Manchester United are back, they cry.
After a season in mourning of the loss of Sir Alex Ferguson, grinding out miserable performances and coasting to mid-table mediocrity, and even after a stuttering start to this term, United are now tap-ins to win the title.
United are of course very much not favourites, but the celebration of the media, the fans, and Louis van Gaal’s wife (happy birthday, by the way) after their 4-0 romp past QPR suggested that the title would be won by Christmas.
In fact, the victory over a very poor Rangers side asked more questions than it answered about the Red Devils’ tactical frailty.
The ‘revamped’ side selected by the United manager was most conspicuous by its formation, featuring a four-man midfield built around Van Gaal’s new rock, Danny Blind, who managed a staggering 112 passes.
Combined with a front two of the manager’s favourite lieutenant and his new captain, United did for an hour look irresistible, especially if you were Rio Ferdinand.
Juan Mata played in the position he loves the most, just in behind two strikes, and Angel Di Maria had the freedom to pick the ball up and drive at the defence.
But then Van Gaal shook up his magic tactical 8-Ball, introduced yet another multi-million pound striker, and changed the formation again.
Rooney was pushed to the left prong of the attack, Van Persie out to the right, and the new prince (third in line?) took centre stage.
He might have had a goal too, but for the most part United were much more ineffective than they ever looked with their diamond midfield.
The drop-off in performance highlighted the problem with Van Gaal’s methods. He requires his players to be constantly thinking, to be able to change at the drop of a hat, and to be constantly aware of their manager’s needs.
As his interviewer pointed out after the game, this is not the English way. 4-4-effing-2 is the English way, and change is dangerously foreign to those raised in the Fergie era. He is inevitably going to ruffle some feathers.
The Dutchman has rarely departed his previous under anything other than a cloud.
He does not create a dynasty of people, he assembles a group of superstars, milks them for all they’re worth, and leaves.
This time though, he might have bitten off more than he can chew: Radamel plus Robin plus Rooney does not equal happiness.
None of those are going to be content to sit on the bench, and if they can’t all play together it’s difficult to see how the boss can avoid civil unrest.
In fact, the path to eternal happiness may be for Van Gaal himself to show some willingness to change.
If he finds a system that works, then he should stick to it.
He won’t have European games where he can placate superstars with starts at Valencia or Donetsk. He has made his best friend’s chief rival captain, and now he’s all but bought the best striker in Europe.
Something has to give.
Main image courtesy of MUTV via YouTube, with thanks.
