3. VAN GAAL’s TACTICS
Louis van Gaal is one of the most successful managers in the history of the beautiful game. He led Ajax Amstredam into an undefeated season and brought out the likes of Patrick Kluivet, Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids. England and club football though is a totally new perspective.
When he managed the Dutch national team in this year’s FIFA World Cup, he played with a 5-3-2 formation with two wing backs and a target man in the form of Robin van Persie while Arjen Robben was wrecking havoc playing in and around van Persie. The two wing backs, Dan Janmaat and Daley Blind played their roles to perfection and Robin van Persie was in such good form.
Blind and van Persie are now part of the United set up. But they aren’t the same players as they were a couple of months ago. Certainly not van Persie. Although the talismanic Dutchman has been out of form (I’m saying this regarding his playing and not considering his goals) and has not been potent or accurate like he man he was. And yet van Gaal keeps playing him for God-knows-why. During the West Ham game, he was the only United player who didn’t defend. And even when the ball came on to his side, he was merely jogging. It does say a lot, doesn’t it?
Blind’s acquisition though has been brilliant. Moving on, United fans all over the world still do not know why a world class centre back hasn’t been purchased and it is yet an another question that has been left open for the almighty to answer. Apart from this, van Gaal is trying desperately to get his full backs defend properly. Attacking has been his forte without a shadow of a doubt. But in having said that, one just can’t neglect the team’s defence, can he?
Although Wayne Rooney is on suspension, he is one of United’s most feared players and probably the only one who can stand toe to toe with the likes of Angel Di Maria and Falcao. But the positions he has been playing this season is just not right. Like last season where Moyes opted to play him on the wings, van Gaal to opted playing him far out wide or right in the centre behind van Persie and Falcao and it has certainly not worked. Everyone knows how dangerous Rooney is as a striker yet the people in the hot seat don’t seem to understand that.