Red Rants

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• Process, Philosophy, Humiliation.
• Five things we’ve learnt from MK Dons vs United
• Humiliated but not shocked
• Manchester United confirm Di Maria signing

Process, Philosophy, Humiliation. Posted: 27 Aug 2014 02:48 AM PDT Empty. There’s not really any other word to describe both the performance and the feelings that ensued following last night’s abomination. It initially brought back memories of a horrendous evening at Upton Park in the Carling Cup back in 2010 when we collapsed 4-0 that evening during a wretched display. However, this was so much worse. So bad, it was practically beyond belief. We have been utterly humiliated by a club in the third tier of English football. It wasn’t even a contest. I’m not going to come on here and lambast the youngsters. They’ll be hurting as much as anyone. But we had players in that team last night who were at the World Cup and they patently couldn’t be bothered. Javier Hernandez lost the ball practically every single time it was in his possession, Danny Welbeck didn’t look at all bothered, Jonny Evans was lethargic and Anderson, well, I probably don’t need to state the obvious. Can we blame them for their attitude? Of course we can. There is no doubt that the majority, if not all, of these players have been told that their future’s lie elsewhere, but that does not excuse last night’s shambles. Last night, I had to console a little boy within the bar I was watching the match, absolutely heartbroken by what he was seeing and the reaction that other footballing fans were giving to it (hilarity). As I tried to cheer him up by telling him that the others find it so amusing ‘because they’ve never experienced the amount of success we have’ and it stems from ‘jealousy’, I almost cringed at how much I sounded like a Liverpool fan. ‘The good times will come back’, I said. I’m not sure who I was trying to convince. But it’s a ‘process’ and the fans must buy in and trust the new ‘philosophy’ and we will. The away support last night was sensational and the one silver lining that we can take from the evening. So attention must now turn to Saturday and a trip to Turf Moor. There is no quick fix to this and, as much as I’d love to predict a 0-5 drubbing of Burnley, the likelihood is that it’ll be another scrap, another struggle, and perhaps another poor result. LvG is consistently asking for our patience, and he’ll undoubtedly get it from the true United faithful, but for the sake of these players, results really must pick up soon as confidence continues to spiral to basement level. Shaken, but not quite broken. Greg.

Five things we’ve learnt from MK Dons vs United Posted: 27 Aug 2014 01:09 AM PDT After a loss and a draw in his first two games in charge of Manchester United, there was to be no third time lucky for Louis Van Gaal, who watched on in astonishment as his side were humbled 4-0 by MK Dons and suffered the ignominy of exiting the Capital One Cup before the majority of top teams have even entered it. United, now more than ever, are a side in crisis and lacking identity, which makes analysing their performances all too complicated. However, even embarrassing nights such as last night – and, make no mistake, it did look woefully abysmal from the away end – can provide some indications of what to expect this season. Here’s five things we’ve learnt from last night… 1) Curtain for the passengers If there’s one positive to be drawn from last night is that the abysmal performance must have surely pushed a few players closer to the exit door. Some of them, like Hernandez, should have already gone through that door, while others, like Anderson, might struggle to fit through it. Chicharito looked totally uninterested and devoid of any urgency, his first touch more shambolic than ever, while Anderson looked as fit as a 35-year-old after a week-long stag do. Considering the lack of options at Louis Van Gaal’s disposal in midfield, Nick Powell had a chance to force himself back into the first team reckoning but, alas, he missed it.   The impression is that while the former Crewe man might excel in medium-sized clubs, he’s not cut to play for United. A bizarre an misguided signing courtesy of Fergie’s final years at the helm? Now, we’ve been here before, haven’t we? Shinji Kagawa lasted 20 minutes and, though last night’s defeat was not his fault, few would miss him if he was to leave. 2) Mentality must change Cup upsets aren’t a novelty, particularly in a competition that’s still widely regarded as a hindrance, rather than a genuine shot at glory by most top clubs. Injuries and the need to rest players forced United to field an experimental side, with a couple of debutants but Van Gaal could still call upon five players who played at the World Cup this summer. The manner of the defeat more than the result itself – though they’re both strictly related – was deflating, for United were second best in every department. MK Dons were hungrier, more determined and wanted to win more than United did. In fact, never mind winning, United looked like they didn’t want to be there at all and, quite frankly, some players should never pull on the shirt again. Losing is acceptable, not caring is intolerable. 3) Playing kids works only if they’re good Fielding youngsters is embodied in the club’s ethos and many have publicly said that they’d prefer seeing a crop youngsters brought through the ranks, rather than splashing money on world class signings. Romantic and captivating as that may sound, it’d only be effective if said youngsters were good enough to deliver when called upon. In United’s case, however, they’re not. Not yet anyway. Michael Keane, Reece James, Andreas Pereira and Saidy Janko might go on to achieve great things with the club but relying on them at the moment is simply suicidal, particularly as the lack of leadership exposes them to capitulations such as last night’s. Of course, young players have to learn the hard way, but using them as sacrificial lambs isn’t the answer, just as cocooning them in the reserve side isn’t either. Both are equally damaging and United’s scattergun loan approach in recent seasons has probably done more harm than anything else. Van Gaal knows how to get the best of his youngsters and, presumably, he’ll get rid of those who he deems not good enough to step up. 4) Leadership anyone? Speaking of stepping up, Jonny Evans was by many touted as an outsider to replace Nemanja Vidic as captain. Wayne Rooney has since been awarded the honour and, based on last night’s display, Evans must be grateful he missed out on the armband. Captain for the night and by far the most senior player in United starting XI, Evans had an absolute nightmare, looking about as solid as a house of cards. His mistake led to MK Dons’ opening goal, he was lucky not to give away a penalty and looked completely bamboozled by the devastating.strike force of a third division side. Players have bad days, but Evans looked incredibly shaky without a world class centre-back alongside him and, as far as the captaincy is concerned, leaders should be chosen on merit rather than necessity. 5) Support Van Gaal called for the fans to be patient and support the club, but, judging on last night’s performance, he shouldn’t have worried. United fans get often criticised for a lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford but the away end was superb last night, “United Calypso” growing louder and louder after MK’s fourth goal. Van Gaal described the fans as “fantastic” after the game and if United are to climb out of this crisis, the supporters will have to play a major part. Dan Follow @mufc_dan87

Humiliated but not shocked Posted: 26 Aug 2014 11:14 PM PDT Louis Van Gaal said he was “not shocked” by United’s abysmal capitulation against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup last night, as his team slumped to one of their most embarrassing defeats in over a decade. Experimental though the line-up might have been with a few youngsters making their first team debut, United were still able to call upon David De Gea, Jonny Evans, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and, albeit briefly, Shinji Kagawa, but did not spare them the blushes of being thrashed by a League One side. After the game, Van Gaal said the defeat didn’t surprise him, a sign, perhaps, of how little faith he has in some of his players. “Of course I'm disappointed, but I can analyse this," the United manager said. "I am not shocked because I know what can happen, and I think also that Milton Keynes played very well, very aggressively, and they had also a little bit of luck." Van Gaal insisted United fans, who he described as “magnificent”, have to be patient and give him time. "It's very difficult when you start as manager in the Premier League with a home match loss [to Swansea] and after that a draw [with Sunderland] and then lose a cup match, then for the fans it is very difficult to believe, still believe, in the philosophy of Louis van Gaal,” said the Dutchman. “But you have to do that, you have to do that, because I am here to build a new team, and a new team is not built in one month." Van Gaal was asked if the arrival of Angel Di Maria for a British record fee would see him ditching his 3-5-2 system for a different formation, but the United manager said he was still in the process of analysing the options at his disposal. "We have to see in the process, that's what I'm saying. You cannot [click your fingers] and switch to a new system and then it's working, you have to train it and it's a matter of time, the process needs time, so we shall see if with Di María we have to change the system or not,” he said. "I have bought Di María because he can play inside or wide, which is very handy for a coach. When I was coach of Bayern Munich I bought on the 28th August Arjen Robben, and he could also play at the wings or inside, and then I have always the opportunity to change. But that is the process. "Di María is coming and he will also have to adapt to our culture, our philosophy, he cannot change at the snap of fingers, but he can contribute to the building of a team, every player can do that. Ángel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player. There is no doubting his immense natural talent. He is a tremendously fast and incisive left-footed player who puts fear into the most accomplished defence. His dribbling skills and his ability to take on and beat opponents are a joy to watch. He is an excellent addition to the team."

Manchester United confirm Di Maria signing Posted: 26 Aug 2014 02:20 AM PDT Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for an initial fee of £59.7m plus add-ons. The signing takes United’s summer spending to £130.7m with more additions expected before the transfer window closes next Monday. Di Maria, one of the standout performers in this summers World Cup AND Man of the Match in the Champions League Final for Madrid back in May, becomes the most expensive player in British football history. At the price, and with his obvious quality, there is no doubt Di Maria will walk into the side to face Burnley at on Saturday, but where? With Louis Van Gaal keen to exert his 3-5-2 system on United, where does one of the best attacking wingers fit into the plan? Wingback? Surely not but where else is there? Perhaps it denotes a huge shift in thinking for Van Gaal who has, in the past, found much success adopting the infamously Dutch way of playing, 4-3-3. If so however, where does Rooney and/or Van Persie fit into the team? Di Maria’s signature creates more questions than it solves problems, but what a great problem to have. If Van Gaal (and the clubs money men) secure one or perhaps even two more additions of equally impressive stature and quality in central midfield and defence before the window closes, Van Gaal will have a squad capable of implementing both systems during the season. With United aiming to be back dining at Europe’s top table next season, the ability to switch formations would be hugely beneficial. Last season Jose Mourinho constantly pointed out how Liverpool’s lack of European football would benefit them by giving them the time to practice and train Rodger’s new system and methodology. It was a bit like stating the obvious but, given their improvement, their obvious style of play and their results last season, you have to consider it accurate. It’s conceivable and fair to expect, then, that United should benefit in much the same way thanks to their European hiatus. I don’t know about you but I’m excited about the future under Van Gaal, I only hope we achieve relative success THIS season in order to allow the future to unfold. Relative success? Minimum top four.

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