Four draws in a row, three 0-0s in a row and its not acceptable. It's not acceptable for a club like Manchester United that is famed for its attacking style of play. The fans demand for victories but not just victories achieved by scrapping through, they demand for victories achieved through style and panache. That is most important for United fans.
Against CSKA Moscow a fortnight ago, United did well to come from behind and draw but I feel they didn't do enough to push through their dominance and win the match. Against Manchester City, United didn't do much with their dominance of possession to win. Against Middlesbrough in the League Cup, the visitors created the better chances. United had chances to score but didn't take them. Finally against Crystal Palace on Saturday, United had the better of the first half after the 20th minute but didn't make their dominance count. In the second half, United were not in the game at all. Taking all these matches into account, only against Palace was it a point gained because it could have been no points gained.
Playing at Selhurst Park against Palace was always a tough fixture for United over the years so it was no big surprise to see United having a hard time. However, a pattern is emerging of United's away performances in England. They struggle when faced against teams that press high, playing at a fast tempo and aggressively. It happened last season too and I feel Louis Van Gaal hasn't been able to cope with this aspect of matches played in England. This is a worry as is the tendency for United to sleepwalk their way through the first half of matches.
Van Gaal has come under a lot of criticism and his tactics and strategy has come under scrutiny. I always expected him to come under fire when the team drops points because he doesn't exactly play in the quintessential United way. As long as United win, the noises will be less heard of but the moment United lose or draw, everyone will be out in arms against him. I am unhappy at the recent performances and results. Van Gaal has had one full season to bed in but to be fair, there were a lot of changes again over the summer so it's not like he has largely kept the same squad from last season and made some tweaks. Moreover, every team normally goes through a blip during the season and looking at the situation positively, we have gained a point in the Champions League and two points in the Premier League. We have only been knocked out of the League Cup which is disappointing because United now has one trophy less to win.
United has fate in their hands in terms of qualification to the knockout round of the Champions League and are within reach of the top spot in the Premier League. All is not lost yet even if naysayers and some fellow fans have given United up for death.
Van Gaal has a philosophy in mind but he has to stop being so insistent on it. He has to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. Matches are played at a higher tempo in England than anywhere else he has managed. After a season in England, he should know that. Possession is king because if a team has the ball, they are more likely to pose a threat to the opposition and win but it's no use to keep possession if it's only going sideways and backwards. I feel this possession style of football is useful when the team is in the first leg of an European knockout tie, when the objective is to keep the crowd quiet in away games or when protecting a lead. In most away games in England, United got to be ready to face an onslaught early on with the opposition throwing everything they got at a frenetic pace. The players can't afford to start slow and mentally stay behind in the dressing room. The team has to match their opponents toe for toe and win every second ball before imposing their style of play. Smaller teams on paper are capable of causing an upset if the players are not up to it and lose these battles on the pitch.
On the style of play, I remember Van Gaal's Ajax and Barcelona teams playing very attractive, flowing football. It has not been replicated at United consistently enough. I know it's the United way to be exciting and flamboyant in attack but I do understand as well that Van Gaal has resorted to a measured style of play. What his exact instructions are we do not know unless you are present during training sessions or in his meetings with the team. What we do know and can see is that United are building up play too slowly and are too predictable in their approach. It's frustrating to see the players get into the final third and mess up a cross or pass. This approach has to change. It's rather disjointed in the attack with crosses and passes going wrong or good passes and crosses are played in but its not anticipated by anyone. There is so much potential available in United's attack for it to excite the fans and produce breathtaking football but it is frustrating to see the attack so subdued.
On the matter of Wayne Rooney's form, it has been poor. Perhaps the rot set in last season but it was papered over by the fact that he was deployed in centre midfield for a chunk of matches. I don't feel Van Gaal's tactics has anything to do with his downturn of form. He looks like a player completely sapped of his powers. It looks to me like a player who has lost the aggression and fire he had when he was younger. He is definitely more mature as a 30 year old but the aggression and determination with which he put himself about on the pitch and the rollicking he would give his team-mates to wake them up is missing. I can accept that as a result of the tactical change since Van Gaal took over he doesn't close down defenders from the front and he doesn't put himself about on the pitch. Besides that it is unbelievable to see Rooney, a player known for his physical strength, get so easily dispossessed on the ball. He is getting passes and crosses wrong. In front of goal and in one-on-ones he is not sharp enough. Due to his lack of confidence he is trying to lay it off to team-mates to score instead of going for goal himself.
Rooney has to somehow from somewhere rediscover his form. With each passing game, the call to drop him has grown. He is either suffering a very poor run of form or at 30, he is on the wane or that he has to reinvent himself as a centre midfielder as suggested by Xavi. Van Gaal deserves credit for strengthening the defence (I hope I haven't spoken too soon) and for finally compiling a centre midfield of good quality but he has to tweak and adapt his philosophy. From watching the team last season, I feel United possess greater threat when they close teams down from the front and play at a quicker tempo.
Let's see now what happens tomorrow morning (Singapore,Malaysia,Hong Kong time) and in the upcoming matches. As fans, we have to get behind the team regardless of our personal opinions on the style of play, team and manager.
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