Premier League Round 11: The good, the bad and the ugly

The Bad

Manchester United’s attack

Manchester United have sporadically played a style of football which allows them to create a decent number of chances and score a handful of goals.

The key word being sporadically.

There was a run last season where the Red Devils went unbeaten and had the supporters genuinely excited for what the team could become.

This season has seen Manchester United hit new lows of risk-taking aversion and scoring chances under Louis van Gaal.

LvG has often been accused of overly-mechanizing the Dutch system of Total Football and you can see that there is

merit to this belief when you watch Manchester United play.

There are very few overlaps from fullbacks, wingers like Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay who prefer to take on opposition players, dribble and play direct with the ball have done less of that as of late. Instead choosing to play the short, easy pass which is often times backwards or side-to-side.

It gives the appearance of essentially neutering Manchester United’s flair players and creators. Juan Mata is not creating or scoring at the rate he should (although he is performing well) and Wayne Rooney has struggled this campaign like never before.

A lot of people have suggested that Rooney might be over-the-hill and no longer good enough for a club of Manchester United’s stature.

I do not share that opinion. If Rooney was indeed done as a top-level footballer then he likely would not be scoring as often as he does for the England national team. The fact that he is scoring for the national team suggests Rooney still has it in him to be a contributor to a title winning – or at least contending – side.

I think it has less to do with Rooney’s ability – which admittedly is not at the level it once was – and more to do with van Gaal’s system which has thus far proven it cannot get the most from its attacking players.

The system does suit itself nicely to Manchester United maintaining a good defensive record because opposition sides do not create very many high-level scoring opportunities.

Chris Smalling has blossomed into a colossus at the heart of the Red Devil backline while David De Gea is in top form as the last line of defense if Smalling and co. are breached.

LvG’s obsession with possession and rigidity has Manchester United conceding the joint-fewest goals in the Premier League (8, Arsenal), but the other side of the coin shows that van Gaal’s charges have only scored 15 goals in 11 matches – that’s good for 10^th best – but not good enough for the club or its supporters.

The frustration with van Gaal’s philosophy reached a breaking point when the Red Devils were unable to score in a 0-0 draw away to Crystal Palace.

Manchester United were outplayed and could count themselves fortunate to have left London with the single point they collected.

The supporters voiced their displeasure at the performance with frequent chants praising club legend and critical pundit Paul Scholes, while also demanding that the club play the attacking football they are known for and has worked so well for them throughout their long history.

The draw with Crystal Palace was the Red Devils’ third consecutive scoreless draw (only two of which were in league play) and that is simply unacceptable.

Van Gaal’s lack of adventure can be traced back to a disastrous 5-3 loss to Leicester City last season during which Manchester United absolutely fell apart while twice holding two-goal leads. It was a terrible result – there is no arguing that – but it seemingly sapped van Gaal of any confidence or belief in his side’s ability to hold a lead while playing an exciting brand of football.

It is a bit unfair of van Gaal to do so considering the hefty sum of money Manchester United pumped into the squad during the offseason in the hopes of making it better.

The team is better. The defense is more solid and the attack has more players capable of producing moments of brilliance so long as the manager’s tactics allow them to do so.

Jesse Lingard has been a bright spot through this patch of darkness. He has been direct with his play and he is creating scoring chances for the team. Lingard is playing with the aggression of someone who knows he needs to make an impact as a young player if he wants to continue playing regularly. He is taking people on and succeeding.

He is the ideal of what a Manchester United winger should be. Young and aggressive while striving to play attacking football. He has come through the club’s famed youth academy and knows what the supporters want to see from their side.

Something tells me the rest of the players in the side do too, they’ve simply been drilled in van Gaal’s philosophy for too long to shake it.

Attacking football, Mr. van Gaal, it’s calling to you. Just let it in.

Next: The Ugly