Manchester United Fans: Don’t behave like brats!

Disclaimer: This article is the writer’s personal views and in no way represents EssentiallySports’ outlook.

Yet another loss, Manchester United. And this time, it was against FC Midtjylland, a Danish side not many had even heard of before the name popped up against the so-called ‘giants’ of the Premier League. While the Danish team was playing at home, it was no surprise that the fans couldn’t contain their frustration anymore. They are sick and tired of their team being unable to cope with unheard teams from an unknown part of footballing Europe.

Unfortunately, it is not just the fans! Football ‘pundits’ and ex-United players have been lambasting Louis van Gaal’s approach towards the game and how he has been completely ineffective in his duty towards their beloved. The English media only adds gasoline to the flame, igniting it and posing questions over the club’s future.

Many even compare the club’s future to that of Liverpool’s! Dear United fans, stop acting like brats.

Yes, nobody is denying the fact that the team were below par on Thursday. They were weak all throughout, and the midfield was absent at times. But what do you expect, when 14 of your best players have been ruled out of the game due to unforeseen injuries?
The best you can do is what Louis van Gaal did: – tried to play a makeshift right back, give youngsters a chance to start, and try to fit pieces of a puzzle, hoping it’d turn into something beautiful. Now, assuming you don’t have the right pieces, would it ever look the same as it was intended to? McNair and Donald Love, the two young defenders performed reasonably well despite one debuting a start and the other starting some 20 odd matches at senior level. Blind is not supposed to be a left back.

The next question often raised is ‘How they could lose to a team like FC Midtjylland?’. There are a few stats which need to be shown before further questions are raised. While United has had an increased spell of matches, playing Sunderland on Saturday before the game, the manager also needs to keep in mind of the next game- The FA cup tie against Shrewsbury on Tuesday. 2 days later, We play Midtjylland again at home followed by Arsenal with a 1 day gap in between. Now, as a manager who has to put forward a team which can deal with such a tight schedule, and also somehow cope up with 14 injuries, I can only pity his role. It is no shock that the team didn’t play well against their Danish counterparts due to lack of a consistent team. For a team to perform to the best of their capabilities, one needs to understand and attune themselves to what they are being trained for. With players coming in and going out almost every single game, there is no consistency in the team. Only David de Gea and Smalling looked to be the anchor in the sea.

Now, as a manager who has to put forward a team which can deal with such a tight schedule, and also somehow cope up with 14 injuries, I can only pity his role. It is no shock that the team didn’t play well against their Danish counterparts due to lack of a consistent team. For a team to perform to the best of their capabilities, one needs to understand and attune themselves to what they are being trained for. With players coming in and going out almost every single game, there is no consistency in the team. Only David de Gea and Smalling looked to be the anchor in the sea.

The increased match counts have been having a really poor effect on the team. David de Gea was ruled out of the match because of an injury he suffered while warming up. Sergio Romero actually deserves a standing ovation for the commendable job he has done despite only being informed of his start 20 minutes prior to the game. So, dear fans, you think the team looked disjointed and out of shape? You know why now. Let’s look at our opposition: This was the first game they had in the past 2 months and had a 20 game unbeaten run before their winter break. United, on the other hand, were on and off continually. Louis van Gaal’s dismissal was not aiding the psychology of the team either.

So, dear fans, you think the team looked disjointed and out of shape? You know why now. Let’s look at our opposition: This was the first game they had in the past 2 months and had a 20 game unbeaten run before their winter break. United, on the other hand, were on and off continually. Louis van Gaal’s dismissal was not aiding the psychology of the team either.

Oh, so now they claim how they miss the United of the bygone years! And how they now understand Liverpool fans, who could only reminisce their glorious past. Well, the present team does not have the likes of Nemanja Vidic on the back lines, neither does it have someone like Paul Scholes in the middle. While Rooney does still lead up ahead, he is a shadow of his former self and has moved from a finishing player to a much more creative position. Sir Alex did not find them and develop them in just a year. Rooney was a process which matured brilliantly. Paul Scholes was in the class of 92′. Nemanja Vidic was already grabbing headlines before he came to United. When the present team tried to do the same with Luke Shaw, it was pure misfortune that he was ruled out for the season following a nasty injury against PSV. We do not have a Roy Keane in the middle, but we have to make do with an on and off Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick who is battling against his age for the club. Up ahead, we had to play Martial in the centre when he is often only put on the wings.

When the present team tried to do the same with Luke Shaw, it was pure misfortune that he was ruled out for the season following a nasty injury against PSV. We do not have a Roy Keane in the middle, but we have to make do with an on and off Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick who is battling against his age for the club. Up ahead, we had to play Martial in the centre when he is often only put on the wings.

Louis van Gaal is not a villain. He is not the doom of the club, neither is he worse than David Moyes. It was known right when he came in that his way of coaching is not textbook based. It is based on the training ground. He had told that he wouldn’t deliver immediate success and would take at least 2-3 years to develop a formidable team. And that would be supposedly handed over to Ryan Giggs, who is now the assistant manager. When the facts were known all along, why the cribbing? On the other side, Louis van Gaal has given the youth more chances than ever. Warren Joyce has done his job brilliantly, providing Louis with a platter to choose the best from, and he has done that.

When the facts were known all along, why the cribbing? On the other side, Louis van Gaal has given the youth more chances than ever. Warren Joyce has done his job brilliantly, providing Louis with a platter to choose the best from, and he has done that.

It is not all rotten for United either. Look at the future prospects! Keane has been outshining almost every other player in the league U-21’s and has been no less than outstanding. Lingard, despite his lack of the finesse one needs, has all it takes to be a good player. He needs a potter to mould his clay into a beautiful chinaware. Martial, who was supposed to be the most wasteful buy of the summer turned out to be one of the few players who United could rely on.

United was never considered as a team fighting for the top spot this season. With all these unexpected issues popping up, it’s a miracle how the team remained afloat managing to hold their ground somehow! Rather, they( the fans)  would  want their beloved Ryan Giggs to take up the position right away. Yes, their love for the legend is understandable, but it is also a veil. If he comes to manage the club right away, it’d be no different than Neville’s despicable run at Valencia at the moment. While they may have a good sense of the game, managing is a totally different ball game, and there is a different world to learn on its own. Which is precisely why he is under Louis van Gaal. It is quite blatantly visible how desperation drools out due to the lack of silverware, despite the poor condition their team is having to make do with. Right now the team needs their support and not open-faced questions trying to put them off balance.

While they may have a good sense of the game, managing is a totally different ball game, and there is a different world to learn on its own. Which is precisely why he is under Louis van Gaal. It is quite blatantly visible how desperation drools out due to the lack of silverware, despite the poor condition their team is having to make do with. Right now the team needs their support and not open-faced questions trying to put them off balance.

And with talks of Mourinho coming in to replace the Dutchman, it only seems to be a match made in heaven- spoilt brats made for each other.