United In Review 2015-16

I had wanted to write my review on United's season but that has been overshadowed by recent developments involving our now ex-manager, Louis Van Gaal. Van Gaal has been sacked in the aftermath of leading Manchester United to their record-equaling 12th FA Cup but before I delve further into that matter, let me summarise my review on United's 2015-16 season.

United like many of the big clubs had an underwhelming and inconsistent English Premier League campaign. At one point of the season, United were even top but couldn't hold on to that position for long. United missed out on the minimum target I presume for a club the size and stature of Manchester United, Champions League qualification. They finished the season level on points with Manchester City but for the second time in four years, United lost out to their neighbours on goal difference. This season, United improved defensively but just didn't score enough. United have almost always dominated on possession but in most games, they have not capitalised on superior possession with chances created or shots on goal. The emergence of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford as well as the signing of Anthony Martial made some difference as the team showed greater verve, tempo and directness in its play when all three played. There were games where United produced football expected of United, swift attacking football with lots of chances created and goals scored but it didn't happen often enough.

In the Champions League, United had a disappointing campaign. United won all it's home matches except one and didn't win any of their away matches. They crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages itself which was an embarrassment but remained in European competition as they were demoted to the Europa League where United disappointingly exited to Liverpool in the Round of 16. It is never nice losing to Liverpool in any competition and it wasn't nice getting knocked out by them in the Europa League. In the League Cup, United survived longer than they did in 2014-15 season but were dumped out deservingly on penalties by Middlesbrough at home. The FA Cup as everyone knows was a saving grace for United's season.

Going into 2015-16, I am of the opinion that this was still a team in transition. It cannot be anything but that after another summer with lots of new signings and sales. United had failed to build on the squad built in 2014-15 and with this lack of stability it is unreasonable to expect a season where United would be challenging for the major honours. I understand that a team like Manchester United should always aim to challenge for every trophy available and rightly so but it doesn't mean it will be possible all the time like it is impossible to expect United to forever win trophies. A lean spell here and there should be expected because you can't win all the time. United just got to make sure the lean spell doesn't stretch into decades. Spending money to sign players doesn't equate to immediate success either. United would have done very well to have had a season where they challenged for the major honours deep into the season after signing 6 senior players and selling or loaning an equal amount of players or more.

Van Gaal was under increased pressure this season from the fans because they were not witnessing the kind of football they were used to or expected to witness. With the brand of football Van Gaal employed, he would have fans on his side as long as the team was winning, the moment the team so much as drop a point, they would all be against him and the moaning would get louder with a defeat. The fans were largely by his side in the previous season as it was his first season. They understood the transition and United had ended the season well to finish in the Champions League qualifying position. The end to 2014-15 was promising. In this season, they expected him to build on that and really challenge for the title but that didn't happen. The writing was already on the wall with summer transfer activities. It was going to be another brand new squad for United. In December, he faced his toughest time as an United manager after United were dumped out of the Champions League and didn't win a single game in the Premier League in that month. December was when the rumours started and grew louder of Van Gaal's sacking and potentially Mourinho's appointment. It didn't happen until the season was over.

Van Gaal to his credit did solidify United's defence. United ended this season with the best defensive record in the Premier League. People say that teams no longer fear coming to Old Trafford but in his two seasons in charge, Old Trafford has actually become a fortress for United. Based on home form alone, United finished at least top two in Van Gaal's two seasons at Old Trafford. For all the complaints people have of Van Gaal and his football, he has actually helped United finished higher than they did under David Moyes and won a trophy to go along with it. I agree United should not be aiming to finish fourth and fifth but it is still better finishing there than in seventh. There are fans who discredit him for the emergence of youngsters but the fact that he purposely kept the senior squad size small was to give youngsters the possibility to play in the first team. If he had kept the squad bigger, United would have more senior players to rely on when they faced injuries and these youngsters would have no space at all irregardless of whether his hand was forced to field them due to injuries or not. He had also the vision to sign Anthony Martial, someone not many had heard of and frankly many of us were sceptical of when he was signed especially at the fees we paid for him. I am firm believer that the fruits of Van Gaal's work would only be savoured after he has left. The youngsters were thrown into the deep end where they had to sink or swim and many did very well to swim. It would serve them very well in their development, maturity and mental strength.

What went against Van Gaal was that I felt he couldn't get to grips with English football especially when United travelled away. When teams get into United's faces, close them down early and go at United at 100 miles an hour, United struggle to cope with it. Another area United struggle to cope with is when teams played direct football. He had this issue in his first season and for a manager of his experience, he should have noted this aspect and worked on it for this season but he failed to rectify it. Van Gaal has an arrogance and stubborness about him and that worked against him. He felt that United could play the same way against anyone and at wherever they played which is fine but his failure to adapt to his opponents led to his downfall. Sir Alex had the same approach too but he was able to adapt to the opponents. If United had to battle, he made sure United won the battles on the pitch. To win the league, United cannot be pretty all the time and certainly can't play the same type of football all the time. They got to be ready to get down and dirty and that was something Van Gaal couldn't comprehend and cope with. In England, more so than in other parts of Europe, smaller teams would be looking to make up for their lack of quality available by trying to engage physically, play direct football and make it really tough for their more illustrious opponents to get into their rhythm.

In modern football, big teams constantly rotate their players and the requirement to do so is more in England than anywhere else in Europe because there are more matches played during a season with no winter break in between. If Van Gaal had his way, he would play the same eleven that did well previously week in, week out. I have noticed that if a line-up works in one game, he would keep employing the same line up unless there is a suspension, injury or drop of form. He didn't have the ability to rotate the players to keep everyone involved and fresh, rotating with a purpose and that is to play players with characteristics that can exploit your opponents' weakness. These are areas I feel he has been found wanting and led to his downfall. It didn't help too when he played players out of position. Last season, he played Wayne Rooney in centre midfield and with the form of Robin Van Persie and Falcao, many wondered why Rooney was playing there. This season, Rooney struggled as a forward and it was blessing in disguise that he got injured as it allowed Marcus Rashford to emerge. Since returning from injury, Rooney has vindicated Van Gaal's decision to play him in midfield last season. Sir Alex actually had the vision to play him in that position in his last season but there was a fall out between them on this matter. However, playing Juan Mata on the right wing, Jesse Lingard as a playmaker and Ashley Young as a forward is not quite a good idea. He did successfully convert Antonio Valencia into a right back from a right winger, Young did do well playing as a left back or wing back but not as successfully as Valencia and the versatile Daley Blind has done very well in centre back this season.

I feel Van Gaal deserve lots of credit for coping with the constant rumours surrounding his future since December 2015. Despite these rumours and constant pressure, with a young squad, he has managed to guide United to a cup triumph and a joint fourth placed finish (to look at it positively). However, I don't feel that he will tweak his ways and beliefs and that would result in more disappointment as it is not easy to play in England or the modern game holding on to old beliefs. Sir Alex tweaked his as the years went by to stay relevant and Van Gaal should have done the same. It has been a great career for Louis Van Gaal, it didn't quite work as planned in England in the short term but I believe his work will be noticed in the long term. I wish him a happy retirement and all the best in his future endavours.

Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde Man. United

I didn't watch the match against West Bromwich Albion because I was very sick. I had every intention to soldier on despite my sickness but my ailments overpowered me. When I checked the score in the morning, I was unhappy to find out that United had lost but I wasn't surprised. It has become common for this version of Manchester United to unexpectedly lose when you least expect it and to win spectacularly again when least expected. You just never know which United would turn up from one match to the other. Gone are the days when we could expect United to go on a long winning or at least unbeaten run, where defeats would be few and far between and a losing run would not last longer than at least 2 matches. I can't comment on the performance against West Bromwich because I didn't watch the match but it was a defeat United could ill afford as they needed to stay on the coat-tails of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. After that defeat, whatever chance United had of qualifying for the Champions League through their league position has now got slimmer.

The reaction of our fans to the defeat to West Bromwich is ridiculous, extreme and embarrassing. Post-Arsenal, many fans was buzzing about the possibility of entering the top 4 and finishing higher than 4th in the league. Some overly optimistic dreamers even started tipping United to mount a late and unexpected title surge. It was tough to find anyone stating LVGOUT and/or WoodwardOUT etc. Post-defeat to West Bromwich and the same number of fans (almost), are down in the dumps suggesting that United could peter away and end the season in a mid-table position. It is embarrassing because many fans have spent so much time mocking fans of other clubs that express such extreme reactions but are now as guilty as fans of our rivals for displaying similar outbursts.

In today's day and age, you don't get that many fans who understand football and are realist. This is a phenomenon that exists with fans of other big clubs too, Liverpool and Arsenal come to mind as their fans have displayed equally dramatic opinion changes. I feel before anyone supports a club or even when they decide to support a club, they should first understand and analyse football before they make crazy declarations that are synonymous of someone who could be suffering from a bipolar disorder. It is easy to get excited and carried away on the waves of success but before anyone opens their mouth to talk or in today's world, access their keypad to type, they should first calm down and think carefully using logic and keeping emotions aside. United were successful for so long because the manager and players didn't focus on gloating over one or two wins, they focused on the bigger picture and celebrated when they achieved it. They didn't spend time rubbing it in the faces of their adversaries, they focused on doing it again and again like a machine. That should be the attitude our fans should take. Even in those successful times, there were seasons where United fell below expectations and had poor seasons, the team made the best they could of the season and responded. United fans should take a leaf out of the mindset of our successful teams and apply it in their role as a fan of the club. It's small talk to label a person as a plastic fan or non-plastic fan. A real plastic fan is someone who only supports during the good times and goes missing in the bad times. As fans, everyone is entitled to their opinion, everyone has their right to express their disappointment and joy in whichever way they like but one should always rationalise before forming an opinion and then expressing it.

Post-Arsenal, I felt that United did achieve a significant result and were on a good run after taking into account the comfortable and morale-boosting wins in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury Town and in the Europa League against Midtjylland. They continued it albeit fortunately and in gritty fashion against Watford in midweek but they needed more than 2 successive league wins. United needed to keep winning and go on a run, keeping pace and putting the pressure on Manchester City in 4th place with the derby yet to be played, winning the derby will definitely aid their hopes and any other slip-up from City along the way could be taken advantage of by United. That was the task at hand. It is disappointing but qualifying for the Champions League has become the club's "Premier League title" now. The reality is that United desperately needs to qualify for Europe's elite club competition. It is the bare requisite after yet another disappointing season. However, United have hardly been consistent for most of this season and it is one of the major reasons why United find themselves in a below-par season. With that in mind, it would be an achievement for this side to go on a long winning run almost till the end of the season to qualify for the Champions League. The task at hand was huge and it became mammoth with that defeat to West Bromwich. United now find themselves behind Manchester City and West Ham in 6th place, 3 points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand. Mathematically it is still possible to target for the 4th place in the league but considering the way the team has played and how inconsistent it has been, the task is almost impossible now. It will require a miracle and that miracle is called positive consistency of results.

I dreaded being drawn against Liverpool in the Round of 16 of the Europa League because firstly, I would rather play against a European club side since this is an European tie after all and secondly, after the last encounter against Liverpool at Anfield where United got a smash-and-grab win, I was afraid, it could come back to bite us as that win could have just papered over the limitations of United against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. I hate losing to Liverpool but I approached this match feeling less intense than usual for a match against Liverpool. It was odd to face them in an European tie and that too in a two-legged tie and not the final itself. The fact that United have beaten them in the last 4 competitive matches, led me to be lulled into complacency and not knowing what to expect just left me hoping that United would not play as poorly as they did in their previous league encounter at Anfield. My worse fears were realised as soon as United conceded a rather soft penalty. Overall, I got to admit that it was a deserved win for Liverpool and United had another poor outing at Anfield against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool who are set up in a different way compared to Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool. The German used the same tactics and strategy that he had employed in the January encounter. The only difference is that Liverpool scored this time albeit with a touch of good fortune but they deserved their good luck.

United lacked creativity going forward, they lacked intensity, it seem like they were just going through the motions and had their thoughts elsewhere. Normally losing to Liverpool would leave me filled with rage and sour my mood for days but having seen how poorly they can play, I am no longer surprised at the performance and the score-line to feel the rage. I knew it could have been worst had it not been for the heroics of David De Gea again so to only lose 2-0 after a performance like that is a very slight positive to take from the result. The unpredictability and inconsistency of the team's performance is astonishing and remarkable.I am lost for words and tired to explain and rationalise the performances and inconsistency that has blighted the season. It's far too easy to blame injuries or the manager alone for this. Everyone from the players to the manager has to take their share of the blame. I was very surprised by the selection of Marouane Fellaini. He had just returned from injury and before he got injured, he was playing very well but normally Van Gaal likes to build his returning players' fitness by letting them play part of matches and not throw them directly into a match situation. Fellaini not only played, he played for 90 minutes and was as poor as anyone of the outfield players. It seems that the strategy was just to lump the ball long to him which is a strategy one one would use late in a match when chasing a result not from the first minute. Frustrating and very disappointing. It could be a blessing in disguise if he is banned for the second leg.

What will happen of United now? Your guess is as good as mine. The match against West Ham on Sunday in the FA Cup will not be easy at all even if United is playing at home. It is not beyond West Ham to beat United as it is not beyond United to suddenly play very well and win. Can United overturn the result against Liverpool in the return fixture at Old Trafford in a week's time? Yes and no. Again, it will depend on which United turns up.

The Troubles At My Club: Manchester United

It has been a dismal season for Manchester United thus far. Before the defeat against Sunderland, I had predicted that United would need to win at least 95% of their remaining league fixtures to finish in a Champions League position. I had no hope at all of United challenging for the title despite the optimism of the manager and some from the United camp. As far as I am concerned, that objective was over a long time ago. After the defeat to Sunderland, I feel United need to win a 100% of their remaining fixtures which include matches against the current top 4. Is it possible? Anything is possible in football but with the squad's current form, injury situation and inconsistency, I feel it isn't possible. Wayne Rooney and Louis Van Gaal sounded downbeat about the team's chances of qualification to the Champions League through their league position. The best route to the Champions League now lies through winning the Europa League and that is not a given either with some really strong teams still in the running for the Europa League.

United were playing much better and getting good results in their last 3 matches before the second half collapse against Sunderland and therein illustrates one of our problems this season, lack of consistency. United take 1 step forward and 2 steps back. It's like being in constant tango. However, the lack of consistency is not something I will address first. I will address the number 1 reason why Manchester United have not reached the heights of previous seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson left, the lack of stability at the club. For over 2 decades, Sir Alex managed the club and built winning teams. He has had periods of struggle at the start of his time there and periods of transition in between the successful years but he was the pulse of the club. He made the team tick and gave the team the calmness to play their game. The level that United were left by Sir Alex Ferguson was at a very high level and expectations of, at and around the club are now much higher than it was when he took over in 1986. I would be selfish to say this but I would say that for the good of the club, perhaps Sir Alex could have better planned his retirement. When he decided to retire, Jose Mourinho had already decided to go back to Chelsea, Pep Guardiola had already signed for Bayern Munich, Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti were happy at Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid respectively and current United manager, Louis Van Gaal was preparing the Dutch national team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. In my opinion, a poor decision was made in hiring David Moyes. He did a good job keeping Everton in the Premier League since he took charge, leading them to Europe albeit not consistently and he had built a solid and stable team but with all due respect, managing Manchester United is a different kettle of fish to managing Everton. With David Gill also leaving that season as a the CEO of the club, all of a sudden, United were faced with welcoming the new season with a new manager and a new CEO. As a fan, one would hope they did well but I always felt it was a big risk hiring Moyes. The writing was already on the wall after the embarrassing saga around the chase for Cesc Fabregas and the eventual deadline day signing of Marouane Fellaini for an inflated transfer fee. On the pitch, United struggled in pre-season. I shrugged it off as pre-season friendly results that didn't count for much but my fears were confirmed in actual competitive matches as United allowed many teams to break their winless duck against them that season.

With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been clever to keep Sir Alex's backroom staff to guide Moyes along but he perhaps wanted to reward the men who were with him during his coaching career at Everton and rightly so but it would have been practical in taking the former decision. Next, the team had finished the previous season as champions by a sizeable margin. There was a need to find long term replacements for the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs and a permanent replacement for the newly retired Paul Scholes. He had already inherited a squad which included Chris Smalling and Phil Jones as potential replacements for Ferdinand and Vidic. He was chasing Fabregas as a replacement for Scholes but perhaps the Spaniard still had something against United from his time at Arsenal or wouldn't want to play for an untested manager at a high level like Moyes or both. Too much time was wasted in the chase that other possible targets were lost. I believe another reason for the failure to sign a big name player would be that the appeal to play for Manchester United had gone down since Sir Alex's retirement. Foreign players were unsure on the capability of the new man in-charge and in some cases, probably hadn't even heard of him. Tom Cleverley was unfortunately never going to be Scholes' replacement and Sir Alex left his predecessor short in this department. There were no British players of the calibre of Scholes either. However, besides not being able to sign players he identified, he didn't need to change United's playing style too drastically to what Sir Alex had imposed. If it ain't broken, don't fix it. He meddled unnecessarily and caused lots of confusion and unhappiness. The performances and results on the pitch was there for all to see. Had he had the assistance of Sir Alex' backroom staff, he would have been guided in the right way and would be rightly assisted in the management of the players. Moyes was clearly out of depth and it was a risk that didn't pay off. United finished outside of the top 4 four for the first time in the history of the Premier League, they ended the season trophy-less and without European participation the following season.

Then Van Gaal came to replace Moyes and there was a wave of enthusiasm as he had led an unfancied Dutch team to a respectable third place finish in the World Cup. Now, United had a big name manager with the experience of managing and winning at other big clubs in Europe. Pre-season results led to greater enthusiasm and it reached orgasmic stage when United bought Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw in the summer transfer window. All high hopes came crashing down when United lost their first league fixture and not long after were trashed 4-0 by MK Dons in the 2nd round of the League Cup. A whole host of departures followed. United had a decent season albeit another trophy-less one and a strong finish saw them qualify for the Champions League. It bode well for the future that after having spent a season in-charge and with the addition of new signings in the summer transfer market, the players would have bedded in, understood what Van Gaal expects of the team and Van Gaal would have understood the rigours of English football to kick on for the following season and challenge for major honours again. The signings came but so did the departures again. For a second season in a row, United had lots of signings and lots of sales and loans. How can one expect to achieve stability with such turnover of players? It is regularly pointed out that United spent X amount of money on players over two transfer windows but no-one points out to money recouped in the sale over both transfer windows. For the team to be properly stable, Van Gaal should have kept the squad as intact as possible making some signings to strengthen the team and cope with the demands of playing in 4 competitions including a physically demanding league that is the English Premier League. He chose to keep a small squad so that he could blood youngsters when needed and he has not been shy to do so. It's credit to him that he has kept the United tradition of promoting youngsters to the first team but they have been blooded under intense pressure when results haven't been good, performances have been poor and confidence is low. In the long-term, such experiences should toughen up the young players and expedite their maturity but in the short-term, it would only lead to inconsistent performances individually and as a team.

Van Gaal's reluctance in rotating the squad only leads to fatigue and injuries. To be fair to him, a lot of the injuries sustained by players this season have not been muscular but have been joint,bone injuries sustained during matches or training. With a squad that lacks depth, United is always going to struggle to cope with an injury crisis. There is too much undue pressure on the youngsters to deliver and the lack of depth doesn't exactly stimulate competition for places for the seasoned professionals. This is where I feel Van Gaal is at fault. Another area he has failed to cope with is the intensity of matches in England especially in away matches. United struggle to cope against teams that get into their faces, press high, are aggressive and play long, direct balls. More often than not, United don't seem to be up for a battle and lose out. The lack of preparation and anticipation to deal with this aspect after one full season in England is not acceptable. In England, he can't expect his team to just dominate every game. The team needs to be ready to go into a battle especially away from home where for a smaller club, every match against a big team like Manchester United is a cup final. It is ironic that Arsenal were accused of having a soft underbelly for many seasons and United would always get the better of them by being aggressive and this season Arsenal gave United a dose of their own medicine. On paper, United could easily field a dynamic and exciting front four similar to the Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez axis of the 2007-08 season but United's style of play for most of the season have been dour. You do see bits and pieces of promise, flair and dynamism in parts of matches or in the entirety of some matches but it is not consistent enough. Blame has been leveled at the manager for the style of play but I feel the players got to take the blame as well.

On the issue of players, I feel United shouldn't have sold Shinji Kagawa, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez or even Nani and Darren Fletcher but if they weren't given much chance and didn't have the faith of the manager, then it was the right decision for them to leave and play elsewhere happily. If Sir Alex Ferguson had stayed for one more season, Wayne Rooney would have surely been sold and all three or at least 2 out of the 3 above-mentioned players (Kagawa, Welbeck, Hernandez) would have a more prominent role to play in the first team. I am not sure if Di Maria left because he chickened out and left to get a better pay cheque at Paris St.Germain or was sold by the club. My feeling is more of the former than the latter which is a pity and an act of cowardice from the Argentine. Players can have a good game or a bad game and in a team with so many young players, the older, more senior players have to stand up and be counted when the going gets tough in a game and drag the team out of a mess and nick a result if needed. That hasn't happened enough. By his own admission, Van Gaal has said the players have been too nice with each other in the dressing room and that is something that can't be accepted in a team that is expected to always win. Over the weekend, when I saw the players losing out to second balls, being second to challenges and messing with possession, I don't see anyone tearing into the players to keep them on their toes and cut out the mistakes. In years gone by, one would have seen players like Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Steve Bruce, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher, Gary Neville have a go at the players. I understand that society is different nowadays and the younger players are sensitive to such telling off but sometimes there is nothing better than a strong telling off to get a player's act together and keep his focus. Rooney was a player capable of lashing out at his team-mates but he has mellowed tremendously and lost his spark. Only a couple of players like Eric Cantona and Paul Scholes could get the message across without raising their voice and these were gifted players who let their aura and talent speak for themselves. The lack of strong leadership on the pitch is another reason behind United's struggles. I don't know what goes on in the dressing room and training ground but it doesn't seem like much good is going on there in terms of leadership. The team lacks strong leaders. United cannot win anything or aim to recapture it's previous height of success without having strong leaders in the team.

Another significant point on players is the fall out between Van Gaal and Victor Valdes. The fall out escalated to an embarrassing level when Valdes was completely left out of the first team and not allowed to share the dressing room or train with the first team. Sir Alex has had his fall outs before but he has always made it a point to quickly move the player on to another club. The Van Gaal-Valdes saga was embarrassing for the club and showed a lack of respect and class towards the player. Valdes was also a key figure in the dressing room for the Spanish speaking members of the team and he was a winner from his time at Barcelona and Spain. A player of his experience and leadership could have been a vital component in the dressing room and training ground even if he wasn't expected to play much as an understudy to De Gea. The fall out had an effect on the players in the dressing room as the team had bonded so well at the end of the previous season. Van Gaal should have moved him on quickly after the fall out and not let it fester or he could have tried reconciling for the good of the club.

Final point, is on the CEO, Ed Woodward. He seems to me to be a person with greater natural inclination and ability towards the business, commercial side of the club rather than the footballing side of the club. That is all well and good but it is only good as long as the team remains successful on the pitch. Without success on the pitch, the club will lose it's commercial partners and with it, its revenue and appeal. The club's partners might be riding on past success and the fact that the club still remains one of the most successful and widely supported English clubs around the world. Woodward though doesn't seem to have his pulse on the football side of things. Since United's poor run of form in December, Van Gaal's future has been in doubt but he has not come out to decisively deal with it one way or another. He has left the manager to fend for himself against the constant rumours over his future at the club. His current stand just seems to suggest that there could be more than an iota of truth in all the rumours surrounding the manager and it could have a de-stabilising effect on the team. It does seem from the outside looking in that the manager doesn't have the support of the board or CEO contrary to what Van Gaal claims. I believe that if Woodward wanted to sack Van Gaal, he would have done so in December but he didn't. I am of the opinion that Woodward would keep Van Gaal in the job as long as there is a chance of at least qualification to the Champions League either through their league position or winning the Europa League. I feel Woodward is stalling on sacking Van Gaal probably due to the compensation that he would need to pay for the early termination from his contract. Whatever the reality is, Woodward has to come out to deal with this matter decisively. I get the impression that on the football aspect of running the club, Woodward takes inspiration from Real Madrid. He sacked David Moyes 10 months into his job, I feel rightly so and he hasn't exactly come out in defence of Van Gaal with his future under constant scrutiny and speculation. I feel English clubs are going to be given an inflated quote for players they are after due to the increase in revenue of English clubs and in Woodward's case, he has shown a willingness to pay whatever he has been quoted without batting an eyelid. Anthony Martial became the world's most expensive teenager when he was signed just as Rooney was when he was signed about a decade ago. At the moment, he is justifying the price tag but not everyone might be worth the price we pay and he has to be more shrewd in his dealings.

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.