“In a derby you have to be careful – the second yellow card is a stupid yellow card,” That was Louis Van Gaal speaking to BBC Sport after the conclusion of the Manchester Derby, a derby in which Manchester United lost 1-0 to Manchester City. The player Van Gaal was referring to was Chris Smalling, who was booked twice in the game, both bookings were unneeded.
Louis Van Gaal might be a manager who says it like he sees it but in most conditions you do try to protect your player, he did later say that Smalling had accepted his mistake and that was the end of that, however such open criticism does beg to question, does the manager rate the player?
No defense for the defense
United finished the Manchester derby with a back 4 of Paddy Mcnair, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick and Luke Shaw, nothing close to a proper back 4 that a club as big as Manchester United should be able to field. There certainly are arguments that players were injured and the sending off did change the team about but there really isn’t a lot of faith in a few defenders at Manchester United.
Jonny Evans, whom Sir Alex Ferguson kept while letting Gerard Pique go, he considered Jonny Evans would actually become a better player than Pique and Evans was good until the last couple of seasons. Whenever he played with either Ferdinand or Vidic, he did a good job but ever since the pair have left Old Trafford, the Northern Irishman has been on a steady slide down.
The same could be said about Phil Jones, bought from Blackburn Rovers at the end of the 2010 season, he was supposed to be the next big English defender and he did not come cheap either but he has flattered to deceive as well. Occasionally he does look like a world beater at right back or even when he does play in midfield but at 22 years old, it is his injuries which are keeping him out from the team and getting a good run out.
Splash the cash
Louis Van Gaal seems to have the backing of the board, especially since they splashed the cash on bringing Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid and Radamel Falcao from Monaco, who is here on a loan but he could sign permanently next season. Luke Shaw is the world’s most expensive left back, so there seems to be a lot of money to spend for Van Gaal and it would not be something new for him to completely revamp the defense, Patrice Evra was sold for peanuts to Juventus and in his urge to bring United back to the top, it could be the end of the line for the 3 British defenders.
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