It's a shame UIR has missed a real window of opportunity to come in and say "I told you so" between the moment we won the cup to the moment we sacked Van Gaal.
... I tend to agree ... he also seems to get cut a hell of a lot of slack in terms of yellow cards ...
Abit distasteful to sack the manager right after winning the cup if you ask me, doubt the likes of Lingard and Rashford will get a look in next season when Mourinho's in charge.
I haven't seen anything to suggest van Gaal has been sacked, it could be, and I hope it is, they've reached this agreement a while back and just not announced it mid season like City did. Be nice if van Gaal is happy to leave in these circumstances, with a cup win to show for his efforts. Best waiting for an announcement before condemning anyone. Disagree on the other bit, it's just a cliche. I'm sure if they are good enough they'll get a chance but it can't be disputed we need a right winger so Lingard will just have to wait for his chance, same with striker and Rashford.
Neither are yet nailed on first team pick standard yet and we will have to buy players in those positions to compete next season.
Not sure whether the club was responsible but this has been an open secret for months. Even before the final some papers (mostly abroad) said that there will be an announcement after the match, win or lose. I suppose in an ideal world the 'leak' would have occurred a few days after the win. But LVG is experienced and old enough to realise that if he didn't achieve his minimum objectives set on recruitment (in his case CL football) then he is liable to get sacked. I am sure he'll be crying all the way to the bank. United is behaving like any of the big global clubs: Real,Bayern and others sacked their managers even with titles and trophies. United didn't have to do that for decades because of one man.
Only ONE reporter has congratulated Van Gaal on the FA Cup and that was in the hotel late last night. They all turned the press conference into a witch hunt. There's some nasty ABUs in the press.
Back to the FA cup final win: It's great to see a trophy being won, celebrated and the players and fans enjoying a trophy (which incidentally is bigger than a league cup and the likes). We've almost forgotten the feeling although it is only been 3 years. I am now forever in the cup camp in the battle between top 4 (Wenger) trophy and the cups. The sense of joy, achievement and fans celebrations are not there with the Wenger trophy. This is what footballing glory should be about. I've celebrated this FA cup win more than I've celebrated some of Fergie's title wins.
Yeah, it did feel good. Felt like a definite springboard too. And that would have been the case even if van Gaal remains in charge.
For me the difference between the top 4 cup and the FA cup is that by going to Wembley (or any other final) you get the emotion on the day, the collective passion of the fans and the sense of euphoria - something tangible that a group of like-minded fans can enjoy and savour for the hours and weeks after. With the top 4 trophy - it just creeps up as the season goes along - no fanfare, no outpourings - but the benefit is more prolonged. The team gets to play those wonderful CL nights against the giants of Europe, the thrills keep coming (hopefully) and might even lead to a final ..................full circle. Both have their pro's and con's.
Echo that Christian, this is how I feel about it.... I think there's a massive boost within the club and fans from winning it. Will it be the catalyst for some of our youngsters and experienced players to go on to build sonething better? Don't know, that depends on the next manager, BUT it was really important to win a major trophy post-Fergie. The longer we didnt the more questions could've been asked. That's a big monkey off our back. Psychologically as well.
The night against PSV (not even a giant!) at OT wasn't that wonderful. The worst match last season for me by a long distance even as a draw. And for me why LVG had to go.
If rooney and Keane didn't get injured nobody would have known about rashford. If Memphis had lived up to expectation and made the left wing his then martial would have been played as striker in the absence of rooney. Let's be honest here, we need an established striker for next season regardless the manager. Even if the manager next season is lvg, he would still get another striker. We need a 20-25 goal a season striker.. Rashford would be the back up while he develops gradually. Rashford's sudden burst to the scene is mainly due to injuries and some players not living to expectation than lvg's genius.
Not necessarily - we were in the CL this season and it didn't lead to many wonderful nights or thrills, just disappointment and distractions. Same for Arsenal and Chelsea - being in the CL is only superior to winning the FA Cup if you have a chance of actually competing, and we are a season or two away from that imo. There is no universe in which having the FA Cup in your trophy cabinet is superior to not having the CL in your trophy cabinet. Even Arsenal fans have come to realise that by now.
