Manchester United fans were vocal in their discontent during the side’s 2-0 victory over Sunderland this weekend, with a woeful first-half display the latest in a series of sub-par display’s from Louis van Gaal’s side of late.
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After initial optimism, concerns are now growing over the team’s philosophy, the performances of leading players and the manager’s willingness to adapt.
With that in mind, today’s point of debate is: Have United improved under Van Gaal’s management?
Matt Monaghan, Sport360 Reporter, says YES
Using the narrowest scope available, it is impossible to argue Louis van Gaal has not improved Manchester United.
A study of the 2013/14 Premier League table after 27 games played under doomed predecessor David Moyes shows 45 points gained, good enough for seventh. A look at the current standings now show United clinging onto the fourth and final place which secures a Champions League play-off berth, accruing 48 points during the same number of fixtures after Saturday’s soporific 2-0 win against 10-man Sunderland.
Three points and three places better off. Debate over, turn the page.
Van Gaal: “The signs in training, and some matches, show me we are improving. We are definitely getting there. I’m sure it’s not far away.”
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonMEN) February 28, 2015
That this is one of a minute number of parameters that Van Gaal can proclaim managerial superiority is key. This inflexible ‘yes’ or ‘no’ platform suits the Dutchman perfectly. Any attempt to qualify the degree of his success does not draw out a favourable conclusion.
The football seems to get worse by the week, the vaunted “philosophy” he drones on about becoming ever more intangible. This is Van Gaal’s tried-and-tested axiom. But the chants of “attack, attack, attack” from the Old Trafford terraces last weekend prove self-aggrandising soundbites have not hoodwinked the United supporters.
Enough with the immediate negativity, that is for the other side of the argument. United may have been dismal to watch this term, but Van Gaal’s reign still possesses promise.
Global superstars like Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao would not be at the Theatre of Dreams without a man of Van Gaal’s esteem spending the vast commercial largess gained by the club, no matter their underwhelming performances.
His track record at Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Netherlands (second time) means he should come good, with the integration of youth products such as Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett into the first-team squad also praiseworthy.
Nevertheless, that the only conclusive argument for improvement this season is that he is not Moyes shows the degree of Van Gaal’s current underachievement.
James Piercy, Deputy Editor, says NO
Manchester United’s win percentage under David Moyes: 52.94, and with Louis van Gaal in charge: 53.13. Average goals scored this season in all competitions: 1.74 compared with 1.68 with Moyes at the helm. Defensively, Van Gaal (somewhat surprisingly) has tightened things up with 0.83 conceded per match against 1.03 during the more traditionally stoic Scotman’s reign.
It’s all pretty minimal and set against the £145m/£65m transfer spending variation between the two doesn’t make for particularly impressing reading.
Of the summer acquisitions, only Luke Shaw – a Moyes-endorsed signing agreed before Van Gaal signed, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera (when he’s played) can be considered positive additions.
There are mitigating circumstances but Van Gaal has managed to turn one of the best players in the world, in Angel Di Maria, into a bystander while it’s approaching time to now to brand Radamel Falcao a financial disaster.
Robin van Persie, supposedly a troublesome figure under Moyes, continues to go backwards, curious when he’s playing for a manager who knows him so well. While Wayne Rooney’s midfield adaption remains more pointless than productive. Van Gaal has, in fairness, raised the performance levels of Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia but the overall effect has been minimal.
Fair play to Van Gaal for getting the best out of Ashley Young. Just a shame about the other 20-odd outfielders in the squad.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) February 28, 2015
We still don’t know what this United side are. Do they like to dominate possession? Play on the counter? Are they a defensive-minded side? Do they play at a fast or slow tempo? This is a team lacking identity.
Admittedly, Van Gaal has made them tough to beat and provided the gift of being able to win when playing poorly. But then the overall level of opposition has been that much lower and it’s arguably a worse Premier League than last term. Liverpool, Everton, Manchester City and maybe even Arsenal are not the sides they were.
Moyes nadir was the 2-0 defeat at Olympiakos. We haven’t had the opportunity to experience Van Gaal’s United in the Champions League but there’s little to suggest they’d be any better.
