GIVE LVG TIME TO GROW UNITED’S FUTURE

AS MANCHESTER United make their exit from the Europa League and face up to the prospect of no Champions League football next season, the image of Jose Mourinho looms ever larger.

Louis van Gaal has been very successful in his career. But it isn’t working out. We all look towards his failings. We all question the tactics deployed, the formations chosen, the players he signed.

We should all look a little deeper into the situation to discover the answers.

In the beginning was his inheritance; LVG took over a squad that had been tuned by David Moyes after Sir Alex’s departure. It could easily be argued that Marouane Fellaini is not a typical United player and that the ‘tuning’ was somewhat ‘emergency’ orientated.

Then there is the youth; giving youth its chance is fine but not every crop produces Giggs, Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Neville and Co.

So LVG gets defined by the squad and youth structure he inherits. He must feel the cards are stacked against him as he tries to deliver upon the highest expectations with the players available to him.

People don’t want to hear excuses. They want managers who can wave their wand and turn water into wine. Sometimes, managers need enough time to buy enough grapes to build their own team. And that is not a quick fix.

We are all reminded of how close Sir Alex came to the exit door before he got United going. I truly wonder what LVG will go on to achieve if he is shown a little more patience now. He has done too much in football to not know what needs doing at United.