Hello mate.
Firstly, according to our Manchester United readers, you are still doing a good job overall.
There is an obvious spirit in the camp and you have bought and sold well in your time at Manchester United.
But, this is a crunch period for the club and we feel that there are a couple of things that must change if you want to compete with the best this season.
Round pegs, Round holes:
We know that you love your players to be adaptable and be able to fill in at various positions. But in your latest comments, it seems as if you would only consider playing Memphis through the middle or on the left.
“It is a new position (number 10) for him and he has to adapt to the new position because he is a goal-scoring type.
“We have to wait and see if he can fulfil the demands of this position but that’s also because Ashley Young is playing very good on the left side. That is the circumstances now but it can change during the season. He can play in this position.”
Why won’t you play Memphis on the right? He’s right footed after all. If you are going to insist on playing Young on the left then surely Mata should go in the hole and Memphis should be given freedom to exploit his pace on the right flank?
After just a year you may not have fully realised the importance, in English football, for pace and power in the wide areas.
Against Spurs the team was crying out for an outball. Memphis is the perfect recipient of the outball – a player who can take the pressure off the defence by carrying the ball, at pace, up the park on his own – but he won’t receive it in the congested central areas.
MEMPHIS NEEDS TO PLAY ON THE FLANK. Pure and simple. He scored 22 goals from there last season. Yes he played on the left for PSV. So if you are insistent on him playing there then put Young on the right. Or, better still, give Pereira a run out instead of Young and get Memphis in his favourite role on the left of a front three – he will frighten the life out of full backs and offer Rooney the service he needs.
Depay: Blatantly out of position for one so young
We feel that you are over complicating things by playing Memphis at number 10 and Mata on the right. Mata simply doesn’t have the pace or power to have an effect out wide. He was extremely quiet again on Saturday. But he can run tings from his preferred number 10 role.
A top forward addition is an absolute must
We know that you are a very meritocratic manager. We applaud you for this. Ashley Young has benefited most from this style of management and no one can say he doesn’t deserve a new contract.
But, while he is decent against average sides, he is always found out against the big boys. He is a limited footballer who is currently playing out of his skin.
Top level football is increasingly about the quality of the front three. The best team in Europe has Messi, Suarez and Neymar. The second best team? Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale. And so on. Manchester United have Depay and Rooney but need one more really top inside forward.
Pedro? He would be a great addition but we don’t think he is enough on his own.
The solution? If Bale and Ronaldo are ungetttable then it simply has to be Marco Reus. Unless you fancy a cheeky bid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He has the pace and guile to terrorise Europe.
…And a keeper
Romero had a decent debut but is more Massimo Taibi that Edwin van Der Saar – he’s an accident waiting to happen.
Cillessen? Not worth £25m. It has to be Hugo Lloris.
The final word? Don’t overcomplicate things.
Cheers Mate.
Emmy
Aug 12, 2015 at 8:37 am
you are a wonderful writer!
Omar
Aug 12, 2015 at 8:57 am
May God bless who wrote this open letter to mr Van Gaal,I thought I was the only that notice this,I wish he’ll read this and comes down from his high horse,trying to use square pegs in round holes when there are square holes they can fit in perfectly I.e Mata in the hole (10) and Memphis from the flank (7) or (11).
David kide
Aug 12, 2015 at 12:27 pm
You are a good writer but also you forgot we need a commanding a centre back like otamendi who with smalling may make a wonderful backline am not saying this to underrate the other defenders but remember we are competing in many competitions also thanks to the writer…
Filex
Aug 12, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Gud work 4 d writer i jst wish lvg shld read this
Thompson Tanimola
Aug 12, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Comment: that was a very good advise, I just hope LVG will read this letter and work toward it…. Surely will need Otamandi at that back four….. God bless the writer
Asabee
Aug 12, 2015 at 8:38 pm
Thumbs up, u are right on point wish lvg reads dis. Seriously he is over complicating things. Play matta on 10, depay on 11, young on 7 n dats all. Also its left wit only 2 plays a central leader n a forward dats all. Dont like his burst up wit players just go for illoris wen de gea leaves. Tink we need pedro n also give perrera n januzaj a chance. Case close.