The Louis Van Gaal tenure at Manchester United seems like a time bomb waiting to go off any day now. While he’ll likely stay at the Old Trafford for the remainder of the season, he will be on the hot seat this summer and he’d have better luck with More Winner Casino Bonus Offers than keeping his job. There have been numerous rumours of the Dutchmen’s departure, which Van Gaal continues to downplay.
Since arriving at United, LVG has claimed to put an emphasis on the Red Devil’s attacking football. While last night’s 3-0 win over Stoke was a great showing, this has not always been the case. United’s premier attacking forces seem to have a hard time finding their form while playing for the side. Many of the big offensive signings that LVG have brought to the club have flopped and failed to produce any offensive threats.
In summer 2014, United signed Argentinian winger Angel di Maria for a whopping £59 million. He only lasted one year with the club before a move to PSG as he never fit in with Van Gaal’s style of play. After paying Radamel Falcao a £285,000 a week, the Colombian striker scored just four goals in 29 appearances. This proved to be LVG’s worst signing. Bastien Schweinsteiger, who didn’t have a particularly hefty price tag at £14.1 million, has also struggled to create chances under Van Gaal.
There is some promise in the talent of some of the club’s youngsters that Van Gaal has signed like Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay. However, it will take some time for them to join the level of the Premier League’s elite offensive forces.
Of course, it’s not only some of the signings that have failed to create solid attacking play under Van Gaal. It’s evident that there has not been one standout attacking player for the Red Devil’s since he took the reigns from David Moyes. Wayne Rooney has struggled overall this season, causing supporters to wonder if the captain is too old. Juan Mata is only a shadow of what he was while at Chelsea. Ashley Young and Antonio Valenicia have taken their natural winger talents to the back four. Some of the Premier League’s most creative offensive threats have failed to produce quality play under Van Gaal’s supposed attacking style.
Let’s also not forget some of the offensive players he’s sold in his time at Old Trafford. Javier Hernandez, Robin Van Persie, Shinji Kagawa and Danny Welbeck have all impressed at their current clubs, with the exception of Welbeck due to injury.
While Van Gaal has claimed that he puts an emphasis in the attacking third, the results have shown otherwise. Last night was the first time that United has scored in the first half at Old Trafford in four months. The Manchester side has only scored 31 goals this year, 15 back of their rivals Manchester City, 13 fewer than Leicester, seven less that West Ham and just three more than 19th place Sunderland in that category. United have averaged a measly 11.4 shots per game with only 3.6 of those on target. With the talent they have on offense, those numbers should be a lot higher. For someone who claims that he wants to take United back to their dominant attacking ways, these statistics do not help his case.
Lasts nights win was a good showing for Van Gaal’s attack. If the club can maintain this form and get out to early leads, their scoring woes could change and LVG might save his job. However, if the Red Devil’s resort to their dull style of football that we’ve become accustomed to this campaign, the Dutchmen could be headed for the exit this summer.
