United are a shambles at the moment. Aside from the league position the team has not progressed under van Gaal. Personally I think he is leading a charmed life and I am amazed he isn't getting some more serious stick.
The only area where I feel our performances are more creditable is in defence. given that they conceded 5 in one match earlier in the season the GA tally at 23 is competitive with the other top 3 sides. Yes De Gea has been influential on that but you cannot argue with the figures. I would venture that we are harder to beat under van Gall than we were with Moyes. HOWEVER.
Beyond that it is hard to identify any progress. the teams play in an attacking sense is a joke. LvG has looked to prefer playing
Rooney - Di Maria - Janzuzaj - Blind
Falcao - van Persie
This clearly is pure folly and does not work. Blind is tidy enough defensively but that is the best you can say. In an attacking sense we create very little and are very easy to counter.
I have wondered in the past whether or not Rooney could transition the way Scholes did. For those of you who have been watching for a few years you may recall that Scholes was a striker but one that wasnt quite good enough in the company of Cole, Yorke, Sheringham and Solskjaer. His place in the team was often from the bench until Keane's demise. Sadly I don't think that Rooney's ability to ping a crossfield pass 60 yards is enough to convince as a midfield player. For sure you will get a performance out of Rooney in almost any position as his endeavour is not in doubt but in my opinion there are some fundamental flaws in his skill set that will prevent him developing a'la Scholes in CM.
ie - his short range passing is inaccurate
- he cannot turn play without touching the ball just by twisting his body.
- he receives the ball too often when not in an offensive position
- his first touch is not good enough
I'd much prefer to see Herrera play in that position. I quite like him. He looks to make forward passes unlike Carrick who has become very slow and static in his play. great defensively but not exactly Pirlo esque in his ability to launch attacks. Carrick also has never liked to play under pressure. I'll never forget seeing him hustled out of matches versus the better side. Yes he is classy player but for me his time is approaching over. Really he is a silkier and older version of Blind.
That I guess leaves Mata. I think we need to remember who let him go and where Chelsea now sit in the pecking order. Mourinho is smart, very, very tactically astute. He recognised that in the Premier League you need speed, power, strength and skill. He prefers athletes and work ethic over ability on the ball. Willian, Matic, Fabregas, Hazard.
Regardless of how effective Fellaini's appearance was on Sunday. He is nowhere near the class required for a top 6 side. He has to be moved on.
Having decimated the midfield. Attacking options leave you scratching your head. How can Di Maria (last seasons top assister in La Liga), Januzaj, Rvp and Falcao create so little. for me its simple. Their movement is predictable and the front two are too slow. It pains just how few shots we can even get. Watching spurs vs Arsenal sees the likes of Welbeck and boy wonder Kane creating chances on their own aswell as converting those made for them. granted Arsenal did not play well without Sanchez.
All in all its depressing watching Man United. With seemingly so much individual talent their effectiveness as a coherent team is pitiful. Its not that they arent trying but patently they don't yet understand what the coach is asking them to do. Liverpool, Soton, Arsenal, Tottenham and on yesterdays evidence Wham play a more expansive and effective style of play. we look like a club thta has lost its sense of identity and doesn't yet know what a new one should look like. It may be that a further clear out is required and that might include the manager.
.. Considering in my post I mentioned how he should be on the wing running up and down and I wouldn't then stick him in CM. Come on man, wake up.
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