Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Even in the most desperate times of David Moyes’ ill-fated and short reign, Manchester United never allowed a two-goal lead slip to lose a game.
This was of course the fate to befall Louis van Gaal’s new United side at the weekend when they frittered away a lead of both 2-0 and 3-1 to eventually lose by a staggering 5-3 at newly promotedLeicester City.
It was an embarrassing spectacle, which left Van Gaal and his assistant Ryan Giggs visibly mortified as they slumped on their big blue chairs at the King Power stadium.
After five Premier League games, United have now only won once, and gained just five points to find themselves 12th in the table with as many points as West Brom in 16th.
It certainly wasn’t meant to be like this after the arrival of Van Gaal, a perfect pre-season, and the signing of £150 million worth of new world-class talent.
Rui Vieira/Associated Press/Associated Press
At the same stage last season even Moyes had won two more points than Van Gaal, and with a tougher fixture list as well containingChelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, while the Dutchman has struggled to amass his points against the more modest opposition ofBurnley, Leicester City and Sunderland.
There is an inevitable frustration and disappointment at Old Trafford, but there is no sense of panic inside the boardroom.
Unless the club go into free fall there will be no plane sent by the fans to fly over Old Trafford with a banner fluttering behind it calling on Van Gaal to be sacked.
Manchester United had slumped too quickly and too dramatically under Moyes last season to expect Van Gaal to repair it all in a single campaign.
There is a clear understanding that while Moyes inherited the champions, Van Gaal took charge of a dispirited squad who had finished seventh and missed out on European football for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
United will be patient with Van Gaal, and give him the time to assert his football philosophy and authority on this newly assembled group of players.
Michael Sohn/Associated Press
Just like Jose Mourinho was allowed three transfer windows to assemble a squad at Chelsea that now looks capable of winning the title, so will Van Gaal, and he has only had one window, which has only just closed.
It remains abundantly clear Van Gaal will be given more time thanMoyes because his entire career and wealth of experience simply demands it.
The inherent problem with Moyes was that he had never actually done anything in his managerial career that suggested he would bring success to Old Trafford.
In contrast Van Gaal has a very different career to fall back on, which includes winning domestic titles with Ajax, Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar andBayern Munich, as well as winning the Champions League, and twice reaching the final.
The harsh truth is Moyes was just a bloke who had won promotion with Preston, while Van Gaal can claim to be one of the greatest coaches of the modern era.
Van Gaal’s career naturally demands respect, but it also gives him the right to ask for this patience, because given time he has almost always got it right
.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Even in the most desperate times of David Moyes’ ill-fated and short reign, Manchester United never allowed a two-goal lead slip to lose a game.
This was of course the fate to befall Louis van Gaal’s new United side at the weekend when they frittered away a lead of both 2-0 and 3-1 to eventually lose by a staggering 5-3 at newly promotedLeicester City.
It was an embarrassing spectacle, which left Van Gaal and his assistant Ryan Giggs visibly mortified as they slumped on their big blue chairs at the King Power stadium.
After five Premier League games, United have now only won once, and gained just five points to find themselves 12th in the table with as many points as West Brom in 16th.
It certainly wasn’t meant to be like this after the arrival of Van Gaal, a perfect pre-season, and the signing of £150 million worth of new world-class talent.
Rui Vieira/Associated Press/Associated Press
At the same stage last season even Moyes had won two more points than Van Gaal, and with a tougher fixture list as well containingChelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, while the Dutchman has struggled to amass his points against the more modest opposition ofBurnley, Leicester City and Sunderland.
There is an inevitable frustration and disappointment at Old Trafford, but there is no sense of panic inside the boardroom.
Unless the club go into free fall there will be no plane sent by the fans to fly over Old Trafford with a banner fluttering behind it calling on Van Gaal to be sacked.
Manchester United had slumped too quickly and too dramatically under Moyes last season to expect Van Gaal to repair it all in a single campaign.
There is a clear understanding that while Moyes inherited the champions, Van Gaal took charge of a dispirited squad who had finished seventh and missed out on European football for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
United will be patient with Van Gaal, and give him the time to assert his football philosophy and authority on this newly assembled group of players.
Michael Sohn/Associated Press
Just like Jose Mourinho was allowed three transfer windows to assemble a squad at Chelsea that now looks capable of winning the title, so will Van Gaal, and he has only had one window, which has only just closed.
It remains abundantly clear Van Gaal will be given more time thanMoyes because his entire career and wealth of experience simply demands it.
The inherent problem with Moyes was that he had never actually done anything in his managerial career that suggested he would bring success to Old Trafford.
In contrast Van Gaal has a very different career to fall back on, which includes winning domestic titles with Ajax, Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar andBayern Munich, as well as winning the Champions League, and twice reaching the final.
The harsh truth is Moyes was just a bloke who had won promotion with Preston, while Van Gaal can claim to be one of the greatest coaches of the modern era.
Van Gaal’s career naturally demands respect, but it also gives him the right to ask for this patience, because given time he has almost always got it right
.
.
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