Some interesting points brought to light about the man here, same with every new piece I read about him:
Some of the highlights:
He doesn't take kindly to criticism, and the 62-year-old’s absolute conviction has resulted in a tetchy relationship with the Fourth Estate - surprising, considering his former eloquence and media-savvy as a representative of the players' union during his unspectacular career. It all boils down to Van Gaal's belief that most, if not all, football journalists are incapable of understanding tactics to sufficiently analyse them. Their views are deemed meaningless, and any criticisms are interpreted as a professional and personal attack. As he once spat, "Journalists think they know as much about football as I do, but they don't."
In the 17 matches he has overseen so far as Holland coach, Van Gaal has used 45 different players. He has handed debuts to 19 players, of which 12 were under the age of 23. "Experience is important, but you can also have plenty of experience at the age of 16 or 18," he says.
Now, 17 months on, things are different. Oranje are proactive and fluid (within a traditional 4-3-3), epitomised by their midfield, which includes a controller in front of the defence with a box-to-box midfielder (Strootman) and playmaker ahead.
Van Gaal sees attacking football as a moral duty. His greatest obsession is still continuous circulation of the ball; passing endlessly as a means to tire the opposition until space is found to punish. It also acts as a defensive weapon: if you have the ball then your opponents can't do anything. It remains a work in progress, but there are signs his side are getting the hang of things.
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/van-gaals-vision-seeks-recreate-football-utopia
Van Gaal - Another Bio
posted on 24/4/14
Nah Pirlo is a deep lying playmaker, he has the likes of Vidal, Pogba, Marchiso to do the leg work, much the same with Italy
Alonso and Gerrard are the same really. Motta and Cambiasso break up the play
posted on 24/4/14
Busbybabes
Less so now but they still exist.
Vidal, Pogba, Gundogan, Modric (to a degree), L Bender, Schweiny, Carvalho, Fernandinho, Yaya, Schneiderlin, Herrera and a bunch of others.
posted on 24/4/14
If like us to sign Marchisio.
---------------dm
-----Marchisio--Mata
RW------------------------Rooney
---------------RVP
Would be a midfield if LVG did take over
posted on 24/4/14
Just imagine anyone of those in our current midfield! It's depressing how $hit ours is right now.
posted on 24/4/14
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
Busbybabes
Less so now but they still exist.
Vidal, Pogba, Gundogan, Modric (to a degree), L Bender, Schweiny, Carvalho, Fernandinho, Yaya, Schneiderlin, Herrera and a bunch of others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair point, but few of them are quite in the mould of a traditional type of midfielder. Out of those I'd suggest only Fernandinho, Toure and Sweinsteiger can be seen making attacking runs into the box regularly.
I haven't seen enough if Juve this season to comment though Pogba doesn't seen shy of getting in the box too.
posted on 24/4/14
A Van Gaal 4-3-3
----------------------DDG
Rafael----Smalling-----Jones------Shaw
-------------------Carvalho
----------Strootman-------Mata
Januzaj------------------------------Reus
---------------------RVP
Some of the defence still up for debate...
posted on 24/4/14
LVG does seem to like brining in Dutch players when he can, I wonder how much he rates Strootman?
Seems to be playing very well at Roma as well as being important in the Dutch team and offers something we needs in the middle.
posted on 24/4/14
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 4 seconds ago
LVG does seem to like brining in Dutch players when he can, I wonder how much he rates Strootman?
Seems to be playing very well at Roma as well as being important in the Dutch team and offers something we needs in the middle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He said Strootman and RVP are guaranteed places jn the Dutch squad. Strootman is injured for 6 months though is he not?
Never rated him myself but apparently he's been brilliant for Roma
posted on 24/4/14
Busbybabes
I think with any role it evolves. I would class them as b-t-b but still different to how they were before.
I missed out Strootman too, I wonder if LVG could see him as a serious option for us.
posted on 24/4/14
Busbybabes
Didn't know that. Yeah was never sure of him either but he seems to be doing very well at Roma and operates in a 3 man midfield for both club and country. I guess LVG would know exactly how good he is.