24 Nov 2014 14:08:45
When you actually step back and consider everything that LvG has had to work with as far this season, it does shock me that some people believe he's not doing a very good job.

1. A horrific injury list that just doesn't seem to reduce at all. I know some suggest the £150m spent in the Summer should counteract this, but a large chunk of that £150m are players who have or are on this remedial list (Shaw, Rojo, Blind, Herrera, Falcao).

2. The successful introduction of 3 youth team players; Blackett, McNair and Wilson.

3. Having to constantly adapt formations and tactics to compensate for the injury list we have. and actually getting the players to buy in and follow new instructions, etc.

4. Getting performances from players who aren't generally accepted as 'United Quality'. such as Fellaini.

5. There's a sense of unification coming out of the club that hasn't been there since Sir Alex left. Siege mentality, players throwing themselves in front of the ball, covering each others positions, etc. Talent can be purchased, but fight, determination and spirit is what creates good teams and champions.

6. After all of the above, we're in 4th spot. Yes, 4th spot. We've had some terrible luck with injuries, lost some early games in the season when the team was finding its feet, and we have the following players to hopefully return in the New Year and kick us on for the second half of the season:

Rojo
Blind
Herrera
Falcao
Rafael
Jones
Evans

I for one am very, very happy with the progress being made, and as far, think LvG is doing a sterling job. A good Xmas period and hopefully we'll get a break on the injury front, and we can really cement that CL spot and continue to build in the Summer with a Strootman and Hummels addition (we can all hope!).

Thoughts and comments welcome as usual.

WF Red Devil

1.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 14:27:12
A good post. You would want to be careful on here talking good sense like that. The Beast will be after you :)

2.) 24 Nov 2014
Excellent post. I agree with every word.

3.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 14:36:49
I agree in the main WF, but I have said we just need to be careful this season in getting carried away by any victories, just like people need to calm down a bit when they get all wound up about a defeat.

Like you say, the fight appears to be back and if it wasn't for the Smalling red card against City we could have come out of this spell of tough games with a few more points.

Since LVG got the players he wanted on 31st August we have 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats and 5 of them games have been against top 10 sides. If we win the next 2 winnable home games we would have 7 wins from 11 games in the league, exceptional form considering people are still complaining.

I have heard a few people in recent weeks say that LVG is doing no better than Moyes did, but whilst that might be true looking at the points, there is a clear gulf between last season and this season.

The injuries are a bit of a killer and with the young inexperienced back 4 we are playing with you do feel like we are always going to give chances away and will still lose 2-3 games this season that you wouldn't expect us to lose.

As I have been saying for a few weeks though, it is an exciting time to be a United fan, the games are exciting and more often than not we are coming away with the correct result.

4.) 24 Nov 2014
1. - Why is the injury list this bad, not sure it is all LVG but questions have to be asked like they were with Moyes?

2. - Would he have introduced them youngsters if we didn't have injuries, I doubt it. A case of what other option does he have rather than applauding his faith in youth. When we have a fit squad let's see how many youth players feature, if they do then I will applaud him.

3. - We have 3 fit CB's so he plays 3 at the back, that isn't adapting, that's ultra weak (We had zero options on the bench defensively). It paid off on Sunday, but by the skin of our teeth, Arsenal should have been out of sight before we got our act together if we are being honest.

4 - Fellaini wasn't given a chance under Moyes, but I do agree that there does seem to be a bit more desire. Maybe because the players all have something to prove. Thumbs up on this one.

5 - Don't agree yet, young players are going to fight for their place irrespective. RVP looks even less interested than last year. We haven't seen any consistency yet so we can't say there is a better unification. I do think there is signs of improvement but nothing significant yet.

6 - We are one loss away from 11th spot. 4th isn't anything to shout about yet, especially when you consider the performances of our key rivals so far.

We are getting wins where we would have lost or drawn at the start of the season so there is definitely progress, but it is very marginal. We were shocking against Palace and won, we offered nothing going forward against Arsenal and won. We are winning ugly and that at least is better than drawing or losing ugly which has been the shape of it this season so far.

As you say with people recovering and a consistent team we should start to see some sort of cohesion, but I am not impressed with our football by any stretch. The hardest part to get right is the battle and we have that I think, we are winning again and I have a bit of optimism that if we can win playing this badly then just think what can happen when we start clicking and see better players coming in for key positions.

We are on a roll now and beating Arsenal away was a great result, irrespective of how lucky we were.

5.) 24 Nov 2014
The fact that we have not been able to field a settled team is the reason the football has been a bit patchy, although I think we have played some exceptional attacking football at times this season.

6.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 16:43:49
'We are one loss away from 11th spot' sums you up 100% Beast.

Apart from the fact that it isn't true it is a ridiculous thing to say anyway, we are one loss and a win for every team between 5th and 10th away from being 10th actually, which isn't quite the same is it?

I like that you are gradually coming round to a little bit of optimism, Mrs Beast must be glad of the break from the moaning, but you still managed to take the compliment away with your 'irrespective of how lucky we were' comment.

7.) 24 Nov 2014
Sorry got the Stoke & Hull games muddled up.

Mrs Beast is much happier now thanks GDS2, she was close to banning me from this website, haha.

8.) 24 Nov 2014
Beast
Have a look at the cause of our major injuries.The long ones.

9.) 24 Nov 2014
I bet it killed Beast on the inside having to partially agree with number 4 there.

10.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 19:53:25
You're either a glass half full kind of guy or a glass half empty kind of guy. Beast is definitely a plastic 'Eeyore' cup half empty with a hole in the bottom of it kind of guy.

11.) 24 Nov 2014
I really don't understand why everyone gives beast such a tough time. He seems like a nice fella, he is never rude to other posters he is just honest. We personally don't share the same opinion about Van Gaal or the progress the team is making, I feel quite happy considering where we are in the table and our terrible luck with injuries this season but that is his opinion and he is entitled to it. He doesn't sound like a troll to me, just a man that is not completely happy with what he is seeing from the club he loves. If we can get even just 1 player in January, for me we desperately need a commanding cb and If we can cover that position i think we will be fine until the end of the season and no reason why we shouldn't get top 4.

12.) 24 Nov 2014
Where was the luck beast? Was it because Wiltshire shot straight at Dr gea? This chance was a bad kick from Dr gea not an arsenal good play. We created loads of chances and we missed our own easy chance too when do maria missed.
Were we not unlucky that Wiltshire should've been sent off?
Come on, we played with certain tactics and they worked. Period.

13.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 20:53:28
My thoughts exactly, Dellboy. I disagree with Beast on a fair few things, but considering the fella takes dog's abuse off most on here, I've never seen him be anything other than polite and pleasant to all his detractors. Keep 'er lit, Beast! I enjoy reading your stuff, and the resultant discussions.

14.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 21:00:03
Dellboy,

Let's make it clear any arguments with beast are purely on his opinion on united which I often disagree with and nothing personal at all. I agree beast is never rude to anybody and gives his negative opinions in the nicest possible way, this is a banter site after all, and I'm pretty sure he can take it.

15.) 24 Nov 2014
Thanks Dellboy, appreciated.

Nomid - I think even the most biased of supporters would admit that we were not the better team on Saturday. The first 30mins was truly horrible and Arsenal looked like they could massacre us if it didn't get sorted quick. We settled down and contained well, breaking when we could, which was the game plan - however we were lucky to win that game when you look at the match objectively.

We have been unlucky not to win some games as well of course, but lady luck shone on us Saturday imo.

16.) 24 Nov 2014
1. Blind has missed one game through injury and Rojo two. Falcao represents only a small fraction of the £150m spent and Herrera has been available for most games (LVG just isn't starting him). One also has to question whether LVG's training regime or coaching staff have anything to do with the injuries. Shaw looked fine whilst at Southampton, for example, but since moving onto LVG's special fitness regime has picked up quite a few injuries.

2. I agree that Blackett and McNair have been successfully introduced into the squad (albeit out of necessity) - but I barely recall Wilson having a shot in the time he's played. As a striker - I don't think that successful in the slightest!

3. Apart from potentially the last game, I don't think injuries have had any bearing on the formation and tactics - just the team sheet (and the odd player being played out of position).

4. He's gotten good performances out of Fellaini - but poor ones from a number of other players. I'd rather have the 'old' Fellaini, RVP, Januzaj and Mata than the current versions.

5. People see what they want to see. We didn't look very 'unified' when we collapsed against Leicester, played out a boring 0-0 draw with the worst team in the league or got demolished by the mighty MK Dons. Our best performances of the season for me were against City and Chelski - and the fact that we only took a point from those two games says a lot about where the club is at right now and the way that we are playing.

6. We're in fourth place because our rivals have been worse than us. We're a million miles away from Chelsea right now. To put things into perspective; Southampton lost their manager, sold 88m worth of players, shipped their two record signings out on loan (Ramirez and Oswaldo) and are 6 points ahead of us (more if they can turn things around against Villa). Newcastle (whose fans have been calling for Pardew's head for most of the season) are level on points with us and West Ham (another team whose manager is on thin ice with fans) are only one behind.

It's great that we're in fourth place considering all of the above; but that's about all we have to be cheerful about based on how the season has gone so far!

17.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 22:54:40
Beast,

Send Mrs beast round to redsevens house for the night, she will come back thinking you are the beacon of optimism.

18.) 25 Nov 2014
Perhaps your Mrs could come over too, GDS2. The three of us could all watch a highlights reel made up of Manchester United's good football this season. It'd be just as short and unsatisfying as if she'd stayed at home with you ;)

19.) 25 Nov 2014
25 Nov 2014 08:59:37
Touche redseven, I'll give you that mate.

20.) 25 Nov 2014
25 Nov 2014 13:40:36
I enjoy beasts posts, usually entertaining.

21.) 25 Nov 2014
25 Nov 2014 14:18:13
Agree, Mr E. And the guy at least puts a bit of thought and reasoning into his arguments, rather than just coming out with a lot of guff straight off twitter or out of the tabloids. He depresses the hell out of me sometimes, but I like the cut of his jib.

22.) 25 Nov 2014
25 Nov 2014 15:03:01
Haha redseven! Thoroughly enjoyed that ;)