He didn't sign Herrera or Shaw although he's lucky the club did. Shame he's not giving Herrera a chance. Falcao has proven to be a mistake. It's almost sad watching him labour around the pitch.
LVG certainly cannot be accused of not trying to accommodate him. Yes, we do have to feel sorry for him sometimes as he is not being supplied with the balls that he needs. He has not dried up as much as a Torres at Chelsea but getting close. If LVG is going to persevere with him, at least provide him with more scoring chances.
Yet another reason Mata should be played as a No.10, he will get you a bucket of assists if he does. He was regarded as one of the best No.10's on the planet when he was with us.
We can put as brave a face on as you like - but, even by his own standards, LVG is underachieving against expectaions at the beginning of the season. He is the architect of his own downfall - not once this season has he put out a side fielding the best player for each available position on the pitch. In the early part of the season he was hampered in his selection by a constant run of injuries but since Christmas we have had pretty much a full strength squad but still he persists in playing key players out of position, or leaving them ouit of the squad altogether. With all his experience, why can't he see what we all can. Just a few games with all our key players playing in their best positions would prove a revelation - if only he would give it a try.
Found this a moderately interesting read albeit slightly arduous. http://soccergods.com/2015/02/11/moyes-van-gaal-ferguson-full-manchester-united-mess/ UIR will agree with it.
1 loss in 18 - says it all really. I think this article here had got it spot on. Has he turned the team round?
No, it's bollocks. By playing Rooney as striker and Herrera in midfield he could have achieved the same position we're in now, if not better, and played way better football. The season didn't need saving either. To say this is all down to playing Rooney out of position is utter nonsense.
It's a terrible article mate. It's simple. Rooney is not a midfielder. His best position is as a forward. If the likes of Kane, Sturridge or Berahino are playing better, then pick them. If Hodgson can't figure that out on his own then he needs shooting. The stuff about LVG being able to defend himself based on league position only applies if you lack ambition. Because the point is we should be higher. I actually think LVG sees it that way too. I bet he doesn't agree with the article there. I bet he also believes we should be higher. I bet if LVG was asked the question on this thread he'd admit himself that he is underachieving.
Will he, considering it describes him as a 'fatuous fan'? This article more or less tells us what we already know but in a really, really long winded way. It also suggests that van Gaal is in some way ultra decisive in the transfer market in 'delivering' numerous players whereas the truth of the matter is the penny actually dropped with Woodward and the club that this wasn't really 'a team of champions' and that massive investment was needed, something they completely starved Moyes of and had previously also restricted Ferguson in. Or maybe Ferguson was just managing the Glazers debt so someone else could come along and spend a **** load in rebuilding when he left? Him being the genius he was could make that squad win. Mere mortals, van Gaal included, had no ****ing chance of doing likewise. Otherwise, yes, this is how it is. Obviously.
In the last 15 games Manchester United - 34 points Chelsea - 33 points Manchester City - 31 points Tottenham - 29 points Liverpool and Arsenal - 28 Southampton - 24 points So LvG cant be doing that bad
This is the typical example of how stats can be used to prove anything you want. All you need is to be selective... Last 15 games, we are top. Last 6 games we are 7th. Last 25 games we are 3rd. We just choose a period that is consistent with the point we want to make The RS can even show a period that they are top! For me the frustrating thing is that we are not making full use of the talent we have in the squad. However, what LVG has done (whether by design or not) is to make us more difficult to beat. That inevitably make us more cautious and less "exciting" to watch. When a team is on the slide (which we were!) then the first thing we have to do is to stop the defeats. No doubt LVG has been shocked and scarred by the start in August.
Regarding the actual OP question it depends on what you consider to be the achievement. With the aim of top four we're well on course of course because we're third so in no way underachieving . Whether he's achieving value for money though is debatable as we're just not easy on the eye and do not play the style of attacking football associated with the club. Hopefully that will soon come, or at least it'll be played next season once CL and maybe FA cup gave been secured. It will need to be.
Yep. Got to be said that the final league position is everything. Success this year is 4th even by the skin of his teeth ( even by GD or Goals scored !!! ). I know that there will be disagreement but for me it will be a massive failure if we somehow managed to win the FA cup but missed out on CL. If then next season we are as far away from Chelsea and City as we are now, I'll be the first to call for him to F off.
hehe reading this thread kinda reminds me of how Liverpool have declined since mid 80s. their fans have had delusions of grandeur ever since too.
I am not looking forward to how some of you react if we actually lose a game or two. 1 defeat in 18. Spin it however you like. It's a brilliant run and better than anyone else has managed. I guess more of you expected to win the league than I thought.
