The jury remains out on whether Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United are the real deal or imposters. The verdict will not be known until next season, when a judgment can be made on whether the manager has solved the conundrum of how for most of this campaign United have been a middling side who have failed to convince yet have finished up in the top four.
Given the games won that may well have been lost last year under David Moyes and a month-long burst of brilliance when United changed into a menacing proposition, the story of Van Gaal’s first United campaign could be “our inconsistency is final”.
As Arsenal arrived for United’s penultimate match the Dutchman continued to search for the week-in, week-out displays of metronomic excellence that were Sir Alex Ferguson’s calling card during his gilded tenure.
For a four-week, four-match period that ran from the 3-0 hiding of Tottenham Hotspur in March to the equally emphatic 4-2 win over Manchester City a month later, Van Gaal’s United became a fast and hungry shredding machine that also tore up Liverpool, 2-1 at Anfield, and Aston Villa, 3-1 here.
On a day when Chris Smalling led the side in Wayne Rooney’s absence and Radamel Falcao was preferred ahead of Robin van Persie, the question was: which United would turn up? The one-paced side witnessed for most of the season or the one who for that month appeared to herald a brave new Van Gaal dawn?
The answer w
As Van Gaal has noted when bemoaning United’s Premier League form on the road, there is a need to fix how they perform outside of Old Trafford. Three of those four matches claimed in scintillating fashion were played at their stadium. Away from home they have managed only six league victories, having drawn seven and lost five. Conversely, before this match, there had been 14 wins, two draws and only three defeats in front of the United fans.
Yet despite home advantage United were again hampered by their main affliction: a kind of sideways-itis that causes a lack of pace in thought, pass and movement. Van Gaal’s squad also lack players who possess raw speed and it was instructive that United’s opener derived from the only man to possess some, Ashley Young.
The winger’s quick step bought him a crucial moment to cross to Ander Herrera whose volley beyond David Ospina was decisive and an eighth goal of what is ending as an impressive debut season.
Memphis Depay’s arrival in the close season will help solve the lack of pace at the club as the 21-year-old Dutchman is seriously fast. Depay also carries a goal threat – he was PSV Eindhoven’s top scorer in the club’s title-winning season.
As Rooney boasts the club’s best return with only 12 goals this is a further boon from the Dutchman’s addition.
Yet the manager admits he is signing only potential, saying of Depay: “The plan is to help him develop as a player but we must all be patient. The Premier League is very different from any other league and it will take time for him to fully adapt to the pace and unforgiving nature of football in this country.”
What also promises to be unforgiving is the scrutiny Van Gaal will draw if he ends the summer having spent the £150m available to him – to make it a £300m splurge in 12 months – and come the close of September United remain a ponderous unit who are still not contenders.
That victory over Liverpool should offer most heart to Van Gaal and his players as it came away from home. On that day Juan Mata registered two fine goals as the oft-referred-to Van Gaal philosophy clicked. The 63-year-old had spoken consistently of the need for time for his methods to bed in.
When Tottenham were given their schooling at Old Trafford it seemed this had finally happened in what was league outing No29.
But by No33, and the 1-0 de
KUJIUNGA NA KINYANG'ANYIRO CHA PIKIPIKI AINA YA BOXER BONYEZA PICHA CHINI YA MANENO HAYA NA UIBUKE MSHINDI,BONYEZA MARA NYINGI UWEZAVYO KUIBUKA MSHINDI;
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