Fourth-placed United have scored only 20 goals in 15 Premier League matches – the joint lowest tally in the top seven – and while their defence is still the meanest in Premier League and they are only three points behind surprise leaders Leicester City, goodwill towards van Gaal is in short supply.
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The negative style of football employed by Mr Van Gaal has very few admirers amongst fellow Manchester United fans.
The criticisms were actually ironic as Farringdon noted that “just last week United officials highlighted their happiness at van Gaal’s current level of performance, and wouldn’t rule out extending his deal beyond 2017”.
He still gave it a try, though, by saying that “facts” proved United was better than last season because the team had gone further in the League Cup – to the third round – and had reached the group stage of the Champions League after missing out on Europe entirely last season.
Richard, I know you have had contact from me asking about possible commercial roles at Manchester United, and Ed, I know we haven’t met before, but we share a number of mutual contacts.
With defender Chris Smalling joining a long injury list that includes Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera, January’s transfer window could provide Van Gaal with the opportunity to strengthen.
“I took him off and I don’t take players off for nothing, but we are all human beings and so is Bastian Schweinsteiger”, said Van Gaal.
Before the Wolfsburg game, five of United’s previous outings had finished 0-0.
“I believe Basti has experienced so much in his career that he can cope with this easily”, said Draxler. For some reason, the Thursday-Sunday turnaround for Europa League participants seems to be tougher than the Wednesday-Saturday one for teams in the Champions League.
“It’s always hard (to drop into the Europa League)”.
“As a ManUtd player I was embarrassed going from the Champions league to the Europa league”, Ferdinand said on Twitter, “we expected more of ourselves”.
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The France born goal poacher was involved in a scandal and that has led the Santiago Bernabeu outfit to be willing to let him off their radar for a price lower than his valuation and Manchester United have been tipped to be favorite for his signature.
