Since the day that Louis van Gaal was elected as the new coach of Manchester United, the Premier League club has managed to stay in the higher section of the English League but they haven’t been able to make that final push that is needed to win the league.
During the 2014-15 Premier League season, Manchester United landed the 4th spot and the Red Devils are currently positioned in the 5th spot which isn’t a terrible spot but it isn’t a fantastic one either.
The summer transfer window of 2015 finished in a very climatic way as reports were flooding social media claiming that Real Madrid was able to sign David de Gea on the deadline day and after it was believed that the Spanish shot-stopper was going to join Real Madrid.
It was later discovered that the transfer was not going to happen due to the paperwork not being delivered in time.
Inspired by Betway's recent article on FA Cup cult heroes, it appeared a perfect time to take a stroll down memory lane and pick out our own plucky Manchester United underdog that managed to etch themselves into a rich Old Trafford tapestry of talents.
With that brief in mind, there was one name in particular which sprang out, though it is more commonly a quiet whisper synonymous with Manchester United's modern-day success: Park Ji-Sung.
The footballer who spawned a thousand unfortunate terrace chants about dogs as a South Korean delicacy; Park is justly classed as an all-time great and icon of East Asian football but, back at former club Man Utd, he is still remembered fondly as a cult hero in those hallowed Old Trafford halls – which is not to do one of their most loyal servants an injustice.
Manchester United have been dropping further and further down the Premier League standings. Having started off the season as one of the main contenders of winning the league (especially as they were positioned in the top spots after a few weeks), after a series of draws and defeats, it seems like claiming the domestic title might be too far-fetched and possible replacements for Louis van Gaal are already being taken into consideration.
Who’d be a Manchester United fan right now eh? United are currently struggling to inspire confidence this season but did find the net three times on Tuesday night against Newcastle. Unfortunately for Louis van Gaal’s side, they also let three goals in as they were held to a draw at St. James’ Park against a spirited Magpies outfit.
If nothing else, the result showed fans that perhaps Wayne Rooney isn’t the problem and United simply need more balance throughout the side. We discuss our thoughts on United’s current standings and whether they need to invest heavily in January or wait until the summer transfer window.
After a perfect Euro 2016 qualification record from Group E, Roy Hodgson’s England look to be in solid shape for a real crack at the final stages of the tournament to be held this coming June in France.
During the qualifying process, England striker, Wayne Rooney surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s national team record of 49 goals by netting his number 50, with a penalty against Switzerland back in September.
Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan believes that the club are in desperate need of some strikers in order to top the table once again. After briefly dominating the Premier League, the club have slipped several points behind table leaders Leicester.
Manager Louis van Gaal is once again under pressure after watching his team go winless in the last five matches across all competitions. Aside from dropping from the top of the table into the fourth spot, United have also been knocked out of the Champions League and will have to play with Europa league football till the end of the season.
Manchester United fans have been used to attacking football for almost 3 decades now. Hence, they are not taking the defensive tactics of manager Louis van Gaal easily.
The Dutchman has come under criticism almost since he came as a replacement for David Moyes. The criticism shows no signs of dying down even after the latest win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. The 1-0 victory keeps United in the hunt for a last 16 spot, which is very important especially after the opening group game defeat against PSV Eindhoven. In order to achieve a victory with a clean sheet, United opted for defensive tactics.
Louis Van Gaal was critical of the senior man Bastian Schweinsteiger again after the game versus VfL Wolfsburg which United lost to get eliminated from European Cup.
Schweinsteiger was in the starting line up of United for that vital game, but, he could not make the kind of impact Van Gaal was expecting off him and eventually, the Dutchman had to substitute him at the 70th minute mark.
Speaking in the interview given to a television presenter, the manager said, “I substituted Bastian and there’s a reason when I make a substitution. However, I would like to say he is also a normal human just like all of us.”
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has tried to diffuse the rumours linking him with Manchester United by saying that the Premier League giants still have David de Gea on their books.
The Spaniard has been one of the top goalkeepers in the world in the last 12 months. However, he has only 12 months left on his contract and is widely expected to seal a move to the Santiago Bernebeu to play for his hometown club – Real Madrid. Even though United signed former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes during the January transfer window, it is thought that manager Louis Van Gaal does not see him as a number one right now.