Van Gaal must Go but not now

This past week was supposed to be a pivotal week for Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United. The club went into the week needing wins over PSV and Leicester City to qualify for the champions league knockout phase and to top the league standings respectively. But to compound the frustrations of the fans, the Red Devils failed to win in both matches. Van Gaal has been heavily criticized in recent weeks for his team's dull pragmatic football. Supporting fans have been seen chanting 'attack attack, attack' in recent matches. The frustration has brewed to a point that some are calling for the Dutch coach to be sacked. Sacking might be unfair on the gaffer who took us back to the champions league after a disastrous campaign and has guided United to the third spot in the current league campaign. But I must say, although I don't agree with sacking him now, I am personally struggling to see the benefits of keeping him past May.

I know a lot of people may disagree with me, but whether we like it or not Van Gaal will be going the year after and we would need a new coach anyway. I think he has done all he can. Don't get me wrong, he has done a great rebuilding job, especially after the disastrous Moyes era. He has shipped out most of the 'deadwoods' such as Welbeck, Robin Van Persie, Tom Cleverly, Fletcher, Johnny Evans and many others from the team. The Dutch coach has also brought stability to the team, especially the defence. He seems also to be promoted more youth players to the first team. The likes of McNair, Blackett, Perreira, Wilson and Lingard have had their fair share of chances over the past 18 months. But there are negatives that I think are worrying.

You obviously know what the first issue is right? United are playing in a flawed system that is slowly killing the creativity of our players. The system lacks pace and it's too restrictive. Van Gaal says his attackers are allowed to express themselves however, evidences from the field of play proves otherwise. Individual players play with so much caution as if at half time or full time, they might have to explain to the coach every action they took to the field of play. It is so frustrating to see our most creative, attack-minded players 'scared' to move or pass the ball forward, apparently brainwashed into passing it sideways. Statistics show that we have most possession per game between the top 20 Premier league teams yet in terms of through passes given per game, we are ranked joint 7th. It will also interesting to note that in, terms of touches in the opposition half, we rank second only behind Manchester City yet we have played more side and backward passes than any other team. Our strikers are not confident making runs behind defenses anymore because they know they won't get the right services. You can't blame them to be honest. All these means that Manchester United under Louis Van Gaal are organized efficiently, but don't take enough risk to create chances, take shots and ultimately score goals. That's why the attackers are finding it difficult to make headway.

It will be difficult to mention one attacker who has really succeeded under Van Gaal.  So many top players have struggled with this system that you wonder whether it's the players who underperformed or it's the system which is making them look bad. DI Maria and Depay are two notable mentions, Martial who started brightly is now experiencing dips. Even Malta can't stand out consistently. In fact, the Spaniard's 4 goals and 3 assist came in his first seven league games. Gary Neville said that Manchester United were 2 quality signings away from winning the league. But on this evidence, there is no guarantee that the likes of Ronaldo, Bale and Muller would cause a significant change in the way Van Gaal approaches games, absolutely none.

People think it's insulting to call the football Manchester United play boring. It's not! In reality, most of our fans admit we are the most boring side in the Premier league. Most United faithful don't even get excited wanting to watch our games, that's how lifeless and joyless performances are. Wednesday's stalemate against PSV was United's fifth 0-0 so far this season, which means last season's total of four has already been surpassed. And we are only in December. Compared to his predecessors, there were three 0-0 draws under David Moyes and none in Sir Alex Ferguson's final two seasons. 

To conclude, Manchester United can't afford to miss out on another big name coach after Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp. We simply can't allow Pep Guardiola (if he will indeed leave Bayern Munich this summer) to go to Manchester City. Louis Van Gaal has done well to study the ship, but I think he should be gone in the summer. 

The Rise of Daley Blind at centre back and why he should partner Chris Smalling

Sergio Romero granted ESPN FC an interview in which he said he hadn't given up reclaiming the goalkeeping position from David De Gea. According to the Argentine: "Nobody is the owner of any position in football". This statement may be very true because of injuries and or loss of form, but let's ask ourselves this question, would anyone start a fit Romero over a fit David De Gea? Most accomplished teams have a settled first eleven, this is very important because it allows the players to build chemistry and complement each other on the field of play. Manchester United's defence has been the best in the league conceding just 8 goals and whilst keeping an impressive 8 clean-sheets in 12 matches but some questions still remain. One of those is about the identity of the player to partner Chris Smalling (who has been the best in the league). Should it be Daley Blind or Phil Jones?

How Daley Blind ended up as first-choice centre-back for Manchester United in the latter part of this summer still remains a mystery for most fans especially despite the spending spree. Even Legends like Rio Ferdinand had doubts about the Dutchman's ability to effectively play in that role. Ferdinand earlier in the season said Blind wasn't bought as a centre-half and that he was the weakest link in the United defence. According to him, although Blind reads the game really well and he is a "natural all-round footballer", he would struggle to deal with pacy and powerful strikers in the league. However, students of Van Gaal philosophy were not so surprised with Blind latest position. In fact, in the book The Coaching Philosophies of Louis van Gaal and the Ajax coaches, Van Gaal was quoted as saying "In modern football the two centre-backs have really become the playmakers.The No. 10, behind the strikers, can’t be called a playmaker any more because the space in which he operates is too restricted. Today’s playmakers are to be found in the middle of the back four".

Van Gaal, by giving that role to Blind, apparently sacrificed attributes that are considered vital for Premier League centre-backs —aerial presence, physical strength and pace for the play-making skills of the 25 year old. Things may not go right all the time as we found out in the defeat against Swansea and also against Wolfsburg because at 5-foot-11, there will be times when Blind lack of physique and pace would be apparent. Against Swansea, Blind was outmuscled by both Andre Ayew and Gomis for both of Swansea's goals. Also, In the champions league game against Wolfsburg at Old Trafford, the Dutchman was drawn out of position and couldn't track his man for David Caliguiri's opener for Wolfsburg. Yet, this has not deterred the Dutchman from forming an encouraging partnership with Chris Smalling. The pair have conceded just 8 times in the 10 games they have started next to each other. So far, Blind has done extremely well with the purely defensive side of his game that he has earned the plaudits of other United legends such as Gary Neville and Jaap Stam. Even Liverpool Legend, Jamie Carragher has been impressed. 

Much was made in the build-up to the United-Aston Villa clash as a potential battle between Blind and Rudy Gestede. In the end, Blind wasn't troubled aerially despite his small size. Same thing happened with Benteke when United came against Liverpool, but the Dutch international didn't do badly.  Against Liverpool, his smart thinking and intelligent positioning allowed him to clear the ball off the line twice preventing Liverpool from equalizing immediately after United had scored.

There was a moment against Club Brugge where Blind looked to have lost his man on the counter-attack. However, just as it appeared to be dangerous for United, the 25 year old   used a superb combination of body positioning and strength to unbalance the attacker and recover the ball. 

Based on the way we play and the way teams set up their defences against us. Having a defender who can bring the ball out of defence and supply key passes is an added luxury, one that other first team centre-backs, Jones and Smalling, do not possess. Blind's left foot is capable of providing long defence splitting passes, a great illustration being the raking, faded pass that allowed Juan Mata to set up Memphis Depay's goal against Sunderland. Another was his pass for Memphis Depay's second goal against Club Brugge.

Defending has evolved, it's no more about brute strength and how fast a defender is, it's rather the ability of that individual to limit the time, space and options available to the opposing attacker. I also know Van Gaal likes to pick his squad based on the opposing team's strength and weakness, but surely Chris Smalling would benefit from some much needed stability. Jones may be strong and powerful but he is prone to making big mistakes, against Paris Saint Germain we saw glimpses of that. In conclusion, i think Daley Blind should be given the nod over Phil Jones to partner Smalling.

Statistical analysis of Manchester United so far

In a season where Louis van Gaal's men have been criticized from many quarters and serially given no chance of winning the league, Manchester United are just 2 points off the leaders going into the international break. Call this a mirage or anything you want, but the facts suggest that the Red Devils are quietly getting better every game. History shows that the last time United started comparatively better was in the 2012/2013 Premier league season, which coincidentally was Sir Alex Ferguson's last season in charge. The Reds gathered 27 points in their first 12 games on their way to being crowned champions.

Manchester United's haul of 24 points in 12 league matches is 5 points better than at this stage in the 2014/2015 season and 3 points better than in the 2013/2014 season. By this stage last season, Louis Van Gaal's men were 13 points adrift of leaders and eventual champions, Chelsea, and as such were effectively ruled out of the title race. Have the Red Devils improved this season? Absolutely, the points build-up seems to agree. After all, 'it's the three points that matters'.

United kept their fourth successive clean sheet in their 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion and have the best defensive record in the league. In 1080 minutes of football last season, United had already conceded 15 goals (7 goals less than the total they have conceded this season). The Red Devils have also kept 8 clean-sheets in 12 games (in contrast to the 3 they kept last season in the same amount of games). It's common knowledge that David De Gea had to pull ridiculous saves to rescue United from losing points on numerous occasions in the 2014/2015 season following costly defensive blunders. This season, however, defensive errors seem to have scaled down. A total of 11 errors with 2 leading to goals was conceded last season as compared to the 4 errors conceded this season. On top of that, Romero (who kept the first 4 games) and De Gea have had to make a combined average of 2.4 saves per game compared to De Gea's average (3.0) last season. Clearly, this shows that the defense has improved.

Chris Smalling has arguably been the best central defender in the league this season. Credit must be given to the English International for rising up to the challenge after being singled out as the odds on favorite to be sold after his sending off against Manchester City last season. His ability to read a game has improved tremendously well, he has made a total of 24 tackles, 26 interceptions and 75 clearances. These statistics are only bettered by Jan Vertonghen. What is more impressive is that the 25 year old has matured into that leader that the club severely locked after Vidic and Ferdinand left, organizing the defense efficiently Strangely enough, Louis Van Gaal, the United gaffer keeps referring to him as 'Mike', maybe even he is surprised at how good Smalling has become. 

It's not only Smalling, Daley Blind has also been good in a position where initially he was uncomfortable. The Dutch international's ability long balls to play long incisive balls from defense has added more bite to the team's attack. Let's not forget that it was the Blind's exquisite long ball that allowed Malta to set up Depay's goal against Sunderland. The fullbacks, Darmian and Rojo (who came into the squad after have been decent. Remember that Rojo, who, according to reports, had fallen out with Van Gaal, only came into the side after that horrific injury to Shaw. They have provided width on both flanks without putting a foot wrong in their defensive duties. The defense has ensured that the Manchester United's results don't suffer despite team's inability to score too many goals.

Chants of "Attack! Attack! Attack!" has been heard in recent games. Such has been the frustration of the Manchester United fans, who not long ago were rated as the best support group in England. Seven teams have scored more goals than Manchester United (16) this season and 15 teams have taken more shots per game. In fact, this season United has scored fewer goals and averaged fewer shots per game than in any of their 3 previous campaigns. A drop in scoring chances created per game from 10.8 in Van Gaal first season to the current average of 7.5 suggests that the problems of the United attack go beyond underperforming strikers. 

Manchester United rank 17th in the Premier League for the number of chances created (90), only West Bromwich Albion has created fewer. It's fair to say Manchester United's attacking potential has steadily declined since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Last year, at this stage, the Reds had created 129 chances. That's 39 more than the output seen this season. The fact that United has taken a higher percentage (49%) of their shots from outside the penalty than in any of the previous three season's highlights the inability of Louis van Gaal's men to effectively break teams down. 

 One top journalist thinks that Van Gaal has prioritized the defense over attack and that he is protecting the team's 'Champions League place' rather than going for the title. Whilst there may be some elements of truth in that statement, I have to state categorically clear that the United attack has been inconsistent and frustrating so far. To sum up, the defense and midfield look good, however the attack still looks inadequate to challenge for the title.  

Sir Alex Ferguson's blueprint (Part 2)

On the second installment of this series, I take a look at the next thing, the great Scotsman did after he had built the 'foundations of Manchester United.

Dare to Rebuild Your Team

Even, in the period of great success, Ferguson worked tirelessly to rebuild his team. He is credited with assembling five distinct league-winning squads during his time at the club that continued to win many other trophies. Ferguson realized that apart from the fact his players were aging, it was actually very difficult to motivate players who had won a lot in their careers. He also believed every successful team had a timeframe. That was why there needed to be a re-shaping or rebuilding. Ferguson said "Although I was always trying to disprove it, I believe that the cycle of a successful team lasts maybe four years, and then some change is needed. So we tried to visualize the team three or four years ahead and make decisions accordingly"

The now 72 year old's thoughts and subsequent actions were driven by a keen understanding of where his team stood in the cycle of rebuilding and the player's life cycle. He defined the 'player's life cycle' as "how much value the players were bringing to the team at any point in time". Cutting players off irrespective of the personal attachments was part of the talent development management process. The process also involved getting the right players in.

The analysis of a Ferguson's player transfer activities revealed his unique ability to spot talent. In the last decade, Manchester United have won the English Premier league five times. What is more remarkable is that before Ferguson retired, the club had spent less on incoming transfers than its rivals Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool did. One factor accounted for this; the continued commitment to young players. Those under the age of 25 constituted a far higher share of United’s incoming transfers than most of its competitors. The likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, David De Gea who now feature for the first team were bought by Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson, on a few occasions, dished out huge amounts for established superstars, such as the Robin van Persie and Edwin Van Der Saar.

Young players were given the needed time and necessary conditions to succeed while most older players were gradually phased out. Most older players were sold, however a few were kept around to guide the younger ones help carry the culture of the club forward. Ferguson said "the goal was to evolve gradually, moving older players out and younger players in. It was mainly about two things: First, who did we have coming through and where did we see them in three years’ time, and second, were there signs that existing players were getting older? Some players can go on for a long time, like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Rio Ferdinand, but age matters. The hardest thing is to let go of a player who has been a great guy—but all the evidence is on the field. If you see the change, the deterioration, you have to ask yourself what things are going to be like two years ahead"

Look forward to the third part of this series which will focus on 'how Sir Alex Ferguson set very high standards for his players' until then thanks for reading 

Sir Alex Ferguson's blueprint (Part One)

In the next days, I will be writing about Sir Alex Ferguson's ideologies, attitude and mentality which has made him one of the best managers to grace this beautiful game of soccer. Before retiring in May 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager of Manchester United for 26 good seasons (wasn't that rosy when he began though). His accomplishments during that period was remarkable. The Red Devils won 13 English league titles along with 25 other domestic and international trophies. 

Ferguson was far more than a coach, as he played a key role in shaping United managing not just the first team but the entire club. In 2012, a professor at Harvard Business School Anita Elberse had the privilege to extensively examine Ferguson’s managerial approach. She went deeper than just conducting a series of in-depth interviews with Ferguson about his leadership methodologies. She watched him in action at United’s training ground and at the World acclaimed "Theatre of dreams", Old Trafford, where a nine-foot bronze statue of the former manager has been erected. She spoke with many of the people Ferguson directly worked with, from David Gill to the club’s assistant coaches, kit manager, and players. She also observed Sir Alex Ferguson during numerous short meetings and conversations with players and staff members. Ferguson and Prof. Anita discussed eight leadership lessons that touched on the crucial elements of his approach. The approach that sustained his longevity and success. These article will touch on the first step he took to succeed.

Start with the Foundation

Sir Alex Ferguson clearly arrived in Manchester United with a plan, a plan to succeed.  Sir Alex Ferguson said "From the moment I got to Manchester United, I thought of only one thing: building a football club. I wanted to build right from the bottom." Upon his arrival at Manchester, in 1986, Ferguson developed a model for the long future of the club by re-organizing and modernizing United’s youth program. The most successful coach ever further added "When I arrived, only one player on the first team was under 24. Can you imagine that, for a club like Manchester United? I knew that a focus on youth would fit the club’s history, and my earlier coaching experience told me that winning with young players could be done and that I was good at working with them. So I had the confidence and conviction that if United was going to mean anything again, rebuilding the youth structure was crucial. You could say it was brave, but fortune favors the brave." 

He implemented his thoughts in two ways. The first thing he did was to establish two “centers of excellence” for promising talents as young as nine. The other thing he did was to recruit a number of scouts, instructing them to bring him the top young talents. He wanted more than just providing a constant stream of talented players for the first team. The Former Scottish international said "that [building a youth academy] was in order to create fluency and a continuity of supply to the first team. With this approach, the players all grow up together, producing a bond that, in turn, creates a spirit." The best-known of his early signings were David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. Other Manchester United legends like Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were also among Ferguson’s early youth program investments. Together with Giggs and Beckham, they formed the famous "class of 92" which formed the backbone of the hugely successful United teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Sir Alex took a huge gamble on young talents at a time when the notion was that “You can’t win anything with kids.” Ferguson thought about the difference between building a team, which is what most managers concentrate on, and building a club. He said "The first thought of 99% of newly appointed managers is to make sure they win—to survive. So they bring experienced players in. That’s simply because we’re in a results-driven industry. At some clubs, you need only to lose three games in a row, and you’re fired."

Sir Alex Ferguson however admitted he was a bit lucky during his early days at United. He was quoted to as saying "In today’s football world, with a new breed of directors and owners, I am not sure any club would have the patience to wait for a manager to build a team over a four-year period." His position as Manchester United manager would have been in serious jeopardy had the club not won the 1990 FA Cup, former chairman Martin Edwards has revealed. 

The 73 year old further illustrated that there is more to building a team than just for short term success. "Winning a game is only a short-term gain—you can lose the next game. Building a club brings stability and consistency. You don’t ever want to take your eyes off the first team, but our youth development efforts ended up leading to our many successes in the 1990s and early 2000s. The young players really became the spirit of the club."

Ferguson had a passion for the youth. He had this to say " I always take great pride in seeing younger players develop. The job of a manager, like that of a teacher, is to inspire people to be better. Give them better technical skills, make them winners, make them better people, and they can go anywhere in life. When you give young people a chance, you not only create a longer life span for the team, you also create loyalty. They will always remember that you were the manager who gave them their first opportunity. Once they know you are batting for them, they will accept your way. You’re really fostering a sense of family. If you give young people your attention and an opportunity to succeed, it is amazing how much they will surprise you.

Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson was truly a great man, probably the best coach in history. Watch-out for the second part of this series.

Reasons for Manchester United's collapse in the first 20 minutes at the Emirates stadium

Manchester United's disastrous start at Arsenal was a true wake up call for Louis Van Gaal and his players. United have started quite slowly in almost every game they have played this season and for a top team hoping to challenge for trophies, that's not good enough. Tottenham created about 2 clear chances against us in the opening twenty minutes. Wolfsburg and Club Brugge scored a goal in the 4th and 8th minute respectively. Even Sunderland (without any disrespect)  dominated us in the first 10 to 15 minutes. The only game this season that we started very well was the game against Newcastle. Wenger had done his homework and duly punished us. Such was the dominance that Arsenal three goals resulted from their first 3 shots on target. Luckily for United, they didn't get more shots on target in the first 20 minutes, we could have been staring at a cricket scoreline. So what went wrong in the first 20 minutes?

Many things went wrong, both from the technical perspective and the attitude of the players on the pitch. Having watched the first twenty minutes again, I noticed some issues that need immediate solutions. The international break couldn't have come at a better time. I will highlight a few in the accompanying paragraphs.

Mata is not a winger, how many times  do we have to say this? How many times do we have to say Mata must be played in a place where his defensive responsibilities are limited?

I was wasn't surprised 2 of the three goals we conceded came from the right side of the defense. Mata desperation to change the game caused him to dart into the middle as a result, he couldn't track back quick enough. This left Darmain all alone and exposed to the runs of Alexis Sanchez and Nacho Monreal. Darmian is very good, but he still needed help against a special player like Sanchez. Mata tracked back to help Darmian only twice in the first 20 minutes.  No wonder Sanchez had a very good match as opposed to the Chelsea game where Pedro and Ivanovic teamed up well to nullify his efforts.

Mata's movements in the first 20 minutes really exposed Darmian (courtesy of Fourfour.com/Statszone)

Throughout the season, there is something odd I have noticed about the "philosophy". I know the philosophy clearly depends on depriving the opponent of the ball. But the unwillingness of our players (especially our defenders and keepers) to clear the ball out of the danger area, especially if they are under pressure certainly must not be part of it. We have got away with many misplaced passes in and around our penalty box so many times this season. Arsenal finally made us pay heavily for that 'criminal attitude' on Sunday. Daley Blind's attempt to pass the ball to Memphis when he was under intense pressure kick-started a chain of events that led to Arsenal first goal. I keep asking myself, is it necessary for defenders to pass the ball in their defensive half always especially if they are under pressure? 

The lack of mobility in central midfield was one was one of the major reasons why we lost against Arsenal. Carrick and Schweinsteiger are two players who like to sit and dictate play. They both don't have to the pace to press opponents and neither are both hard tacklers. Arsenal out-numbered, out-foxed and bypassed them with ease before unleashing hell on the defense. The second and third goal, we conceded resulted from decisive passes that emerged from the central midfield area. A more combative midfielder like Schneiderlin would have prevented at least one of those passes from going to their targets.

In summary, the first twenty minutes against Arsenal showed us that Mata should be moved behind the striker otherwise quality teams will exploit the gaping hole between him and Darmian. We also learnt that pairing Schweinsteiger and Carrick is almost suicidal.

Juan Mata the winger? Or Mata the playmaker

When Juan Mata signed for Manchester United, many supposed he would walk straight into the starting lineup under then manager, David Moyes. The Spaniard then had won Chelsea's player of the year twice in succession due to his unique ability to make and score goals. The Red Devils at the time boasted of the likes of established names such as Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney, and promising academy talent, Adnan Januzaj, among others. Mata, did walk straight into the starting XI, but it came at a cost, the diminutive Spaniard had to sacrifice his most effective position. This was due to the club captain Wayne Rooney 'acquired traits' of playing behind the main striker. With Van Persie or Hernandez upfront and Rooney occupying the 'number 10' role, the then 25-year old had to be shunted out wide almost all the time.

Mata is an intelligent footballer who finds pockets of space in and around the penalty area. He is too slow to act as a winger so what he does is to mostly drift inwards and deliver intricate passes into the paths of strikers or players within scoring positions. The only time Mata played as a number 10 under David Moyes was against Newcastle. He only played there because Rooney and Robin Van Persie were both injured. You know how he performed right? Two goals and one assist capped off a terrific performance from the then 26-year old as United won 4-0. His beautifully curled free-kick into the top-right corner broke the deadlock. His second goal was all about his calmness and composure as he slotted the ball home after Hernandez had hit the post. And his classy, back-heeled assist for Januzaj goal was a glorious combination of his vision and awareness.

The experienced Dutchman, Louis Van Gaal, succeeded Moyes after an impressive outing with the Netherlands in the World Cup. He is a man who believes in philosophical and intricate methods of achieving success. The Dutchman sought to infuse his style into the Manchester United team, the possession game and the 3-5-2 formation that thrives with wingers and full backs making runs to and fro the pitch. The change in management didn't cause much difference to Mata's situation. The little Spaniard was mostly deployed on the right wing of play, unable to make his presence felt in a position which clearly doesn't suit him. Though he cut a frustrated figure more especially because he had not adapted to the wings, Mata managed to be directly involved in 13 goals in Van Gaal's first season (9 goals, 4 assists). Nonetheless, that was his lowest contribution to a team in a full season since he burst onto the scene in the English Premiership.

This season (2015/16) started with Juan Mata earning a starting berth in all 13 matches under Louis Van Gaal. He has impressed largely because he has adapted quite well to his 'wing role'. He has mastered the artistry of acting as a false winger or false number 10. His timed infield runs have ended up creating more chances for the likes of Martial, Rooney and others to pounce. However, As good as Mata has been this season (5 goals, 4 assists), just imagine how unplayable the Spaniard will be in his favorite number 10 position. Mata's wonderful flick assists against Wolfsburg came from a central position. His perfectly weighted ball for Januzaj winner against Aston Villa also came from one of his darting infield runs. Where was this brilliant fellow when he made that gorgeous square pass for Depay's goal against Sunderland? In the middle of the attacking third, where he thrives. I could go on and on but I guess by now you see the point I am driving at.

Mata exquisite flick for Smalling's goal against Wolfsburg.

Mata might be displaying an enviable work-rate down the wing, one that has surely impressed Van Gaal, but the point is Mata's ability to influence a game is restricted on the wings. The fact that the Spaniard has to defend on the wings is one of the limiting factors. It's well documented that Mata has defensive frailties, something which caused him to lose his starting berth at Chelsea. As a winger, he was the has to cover for Darmian, a task he doesn't quite well because of darting runs to the middle and slow ability to track back, leaving the Italian international horribly exposed. Alexis Sanchez took full advantage of this fact and fully decimated Darmian at the Emirates stadium on Sunday. But the effects of Mata in-wards runs is another topic that I will address on another day. But imagine how Mata would stretch defences to breaking point with his exquisite vision and great passing ability in a position where he has limited defensive responsibilities.

It has become worrisome to say that many Manchester United supporters globally are worried about the LvG’s refusal to play one of his most priceless assets in his natural habitat especially when Rooney is performing poorly. Some have also remarked how you will get the best out of someone if you keep twitching and playing them out of position. Others sighted the failure of a certain Angel DI Maria, who couldn’t adapt under the tutelage of LvG because he was continually played out of position. For Juan Mata, a player who will most definitely like to play on a more regular basis, he wouldn’t care if it means he has to play out his favorite position. But that will come at a cost to the club and coach who will not get the desired results expected from Mata. 

Where does this gem fit, is his talent wasted or he needs to adapt to a new trend?

Can Depay Rescue the dwindling fortunes of the iconic number 7 jersey?

An integral part of footballing history is jersey numbers. Arsenal and Chelsea became the first clubs to allow their players wear numbered jerseys in 1928. Since then numbers have become a common phenomenon and some have acquired unique significance. A typical example is the mystical number "7" jersey of English powerhouse, Manchester United.  The iconic number 7 shirt clearly depicts the style, elegance and class associated with the Red's history and rightly so, many legends have made that shirt their own.

The first pioneers who brought "some level" of prominence to this jersey were Jimmy Delaney and  Johnny Berry who both played under Sir Matt Busby. Delaney, quickly became a fan favourite with some dazzling displays on the wings which helped the club to win the FA cup in 1948; the club's first trophy since 1911. Johnny Berry was the next man to occupy the famous jersey and he did so for eight seasons. The English international who was part of the famous ‘Busby Babes’ that won the league title three times before the Munich disaster. The Munich air disaster, as we all know, decimated Sir Matt Busby squad, killing eight players and maiming several others. Berry was lucky enough to escape death but the injuries he suffered ended his career abruptly. He was considered one of the best players of his generation before the crash.

But it was until 1963 that the number "7" shirt gained worldwide prominence due to the exploits of a certain young man from Belfast. This man also known as the ‘Fifth Beatle’ was George Best. Since then, the likes of Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have occupied the jersey produced legendary displays. However after Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, the search for the next great number 7 is still on. 

This is so because the bearers of the shirt after the Portuguese have been disappointing. The club and managers have to shoulder some blame for this occurrences. I say this because the desperation of the club to find a new superstar has become very obvious. As a result, the number 7 shirt has been given out hastily to players with the hope that they might just live up to expectation. Michael Owen and Angel Di Maria are prime examples of this fact. They were both  given the jersey in their first season at the club without having to "prove" themselves worthy of it.

Owen, sure, brought a lot of experience to United, did some good things but he was not a number 7. It was obvious the English international was past his best when he joined United. On the other hand, Di Maria, from the on-set looked a perfect fit for the shirt. The acceleration and creativity he possessed reminded fans of George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, his performances in his first four games justified his price tag and abilities. But what we forgot so easily was that he needed to adjust to the physicality of the English league. In the end, he was shipped off to PSG after a disappointing season.

Valencia became a typical victim of the legendary implications and pressure associated with the number 7 jersey. He was the player of the year in the season before he took the 7 jersey and now he is just a backup at right back. That's how far he fell after putting on the iconic jersey. 

The mantle has fallen on Memphis Depay now but the question I and many United faithfuls ask is can Depay rescue the dwindling fortunes of the iconic jersey? Depay seems to have the swagger and style of the number 7s of old but can he complete it with his performance on the field? He may have the potential to be world-class but can he handle the added pressure of taking the number 7? Can he adjust to the league and life in England as a whole better than Di Maria and churn out brilliant performances? 

Only time will tell.

 

Has Memphis Depay impressed you enough?

David De Gea, the signing of the season so far

Goalkeepers are interesting characters due to their unique ability to combine vulnerability and skill. Usually, isolated, yet are expected to stay focused and alert for 90 minutes. They hardly score or assist goals and hence don't make the headlines often. Their most valued assets are making match defining saves and keeping clean sheets. Goalkeepers could be making the right saves and obtaining plaudits for one moment, the next moment (upon committing a mistake), everything is a disaster. 

Manchester United have always had good goalkeepers but none has been vilified and praised in equal measure like David De Gea. The Spanish international first season at United (in 2011) was a nightmare prompting severe criticisms especially from the media. But he has since matured into one of the best goalkeepers in the world earning a spot in the PFA team of the season on two occasions. He has also won the Sir Matt Busby player of the year award twice underlying his importance to the club.

Were it not for the heroics of David De Gea last season, Manchester United may have lost their Champions league playoff spot. Thanks to the Spaniard, Manchester United had the fourth best defensive record in the league. Looking at the stats, it's very difficult to conceive how they were able to achieve that. The Red's back-line then, which was full of uncertainty and insecurity, duly made a total of 28 defensive errors (the third worst in the league) but only 3 resulted in goals. No League side made more unpunished errors than United. On a whole, United allowed 53 clear opportunities for their opponents to score in the 2014/15 season and teams took full advantage only on 17 occasions. This is what I term as the 'De Gea effect'. 

Rivals used to argue that 'De Gea effect' was due to luck. But on a long run, they had to concede that the lad wasn't making those incredible saves due to luck. De Gea was so often that impenetrable last line of defense that intimidated opposition attackers causing them to doubt their ability. It was not so surprising that 68% of those clear cut chances were missed by opposing attackers when they had only the Spaniard to beat.

According to Opta, Without De Gea, Manchester United would have lost 10 points. This would have condemned the United down to seventh spot for a second consecutive season below the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Southampton thus depriving them of Champions League football once again. 

All these reasons account for the anxiety that brewed in the manager and the fans when the thoughts of De Gea leaving hit them. Actually, on September 1, only luck prevented De Gea from joining Real Madrid (we all know the story). Since then, the 24 year old has signed a new four year contract re-assuring fans of his loyalty at least for one more season.

De Gea, so far this season is proving to be the best piece of business the club has done this summer. The 2014/2015 season's best goalkeeper has continued from where he left off last season with even more stunning displays. His three world class match-defining saves against Southampton on Sunday helped to preserve all the 3 points for his team. The match would have ended 5-3 in favour of Southampton especially with the defence all over the place. 

You have to wonder how long De Gea can keep digging Manchester United from the claws of defeat. But as long as he keeps delivering, It is fair to say, he is the signing of the season so far.

Ander Herrera and his magical foot

Ander Herrera is a huge fan favourite largely because his character on and off the pitch portrays class. Gradually, he seems to be winning a starting spot in Louis Van Gaal's team just like last season, though the return of Rooney and the emergence of Martial could change that. But for now, let's enjoy the chance to see him week in and out. I must say that, apart from the second half performance against Club Brugge, Herrera hasn't done exceptionally well this season as compared to the last one. Maybe, because he is still adapting to the advanced number 10 role. Perhaps, it could be due to tactical indiscipline associated with a sudden change in a player's role. It could be seen during games that the Spaniard likes dropping back to the central midfield position (his natural position) and controlling things from there. Last year, he was very effective playing in the central midfield position alongside Carrick (deep lying playmaker or defensive midfielder) scoring key goals (like the one's against Manchester City and Aston Villa). 

Talking about goals, 10 goals in 59 appearances are a decent haul for a central midfielder. That is roughly a goal every 6 games. Most of Herrera's goals have come from shots, something the 26 year old doesn't do too often. He has averaged roughly just one shot (1.4) per league game last season. Considering that Premier league players average above 2 shots per game, Herrera's average is on the low. But incredibly, Herrera had just seven shots on target last season and 6 of them found the back of the back of the net. The only keeper who managed to stop a Herrera shot from scoring was Julian Speroni of Crystal Palace. This season, he has continued from where he left off scoring a goal from his only shot in target. So per the stats, Herrera is deadly when he gets a shot on target. 

I have to admit, however, that Van Gaal's system may not allow or permit the Spaniard to hit shots frequently. The system's love for dominating possession might prompt Herrera to pass the ball even when he is in a good shooting position. It's interesting to note that in-spite of how deadly Herrera is, he manages a shot on target every 5 attempts (8 in 39 overall). Therefore, the player himself, who has the 'face of an obedient child' might not even feel comfortable overriding his boss's instruction to always keep possession. 

Despite the systemic restriction, I believe strongly that if Herrera is permitted to shoot more, he will score more goals, especially at a time goals seem very hard to come by. 

Statistical review of Manchester United's league games

Manchester United's haul of ten points in 5 league matches is much better than at this stage in the 2014/2015 season. By this stage last season, Louis Van Gaal's men were still reeling from  the pain of blowing two goal leads (2-0, 3-1) to lose by a 2-0 deficit against Leicester City (5-3). An outcome that greatly impacted on the conservative way the Reds approached games afterwards. A year later we are celebrating an important win against old rivals, Liverpool (that's if they deserve to be called rivals). The likes of Fletcher, Blackett, Hernandez, Di Maria, who have since departed from the club played a prominent role in the 5 points the club obtained from its first five games. Another player conspicuously missing was the 2014/2015 Premier League best goalkeeper, David De Gea, who miraculously is still at the club. The Spanish goalkeeper was on the brink of joining Real Madrid on deadline day before late submission of the transfer paperwork scuppered the deal. He has since extended his stay at Old Trafford paving the path for him to feature in the Liverpool game. 

Have the Red Devils improved this season? Certainly, the points build-up seems to agree. After all, there is a general phrase that goes like "it's the three points that matters." But no fan would like to sit on tenterhooks throughout a match and watch his team do a "classic smash and grab". That's why every department of the team needs to be accessed and compared to last season to see whether there are improvements. Let's break the stats down 

In 450 minutes of football last season, United had already conceded 8 goals (2.7 times the total they have conceded this season). The Red Devils have kept 3 clean-sheets in 5 games (compared to the two they kept last season in the same amount of games). Time and again in 2014/15, David De Gea called upon to rescue United following costly blunders made by the defenders in front of him. This season, however, defensive errors seem to have taken a hit. A total of 7 errors with 2 leading to goals was conceded last season as compared to the 3 errors conceded this season. On top of that, Romero has had to make an average of 1.8 saves compared to De Gea's average (2.8) last season. Clearly, the stats proved before all reasonable doubts that the defense have improved. The quartet of Darmian, Smalling, Blind and Luke Shaw have been impressive. 

Smalling's game has tremendously improved contrary to the opinions of the connoisseurs who thought his United career was over after his rather unnecessary sending off against Manchester City last season. His aerial play has improved (won 17/24 aerial duels) as well as his reading of the game. It's no wonder that he has more interceptions per minute (13) than Kompany and John Terry. The English international's partnership with Daley Blind seems to be burgeoning. I remember the severe backlash from even the United faithfuls when the Dutch international was chosen by Van Gaal to partner Chris Smalling. But in 5 games, Blind has acquitted himself well. He has compensated for his lack of upper body strength with his supreme reading of the game (9 tackles and 10 interceptions in 5 games) and excellent passing accuracy (90.1%).

The fullbacks, Darmian and Shaw, have also combined defense and attack brilliantly. They have provided width on the both flanks, especially when Mata and Depay drift inside (6 accurate crosses and 7 key passes) without putting a foot wrong in their defensive duties (28 tackles and 3 interceptions).  It's been long since the club had a solid full-back pair than the one's we see today. The defense in conclusion has ensured that our results don't suffer despite the lack of goals.

The attacking potential of the team, however, seems to have taken a downward trend. We haven’t looked very dangerous offensively at all in the league. Many would say 6 goals in 5 league games is not so bad. A look at the premier league table, however, Manchester United rank 13th in the Premier League for the number of goals scored (6). Only three sides, Newcastle, Watford and Liverpool, have fewer. Last year by this time, the Reds had scored 9 goals. That's 1.5 times greater the output seen this season. The amount of chances created has also taken a dip, we created 4 more chances last season. It's fair to say the attack has regressed. Of the regular front 3, only Mata has contributed significantly to goal (2 assists and a goal). Rooney and Memphis on the other hand, have contributed nothing significant to the attack this season (0 goals, 0 assists)

The attack seems to lack two vital things, tempo and a clinical figure head. This may be due to the lack of freedom and the possession football employed by Van Gaal's system. The system's "love" for possession seems to be blunting creativity, it doesn't spur the players on to be daring enough. A typical example, could be seen especially when the wingers get the ball in advance positions. Instead of taking on their markers, they tend to play side-ways or backwards passes potentially signifying the fear of losing possession. Let's hope the signing of Martial (who already has a goal) would add a little bite to the attack considering his pace.

The central midfield has been immense this year, especially in  providing support for the defense and helping in the general coordination of team play. The likes of Schneiderlin, Carrick and Schweinsteiger have made a successful tackle and interception every 1.3 minutes. Providing an extended shield in front of the back four 

Putting everything together, United are difficult to score against, and with the return of David De Gea, that task should be made harder. The possession football adds to the belief that the defenders can maintain the impressive start and provide a solid foundation for future success. As it stands now, the defense and midfield look good, however the attack for now looks inadequate to challenge for titles. I must point out that maybe it's too early to judge the likes of Rooney, Depay and Mata. 

I also think the fans should back Van Gaal to continue to deliver good results for this club. There is too much negativity surrounding the coach and his selections. After all, it is this same gaffer who took this team that placed 7th to the champions league in one season. I will end by adding that Van Gaal should be judged at the end of the season, for now all we can do is to support him.

Rooney doesn't fit Van Gaal's rigid system

Van Gaal’s system is a more detailed style of play that lays more emphasis on ball control, tactical rigidity and seeks to reduce frequent risk-taking. The ultimate aim of this formation is to dominate the opponent by starving them of possession. The Dutchman system seems to limit individual efforts putting more emphasis on team efforts. As Herrera was quoted saying in an interview with El Pais earlier this year that Van Gaal believes in "not running with the ball" and "doesn't risk the ball" "because he loves possession". Whilst this in itself is a brilliant defensive strategy, it somehow blunts the United attack.

By virtue of this 'slow tempo possession football' extra creativity is required of all our attackers. This is because before they get the ball, the opposition will have regained their defensive shape limiting available space  to cause havoc. Creativity is at its all time low. That's why we need a ruthless predator to be able to turn the few chances we create into goals at a frequent rate. 

For a foward to prosper in Van Gaal’s system, he must possess certain key attributes; He must be strong enough to to hold up the ball, take on defenders and bring others into the equation. He should also be tactical disciplined enough not to go wandering, which gives opposition defenses the freedom to push up. The ability to make meaningful runs in behind the defense and is also a big requirement. A good header of the ball would be an added bonus. Now let's look critically at our main striker, Wayne Rooney, to see whether he cuts it as a lead marksman in this system.

Although Rooney is a good header of the ball, he is almost never in a great position to get on the end of crosses. Manchester United have made just 17 successful crosses out of 79 attempts so far in the league. Reasons for this poor ratio could be attributed to the fact that no one is there to get on the end of those crosses. Out of the 17 successful crosses into the box, Rooney has got on the end of only 4 of them. Off the four, he has won two, but he still couldn't generate enough power to beat the goalkeeper or hit the target at all.

One of Rooney's main job description is to keep the opposition back four busy all the time. Effective pressing and making incisive runs is one way to achieve that but unfortunately this is almost missing in Rooney's game. He prefers to drop deep to get on the ball that in fairness he does nothing really with. As a lone striker, it is common knowledge that he wouldn't see much of the ball but that's no excuse for him to lose his tactical discipline, drop deep and allow opposition defense push up foward. Swansea's equalizer against United highlighted this fact. Rooney lost the ball in midfield, a couple of touches and Andre Ayew was heading into our net.

Does Rooney take on defenders nowadays? The stats suggest that he seems to have lost that ability to do that on a regular basis. He has taken on and beaten his man just once in four league games. He’s lost that fierce burst of acceleration he once possesed. No wonder he is not able to do much on his own with the ball. He also lack the strength to be able to hold the ball up too.

Against Swansea, Rooney played like a man who had not hit the back of the net in nine league games. His extra touch for his second chance on Sunday showed a player devoid of real confidence. He was just over complicating things.

All in all, it could be argued that Rooney doesn't fit the number bill in Van Gaal's system. The last thing I would add is that all these could be due to lack of confidence or simply that Rooney, having played in midfield for so long, has lost his instinctive finishing attributes.

What we learnt from Manchester United's decimation of Club Brugge

We all expected a win against Club Brugge. With all due respect to them, I think the Europa league is their level. Yet again the team came away with a clean-sheet. But this time we totally decimated our opponent scoring 4 goals in the process. It could have been more had Hernandez converted his penalty later on. And oh, less I forget Rooney finally ended his goal scoring drought and Ander Herrera started a game for once. My thoughts on the game will be shared in the paragraphs that follows.

Claims of Rooney's demise seem to have been grossly exaggerated. Rooney might not have a great first touch, he might be disciplined and may have lost pace, but as I said in my previous post, give him better service and he would score. He didn't score one or two, but manage to convert 3 of the four chances he got. After the game, Rooney was quoted saying "I know my qualities and what I bring to the team. Thankfully I've got the chances tonight and taken them, but I wasn't worried."

Herrera showed on Wednesday night that Januzaj offers little in attack. Herrera, who overcame a dreadful start as a holding midfielder played his part in the dismantling process when he was pushed into that "number 10" role. A brilliant assist to Rooney underlined his importance to the attacking prospects of Van Gaal's side. If you thought that was enough, his awareness to get onto an exquisite Schweinsteiger pass and calmness to slot home would have kept you off your seat. A goal and assist in just 20 minutes as an attacker capped a brilliant night for the Spaniard. Surely, he has done enough to warrant a place against Swansea.

Memphis needs to improve his decision making. His pass for Rooney's goal was a testament of his talents, but more often than not he tends to remind us of his immaturity. Twice, he had the opportunity to score but bad decision making cost him. Especially in the 34th minute, when he was through on goal. He could have shot. He could also have set up Rooney to his right but he couldn't quite make his mind up delaying just long enough for the Brugge defender, Duarte, to steam across and deflect his goal-bound effort over the bar. 

We need a leader at the back. There were moments in the first half that we sat on tenterhooks because our center defence decided to fall asleep. Van Gaal's decision to partner Herrera with Carrick was always a recipe for disaster giving Herrera willingness to move forward. This normally left Carrick alone to cover for the back four. This exposed our shaky central defensive partnership on a couple of occasions. Both Blind and Smalling were guilty of not sticking close enough to their targets. A better team would have punished us.

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Is it frustrating to play as an attacker in Van Gaal's system?

Before Louis van Gaal took over the reins at Manchester United, History showed that, United did not find it difficult finding the back of the net. In fact, in the last five Premier league seasons, from 2009/10 to 2013/14, the Reds have failed to average fewer than two goals per game only once. That ill-fated feat unsurprising was achieved in the 2013/2014 season under the guidance of David Moyes. 

The Dutchman's first season in the premier league saw the team averaging 1.62 goals per game which was much less than what Moyes's team achieved (1.68 goals). The silver lining was that Van Gaal's team conceded less goals per game (0.97) compared to Moyes's (1.1). 

Much was said of United's leaky backline but they have started the new campaign with 3 clean-sheets. In doing so, United have conceded less league goals (23) than any other team since November 8 last year. This stat shows that United are somehow beginning to find the defensive solidity that existed when their last great centre back partnership, Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, were at their peak. In contrast, as the defensive attributes of the team increases, the team's attacking prospect seems to be dwindling. 

It's interesting to note that the Red Devils managed only 62 goals with an attacking line up that generally consisted of the likes of Rooney, Falcao, Robin van Persie, Mata and Di Maria as opposed to two seasons ago (64) when Falcao and Di Maria were at different clubs. Surely, there must be something wrong.  

Who is to blame for Manchester United inability to score goals? Rooney? Louis cautious approach?  All the stats show that LVG has sacrificed offence to a certain degree at the expense of defence. Especially considering the fact he deploys a 4-2-3-1 system that includes 2 holding midfielders who contribute minimally to the team's attacking play. The central-midfield partnership is too rigid and doesn't have free-form movement, which is needed to create chances in top-flight league. Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger and Carrick, who appear to be Van Gaal's favourites to fill the holding role have hit a total of 2 shots and given just 3 key passes in the 3 league games they have played in so far.  This has resulted in the attack being 'isolated' at certain times. All this is happening because LVG doesn't trust his defense to perform well in a setup with width.

Apart from the apparent isolation the attack suffers from. It also seems to lack cohesion and width especially with players being played in their least favourite position. Rooney is struggling as a lone striker whilst Mata is also having problems creating chances out wide as a winger. It is of sufficient interest to know that both players tend to drift towards the ‘No 10’ position that neither is assigned to play by Van Gaal. Mata has created more chances when he has drifted in-field as opposed to the wings. This begs the question as to why he is not playing behind the striker. Januzaj's best position seems to be on the wings where he could use his pace and trickery to stretch opposition defenders. Rooney hasn't been in good form, but he requires better service. His fans can argue that not enough chances are being created for him to capitalize on to score. It's not surprising that most of the goals we have scored this season have come from individual efforts and defensive blunders rather than total team play.

Is it frustrating to play as an attacker in Van Gaal's system?

Why Herrera has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester United

Ander Herrera hasn’t started a single game for Manchester United this season. With only 2 substitute appearances in the Premier League, Herrera finds himself sidelined just like the beginning of last season. Last season, Herrera was iced out by Van Gaal for several months, prompting suggestions that he could become the next 'Shinji Kagawa'. The 26 year old Spaniard, however, fought hard to work himself into the starting 11 making himself indispensable with some magnificent displays. Eight goals from 31 games with 5 assists was a brilliant attacking return for a 'newcomer'. Those 'signs' are yet prevalent and with Louis Van Gaal preferring Schweinsteiger or Carrick to partner the mightily impressive Schneiderlin, the odds are heavily stacked against him. So what is the real reason why Herrera is on the bench? Surely, this brilliant chap deserves a shot, especially at a time when goalscoring appears to be a headache.

After our game against Aston Villa, Van Gaal was quoted saying "I like a second striker in that position [behind Rooney] more than a third midfielder. That is why, for example, Herrera is not playing, but is always coming on as a substitute, because he is more of a controlling midfielder there." Notice the keyword 'controlling', I will refer to it again. I think the primary reason why Herrera is benched is because Van Gaal doesn't believe enough in the Spaniard's ability. This mistrust is complicated because it also emanates from the limitations associated with both our defence and attacking options. I will express the reasoning behind my thoughts in the accompanying paragraph.

Why would Van Gaal play two holding midfielders? How many top teams in Europe play two holding midfielders? 

The obvious resolution is that Dutch tactician doesn't still trust his defence. The 4-2-3-1 system enforced by Louis van Gaal this season with two holding midfielders, Carrick or Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin, is intended to compensate for the defensive limitations of his centre-half partnership. Schneiderlin's role is to press the opposition, using his physicality to get close when opponents are in possession. Carrick's (or Schweinsteiger's)  role, on the other hand, is to drop back and cover space. These provides defensive stability and prevents the defence from being over-run. Herrera could play either role in that partnership, although playing him so deep and demanding him to prize defence over attack is probably not playing to his strengths. 

Despite Louis Van Gaal saying we don't need a new striker. Deep down, he has doubts about Rooney's ability to lead the line effectively. Rooney, whose United drought dates back 858 minutes, represents an increasingly blunt spearhead. Notice the 'controlling' word Van Gaal used to describe Herrera, this clearly shows that the 64 year old clearly doesn't believe in Rooney ability to play as a lone striker and wants another attacker behind him to complement his efforts. The same word also reveals Van Gaal doubts in Herrera's ability to offer enough creativity going forward. This is unfortunate, given the way the former Athletico Bilbao knits play in advanced areas and his ability to bridge the gap between defence and attack with such fuss, without disturbing the balance of the team whilst adding fluidity to the attack. 

It is as a result of these factors that Herrera finds himself deep down the pecking order when names are being chosen for a starting berth.  Most fans, including me, would be hoping that Van Gaal rethinks his formation so that Herrera gets more playing time. 

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Review of Manchester United vs Newcastle

Where do I even begin from? How did we not win against Newcastle? How come we didn't end this game 3 or 4 up? These questions lingered in my mind after full time even unto now. By virtue of the chances created, we should have scored at least once. We created 15 chances in this game which was 3 than the chances we created in the first two matches of the premier league season but somewhat somehow we failed to put the ball at the back of the net legally.  We have scored just two goals from a total of 27 chances. What does this say of our attackers? Do we need a need a new number 9? Do we create enough chances for our strikers to finish off? Why does last season's best scoring midfielder, Herrera, struggle to get a game when we lack goals? How come our most creative player, Mata, plays on the wings? 

Again, like in our first two games, we dominated possession albeit this time we moved the better a little more quicker and with purpose especially in the first 20 minutes. For the first 20 minutes, we were excellent, playing exquisite little triangles all over the pitch, before releasing players like Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj into space. However, the final ball was often poor much to the frustrations of Rooney, his supporting cast and the fans. Right now, Rooney just doesn't look fully connected with Januzaj or Depay. At that point, we could have been at least 3-0 up with a bit more composure from our attackers. Not to single anyone out but Memphis particularly had a very poor game. 

From the last two games, it could be seen that Januzaj likes moving to the wings where he gets lots of space to use his pace and trickery to outwit defenders. Mata, on the other hand likes drifting inwards to create scoring opportunities. Mind you, although Mata created 4 chances, he left Darmian hopeless exposed to the runs of Haidara and Perez. So what stops Van Gaal from switching the roles of these two players? Is this perception that United's best attackers are only ever allowed to truly create in minimized bursts true?

The defence and midfield were generally solid. Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger (later Carrick) marshaled the midfield well breaking most of the Newcastle counter attacks. Chris Smalling, Blind, Darmian and Luke Shaw were all impressive dealing with most of the attacks that by-passed the midfield. Blind especially has over-performed giving the conception before the start of the season that he could be our weakest link in defence. His ability to read the game and make crucial interceptions has been crucial. Rojo would have to work very hard to get his position back. 

To sum up everything, it seems we are a striker away from being a very strong team. Rooney doesn't quite cut it as the top marksman anymore. Hernandez in 24 minutes showed us what was lacking in Rooney's game. The ability to  press defenders, avoiding dropping too deep and creating something out of nothing. It was a shame that the Mexican international missed that glorious chance that he worked hard to create.

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You can follow me on Twitter @kriticalstorm

Manchester United always get better replacements when they lose out on a major target

I was left angry and frustrated when Pedro was announced by Chelsea. In fact, it took almost a day for that news to sink in. The trolls from rival fans didn't help the case either. So to distract myself, I did a short research on the club that I have come to cherish so much and found something very interesting. So I found out that whenever Manchester United miss out on a top target, we always get a better replacement. 

We missed Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne in 1989. Sir Alex Ferguson confessed that missing out on Gascoigne was the biggest regret of his career. But we signed Mark Hughes, who Sir Alex once described as the best big game player he has ever known. He scored in 4 of 7 cup finals, he appeared in, with his two goals against his former team Barcelona in the 1991 European cup winners final being the most famous. To sum it up, Mark Hughes, Manchester United's career was phenomenal winning 11 trophies and scoring 163 goals in 467 appearances.

We missed out on Alan Shearer in 1992. The brilliant former international actually confessed he was 'a call away' from joining the 20-times English champions.  However, we got someone better in Eric Cantona, who proved to be the missing piece in the long-awaited championship jigsaw. His nine goals in 22 league games helped Manchester United win the inaugural Premiership trophy of 1992/93. The club's first top division trophy since 1967. He scored a total of 82 goals in 185 appearances, helping the Red Devils win 3 premiership titles, 2 FA cups and 3 community shields.

We missed Alan Shearer again in 1996 but Signed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. On the field, the Norwegian became an embodiment of United’s never-say-die spirit, often scoring late goals when points or trophies looked to have been lost. The 'baby faced assassin' had many career highlights at United but surely the most special memory of all would be the Champions League final in 1999 when his injury-time winner against Bayern Munich completed United's Treble and cemented his place in Reds history. In total, Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 games which is not a bad total considering his 'super sub' status.

Last but not the least, we missed Ronaldinho, but Signed Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar matured from an inexperienced, young winger in 2003 into officially the best footballer in the world in 2009. Ronaldo Manchester United's career highlight came in the 2007/08 season, netting a staggering 42 goals in all competitions firing United to domestic and European glory.

So whenever United have missed out on the signings of certain good players, we have always found better replacements that are more suitable to the club's traditional way of playing. So the loss of Pedro or as a matter of fact the loss of any player doesn't affect the club with status such as Manchester United. We will continue to win trophies.

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