Van Gaal courted controversy by bringing Powell on for Juan Mata in United’s Champions League exit in Germany, while the former Crewe player, who was loaned to Leicester last season, came on for scorer Marouane Fellaini at Bournemouth.
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Claims of this being the “worst Manchester United team” of recent years could be accurate, but Van Gaal will hope to be spared judgement until he’s able to once again call upon a fully fit squad.
Players don’t seem to want to take on an opponent on because they nearly seem too scared to lose the ball and that’s forcing us to play predictable football, sometimes (now more often than not) stagnant sideways football. For the average spectator, it’s much easier to see Manchester United’s tactical approach than it is, for example, to see Manchester City’s. The 64-year-old is already losing the support of the majority of United fans and that’s crucial.
“The silence in the dressing room was big”, explained Van Gaal.
Van Gaal isn’t hanging on at all – he’s got the club’s genuine full backing.
“Over the years, United have had fantastic players come through their team”.
“We knew we could catch them cold, especially with a little bit of inexperience in their back four”, he said of a young rearguard comprising Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 18; Paddy McNair, 20; Guillermo Varela, 22; and Daley Blind, 25. The list is virtually endless, and other than West Brom sub Anders Lindegaard in goal, there is an argument to be made that the majority of Van Gaal’s cast-offs would have been of some use in 2015-16.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about Saturday evening and what to tell you after such a disappointing week”, he wrote. Certainly, Van Gaal’s Ajax and Bayern Munich played with greater energy and speed. Are the players enjoying it?
“Football is very tough”.
I think this surmises a stain on Louis Van Gaal’s otherwise successful managerial career.
“I’m just about getting back to work really and working hard this week”.
‘It’s a team you wouldn’t want to play against and its probably a team you wouldn’t want to play in either.
He has done enough to suggest that the team could be moving along the right lines, defensively at least, to deserve a few more months of unequivocal solidarity ― which includes, if he requests them, more signings in the January transfer market.
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Van Gaal’s future is being questioned by those outside the club, but it is understood the Glazers and chief executive Ed Woodward will stand by him for now.
