When Manchester United appointed Louis van Gaal as manager in May 2014, the club knew what it was getting. We’re talking about an honest, confident Dutchman who has a stubborn – but vindicated – vision of how football should be played.
A disciple from the school of Total Football, a renowned Dutch playing style known for bold, attractive football, van Gaal was expected to bring a similar style to England. Instead, the Old Trafford faithful have succumbed to watching low-tempo football with an impetus on constant – if aimless – ball circulation.
Although this playing style offers United control and dominance, it prompts the opposition defence to drop deep. This means incisive passing and creativity is required to cut open the defence. Unfortunately, the current United side doesn’t possess such qualities.
With a playing style focused on constant, short passing you need technically-gifted defenders. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo are all capable defenders, but their awkwardness on the ball and lack of composure means United’s passing is hesitant, indecisive and slow from the inception of most attacks.
The side also needs more width. Great United sides of past have used Old Trafford’s wide pitch to stretch the opposition, using the channels to deliver service for the forwards. Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia are archetypal wingers – they run at defenders and deliver crosses – but they have both been played at full-back this season, where their offensive qualities are quietened.
Another winger, Di Maria, has struggled to impose his reputation in England. ‘The Noodle’ flourishes when dribbling at defenders on the counter, hence spells at centre forward and CAM proving unsuccessful. A role on the left side of a midfield three reaped success at Real Madrid, but the £59.7m man has seldom played here under van Gaal.
If there is one player who could flourish in a team where incisive passing is required to penetrate the opposition, it’s Juan Mata. However, the diminutive Spaniard lacks speed and strength, meaning he is inept to play on the wing and not strong enough to sustain a centre-midfield position. Mata is a ‘number 10’ – he plays behind the strikers or he doesn’t play. The latter has proved van Gaal’s common appraisal.
The preferred option for the ‘number 10’ role is proving to be Marouane Fellaini. Despite the Belgian’s brutally physical playing style, there’s no doubting his effect on a game. As a substitute at QPR and West Brom, Fellaini scored within minutes of coming on, while he was key in salvaging a draw against West Ham. However, Fellaini plays football the ugly way and shouldn’t be selected if van Gaal perseveres with possession football.
Most worrying for United has been the flaccid forward line. Radamel Falcao shows passion and desire when on the pitch, but he can’t convert it into a striker’s currency: goals. Robin van Persie appears slow and rarely has the ball in threatening positions, while Rooney must play as a striker more often; he’s beginning to lose his combative edge which defined him as a special player.
With such a top-heavy squad, score lines were expected to mirror that of a cricket team with a lousy top order, but the contrary has availed. United’s shaky defence has been saved by the superb David de Gea, while the goal count has been sufficient yet underwhelming. Results are coming, but with Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham still to play, United will get caught out. As Sir Alex would say, it’s squeaky bum time.
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Source: DSG
