Louis van Gaal’s ‘boring’ Manchester United could still win the title
Monday 7 December 2015 18:17, UK
Louis van Gaal can calm the concerns with a Premier League title. But anything less is a problem. Adam Bate was at Old Trafford to see the fans' frustrations up close at the weekend and reflects on a curious situation that could see Manchester United's season go either way...
The boos came at the final whistle but the frustration was evident long before that. It was there in the first half when Paddy McNair turned back one time too many, eschewing the difficult pass forwards. And it was there midway through the second half when the calls came to "attack" thrice over. That little ditty is becoming the soundtrack to this strangest of seasons.
Any expectation of a trademark late winner had long since dissipated by the time that Mark Clattenburg called time on Manchester United's 0-0 draw with West Ham. This was the home side's sixth goalless draw of the season, five of them coming at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson didn't have a single one in his last 116 games in charge.
And yet, Louis van Gaal's United - the 'boring' United - are in the thick of this title race after 15 games. Of the next 15, only one is against a fellow member of the top six and that match brings Arsenal to Old Trafford - where, it's worth remembering, Van Gaal's men are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season.
Ostensibly, United's big red machine is grinding on and it's the rest who should be worried. Leicester's feel-good tale is surely one for Christmas not Easter, Manchester City have lost two of their last three and Arsenal's walking wounded are limping towards a winter break that won't be coming their way. Under Ferguson, this would be ominous.
However, the feeling persists that we are witnessing something else. West Ham boss Slaven Bilic appeared to confirm it in an otherwise complimentary assessment of Van Gaal's team. "They're different from the Alex Ferguson era where they were quicker, more electric and bombarding the box," he told reporters afterwards.
They're different from the Alex Ferguson era where they were quicker, more electric and bombarding the box.
Pace remains a problem. There was rather more of it in United's work at the weekend with Jesse Lingard providing some urgency early on before Memphis Depay made an impact from the bench. But Wayne Rooney's removal from the starting line-up, forced on the coach through injury, was hardly the panacea that some might have hoped.
In fact, Rooney, watching on from the stands with his son, could claim to be as quick as the next guy - particularly when the identity of that man is Marouane Fellaini. Deposited into the No 10 role, the big Belgian brought the usual bustle without anything approaching subtlety. Frequently, he wanted a touch or four too many. Half-chances came and went.
"We dominated the second half and created a lot of chances," said Van Gaal. "You have to score." The Dutchman added: "I don't understand why they are shouting 'attack, attack, attack' because we are the attacking team not West Ham United and it's the same in every game." But it's the manner of the attack that's a cause for consternation.
Bilic noted afterward: "If you are playing this controlled football against a team that is defending by doubling or tripling up on players then it comes down to a player, especially up front or out wide, to display some kind of magic." But with United ranking among the bottom five for dribbles completed, there's a sense in which the players are not even being encouraged to deliver that magic.
Indeed, much of the underlying data is a concern. United are on course for their lowest goals total of the Premier League era and there's little reason to suppose this is misfortune. At the weekend, Chris Smalling claimed that "sooner rather than later they will go in" but eight of the 21 shots against West Ham were from outside the box. Only one was on target.
It's the shots-on-target figure that might be the most damning. For while the top four on that metric are Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester - the other members of the current Premier League top five - United are languishing among the bottom six. It's difficult to imagine that Van Gaal can continue to deliver those numbers and win the title.
That's the key question here. One of these things must change. Either United start creating more chances and come up with more shots on target, or they stop winning matches. If it's the former, expect an upturn in form and teething problems long forgotten by the time that the bus parade reaches Manchester's Albert Square in May.
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But if it's the latter. If it's the sort of clear-cut chances afforded Victor Moses and Mauro Zarate at the weekend that start to find the back of the net instead, Van Gaal surely has a problem. After all, style issues for a successful side are one thing. Style issues for a team that doesn't taste triumph in the end are another matter entirely.
Bournemouth v Man Utd is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm on Saturday
