IF LOUIS ADAPTS, HE WILL PROVE BIG HIT

I WAS fortunate to hear Louis Van Gaal speak at a recent League Managers’ Association conference.

He was a humorous man, dry in his approach. A very different man, too.

This week, he has come under fire for the brand of football that he is playing at Manchester United.

The United fans have not been used to a team that draws 0-0 and they will not tolerate it. Despite being in a position to play for top spot in the Premier League, the fans are not happy.

The more experienced I have become, the more I understand the role of a manager in adapting to the culture of the club that he is employed at.

Corinthian-Casuals are a gentlemen’s football club. To manage them, manners are all important.

Manchester United are an attack, entertainment and win focused club. To manage them, you have to adapt to that culture. Winning 1-0 will not earn you the fans’ hearts.

Having listened to Van Gaal speak, I’d be confident that he will adapt his approach. He very clearly understood the differences in cultures between clubs and countries and the need to adapt his managerial style.

Fans might be frustrated by his current approach. Conservative football won’t win the top European trophy.

But you can be sure that there will be a ‘cunning plan’ being constructed in the background. It was clear he is nobody’s fool. He is a serial winner for clear reasons.

It does sometimes take time to create winning. It certainly can take time to create entertaining winning. But I, for one, would back him to crack that agenda, step by step.