-James Temlong
This article examines how the changes in the team against Everton can be a sign that Louis van Gaal is willing to adjust his tactics when playing different teams.
After the thumping defeat by Arsenal, fans were expecting a response against a team that had beaten United three times in the last four league meetings. United obliged and gave a response that even the most optimistic fans would have found surprising. Four changes were made from the team that lost against Arsenal with the players coming in doing well to justify their selection over regular starters and also staking a claim for regular selection. A very good team performance was highlighted by the efficiency in attack and organised defending at the back. With LVG tinkering with his side, can this be a glimpse into the manager finally adjusting his tactics to specific teams and how they play?
This article examines how the changes in the team against Everton can be a sign that Louis van Gaal is willing to adjust his tactics when playing different teams.
After the thumping defeat by Arsenal, fans were expecting a response against a team that had beaten United three times in the last four league meetings. United obliged and gave a response that even the most optimistic fans would have found surprising. Four changes were made from the team that lost against Arsenal with the players coming in doing well to justify their selection over regular starters and also staking a claim for regular selection. A very good team performance was highlighted by the efficiency in attack and organised defending at the back. With LVG tinkering with his side, can this be a glimpse into the manager finally adjusting his tactics to specific teams and how they play?
It came as
a surprise when the team sheet for the game against Everton was announced. Four
changes in the side with LVG leaving out some of his trusted players out of the
side. Daley Blind was the biggest surprise omission because of how he fits
perfectly into the system of how Van Gaal likes to build up play from the back
and how he likes to pair a right footed player with a left footed player in the
centre of defence. LVG has had a reputation for using the same tactics irrespective
of the opponents he's faces. With United's formation being setup to
specifically counter Everton's pace and power we could see LVG starting to
adjust his tactics on a game by game basis.
One can
also argue that the changes by LVG were born of a mix of injury, fatigue and
poor form from the regular starters but ironically, this is the finest
performance by United this season. Several players had a point to prove, from
Herrera and Schneiderlin in midfield to Jones and Rojo in defence.
Players that have either been used sparingly or were dropped for the Arsenal game. Rojo's unique blend of pace, power and versatile has ensured that he is a player capable of producing good performances but his momentary lack of concentration and decision making has come under scrutiny. Same thing with Jones who has the tools to be a world-class centre half but has yet to perform consistently and spend less time injured to fulfill his potential.
Players that have either been used sparingly or were dropped for the Arsenal game. Rojo's unique blend of pace, power and versatile has ensured that he is a player capable of producing good performances but his momentary lack of concentration and decision making has come under scrutiny. Same thing with Jones who has the tools to be a world-class centre half but has yet to perform consistently and spend less time injured to fulfill his potential.
With the
Champions League game coming up, it would be interesting to see whether LVG
will recall players like Blind and Memphis, or stick with the players that came
in against Everton. If he continues with the likes of Jones and Rojo, LVG will
send out a resounding message that will suggest that every player would have to
earn the right to play.
This would bring about competition of places on the team and should create a healthy rivalry amongst the squad where players push themselves to be better or risk being dropped. This will confirm the statement made by LVG when he declared he had no untouchables in his squad.
This would bring about competition of places on the team and should create a healthy rivalry amongst the squad where players push themselves to be better or risk being dropped. This will confirm the statement made by LVG when he declared he had no untouchables in his squad.
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