Now I know this is a sub where people love to disagree and debate. So for the sake of debate, please let me say this isn't an attack on LVG, but is more just my opinion of how he has affected our team. I had some time in work so thought it would be a good opportunity to voice some of my opinions. Let's be honest, we all talk like we know what's going on, but in reality, we know jack shit, but I'm still gonna present my opinion here, so if sometimes I state things you disagree with, or accidentally as fact, point them out, it's just my opinion, and I know fuck all in reality so please don't be offended if I say anything you think is horse shit, I'm here to listen and respond.

For me, it all started pre-season. We had 2 teams. One was youth with Ander and Bastian in the middle, and the other, (looking very much like our first team) with Rooney, Memphis, Schneiderlin, and more players suggesting it was our first team. If anyone watched this, and yes I know it's only pre season, but the youth team completely outplayed the "first team" in literally all of pre-season. The attack was much more fluid, quicker passing, more forward thinking. It was just more entertaining to watch in truth. My Dad, and everyone around us agreed. Looking back, you could simply put this down the youth not abiding by the possession system as much as the 'first team', but this in itself was worrying. Not just that our first team was playing such dire pre-season football, but the fact that not one player in the first team linked up at all. Absolutely zero chemistry, so I thought "fair enough, it's only pre-season"

As the season begun, I remember our play being pretty much exactly what it was pre-season. Very slow, sideways, basically what were still doing now. I thought initially that we were simply struggling to break down teams with playing Fletcher and Carrick together, so that lead me to posting THIS, regarding how we can get through the final third. But now I understand, this wasn't a team problem, this is a manager instruction (to a degree).

Now I have to be careful here, because I actually think that with the right team (worldies), LVG's system would work, however isn't part of being a great manager, analysing a squad and knowing what will and won't work? Instead of using a system which won't work with the players we have, or possibly it's down to the league, either way, I think a manager has to analyse and improve. It's what great managers do.

My second point is down to management skills. 2 points here, confidence and player training. I have seen people regularly comment on players, (Memphis mainly), who have not being performing well. They will say that this isn't down to the manager 100%, and that the players need to perform. This is where I disagree, and I know there will be people out there that think this is untrue, but I blame it on our manager, almost entirely. He has, in my opinion, ruined the confidence of many players since coming, by not playing them consistently, changing their position, and making them feel as if they are ‘out of form’.

I think the way players have been treated has been one of the worst thing about LVG’s reign. Let’s take Memphis as an example, however exactly the same applies for others. Before he came, we knew what we were buying in Memphis. Potential. It’s a completely new league, new system, new everything, and he has a touch of quality, which we can potentially nurse into a great player. I feel as though the way he has been treated, the expectation LVG has put on him, and the lack of playing time he has received after in my opinion, (trying to do something rather than just pass sideways), has given him zero confidence.

When Memphis tries something different, some people think “What a dick, you’re trying to show off, do what’s best for the team!” When I see him do that I think “finally, a player who understands what is going wrong, and trying to do something about it”. It feels at times like many of our players are happy with the constant possession style of the game because number 1, it means they don’t have to do ay penetration, or take any risks, leaving it all to the ‘target man’, and number 2, they are scared of what happens if they try something different. Di Maria was our 100% target man for the duration he was here, too much so. We ended up slating him because he was the man to always put in the cross. There really isn’t anyone else to criticise when the only person crossing/creating chances is Di Maria. In a system which he didn’t even like, never played before. It’s just bad man management in my eyes. Yes he could have done better, but that’s not my point.

Memphis having the boldness to try things, even after our manager says to play for a 1-0, I think this is the right mentality for a player of Man Utd. I love the way he is the only player doing exiting things, something that isn’t just another sideways pass, to have the personality to take it all on the chin if it doesn’t work, because nobody else will try anything.

Confidence can make people terrible and others great, and I feel as though people underestimate how much of an effect this has on players. Look at Di Maria, Falcao, Van Persie, all suddenly ‘out of form’. Coincidence, or bad man management? I’ll let you be the judge.

The second (quick) point here is training. Now you can say that we have been unlucky with our injuries, but there has been talk for a while now about LVG’s training, and how it affects players. Since arriving, our whole team has been in and out of injury, and it’s not exactly slowed down too much either. Now this isn’t something I completely believe, but I do feel he has a part to play in our players having a bizarre about of specifically hamstring injuries, which are known to be caused from over-training. Again, I’ll let you have you’re say on this, as it’s very debatable.

Then we move onto subs and position changes. I don’t have to say much here, we all know there were some very bizarre subs, but rather than look at this and think “If it works, he’s a very good manager”, I have to look at this and say, ”Why would you do such risky subs at such important times?”, and if it’s for your own reputation, that actually putting your reputation before the result and caring more about how you look than the team performance. Maybe you can say that Nick Powell was amazing in training, or that Young has shown he can become a great goal-scorer/poacher, but I very much doubt it.

As negative as this has been so far, I want to say what I think he has done for us with a positive effect. One thing, buying potential. Martial was an amazingly good buy. Jesus Christ his scouting team are second to none, and this is something that as time passes we may be even more thankful to LVG for. He is our target man and the guy we rely on for almost everything currently. For a 19 year old to be taking all this on the chin is unbelievable, and we can only get excited about what his future will hold as he gets better and better. The same applies to our other youngsters. So thank you for this Louis.

I was thinking the other day, what is it that really makes me disappointed about this season? Is it that we are 5th, and possibly out the UCL? Is it the managers’ comments after a game of no chances saying we had many chances? Is it our results? Won to lost? Or maybe the fact we can only do it against top teams until Tottenham proved us wrong? No. It’s one simple fact. It’s just not entertaining. Not for me, nowhere near as much. Now obviously I support United through anything, but that doesn’t mean as a paying supporter I’m not allowed to voice concern of how boring our play is. This is a MAJOR concern for me. More than people think, because there is a reason we fill 75,000 every week, and have been doing so for so long. It’s not because of winning (obviously plays a part), it’s because we’re fucking exciting. I want to go to games and leave feeling like I’ve been in a war. The atmosphere at OT hasn’t been the same ever since Fergie retired, as sad as it is to say.

Remember this is my opinion, but I will finish on a question which is, how far do you agree with this? Do you think more is down to the players? Do you think I’m being harsh/overly critical? If so, let me know and why, and thanks very much for listening :)