Ignore the rubbish written about Manchester United

Article by Terry Carroll

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From despair to euphoria in a couple of weeks...

On 27 August Louis van Gaal was rated at 6/1 for the sack, making him third favourite to leave as Premier League manager. On 17 August Andy Dunn wrote in The Mirror, after just one match, that Van Gaal had two weeks left to save United's season. He also wrote off Tyler Blackett.

And after Danny Welbeck's departure to Arsenal, supposedly a bargain at £16 million, the media's knives were out yet again suggesting United had abandoned their Academy roots. Not surprisingly these clarion calls were renewed after the Manchester born lad scored twice for England.

(Since then he has missed a hatful of chances for Arsenal, including a couple of 'sitters' and Arsene Wenger has already found it necessary to defend him...)

Now it is never a surprise when newspapers create scare stories out of nothing; they want to sell papers in an increasingly electronic market. The big surprise is that football fans ever believe most of the stories...unless they support any other team than United.

And even after a thumping win over QPR, far too many self-appointed pundits, professional or amateur, were explaining the result as inconclusive against a poor opposition.

United reborn

For anyone who was actually there, Sunday's match was an exhilarating restatement of Manchester United's footballing traditions. As Daley Blind said when interviewed by MUTV afterwards, LVG's philosophy is to play attacking football. And the best is yet to come...

This match was light years away from the puerile rubbish that David Moyes served up far too often last season. Rio Ferdinand has lifted the lid on that by revealing the previous manager's preoccupation with long balls and setting up the team not to lose.

In the author's experience the epitome was the dreadful Champions League away leg against Olympiakos last season. It was clear from the start that a squad bred by Sir Alex to 'attack, attack, attack' was sent out not to lose. But they did; and badly.

It always seemed that in the second leg the players took the initiative and threw Moyes' tactics out of the window with a performance as exciting as any European night at Old Trafford.

And from even before kick-off against QPR, this was what the fans wanted and got. Nicknamed the 'Gaalacticos' the reshaped squad dominated the match from the off and the pace only drifted after 80 minutes, which restored the fans' confidence.

At last the 'fear factor' was restored. Yes, the defence (especially Jonny Evans and, uncharacteristically, Davide de Gea) made unforgivable errors that should have been punished. But the rebuilt squad is finding its feet and getting to know each other.

There was certainly enough on show to see that Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera are, or have the potential to be, world class. And Luke Shaw could not even get a game!

LVG said it afterwards, the fans could see it and the rest of the Premier League will fear it. United can only get better. Yes they will have worse days, as the team and tactics settle down. Anybody in the media who genuinely thought 3-5-2 was here to stay had to think again, as a fluent 'diamond' worked very well in bringing out the best in the players on show.

And this is an important point, because what other teams do not have is the option and the tactical fluidity to switch between 3-5-2 and 4-4-2, 4-1-2-1 or whatever, which this squad will have in the next few weeks.

Such flexibility can thereby account for the QPRs with all-out attack, or the Chelseas with a more pragmatic and adaptable approach designed to both hold the fort and create opportunities for the likes of Falcao.

The youth policy has not been abandoned

For anyone who thinks that letting Welbeck or Cleverley go is the death knell for youth development at United they should think again. The club still has an unbroken run of fielding a product of its youth policy in every single match since 1937. An astonishing record.

Adnan Januszaj came on as substitute but most people would have raised an eyebrow at Tyler Blackett's inclusion, not at left back this time, but as a central defender. He has started every match this season.

Irrespective of injuries, that is an enormous statement of faith in youth by the manager. He gave him his chance on tour; the lad took it; and now the manager is trusting him in the area of United's greatest weakness this season.

Added to which, in Marcos Rojo, Van Gaal surely had a ready-made left sided central defender.

So, Luke Shaw remained on the bench because he wasn't needed as United ran Rangers ragged. This gave him another day to recover before he started the U21 match the following day.

In some ways just as important a statement of faith was Andreas Perreira's inclusion on the bench. For all the rubbish written about United abandoning youth, the opposite is true and Van Gaal is the right man to promote it.

He has looked at Jesse Lingard and Matty James on tour and retained them for his first team squad. And surely the main reason why Welbeck was allowed to leave wasn't Falcao, but the promotion of James Wilson to fourth choice striker. A better all-rounder, surely this lad will lead England's line in the 2018 World Cup?

And notice also that Van Gaal didn't sign a right back/wing back. Some might think that is because he has Smalling and Jones who can cover for Rafael. But they will be needed at centre back and, as Sunday showed, even with four at the back, wing back qualities are going to figure just as strongly as in 3-5-2.

Does this mean he sees potential cover in the fast emerging Saidy Janko or Marnick Vermijl? The Premier League squad includes not only Darrem Fletcher and Jonny Evans of course, but also Joe Rothwell and Will Keane. Who says United's youth policy is dead?

The final proof, if needed, was there on Monday in the U21 match against Sunderland. Like their seniors, the 'Reserves' ran the opposition ragged, also winning 4-0 and without the prolific James Wilson.

The team that night included nine United 'youth' products, plus Luke Shaw and Anderson (who had a surprisingly good game). The formation was identical (a diamond) and the pace and tactics exactly mirrored the first team performance the day before.

This time, however, Adnan Januszaj scored a hat-trick but the excellent Perreira ran the midfield and Janko ran amok down the right flank, like his senior colleague Rafael the day before.

So Manchester United are alive and kicking, playing the way we have always played (except under Moyes). And the conveyor belt of youth continues.

Don't be surprised if several become known as the 'Class of 2014' in years to come.

Wilson, Perreira, Lingard, James, Blackett, Vermijl, Janko, Rothwell, Keane (both), Pearson, Thorpe and McNair all have the potential to make their mark in the next year, as Januszaj did last season. And Demetri Mitchell is not far behind.

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