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Manchester United have completed one stage of the transformation from the mediocre side under David Moyes of 2013-14 to the side that played champagne football. They are definitely not mediocre anymore. United were shaky in 2014 and early parts of 2015, but have shown glimpses of what we should expect from them next season onwards.
To set it straight, what exactly are we expecting? Since Louis van Gaal is from Netherlands and has coached at Ajax, United fans, expect him to play a brand of football as beautiful as the famous Total Football but adjusted to how football has changed over the years.
From the football we have witnessed it’s possible to establish that this season is part philosophy, part need-to-play-this-way-to-qualify-for-top-4.
A system where the most important move is David De Gea’s goal kick to Maraoune Fellaini’s head or chest is what we thought could be our plan B, that too after Fellaini wasn’t sold, which some of us hoped he was.
I also didn’t expect Ashley Young, who had a very disappointing season (I’m being kind here) under David Moyes, to keep record signing Angel di Maria out of the starting lineup.
Neither did I imagine Chris Smalling, another scapegoat of the debacle of last season, to improve so drastically. This was just to say that this season has panned out very differently to what the fans, and I dare say, van Gaal himself expected to an extent.
I do not have a problem with what has happened this season. In fact, I found it absolutely amazing that the Dutch manager has improvised from the diamond formation with two strikers to playing three at the back to now a 4-1-4-1 which is very much like British-football.
But United do not play like a typical British team. United play like a hybrid. LVG uses the long-ball tactic and Fellaini’s body in this formation, but he also makes sure those little passages of play between Mata and Herrera, and sometimes Angel di Maria make most out of their technical part of the game which I predict could be the backbone of the side for next season at least. The current system gives United a tried and successfully tested back up option.
Louis van Gaal’s transition from the 4-4-2 diamond to the 4-1-4-1 suggests he is weaving his team the way he wants them to. Although it was more of a forced change, van Gaal won’t change it now because of the results it has brought him.
Falcao has misfired and Robin van Persie has been struck by injuries again, so the two striker formation had to be changed. Michael Carrick took his place in the side and took control over the team’s midfield, tempo and the flow of the game. Basically, he decided how he wanted United to play.
Daley Blind has proven to be an able and versatile player. Antonio Valencia has done whatever he could in an unfamiliar full back position. Wayne Rooney has been the box to box striker which is his natural game.
Reports suggest David de Gea is not from this planet.
The reason I call it makeshift is because it is how LVG has adapted to the league. Next season, the Premier League will need to adapt to Van Gaal.
The 4-1-4-1 will become the Dutch Delight 4-3-3. Carrick plays like he hasn’t aged, but sadly he will. Daley Blind can take his place, or someone else definitely will. Luke Shaw has the potential to be club’s permanent left back.
An actual right back will be bought. A world class ball-playing composed centre back, in the mould of Rio Ferdinand, will be signed to partner Smalling, Jones or Rojo in defence.
Ander Herrera and Juan Mata will continue their Spanish bromance in midfield. Angel di Maria will be expected to play like a 60m pound player, and Memphis Depay will possibly partner him on the other side of the wing. Wayne Rooney will lead his side from the no. 9 position.
The aim will be to win the league without requiring De Gea’s alien powers who looks likely to depart for Real Madrid.
United should be a balanced side from next season. This season, they have been vulnerable at the back and not so penetrative in midfield and goal shy upfront.
All this should be fixed once the new season begins in August. Van Gaal was given the whole season to experiment and decide who he wants to play with and who isn’t good enough.
The moment of truth isn’t exactly going to be a moment, a season actually, but if he wins the league, LVG’s philosophy will be fool-proof and United would have truly moved on from Fergie days and usher a new era of champagne football, but of a different type.
