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.
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