Van Gaal has changed since he first took over
It has taken van Gaal almost two years to understand the English fans. Writing on your pad is not the what the fans want to see. They want a manager who is on the sidelines either shouting at his players or harassing the fourth official. The Dutchman has changed his ways as well as he is finally seen celebrating goals and doing dramatic tumbles on the touchline to prove a point.
At most of his previous clubs, van Gaal had lost the dressing room and the players have been unhappy with his methods. That is not the case at United as the players seem to have bought his style of play and his vision for the club. Had they not, there would have been all sorts of leaks in the UK tabloids as there were at the end of David Moyes’ reign.
In the Moyes era (if you can call it that), if the team went a goal down, there was no coming back. But in the last two years, we have had a few last minute goals that resulted in either a point or all three. There has been a huge difference in the way the team reacts and that is all down to the manager.
Louis’ history
A fan who has been following European football for two decades will tell you the clubs that Van Gaal has managed have always done well after he left and there are far too many instances for it to be a coincidence. Former Barcelona and Milan striker Patrick Kluivert has said that his countryman is excellent with youngsters, but struggles with experienced players who have a different vision of the game (cue Angel di Maria). If you look at the players who have been stand-out performers this year are below the age of 20.
The number of players he has been given debuts and who have gone on to be World stars cannot be a fluke. At the Theatre of Dreams, he has already given debuts to 14 players from the academy, who some fans are calling the Class of 2016. Do we really think Jose would have given these kids a chance? If we do appoint him, are these players going to play as many games as this season or are we going to spend another £250m on other talents?
Based on the last few weeks’ performances, albeit in patches (30 minutes against Spurs and Leicester), I personally think that the club’s first European manager deserves the three years that he was promised, even though he wanted only two. If we sack him now yet another manager will reap the fruits of the seeds he sowed.
Lastly, we have made fun of Chelsea and Real Madrid for changing managers like the seasons, do we really want to join the club?
