Louis van Gaal’s 50th game ended in defeat as opinions differ on progress under the Dutchman.
Today’s #360debate is: Are Manchester United on track with Louis van Gaal?
Matthew Jones, reporter, thinks YES
Under Louis van Gaal, Manchester United have bewildered and bewitched, but there are genuine signs of progress.
They may not be flying under the Dutchman but a return to the Champions League is a crystal clear indicator they are moving forward.
Missing out on Champions League football for the first time in 18 years during David Moyes’ catastrophic tenure mounted plenty of pressure on Van Gaal with a return to the top four mandatory.
He duly delivered, his initial assignment accomplished last week as United returned to familiar territory of the Champions League group stages, even if his mission to restore United to a title-winning force remains a task at hand.
United are not the swashbuckling force of old. Their powers were waning in Sir Alex Ferguson’s twilight years. Fans pining for the old days will keep waiting.
Performances under Van Gaal have been solid if unspectacular, though we saw glimpses of the previous swagger against Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City last season.
These flashes have admittedly been all too fleeting, the manager not helping himself by constantly switching formations and dithering with player selection. There is a chronic lack of pace up front, a decision not to sign Pedro bizarre, given his lightning start at Chelsea.
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Otherwise, Van Gaal’s transfer dealings have impressed, removing deadwood, adding guile and strength in midfield, previously lacking badly in both, by purchasing Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
In Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling and a streamlined Luke Shaw, United now possess three of a quality back four.
Van Gaal’s philosophy still leaves a lot to be desired but United, in terms of personnel, results and prospects are undeniably improved in the last 50 games.
Matt Monaghan, reporter, thinks NO
Manchester United have endured life for a year under manager Louis van Gaal, with the unavoidable conclusion arising that progression has been unacceptably slow and is not likely to speed up any time soon.
The Dutchman operates with the handbrake on rather than in fifth gear like glorious predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson.
Such a consolatory approach was perfectly acceptable on arrival as he cleaned up the mess left by the ill-suited David Moyes, last season’s unspectacular fourth-placed Premier League finish and subsequent return to the Champions League via the play-offs as evidence.
Louis Van Gaal paying the price for running off Di Maria. Manchester United need creativity & look anemic offensively. #MUFC
— Sean Kent (@seankent) August 31, 2015
United fans have quickly learned the excitement caused by the Netherlands’ surprise run to third place at the 2014 World Cup and a summer of unprecedented spending under the 64-year-old was just an illusion.
Van Gaal is unquestionably an astute manager, but more is required – and rightly so – by the patrons at the Theatre of Dreams.
Possession football, prescribed substitutions and fear of the individual were not things Ferguson could be accused of during his legendary tenure. These are all intrinsic to the new man’s approach.
The risk of this minimalist style was in evidence yesterday against Swansea City. All it took was five minutes for a winning position to end up as a 2-1 away defeat.
Only goals provide an adequate insurance policy in England, not interminable domination of the football.
Van Gaal speaks regularly about a philosophy, but what is being served is not good enough for an elite club teetering on the precipice of the mundane.
Do not forget it is 20 years since he won the Champions League with Ajax. What was once considered avant-garde now seems dated.
The Dutchman has two years on his contract and the backing of reviled owners, the Glazers.
Yet with men of the standing of Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp currently unemployed, how long before the grass looks greener elsewhere?
