Can LVG Salvage Man United's Season?

After Manchester United's embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Wolfsburg in Germany, questions about Louis Van Gaal's tactics and methods have been brought to the fore again by analysts.

A group featuring the likes of Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven, and CSKA Moscow who are hardly European heavy weights is one a team of the status and calibre of United  should successfully negotiate through. This brutal failure to get past this stage is a huge wake up call to both deluded fans and the powers that be at Old Trafford.

How did Man United get to this sorry mess? LVG who was given a mandate to restore Man United into the Champions League after the ill fated David Moyes reign, achieved the goal but the club's sharp exit at the group stages is not what anyone with any ties with United had in mind.

The team's performance against Wolfsburg may have been valiant, but ultimately, they came up far below the standards required to progress further than the first round. This United team is regarded as a dull and boring side with a lack of pace and pedestrian movement. Many fans and critics alike have rightly pointed at LVG's system or philosophy as the reason for this style which contrived to produce a goalless draw against PSV which with the benefit of hindsight proved to be the game that sealed United's fate in the Champions League this season.

As Paul Scholes said, you wouldn't expect Wolfsburg or PSV to get past the round of 16. Yet, these are the teams (not Barcelona, not  Bayern Munich, not Real Madrid but Wolfsburg!) that eliminated Man United. What Scholes forgot to add is that on the evidence of that display in Germany, that United team would also not progress beyond the second round.

Michael Owen buttressed this fact when he said that LVG's transfer policy should be called into question when he said that the players that have been pushed out for those brought in would defeat Wolfsburg. He mentioned the likes of Vidic, Evra, Chicarito, Evans, Van Persie etc would defeat Wolfsburg easily if they were in his squad. 

Former Wales striker, John Hartson, believes that there hasn't been any significant progress with LVG in charge from the Moyes era. A transfer policy and squad management where Wayne Rooney is the only recognisable striker has to be slated. 

Javier Hernandez whom LVG sold to Bayer Leverkusen meanwhile has at this point scored 14 goals in 19 games for Leverkusen. How desperate would LVG be for such firepower now?

Wayne Rooney has come in for criticism for his performances this season but the performance against Wolfsburg shows that United's problems in attack is not down to Rooney alone. He may be past his best but LVG should receive a large share of the blame for the bluntness of United's attack. No one foresaw the scale of Rooney's regression even though the signs have been there a few years. But the fact that LVG only signed an unproven 19 year old from Monaco and let experienced strikers like Van Persie and Chicarito leave has to be a serious mistake on his part, one deserving of the sack were LVG a nonentity.

In LVG's defence, it has to be said that he hasn't had much luck with injuries. Luke Shaw's double fracture against PSV in the first leg started a run of injuries that has swept Valencia, Jones, Herrera, Rooney, Schnerderln, and now Darmian and Smalling.

These injuries though, reveal the hollowness in the squad. A lack of depth which is surprising considering the amount spent on the squad. Another minus for Van Gaal. 

What next for LVG now? Can he turn United's fortunes around? Should the top brass start thinking seriously about the direction United will be going after Van Gaal?

LVG can turn the fortunes of United if he wants to. However, as former United captain, Roy Keane said, it appears LVG has seen something many United fans don't want to admit: that the players, good they might be, aren't good enough for a club like Manchester United. And as a result, LVG has taken the safe option of making his team compact and difficult to breakdown so that the weakness in the squad won't be exposed. But the strategy has led to a sacrifice of a more fluid and dynamic style. 

As things stand, he has to raid the transfer market in January in the hopes of getting a dependable striker, particularly if Wayne Rooney's poor form continues. Perhaps, his current system could yet work if United had a dependable striker who will bury the few chances they create. 

United are only 3 points off league leaders Leicester City. The Premier League is quite open and with Chelsea out of the picture in the title race and also with Leicester City expected to falter as the title race begins to hot up, United have a good chance of winning the league if they can get a decent striker. A feat which will more than compensate for the early champions league ouster.

Manchester United Starting To Shape Up Nicely

Manchester United Striker, Wayne Rooney ended his 10 game goal drought by scoring a hat trick in Manchester United's Champions League second leg play off fixture with Belgian side, Club Brugge in Brussels to send Manchester United to the lucrative Champions League group stages. 

Rooney had prior to this game, come in for intense flak from critics for his poor form in front of goal for both club and country with suggestions that he was past his sell by date and needed to either be pushed into a midfield role or axed from the first team squad. But his performance in Belgium reminded the critics what he is capable of and United will hope that Rooney's season will kick off from here.

In as much as Rooney's performance against Club Brugge was impressive, this game needs to be seen from the perspective of a team practically in tatters. Club Brugge was a team that already knew the game was over even before a ball was kicked. 8 of their first team squad players were out due to injury and Club Brugge manager, Michel Preud'Homme stated earlier that they needed a miracle to scale through to the group phase of the Champions League. This was a team that was just going through the motions.

Be that as it may, you can only beat what is in front of you. Besides, United have struggled to beat inferior opposition already this season, no disrespect to the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa or Totenham Hotspurs. However, Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal can be relieved that his first choice striker is beginning to find his scoring touch again.

Which brings us to the logical question of what happens if Rooney's goal drought returns with a vengeance in the non distant future or if he sustains a serious injury. After back up striker, Javier Hernandez's profligacy in front of goal against Club Brugge, will LVG change his mind about signing another striker? Will he still give Javier Hernandez a chance?

The look LVG gave his assistant, Ryan Giggs after Hernandez missed his penalty smacks of someone who didn't want Hernandez coming on initially but was persuaded by Giggs to give the player a run out to prove himself. It appears that look at Giggs was one of vindication after Hernandez's howler. 

Hernandez didn't cover himself with glory later on after he blasted over the bar from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy when he was fed a low cross by Ashley Young. The wastefulness aside, Hernandez got into good scoring positions. What was lacking was the elusive goal which will come if these opportunities keep presenting themselves and as long as he gets picked.

It is clear that Hernandez is a little short on confidence and LVG needs to assure him that he has a future with United. Looking at Hernandez facial expression, you see a man looking unhappy and lacking confidence. This has to be addressed. Apart from the failure  to score goals, he looked a capable deputy for Wayne Rooney. As LVG has kept faith with Rooney, he needs to have faith in Hernandez.

Inspite of this, LVG needs to make up his mind if he hasn't already, if he needs another dependable striker. Even though it's still early days yet, it appears that the two top strikers United have, will have days when things won't go right in front of goal for them and so there needs to be someone who LVG can count on to deliver the goods.

That person is not James Wilson. In the long term, that person will not be Marouane Fellaini as LVG would want us to believe unless he goes on a scoring run that defies what we've seen from him over the years. Definitely, James  Wilson is one for the future but we've not seen anything that suggests Wilson can do a 'Harry Kane'. LVG needs to be sure he knows what he is doing. 

More sterner tests await Manchester United. They travel to Swansea on Sunday. LVG will probably find out if he has gotten the perfect central defence pairing when they come up against Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew. Chris Smalling and Daley Blind have been solid at the centre of defence and have only conceded only once in 5 games in all competitions but Swansea is a different prospect. Irrespective of the outcome of that game, one thing is sure, Smalling is a sure starter for the United first team. It appears he has come of age and is starting to fulfill the potential Sir Alex Ferguson saw when he signed him from Fulham.

Midfielder, Ander Herrera should be given a run of games in attacking midfield. He was great in the second half against Brugge when the introduction of Bastian Schweinsteiger gave him the freedom to attack.

If United are to succeed this season, LVG must use this second half performance against Brugge using the  personnel and tactics involved as a template on which to build on.

Is Man United Right To Let Di Maria Leave?

Argentine winger, Angel Di Maria, has finally gotten his 'dream move' to French champions, Paris Saint Germain, after a difficult season at Old Trafford. PSG announced on twitter his move to the Paris club for a reported £44.4 million pounds. Manchester United as a result, will be making a loss of roughly £15 million pounds after they made him their record signing when they signed him from Real Madrid for £59 million pounds last season.

His move to PSG brings to an end a somewhat embarrassing situation for Louis Van Gaal who has had to face the media and answer questions about Di Maria's whereabouts after he failed to join his team mates in their United States pre-season tour.

Di Maria was expected to join the Manchester United squad after being given an extended break due to his exploits with Argentina at the Copa America in late July but he refused to board a flight to America and went 'AWOL'. His absence was criticised in several quarters as unprofessional and an attempt to engineer the PSG move which has ultimately succeeded.

But should United have let Di Maria go so soon? With his talent, track record and the transfer fee Man United had to pay for his signature from Real Madrid, surely,he is worth another crack of the whip? One could argue that there isn't any point in keeping an unhappy player as his refusal to join up with his team mates show. No doubt, Angel Di Maria is one of the genuine world class players around. His initial promise last season when he scored against Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City shows that he is one who could have been given another chance if his situation was handled better.

Critics will however point out that this potential that we saw early last season and how his performances began to drop is what makes him an expensive flop. 

History shows us that several South Americans have struggled at Manchester United. Sadly, Di Maria has not only joined that list, he has become the biggest flop of them all. Other players who failed to make a solid impression at Old Trafford include Argentine midfielder, Juan Sebastian Veron, Brazil's Kleberson, Uruguay's Diego Forlan, and Brazil's Anderson. However, Di Maria's talent gave the average Manchester United follower belief that he would not end up the same way as his predecessors. Surprisingly, he was the quickest to be shown the exit door.

It is also very likely now that he has finally left for PSG, that many Manchester United supporters will be wondering what might have been had he clicked last season. Or at least, had put more effort on the pitch when he played than what he displayed for United last season in order for LVG to give him another bite at the cherry.

His performances and body language however, is being pointed out by his detractors as the reason why it is the right decision for United to let him go. Certainly, the pre-season no show is a pointer to what has been going through his mind for several months.

Many times last season when he was not injured, he looked disinterested and unmotivated. He ended up being subbed regularly by LVG and at some point lost his place to Ashley Young who seemed motivated to keep Di Maria out of the starting line up.

What could have been the reason for his poor attitude? Many have argued that LVG  switching him in different positions immensely contributed to his poor performances. It has also been argued that the attempted break in by burglars at his home greatly unsettled him and his family and may have also contributed to his loss of form. These explanations, though valid, do not excuse a player for not giving 100%.

True, LVG experimented a lot last season while trying to get the right balance, best formation and first choice line up but Di Maria for all the money he is worth and with the hefty salary he drew, ought to know that more was expected from him than what he was willing to showcase. No matter how difficult a league's playing style may be, it is a player's job to adapt to the rigours of playing in any league. 

Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez both came from La Liga after having excellent seasons with their clubs and were able to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League and went ahead to flourish. Di Maria also joined United on the back of another excellent season with Madrid but failed to live up to the great expectations fans and neutrals had of him. 

Granted, not all players excel from the out set when they join a new club especially in a different country and culture. But Angel Di Maria is a world class professional and ought to have stayed the course and try to redeem a reputation that was badly damaged last season but it appears he decided to take the easy option.

The easy option being Paris Saint Germain, who as rumours would have us believe was his preferred destination all along. It is being speculated that he would have joined PSG from Madrid and snubbed Manchester United had the Financial Fair Play hammer not been on PSG. 

What is left now for United is to hope that their decision to let a player whose dedication to the United course which was questionable leave, becomes one of the smartest decisions they have taken since the post Ferguson era.

Now that the Elections are over, can we have our football back?

The presidential elections have come and gone. General Muhammadu Buhari has emerged as winner of the elections and now the 'wind of change' will sweep the incumbent and outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan out of office. 

I haven't published any posts recently because the mood of the nation was set on the conduct of the presidential elections. I doubt if anyone would have been willing to read any articles on football in Europe or anywhere else in the last couple of hours or days before the elections, Election Day proper and the days in which results were being collated. 

There was also excitement and tension in the land in anticipation of the announcement of the election results. Football to say the least, was the last thing in most people's minds. But now that the results have been announced, a winner has emerged which reflects the mood of the nation at this time as we grapple with the fall of the Naira and falling oil prices, we can now begin to relax.

And since the announcement, there has been celebrations all over the country, especially among president elect, Muhammadu Buhari's supporters. The celebrations are over or subsiding and we can now return our focus on other happenings around the world and football remains one of the pleasures  that can take our minds off the painful change that is coming for us Goodluck Jonathan supporters even though another round of elections are coming up  on the 11th of April with the Gubernatorial elections being the main event. 

While we were all awaiting the outcome of the election results, friendlies and Euro 2016 qualifiers were being played all around Europe. There were a few shocking results as Portugal lost at home in a friendly to Cape Verde Islands 0-2. Although the rest of the world may not  know much about the Cape Verde Islands, we in Africa know that Cape Verde is an emerging force in football in Africa at least and so, it may not be entirely shocking that Cape Verde shocked a mediocre Portuguese side who had Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench.

Spain were also defeated by the Netherlands 2-0 in Amsterdam in a result that may not be entirely shocking but what would be worrisome for Spain and Vicente Del Bosque is how they can return Spain to the level where they dominated the planet for 6 straight years with a team which is arguably the best in the history of the game at international level.

The English Premier league resumes this weekend with the Arsenal-Liverpool fixture at the Emirates being the pick of the pack. The game is expected to be entertaining. We hope the game will live up to the hype. Arsenal are favourites to win since Liverpool will be missing a few key players including Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel. Liverpool know however, that if they hope to force their way into top 4 reckoning, this is a game they cannot afford to lose. Manchester United will be expected to defeat Aston Villa at Old Trafford and if Liverpool lose, it might be extremely difficult for them to catch up even though United have tough games against Manchester City and Chelsea to come respectively after their game against Aston Villa.

As the EPL begins to reach its climax, the fate of teams who are battling relegation and those seeking a place in Europe's premier club competition, the Champions League, might be cemented after this weekend's round of matches.

Welcome back EPL !