With an FA Cup banana-skin waiting at Shrewsbury on Monday, the Reds are becoming such a laughing stock I’m starting to feel SORRY for Louis van Gaal
Speechless: Van Gaal looked stunned by how bad United were on Thursday night
What have Bangor City, the New Saints and Manchester United got in common?Yes, you’ve guessed it – since 2008, they are the only three sides to concede more than one goal in a European tie away to FC Midtjylland.
If I was one of the United fans who paid £71 a ticket to stand there, frozen, in Denmark on Thursday night and watch an incredibly limp performance in the Europa League, I'd be asking for my money back.
Even by the standards of some United defeats this season, it was a joyless experience - and unless there is a marked improvement at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup on Monday, it could get even worse for Louis van Gaal.
This could turn into the most embarrassing week in United’s history.
Van Gaal’s best effort to explain away a shocking defeat against a team who had not played for two months was to quote Murphy’s Law – everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Give me strength.
United are becoming such a laughing stock that I’m actually starting to feel sorry for Van Gaal.
But I have to ask: If he was a British manager, instead of imported continental expertise who has spent £250million on players – and only one of them, Anthony Martial, has looked any good – would LVG still be in a job?
At least David Moyes took United to a Champions League quarter-final.
If the board at Old Trafford can’t see United are on the road to nowhere under Van Gaal, I shudder to think what they are looking at.
Sir Alex Ferguson was the greatest manager of all time, and his legend will never be compromised, but what is he doing about this? Why doesn’t he intervene?
Simply Red: Legend Fergie watches United from on high with celebs — should he intervene?United are hopeless on the pitch and need some leadership.
Nobody is better-qualified to provide it than the great statesman in the boardroom who knows more about winning football matches than just about anyone else on the planet.
Nobody expects Fergie to come out of retirement, wave a magic wand, win a trophy and lead United to a top-four finish. But United’s season is drifting towards the rocks and they are crying out for a voice of reason, a voice of authority.
All the talk is that Jose Mourinho will take over at Old Trafford in the summer, and that his appointment is a done deal. But if an agreement is in place, what are United waiting for?
Look at the body language on the bench in Denmark.
There was no chemistry, virtually no communication between Van Gaal and his assistant Ryan Giggs. They seemed almost paralysed by the sheer poverty of what was being performed on the pitch.
I’ve said all along that Giggs should be the next manager of Man United, but if it’s not going to happen they should cut him loose now and give him a chance of lining up a job elsewhere.
Even with 14 players, including Wayne Rooney, out injured and goalkeeper David De Gea crocked in the warm-up, the performance against Midtjylland was absolutely woeful.
I’ve always liked Juan Mata, but his ‘defending’ for the winner was pathetic — the sort of abject dereliction which makes you think Mourinho may have had a point when he got rid of him at Chelsea.
Recommended SURE BET.
SOCCER PREDICTIONS FOR WEEKEND
BELGIUM JUPILER:
Waasland-Beveren
– Anderlecht 2win
HUNGARY OTP BANK LIGA:
Ferencvaros
- Puskas Academy 1win
ITALY SERIES A:
Torino –
Carpi 1win
Napoli - AC
Milan 1win
CROATIA HNL:
D. Zagreb –
Rijeka 1x
Whatever you may think of Van Gaal, some of United’s players need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror.
They are leaving a worldwide institution open to ridicule.
People are laughing at one of the world’s great clubs, by far the most successful club of the Premier League era, and all they can offer by way of explanation is Murphy’s Law.
For crying out loud, Midtjylland were only formed 17 years ago – the year Manchester United won the
Treble; a year when fans were proud of their team. Now they are keeping Bangor City and New Saints company in the record books.
It’s not going to get any easier at the Greenhous Meadow on Monday.
I know Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon, and he will be relishing the chance to heap more embarrassment on United.
I’m not sure I can bear to watch.
SOURCE:http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/robbie-savage-column-manchester-uniteds-7403473
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