It was, as Louis van Gaal admitted so pithily last Friday, “stupid” to set a deadline on success. Not least because Manchester United’s past performance patently offers no guarantee of future results. But a deadline the Dutchman set – three months for Van Gaal’s “philosophy” to take root and for the watching public to pass judgement. It has, in truth, been little better than a ‘C plus’ to date.
United’s draw with West Bromwich Albion on Monday night highlights many of the challenges – and, to be fair, some of the opportunities – faced this season. Van Gaal, without the suspended Wayne Rooney and fatigued Radamel Falcao, was still able to field a front six the envy of many throughout Europe. With Daley Blind and Ander Herrera anchoring midfield, Van Gaal entrusted Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, and Adnan Januzaj to provide the creativity for lone forward Robin van Persie. It worked only intermittently.
Meanwhile, United’s back-five looked, on paper at least, balanced and talented: David De Gea, complemented by Rafael da Silva, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw – more than £70 million worth of youthful ability.
Despite the talent on offer United delivered yet another inconsistent performance, creating 22 chances at the Hawthorns, but conceding twice against a Baggies outfit that has suffered a mixed start to the campaign. In truth, whatever Van Gaal’s positive spin on the performance in the aftermath, United remains some distance from the country’s best – this coming a touch over 17 months on from winning the Premier League by 11 points.
It was a match that encapsulated Van Gaal’s tenure in microcosm – he has built a creative, talented, and expensive side that is frustratingly inconsistent. In the three months since the veteran coach took the Netherlands to third place in the summer’s World Cup, United has lost games to Swansea City, Milton Keynes Dons and Leicester City and is yet to win away from Old Trafford.
During that time United’s manager has delivered a myriad of systems and tactical approaches; almost as many as the changes made, enforced and otherwise, to Van Gaal’s side. Whatever “philosophy” the Dutchman is employing it is seemingly unclear to the players, let alone United’s supporters.
Time is a commodity the Dutchman has on his side, as much for not being David Moyes as his performance to date, but it is now certain that three months was an ambitious target on which judgement could pass. It may take months, perhaps years, for this United side to realise its potential.
But the question also arises whether Van Gaal’s tinkering has helped or hindered United’s transition. Flexibility and game intelligence are much valued assets in the modern game, but traits this United side is yet to fully develop. Tactically, it is has not been an easy ride for the players, especially those lacking confidence and experience.
The Reds began pre-season with Van Gaal insisting on deploying a back-three system, supposedly to mitigate weaknesses in the squad, but the Dutchman imposed his fifth different formation of the campaign against West Brom. In between the 62-year-old has rolled out systems with three forwards, a midfield diamond and, on occasion, a straight four four two.
The team’s strategy has also been in flux, with the Dutchman’s possession-based attacking football normally to the fore. Just not always. On Monday night the Reds spent the first and last 20 minutes launching aimless long balls. It was, to some observers, unironically Moyesian.
At times the football has also been pedestrian – none of van Persie, Blind, Rooney, Mata offers blistering pace. Yet with Di Maria in full flow, Herrera constantly on the move, and Falcao sharp around the penalty area, there has also been moments of electrifying flair. Inconsistency of another kind.
There are plenty of caveats to any judgement of Van Gaal’s performance. Injuries have been consistent over the period, with up to 10 United players in the treatment room at any one time. It is one reason, but the not the only driver, that the Dutchman has used 36 players in nine matches this season.
There has also been a significant rotation of players, with a dozen leaving Old Trafford in the summer and around £150 million spent on an influx of talent. Whether United’s shopping was opportunistic and driven by fear, or strategic and long-planned, remains an open debate.
The new coach has also brought change of another kind: yet another backroom team. It is, perhaps, worth noting Sir Alex Ferguson’s criticism of Moyes, in his latest autobiography, for bringing in so many new coaches last summer. Van Gaal had little choice but to do the same, although the ‘Hollandisation’ of the coaching staff is significant. At least in Ryan Giggs, a universally popular choices as assistant, there is hope the Welshman can bridge the gap from manager to team.
There remain question marks over Van Gaal’s squad management too. The Dutchman proffered Rooney “special privileges” as club captain, while offering public criticism of Shaw’s fitness. There is also much debate over United’s use of Shaw, Januzaj and Mata – each cast aside at one point or another this season. Divide and rule is a dangerous game to play in the ego-fueled atmosphere of United’s dressing room.
There are also doubts about too many in Van Gaal’s squad. De Gea’s form, up to Everton at least, was patchy; Rafael, Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans each injured at some point. In midfield Herrera does not yet dominate in the manner United requires, while Mata has too often been peripheral. It is far from clear that Blind’s passing talent can overcome a chronic shortage of pace, while Michael Carrick’s age and lengthy injury have disrupted the Geordie’s campaign. Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia have shown little to disprove the widely held notion that both were lucky to survive the summer as United players.
Up front Falcao is yet to prove he is fully recovered from a serious knee injury, while Rooney has demonstrated little of the leadership entrusted to him as captain. It is even more concerning that Van Persie is now a permanently peripheral figure. It is almost 18 months since the Dutchman performed at his highest level for United, with the question now open as to whether the rot is now permanent.
Yet, there are many positives for United supporters too – not just that Moyes is no longer in charge. Away from that crass assessment, Van Gaal has gained praised for trusting in youth: Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair have demonstrated first team promise not everyone foresaw. Shaw and Januzaj will surely play more often as the season moves on, while Tom Thorpe, James Wilson, Marnick Vermijl, Jesse Lingered, Nick Powell, Reece James, and Michael Keane have also featured.
There is also much promise in United’s pattern of attacking play, even if Van Gaal is yet to install the kind of defensive “balance” he seeks. In Di Maria United has acquired a rare talent, albeit at the cost of almost £60 million invested, while Herrera offers promise of an energetic and combative edge missing for some time.
The Reds will certainly score plenty of goals this season; the success or failure of the campaign ahead surely lies with Van Gaal’s ability to create a more structured defensive unit than the one employed against West Brom.
In this there is both hope and criticism. Three months is no time to turn around the failed Moyes experiment, but plenty, it seems, to expose this squad’s remaining flaws.
Excellent recap. Though a bit harsh on Herrera. Thought he was pretty imposing till he got injured.
Three months on a roller coaster and I need something to settle my stomach.
The greatest problem we have is the inbalance of the squard. Its very unusual for a team to have 7 left footed players in the starting eleven as we had in the match against WBA. Only D G, Rafa, jones and Hererra are right footed. Secondly LVG must as a matter of urgency start using Falcao as our main striker supported by Di Maria on the right and Januzaj on the left. Now that the injuries have eased, he should rotate less and allow the team to gel. I will agree with your assertion that DG form except in the Everton game has been poor. Its unfortunate that WBA had only two shots on targets resulting in two goals. I think he could have done better with the second goal. Though you can’t fault his reflexes and shot stopping abilities, he still lacks the ability to organise his defence. He needs to communicate more with his back four..
“Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair have demonstrated first team promise not everyone foresaw.”
Actually, they’ve demonstrated rather more than just “first team promise”.
Apart from the unfortunate incident with Vardy, Blackett has been calm, assured, and powerful. In his initial first-team appearances, McNair has been even better. In contrast, MrJones and his other “experienced” pals – Evans, Smalling, and Rojo – have looked like novices.
LvG talks a lot about growing-with-youth and these two kids promise to provide a decade of protection in front of DaveySavey. Let’s just hope – with fingers crossed – that they can avoid the persistent injuries that have plagued Jones/Evans/Smalling who now look a lot like last-year’s models.
By the beginning of next season, it’s not unlikely that only TheWayneBoy, LittleRedRafa, DaveySavey, and MC16 will remain from the 2013 EPL champions. A couple of others might remain in peripheral roles – probably because no one else will pay their extravagant wages – but most of SAF’s last squad will be gone. By the beginning of next season, the back line could feature a 24 year-old keeper, a 24 year-old right back, and three 20 year-olds, playing at left back and in central defence. Right now, it’s probably too soon to do so BUT my hunch is that by the end of this season, Blackett and McNair will be first-team selections.
Tend to agree with DD about Blackett and McNair. They have both exceeded expectations especially seeing as neither was looked upon as the cream of the crop of last season’s Under 21’s. So far so good, i hope they continue to get some game time with the first team. Jones’ ‘full-blooded’ style of tackling means that his career will probably be blighted by injuries. There is a touch of the Robbo about his tackling but, given the nature of the modern game, it’s a bit old school. As a former fan of Smalling, I’m disappointed to say that it looks as if he will be a squad player at best.
I am a big fan of both Januzaj and Wilson. Unfortunately Januzaj is suffering from being down the pecking order behind the big name, big signing attacking players. Currently, when he gets game time, he is trying too hard to impress, whereas last season he played a more natural game and looked a potential star. He is capable of being United’s future number ten. Even as a right-sided attacker, his ability to shuffle in with close control towards the penaltybox, pushed the WBA defence across and back into a defensive position deeper than they were happy with, thus creating pressure. There are parallels with Raheem Sterling. He has blossomed for the scousers and England because he has been given plenty of game time and lots of trust and responsibiilty. His progress has been swift. Meanwhile Januzaj has been treading water. Of course, the greater attacking options of United in contrast to Liverpool’s accounts for the different development opportunities for each player.
Wilson on the other hand is stuck behind Van Persie and Falcao in the striking pecking order. For what its worth, I would like to see Falcao start as number one striker with Wilson on the bench ahead of Van Persie. RVP is a shadow of the player he was before Fergie retired. Has Van Gaal got the Dutch courage to drop him?
Whatever, these kids are alright.
Let’s not get hung up on semantics, but “promise” feels about right to me. Blackett 6 games, McNair 2 games. Anyone remember John Curtis? Was set for great things after his first season for United – 8 games in the first team in 1998. Ended up playing for Barnsley, Blackburn, Sheffield United, Leicester, Portsmouth, Preston, Notts Forest, QPR, Worcester, Wrexham, Northampton and Gold Coast United!
I for one am not buying the disguised xenophobia from which stems most criticism of LvG in the mainstream media. At least Ed has tried to see the positives in the article, the greatest of which is he is not David fucking Moyes. I am loving the feeling, yes even the disappointments as in the WBA game, of watching United every week. Excitment, flair, uncertainty, mistakes, goals. What can I ask for as a fan who also watches other teams play (including the all powerful Chelsea) where there is this feeling of absolute certainty which suffocates the pure joy of the game.
Personally I think Shaw is massively over rated like almost every English player. I have not seen him do anything exceptional to cover all the positional mistakes he makes (which at least Rafael does). Personally I prefer Blackett at LB as he will foray into attack less and thus give DiMaria freedom and less defensive work.
As for jones he is a rugby player who missed his calling. That is all I will say. Evans is a very competent substitute and squad player. Rojo is the same a competent utility plyer – LB and CB. McNair has only played two games for Christs sake and some of our fellow fans are getting delusional quite frankly.
If rumors are true and we sign a central midfielder like Vidal/Strootman in the summer then a Hererra, Blind and one of the aforementioned two can provide adequate cover for the defence. I honestly dont know how the top heavy attack will sort itself out and that is for Mr vG. My only hope is by this time next year Rooney will be playing for Monaco and enjoying life on his yacht in the marina.