Another Premier League weekend, another unconvincing Manchester United performance and another dent for Louis van Gaal’s ‘philosophy’.
The Dutchman’s side put in yet another muddled, stodgy display and were fortunate take a point from West Ham on Sunday.
United looked confused and were confusing to watch – even Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was perplexed by the team’s tactics – and it’s evident there a number of immediate issues with the side.
And while United remain on course for Champions League qualification, and the team’s fortunes have improved on the misery of the Moyes months, there are a number of immediate concerns.
Formation
From 3-5-2 to 3-4-1-2 to 3-3-2-2 to the currently deployed 4-4-2 midfield diamond, United have gone through a number of different formations so far this season. Arguably more than in the entirety of Ferguson’s 26 years in charge and the travelling United fans even chanted for ‘4-4-2’ in the recent away game against QPR.
A manager capable of being tactically flexible is usually a positive thing. However, it becomes an issue when the numerous changes fail to reap the intended result and the manager still can’t settle on a favoured formation.
This, arguably, leads to the type of constipated performance United put in against West Ham.
Van Gaal’s preferred formation appears to be 3-5-2, but maybe a return to the 4-3-3 he deployed throughout his career would be the best bet for United.
The Dutchman only switched to a three man central defence around this time last year, after he lost Kevin Strootman to injury, forcing him to change the Netherlands formation in the World Cup.
It served him and the team well in the tournament, as they finished third, but the Netherlands in the World Cup and Manchester United in the Premier League are completely different entities.
Whereas the Dutch national team were afforded the luxury of being able to counter-attack, United will generally face teams who will cede them possession.
Perhaps, as with the Netherlands last summer, Van Gaal feels he currently doesn’t have the necessary personal to play 4-3-3, but he’s seemingly tried almost every formation so he may as well try it, even without a player like Strootman in midfield.
Players playing out of position
In years to come, when the current Manchester United players release their autobiographies, some of them may contain a story about how Ander Herrera knocked down Louis van Gaal’s dog. It would help explain why the midfielder can’t even get a start against Cambridge United in an FA Cup replay.
On Sunday, with United chasing the game and in need of a spark, Louis van Gaal opted to bring on Maouranne Fellaini over both Herrera and Juan Mata, two infinitely more creative players.
In fairness, Fellaini played his part and United snatched a point, but van Gaal’s apparent lack of trust in Herrera is puzzling. The Spaniard has been impressive when used and looks to have the potential to become a regular fixture in United’s midfield. Yet van Gaal, despite playing wingers and forwards in a midfield, can’t find a spot for Herrera, an actual midfield player.
Daley Blind was the only midfielder playing in his natural position against West Ham.
Wayne Rooney may possess a wonderful passing range, and likes to be on the ball as much as possible, but against well drilled opposition, the United captain has struggled in midfield. Rooney hasn’t been helped by being shunted from position to position either by Van Gaal.
Angel di Maria and Adnan Januzaj are also being restrained. Di Maria was among the best players in the world last year, whether playing wide or part of Real Madrid’s fluid midfield. At United, the Argentine has been used as a forward and on Sunday as part of a midfield diamond, but rarely wide.
Januzaj was possibly the only positive aspect of David Moyes reign. The 20-year-old looked like having the potential to be world class and is held in such esteem at Old Trafford the club gave him Ryan Giggs’ old number.
Under Van Gaal, when used, Januzaj looks like a lost soul. His attacking instincts are curbed and it is hard to fathom what use he is featuring in such a narrow midfield diamond.
Toothless strikers
If this were 2012, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao playing up front together would be a terrifying strike duo for opposition defences, worthy of a world eleven and countless FIFA video game teams.
In 2015 though, the pair just look ineffectual, out of form and/or in decline.
With the exception of Falcao’s spurned second half chance, the pair’s link-up play was non-existent.
Even if we don’t account for the their lack of form, or possible decline, the problem seems to be Van Persie and Falcao are an unnatural fit to play together. They played just five successful passes to each other against West Ham, the same amount as goalkeeper David De Gea did to Van Persie.
They both lack mobility – neither make the runs necessary to open up opposition defences or give their own midfield options for a pass – and both want to play as the classic ‘No 9’, penalty box striker. Speaking after Sunday’s game, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was damning of the duo’s contribution.
‘United have got big problems at that end of the pitch’ Carragher said.
‘When United were in the wide areas, Falcao was ball-watching and that made him easy to mark. He should have been running down the channels. There is not enough movement from the front two, there’s no sprint, spark or energy and that was in complete contrast to West Ham’.
The contrast with the Hammer’s strikeforce was possibly the most damning aspect of United’s forwards’ performance.
Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho would be regarded as relative footballing pygmy’s in comparison to Van Persie and Falcao’s profile, wage packet and potential transfer fees. Yet, on Sunday, the West Ham duo were easily more effective.
United’s frontline needs an overhaul, but, for the remaining Premier League games this season, a reshuffling will have to do. Whether van Gaal does so remains to be seen.
Slow, narrow and sideways
“In some matches, we ended up with 80% possession, but there was no real rhythm or pace. After half an hour, everyone in the Allianz Arena would be yawning at this display of constant passing. Our game was well executed but very, very predictable. The basic idea was sound. What we lacked was speed and regular changes of rhythm’.
Paul Breithner says in ‘Pep Confidential’- a book about the current Bayern boss. The former Germany defender is speaking about Louis van Gaal’s time in Munich, but it could easily be a description of Manchester United recently.
Despite possession becoming something of a dirty word recently, teams should aspire to control games if they have the technical ability to do so. What turns spectators off watching teams play possession football is sterile domination, something that has become an aspect of Van Gaal’s United.
The team lead the Premier League in sideways passes and are second for backward passes in their own half. They have also played the fewest proportion of forward passes at just under 30%, and 1,861 long passes, the second highest in the league behind Burnley and just ahead of QPR, West Brom and Leicester City.
What this seems to signal is that team are attempting to keep possession and play it safe, but are then forced to go direct if the game has to be chased. The team is almost schizophrenic, and the manager and players still attempting to figure out the best way forward.
Van Gaal’s not at fault for all of United’s issues, and despite the plight Moyes faced now being seen in a more sympathetic light with each passing week, the Dutchman is on course to meet his season objective and, seemingly, has the full support of the players. Could the same ever be said of Moyes?
Johan Cruyff has a quote that currently seems appropriate for his great footballing adversary Van Gaal. ‘If I wanted you to understand, I would’ve explained it better,’ the Dutch master told a journalist.
Van Gaal and Cruyff may have differing views on the game, but the United manager would share this sentiment. At times he gives the impression of being like a mad scientist, working on an experiment that will wow everyone, but, in it’s embryonic state, is difficult to fathom.
It may take another transfer window, or even another season, for fans to understand exactly what Van Gaal is constructing. But, in the meantime, he’ll have to do a better job of explaining it on the pitch.
