24 Nov 2014 10:00:10
The Major difference this year over last is the attitude of the players. They are all playing for the Manager the club and the fans. You can see that they believe in what they are doing and they believe in themselves.
IMO we are getting there allbeit slowly but this was never going to be smooth and quick.
I am surprised by Rooney and his dicipline and tactical awareness he has been doing very well whereas RVP looks knackered, it looks like his legs have gone, I think Falcao will take his place sooner rather than later
My understanding from informtion given to me from people within the club is that LVG would Ideally like to get in Strootman and Morgan Schneiderlin and choose 2 from 4 including carrick and Blind to play in midfield. He is also still holding out for Humells and 1 more winger possibly Shaquiri as the fear is that Reus is heading elsewhere.

1.) 24 Nov 2014
Interesting, well-balanced post.

2.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 12:02:09
The Arsenal game was a fantastic but also a really lucky win. But the difference from last year is that like you say Basingstoke, the players have confidence and works for the team. Having almost every first team defencive player out injured its amacing how the team is playing. Today the play wasnt the best at the start and that's because of sudden change back to 3-5-2, it took them a while to get used to the formation again but it worked like a charm. Every player worked for each other and played like a team. I think this will be the turningpoint. that's what makes the best teams right? If someone said we would have 4 points after City, Chelsea and Arsenal games would you believe it? Rvp didn't have the best of games, but i think AW gave special instructions for him, and ending up giving the other attacking players more space. Ok he dosnt have the speed anymore, but every team knows how good he can be and no one knows that how he suddenly can start scoring again. But again a fresh Falcao (if he ever will be) would do wonders.

3.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 12:12:53
Funny how when LVG was announced people said RvP will thrive under his dutch friend while Rooney will fail, oh how those people were wrong.

4.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 12:56:16
My answer was of course to Ken's post. Keeping Rooney in the club i think was the best Moyes did in the club. Of course he demands a lot of money, but after so many years at the club and how important he has bin, don't you think he deserves it? The man is everywhere and still works hardest of them all. can't put a pricetag on what he does. Its a reason why Morinho likes him so much and think about what Chelsea would be with Costa and Rooney in front? So for me Rooney is mr Manutd, espesially after SAF's retirement.

5.) 24 Nov 2014
There was nothing lucky about the win, we went in there with tactics hoping to suck them in and hit them on the break. And that is exactly what happened. We defended well and hit them on the break.
The only true chance came to Wiltshire from a poor kick by De Gea.
It is called tactics, something we lacked completely last year and to be frank in SAF's latter years of management.
Look at the Arsenal tactics and you can see why they have only won one major trophy in ten years.

6.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 14:24:43
I agree Nomid, I posted last year that the team was playing without a plan, or at the very best there was a plan but the players were not sure of how to carry out the plan. This led to what looked like a lack of effort and a lack of unity. This season against all the big teams we have been tactcally superb, never allowing chelsea or city to build their usual patterns of play and until Smalling got sent off we looked like City would not break us.
Not everybody will like the tactical makeover but until we have exactly who LVG needs to carry out his offencive game plans our best bet is to stop the others playing and hit them on the break, even this United team would be doing better than aresenal city or liverpool in CL as we have a superior tactical manager. We saw proof of this by him leading what was possibly the worst Dutch squad ever in terms of raw talent to a WC final.
Patience and he will deliver us more glory and set us an the right patth for years to come, I know Beast and some of our other posters would like us to have success right now and for our new signings to be firing 100% but that to me shows a lack of understanding and unrealistic expectations with the exception of Costa and sanchez not many of the big summer signings have been a roaring success so far Mangala?? welbeck?? Lukaku?? any of Liverpools?? James Rodriguez?? Suarez?? Matic who is Chelseas best player could not get a game there after he arrived in Jan but now he is their best player IMO.
We are on the right track, there are lots of highs and lows to come until we have the correct personelle and until we achieve champion like consistency

7.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 14:43:47
nomid,

I think we were a little lucky, but you have to be a little lucky to win any game, the opposition will always get chances and you have to hope they don't hit unstoppable shots, like West Brom did to us. 2 shots, 2 goals and we only manage a draw despite controlling the game.

But I do believe you make your own luck, it is amazing how often we were 'lucky' over the Fergie years. The more you do right the more luck you will get. Last season we kept saying Moyes was getting no luck whatsoever, things were going against us all the time, but now suddenly we are starting to get a few things going for us so hopefully we are doing things right.

With a little of that luck at Burnley we would have got one of the two penalties we should have had and could have even more points, but hopefully things will start to go for us now.

8.) 24 Nov 2014
24 Nov 2014 16:45:41
Ozwald, I was one that doubted that Rooney would fit in under the LVG regime I am glad to say I was wrong, this tells me that Wayne has a great level of football intelligence as that is a pre requisite for LVG for his captain in particular.
Hats off to Rooney for that, i'm my mind he has shown not only a great desire to remain at United but also his actions have spoken louder than his words and its not often you can say that about Rooney. Credit where its due.