This week Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United early season form is under the spotlight
Five.
That’s the number of points Manchester United sit on after four games gone.
I’m not sure how many would have predicted that in the pre-season. United looked strong and convincing on their pre-season tour of the US and that things weren’t going to be rocky under Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman lead them to five victories out of a possible six – some of those victories coming against Real Madrid, Liverpool – and a 7-0 drubbing of L.A. Galaxy. Things were looking bright for United, and the fans must have been rubbing their hands together with glee hoping that last season’s horrid effort under David Moyes was nothing but a blip in their successful history.
Fast forward to Matchday One in the Premier League – a home game to Swansea, a side which had never won at Old Trafford in the league. van Gaal lined United up with his preferred 3-5-2 formation, the same one which saw him guide Holland to a World Cup semi final place. However, as big as the World Cup may be, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish. It was a daring move, and one not seen too often, if ever, in English football. Its frenetic pace and constant long ball play had the ability to completely expose van Gaal’s formation – no matter how masterful he may be tactically. And expose it is exactly what Swansea did.
It was a terrible day at the office for the fullbacks – one of which was Ashley Young, a winger. The other was Jesse Lingaard, a 22 year old, on debut, who was forced off with injury in the 24th minute – only to be replaced by another winger in Adnan Januzaj. The two wingers looked completely out of depth and generally clueless. Granted, United had a plethora of injuries, so their squad was being stretched to its limits, but nobody expected the calamity that was on show at Old Trafford. The three centre backs – Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Tyler Blackett, a 20 year old making his professional debut (talk about being thrown straight into the lions den) – who all looked to be extremely uncomfortable lining up this way. The Swansea midfield carved United’s defence open like it wasn’t even there, which saw the Welsh side leave Old Trafford with three points.
van Gaal refused to let the Swansea game deter him. They lined up the same again for the following two games – one against newly promoted Burnley, and the other against Sunderland – both of which were drawn. Alarm bells were starting to go off, if they weren’t already. Things had to change – and fast. Marcos Rojo, was signed to help plug the holes in central defence, Daley Blind from Ajax arrived for a fee of £14 million to provide much needed stability in midfield, next to £28 million man Ander Herrera. A British transfer record of £60 million was thrown at Real Madrid for want-away winger Di Maria who was deemed surplus to requirements by President Florentino Perez (still scratching my head at that decision), and a £20 million fee for Falcao on loan. Some might say United are top heavy and should have purchased some more options in midfield or defence, but it’s a headache Louis van Gaal will no doubt relish.
Don’t get me wrong, I think if United weren’t so stretched when the season began when it came to injuries, things may have not looked so bleak. However, being so depleted, it forced the clubs hand into diving head first into the transfer market and making (some) necessary signings. Sure, Falcao might be a luxury, but he will score goals and turn up when it matters (well, you would hope so for what they’re paying him), Di Maria is a proven world class player, and Blind and Rojo will only get better. Ander Herrera should flourish in central midfield with Blind behind him.
United’s star should burn bright again in the Premier League constellation if van Gaal gets things right tactically. He has a good enough squad to challenge for a top four place (a title challenge is still probably some way away), and it’s what United fans should be expecting to finish come mid May. It’s evident the 3-5-2 won’t work (and the players he has signed pretty much drove the nails even further into its coffin). And after last night’s 4-0 win against an albeit seemingly relegation bound Q.P.R, the 4-4-2 diamond looks the way to go for United.
Will it yield success against the bigger sides? No doubt we’ll find out. After last night, it looks like van Gaal is steering them out of the dark place they found themselves at the beginning of the season, and is in the driver’s seat to return them to somewhat familiar territory.
