upgrade over Louis IMO. I'm afraid that when Van Gaal's contract is up, Ancelotti is employed elsewhere, Pep might decide to join someplace else, and we'll be left with nothing. Get someone like an Ancelotti in if Pep has to take a sabbatical, and let him shape the team. There's an erroneous narrative that suggests Carlo can't truly deal with a club in transition. But he took over an AC Milan team that was suffering, embedded 6 starters, and won the Champions League within 2 seasons. The cupboard was bare at PSG, yes he had money to spend there, but so can United, and again, he placed 9 starters on the team. If that's not rebuilding a team, then nothing is to be fair.
He plays a healthy mixture of possession/ counter-attacking football, with a stable defense to build upon, allows certain freedoms to attacking players without compromising on team ethic or work-rate, extracts the best out of inconsistent or under-performing players, is super experienced with to notch man management skills, and is well respected by everyone. We have a solid foundation to build upon, and Ancelotti could really take us further (especially in Europe). That's something I genuinely believe Luis can't offer. Too pragmatic, too labored with the system, too much back and forth decision-making. Anyway, back to Carlo, PSG were in the Europa League when he took charge. Reached the Champions League last 16 in his first season, reached the quarterfinals in just his second season (drew 3-3 with Barcelona and were knocked out on away goals), and the quarterfinals again in his third where they drew 3-3 with Chelsea, and performed really well. That's a great unpward trajectory for a team that wasn't even in the Champions League. The Ligue 1 might've been a cakewalk, but the Premier League is weak too (relative to where it was in the past), and that PSG team could have potentially won the Premier League as well.
Compare that team to United of today. De Gea is better than Sirigu. Darmian is better than Jallet, and Carlo would get the best out of his fellow Italian, Smalling is comfortably better than Alex, Shaw is better than Maxwell when fit, Schneiderlin is comparable to or better than Motta, Herrera is comparable to where Matuidi was back then, Martial is much inferior to Zlatan, but he's yong-n-lernin. Which leaves holes in the shape of a quality CM like Verratti, 2 wide options, and a quality CB. Give him the kind of money Van Gaal got in his first season to address the squad, and he'll have us contending on both the domestic and European front.
PS: Bah, that reads like a sales pitch now... Sorry.
The attack has been sputtering since he took charge. We weren't playing breathtaking football when Louis was appointed, there are some persisting personnel issues; but you'd hope there's be some remedy to that after 18 months at the club, or atleast some scheme would be devised to address that concern. We scored at a rate of 1.6 goals per league game last season. This season we have scored a tepid 1.5 goals per league game, that's as much as a bumbling Chelsea team, and 7th on the overall league table. Same story in the Champions League with 1.33 goals per game in the Group stages. The term United Way is thrown about a lot, but in this case, there is genuine cause for concern, especially after 3 transfer windows, and a year and a half incharge. These aren't teething issues, but symptoms of under-performing players in addition to systemic failure, both of which can ultimately be traced back to the manager.
Some of his decision-making leaves a lot to be desired. Like yesterday for instance, where underwhelming performances of some of our players aside, I thought Van Gaal's substitutions of Young and Rooney were rather poor to be honest. Rojo is a decent crosser and there was no major reason to sub him off. We needed to add some verve to the center of the attack. The duo of Mata and Ander would've helped on that front. But we missed the opportunity, and apart from that game, a lot of the manager's in-game decisions are quite bizzare at times. Then you come to the exodus in the summer, which has unfortunately left us in the red zone. The schedule of footballers is so packed these days, that coupled with a relatively harsh training regimen and the Christmas period, we were going to struggle with form and fitness issues. Ideally you'd want some sort of insurance in key areas, and we're starving up front, which could've been predicted even back then.
Could go on, but a lot of it is much harsher criticism. This summer, we'll be well placed to replace him, and get an upgrade. A manager who won the Champions League just 18 months ago is still unemployed, and the one at Bayern is hinting at leaving when his contract is up. Guardiola might take a sabbatical, but Ancelotti is an upgrade over Louis IMO. I'm afraid that when Van Gaal's contract is up, Ancelotti is employed elsewhere, Pep might decide to join someplace else, and we'll be left with nothing. Get someone like an Ancelotti in if Pep has to take a sabbatical, and let him shape the team. There's an erroneous narrative that suggests Carlo can't truly deal with a club in transition. But he took over an AC Milan team that was suffering, embedded 6 starters, and won the Champions League within 2 seasons. The cupboard was bare at PSG, yes he had money to spend there, but so can United, and again, he placed 9 starters on the team. If that's not rebuilding a team, then nothing is to be fair.
He plays a healthy mixture of possession/ counter-attacking football, with a stable defense to build upon, allows certain freedoms to attacking players without compromising on team ethic or work-rate, extracts the best out of inconsistent or under-performing players, is super experienced with to notch man management skills, and is well respected by everyone. We have a solid foundation to build upon, and Ancelotti could really take us further (especially in Europe). That's something I genuinely believe Luis can't offer. Too pragmatic, too labored with the system, too much back and forth decision-making. Anyway, back to Carlo, PSG were in the Europa League when he took charge. Reached the Champions League last 16 in his first season, reached the quarterfinals in just his second season (drew 3-3 with Barcelona and were knocked out on away goals), and the quarterfinals again in his third where they drew 3-3 with Chelsea, and performed really well. That's a great unpward trajectory for a team that wasn't even in the Champions League. The Ligue 1 might've been a cakewalk, but the Premier League is weak too (relative to where it was in the past), and that PSG team could have potentially won the Premier League as well.
Compare that team to United of today. De Gea is better than Sirigu. Darmian is better than Jallet, and Carlo would get the best out of his fellow Italian, Smalling is comfortably better than Alex, Shaw is better than Maxwell when fit, Schneiderlin is comparable to or better than Motta, Herrera is comparable to where Matuidi was back then, Martial is much inferior to Zlatan, but he's yong-n-lernin. Which leaves holes in the shape of a quality CM like Verratti, 2 wide options, and a quality CB. Give him the kind of money Van Gaal got in his first season to address the squad, and he'll have us contending on both the domestic and European front.
PS: Bah, that reads like a sales pitch now... Sorry.
Hard to disagree with any of that tbh. I'm a big Ancelotti fan too. His record speaks for itself and is far better/more current than Van Gaal's.
Did you know he's got an acting job in the next Star Trek movie?
That's not necessarily true because atm we have just one possession oriented player....well two if you pushed and include Mata. Looking at our squad, as it stands, the players we'd need to cut to change style are identical to the ones we would have cut to improve under Van Gaal - Rooney and the wingers! I genuinely can't see anyone coming in and binning Shaw, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Smalling, Darmian, Valencia, Herrera, Martial, De Gea and Jones. That's ten players that are here for keeps under any manager, any philosophy. So we need to drop this idea that sacking Van Gaal would result in us having to embark on another major rebuild. Any other manager would come and identify that we need flair players and this is something Van Gaal has stated already. I would argue that most managers wouldn't have been as picky as LVG so they would be comfortable working with what we have right now.
Love reading your insight.
Agree with all of that.
I want LVG replaced in the summer as well. Personally my dream choice would be Pep, but Ancelotti would be superb as well.
I'm fine with him staying his contract out, if he wins something i'm even for renewing his contract, if he wishes that.
We are progressing, still lack quality in attack, when we get that he can finally show if he got it anymore or not.
We are progressing, still lack quality in attack, when we get that he can finally show if he got it anymore or not.
A lot of people on here saying they want Guardiola to replace LVG. To me their tactics and playing styles are very similar it's just Guardiola has had better players. Replace Rooney with Messi or Lewandowski and we would be totally transformed.
The problem isn't the 'philosophy' it's the personnel.
The problem isn't the 'philosophy' it's the personnel.
I don't think it should be like that at all. Obviously different managers play differently and would want certain squad changes, but I don't think there's need for big changes no matter what manager comes in and whatever style of football he players. We've got a team that holds the ball because that's what they are asked to do. They can also play differently.
We've already seen the squad that Fergie presumably thought would see us through these next few seasons completely torn apart (got rid of Hernandez, Cleverley, Welbeck, Kagawa, Nani, Rafael etc.) no reason to assume Van Gaal's succesor won't do something similarly radical (maybe getting rid of Depay, Blind, Rojo, Darmian, Carrick, Rooney etc). And that's just an overhaul of personnel.
It's massively concerning if he thinks we're creating enough chances for him to moan about the finishing.
Pretty much agree with this. My opinion on Van Gaal has gone in all time low, and now from let him at-least finish his contract, I wouldn't mind to see him leaving ASAP. After near 18 months, I was expecting something better than this shit which is getting served every week. That combined with the Rooney situation is making me want Van Gaal leave in the end of the season, regardless of what happens till then (we're definitely not going to win anything of note).
Boring, toothless, predictable play every week, with Rooney being the worst player in the league this season but being always in the lineup. This shit needs to stop, and it looks that it will stop only if we change the manager.
Not the biggest fan of Ancelotti (although he is obviously better than Van Gaal), but if there is any chance that Pep might be available, we should do everything in our power to get him. I also think that we missed a trick in Klopp. If Pep wouldn't be available for next season, we should have contacted Klopp for next season before he got the Liverpool job.
Things might get touchy tomorrow in the presser if Rooney's name is brought up...Says he's sick of answering questions about him
I bet some journalists can't wait to throw Rooney-questions at LvG, they're expecting controversial quotes.
Good post. Agree with the entirety of it.
Summary of Van Gaal’s performance so far:
Pros:
1) Currently 2 points off the top, in line with expectations of challenging for the title
2) Acceptable CL results
3) Sorted out United midfield with addition of Bastian and Schneiderlin
4) Sorted out defence, helping Smalling becoming world class
5) Acceptable record against league rivals with 3 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses against City, Chelsea and Arsenal
6) Perfect record against Liverpool with 3 wins out of 3
7) Unearth a gem in Martial despite a lot of unbelievers vs money spent
8) Sorted (got lucky) with de Gea’s contract
9) Promoting youth from United academy with Lingard, Pereira and Wilson. Invest in good prospects with Martial and Memphis
10) Entertaining press conference.
Cons:
1) Unable to bring the best out of Di Maria and Falcao
2) Boring football
3) Unable to bring the best out of Januzaj… yet
4) Starting Rooney
5) Boring Football
6) Losing 3-0 against Arsenal
7) Not serious enough with the league cup (including losing 4-0 vs MK Dons)
8) Boring football
9) Starting Rooney
10) Starting Rooney
11) Too much philosophy
12) Sitting in the technical area instead of being on the touchline
Verdict:
More Cons than Pros = Sack
Pros:
1) Currently 2 points off the top, in line with expectations of challenging for the title
2) Acceptable CL results
3) Sorted out United midfield with addition of Bastian and Schneiderlin
4) Sorted out defence, helping Smalling becoming world class
5) Acceptable record against league rivals with 3 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses against City, Chelsea and Arsenal
6) Perfect record against Liverpool with 3 wins out of 3
7) Unearth a gem in Martial despite a lot of unbelievers vs money spent
8) Sorted (got lucky) with de Gea’s contract
9) Promoting youth from United academy with Lingard, Pereira and Wilson. Invest in good prospects with Martial and Memphis
10) Entertaining press conference.
Cons:
1) Unable to bring the best out of Di Maria and Falcao
2) Boring football
3) Unable to bring the best out of Januzaj… yet
4) Starting Rooney
5) Boring Football
6) Losing 3-0 against Arsenal
7) Not serious enough with the league cup (including losing 4-0 vs MK Dons)
8) Boring football
9) Starting Rooney
10) Starting Rooney
11) Too much philosophy
12) Sitting in the technical area instead of being on the touchline
Verdict:
More Cons than Pros = Sack
Another 'Like' for @Invictus ' post, especially the part that details that deficiencies in our squad, our lackluster attacking play and some of the decision making; both in the summer and the present in-game management. From now till the end of December will be a really tough period of us if the manager is already saying that a lot of our players are in the red zone. It's going to get harder with the games coming in thick and fast, and another international break in the middle. I hope we don't burn out Martial like Wenger used to burn out his young players.
As for the managers:
As for the managers:
- Klopp would have been a dream.
- Don't want Simeone. Not a big fan of his antics, or his football.
- Pep is another philosopher, and at this point I am a bit tired of them. Won't mind him if push comes to shove, but he won't be my number 1 choice.
- Ancelloti fits the bill. Will get the best out of the squad and will give players freedom to express themselves. My concern with him would be his less than stellar league record. But, yeah, let's play some good football first, and worry about winning the league title later.
Pep Guardiola has a preferred playing style, like van Gaal but he won't talk about it incessantly during media interviews and press conferences. Despite his excellent cup record I'm not convinced about Ancelotti as a league manager.
Just let LVG finish off his contract. In all do respect he just here to do a job, before he came to the club the squad was a mess. With his arrival he has brought stability to the squad & staff. He got United back into Europe and for that a job done, this season i expect a step up from last season with maybe a trophy to put in the cabinet but with latest defeat & goalless performances, its looking a drought at the moment. Now i'm not jumping the gun for LVGs head because United are sitting in 4th with 2 points behind league leaders. Still in chance the to get through group stages of Champions League & still got The FA Cup to play for. LVG has got the time to turn things around, hopefully he see's the light and will drop Rooney but that's just me being optimistic. Let him leave gracefully on his expiry date and then appoint someone new, no need for sacking unless the worse happens.
We aren't going to win any trophies, but we aren't exactly terrible. Gaal was always going to be our Moses, not Joshua. The one to lead us out of adversity (Egypt), but not the one to take us to the promised land.
The only significant thing he has done wrong this season, is starting Rooney* (after September). Asides from that, he has done what he always does, make a couple of decisions that will make him look like a genius - if successful, and a fool, if otherwise -e.g Starting line up against Boro', and style of play against City.
As far as his successor goes, Ancelotti has to be the obvious choice. Don't get me wrong,i think Pep is great, just too rigid for my liking.
Ancelotti is the best coach in the world - when you look past the glitz,glamour and all the hype. He is also the closest thing to Fergie in the game(in certain criteria), right now. And at 56, it's safe to say,he has a lot of time on his hands.
* - Although, i agree with the motion that he should be dropped, i don't buy the idea that we will suddenly turn into a super team(or significantly improve), if and when he is.
The only significant thing he has done wrong this season, is starting Rooney* (after September). Asides from that, he has done what he always does, make a couple of decisions that will make him look like a genius - if successful, and a fool, if otherwise -e.g Starting line up against Boro', and style of play against City.
As far as his successor goes, Ancelotti has to be the obvious choice. Don't get me wrong,i think Pep is great, just too rigid for my liking.
Ancelotti is the best coach in the world - when you look past the glitz,glamour and all the hype. He is also the closest thing to Fergie in the game(in certain criteria), right now. And at 56, it's safe to say,he has a lot of time on his hands.
* - Although, i agree with the motion that he should be dropped, i don't buy the idea that we will suddenly turn into a super team(or significantly improve), if and when he is.