It is almost midnight in Louis van Gaal’s attempt to save his job at Manchester United and prolong his distinguished managerial career.
The Premier League season is officially over. United have missed qualification for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. But with an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace still to be played, there are some that believe returning some silverware to an impatient supporter base might be enough to secure the Dutchman another year in the Old Trafford hot seat.
The case for van Gaal staying rests on two tenets. Firstly, should he beat Palace at Wembley, he will be the first manager in the post-Ferguson era to bring any significant silverware to Old Trafford. It would be the club’s first FA Cup since 2004. While competitions like the Champions League and the riches on offer in the Premier League have perhaps taken a shine off the cup in recent seasons, a victory is certainly cause for celebration.
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The second reason is that his willingness to back young talent has potentially unearthed the next generation of Manchester United stars. Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are just a handful of the names that really seemed to grasp the chance van Gaal offered them. Given another year, there is no telling what gems are lurking in United’s academy.
It is also unlikely that the next manager, probably Jose Mourinho, would be prepared to show such faith in the unproven and untested. If these talented kids are forced to watch on from the sidelines under a more conservative regime, there is no telling what effect that might have on their development. Some may even chose to go and pursue opportunities elsewhere. United fans can scarcely bear the thought of another Pogba slipping through their fingers.
But that is just about where the positives end. It almost goes without saying that should the Red Devils lose the FA Cup final, van Gaal should be relieved of his duties. Far from developing with time, the team’s playing style has apparently regressed under the Dutchman the longer he has been in charge. United managed just 66 points in the league this season, four less than last year’s ‘adjustment’ year and only two more than David Moyes’ ill-fated campaign at the helm.
The most damning stat is the lack of goals. United managed to score just 49 this season, a haul roughly on par with Sunderland. Turning 49 goals over 38 matches into 66 points is somewhat of a miracle in itself. It is a far cry from last year’s modest tally of 62 though, a recession of nearly 15. Unless the next manager is Sam Allardyce, it seems impossible to argue that United’s next figurehead will produce a more conservative or lower scoring team.
The style of play has also come to increasingly frustrate fans and turn away viewers. An overemphasis on possession and ball retention has consistently stifled the team’s creativity. With perhaps the exception of Martial, United’s attackers always look unwilling to shoot from more than a few yards out. It makes them a predictable team to play against and a tedious team to watch.
Even when displaying strong form over the past two months they have failed to impress. In their last 10 matches during April and May United have won seven, drawn one and lost two, a solid run by any measure. But even as they produced their best period of the campaign, the once adventurous Red Devils could only manage one goal at home against the awful defences of Aston Villa and Everton and only one away at an equally poor Norwich side.
Van Gaal’s results against the big clubs have typically been very good. However, his ability to build momentum against the weaker clubs has been the critical failure of his reign. Even in instances when United have been winning consistently, the victories always lacked a feeling of authority. It denies your creative midfielders and strikers form if they fail to score or create goals consistently. The unease is exacerbated in the stands. Even at home to the woeful Villa, United fans were eagerly waiting for the final whistle.
Delivering the FA Cup would be a fitting end for van Gaal’s United career. Changes are needed in the managerial chair and the Dutchman has had two seasons to prove he is the man for the job. In more than 100 outings since taking charge, he has shown he is not the man for the task. United should not hesitate in appointing Jose Mourinho after the season is ended. Much like future Bayern Munich managers were able to reap the rewards of van Gaal’s harvests during his time in Bavaria, future Manchester United managers will benefit from the seeds now sewn. Spring is upon us in Manchester. It is the ripe time for change.
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