Three things Van Gaal has got wrong at United

When Van Gaal arrived at United, a lot of fans and pundits had the feeling that United had got it right this time.

Appointing someone in the mould of Sir Alex Ferguson, a winner with the United charisma and character.

Fast forward to about 20 months after his appointment, lot of United fans, pundits and ex-players are unhappy with the Dutchman, and want him out.

He has understandably spend over £250m in his two seasons at the club. Yes!,  because Sir Alex Ferguson left a supposedly average squad.

But even after the millions, United are still not a team reflecting the huge financial input.

United are on the verge of not qualifying for their second Champions League in three years.

Despite the huge investment, the team failed to make it through the group stages from a relatively easy group. The team is almost out of the UEFA Cup, after the 2-0 away defeat by Liverpool.

Enough of the problems, Redlyunited looks at three things Van Gaal seem to have gotten wrong at United.

1. His possession philosophy over United's  long standing attacking foundation

Judging by the way Van Gaal's Dutch team played and attacked at the World Cup, a lot of fans expected to see the beautiful, Dutch attacking football at Old Trafford.

Fast attacking players like Van Persie, Robben and co. made  the then Holland team looked great offensively.

But at United, Van Gaal has struggled to replicate what fans saw at the World Cup with United. 

United traditionally had also been built on the standard 4-4-2 formation, with two fast wingers and two strong strikers that epitomised Ferguson's era at United and  made Fergie's team one of the most feared attacking team in world football.

The then United team could turn defence into attack with three or four passes, and a goal would be scored.

Van Gaal on arrival at United abolished United's fast, pacey attacking football, for a highly conservative possession philosophy that hasn't worked well.

While it is true that every coach has his own style, at a club like United, a style that will replace Fergie's style must be a better and more effective  one.

Van Gaal's style and philosophy looks far worse than Fergie's own, at least judging by the results.

2. Two seasons and his starting eleven is still unknown

This is Van Gaal's second season at United, and other than De Gea, Smalling, Blind, Martial and Wayne Rooney when fit, you can't accurately predict Van Gaal's starting eleven for a game.

Even when  injuries haven't ravaged the squad, the Dutch gaffer is always rotating and testing new formations, testing players in new positions and making lot of tweaks to the team.

For any top, consistent team, if not the starting eleven, fans can accurately predict eight or nine of the starting XI. But that has never been the case for United over the past two seasons.

Injuries have not also helped the Dutchman, United have suffered a lot of injuries in the last two seasons, but he has been helped by the brilliance of the academy.

3. Allowing the exodus of some highly effective players

Louis Van Gaal has overseen a great deal of players in and out of Old Trafford. He has however sold some players that still could have been useful.

Top on this list is Javier Hernandez. The Mexican has scored 23 goals for his new club Bayer Leverkusen, despite playing some games for United this season.

While the player might not have scored that much at United due to competition within the team and the intensity of the league, he would have been a good second striker, behind Wayne Rooney and reduced the pressure on Martial.

Another in this category is Di Maria. The Argentine joined United as the most expensive player in the club's history and was sold after just one season.

He has since discovered his form at PSG.

Letting him go that early was a big mistake on Van Gaal's path.

Other players like Van Persie and Nani could also have improved the lot of the team. Since the new players he bought have not been that effective.