Manchester United Banter Archive January 11 2015

11 Jan 2015 19:51:24
You said Ed that Van Gaal could leave at the end of the season who would you like to replace him Ancellotti and Simeone are obvious choices but who would you like if they weren't available

{Ed004's Note - If he was to leave Klopp or Ancelloti. But klopp is having a bad time at the moment.}

Do you think he will ed?

{Ed004's Note - No not this season unless the club does not get top 4}

After 22 games we have the same points under LVG as Moyes and has spent £150 million. I don't like his style on the sidelines no instructions to players during a game and so many injuries in his training sessions and he is so stubborn he will not change his God awful system. Easy to see why munich and Barca wanted shot of him. Would not mind if he was shown the door at then end of the season cannot see how next year will be any better no matter who he signs his formation and philosophy is a joke

12 Jan 2015 00:01:45
Jaime,

The whole moyes and lvg argument is a daft one, if you remember most people were still backing moyes after 21 games, it was the terrible performances from this point on, losing 3-0 to our 2 biggest rivals and not making champions league that were the reasons he got sacked. Easy to forget the past to suit an argument though which most people seem to be doing.

Gds
So was it round about this time that you turned on moyes .

Gds
Have a look at the page from 11th of jan 2014
We had just beat swansea but the knives are well and truly out for moyes
Infact just check out a few days over the xmas period .
Your doing a great job of defending him but an awful lot want him out before xmas

12 Jan 2015 09:31:07
jred,

Maybe you are right, but people had different expectations last year, and the club were certainly still backing him at this point. You are the one that has said on many occasions comparing the 2 is ridiculous, unless it suits your argument then you don't stop mentioning Moyes.

11 Jan 2015 18:19:04
One injury and we're still playing with 3 at the back and key players out of position.

Not a single fan I have spoken to, or pundit on tv or in print, has said that they think that the current system is working or will work in the future. We are barley creating any clear cut chances and are increasingly resorting to long ball tactics. Yet, van Gaal is stubbornly sending the team out to play the same way each time.

People talk about square pegs and round holes, but we seem to be deliberately moving key players from their best position solely for the benefit of Mr Phil Osophy. Case in point: Rooney one of the most prolific scores in EPL history is shunted back to midfield while Di Maria, one of la liga's most creative midfielder's, is playing furthest forward. The reason? Because van Gaal wants someone with speed to chase the long balls over the top. The reality is that we have enough quality in the squad that we can play it on the ground. And if I see another isolated wing back who has to check back and pass the ball back to the defence, I may actually cry.

I knew Moyes was finished when he started making the same mistakes every week, and stubbornly refusing to see them as mistakes. I'm starting to see the same thing in van Gaal. Our league position is higher, but our results and general play are, to be frank, not much better. Considering the amount of money invested this summer, this simply isn't good enough. We have had the bedding in excuse and the injury excuse, but enough is enough. We need to see something from van Gaal because the performances aren't good enough and the tactical set up is a dud.

I'm sure those who want everyone to look on the bright side will act as if this is another sky is falling in post, but it isn't. We will still most likely finish in the top 4, but with the players we have we should be strolling to 3rd place. Under the current system we are struggling, and are miles off City and Chelsea, let alone the likes of Real and Bayern.

Well put Danny, agree completely. Arsenal looked great today, Liverpool will improve as will Spurs. Then we have Southampton.

Unless he changes things CL is going to be very difficult. Might be a blessing though because seeing us once a week is putting me in a mood, twice a week, jeez it would be hard to take!

I agree with everything you said in a good post, I worry even more with his philosophy, when at a goal down when we should be chasing the game he maintains a back 5 even after substitutions. Our back 5 doesn't make us any more solid, and our wingback play is awful as we never get beyond a defence to get crosses in, instead we cut inside and either pass back or try crossing from 30 yards out. I will begin to question Van Gaal if he persists with this system much longer. As a final point in my rant, for 4 years now we have played this pedestrian slow football, when is anyone going to up the pace and tempo of game?

11 Jan 2015 18:42:28
Danny,

Sums up how I feel at the moment also mate, can't argue with anything you said. Very disappointed that the performances aren't improving, I couldn't even work out what the formation was in the first half, at one point looked like we had 6 at the back and nobody in midfield. Less said about juan mata the better today, absolute toss.

Danny good post.

This manager is getting away with murder because if the previous manager had done what we saw today, whether it is team selection, set up, subs, system there would be the entire british airforce flying over OT with banners :)

This is with 150 million spent and Mata and fellaini finally settling in at the club.

I am still to see what is it RVP has done in the last 7 or 8 games to warrant an automatic start. It is farcical and I am sure people will come out and try and defend today but rubbish is rubbish and he is living a charmed life.

Someone please bring fergie out retirement lol we will not lose one game with him for the rest of the season with this group of players and might see 3 goal attempts again.

My God - GDS2, are you finally stepping over to the dark side? If the most positive supporter I have ever known is very disappointed it tells a very big story.

11 Jan 2015 19:06:12
Beast,

I think the overreaction by some posters on here is laughable, Twitter is the same, I am not going to overreact to one bad result, I still feel the same I always have, that things will improve and we need to give lvg time to get it right. He's making mistakes but which manager doesn't.

I wanted today to be us cementing third place and it has pulled us back into a fight for 4th which is extremely disappointing, as a fan I should be disappointed, but i will be back supporting the lads next week and hoping we get back on another winning run that we desperately need.

11 Jan 2015 19:06:56
Oh and like I posted the other day, I think some fans were hoping for a loss so they could say 'I told you so'. Seems I was correct.

GDS2 - We will all be supporting the lads and hoping we defeat whoever we play every week. The problem is mate that we look less and less like a football team and more like a team of individuals struggling to conform to the managers outdated and stubborn ideas about how the game is to be played.

The Dutch at the world cup were horrendous to watch and lucked their way to the Semi's. We have lucked our way to the CL places and have been even worse to watch than the Dutch, but luck runs out, he seems to have taken Moyes's missing luck from last season and cashed it in this season already.

Fortunately we have a series of easier games coming up, however I am still waiting for a 90 minute performance from us and this philosophy to work.

In answer to your question, you saw a manager today with more upheaval to deal with show you how some managers don't keep making the same mistake week in week out. Koeman learnt from our lucky win against them, it didn't surprise me that he out thought our gaffer today in our own back yard and they came away with the points.

CV's can be very misleading, the trick is reading the fine print. But sadly we are all having to watch this farce until more and more people jump on the LVG OUT bandwagon that is revving its engines.

The only positive about the game was that Blind's 2 crosses in the last 10-15 mins were absolutely quality.

I wasn't hoping we lost at all GDS2 - It solves nothing. I actually was really optimistic about today with the gaffer acknowledging the poor performances and that 4 at the back was better against Yeovil. (Read below where I started the thread on being nervous).

However, the one silver lining by losing whilst playing so poorly (again) is that hopefully this LVG pedestal can be knocked down so we can get on with moving the club forward and quit this debacle sooner rather than later - we are wasting time and gambling our war chest on the wrong man, our competitors will get stronger, this was the year we could get back to the top with no Europe but it has been wasted in my view. Spending £100mil this summer won't solve anything if he persists with his stubborn ideology.

GDS

Why because some of us said the unbeaten streak is bs and flatters to deceive.

Would us slipping to 5th or 6th change your tune. This manager has us playing in 6s and 7s and we will continue to play poorly and drop points if he insists on this.

How can a team with what we have upfront muster no shots on goal and 1 0r 2 shots on goal in our last outing.

Go ahead and defend things if it makes you feel better. We are playing as bad as last year with a massive investment in our squad, same points as last year one goal less.

His entire set up is bs and starting to think he is crazy for not changing things and insisting on continuing with the same thing.

Great post Danny and pretty much spot on ! I just can't understand some of the choices he makes I'm baffled ? He is quite llucky he is at our club because if he was at Chelsea, city or Madrid he would get the bullet.
I think he will be given time and rightly so I'm hoping the formation and tactics today were due to this being the first time he has had a full squad to pick from and trtried to find out his best side.

Rohan - Spot on those ball from Blind were quality, now if only we had a World Class poacher to gobble them up like they should have been, hmmm.

11 Jan 2015 20:50:46
GCU,

What exactly have I defended? What tune do I have to change?

11 Jan 2015 21:14:16
Good post, Danny. Whenever the wife says, 'this is boring', you know things aren't good.

Mata missed his chances, true. But I expected him to. Why? Because he plays out of position. He has to do defensive which he has never done his whole life and he probably has lost all his concentration when he got a chance. He maybe frustrated too.
The way we are playing it's sad. Really sad.
I say we sign Depay and play like a team out there to win games, kill teams and not just hoof the ball up by putting on Fellaini.
I thought Wilson was on for a moment.
And how bad Shaw has been, he went up the field 4-5 times and all he did was pass the ball infield.
Di Maria, my god he's no Robben.
We have the perfect players, and a wrong manager.
Every time before a game I think today we'll go all guns blazing, but then he plays a 5 man defense again.
I'd rather have Ryan Giggs as our manager and maybe Gary Neville alongside him.
I have no idea what the philosophy is but 60% plus possession and no real penetration, it's like a poor man's arsenal.
LVG could still turn it out around if he learns soon, he ain't stupid just stubborn.

Gds

"Oh and like I posted the other day, I think some fans were hoping for a loss so they could say 'I told you so'"

do you really think there is a united fan that would hope we lose to prove their point. We are playing poorly and i put it down to the manager and this system he is trying to impose.

We have just allowed everyone to get back into it for a CL placing by his inability to get his tactics or selections right.

Every week there seems to be a serving of dross and a unpleasant surprise, whether it is selection, formation or whatever else. He is going a poor job if you ask me given the players at his disposal.

Today we were absolute crap, no creativity no forward threat and on todays performance i would struggle to justify 60k for di maria never mind 60 mill.very very poor

11 Jan 2015 15:59:43
Cant shake off a feeling that lvg just doesn't see falcao as part of he's future plans, rvp plays no matter what he's done in previous matches, if anybody needs a rest its rvp

They are close friends including the other half.

I don't even mind RVP playing, but the tactics are ridiculous, were playing with all the possession yet were still trying to score on the break???? WTF?? These tactics are rubbis, no pressure whatsoever on other team, no pushing up from defence or midfielders, just wait for a good cross and a tap in!!! Shocking tactics!!! When got all possession everyone has to press forward!! Nobody won a war from holding the line!

Can someone please tell me what mata is doing in the side he's there to create and he does nothing weak on the ball he scores the 3rd goal in comfortable wins apart from that a waste of money hence chelsea bombed him out

11 Jan 2015 17:47:33
As soon as Fellani came on it was game over from that point on. Hit up top and hope, absolute shocking tactics, the 3 at the back with wing backs are clueless, and the center of the park is so slow its unreal.
Di Maria up front is 60m down the drain, he needs to be involved in the middle.

Shocking!!!!! Mata, terrible!!! The tactics are terrible! Herrera, a creative midfielder starts on bench, comes on and takes V.P off???? lol They are clueless!!!!! Its like a tennis match, over and back and when the pass forward its straight to opposition! They need go back to page 1 on how to play football!! Pass to your own player, and forward!

Rvp starts .
Falcao can't make the bench

That's one of the worst performances I can remember from us over the past couple of years. We really need to change our system. 3 at the back with this squad clearly isn't working. Why not go 433 or back to the diamond? We played our best football it's season when Herrera and Di Maria were playing in a diamond.

No invention, no pace to our play and no shots on target?! Very poor from United today.

Why would you take off Di Maria for Fellaini? Surely Blind or a defender could have made way keeping Di Maria? Generally when you are chasing a goal you sacrifice a defensive player for an attacking player as there's no difference in losing 1.0 or 2.0. Why replace an attacking player for an attacking player? Performances haven't been great for the past 5-6 matches, but we have been scraping through. We are seriously lacking goals. Falcao has been good when he has played, his all round play has been good and goals would soon follow. How was he not even on the bench? Strange! Shaw offered nothing going forward, he needs games and time, but we had nothing coming from the left. Mata had chances, but zero chances on goal is piss poor. If the tactics aren't working then you need to change them, and I don't mean changing it to the long-ball game. When did we become Stoke City?

It don't really matter who is up front with the style play and service they get!! If Messi & Ronaldo were sitting in the box they still can't score unless they push forward and try to score!

@rjmauutd
I don't think its the shape mate, sure it isn't ideal, but the tactics are terrible, everyone scarred/ not allowed to push up and press!! No good when having all the possession!!

Syd

We will not finish in the top 4 if we play a 352. Our entire set up is screwy and so many players playing out of position and looking completely disjointed.

LVG says Falcao or Shaw are not injured.

QPR next week will be a difficult away game and they have turned us over on that ground in the past especially given the fact they are desperate for points at home.

I have to also say, considering his lack of form this season despite being our top scorer, it might be the best thing for us to have RVP out injured. Put Rooney up top with Falcao and go with a diamond of Mata at the point, Di Maria, Herrera either side with Carrick holding. Alternatively drop Mata for Blind and put Di Maria off the front.

I would go herrera behind in the middle, di maria and Januzai on either side! Januzai needs a game, Mata ain't up to it!

People talk about the philosophy I don't see it tbh the 11 game winning streak was a fluke there were 3 or 4 games we could and probably should of lost. We are playing like a away team at home. I'm not a manager but three at the back does not work, for me it is a defensive formation.0 shots on target at old Trafford is a disgrace.I don't see the improvements over last year that people talk about. I know I'll be slated for it but most managers could get similar results from these players.

11 Jan 2015 19:48:09
Very very poor. 6 points from 15, is that even top half form? and we haven't played anyone above us in that period. Leaving falcao out suggests its already started. queue fireworks.

11 Jan 2015 13:03:06
I'm more nervous today than I have been all season. Big tough home game, against a team that we should beat but they will try and win rather than simply camp. Most importantly LVG has a great chance to make a statement about how our Man Utd will play moving forward, if he sets-up to not to get beat today I will be devastated (negative), I'm hoping I can eat my words about him and he unleashes our energetic and rabid dogs of war on his foe.

Rabid dogs of war? We're more of a Shih-tzu at the moment:)

11 Jan 2015 13:47:20
Are u really hoping to eat your words beast? Joking bud.

I'm presuming that part of the plan is to not get beaten today Beast.Just saying.

Haha - I mean our "philosophy" should be to win, not to simply not get beat. As I type it looks like we are going to be seeing 3-5-2 unless he is doing something crazy.

Horrible!

Team announced Beast and will be interesting if it is 442 or 352.
With both Carrick and Blind in with Shaw and Valencia also playing it could be either formation. Or mix of both depending in how game plays out.
Let's hope for an aggressive attacking game, against tough opposition

Yeah Brad a bit of flexy time by the looks of it - let's hope we attack at pace today.

Just pulling your chain man, I totally agree,though you have to admit it's a good thing that teams are finding it harder to come to Old Trafford and don't expect to come away with something.
I've not seen the team selection yet. Hoping it isn't 3-5-2.He's a stubborn sod isn't he?Southampton could overrun the midfield, they really move the ball well. Hopefully not today though.

Di maria playing the robben role maybe.
We could set up like the dutch ?

Betty

Shih-tzu, Classic.

Well devastated it is. Yet again!

11 Jan 2015 09:22:02
I doubt that we will sign anyone in January, unless they wriggle into a deal for Hummels. What I really think we need with regards to the attacking side of things is pace. When Di Maria is out it is clear that our play is slower.

I think your right pip. Unless the right player becomes available at the right price we should hold off until the summer to make our moves.

11 Jan 2015 02:03:32
In the next two windows I'd be more than happy if we signed these 4 players depay rw Coleman rb hummels cb strootman dm I think with these and the team we have now we would win league and be a force in Europe again . Thoughts and thoughts on who your four would be .

{Ed004's Note - I would hopefully go for Reus or Bale instead of Depay but would be happy with Depay. He will be cheapish however and I think we may need two wingers depending on where Di Maria plays and how Januzaj performs}

Pogba for me is essential. Also I don't rate hummels as highly as some posters do on here.
Coleman, laporte, pogba, rues will be my choice.

11 Jan 2015 10:07:38
I'd love the players you both mentioned but I can't see use getting them . It be more realistic chance of getting them I said mainly because we keep get link with these players.

ED04 I agree that before any signings are completed, especially at the top end of the pitch, we need to have a clear idea of who is playing where and where new arrivals will fit in. Hopefully with the squad almost fully fit we will see how LVG plans to utilise players like ADM and Rooney etc on a regular basis.