Topic: Louis Van Gaal was the Manager of Mourinho United

[west_london_red]

I'm struggling to understand how a team like Holland failing to beat Costa Rica in 120 minutes is considered managerial genius?

[Passmaster Molby]

In 2003 Accrington Stanley subbed their keeper in the last minute of a extra time in an F.A. Cup replay with Bournemouth. They won that shoot-out too.

Their manager was John Coleman, he's now manager of Sligo Rovers. Maybe United should have gone for him instead? Not only is he obviously a tactical genius but he's 10 years ahead of Van Gaal in his thinking.

To be fair, as a 12 year old I remember screaming at Bobby Robson to sub Chris Woods on for Peter Shilton in 1990 world cup game v Germany because Shilton had the reaction times of a sloth!

[El Lobo]

I'm struggling to understand how a team like Holland failing to beat Costa Rica in 120 minutes is considered managerial genius?

Just go with it mate

Personally thought it was a shithouse move, done purely for the chance of stroking his ego. Either he goes through and is a genius or he goes out, but he's done anyway. It wasn't a risk at all.

Personally I'd love them to get taken to pens again in the semi and see if he made the same call.

[Packalacky]

The bastard has been right way too often in this tournament to be down to luck. He's obviously very very good.

But it will be interesting to see how some egos at United, such as Rooney, will feel working with Van Gaal. He's a no compromises manager, doesn't take shit from anyone, so wouldn't be surprised if Rooney and Evra are on the transfer list by January.

[TheRevanchist]

this is what I agree more. He has balls and he doesnt give a fu*k. Moyes always looked behind his shoulder to see if everyone is pleased. Van Gaal is just looking straight and even if Krul hadn't save any of the pens, Van Gaal wouldn't come out to say that it was wrong etc. He surely has balls, but he still seems to struggle against lesser sides.

I don't think that he is bad against poor sides. This Holland team is basically Robben Van Persie and nine others (although Sneijder finally played  good). 5-3-2 isn't even his favorite formation but he is playing it because of the weakness of the team and because Strootman is injured. 5-3-2 isn't a formation that leave you to dominate as much as 4-3-3 (4-5-1) IMO. At United he will play one of those 2 formations and I think that attacking wise we're better than Holland who for the majority of the tournament has been carried by Robben, He'll be more attacking with us rather than with Holland.

The bastard has been right way too often in this tournament to be down to luck. He's obviously very very good.

But it will be interesting to see how some egos at United, such as Rooney, will feel working with Van Gaal. He's a no compromises manager, doesn't take shit from anyone, so wouldn't be surprised if Rooney and Evra are on the transfer list by January.

Van Gaal's way or highway. Wouldn't be surprised at all if Rooney will be a benchwarmer next season. Especially if he continues giving some Sunday league performances or has a shite attitude.

[markedasred]

Van Gaal's way or highway. Wouldn't be surprised at all if Rooney will be a benchwarmer next season. Especially if he continues giving some Sunday league performances or has a shite attitude.

Christ where can I get a job like that, Ł250k for sitting on my arse. They could pay me that for ten years instead of per week and I'd still take it.

[muyuu]

I'm struggling to understand how a team like Holland failing to beat Costa Rica in 120 minutes is considered managerial genius?

Considering their record in the WC and that the Dutch did corner them most of the game, I can't call that failure.

[Motty]

I'm struggling to understand how a team like Holland failing to beat Costa Rica in 120 minutes is considered managerial genius?

Fucking pathetic isn't it.

He made the decision to change goalies with his new man ending up saving 2 not so well hit penalties, was it a ballsy move ,probably. Could it of just been because the other goalie was completely fucking shite at pens ,maybe.

Which ever one it was does not take away from the other 120 minutes where his team looked no more likely to score against Costa Rica than Hodgson's crap England team did.

We had articles on here mid-week saying how he was a tactical genius because he swapped RVP for Huuntelar (even though it was pretty much just down to the former being fucking knackered in the mid day heat running around upfront) . So does the fact he didn't make the same substitution resulting in a win ,mean he isn't a tactical genius anymore ,now I know it doesn't work like that but it should do shouldn't it if you go by some people's logic.

The reality is he's a bloody good manager ,but nothing he's done in Brazil apart from the 2nd half against Spain has shown him to be some tactical genius who's streets ahead of the other managers he's come up against ,far from it I'd say ,but to be honest apart from Low and Germany no other team/manager has stood out in this tournament.

[TheRevanchist]

Which ever one it was does not take away from the other 120 minutes where his team looked no more likely to score against Costa Rica than Hodgson's crap England team did.

You're sure that you have watched the right match. On the match I watched, Holland hit twice the bar and another time the post, while they had 14 shots during the match. They were very unlucky to not score and were many times near scoring but it was either the post/bar, the keeper making some great saves or RVP being a bit shit.

[collytum]

Holland only looked likely to score in the last five minutes of the 90, before then they were so average

[Motty]

You're sure that you have watched the right match. On the match I watched, Holland hit twice the bar and another time the post, while they had 14 shots during the match. They were very unlucky to not score and were many times near scoring but it was either the post/bar, the keeper making some great saves or RVP being a bit shit.

Ok maybe not for the120 minutes but for the majority of the 90 it was poor then when Costa Rica sat back clearly playing for penalties from before the end of the 90 onwards ,you created some chances which to be honest most teams in that situation would have.

[TheRevanchist]

Ok maybe not for the120 minutes but for the majority of the 90 it was poor then when Costa Rica sat back clearly playing for penalties from before the end of the 90 onwards ,you created some chances which to be honest most teams in that situation would have.

Holland was unlucky to not score yesterday. Anyway, Costa Rica has shown that they are a very rganized team and has conceded only 2 goals during the tournament. Also, they haven't lost any of their five games. Regardless that they aren't a superpower of football they are a good team as have shown by leading the second most difficult group on group stages. It ain't easy to score against them.

[B0151?]

I want van Gaal to fail as much as the next man but they were hardly fancied before the tournament started, yet he has them in the semis. If they've looked average it's probably because bar a couple of great players, they do have a fairly average team. But they're in the semis.

Man Utd is an altogether different job of course.

[fingermouse]

Monumental wankfest over van gaal in the media today, all the closet mancs reeming themselves into oblivion.

[Motty]

Holland was unlucky to not score yesterday. Anyway, Costa Rica has shown that they are a very rganized team and has conceded only 2 goals during the tournament. Also, they haven't lost any of their five games. Regardless that they aren't a superpower of football they are a good team as have shown by leading the second most difficult group on group stages. It ain't easy to score against them.

I agree with all of that, all I'm saying is people aren't wanking themselves over the other 4 managers who failed to beat them though are they. Why not hail Hodgsons or Prandelli's zero goal performances against them because there wasn't much to choose between all 3 matches imo.

[God's Left Peg]

Monumental wankfest over van gaal in the media today, all the closet mancs reeming themselves into oblivion.

Let them. All adds to the pressure and unreasonable weight of expectation. Last season was a one-off, don't you know?

[Keita Success]

Let them. All adds to the pressure and unreasonable weight of expectation. Last season was a one-off, don't you know?

Although, they have no Europe so fairly sure of top 4 for United

[Latenight Surfer]

Ah the old triple bluff. That ruse used to be very fashionable in football circles before been consigned to the tactical dustbin by the advent of the quadruple bluff.

It's good to see it making a comeback.

Single bluff you mean? No wonder the world is round and the football too.

[4pool]

If Aloysius Paulus Maria "Louis" van Gaal has any luck, i hope he's used it all up at the WC.

[Carly]

Monumental wankfest over van gaal in the media today, all the closet mancs reeming themselves into oblivion.

Couldnt get his team to score a goal in open play in 120 minutes against Costa Rica and they are going crazy??  LOL.  Moyes being in charge really has messed with their heads.

[d gorgeous one haz spoken]

Oranje hit the post once, the bar twice and RVP fell over/was offside countless times. Nothing Aloysius Paulus Maria "Louis" van Gaal could really do about it. He didn't sub RVP because he was one of his PK takers.

Ticos were very lucky and have an excellent goalie.

[AirConGipsyRed]

I'm not sure who their fifth taker would have been but thymus fancy winning most shoot outs with those first four. Although Robben has been known to miss a couple of big ones I suppose!

huntelaar probably

[Carly]

Oranje hit the post once, the bar twice and RVP fell over/was offside countless times. Nothing Aloysius Paulus Maria "Louis" van Gaal could really do about it. He didn't sub RVP because he was one of his PK takers.

Ticos were very lucky and have an excellent goalie.

Clearly hes not doing enough shooting practice in training then either if they cant hit the back of the net.

[No Appreciation of Liverpool Opposition]

they need a centreback and a DM. Otherwise I'm quite scared. RVP being inured early on could hurt them too.

[legendkiller]

He has them in the semi final . Many including me thought they wouldnt get out the group . They are explosive on the counter attack with robben looking unplayable . I read some where where he has the players running less on the pitch than other teams to save their energy for the latter stages . They would probably prefer counter attacking against Argentina or Germany  like they did against Spain than being the superior team against Austraila , Mexico and Costa . Rvp hasnt been great in my eyes but is a natural goalscorer and could come to life. Van Gaal 100 times bettter than Moyes .

[Hij]

fuck, United are going to win all the penalty shoot outs in the league next season

[Hij]

Phase of Play actively cheering on Van Gaal's methods.  (Edit: No doubt he is right in his assessments)

Has he been quoted on RedCafe yet? Surely this is a sure sign that we will finish 6th now? They laughed at POP last season and they finished out of the top four, and now some of us are laughing at POP's assessment of Van Gaal, so it must read they finish 1st.

Based on the technical, tactical, and excellent displays of Holland in the World Cup, anything less than the league would be failure for Man United, or they might start to feel how we feel and we might become begrudgingly platonic.

Nah fuck that, fuck off mancs.

[BabuYagu]

Phase of Play actively cheering on Van Gaal's methods.  (Edit: No doubt he is right in his assessments)

Has he been quoted on RedCafe yet? Surely this is a sure sign that we will finish 6th now? They laughed at POP last season and they finished out of the top four, and now some of us are laughing at POP's assessment of Van Gaal, so it must read they finish 1st.

Based on the technical, tactical, and excellent displays of Holland in the World Cup, anything less than the league would be failure for Man United, or they might start to feel how we feel and we might become begrudgingly platonic.

Nah fuck that, fuck off mancs.

I think avoiding being eliminated from cups is a far easier task than winning a league. Likewise, a difficult to get along with coach, probably doesn´t encounter the same problems he would during a 10 month season.

Basically, I'll be interested to see if his skill set translates.

He seems like an arrogant, bullish version of Rafa to me at the moment. I think short term he will definately turn them around.... I also think when things go against him it will be popcorn time again.

[rscanderlech]

I think avoiding being eliminated from cups is a far easier task than winning a league. Likewise, a difficult to get along with coach, probably doesn´t encounter the same problems he would during a 10 month season.

Basically, I'll be interested to see if his skill set translates.

He seems like an arrogant, bullish version of Rafa to me at the moment. I think short term he will definately turn them around.... I also think when things go against him it will be popcorn time again.

Yes, he has been quoted on their RAWK Meltdown Thread as a praiser of Van Gaal.

Forgive me for my transgression - it's the summer holidays...

[mercury]

No need to low-ball van Gaal and Holland's performance / achievement .  End of day, they are in the semi which is never an easy thing in World Cup, and the quality of van Gaal, pure football wise, has never been in doubt.

Monumental wankfest over van gaal in the media today, all the closet mancs reeming themselves into oblivion.

Popcorn time, popcorn time 

[sinnermichael]

I like their new kit:

[Ziltoid]

They were slagging it off on Talkshite earlier, said it looked cheap and nasty.

Shit, didn't see the writing!!! 

[Durlmints]

I like their new kit:

That's an enormous squad they've got there! What d'ya reckon the wage bill for all them is!?!? 

[Ziltoid]

The war chest is hidden under the pitch

[lionel_messias]

Van Gaal is very good manager, no need to have red (Anfield) tinted glasses about that. He'll piss a lot of people off though and I doubt he'll be there long.

[RossoBianchi]

They were slagging it off on Talkshite earlier, said it looked cheap and nasty.

Gutted 

[Ziltoid]

Gutted 

[Mighty_Red]

Make no mistake, he has a track record of success and will obviously do far better than the chosen one.

Saying that, I don't think anything he has done in the WC been the mark of a genius, just using his resources well whilst relying on Robben to tear teams apart. The GK sub doesn't sit right with me and I hope it backfires badly in the Semi and they get completely destroyed by Argentina.

How next season will go with him looking at his final big big paycheque will become clearer as the months go on, but there is still very little to fear from them, we'll just do our jobs.

[firing squad]

I like their new kit:

Darren Fletcher trying to look tough is hilarious.

The kit itself is really good IMO.

[4pool]

if he's that good why was he sacked at the various clubs he' managed..