If we look back at what Louis van Gaal said when he was first appointed as Manchester United manager, we could look at the current team situation in a different way. One of his very first statements was that he needed three years to turn Manchester United around. Logically speaking, he still has plenty of time to achieve that, specifically until the end of the 2016/17 season.
What should this mean? Was van Gaal brought in with the sole task of taking apart a declining team and preparing them to challenge for titles again in the future?
A big club like Manchester United is always expected to be present on the big stage, win trophies or at least, play attractive and attacking football. But is this the first time the club is going through a rebuilding and transition phase, at least since the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson?
Let’s not forget that the Scottish legend was appointed to become the manager at Old Trafford in 1986 and he won his major trophy, the FA Cup, in the 1989/90 season. And then he had to wait three more years to win his first league trophy in the 1992/93 season, then the rest is history.
But he also went through some tough times between 2002 and 2006 when he had to rebuild the team again for both domestic and European top flight stages.
Okay, given a brief history about what the club has been going through in the past years, let’s analyze the steps and decisions which have been taken by van Gaal and try understand if he is steering Manchester United to the promised land, yet again.
Transfer market
The manager’s biggest controversy at Manchester United has been his efforts in the transfer markets. The total amount spent in bringing prospects and talent has been very much questioned. Below, we analyze each and every piece of business conducted by the Dutchman and what sort of impact it has had on the team.
Angel Di Maria - £59.7m
Louis van Gaal’s most notorious transfer-related disappointment. The Argentinian had made 27 league appearances (20 starts), scoring three and assisting 10. In the FA Cup, he made five appearances (four starts) and scored a single goal before getting sent off in an FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Angel Di Maria’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last summer left United looking at a loss of nearly £16 million.
Verdict: Failure.
Luke Shaw - £26.25m
Shaw has shown himself to be a great prospect in becoming Manchester United’s left-back for the coming decade, only to be hit by a run of injuries - of which the most severe was a broken leg against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League - which sidelined the England international for a long period.
Verdict: Huge potential as soon as he’s back from the injury.
Ander Herrera - £29m
Featured in 26 league games last season (starting in half of them), the former Athletic Bilbao midfielder scored six and assisted four goals. A very passionate player who wants to give his all to the club, but he seriously needs more game time.
Verdict: Convincing but needs more minutes.
Marcos Rojo - £14m
Have we seen the best of the Argentine so far? No. As with Luke Shaw, Rojo has been unlucky with injuries and is currently sidelined with a shoulder problem.
Another passionate player but his future at Old Trafford might be decided in the summer.
Verdict: Needs more game time when he is back from his injury but generally not convincing.
Daley Blind - £12.25m
His versatility has been his strength. Can play as a centre back, left-back or in central midfield. Louis van Gaal’s best signing of the 2014/15 season.
Verdict: A huge success.
Radamel Falcao - Loan
His arrival gave the fans goosebumps. Arrived as a prolific striker and left as a flop. Wisely signed on loan due to his serious knee injury, the Colombia international scored four goals in 29 appearances, with a weekly wage of £285,000.
Verdict: An expensive failure.
Victor Valdes – Free Transfer
The former Barcelona man was signed to cover the potential transfer of David De Gea to Real Madrid. Given his serious knee injury, it was a wise step to land the Spanish goalkeeper on a free transfer but banishing him to train on his own and publicly announce it was not a good move by the Dutch manager, let alone his exclusion from game time. Valdes played only two Premier League games (one start) with only 107 minutes of football.
Verdict: Could have been a good addition if provided with game time, he is currently on loan at Standard Liège until the end of the season.
Andy Kellett - Loan
Kellett was signed on loan from Bolton Wanderers in the January 2015 transfer deadline day. He returned three months later having not played a single game.
Verdict: A pointless signing.
Anthony Martial - £35m
Let’s forget about the money spent to bring this talent to the Theatre of Dreams. The French international has scored six goals and bagged three assists in the Premier League this season.
He also impressed in the FA Cup tie recently against Derby County, bagging two assists. But there are two main issues for Louis van Gaal to concentrate on if he is to turn this man into a real threat: His finishing and his actual position, as he looks most dangerous on the left.
Verdict: An immediate hit, and maybe for years to come.
Morgan Schneiderlin - £24.5m
A very good signing indeed. The French international seems to be Manchester United’s signing of the 2015/16 season. Schneiderlin proved his worth in United’s midfield as in 17 league games, he completed 90% of his passes, won 36 tackles, made 44 interceptions and 29 clearances.
Verdict: Van Gaal’s signing of the 2015/16 season.
Memphis Depay - £25m
What’s wrong with the number seven shirt at Old Trafford ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo?
Often attracted by non-football and lifestyle-related issues, the Netherlands international has not yet met the expectations of the fans and the club. Van Gaal has benched for a number of games as he was warned it would take time to settle into English football.
Memphis has so far featured in 18 league matches, scoring only two goals.
Verdict: As it stands, it’s a miss but he still has huge potential for the future.
Matteo Darmian - £12.6m
The Italian defender was awarded with the best player of the national team for 2014 and was also in the Serie A Team of the Year for 2013/14 and 2014/15. Darmian started his Premier League career very well but his form has fallen back in recent times.
Injuries in van Gaal’s full-back options have lead the former Torino man to play as both right and left-back this season.
Verdict: Good signing, average impact so far, could do better.
Bastian Schweinsteiger - £14.4m
The German international’s fitness problems and the time he took to settle into English football were two main concerns in the beginning. He's now sidelined due to a knee injury but in general, the former Bayern Munich man has been a pale shadow of his former greatness.
Verdict: Has not impressed as expected, below-average impact due to injuries. He could prove a different view in coming weeks.
Regan Poole - £137,000
A 17-year-old Welsh centre-back who was bought for the future, and is yet to play for the senior team. Louis van Gaal’s youth inclusion system could let us see the player featuring for the first team sometime in the near future.
Verdict: For the role of the youth in van Gaal’s system, we could see him featuring soon and for the price he was signed for, he could prove to be a real bargain.
Sergio Romero – Free Transfer
Another signing which was made to cover a potential David De Gea transfer to Real Madrid. The Argentina international started the first four league matches of the season for Manchester United.
He was in the team until his poor display against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium which witnessed Louis van Gaal’s first defeat of the 2015/16 season. De Gea’s contract renewal meant that Romero won’t be getting much game time. Will he still be at the club at the start of the 2016/17 season?
Verdict: Average. He seriously needs more game time, which could perhaps come in the FA Cup and Europa League.
Inclusion of youth
19 youth players were considered by Louis van Gaal from the time he took charge of the club. Not every single player had the chance to play a game as some were benched, loaned out or sold.
Let’s take a look at those players and analyze their impact on the team.
Adnan Januzaj
The Belgian international is a known face ever since the David Moyes era. Having spent the first half of the season in an unsuccessful loan spell at German club Borussia Dortmund, he is now back to Old Trafford and featuring for the U-21 and senior teams.
Paddy McNair
The Northern Ireland international made it into the first team in 2014. He made his debut on the 27th of September against West Ham United. The centre-back made 25 appearances up to now.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
Injuries to Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian have forced Louis van Gaal to promote the English left-back into the senior team. With nine appearances in all competitions this season and some convincing performances, Borthwick-Jackson seems a good prospect for the future.
Guillermo Varela
Just like Borthwick-Jackson, continuous full-back injuries gave the Uruguayan right back the chance to feature for the first team. Having spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Real Madrid Castilla, the player improved and impressed their academy. He has made four appearances and seems like a strong option for the future.
Andreas Pereira
The Brazilian has huge talent to provide Manchester United with some options in the final third. Currently with 10 appearances under his belt for the club, the player certainly needs more game time if he is to have a future at Old Trafford.
Tyler Blackett
Currently on loan at Scottish side Celtic, the English defender who can play in both the centre and left-back positions made 12 appearances in the 2014/15 season. Loaning him out could decide his future at the club for the coming seasons.
Jesse Lingard
Having impressed in the 2014/15 pre-season, Lingard started the first game of the season against Swansea, only to get injured and spend the rest of the season on loan at Derby County.
Now with already 18 appearances and three goals in all competitions this season, Lingard has made himself a dependable player for the Dutch manager.
Reece James
Spent his time in the club’s youth system from 2012 to 2013 and never made a single appearance for the seniors from 2013 to 2015, eventually being sold to Championship side Wigan Athletic.
Michael Keane
The defender made a single appearance under Louis van Gaal when he replaced Chris Smalling in a league game against Sunderland on the in August 2014. He was sold to relegated Burnley in 2015.
Tom Thorpe
Another defender with a single appearance under the Dutch manager, where he featured in a league match against West Ham on the 27th of September, 2014. He was sold to Championship strugglers Rotherham United in July 2015.
James Wilson
A youth academy product who introduced himself to the Barclays Premier League in the 2013/14 season during a 3-1 win against Hull City, scoring two goals.
Wilson made 17 appearances during the 2014/15 season and scored two goals.
Currently on loan at promotion-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion, the club is working on improving his skills as he looks as a huge prospect for the future.
Marnick Vermijl
A Belgian right-back who made no appearances for the senior team from 2012-2015. He was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in 2015.
Will Keane
Keane had only made a single appearance for senior team, which came in a 2-3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the 2011/12 season.
The forward has spent his playing time in loan spells since 2013 and is currently on loan at Preston North End.
Sam Johnstone
The English goalkeeper was an unused sub on a number of occasions this season, only to be loaned to Preston North End to get some game time.
Sean Goss
The Germany-born midfielder made his senior debut in the match against PSG in the summer pre-season tour. More recently, he was an unused sub in a league game against Watford.
Marcus Rashford
The striker has impressed van Gaal in his academy development and was included in the senior team squad for the games against Watford and Leicester City but was an unused sub.
Axel Tuanzebe
The DR Congo born player is a robust central defender. Tuanzebe is a natural leader and was captain of the under-18 team. He was promoted to the senior team and was an unused sub in a league game against Bournemouth.
James Weir
A versatile attacking midfielder who was included in the squad for the 3-3 draw against Newcastle United but was an unused sub.
Nick Powell
The attacking midfielder, who was once compared to Paul Scholes, had been hit with an array of injuries, the reason which prevented him to feature continuously for Manchester United.
Powell made only three appearances under van Gaal and has recently joined Championship side Hull City on loan to help them challenge for immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
The general verdict
So, is Louis van Gaal doing his main task for which he was considered by Manchester United? To be able to give an answer, we have to analyze his transfer market and youth inclusion activities.
Transfers
Having spent over £252 million in the transfer market, only five or six players have really impressed. Other signings have either missed targets or are still waiting for their chance to prove their worth.
During his first season, van Gaal went through some ups and downs as United began as a title contender then finished fighting for a Champions League qualifier spot. Currently this season, the title is still mathematically in reach, however, a top four spot seems like a more logical goal for the Dutchman given the performance his team is providing on the pitch.
To be Manchester United and spend this huge amount of money over the course of two seasons and not win a single trophy would definitely be a huge disappointment.
Youth
Van Gaal's investment in youth has always been one of his key characteristics. For example, bringing through the likes of Thomas Müller and Holger Badstuber to Bayern Munich's starting XI is one of his most significant achievements as a manager, and it is one which the Bavarian side are still benefiting from until today.
Coming to Manchester United's youth, he should be credited for youth development and the inclusion of young players in the senior starting XI. The likes of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Guillermo Varela, Paddy McNair, Andreas Pereira, and Jesse Lingard are very good examples and are already making a very positive impact in both Premier League and FA Cup fixtures.
The Dutch manager is certainly giving youth a chance; either by giving them game time with the seniors's team, promoting them into the 18-man matchday squad or loaning them out for further development.
Conclusion
Van Gaal is indeed rebuilding this Manchester United side. Impatient fans around the world may be used to seeing their team celebrating trophies season in, season out, but if they stick by their side they should witness a strong team fighting on all fronts and celebrating titles in the not-too-distant future.