Assessment Of Inter, The Winter Champions Of Serie A

This is my assessment of Inter's 2015-16 season as of 2015. At the start of the season, I have regularly voiced my displeasure at the style of football I was witnessing, on some of the signings made and on the choice of captain. My views have since changed but not completely.

First, let me speak on the strength of the team, the defence. At the start I have championed the cause of including Andrea Ranocchia as one of the centre backs as a rare Italian player in the team but I hold my hands up and say that the form and quality of Miranda and Jeison Murillo has merited their inclusion. They have formed a great partnership and after so many years, Inter have finally got a solid, stable and sound centre back pairing. Ranocchia's time is likely to be up because Gary Medel has been preferred to play as a centre back whenever Miranda and Murillo been missing through suspension or injury. Miranda, Murillo and Samir Handanovic behind them aside, the team has done very well to defend as an organised unit, making them tough to break down.

I feel Roberto Mancini has done very well to make Inter a tactically flexible side displaying traits of a chameleon. I really admire what Mancini has done tactically and in doing so, he has kept the players available to him on their toes as he has rotated the team from one match to the other to suit the characteristics of their opponents and to enable Inter gets a win. He has been clever in managing a squad of 25 players without any European commitments in midweek. His rotation has had a desired effect with players that were seemingly on their way out of the club performing as well as anyone in the squad when given the chance.

Inter is not playing the most fluent and beautiful football in Italy but have improved in their style of play since the start of the season. It's particularly delightful to see Adem Ljajic, Ivan Perisic, Stevan Jovetic, Rodrigo Palacio and Jonathan Biabiany combining up front because they are all mobile and can interchange positions easily and fluidly. Inter lacks a playmaker in centre midfield which is why the football has not been the most beautiful to watch. It is a deliberate ploy of Mancini to have a gritty, workmanlike and physical midfield. I would still have preferred it if Inter kept Mateo Kovacic and cashed in on Mauro Icardi but I am not Mancini so my opinion on this matter doesn't count. Marcelo Brozovic is the most attack-minded centre midfielder in the squad but he doesn't possess the most creative brain in midfield and has traits that are different to Kovacic.

On Felipe Melo, my opinion on him was changing until he reminded me in the last game of the year why I was upset and apprehensive when he was signed. For a player that is established and experienced at the age of 31, he should have known better on keeping his wits and keeping calm. The foul he gave away for the penalty was needless and really silly. You would expect such an error from an inexperienced player not someone with his experience. He then made things worst by losing his cool and going into a ridiculously high challenge to get himself sent off. To give him credit, he immediately realised his error and apologised but this was the kind of shenanigans we have already witnessed of him during his time at Juventus, Fiorentina and the Brazil national team. He remains a liability. I can understand why Mancini was so desperate to sign him. It is certainly not for his quality as a footballer but for his leadership skills and winning mentality however it's of no use if he is a liability and always capable of getting sent off when he plays. The sending off against Lazio was his second of the season. My opinions on Mauro Icardi has not changed. To his credit, he did well against Udinese and deserved to be dropped in the matches he was dropped. I just hope Inter cashes in on him and sell him. The sooner, the better.

Inter are the winter champions but it means little at this point of the time as winning the Scudetto in May is what matters the most. The expectations in the club are still modest and that is of Champions League qualification. We shall see where Inter are when they reach March. In the last few seasons, Inter have struggled the most and not done too well in the second half of the season so this season's second half of the season will be a good indication of the team's progress under Mancini.

Oh So Unlucky Man. United

Manchester United played Chelsea last night under a cloud of uncertainty in their management position. I didn't know what to expect from the team and with the team coming into the match lacking confidence, in such poor run of form, under a lot of pressure and with such uncertainty at the club, I feared the worse. Chelsea were beleaguered too. They have not had an astonishingly poor season as defending league champions but at least they didn't have to deal with the uncertainty United had to face and came into the match under lesser pressure than United having solved their management conundrum before the onset of the busy festive period. They needed points and wins like United but I had a feeling coming into the match, they would be glad to emerge with a point from it.

Therefore it came as a pleasant surprise when United started the match like men possessed, displaying hunger, drive, enthusiasm as well as speed in their play. They attacked freely which I feel was the key difference. Despite being under lots of pressure, the team played like as if they weren't under any pressure. This level of performance didn't last the full match but it was promising for the near future to see United dominate their opponents in such manner. It's a pity and unjust that United couldn't score to win the match. United's luck is in the dumps at the moment. Juan Mata cracked a brilliant effort against the bar, Anthony Martial dribbled to create space and shoot only to see his effort come off the post, Wayne Rooney had unleashed a howitzer in typical Rooney fashion only to see it tipped over by Thibaut Courtois, United had 2 legitimate penalty claims waved away, Courtouis was called upon to perform a miraculous save off Ander Herrera and Rooney blazed over after getting on the end of a great cross from youngster Cameron Bothwick-Jackson. At the opposite end, David De Gea pulled off a great save to deny John Terry and 2 saves in quick succession to deny compatriots Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta. Ironically, United were lucky not to concede to a swift Chelsea counter attack as Nemanja Matic blazed over from a good position.  

The draw was greeted by some jeering but I can't imagine it's directed at the manager and team after that performance. It has to be at a result everyone associated to the club didn't need, a 5th 0-0 in the league, 7th in all competitions. This piece of statistic is damning on a club like Manchester United that is famously known for their attacking play and scoring goals. It's part of the club's DNA, pedigree and heritage. I feel United have wasted 2 big opportunities to beat big teams at Old Trafford after drawing 0-0 with Manchester City and Chelsea. Against the former, I felt the team could have done more to win the match while against the latter, United were unlucky. In this run of poor form, one of the biggest problems United have faced is in scoring goals. Draws could gave been converted to wins and defeats converted to draws if United had been more clinical in front of goal. If that had happened, the mood around the club and the esteem of the players would have been very different to what we are witnessing now. On the positive side of things, hopefully the poor run the team has been on will have a galvinising effect on the team and players and they can emerge from this spell stronger and more determined. 

It's tough but I really hope United can pull off a major coup in the January transfer market by signing a forward that makes a difference. A big signing would boost the general morale of the squad but realistically, it will be tough to sign anyone of that calibre now unless an opportunity presents itself in the transfer market (for example Eric Cantona and Robin Van Persie) or someone unknown is scouted and taken a chance on (for example Javier Hernandez). This is what the team really needs now even if I do agree that it's almost impossible to achieve in January. 

Finally to indulge in a bit of a conspiracy theory. If it's true that Van Gaal would be sacked regardless of the result against Chelsea and Giggs took the the training sessions on the eve of the match, the change in playing style we witnessed yesterday could be the work of Ryan Giggs and not Van Gaal. Van Gaal had a permanent scowl on his face yesterday. He looked to be in foul mood and maybe knows his time at the club is up regardless of his defiant message of not quitting in the post-match interview. It could also be that he is merely upset at the results, performance and treatment by the media. It could also be that the performance yesterday was the result of Van Gaal's instructions and he has given the players more freedom to attack acting on the suggestion of the players in the squad. It's an intriguing sub-plot and story. We will know the truth of the matter in a day or two. In the meantime if the team plays like it did yesterday, the luck is bound to change very soon. 

Depressing Time As A Manchester United Fan

It's unprecedented and I don't remember a time like this as a Manchester United fan. It's a new experience albeit a negative one. United have now lost 4 matches in a row and gone 7 games without a win across all competitions. It's a depressing time to be an United fan.

As expected the pressure on Louis Van Gaal's future as United manager has intensified beyond an imaginable level after this defeat. In my preview of the match, I had suggested that a defeat against Stoke City could be the final straw. I might be wrong and he might live to see a couple more days as the manager of Manchester United until another beleaguered big team in the form of Chelsea visits Old Trafford. The man that is Van Gaal has pointed to his team's fear of playing in the first half as part of the reason for their defeat and he has indicated that he might resign before the board fires him. It's intriguing to see what would happen next between today and tomorrow as the story unfolds.

On the match itself, I had never imagined it to be a walk in the park for United. Even in the best of form, Britannia Stadium is a tough place to visit for any team and United joined the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City last night as teams to have been beaten there this season. With the blustery wind conditions, it felt like the match was played on the beach with a plastic beach ball. In all the previous matches played there by United, matches have been hard fought and I don't remember United producing vintage football to get their wins. Victories at the Britannia Stadium have been obtained through hard work and grit.

United started solidly keeping their defensive shape and trying to cope with the movement of the ball in the air and on the ground. Everything was fine until an inexplicable mistake by Memphis Depay allowed Glenn Johnson to set up Bojan Krkic for the opener and soon after Marko Arnautovic unleashed a screamer after latching on to the rebound from a free kick. It was a strike that no goalkeeper in the world could do anything about. Memphis made a mistake typical of a young attacking player in a defensive situation. How is Van Gaal to be blamed for that and the screamer from Arnautovic? When United had chances and attempts at goal, Stoke's goalkeeper, Jack Butland made some good saves although I feel Marouane Fellaini should have done better with the chance he had. How is Van Gaal to be blamed for Butland's excellence in goal? When things are not going well for you, everything and anything will go against you. That's life and football is part of life.

Van Gaal has stated that the players played in fear. The blame of that should go to the manager. He should have done more or better to relax the team and lift their confidence. Perhaps he did try but it's not registering with the players. United's poor recent form has also been due to profligate finishing. He should have done more in training to fix that. If Van Gaal can't lift confidence, and it looks obvious that he is failing in that aspect, then it's right he goes. The situation now looks bleak. i struggle to see any light at the end of the tunnel. I am not sure how big a difference another manager will make to this squad and group of players available at his disposal and this adds to a bleak situation which has seen United sky falling from top to 6th now. There is a lot of uncertainty around the club whereas once upon a time there was exemplified stability.

United had struggled to properly replace Peter Schmeichel when he left after winning the Treble. Arguably, United are struggling to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and have not found the rightful heir to the legendary number 7 jersey. I say arguably because it's too soon to judge and conclude Memphis' time at United. He hasn't set the world alight with his displays but remember Ronaldo frustrated many in his first few seasons wearing the famous number 7 jersey. He has still got time to prove himself and still remains one of the most promising youngsters in world football. Similarly, United have struggled to find a replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson. In modern football, it is far fetched to expect to find another Sir Alex that would remain at the club for years and build a legacy even if a legend takes over the management reins. The expectations at a club like Manchester United are very high and success is expected instantaneously even if it does seem unfair. Success buys time to build a legacy and in theory, Van Gaal bought himself some time with a strong finish and qualification to the Champions League. However, he was unable to keep the squad stable and rebuilt the squad over the summer. There was no scope for stability to build on the squad of last season. Anyone who takes over now will have their work cut out getting the most of the present squad, implement their own ideas and strategies on the team and at the same time be expected to deliver results. It would be tough on Ryan Giggs to do the same. Unlike Pep Guardiola, he has no experience managing a team except for a brief period of 4 matches as the Manchester United player/manager at the end of 2013-14 season. Guardiola was managing the Barcelona youth teams before he took over as Barcelona manager and not every ex-club legend would turn out to be a great manager.

There is still half a season to go, United are still in the running for the FA Cup, Europa League, are 3 points away from the last Champions League spot and 9 points away from the top. There are still objectives to achieve and all is not lost yet. Whether it is with Van Gaal in charge, Giggs or someone else, I feel every fan just wants United to do better starting from Chelsea on Monday. Those that want United to lose or get trashed so that the manager gets fired is disrespectful to the club and the existing manager as a man. I hope whatever decision the club makes in the near future with regards to the management position, turns out to be right and stability is restored to the club. Only with stability will the club win trophies again.

Boxing Day Do-Or-Die For Van Gaal

The Boxing Day clash against Stoke City is do-or-die for Louis Van Gaal. Speculation on his future as Manchester United manager reached fever pitch on Tuesday with numerous sources stating that he got the sack after a boardroom meeting and Jose Mourinho would be installed as the new United manager. It was disrespectful and created a sense of uncertainty among United fans. It was appalling that fellow United fans were hoping, wishing and praying that he got the sack. Personally, I felt that his time was up after the result and the display against Norwich City last Saturday. I felt that there was perhaps some truth in the rumours circulating around his future. In the best interests of the club, I would want him to do well because that would mean United doing well. I have backed him based on his credentials and experience. However, I have been perplexed on why we are witnessing the kind of football we have witnessed after having seen the way his Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona and Bayern Munich sides played. I have been equally perplexed on his change in demeanour. He no longer fights every ball, every decision with his team on the sidelines. This is not the Louis Van Gaal that I remember of from the past after his appointment was made official.

Tomorrow against Stoke, a victory would ensure a stay of execution for the beleaguered manager. A defeat would almost certainly seal his fate and he would get the sack while a draw would bring him closer to the sack which might or might not result in his immediate sacking. His sacking should see him bring an illustrious career to an ignominious end. A shame and a pity if it happens but let's focus on tomorrow first. Playing against Stoke at Britannia Stadium is a tough task on any day let alone on the back of poor form, low confidence and desperately needing a win for Van Gaal to keep his job. Stoke may no longer be the long ball, direct team they were under Tony Pulis and United legend, Mark Hughes deserves credit for evolving their style of play but God knows what the weather conditions would be like tomorrow and that adds to the difficulty of the task facing United. Stoke has already beaten Chelsea and Manchester City in Britannia Stadium this season. I don't suppose they would go into this tie lacking confidence. It is not going to be easy for United by any stretch of the imagination.

Van Gaal had a meltdown in his pre-match press conference at Carrington. What effect that would have on him and the players it remains to be seen. It could revitalise the squad or it could just add more pressure on the squad. There have been reports that the captain Wayne Rooney had issued a rallying call to the squad and Van Gaal has confirmed that he delivered a rousing speech for the players and his staff in Carrington. We shall see what effect that has on the performance and result starting Saturday. Personally, I would take a string of 1-0 wins for the foreseeable future until confidence is restored. I would take scrappy 1-0 wins, eking out results along the way. The squad needs confidence, the team need wins, the team needs 3 points in the league and progression in the FA Cup and for that they would need any kind of victory as long as the team wins. After all, a 1-0 win is worth as much as a 5-0 win. As fans, at this juncture, we would need to forego the style with which victories are achieved in the short term. Let's see what tomorrow holds for us. Good luck Manchester United!

Dark Days For Manchester United

It was sink or swim time for Manchester United against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. United were coming into this game under a lot of pressure. They are on a poor run of form, coming off a disappointing early exit from the Champions League and with an injury crisis. The manager, Louis Van Gaal was under pressure. He has been under pressure to deliver victories and trophies since he took over but now after their premature elimination, the pressure has intensified and things have got worse after Saturday's defeat. I will not call this defeated unexpected under the circumstances that United were going into the match but it is not expected of a club that has ambitions to win the English Premier League title.

The weather conditions, the boisterous crowd that was close to the pitch and the atmosphere created by the Bournemouth fans, exemplifies why it is tougher to win the title in England and dominate than it is in other leagues. Other leagues pose different challenges but it would be very interesting to see how Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich cope with playing in such conditions against teams that don't let you rest for a second and play direct football. It is a battle, a battle for 90 minutes. United started with Giullermo Varela, Paddy McNair and Cameron Bothwick-Jackson in defence, two in their early 20s and a teenager. In attack, United had 3 players in their early 20s, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Memphis Depay. The only ones that were experienced and established in the mid 20s to mid 30s age group were David De Gea, Juan Mata, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind. I had written in my previous blog that this was sink or swim time for United in view of what I have already stated in my starting paragraph. United got to get out of it's slump quickly if they are to have any realistic ambitions of winning something major or at the very least qualify for the Champions League again.

In the context of the line-up and form leading up to the match, it would take a really good performance and some strong characters for United to get something positive out of the match. The atmosphere was rocking pre-kick off and it got louder when Junior Stanislas scored directly from a corner within a minute of the game. David De Gea was caught out and the ball eluded Martial on the line as De Gea's touch diverted it beyond his reach. United to their credit, responded and nearly scored through Fellaini and McNair. United started having more of the possession and kept Bournemouth quiet although Bournemouth didn't give up on hassling United when the away side was on possession. It forced United to play the ball quicker and more direct. They finally got a deserved equaliser after a sublime pass by Carrick found Memphis and his shot was saved by Atur Boruc, who was responsible for denying Fellaini and McNair earlier, from the rebound, Fellaini bundled home the equaliser through sheer determination. A deserved equaliser.

In the second half, United lacked the urgency they had when they came back into the game. They conceded again from a corner due to a defensive lapse. United nearly equalised soon after but was denied by Boruc and some brave defending. Thereafter, Bournemouth came closer to scoring and United couldn't find it in them to get the equaliser. They lost their way after spurning their successive chances to equalise. Bournemouth deserve the win but it is a crisis at United. A crisis in confidence from the poor form, an understandable hangover effect on the team from getting eliminated early from the Champions League and an injury crisis. Jesse Lingard became the third player to be sidelined by a hamstring injury after he was hamstrung during the game. On the bright side, Morgan Schneiderlin and Phil Jones were on the bench against Bournemouth which is a positive. It means they should be available for selection next Saturday against Norwich City. We can only hope that more injured players are available for selection during the course of the week and no-one else gets injured during training in the week or in pre-game.

Louis Van Gaal made a surprising and inexplicable substitution again, this time replacing Marouane Fellaini for Nick Powell. Powell had no impact on the match just as he was in the midweek match against Wolfsburg. Van Gaal had hope the substitution would pay dividends in terms of a change in positions on the pitch but was not vindicated. I would think that for a match where United are playing away from home, have a lot of injuries to contend with and are on a run of poor form, Van Gaal should have started with more experienced players to give some stability to the team and not place undue pressure on the youngsters. I am not sure how fit Jones and Schneiderlin were on Saturday but at least one or both should have been risked to start. Ashley Young was kept on the bench throughout the match and as one of the more experienced members of the squad, he should have started. I didn't understand the risk the manager took in using so many young and inexperienced players from the start with the presence of some experienced players on the bench. I wouldn't go into my choices if I was in Van Gaal's position as it would be useless but I feel he should have relied on experience to help pull United through this tough period. He is to be blamed for having a thin squad which is being exposed now, at a time when matches would be upon the team one after another in quick succession.

Tactically again United have shown an inability to deal with teams that come flying off the blocks in away matches. I am not sure what Van Gaal says to the team before they come out on the pitch but more often than not, the team comes out for matches cold and in away matches where every match involving Manchester United is like a cup final, it is not entirely wise to come out cold. I understand the reasoning behind it is to ensure the players are not carried away by emotion and they would play with their brains more than their heart however in England where outside of the top teams, most teams ride on emotions and blood and thunder, this is not exactly a rational approach. There is a reason why FA Cup is the Cup of upsets, riding solely on emotions and the traditional English philosophy of blood and thunder, underdog teams are more than capable of beating bigger teams in a knockout tie. It is fine if Van Gaal wants his side to impose their style regardless of their opponents' approach but he has to adapt to the reality of playing in England and what to expect from his opponents. It's humble to acknowledge the strength of your opponents and adapting to match them. He regularly has meetings to analyse the opponents so why is this vital point missed out? United were caught out by Swansea, Arsenal and most recently, Bournemouth on Saturday. They were nearly caught out by Southampton but United survived to ride the storm and overturn the deficit. They survived the onslaught against Crystal Palace. Only against Everton and Aston Villa did United adopt the right approach. For United to adopt their style, they would need to start every away match by keeping possession well. It is tough to achieve because teams would not give United time on the ball to stroke it around so they would need to keep possession faster and avoid playing long balls. It is tough for United to impose their style because from what we have seen this season, United keep possession in a measured way where more time is allowed on the ball but the pace of the English game is too fast to allow that to happen. Even big teams like Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal would come out flying when they play United at their Anfield, Etihad and Emirates Stadium respectively.

Van Gaal is known to be determined and concrete in his ideas but it becomes stubborn when his plans and ideas are not working. United struggled last season in away matches too and Van Gaal doesn't seem to have learnt from his first season in English football. On the players, it is tough to expect high level consistent performances from Varela, McNair, Borthwick-Jackson, Memphis, Lingard and Martial. Borthwick-Jackson had a steady first half but started making mistakes in possession in the second half. McNair wasn't reading the game well enough to cut out the balls behind the defence, he was coming off second best against Joshua King, Varela was also having trouble dealing with Stanilas. Memphis had a good first half but tailed off in the second half, Martial was presented with a great chance to equalise before Fellaini scored in the first half but he scuffed his attempt wide. I was glad Andreas Perreira was brought on to replace Lingard and he looked sharp but didn't have any real attempts at goal. However, the bottomline is that these are young players and we cannot expect perfection from them now. I am sure in 2-3 years, the future Manchester United manager would reap the benefits of the exposure they are getting now. Cristiano Ronaldo was not the scoring machine he is now in his first few seasons at United, Wayne Rooney was running around full of aggression and like a headless chicken when he was in his first few seasons at the club, Gary and Phil Neville were making mistakes in defence in their first few seasons at United. The exception were probably Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. They were great from the time they started but both hit patches of poor form later in their career which is only natural. No player can go through a career without having to struggle at some point to achieve consistency and display their full qualities.

Calls are growing for the sacking of Van Gaal. In modern football, managers at big clubs are not given time to win trophies and create a dynasty like Sir Alex Ferguson had the luxury of. Van Gaal was never going to be a manager that would create a dynasty like Sir Alex due to his age and his desire to retire in 3 years. His job was to create stability in the club and ensure success as soon as possible after the turbulent period under David Moyes. He has achieved his first objective which was to ensure Champions League football. Now in his second season, the club's involvement in the Champions League have been short-lived and it is a big blow to everyone connected to the club. The team is not displaying great football and in poor form now. Form is temporary but class is permanent that is the saying but many would argue that United have been lucky to still be within touching distance of the top spot in the English Premier League. I wouldn't say it's entirely luck. The team's defence has been a huge contributing factor but when the goals have dried up and the team is affected by injuries, their weaknesses have been exposed. Van Gaal would need to shoulder responsibility for it for choosing to keep a thin squad and not signing quality players to replace those that he let go. His insistence to keep playing largely the same eleven without much rotation wouldn't sit easy on the international players a club like United has which has resulted in players leaving in search for more regular football elsewhere and he has allowed that to happen. Reliance on youngsters is unfair because at the moment there is too much pressure on them to resolve United's scoring problems and to not make mistakes.

Whatever has been done, has been done, no-one can undo it. To sack Van Gaal now would create instability in the team but it could give everyone a jolt and that could work to ensure better performances as players look to impress the new manager and they play for their future. Some might argue that it would free the squad but realistically a new manager would find it very hard to impose his style, vision and philosophy halfway through the season. It is also tough to sign players a new manager would need to suit his playing style in the January market. Next, who is available to replace Van Gaal mid-season? Pep Guardiola wouldn't leave Bayern Munich mid-season, Carlo Ancelotti is keen to coach again but he is not keen to join a club in mid-season, the only viable option is Ryan Giggs who could be the long-term option. Some fans are calling for his appointment because he is United through and through and knows the United way to play but not every ex-legend will turn out to be a Guardiola. I know very well that no matter who is employed, whenever he is employed, he will be criticised the moment things go wrong and don't go according to plan. Whoever takes over United will have a tough task because there are many young players that need time to develop and the person has to get the experienced, mid-range players to be at their best, he would need leaders and strong characters. At the moment those players in this range are not exactly performing well. A change of manager could help but ultimately the onus is on a player to regain his form and be a strong enough to lead the team by the scruff of its neck like it is required now. The reaction of the crowd at Old Trafford next Saturday would be interesting. What reception would the manager and players get? I don't expect they would be afforded much patience though so an early goal would work wonders. Ideally, lots of goals will appease the fans but realistically, I will take a string of 1-0 wins from Saturday onwards.

A final word for all my fellow United fans. We have been very lucky to have witnessed lots of success and good times over at least 2 decades. No team can win forever in a top league. They would face periods of non-success too. The fundamental thing is to not allow that period to stretch on for too long. It took United 26 years to win the League title after their last one in 1967. Liverpool are an example for United. They have not won the title since 1991, they came off a dynasty, an era of their own and haven't looked likely to return to former glories baring fleeting glimpses of promise. It's been 24 years for them. It is important that United learn from Liverpool and avoid making the same mistakes as them. In the meantime, if we could all be there when United were doing well, why can't we stick by them in the bad times. The least we can do is support the team because the team outlasts any player or manager. It is fair and natural to feel upset at poor results and under-achievement. It is also fair to let the displeasure be known vocally and publicly but it is extremely vital to show support for the team now more than ever. It's a fact that United fans have been spoiled by success but now is the time to show your class and remain dignified in bad times. Sadly, a lot of United fans have not been gracious when in success and that has resulted in the less than dignified manner in which they are accepting this period of mediocrity and non-success. The joke is on us now as Manchester United fans after laughing and mocking fans of other clubs for whining and moaning at their club and managers. Be dignified, show some class. I hope more would step out in a positive manner in this testing period.

Lowest Point Of The Season

Manchester United are out of the Champions League. It made for headline sporting news the world over especially if you are in this part of the world. Anti-United fans come out to troll and ridicule United on social media, they rejoiced as if their team had won something. United fans went into meltdown on social media. It just went crazy. It's justified for United fans to feel upset, disappointed, angry, embarrassed and discontented. For anti-United fans regaling at our elimination, it depends at how you take it. If you take it with a pinch of salt, it becomes banter and it is funny. If you take it personally, it is no longer funny. As a fan, I do get delighted at hearing of a Liverpool and/or Manchester City defeat or of their struggles but I don' gloat about it. I don't gloat over a single United victory or a sequence of United victories. I have been following football long enough to know that it is unpredictable. One day you could be on a high, touching the skies and in the heavens above and the next day, you could be on the down low, underground in the pits of hell. That's what football is capable of making you experience thus it is vital to be balanced. In a season, what matters the most is winning a trophy at the end of the season. The bigger the title of the trophy won or the number of trophies won in a season, the grander the celebrations. It is only really right to rejoice and touch the skies when your team has won a trophy not after winning a match.

Over the past 2 decades, United fans have become accustomed to winning and challenging for the major trophies like the English Premier League and the Champions League. Most fans wouldn't remember that United were FA Cup specialists in the 1980s. I wouldn't remember too because I was only born in 1984 and began supporting in 1991. I remember it from watching old FA Cup finals and delving into the history of the club. Back to 2015 and United are out of the Champions League but not completely out of European football yet. They have been demoted to the second tier of European football which is the Europa League. It is not unchartered territory for the club. United finished bottom of their group in 2005-06 and like this season were demoted to the Europa League in 2011-12. It has happened before under Sir Alex Ferguson and it has happened again under Louis Van Gaal. In terms of progress, Van Gaal is right to state that United have at least qualified for the Champions League group stages after a season without European football, United sit fourth this season within touching distance of the league leaders unlike last season where they were off the pace at this stage of the season and they progressed a round further in the Capital One Cup. Fair points brought up by Van Gaal. However, at United, you are always expected to win trophies, to last the title race in the league and go to the final of the domestic cups. You are always expected to go deep in the Champions League. You are expected to win it. Realistically though, United do not have the squad to compete with the current European powerhouses but teams with lesser squads have won the Champions League before so it is an achievable feat. After all, football is won on the pitch and not on paper.

It is a definite low point this season for United, the lowest point of the current season. United couldn't beat Wolfsburg and they were not lucky enough to get a result in their favour in the PSV Eindhoven-CSKA Moscow match. However, United need to make their own luck. They haven't deserved qualification at all. In away matches against PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg, United gave up their leads too soon after taking it and in both matches, United were undone by poor marking on set pieces and were hit on the counter attack. In the case of Wolfsburg, United were too flat footed in defence as well when facing a quick one-two by the Germans. The same thing happened in the home leg against Wolfsburg. In the other away match against CSKA Moscow, United didn't push hard enough and do more to win it. They came back with a draw that was deemed as a good result by Van Gaal but at United, you should be aiming to win every match! In the home matches, United rallied to go from one goal down to overturn the result against Wolfsburg and survived a second half onslaught, they made heavy weather of beating CSKA Moscow and only secured a late win and finally against PSV, they couldn't create enough chances to win it and couldn't score with whatever they created. It's been an average, below-par campaign. With all due respect to the teams in the group, United could and should have been able to qualify earlier and didn't need to leave it to the last game to secure qualification. If only they had not taken such a calculative approach to matches and done more to win matches.....Ifs and buts are all we are left with now.

The anger, disappointment, exasperation and despair of United fans is understandable. However, it has all been directed at the manager for the way he is getting United to play. Fans are growing tired and annoyed at the manager mentioning his philosophy again and again. First, to give the manager credit, he deserves it for shoring up the defence. Cast your mind back to the early parts of last season and you should recall a porous defence that was always chopping and changing due to injury. Since then, Van Gaal deserves credit for slowly but surely creating a solid defensive unit that starts from the 2 holding midfielders he employs. United are defending much better in an organised manner. The blitz from Arsenal in the Premier League was a blip while in Europe, United have not been able to cope with counter-attacks and quick play around the box. There is still scope for improvement but Van Gaal deserves credit for the work he has done on the defence and no team can win anything without a solid defence. It is the attacking play that has been less than exciting and un-United like. Fans keep saying the team is not playing the United way. The statistics show that United have the most amount of possession in the Premier League but don't create as many chances and play the ball forward enough. What we have seen is a style of play that is measured, slowly waiting for the opponents to come out of position so that United can find some space to attack. Most teams that come to United would play with most of their men behind the ball. They would make it difficult for United to break them down but United has to find a solution around it. Playing the ball around slowly, keeping possession far from the opponents penalty box will not create any chances or danger. Having witnessed Van Gaal's Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, I can't understand why he would use this approach for United. The above-mentioned teams played quick attacking football. They could keep possession for hours too but played at a faster pace than United.

Van Gaal's Holland played a counter-attacking style due to a perceived lack of quality available to the Dutch national team. It was a practical approach used to exploit the Dutch team's strength which were Arjen Robben's pace on the break as well as Robin Van Persie's finishing. Memphis Depay came to the fore in the 2014 World Cup and contributed to this style. In United's early days under Van Gaal, United had produced some very good attacking football but all that disappeared when he shifted focus to bring more balance and tighten the defence. It is right to tighten the defence as no team has ever won anything without a solid foundation which is their defence but it shouldn't come at the expense of the attack. It could be that Van Gaal feels he doesn't have the quality available to him that would enable him to keep a tight defence and play a more expensive style of football which is why he is using a measured approach. Keeping lots of possession each game can't quantify as attacking your opponent. It just means the team has had most of the ball. The play has to be quicker and the approach has to be more direct not in the sense of lumping long balls forward but by going forward faster and using inter-play between players to get the better of your opponents. I see some light at the end of the tunnel though. In the last 2 games, United have been better going forward and have created more. They would just need to score more now. I hope the improvement we have seen in United's attack is maintained and is not short-lived.

An area I feel Van Gaal is at fault is in choosing to keep a small squad. He has shown to be a manager that would play the most in-form player at that point of time and give chances to a player he sees as a first-teamer despite of poor form. He is right in the sense that he is trying to give as much continuity and consistency to his selection so that the starting eleven can gel better and faster but it makes it predictable for his opponents. At the start of the season, United were involved in 4 tournaments and the Premier League is a long, hard league to take part in especially between December and January when there are many matches played consecutively without much rest time in between. To have a small squad to cope with that is folly. He chose to keep a small squad so that there are opportunities for youngsters to find space in the first team which is fair enough and very much the United way but it would also mean that United would hope for no major injuries or an injury crisis to hit the team. At this point of time, United has to deal with some major injuries, an injury crisis and poor form. Having young players come into the team at this point is counter-productive because the pressure is on them to deliver which is unfair on them and too much to expect. These players would need to sink or swim and would mature faster as a result but in the short-term, it might not guarantee immediate results which is what a club like United need. This not the Manchester United of 1986 when there was more time available for Sir Alex Ferguson to build a team. Times have changed.

I hate to compare Van Gaal to Sir Alex as it would be unfair but Sir Alex utilised the squad very well. He always made all players feel important and part of the project unless they fell foul of the man. Through this approach, he kept players on their toes and he picked and choose which players to use for which matches based on his players characteristics and that of the opponents. Van Gaal has to evolve and move on with the times in his approach. Although with this job likely to be his last before retirement, I am not sure how willing he is to evolve and adapt. He is steadfast and determined in his ideas of how the game should be played and his philosophy but he is struggling and under fire due to the same determination and insistence which has crossed into stubborness and arrogance now. I wouldn't call for his sacking but I had expected more when he was hired. I know United were hiring a proven, experienced manager that was a winner but I remembered his teams played much better football than we are witnessing now. The only worry I had was in his man management which at the moment seems to be fine outside of that one incident with Victor Valdes. He has been blunt and honest to criticise players in the public through the media which was something Sir Alex didn't do. However, I dispel the fact that the players are playing with fear. They seem to be playing stuck in second gear but I don't feel there is any fear. It is well documented that Sir Alex would tear into his players if he feels they were messing about on the pitch or made mistakes. The fear was there in the players and they knew they had to be on top of their game. Sometimes even when the team is waltzing, they were torn into by Sir Alex. It didn't leave the players playing in a confused or fearful manner. It just meant that Sir Alex demanded the highest standard from his players. It is right for Van Gaal to demand the same high standards of his players but I don't feel they are playing with fear. They are playing in second gear likely due to the tactics.

On the issue of players, I feel United have been let down by the experienced members of the team. It is fair to say that the Bastian Schweinsteiger United have is not the one from 2-3 years ago. He is getting on in age, he is not as quick as he used to be, is not as mobile and can't last a full game but he is still a very good player even at 70-80% of his true quality. He is a leader and has a lot of experience. He is vital to have in the dressing room and on the field, he has just got to produce his best more consistently and have a more telling effect on the game. He should be able to tailor his game to cope with his age and exploit his strengths. United needs him to stand up and be counted more often now. He was November's Player Of The Month but was exposed in the crucial Champions League decider against Wolfsburg. That could be due to tactics though as he was lacking support from his midfield partner. Michael Carrick, has a style which is akin to a slow burner. The more he plays, the better he will get. This season, he has been in and out of the side and that has not suited him. He has been missing through injury too. United have missed his direct passes and the ability to read games. He too needs to stand up and be difficult to replace when he gets a chance to play. At his age, his involvement has to be measured and he can't start every game but at his age now, he should have the ability to quickly get into the groove when he is playing. He can't start every game and as such, he cannot expect to get more time to click into form. United needs him to stand up and be counted now too.

Chris Smalling has been excellent but he was responsible for allowing Naldo space to score the equaliser for Wolfsburg. For all he has done this season, the fans can forgive him for that error. The one area he has to improve on is his distribution out of defence. He has to also cope better with dealing with quick interplay around the box. He looks likely to face a spell on the sidelines due to injury after pulling up with injury in the later stages of the match against Wolfsburg and United are likely to miss him. There are many players out injured now which is unlucky for the team. Matteo Darmian and Smalling joined Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin and Wayne Rooney on the sidelines. Shaw, Rojo and Valencia are expected to be out for a long time. Darmian should be out for a moderate amount of time. I am not sure how far off Jones is from recovery. At this point of time, his recovery would be a boost to the defence. I am not sure how serious Schneiderlin's injury is but with Schweinsteiger likely to sit out a 3 match ban, his swift recovery will be vital too. Carrick could be used in centre defence with most of the injuries coming in that department. Herrera's recovery is also vital for United as an attacking force. He has become a fans favourite and whenever he is on the ball, he always looks likely to create something or score. Rooney is probably the only one most fans are not eager to see return to the team because of his poor form and the fact that he keeps playing despite of his poor form. Hopefully no-one else drops out injured before or during the next match against Bournemouth.

Finally, on luck. United have not had it with the injuries they have had. United have not had it with the way teams are defending against them. It's to the credit of their opponents that they are defending stoutly and bravely. The defenders are throwing their bodies on the line to block almost certain goals and that is so frustrating. As for profligacy, the players got to do better with their chances. The shooting has to be more accurate and the players who find themselves in attacking positions got to be more composed in front of goal. The shooting against West Ham was awful and wayward. Against Wolfsburg, United scored with their first chance which is rare this season and it normally helps settle the team and invite the opponents on but it doesn't help to concede so soon after taking the lead. There has to be greater composure and balance in holding on to leads. In recent games, United have hardly scored and when United have scored, like against Watford and Wolfsburg, they have let it go and not built on it. Young players have to mature faster, older players got to perform better and lead. Onwards to Bournemouth now. It is interesting to see how United deals with the setback of demotion to the Europa League as well as all the injuries they have got now. Would the team sink or swim? The performances on the field will tell.

Huffed And Puffed But To No Avail

The final whistle blew and a crescendo of boos reverberated around Old Trafford. It's not the first time that boos have been heard at Old Trafford this season. In fact, before Sir Alex Ferguson retired, I have never heard the Old Trafford crowd jeer at their own team at the end of the match or at half time. I have never known it like this in my lifetime as a Manchester United fan since 1991. I don't think it would faze Louis Van Gaal though with all the experience acquired from his time at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. As usual, it was mass hysteria again on social media at the end of the match. It is irritating to read but has become a familiar pattern after every game United so much as drop one point. I will not judge these fans and their authenticity and sincerity but it grates at my nerves whenever I read of these extreme reactions.

On the match itself, United were bright and played with intensity and urgency. They didn't maintain it throughout the match but they did display it enough to have won the match. West Ham had the better chances to score and defended stoutly. Winston Reid was the Man Of The Match. He was a colossal figure in defence. He nearly scored too from a header despite the close attention of Chris Smalling and Morgan Schneiderlin. His header from a corner crashed off the post. Before that, Daley Blind played a poor pass out of defence and United were hit by a counter attack but Victor Moses' effort was saved by David De Gea. Before that, Aaron Cresswell's cross was fumbled by De Gea and Smalling's clearance bounced off Mauro Zarate and off the post. In the second half, Zarate had a great chance to score after a well-worked move by West Ham. In total, they had 4 clear chances to score but only once was it through a well-worked move by West Ham. United had 21 shots on goal but had only 1 on target! It was a pathetic return. Now, if the team didn't attack at all, they wouldn't be capable of mustering 21 shots on goal and 6 corners. For a 0-0 draw, it was entertaining for the neutrals. If you did not watch the match, you would have thought that United laboured to create chances and had a pedestrian approach to the match but if you watched it, you would know that United tried as hard as they could to score. United approached this match with the right intensity and urgency and all that was missing was a goal or two. I had written in my previous post that the negativity garnered from the previous results were a result of the absence of an important detail, goals and not just optimum performance. Had United taken a chance or half chance then or made a better decision on the final ball in the last third or delivered the final ball accurately, we would be talking about a different, more positive sequence of results. United would be in a healthier position in the league table and Champions League as well.

If the players are not making the right decision in the final third or not delivering the final ball well or not taking their chances, how is Van Gaal to be blamed? He isn't on the pitch delivering the pass or cross, shooting or on the ball. It's the players that deserve the flak. The players have conveniently escaped the flak with all the blame for United's poor run of form placed on the manager's head. The manager is at fault if he is not getting the team to play with the right intensity, speed and urgency. He is at fault if he is not making the right team selection or making wrong substitutions but not yesterday. In other matches, the blame can be shared by the manager and players or even shouldered entirely by the manager but not in yesterday's match. I felt the inclusion of Marouane Fellaini had an impact on the team's increased urgency as they played the ball faster and more direct for him but he was at fault early in the match when he did well to beat a few players but chose to shoot wide tamely when he was flanked by Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata in good positions. Fellaini had a great opportunity to score in the second half but Adrian pulled off a great save although I think Fellaini could have done better.

The shooting from United players were awful. I am fine with the players taking a shot from distance instead of trying to pass the ball in the net all the time but the shooting has to be on target at least. The shots taken were wayward and rash. In the first half, Anthony Martial had a great opportunity to score but his shot was courageously blocked by Reid. In the second half, Mata, Lingard and Martial had great opportunities to score but all three put their shots wide when in good positions. Matteo Darmian had sent in an awful cross in the first half when in good position but in the second half, he sent in a great cross but no-one gambled to get near goal side. There were other half-chances that were blocked by West Ham defenders. In all, there were more than enough chances to score and win the match but United didn't take it. West Ham, to their credit defended very well and were not contented with just sitting back as they created some very good chances themselves. It was another frustrating result but the lack of a prolific, established striker is greatly affecting United now.

I have always been against the sale of Javier Hernandez but I understand why he was sold. At the time of his sale, there were many fans who described him as deadwood and trolled him for the penalty miss against Club Brugge. All of a sudden, on the back of his excellent form for Bayer Leverkusen, these fans are asking for him to be re-signed and crying out for him. Strange how peoples' view change from one day to other. I had read someone tweet that he had done f%^& all in his time at United. F$%& all! How people quickly people forget that it was thanks to his goals that United had won the last two league titles. Hernandez's goals weren't the only reason United won the titles and reached the Champions League final of 2011 but he played a significant part. He lost his way after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. David Moyes and Van Gaal didn't show him the support and faith he enjoyed from Sir Alex and lost his confidence but not his quality. He has left now and it would be difficult to imagine United re-signing him.

For United to do well with the present roster of attackers and attack minded players available, United would need someone to have an outstanding season similar to the breakthrough season Cristiano Ronaldo had in the 2006-07 season. At the moment, none of the attackers or attack minded players are standing out. Wayne Rooney is having an awful season, Memphis Depay, Martial and Lingard are still developing and generally there are not enough goals in the side. The midfielders and defenders are not contributing. Mata is normally so prolific in the box and from free kicks but has not been sharp. Another attacking midfielder, Ander Herrera is out injured now. Fellaini hasn't played enough and there haven't been enough good deliveries into the box for him to capitalise on. Smalling has been excellent this season on the defensive side of things but can improve with his distribution of the ball forward and has not scored enough. Although to be fair to him, the delivery from set pieces have been awful this season. Blind had an unusually poor match yesterday and he is another that is more than capable of scoring. Everyone has to pull their weight especially the more experienced and established members of the squad. United needs greater composure in front of goal and with goals will come greater confidence.

Dissection Of Manchester United

My review of Manchester United's draw against Leicester City was conspicuous by its absence. At the end of the game, I was left speechless. It wasn't because I had just witnessed a mesmerising display by United or that United were absolutely hammered and embarrassed. The scoreline reflected neither and so did the performance but what can I say after witnessing that performance? United clearly played for a draw. This wasn't a two legged tie where they could do with a draw and away goal. This was an English Premier League tie where the winners would go top and every point counts. Yet, United played cautiously and it was unusual to see United play like that. It was surreal. For me, it was the epitome performance of the kind of performance United were producing under Louis Van Gaal causing disappointment, frustration and disgruntlement among fans.

As it normally happens whenever United drop points nowadays, there was an outbreak of hysteria on social media. It has become a norm nowadays since the explosion of social media, that fans of all clubs either gloat and get over-excited at one victory or a sequence of victories or get depressed and critical at one defeat or a run of poor results. The world of football has lost its sense of balance. To be realistic and reasonable, there is no chance that Louis Van Gaal will be sacked in the near future. United are now third, one point behind the joint leaders and one victory away from progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Their participation in the FA Cup has not started yet so there is still a chance of a silverware at least. To put things into perspective, David Moyes' United were doing worse than the present team is doing and yet he wasn't sacked until the back end of the season when the team had suffered one too many defeats. Therefore, for all those hoping that Van Gaal would be sacked, they can just dream on about it happening at this present point of time.

On the football we are witnessing, I am perplexed at the kind of football fans are observing. Van Gaal's Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich actually produced very good, attacking football. United are not producing a similar style of football. Van Gaal frequently talks about his philosophy but I don't believe his philosophy just involves passing the ball sideways and backwards at a pedestrian pace. I would be really interested to be a fly in the wall and find out what exactly is his philosophy. What does it involve? I would be really interested to witness his training sessions to see what is he working on and what issues does he address during the team meetings. At the moment, nobody can answer that for sure unless you are part of the inner circle at United. It would also be interesting to know what Ryan Giggs' thoughts are on hearing the criticism of the team from his former team-mates who are now pundits in the media.

To put things into perspective on the performance we are witnessing, United have not always produced great, free-flowing football. Nostalgia plays tricks on the mind of fans. In 1995-96, a young United side had a string of 1-0 wins inspired by Eric Cantona on their way to winning the Double. In 2010-11, United were hardly a side that produced the kind of swashbuckling football the team is popularly known for but yet won the title and qualified for the Champions League final largely due to their consistency. I am not sure what exactly would United achieve at the end of this season but the fact of the matter is that United under Sir Alex Ferguson has not always produced the kind of great, free-flowing, attacking football they are famous for. This is a fact that the club's legends, who are now pundits and criticising the kind of performance United are producing, should acknowledge. I understand that as fans, the club legends would feel the frustration at the kind of football United are producing like the rest of the fans. I feel the difference between Sir Alex's teams and the team now is that Sir Alex's teams would more often than not try until the final whistle to score, convert a defeat into a draw or a draw into a win. The team would move through the gears during the game and display some urgency. This United seem to be stuck at one gear throughout the match and one cannot help but feel that United are capable of doing more and playing better. It feels like United could move up a few gears but they are not doing it and that is the reason why I feel United are being roundly criticised.

It also has to be noted that United are in transition. Over two summers, United have bought and sold many players. The amount of money spent is irrelevant because to build a winning team, having a stable squad is a key ingredient and the foundation of a winning team. There are also a number of young players in the squad who are far from the finished article. I am referring to players like Memphis Depay, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial who can't be expected to perform consistently at a high level. There's Luke Shaw as well who is out for the entire season and Andreas Pereira who is on the fringes of the squad. At the other extreme, there are experienced players like Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young. Rooney's performances have been poor all season. He has been rightly criticised and a lot of spotlight has been placed on his performances. He is the captain of the side and he is been well below-par. He looks like a very poor version of what he was and is capable of. Carrick has been in and out of the side and has been misplacing his passes in his last 2 games which is unusual. However, with Carrick, his performances tend to get better the more he plays so there is still hope. Schweinsteiger has slowly grown into his role and is making more of an impact now. He is showing himself to be a true leader of the squad. Ashley Young has performed decently when he is called upon but is not quite performing like he did in the back end of last season. When United won the title with Fergie's Fledglings in 1995-96, there was the contribution of experienced players and players reaching their peak like Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Andy Cole. That is the difference this season. United's experienced players are not pulling their weight and contributing.

The players in the mid-section that are at the age to reach their peak are performing quite well but can do more. Morgan Schneiderlin has done well and not looked out of place at United. David De Gea and Chris Smalling are having great seasons so far. Daley Blind, I feel is not playing in his right position, centre back is not his best position. Marcos Rojo has done well but is injured again unfortunately. Matteo Darmian made a strong start but has not performed well lately as he is probably feeling the strain of playing in England and Europe and coming to terms with it. Marouane Fellaini has hardly featured this season. Ander Herrera is a crowd favourite and I feel he can only get better if more of the play goes through him. Juan Mata isn't exactly in his best position playing off the right wing but can still create a lot of danger but is not quite as influential this season. Phil Jones, I feel is the best candidate to partner Smalling but he has to stay injury-free. This group of players can do better.

Rooney is out against West Ham but I don't think it is an absence that will be keenly felt by the team and the fans. It could work in United's favour and unlock the attacking potential of the team. It could. Who knows? Let's see tomorrow what effect it has on the team. Herrera is still out and that I feel is an absence United fans will feel the most. Rojo, Jones, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia are the other absentees. Another key factor for United is to score first. In recent draws, the game could have changed if United had taken their first chance or half chance. It would make a world of difference in the game especially against teams that clam up at the back. Sir Alex's team almost always took their first chance and that would force teams to open up. Let's see what United can produce against West Ham. Support the team through thick and thin.