Manchester United face a hard visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday with their legendary former midfielder Paul Scholes the latest high-profile figure to question Louis van Gaal’s tactical approach.
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The Premier League stalemate was the team’s third 0-0 draw in a row, highlighting fans’ frustration with Van Gaal’s more deliberate style of play and his decision to sell three strikers and replace them with just one.
Wayne Rooney has been abysmal this season and could have been easily dropped from the first team.
Rooney has scored only two league goals all season but Pardew believes that may be down to the service he is getting.
If United fail to score in Tuesday’s Champions League match against CSKA Moscow, it will be the first time they have drawn a blank in four consecutive games since 1992.
“I don’t think our strikers touch less the ball – it’s how the balls are coming to him, how he decides, how quick he is in dealing with the situation”. “However, that is not normal”.
United will know that teams often need just one goal to get going again and they will be hoping for a bit of luck or something special against the Russian side to break them out of this unwanted streak.
“[In that match] we created many chances but did not finish”.
“He has more credits than any other player”. Now we are making – hopefully – history but it takes time, but I have said that before and I can not repeat myself or it will be ‘Van Gaal asks for time again!’ No.
‘I think his best position is the striker’s position but he needs to develop himself still, ‘ said Van Gaal. “I know when we shall lose and lose I shall be finished – but I will do everything for this club because of the fans, who are unbelievable”. Football is scoring goals.
Van Gaal switched his team around in the second half but the introduction of Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingaard, as well as moving Anthony Martial into a more central role, failed to inspire his team to end their goalless run.
He said: “It’s a process, it takes three years, that’s why I signed for three years”.
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Against Crystal Palace last Saturday United were accused of being boring and the travelling support were vocally reminding LVG that the Reds must attack. We want to win the title so, to win games, we need to score goals.
