With an FA Cup win potentially around the corner and the realism of missing out on Champions League qualification by just a point, I think it is time to sum up the reign of Louis Van Gaal. I want to get one thing straight before I get into it, and that is that I do think he needs to leave, purely on the basis of his negative style of football, and the eventual underachievement of this season. I do think some of his criticisms have been slightly harsh.
Firstly, people are quick to forget that he has managed to continue one of the main heritages ingrained in the club: giving youth a chance. He has given more debute's than the great Sir Alex Ferguson gave in his last five seasons as manager. The emergence of Marcus Rashford being the highlight, he has been brilliant, essentially Louis Van Gaal gave him that chance. Some media sources and fan groups have said that he was forced to play youngsters such as Rashford, Borthwick-Jackson and Timothy Fosu-Mensah. However I don't think there is any luck about how these fantastic young players have come through, Louis Van Gaal could have gone out and brought experienced players to cover those who have had injuries, but he didn't and he put faith in youth. So I think its crucial that he gets recognition for continuing one of the most important traditions of the club in playing our youth prospects and giving them a chance.
Another positive aspect of his reign has to be the signing of Anthony Martial. I think he is the best young player we have signed since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003. At the time the media and fans alike attacked him for 'wasting all that money'. But being realistic Anthony Martial has not only proven to the world he is going to be one of the best on the planet, but he has also probably doubled his value. At 20 years old, and in his debut season in the Premier League, this player is truly one in a million in football terms.
However, I do think that he should go, and I think he will be going after hopefully winning the FA Cup on Saturday. Primarily this is because of his style of play, and his lack of attacking premise. How can we only score 49 goals this season, with Blackpool scoring a superior 59 goals in the 2010/11 season... and being relegated. The system is too defensive and I don't think its effective in the Premier League. Football is largely a results based business and I think Louis Van Gaal has to pay the price. Our club is the biggest club in the world, and we should be challenging for titles every season, and after 2 years to do his job, improvements have been minimal.
I can see the argument that he was only 1 point away from top 4 qualification and a potential FA Cup win. It may have been very different if we finished in the top 4 and won the FA Cup, it would have been an improvement on last year, and maybe then there would be an argument for him seeing out his contract. But even if we finished in the top 4 he still needs to go, as I have said the negative style of play and the underachievement's of the team evidence this.
The critics have been over the top with Louis Van Gaal though, and I think if he delivers the FA Cup tomorrow he can walk with dignity and he should walk with some respect from Manchester United fans.
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