LVG must hire tough and ruthless defenders

I wagered, chiefly basing on the credentials of new coach Louis van Gaal (LVG) and the results of the pre-season build-up, and lost. Man United are not the English Premier League (EPL) champs. So, what went wrong and what needs to be done to get timu kubwa back to winning ways?

One, I take the view that no team in the EPL, not even champions Chelsea, is a finished article. Mourinho will strengthen his already strong squad during the breather.

Compared to Mourinho, however, LVG has a long way to go. After a season without a trophy, the second for a club that is used to winning, he must do some soul-searching.

He has more money and goodwill than star-crossed David Moyes ever dreamt of. But he has had the moans and groans of hungry and angry fans. Going forward, LVG must have players who must make a team and play as a team. He must devise winning team formations and must imbue the team with a never-say-die mentality.

LVG must bring back the fear factor to Man United and entrench it by the 2016/17 season. Thanks to he and Moyes, even EPL stragglers no longer fear Man United.

A team spreads fear in rivals when it wins big when playing well and still wins big when it is playing badly and away from home. A team is feared when its home ground is a slaughter house.

A team instils fear in rivals when it fights fiercely and fearlessly for every ball in the air and on the ground; in its goal area and in the middle of the park; in the opposition’s half and goal, throughout a match.

A visiting team should consider it a miracle to draw at Old Trafford and Man United’s new psyche should take that as a loss.

Two, to ensure this consistency, LVG must hire tough and tall, mean and ruthless defenders in the mould of Chelsea’s old guard Terry and young Zouma; Real’s Ramos or former Barca centre back Puyol. He must have a coast-to-coast midfielder like Juventus’ Pogba and left and right wide men with the multiple abilities of Bayern’s Robben and Liverpool’s Sterling.

Because rival teams pack the middle of the park or create defensive walls the way Sunderland did against Arsenal on Wednesday, Man United needs strikers with the close control of Bayern’s Ribery or swift thinking and shooting of Barca’s Messi. LVG jettisoned many players and bought more, but their qualities have not been in evidence.

If David de Gea is headed for Real, that is a blow. Four years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson said he would be a great goalie. He already is before his 25th birthday in November. Victor Valdez at 33 is experienced, but, unless he has the staying power of Juventus’ Buffon, on his way out. LVG therefore needs a young, swift, agile, commanding and communicating goalkeeper.

Three, Man United must prepare well for the new season and be ready for it when it comes. It was obvious Chelsea was ready for 2014/15 season; Man United was not and this was evident in the many formations LVG tried out almost throughout the season. Fergie always had the team ready for the season.

Preparation means bearing in mind that the season takes nine months, during which time there are other competitions. Teams that start well, stand a good chance of finishing high up on the log, especially if towards the end they are able to grind out results after a long and tiring run. Man United began the season disastrously and LVG’s tinkering did not help.

INSTIL SELF-BELIEF IN PLAYERS

Is he persuaded Rooney should operate from the midfield? Is his transformation of Valencia into a right back complete? Did I like his three-man defence formation at the start of the season? I think Valencia flourishes as a wide man; Rooney is at his best in the box as a centre forward as Ruud van Nistelrooy used to do; and four at the back makes for a tighter defence.

While preparation must instil self-belief in players and to play for each other and team, it also means that there must be some predictability in terms of fielding.

Constant tinkering undermines player confidence and self-belief.

I am suggesting that at the start of the new season LVG should have settled on formations and players to execute them.

Last, Man United fans want to be entertained. Attacking football entertains; the team that thrills denies opponents the ball and causes them to chase the wind.

Fast, touch-and-go attacking or, blistering counter-attacks, will have fans on their feet. Of course defensive, wait-for-a-break tactics are boring and that never was the Man United way. Yes, I will be watching the lead-up to the new season keenly.