My Dutch amigo is living on the damn edge. Will he stay or will he be thrown off the cliff with Ed Woodward and the Glazers grinning from up top?
I've been one of the few defenders of Van Gaal and have always felt that he just doesn't have the kind of team to play the football that the fans demand. He actually went ahead and did so against Wolfsburg, and they ended up getting beat. So what was the point? To just entertain but lose?
With Newcastle tonight, and after their cotroversial FA Cup win, Van Gaal does need that performance just to shut a few mouths up. It's really all about getting those three points, but playing a little sexy attacking football won't hurt, and Newcastle are the perfect team to do so. They are fighitng relegation and are a team trying to find their rhythm under the McLaren.
But the United fans need to be wise rather than jumping the gun. They have to really ask themselves whether Van Gaal can do more with this team. Or if Ferguon, Ancelotti or Simeone were in charge with these same exact players; that they would be able to successfully play the swashbuckling way. If fans are true to themselves, then the answer ought to be a resounding: "HELL NO"
All Van Gaal has in attack is Martial, and the kid will be very important for them tonight. If Newcastle are wise, they would get on him, double-team when necessary and put a lot of focus on him. Him and De Gea are two of United's best players, and you really should have a plan for the star footballer that your opponent has. And I raise my hands up and say there is no shame in using slight rough-house tactics and harrassing these kinds of players.
What I am looking forward to mostly in this match is how United play. What influence can Rooney have. Whether Mata can finally remember what he used to do for Chelsea under Di Matteo, and maybe Ashley Young can also rekindle his efforts as a winger who knew how to put in a dangerous cross into the area. In short, United need to not only win but show up and prove to the fans that there is life in this team and they won't just bore their way to the top four...or even the title.
But let me ask United fans this...
Would you all be happy if United were negative and boring, but won most of their matches and ended up winning the title?
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HH
