“It’s a process and that process needs time,” pleaded Louis van Gaal on Friday. It is perhaps the key message for Manchester United supporters to digest after Sunday’s turgid draw with Sunderland on Wearside. Van Gaal has promised that his methods will bring success; on the evidence of two Premier League fixtures this season it may very well be a long time coming. Moreover, in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement this is a side still searching for an identity – some 14 months on from the Scot’s departure.
More than Ferguson, however, it is David Moyes’ shadow that lingers. Just as United’s opening day loss to Swansea City could have taken place at any point during Moyes’ short Old Trafford tenure, so the insipid performance in the north east brought further dark memories of the year past.
It wasn’t just that United’s three defenders lacked any cohesion, but that the Reds’ attack, with all the world class riches at Van Gaal’s disposal, remained totally anaemic. It should no longer shock, but Old Trafford’s finest were simply ordinary at the weekend. Soulless and seemingly without real purpose too.
Indeed, a side containing Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Juan Mata and Antonio Valencia – more than £120 million invested in the quintet of attacking talent – rarely made United old boys Wes Brown and John O’Shea uncomfortable. It was very much against the run of play when Valencia delivered a low cross for Mata to score in the 14th minute. Easily the attacking highlight of United’s afternoon.
In this Van Gaal has more than a little work to do. While defensive problems were expected, given experienced personnel lost and the radical tactical switch enforced, United’s attacking talent is far too muted. In part Van Gaal’s system that has neutered United’s wings, but mostly because the Dutchman is yet to find a combination to catalyse individual talent into a fluid creative unit.
On Saturday Van Persie, Mata and Rooney rarely demonstrated the potential to become a triumvirate of high class. It was a decidedly one-paced attacking unit: Mata slowed down play when on the ball, Van Persie remains ring rusty after an extended summer break, and Rooney lacks much of the dynamic edge of yesteryear.
On the bench Adnan Januzaj, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa watched on. The former pair injected pace into the game as second-half substitutes, while Kagawa remained benched, surely wondering whether he has a place in Van Gaal’s thinking at all.
It is Rooney that is the real concern though – and not just because of his new-found seniority at the club, nor the massive pay packet. After all, the former Evertonian is supposed to be United’s talismanic emblem; the squad’s finest player and the man to lift United to preeminence once again. Yet, United’s captain has lost more than a yard of pace, neutering his impact up front. And still the 28-year-old insists on dropping into deeper areas while lacking the subtlety of touch and movement to unlock the best drilled defence.
At the back only Phil Jones emerged with real credit from the Stadium of Light, although Michael Keane enjoyed a positive second half and Tyler Blackett looked composed if at times tactically naïve. On this evidence Jones will fulfil the potential his vast talent commands before the season is out.
Valencia and Young were particularly vulnerable as wing-backs – struggling to translate limited skill-sets to an alien environment. Too often Young struggled against Premier League newcomer Will Buckley, although the former Aston Villa winger remained positive going forward – another outrageous dive aside.
On the other flank Valencia looked anything but a natural defender, allowing Conor Wickham to gain preeminence in one-on-one situations, while losing Jack Rodwell for Sunderland’s goal. Rafael and Luke Shaw will add greater defensive nous, albeit at the risk of further impacting United’s attacking momentum.
Still, Van Gaal remained circumspect in the aftermath. It is, after all, the process and not only the result in which the Dutchman is interested.
“In the first half we played an equal match with Sunderland,” he told Sky Sports.
“We didn’t create much other than the first goal, which was fantastic. In the second half we played much better but we could have created more. We missed too many passes – it was either too slow or too hasty, and then you lose the ball and the tempo is gone from the game.”
Prospective recruit Angel Di Maria will add genuine impetus from either central midfield or the wing, depending on Van Gaal’s tactical thinking. While the Argentinian cannot solve all United’s problems, the Reds’ performance on Wearside will have done much to convince the new manager that £64 million is well invested in the World Cup finalist.
Di Maria offers Van Gaal the option to switch back to the Dutchman’s preferred 4-3-3 system; the manager might even opt for the nuclear option and drop one of Saturday’s under performing attacking trio.
It is also noted with interest that United’s new manager used Januzaj in central midfield on Sunday – an option that proffers a more direct and potentially creative approach, albeit one that comes with a significant defensive risk. Kagawa, meanwhile, remained on the bench after Van Gaal considered and then rejected using the former Borussia Dortmund player in a role “at six or eight.”
“We have four injuries in midfield,” Van Gaal said on Januzaj’s new role. “That is why I played Januzaj in midfield because as a coach I want to win. I have said that we need creative passing and I thought Januzaj could provide that.
“I said to him ‘you are on the bench as a midfielder’ because I want him to focus. You could see it’s not so many times that he’s played there, but he did his utmost and I cannot demand more.”
The coach can demand more of his team overall though. While the 63-year-old is yet to uncover his most dynamic attacking mix, and his team remains on a steep learning curve defensively, there is surely too much talent to remain impotent for long. In this Di Maria will add much – talent of the Argentinian’s rare ilk always does.
Still, there is no guarantee that United will return to the Premier League’s top four by May. After all, Arsenal showed plenty of spirit in coming back from two goals down at Goodison Park, while Liverpool has taken a punt on Mario Balotelli – one that offers plenty of big-game class.
Chatter that United will solidify a bid for Juventus’ powerhouse midfielder Arturo Vidal could make a conclusive difference in this debate. In the meantime Van Gaal’s side remains just a touch lost: on the pitch and in its heart.
“Rafael and Luke Shaw will add greater defensive nous, albeit at the risk of further impacting United’s attacking momentum.”
Don’t agree at all re Rafael. He is excellent going forward
Edwood sell young and cleverley before they kill ur effort. Withdraw young and clevervel from first team. Do it as fast as you can. Sell anderson and welbeck. Leave chicharito. Buy blind + silva + vidal or de jong.
We all knew having watched his decline in the last 2 years, that Rooney was going to be a problem this season. I really wouldn’t be putting him in this team right now aside from No. 9, where when fit, Van Persie should play. A front three of Rooney/RVP, Januzaj and Di Maria would have pace, skill and direct running, with an in the box finisher. Mata in behind the striker, and two solid sitting CM’s (Daley Blind and Carrick/Herrera). Back to a back 4 – I really don’t like this back 3 formation to be honest. Might be an attacking line up, but in most of our games when we dominate possession, we should have enough to keep the ball, pin back the opposition, and create loads of chances.
It’s becoming clear that playing Mata behind 2 strikers isn’t working.I hope that DiMaria will mean a 4-3-3 formation,since playing 3 at the back is counter-productive when opposition sides usually play with 1 striker.This means that the other 2 centre backs are often without a specific task for periods which requires great levels of concentration;not traits associated with Jones and Smalling.
Rooney is becoming a real problem,he’s constantly wanting to occupy the space Mata works in and I really don’t think both can play in the same side.
My preferred line up in a 4-3-3 would be:
DeGea
Rafael Jones Rojo Shaw
Vidal
Herrera Mata
Januzaj DiMaria
RVP
I think Van Gaal’s become a tad to enamoured with the 352, despite the fact that playing RvP, Rooney and Mata simply takes away all pace from our attack, and while Valencia and Young might be considered ‘attacking’ wingbacks, they both remain rather limited players. I understand his thinking given the poor quality available in our midfield and a defense shorn of experience, but if he really thinks that we can win enough games to challenge for the top four without a heavy injection of pace upfront, I think he is sorely mistaken.
Arguably, the two most important players at the world cup for Holland were De Jong and Robben. And the simple fact is, we have absolutely zero players who can perform their roles (a gung ho presser and destroyer and a lightening quick wideman turned forward who can scare defenses into submission).
With the addition of di Maria, I hope Van Gaal will revert to 433, even though di Maria is a better CM than he is a winger. But personally, I’ll play either Rooney or RvP upfront in a lone striker role. Flank him with Janujaz & Di Maria. Play Mata in a deeper creator role as part of a three man midfield, alongside Herrera and with Fletcher/Carrick being the deepest midfielder.
I really hope Van Gaal doesn’t fall into the trap of trying to play Mata, Rooney & RvP all together. They might look great on paper, and individually, they are all terrific players. But they are also very, very similar in their game and all three lack the kind of pace and dribbling skills that can unsettle the defenses. Two out of those three, flanked by two pacey widemen to whom they can ping passes will be a sight for sore eyes!
“United’s three defenders lacked any cohesion”
They might be a bit “headless” but no goals were scored against UTD from open-play. AND the goal that was scored was the direct result of AV25 losing his man (Rodwell) – this is hardly unprecedented since there were two or three occasions last season when Valencia just fell asleep and goals were scored against TheLads.
I read this article with an increasing sense of unreality – complaining about the kid defenders and the sluggish trio of attackers but hardly a word about the sheer atrociousness of Valencia and Young and Fletcher and Cleverley. What match were you watching ?
One has to hope that the addition of Rojo and Di Maria and Shaw and the return of Rafael and MC16 will present a very different look to the midfield. Indeed, the arrival of Di Maria might signal the end of LvG’s 3-4-1-2 and the beginning of something like a 4-3-3. I live in hope – hope that in addition to Di Maria there is movement for obvious squad upgrades like De Jong and Blind and Vlaar.
These three Dutchmen aren’t great players but The Little Sisters of Mercy would be better than AshleyBloodyYoung, NoSoCleverley, and the-men-who-used-to-be DarrenFletcherinho and Antonio Valencia.
Further to my last post,the inclusion of Vidal was my wishful thinking getting the better of me.
It’s not the end of the world.
Turgid it was, but it’s a different side with Evans in the middle and Rafael and Shaw out wide. I also think Keane and Blackett look like great squad players who will be here for years to come.
RVP looked off, so did Rooney. But ye gods look what was behind them. Cleverley could not have started for Sunderland, nor could Fletcher. Both were horrible. Absolutely horrible. I honestly do not know how we are sitting in August with no new central midfielder other than one mediocre buy. Hell, we didn’t even consider Rodwell? Why the hell not? He’s better that the detritus we put out there.
Our summer spending has been a shambles.
But that being said, with everyone fit this is a better team and it will play better than last season. The second half wasn’t awful. It almost looked Fergie on the road like.
My confidence in a good performance from United relies on as few of the following as possible, playing:
Fletcher
Young
Cleverley
Valencia
Carrick
Anderson
Nani
To have the first four in the list starting against Sunderland was too many of them. Good that the last two are all but gone, Carrick will come back and whilst he is a more accurate passer than Cleverley or Fletcher, he is still too laid back/lightweight for me.
At last in buying Di Maria United has gone for top class instead of frittering the cash on the likes of Fellaini.
I think it’s really unfair to blame our attacking trio of Rooney, RVP and Mata considering the miserable midfielders and defenders they have to play ahead of. The uncertainty of our mediocre midfield and defence certainly affected the tempo of the game, with our midfielders consistently giving away possession and when we had the ball, our midfielders could hardly do anything, like a through-ball or creating chances for the forwards. Our midfield is nowhere dynamic or classy that a top club’s midfield should be.
Everyone knows this, but unless we stop playing Fletcher, Cleverley and Young, we are going to keep struggling. We need not one, but at least 2 midfielders. The whole team will transform if we manage to get Vidal and De Jong. Ed has one week to pull off a miracle. Then maybe, we can think about pulling off a title win miracle.
It’s clear from the Sunderland game that fundamentally United has a problem in midfield. Yes, I know that I am stating the bleeding obvious but it needs to be recognised by all.
The role of wingbacks in a 3-4-1-2 system is pivotal. It requires players who have stamina, commitment, energy, and a willingness and ability to do the job at both ends of the pitch. Young and Valencia don’t fit the bill. So against Sunderland, that left the inside midfielders of Cleverley and Fletcher with plenty to do. Fletch has been a great servant to the club and we all admire his efforts to overcome a seriously debilitating illness to come back. Sadly the task required asks too much of him. Cleverley is a wannabe, couldabeen, never will be, type.
The attack led by a returning to fitness RVP was starved of service by the below par midfield.
There were more positives in defence against Sunderland. Jones was my man-of-the-match (not a great day for the accolade). Tyler Blackett, a twenty year old, used to playing left back in a 4-4-2 system, looks to be improving game by game even as a centreback in a back three.
Once van Gaal has a full complement of players from which to choose, then United will move on from these disappointing early results and a top four spot is not out of the question. However, I think that a revert to a back four e.g. 4-3-1-2 is the way to go.
Ed I dare you to go a season without lamenting the dearth of verve and vigour in Rooney’s current iteration of football genius.