What a roller-coaster of emotions huh guys? I am as disappointed as anyone that we're no longer in the Champions League, however of all our performances this season, last night was the one that I was most proud of
The point is, we were never in a million years good enough to win the Champions League, however we should have qualified for the knockout stages. I for one still have faith in LVG and it would be frankly stupid to sack him now.
A lot of people don't appreciate just how much our team has been rebuilt, of all the players in Moyes' first team squad, 11 have come in and 13 have been let go, the only players that remain are Rooney, Smalling, Jones, De Gea and Carrick. I hope that puts into perspective just how different of a squad we are compared to 2 years ago.
People are expecting a quick fix, they throw about we've spent £250 Million when our net spend is actually £150 million, spent on 11 players not four as if we had a team to start with.
The reason for why we needed to spend so much is that during his late years SAF became pretty selfish (understandable) and just wanted to win trophies to cement his legacy which is why he bought a 30 year old stop gap like RVP and continued with the old guard like Scholes, Ferdinand and Giggs instead of bringing in youth like Pogba.
Just look how many players in LVGs first team squad are young and have made appearances in the league this season..
Depay
Lingaard
McNair
Martial
Januzaj*
Shaw
Varela
Pereira
Borthwick Jackson
Wilson*
* On loan
I think SAF's last squad had what? Jones and Wellbeck?
The average age of the team at the final whistle was something like 24, that's probably the youngest United line up I've ever seen. In my opinion LVG deserves to stay until the end of the season, by then he'd have hopefully got us top four, steadied the ship and have left behind a top squad that knows how to pass a football.
We'll see the benefits of Van Gaal's reign when he leaves. This is why Pep is my ideal candidate to takeover as his philosophy is an extension of Van Gaal's.
We're a Team for the Future Not For Now
posted on 9/12/15
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
I'm not missing the point. If the quality isn't there then it's irrelevant whether he is giving them games or not.
We have no one who is of the talent of Xavi or Iniesta, that's a fact.
When Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Neville etc came through the ranks it was clear to see their talents, that combined with a bit of luck got them to where they got.
However much you play Lingaard or McNair they simply won't reach a high level because they are extremely limited players.
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WTF are you on about?
Anyone remember that Paul Pogba guy who wasn't given a chance in the first team so went on to become one of the best midfielders in the world with a value of £60 million. He wasn't given a chance by SAF and it was probably up there with SAF's biggest errors.
Ok mr talent scout you've seen Varela play one game and think he's not good enough?
You've seen Jackson on for one game and he's not good enough?
Maybe LVG who watches them every single day might know a little bit more than you? Players simply don't develop unless they're given games in the first team.
Oh and to go back to youth other point that we're giving them a chance because he sold everyone as said by LVG himself, he's not giving them a chance because we have no one else, we have no one else because he wants to give them a chance.
“It is the way I lead this club. I don’t want a big selection because when you have a big selection it doesn’t give any chance to the young players.
“So when there are injuries and illnesses I have to look at the youth allocation with my youth coaches Warren Joyce and Paul McGuinness.
“I can also see myself how they play in the second team or the Under-19s and I have to decide which player. Of course, it is also a matter of the vacancies in the positions. Last time we had Tuanzebe because Phil Jones was ill."
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-van-gaal-reveals-10409615
posted on 9/12/15
Yes and everyone single person on the planet could see the talent that Pogba was but because of a combination of him being impatient and Ferguson trusting his old players we lost him.
You honestly think we currently have anyone in our youth set up who has as much potential as Pogba?
I watched Pogba play for the U21s with my own eyes and he was a beast, everyone in the stadium could see he was special.
posted on 9/12/15
I agree with a lot of what you have said here I think LVG is doing a great job of setting us up for the long term.
The major disadvantage of that being the managers who do that kind of work often don't get credit for it as it takes years for the results to come through.
posted on 9/12/15
Tunnicliffe was better than Pogba a lot of the time in the reserves.
posted on 9/12/15
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 27 minutes ago
Yes and everyone single person on the planet could see the talent that Pogba was but because of a combination of him being impatient and Ferguson trusting his old players we lost him.
You honestly think we currently have anyone in our youth set up who has as much potential as Pogba?
I watched Pogba play for the U21s with my own eyes and he was a beast, everyone in the stadium could see he was special.
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Different players develop at different times. If they're not given the chance to develop we'll never know, this is why its all about being given a chance. Pogba was an example but another one is say Danny Drinkwater, who was on our books once and is now doing very well for the team top of the league.
Chelsea are a great example of having good youth players and letting them go because they don't give chances and have a policy of just buying talent.
Lukaku
Sturridge
Matic
De Bruyne
All these players developed into good players away from the club. Rossi was another one for us that got away for us. I don't think every player LVG calls up will make the grade but if he doesn't call them up and give them a chance then we'll end up losing out.
Of course you might know more than me if you've watched every under 21 game and can spot how talented all these guys are.
posted on 9/12/15
I really don't understand why he hasn't given Wilson anywhere near the chances he's giving other players.
At reserve level it is him that's impressed more so for me as a natural finisher than any other, and is better than Lingard was at that age.
It's odd for sure.
posted on 9/12/15
comment by SAF_The_Legend-FreePalestine(7) (U5768)
posted 7 minutes ago
I agree with a lot of what you have said here I think LVG is doing a great job of setting us up for the long term.
The major disadvantage of that being the managers who do that kind of work often don't get credit for it as it takes years for the results to come through.
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Yep exactly.
'In my opinion he didn't get the credit he deserved at Barcelona. He had very clear ideas and was very methodical. He was a coach who was ahead of his time.'
Iniesta added: 'I was 17 years of age and delighted to be in the first team, and he gave me that opportunity. I knew that he had always done tremendous work with the young players.
Puyol said: "There are many turning points in a football career.
"But if I have to choose one in particular, certainly was when I was about to leave Barcelona B and decided to stay instead.
"That season Van Gaal put me up into the first team and I eventually played more than 30 games for the club."
Seedorf:
“Instead of buying many players you can always fill your first team with your own players who know the club culture, who know the club tactics and have lived for so long that everything for them is natural. He is a great coach and his record speaks for itself.”
posted on 9/12/15
TBH I wanted him to go on loan, I figured a full season of first team football would really benefit him. The thing that annoyed me was keeping him for so long but not using him at all.
Although there must be something in it as he has shown he is willing to use the youth players.
posted on 9/12/15
Great post RD, hopefully we keep hold of him long enough to enjoy similar rewards rather than giving in to short termism!
posted on 9/12/15
comment by SAF_The_Legend-FreePalestine(7) (U5768)
posted 8 minutes ago
TBH I wanted him to go on loan, I figured a full season of first team football would really benefit him. The thing that annoyed me was keeping him for so long but not using him at all.
Although there must be something in it as he has shown he is willing to use the youth players.
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Yeah it is a bit strange, same thing with Januzaj too.
Actually it turns out LVG never wanted Januzaj to go to Dortmund and wanted him to play for a Premier League club.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10073115/adnan-januzaj-rejected-chance-to-stay-at-manchester-united-says-louis-van-gaal
"I said in advance that's a big risk, because you have to compete with other players of a higher level and that's not so easy.
"It's the same as at Manchester United. He has to compete with higher-level players. I want him to play all the matches, and that's why I wanted to play him in the Premier League, but he chose Borussia Dortmund.
"We have to wait and see [if it's a good move] because now he doesn't play.
"I am certain he has the talent to play, but he has to learn a lot of things
Good thing knowing he still rates him.