August 2015 – No Question About That

Januzaj’s departure suggests tactical changes ahead

August 31, 2015 by Jay Shon

Amid the transfer market noise it is almost easy to forget that Manchester United was consigned to the club’s first defeat of 2015/16 Premier League on Sunday. Louis Van Gaal’s side twice lost to Swansea City last season and slipped to another defeat in Wales at the weekend prompting thoughts that the Welsh side is the United’s ‘bogey team’, just as Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides of the late noughties struggled to beat Middlesbrough.

Still, the match at Liberty stadium once again demonstrated the Reds’ propensity to turn heavy possession into few goals, with Louis van Gaal resorting to sending Maroune Fellaini on late in the game as a desperate last resort.

United started brightly though, with Ander Herrera deployed in place of injured Adnan Januzaj at number 10 in an otherwise familiar shape:

The difference between in the Spaniard and the Belgian’s movement, below, was one of major factors in, if not the cause of, why United struggled to break down a stubborn Swansea defence though.

One factor is how often Januzaj hits the flanks – far more regularly than Herrera. Herrera may create more chances – he created four at Swansea while Januzaj failed to create any against Newcastle United – but the Belgian’s movement compensates for Juan Mata’s lack of presence on the right flank. Januzaj vacates central space for Memphis Depay to cut in and shoot. Herrera’s more classic interpretation of the number 10 role prevented this at Liberty stadium:

Adnan Januzaj vs Newcastle

Ander Herrera vs Swansea

Where United failed, credit goes to Swansea manager Gary Monk, whose switch to a 4-4-2 diamond following Mata’s goal won the home side the game. United’s shape, with essentially no right-wing, has allowed the Reds to dominate the centre of the park in pervious matches, but the Swansea manager negated that advantage by opting for a narrow formation.

In fact, using two strikers as well as an attacking midfielder, was a particularly effective way of testing United’s makeshift central defensive partnership of Daley Blind and Chris Smalling. It was a shrewd tactical move on Monk’s part.

Van Gaal’s response – bringing Ashley Young on in place of the goalscoring Mata – made perfect sense too. The 4-4-2 diamond is highly vulnerable to being stretched across the field, and introducing a hardworking traditional right-winger is a textbook move to combat the formation, as illustrated below.

Michael Carrick’s concurrent introduction in place of Morgan Schneiderlin was also a wise move on Van Gaal’s part in the context of United’s shift to a 4-3-3 formation. Recall that United’s best football last season was in this system with Carrick holding. Carrick’s superior range of passing means that he engages the flanks much more effectively than Schneiderlin and is therefore well suited to work the inherent weakness of 4-4-2 diamond.

More controversial was Van Gaal’s decision to swap Herrera for Fellaini – and then using the giant midfielder at number nine. With United a goal down the decision to push Fellaini into the Swansea box could have been useful. Indeed, Swansea brought on a third centre-back just to follow the Belgian around the pitch.

Perhaps the braver move still would have been to introduce Fellaini in place of Wayne Rooney, who again struggled to get into the game as he has in each Premier League match this season.

Still, the Herrera-Fellaini substitution was the right call. Again, Rooney works the flanks better than the Spanish midfielder. ‘Lumping it to the big man’ was an option, but another – perhaps primary plan – was to allow Memphis, who had been quiet, to come into the game more. Rooney sat to the left of Bastian Schweinsteiger and the Scouser, who has always displayed a tendency to drift towards the left, makes for an ideal central midfield partner to Memphis.

Tactics aside, the game highlighted some clear problems with some personnel. Sergio Romero reinforced the opinion of some that the Argentinian is not a reliable goalkeeper for a side aspiring to compete on all fronts. David De Gea would have made a better fist of saving Swansea’s first goal, while most Premier League ‘keepers would have stopped the second.

Meanwhile, the major problem caused by Rooney is that he does not ‘lead the line’, nor can he hold up the ball effectively. This allows the opposition defence to creep up the pitch and squeeze Memphis and Mata out of the game.

In theory, Fellaini might perform effectively at number nine. The Belgian could force the opposition into a catch 22 situation where they cannot push up – the traditional defence against a target man – lest Fellaini act as a focal-point for midfielder runners such as Memphis, the now departed Januzaj, and Mata. Nor can they defend deep given Fellaini’s aerial presence.

Still, Memphis, Januzaj and Mata had started to build an understanding with one another before the Belgian’s departure on Monday. Januzaj’s roaming to the flanks allowed Memphis and Mata to cut in – and the three have shown flashes of just how devastating this combination could be. This observation, and Rooney’s tactical indiscipline, could be incorporated into a strikerless formation.

Rooney’s movements to the right could be interpreted as the England captain covering for Mata, but acquiring a strong right-winger could also solve a number of United’s problems. Indeed, this column previously failed to identify a striker that would improve United significantly, while a right-sided forward – such as Gareth Bale or Kevin Volland – would make up the goalscoring numbers and, theoretically, have the same impact as acquiring a new striker.

Using Young or Januzaj on the right does not really solve this issue. Memphis has quickly established himself as an important weapon in United’s arsenal and the Swansea game has demonstrated that a ‘traditional’ number 10 significantly hampers the former PSV player’s game. Mata, Rooney, Fellaini and Herrera simply are not as comfortable as Januzaj on the flanks and Januzaj had to play at 10 in a 4-2-3-1 if Memphis was to shine.

In this analysis the ideal scenario is that a classy right-winger replaces Mata on the right. Still, with Pedro not deemed good enough, it appears unlikely that a classy right-winger will join United before the transfer window closes. Januzaj’s departure also suggests a more permanent move to a 4-3-3 system, below.

This formation will leave room for Memphis to cut in. If Mata is chosen ahead of Young on the right, with Januzaj now at Borussia Dortmund, the Spaniard at least formed a fruitful relationship with Herrera last season. This shape is aided by Matteo Darmian, who has started the season strongly.

The shape is narrow, but this is not a major problem with three players in central midfield allowing Luke Shaw and Darmian to bomb forward. This is not unlike the system Van Gaal used in United’s convincing victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City last season. United, of course, now has better players.

United’s defeat at Swansea demonstrated just how vital Januzaj is to making a 4-2-3-1 system work. With Januzaj now departed, the need for a ‘proper’ right winger lingers. It appears that a 4-3-3 formation is now the only feasible option going forward. Indeed, Van Gaal said he will use “more or less 4-3-3” this season. It is now time to live up to those words.

Diagrams from sharemytactics.com
Statistics and illustrations from squawka.com

Swansea City v Manchester United, Premier League, Liberty Stadium, 30 August 2015

Swansea v United: Van Gaal seeks first points against Swans

August 29, 2015 by Ed

Articles

Premier League, Swansea City

Manchester United’s emphatic victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday should be the game that sets the tone for a season to come. After all, this was a fixture in which United, for once, threw caution to the wind, Wayne Rooney started scoring again and Ander Herrera impressed in the central midfield role many believe is his right. For one night only the pieces clicked into place: here was a United side in attacking flow, with Herrera dictating play, Juan Mata drifting unpredictably into dangerous positions, and the predatory Rooney on the shoulder the last defender.

The suspicion remains that the manner of United’s victory in Belgium is just an illusion though. Not that the Reds will fail to win games this season – Louis van Gaal’s side will do that more almost any – but that the balance of the Dutchman’s team tends toward pragmatic conservatism. It is the philosophy that has defined Van Gaal’s first 15 months in Manchester; one that is more likely to return with United traveling to an in-form Swansea City on Sunday.

It is the small decisions that make the greater whole of Van Gaal’s philosophy whatever the over-arching principals. Never more so than at the Liberty Stadium, where Van Gaal could build on a flowing attacking performance in Belgium. Or seek the control of a low tempo, high possession, defensive base. It is in the minutiae that the answers are found: one defensive midfielder or two; Mata with the freedom to roam or limited by defensive responsibility; the dancing feet of Herrera unleashed or the brute force of Marouane Fellaini unbound?

Those decisions come into sharper relief against the backdrop of recent results against the Welsh side. Swansea beat United at Old Trafford in Van Gaal’s first game in charge of the club and then again in his 31st. Forty-nine games down, Van Gaal’s task is to find a result against the Swans where he has failed to do so before. It is, of course, also a chance to capitalise on results going against both Chelsea and Liverpool this weekend.

The over-riding sentiment remains cautious though, and Van Gaal’s instinct still tends to self-preservation. The cock-sure confidence of Friday morning press conferences is too often betrayed by the limits placed on his team on the pitch. Far from the swagger in the Jan Breydel Stadium last Wednesday, the evidence points to a sense of circumspection in south Wales on Sunday afternoon. One that may be proven correct by a United victory, but that will limit the visitors’ inventiveness nonetheless.

“I don’t want to lose again,” admitted van Gaal on Friday. “It’s the only club we could not beat or gain one point against. It’s a difficult team against us and before my period it was also difficult for United so I hope we can improve and that we can show that we are better than last year. I hope we can show our fans that we have improved. I hope we can show that.”

“Swansea are a very good team, they play a positional game like we do. They want to build up and have a good attack with speed and creativity. They proved they are a good team this season in the draw against Chelsea and against Newcastle and when I see the individual players I see that they have quality.”

Swansea, meanwhile, continue to flourish under Gary Monk, albeit this is a team that has secured just five league points this season. There was disappointment that the Swans could not beat Sunderland in the north-east last weekend, although a fine victory over Newcastle United followed a draw at Stamford Bridge. Whatever else, Swansea – with a fraction of United’s budget – will push far larger clubs for a place in the top echelons of the Premier League this season.

Indeed, in Bafétimbi Gomis the Swans boast a goalscorer of rare pedigree, while Jefferson Montero has started the campaign in outstanding form on the left-wing. The pair cost a combined fee of just £3.5 million. In times of abundance a rare steal.

That sense of momentum has inevitably brought higher expectations. Swansea’s progress under Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez, Michael Laudrup and now Monk is based on a sound financial platform and sensible executive management. These are also traits that can be warped when a club ‘chases the dream’ of perpetual growth.

For the moment, however, Monk is relishing his success; one built on a sense of confidence and place.

“We showed against Chelsea we can compete against the bigger teams and really show what we can do,” said the 36-year-old. “We are at home, in front of our crowd and we need to make this a fortress, and if we are ready and focused we will give anyone a game here.

“It’s important to keep raising the expectation levels, but we have to be realistic as well and manage those expectations in a good way. This is Manchester United we are talking about. The squad they have, the money and power they have – they have to be favourites.”

Indeed, the visitors are. The question remains: does Van Gaal also know it?

Team news and line-ups

Swansea City v Manchester United, Premier League, Liberty Stadium, 30 August 2015

Van Gaal must choose whether to stick or twist with Herrera in south Wales. The Spaniard was deployed as one of two central midfielders against Brugge, although the suspicion remains that Herrera will only be used at number 10 or not at all on Sunday. Fellaini could come into the side in support of the lone striker Rooney, with Adnan Januzaj injured – an observation backed by Van Gaal’s assertion that Herrera is a “controlling” midfielder not the “second striker” he seeks.

Elsewhere, Van Gaal could buttress central midfield, where all three of Morgan Schneiderlin, Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger will only start if Fellaini does not. Marcos Rojo is fit and should make the bench, although Phil Jones is still unavailable and Jonny Evans is set to join West Bromwich Albion.

The home side welcomes midfielder Ki Sung-yeung back into the starting line-up, with the Korean having played more than 80 minutes in the League Cup last week. Monk enjoys an almost fully fit squad and is likely to make few changes from the side that drew with Sunderland last Saturday.

Swansea subs from: Nordfeldt, Britton, Routledge, Éder, Rangel, Tabanou, Bartley, Amat, Fulton, Emnes, Grimes, Dyer
United subs from: Johnstone, McNair, Rojo, Carrick, Herrera, Pereira, Valencia, Young, Hernández, Wilson

Match officials
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: M Mullarkey, P Kirkup
Fourth Official: R East

Prediction
Swansea 0-0 United

£1 bet club
a player to be sent off @ 11/4

Match graphic by @cole007

Europe awaits but Van Gaal’s way remains lost in translation

August 28, 2015 by Ed

Articles

Louis van Gaal

It was, at times, thrilling. Manchester United’s 4-0 victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday will raise few eyebrows across the continent, but in scoring four, with three from the erstwhile predator Wayne Rooney, United’s performance recalled more exciting times at the club. There have been too few moments like this in the past two years; almost none under the ultra-pragmatic Louis van Gaal.

The Dutchman’s progress will be measured in stiffer tests than the one United passed in Belgium this week. After all, the Bruge’s quality might be found wanting in the Championship, while rivals, domestic and continental, remain a distance ahead of United. For now, however, sterner judgment is passed by some on the Dutchman’s integration into the club than on the binary nature of results alone. Van Gaal may just have a cultural problem on his hands.

Indeed, there is little wonder the beginning of some frustration is brewing among United’s massed support. Results have been erratic, tactics and formations hard to predict, transfer activity scattergun. Above all, the style of United’s football is distinctly unimaginative. It is not, some might say, the ‘United way’.

And as nebulous as that concept might well be, there is a truism in the myth often being more powerful than reality. At Old Trafford the nostalgic expectation of attacking football outweighs the pragmatic search for results.

Last weekend is a case in point. With United enjoying more than 70 per cent possession against a Newcastle United side that owed a draw to luck more than quality, the cries of “attack, attack, attack” echoed round Old Trafford. To little avail.

Old Trafford’s regulars are savvy enough to understand that Van Gaal’s fare remains a strange brand of football in England, let alone Manchester. Where the obsession with possession and structure once bought a feeling of renewal, after David Moyes’ chaotic long-ball drudgery, it has now become a millstone – dogmatic slavery to the suffocation of entertainment.

There is little expectation of a change in approach though, even if Van Gaal’s history suggests that success will certainly come. Where silverware is guaranteed, Van Gaal’s is a history that also provides much evidence that function will be prioritised over form.

“At Manchester United individually they are great but they have to play like a team,” mused Van Gaal’s nemesis, Johan Cruyff, last year. “Van Gaal has a good vision of football but it is not mine. He wants to gel winning teams and has a militaristic way of working with his tactics. I want individuals to think for themselves. I’ve always been an individual who likes to create something within a team performance.”

Cruyff’s assessment holds true and Van Gaal’s use of his most creative players says much. Angel di Maria, now excised to Paris Saint-Germain, Adnan Januzaj, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera have, to differing degrees, suffered under Van Gaal’s structure.

While Di Maria failed to adapt to the English game, or perhaps never wanted to, Van Gaal’s mistrust of the Argentinian ran deep. Too flighty in possession, too risky in defence, Di Maria’s game bore few of the hallmarks that Van Gaal demands. Januzaj, meanwhile, has spent much of the past 15 months ostracised to the bench before the recent integration into the team as an unlikely shadow support to Rooney. It is a role that smacks of the Dilbert Principle: in the stark absence of attacking pace, the Belgian has been moved to a role where he will cause least defensive damage.

Mata, too, is now permanently sacrificed to the gods of structure – a role on the wing that affords United’s most creative player the freedom to roam only intermittently. There is, perhaps, more frustration still with Herrera’s absence through pre-season and United’s opening four matches. All the more for the Basque midfielder’s goalscoring turn in Brugge. Herrera’s spark did much to liberate United, even if it took the Spaniard some time to get into the rhythm of the game.

Tactically, caution remains Van Gaal’s priority. Last year’s regression to a three-man defence has morphed, in the new campaign, to the deployment of two holding midfielders. Both are systemic responses to a defensive unit that Van Gaal still does not trust, in a system built to stave off defeat.

More worrying still, Van Gaal sees no concern in United’s tally of just two goals in three Premier League games – one an own goal, the other a sharply deflected shot.

“We were three times the better team,” he said after United’s draw with Newcastle. “So my worry is that we have to dominate the opponent and we did it today, we did it against Aston Villa and we did it against Tottenham Hotspur. Against Brugge we dominate the game, and in preparation we dominated against Barcelona, against San Jose Earthquakes, against Club America. I am satisfied.”

It is an assessment that resonates with fewer United supporters today than a year ago despite the Reds’ 7-1 aggregate victory over last season’s Belgian league runners-up. And while Van Gaal can be pleased with a favourable group stage draw that matches United with PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, and VfL Wolfsburg, the Dutchman needs more results in keeping with the play-off stage than the Premier League.

It is not just for the lack of attacking flair that Van Gaal draws some scepticism. The other significant cultural mismatch comes in the 64-year-old’s recruitment and retention policy, albeit one that has brought a significant upgrade in the quality of players in at Old Trafford. Jonny Evans’ pending departure to West Bromwich Albion will break one more link between United’s first team and the club’s academy, even if the Northern Irishman has long been absent from his manager’s plans. Nor, in truth, of the requisite quality.

Yet, Evans follows fellow academy graduates Darren Fletcher, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley out of Old Trafford over the past year. In the trio’s wake greater quality has been acquired. The cost to United’s heritage is as yet unknown.

Meanwhile, Tyler Blackett’s mooted loan to Celtic removes another connection to a storied past, leaving Patrick McNair, Sam Johnstone and James Wilson the remaining youth to hold a realistic hope of first team action. None has featured for the team since United’s pre-season tour of the USA.

With David de Gea’s future to be resolved, and Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones due to return, none of the trio is likely to spend much time on the pitch over the coming months. It is even possible that Van Gaal will break a club tradition of at least one academy player featuring in every match-day squad for the past 3,749 games – one that stretches back to October 1937.

That moment is unlikely to come at the weekend, where United faces a much more difficult task against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, than in Europe this week. But nor is United likely to score four in south Wales. It will, after all, be a match where Van Gaal emphasises control over craft.

“We played very well against Bruges in ball possession,” he said pointedly on Wednesday. “Much better than matches before, but it was because they had to attack so they gave more space. Swansea have a good team so it be very difficult to beat them”

Van Gaal could go with the defence he has

August 23, 2015 by Vir Chiniwala

Articles

Defence, Tactics

Two months into the summer 2015 transfer window and Louis Van Gaal has certainly strengthened Manchester United’s squad with a quintet of acquisitions. Matteo Darmian is a huge upgrade over Antonio Valencia at right-back and Memphis Depay adds flair and a sense of unpredictability to United’s forward line. Morgan Schneiderlin and the star of United’s transfer window, Bastian Schweinsteiger, provide the Reds with a midfield duo capable of holding its own against high-class opponents.

In defence there is reason to think Van Gaal might just stick with what he now has. Van Gaal’s philosophy revolves around balance being omnipresent in the starting eleven. There is a strong argument that the purchase of a central defender is essential if the Dutchman is to achieve that goal. After all, since the departure of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, United has often lacked a commanding defender to bring calm to the apparent chaos. Yet, Van Gaal showed faith with the options he had last season, providing each defender with a chance to stake his claim. It has paid some dividend.

After being sent off against Manchester City in November Chris Smalling was United’s most impressive centre-back. Smalling’s determined performances were augmented by some crucial goals, including a thunderous header against City to complete his redemption. Especially towards the latter end of the season, Smalling was transformed into a defensive leader, and has carried on this impressive form into the new season.

The former Fulham man was central to victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. Smalling’s positioning has been exceptional, allowing him to neutralize Harry Kane on the opening day and Villa’s Rudy Gested. The England international’s passing is also more assured than a year ago, although it remains a cause for concern against an opposition that presses. If Smalling continues this rate of development he could fulfil the potential Sir Alex Ferguson predicted five years ago.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has transformed Daley Blind into a central defender this season, with the Dutch international providing balance on the left. Blind doesn’t boast pace, power or height, but has looked assured in the new role. Blind adds intelligence to the backline and his ability to bring the ball out from the back has instigated several United attacks. The former Ajax player has also formed a good understanding with Smalling.

Still, Blind has been caught out a few times in dangerous areas – alarming considering the Dutchman doesn’t have the recovery pace to make up for shortcomings. It is an observation that means Marcos Rojo could well replace Blind in the starting eleven when fit.

Rojo showed flashes of quality last season and his aggression reminds supporters of the Serbian rock, Vidic. The Argentine’s reading of the game and his passing range must improve if he is to succeed at United though, while Rojo ‘s positional ill-discipline left more than one gap at the back last season. Nevertheless, the former Sporting man has real character and his robust tackling was a strong feature.

Rojo is perhaps the most suitable partner for Smalling and averages a similar number of tackles and interceptions per game. Rojo also boasts an impressive number of clearances.

Phil Jones has always held the potential to be a force for the Reds, but injury problems consistently ruin any momentum. Jones’ injuries persisted last season, with the former Blackburn Rovers man taking part in just 22 games. In keeping with the pattern Jones’ has missed the opening three weeks of this season. He was a member of the starting eleven during United’s best period of football from March to April, where the Reds’ defence conceded just four goals, forming a resolute partnership with Smalling.

Jones started pre-season brightly, although disappointed against PSG in the final tour game. His positional awareness remains a real weakness at times, most notably allowing a Zlatan Ibrahamovic space to slot a home for PSG. It points to a pivotal season, with a high probability of it being his last chance in Manchester.

Jonny Evans, by contrast, is near an Old Trafford exit. Evans’ alarming regression since Ferguson’s retirement continued in 2014/15. The Irishman is an excellent reader of the game, but is bereft of confidence and looks frightened of the ball. It seems unlikely that he will ever recapture his place at United and a move away from the Old Trafford spotlight seems highly likely for the former academy player.

Meanwhile, youth players Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett were thrown into the team last season as injuries took hold. McNair was a surprise starter against Everton in November and barely put a foot wrong in the months to come. He handled the physical presence of Romelu Lukaku, efficiently nullifying the Belgian’s impact. McNair’s reading is impressive, although lapses in concentration caused mistimed tackles and unnecessary fouls at times. McNair has some work to do if he is to become a fixture in the United first team, but the Irishman isn’t fazed by the standard in the Premier League.

Blackett, meanwhile, showed promise on the left side of defence, although all momentum was lost after being part of the United horror show at Leicester City. Despite being frozen out of the first team as the season wore on, the Manchester native looked calm and assured when given the opportunity. Blackett is the type of ball playing defender that Van Gaal typically adores. After signing new contracts at the club, big things are expected of both the youngsters in the coming years.

Improvement to individuals suggests that, unless a truly world-class defender becomes available, Van Gaal will stick with what he has. After all, there has been a stark improvement United’s defending this season. The individuals have progressed and the understanding between them has created a strong unit after a full pre-season under the Dutchman.

Rooney central to Van Gaal’s function versus flair dichotomy

August 22, 2015 by Rob Blanchette

Articles

Tactics, Wayne Rooney

How close is Louis Van Gaal to achieving his philosophy? The Dutchman’s side dropped its first points of the campaign against Newcastle United on Saturday — and the Manchester United family wept at the heinous crime that is a goalless draw. United struggled in the final third of the pitch against a resolute Geordie defence, which was happy to park the bus and take a solitary point. The visitors almost stole the match at the death with a rare counter-attack.

Manchester United v Newcastle United, Premier League, Old Trafford, 22 August 2015

United v Newcastle: Van Gaal defends “very bad” Rooney

August 22, 2015 by Ed

Articles

Newcastle United, Premier League

Three games, three wins. So far, so good, although it has been far from classic Manchester United this season. Whatever the performances there can be few complaints about the results achieved by Louis van Gaal’s side. In securing a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge last Tuesday the Reds stepped closer to the promised land of the Champions League. Six points from six domestically could become nine as Van Gaal’s side takes on Newcastle United at Old Trafford this Saturday. It is good reward for a pre-season shaped to help United achieved a strong start to the new campaign.

Still, with 10 days to go until the transfer window closes the nation’s back pages remain filled by players acquired, or otherwise. Despite the results Van Gaal’s reliance on a declining Wayne Rooney in attack, and midfielder Daley Blind at the back, is a strong argument for further investment. As, perhaps, is David de Gea’s continued absence from the Dutchman’s team pending a transfer to Real Madrid that Van Gaal insists will not happen.

Van Gaal’s focus remains tightly on the football. Transfers, says the Dutchman, are “not any pressure,” with Van Gaal enjoying a squad touching on 28 professionals. He has some reason for optimism. After all, in the week when Pedro Rodriguez moved from Barcelona to Chelsea, and the gossip columns focused on an apparent United bid to acquire Neymar, Van Gaal’s new star Memphis Depay scored a stunning double at Old Trafford.

Sometimes the answer is closer to home.

Van Gaal insists that he is comfortable with the squad he now holds; one that the he believes can only be improved with top quality reinforcements. And not, according to the Dutchman, with the addition of Pedro.

“When Manchester United wants a player he shall come, except when the club is not selling,” said the 64-year-old.

“If we’d have wanted Pedro, it wouldn’t have been a problem. There was a clause in his contract so it was a very easy transfer. We want to improve, but at our way, not at the way that people are saying. When we buy it has to be a contribution to our selection and not against any price.

“I have said already that we now have a better selection. You can see my selection and you can see for every position we have a double. We don’t have to change, but when we can improve we shall do that.”

While Blind has impressed, Rooney’s form is worse than at any point over the past decade. The Scouser remains Van Gaal’s most pressing problem. The club captain is yet to score this season and not in the past nine competitive matches, stretching back to United’s victory over Aston Villa in April. Rooney has netted just six goals in 2015; against Preston North End, Sunderland, Arsenal, Tottenham and Villa.

Rooney was again largely anonymous as United eased past Brugge in midweek – following up what many believe to be the former Evertonian’s worst performance in a United shirt as the Reds secured three points at Villa Park last weekend. So poor was the 29-year-old striker in the Midlands that Rooney was forced to publicly defend his form, while admitting that it has been a difficult start to the new campaign. Van Gaal remains supportive, while the club continues to brief that a new striker is not on the radar.

“I think that’s fantastic that a player admits that and it’s also, for me, unbelievable because he is one of the few players who is saying such things,” said Van Gaal of his captain’s admission.

“He is very confident that he shall make the goals that we expect from him. And I have that confidence also. It starts with the player himself. He has to admit that he was bad and then he can improve. When you don’t admit, you cannot improve.”

Meanwhile, Van Gaal continues to seek the attacking balance to go with what has become a highly functional defence this season. Memphis’ high-quality double against Brugge coincided with another outing on the left side of United’s attack. Through the middle Van Gaal persists with Adnan Januzaj, the Belgian youngster who is only just returning into the first team picture after spending much of last season on the bench.

Januzaj offers the side pace through the middle even if Van Gaal accused the Belgian of “unnecessary ball losses” in United’s win at Villa. Still, Januzaj’s resurgence adds some credence to Van Gaal’s position on Pedro.

“I’m working hard on the pitch and off the pitch as well as in the gym,” he told MUTV this week. “I have started to get back to my fitness but I still need more rhythm. The Villa goal was important to me. And a winning goal. I want to improve and that’s why I’m training hard. My objective this season is to score more and give more assists.”

United might well need it with Rooney misfiring.

Meanwhile, in the opposition dugout, Steve McClaren faces his fifth tie against Van Gaal in a third country. The two clashed when AZ Alkmaar met FC Twente in 2008 and when Wolfsburg played Bayern Munich in 2010. McLaren is yet to enjoy a win an with Newcastle having lost eight away games in a row the odds remain stacked against the former United assistant manager improving that record.

McClared was sacked by Derby Country last May after failing to reach the Championship play-offs with the Rams. He signed a three-year contract in the north east in June, with an option to extend the deal by a further five years.

“We were both trainer-coaches in the Dutch Eredivisie. For my last season as trainer-coach of AZ Alkmaar, it was Steve’s first season in Dutch football with FC Twente. Alkmaar were crowned champions. FC Twente finished second and went on to win the league the next season – a great achievement for them and Steve.

“Our paths also crossed in the German Bundesliga while I was at Bayern Munich and Steve managed the Wolfsburg team. The matches between Bayern and Wolfsburg were very close and both matches had very late goals – Bastian Schweinsteiger scored for us in injury time to win the first match.”

Team news and line-ups

Manchester United v Newcastle United, Premier League, Old Trafford, 22 August 2015

United subs from: Johnstone, Evans, McNair, Rojo, Carrick, Herrera, Pereira, Fellaini, Valencia, Young, Hernández, Wilson
Newcastle subs from: Elliot, Dummett, Lascelles, Williamson, Aarons, Abeid, Anita, Bigirimana, De Jong, Gouffran, Thauvin, Mitrovic, Perez

Van Gaal is without Phil Jones who continues to recover from a case of mild thrombosis. The Englishman is training and could be available next weekend. Marcos Rojo is short of match fitness having missed pre-season, while midweek goalscorer Marouane Fellaini serves the final match of a domestic suspension.

The Dutchman could start Bastian Schweinsteiger for the first time, although United’s manager is keeping the decision close to his chest. Schweinsteiger has featured as a second half substitute in each of United’s games this season and may replace Michael Carrick.

“It’s a matter of time. Maybe it shall happen tomorrow. You never know,” said Van Gaal of the £6.3 million capture from Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, Van Gaal is unlikely to make any major changes, with Januzaj retained in a central supporting role alongside Memphis and Juan Mata.

McClaren could offer a debut to new winger Florian Thauvin, although defender Daryl Janmaat is suspended after being sent off at Swansea City last weekend. Moussa Sissoko is a minor injury doubt with a groin injury.

Match officials
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: L Betts, S Burt
Fourth Official: K Friend

Prediction
United 2-0 Newcastle

£1 bet club
Memphis to score twice @ 9/2

Match graphic by @cole007

Data Rant: Van Gaal’s obsession with passing

August 21, 2015 by Jay Shon

Articles

Data, Tactics

Despite scoring the match winning goal at Villa Park, Adnan Januzaj was criticized by Louis Van Gaal for “unnecessary ball losses.” In fact, pass completion seems to be the chief criterion by which the Manchester United manager judges performance. Why does Van Gaal place such importance upon the passing and is pass completion a robust enough indicator of team performance? Data Rant investigates… Read More

Manchester United v Club Brugge, Champions League, 7.45pm 17 August 2015

United v Club Brugge: pressure on Reds to deliver

August 18, 2015 by Ed

Articles

Champions League, Club Brugge

Manchester United’s return to European competition should be a formality. After all, it is a decade since Club Brugge last appeared in Europe’s premier competition and the Belgian side is one of the lower ranked teams in the Champions League play-off. Indeed, Louis van Gaal’s team could have faced a far more challenging route through to the Champions League proper in what should prove a favourable draw.

Football is rarely that simple. As Van Gaal put it on Monday, there is huge “pressure” on United to beat Brugge over two legs. It is, after all, not for another European failure that the club has spent some £260 million on new players over the past two years.

The prize is significant – entry to the Champions League proper for the first time in two years, where United will be placed in Pot 2 and will likely face one of the continent’s top sides. Victory in the competition next May would secure United more than £70 million in prize money and broadcasting rights.

For the moment, beyond financial reward and sponsors’ requirements, the pressure is to build credibility in a competition where United hasn’t progressed further than the quarter-final in five seasons. This is now a club relegated to the backwaters of Europe’s élite, having once made three finals in four years between 2008 and 2011. In the interim United’s relative parsimony during the late-stage Sir Alex Ferguson era eroded the squad’s quality; David Moyes decimated its standing and confidence.

Van Gaal is rebuilding. It is a process that has taken more than a year, with scant tangible reward so far for the huge investment made. Spending has also ratcheted up the level of expectation. If anything, United’s successful, if uninspiring start to the new Premier League campaign, has increased the pressure on Van Gaal’s men to deliver under Old Trafford’s lights on Tuesday night.

“There’s a lot of pressure because our aim is to reach the Champions League and that is what Arsène Wenger mentioned last year,” said van Gaal on Monday.

“These kind of matches are difficult. We’ve drawn Brugge and they can defend very well. They can attack also, so it shall be a difficult match – that is why the pressure is high. The board, the players and the fans want to participate. We have to show our quality against a good team. It is not an easy game.”

For Van Gaal the match also represents a personal return to the top table. The Dutchman hasn’t managed a club in the Champions League since he was sacked by Bayern Munich in 2011. He took the Bavarian club to the final in 2010, only to be beaten by José Mourinho’s Internazionale. It is, says Van Gaal, a competition that he has missed – but one in which he expects his new club to do well.

“Of course you miss that because as a manager you can show yourself at the highest podium against other clubs at a high level,” he said. “You can get more from yourself and the players can get more from themselves when the resistance is higher.

“Every English team can play in the Champions League or the Europa League. I think in England the rhythm is the highest in Europe and a lot of European clubs are not used to that rhythm. I hope that advantage is good enough to beat Club Brugge.”

For United’s players the Champions League still represents the stiffest test and highest profile stage outside of the international game. It is a stage that will only come United’s way if the team qualifies over the next fortnight – a challenge that the short pre-season programme was designed to meet.

“It’s true that getting to the group stage is vital for everyone; since the beginning of pre-season we’ve been getting ready for this moment,” said midfielder Juan Mata. “I’m sure the atmosphere inside Old Trafford is going to be special, as it always is in the Champions League.”

Brugge, meanwhile, start the match as overwhelming underdogs to progress. Blauw-Zwart beat Panithinaikos 4-3 on aggregate to qualify for this tie having finished second in the Jupiter League play-offs last season.

Managed by Belgium’s 1990 and 1994 World Cup goalkeeper, Michel Preud’homme, Brugge boasts just enough quality to ensure the hosts suffer for any complacency. Not least because Preud’homme typically sends his team out in an attacking 4-3-3 formation that commits players forward on the break.

Belgian Player of the Year Victor Vasquez is one of the major threats. The Spaniard is likely to start on the left of a three-man attack and began his career as a product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy during Van Gaal’s spell at the club. He is a player Van Gaal rates, although danger to United’s hopes also comes from winger Jose Izquierdo and Israeli midfielder Lior Refaelov, who scored six times in the Europa League last season.

“Vasquez is very good; he is one of the key players,” said the Dutchman. “He is not only fast but he has good vision. I liked him when I analysed him, but there are other good players.”

Preud’homme, meanwhile, enjoyed a fine club and international career – winning the Yashin Award as the 1994 World Cup’s best ‘keeper. Supporters in England might remember the 56-year-old most as the stopper beaten by David Platt’s last-gasp extra time goal in the quarter-finals.

Appointed Brugge coach in 2013, Preud’homme is one of the few former goalkeepers to coach in the Champions League. He has previously managed in Belgium, with Standard Liège and Gent, Holland with Twente and Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia.

Team news and line-ups

Manchester United v Club Brugge, Champions League, 7.45pm 17 August 2015

United subs from: Johnstone, Evans, McNair, Rojo, Carrick, Herrera, Pereira, Fellaini, Valencia, Young, Hernández, Wilson
Brugge subs from: Bolat, Steelant, Hooyberghs, Castelletto, Cools, Dierckx, Claudemir, Oularé, Brodic

Belgian midfielder-cum-desperate plan B, Marouane Fellaini, could play some part having missed out on United’s opening Premier League matches through suspension. Phil Jones is still out with mild thrombosis – no date has yet been set for the defender’s return – while Marcos Rojo could feature in the matchday squad having trained with the first team all week. David de Gea is again not considered pending a move to Real Madrid.

Van Gaal’s selection issues revolve around the roles offered to Adnan Januzaj, who scored in an otherwise disappointing performance against Aston Villa, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera. The latter is unlikely to start, but Schweinsteiger is nearing full fitness and impressed with a late cameo against Villa on Friday night. If Januzaj is not retained Ashley Young could come back into the team on the left side of a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Brugge is in the midst of an injury crisis, with more than half-a-dozen players unavailable.

Match officials
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)
Assistants: G Kleve, M Hacker
Fourth Official: F Willenborg

Prediction
United 3-0 Brugge

£1 bet club
Memphis and Januzaj to score @ 9/2

United’s attack tested by Rooney’s impotence

August 15, 2015 by Ed

Articles

Wayne Rooney

As statements go, Wayne Rooney’s performance under Aston Villa’s Friday night lights, said everything. Blowing hard by the end, in Manchester United’s second successive 1-0 victory, the Scouser looked far from match sharp. In truth the game passed Rooney by: second best to every ball, rarely involved in the visitors’ limp attack and one-paced when in possession. It was one of the former Evertonian’s very worst performances in Red.

Aston Villa vs Manchester United, 14 August 2015, 7.45pm

Aston Villa v United: Reds seek boost in away form

August 13, 2015 by Ed

Articles

Aston Villa, Premier League

It was Manchester United’s patchy away form that eliminated any hope of challenging for the Premier League title last season, however fanciful the dream. In 19 matches at home, Louis van Gaal’s side dropped points in just five games – the third best record in the league. The Reds’ away form was bettered by six clubs though, including Southampton and Liverpool. Not good enough from a side that developed a strangely inhibiting caution on-the-road during Van Gaal’s first campaign with United. It is a record that the Dutchman hopes to correct during Friday night’s visit to Aston Villa.

In keeping with the pattern United enjoyed a victorious, if at times fortunate, start to the new season with a 1-0 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday. The Reds’ stilted passing and slow build-up was reminiscent of so many games last season, albeit with the caveat that the side remains a little undercooked. Van Gaal’s team played just four matches in pre-season.

The club’s strengthening in defence, midfield and attack will do no harm to that imperious home record. It is the points total away from Old Trafford’s comforts that will determine whether the Reds challenge Chelsea and Manchester City for the Premier League next may. Certainly, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger stiffen United’s defensive resolve away from Manchester; Memphis Depay adds pace and goals on the break. Matteo Darmian and a newly fit Luke Shaw add genuine balance to the side from full-back.

Yet, United’s cautious outlook against Tottenham, with two defensive midfielders deployed at home, suggests Van Gaal is not yet ready to open up United’s attack. After all, the team swung from tactical inhibition to liberation with startling alacrity last season.

That cautious approach leaves Ashley Young in the side, as much for his defensive work as an attacking threat. The former Villa player created just one chance against Spurs, failed with each of six take-ons, and delivered just one accurate cross. Meanwhile, Memphis is deployed – for now – where he can do least defensive damage through the centre, and Juan Mata is restricted to a wide role that too rarely allowed the Spaniard to roam inside last weekend.

Still, the Dutchman recognises that there is a weakness in United’s results away from home, if not yet that the tactical approach may be the over-riding inhibitor. Survival, says Van Gaal, was the goal last weekend.

“The key for success this season is improving in away matches. We were one of the best last season at home, third. I want to create a fortress at Old Trafford, we did that – but away we have to improve and we can improve because last year we were not good,” admitted Van Gaal on Thursday.

“You have to survive the start always. You have new players, a new team, a new team process, the team dynamics are different, so every club and every team has to sustain this period because nobody is 100% fit. We have to pay attention to it and develop, but it cannot cost as many points as last year and that is our main objective.”

The roles taken up by Young, Mata and Memphis will do much to determine that development in the coming weeks. As, many supporters might add, could Ander Herrera. The Basque is likely to be restricted to the bench once again for United’s trip south, although his speed of passing and movement appear to be a missing ingredient.

For the moment it is Memphis that will operate just off Wayne Rooney at Villa – “more a second striker than a third midfielder,” according to Van Gaal.

Villa, meanwhile, enjoyed victory at Bournemouth on the opening day of the season; one that few pundits forecast before the game. Manager Tim Sherwood lost two key players this summer in Christian Benteke and Fabien Delph, acquiring eight new faces for a net spend of minus £6 million this summer.

Despite the Premier League’s huge broadcast revenue spike, Villa owner Randy Lerner continues practice an austere investment strategy, although, bizarrely, Sherwood was moved to praise the American this week.

“He is willing to back this football club and take us in the correct direction,” said the former Tottenham coach.

“He is not sitting on his hands, he is actively trying to do something to improve this club. It’s good the club have backed me and it needed change. We have sold a lot of players and we brought in a lot of money. The owner has not put that back in to his pocket, he has reinvested it into the squad.”

Strikers Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede, acquired from Lorient and Blackburn Rovers respectively, are expected to fill in for Liverpool-bound Benteke. Micah Richards is a big-name, if under-performing, capture on a free transfer from Manchester City. Slim pickings from which Sherwood must work.

By contrast Van Gaal’s resources are plentiful. It remains to be seen whether the Dutchman can extract more from his team away from Old Trafford.

Team news and line-ups

Aston Villa vs Manchester United, 14 August 2015, 7.45pm

Villa subs from: Bunn, Baker, Bennett, Hutton, Steer, Senderos, Cole, N’Zogbia, Richardson, Sánchez, Kozak, Agbonlahor
United subs from: Johnstone, Evans, McNair, Herrera, Januzaj, Pereira, Schweinsteiger, Valencia, Hernández, Wilson

Van Gaal could deploy the same team that started against Tottenham last Saturday. The Dutchman is without Marouane Fellaini, who serves the second of a three match suspension, while Phil Jones is out with thrombosis. Marcos Rojo is not yet match-fit, and will not be considered, although Bastian Schweinsteiger is closer to full fitness after making his début as a substitute last weekend.

The United manager confirmed that Sergio Romero will continue in goal, with David de Gea not in the right frame of mind to play while a mooted transfer to Real Madrid remains on hold.

“No injuries – only illness for Phil Jones,” van Gaal told MUTV. “It’s very sad, of course, but we’ll have to wait and see how that shall recover. Rojo needs more time because he was the last one who came in. He is training double sessions sometimes. He is doing well but he needs more.”

Meanwhile, Rudy Gestede, Villa’s goalscorer at Bournemouth, is pushing for a start after coming off the bench to net the side’s winner on the south coast. The striker must oust long-term Villa favourite Gabriel Agbonlahor, although the presence of midfielder Daley Blind in United’s back-four could swing the decision the Frenchman’s way. Jack Grealish and Carles Gil are not yet fit to play despite returning to training this week.

Match officials
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: S Bennett, S Long
Fourth Official: L Mason

Head-to-head
Villa – 49
Draw – 39
United – 96

Last meeting
Villa 1 – 1 United

Prediction
Villa 1-2 United

£1 bet club
Memphis to score @ 6/4

Monthly Archives: August 2015

Januzaj’s departure suggests tactical changes ahead

Swansea v United: Van Gaal seeks first points against Swans

Europe awaits but Van Gaal’s way remains lost in translation

Van Gaal could go with the defence he has

Rooney central to Van Gaal’s function versus flair dichotomy

United v Newcastle: Van Gaal defends “very bad” Rooney

Data Rant: Van Gaal’s obsession with passing

United v Club Brugge: pressure on Reds to deliver

United’s attack tested by Rooney’s impotence

Aston Villa v United: Reds seek boost in away form