In every class there are some who keep raising the bar high, some who fail to realise their potential and the ones who find themselves sandwiched in between. Then there are those who coast through doing just enough.
It’s a fine line and no one walks it better than Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.
For every 3-0 hammering by a Tottenham Hotspur, United have managed to bounce back with a narrow 2-1 FA Cup win over West Ham United. Just enough to keep him away from the sack.
It’s been two seasons since the Dutchman took charge of United and they are nowhere near the promised land that was promised by the former Barcelona coach. His philosophy, which would take time he said, was expected to bamboozle one and all; after all the man had transformed Ajax into world beaters. But things haven’t really worked out that way.
There is no doubt that it is a possession based style with players keeping positional discipline and cramping the area of play by reducing the distance between the striker and defence.
On paper, it sounds simple and staright-forward. After all, Barcelona use a similar style with a few tweaks.
This is where the former Barcelona manager was found wanting in his judgement. For a team like Barcelona or Bayern Munich, that style of play works. They have the players for it.
But Manchester United do not. They have never been a side that would keep 80% of the ball playing an elaborate labyrinth of passes before going for the kill. Sir Alex Ferguson, while foresighted and always innovative, was more about quick wingers, players interchanging positions that would result in quick transfer of play. And it worked because he played in a way best suited for the team and recruited well.
What van Gaal has failed to do is evolve with time and change his tactics according to the players available. A grave mistake considering the fact that his recruitment has been just as puzzling.
Angel di Maria came as a potential saviour and left after one season, branded a flop. A tag he successfully shed within a few months with some exciting displays at PSG.
So why has van Gaal not changed his mindset to suit his players since it has become evident that they are not pulling the other way for him
His line-up against Tottenham Hotspur made little sense with majority of the players playing out of position. When asked about it after the loss, there was a vague justification along with a thinly veiled accusation.
Ferguson once made a similar error against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final by playing Ryan Giggs in the wrong position. But the Scotsman admitted his error and put the winger back in his favourite left flank. The rest is history.
Admitting the fact that someone is wrong isn’t a sign of weakness, but one of magnanimity. Something van Gaal isn’t really familiar with.
But once again, he did manage to get the best out of young talents. Perhaps it’s easier to get an 18-year-old to buy into his ways rather than an already established star, who has his own identity.
There were bright spots during his time at Old Trafford but they were very few and far between from someone with his reputation.
With the club looking likely to finish outside the top four, a downturn from last season, perhaps it is time for United to look elsewhere for a new captain or the Dutchman to wave the white flag. It was always bound to be a tough one after all.
