LVG v David Moyes

We're 6 games into Louis Van Gaal's tenure at Old Trafford and it has not been all plain sailing for the Dutchman. However if we rewind 12 months, David Moyes endured a similar sticky spell, yet statistics show that he has gathered more points than the Dutchman in the first 5 league games. With this being the case, why did Moyes come under a barrage of abuse from the media and fans alike?

Quite simply, Van Gaal has the glossy credentials to support a claim as to why he can be considered one of the top managers at this present moment in time. The accolades to his name include league titles in Germany,  Spain and most notably in Holland with Ajax. His Ajax team of the 90s was driven on promoting youth and playing with pace and flair, all emphasised through a very effective 4-3-3 formation - something which I would love to see implemented at Manchester United.

In comparison, David Moyes did not have the glittering CV, nor did he have the quality of personnel that Louis Van Gaal did. Instead he has a solitary Division Two title that he achieved with Preston North End in 1999-2000 plus several Manager of the Month Awards. His lack of silverware in his managerial career made him an easy target for the press and fans. From the day his appointment was announced, the pressure was on the Glaswegian.

Hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson himself, the weight of expectation from a club that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, fell on the shoulders of the former Everton man and it did not look like he could cope with it. He guided Everton to solid finishes each year and reached the preliminary stages of the Champions League in 2005. Moyes often seemed nervous during the press conferences and often said the wrong thing at the same time. The sharp media that we have in our country picked up on that immediately and twisted it and yes I am referencing the comments made after the home game against Manchester City.

In contrast, LVG, walked into his first press conference with confidence and rebuked any journalist that asked any ludicrous and naïve questions. The media jumped on this and portrayed him as 'United's Saviour' and now they look ridiculous when David Moyes, a man who was cheered by Liverpool and Manchester City fans, has a better record than the World Cup semi finalist. That wasn't in Ed Woodward's script.

In terms of where I stand on this comparison of Moyes and Van Gaal, I share my opinion now, particularly if you missed my article for @FourFourTweet in April (http://fourfourtweet.co.uk/where-has-it-gone-wrong-for-manchester-united/). In that article I stated that I thought Moyes was used as a scapegoat and that others had to stand up and take the responsibility. As for Van Gaal, he has dodged bullets by talking about his 'philosophy' and if I got a pound for every time he mentioned that word, I reckon I could afford a ticket to the Emirates Stadium. Also, LVG made it crystal clear to everyone should not expect fireworks from the off, it will take a while until United are restored. An attempt to insure himself if United's season goes down the gutter? It looks like it. 

 

On the other hand, if we look at the results, David Moyes takes the points on this occasion. As you can see the respective starts from both managers, LVG was handed the easier of the two. Moyes picked up 2 victories against LVG's 1, while the former Bayern man achieved an extra draw. It will be interesting to see how LVG's United fares against the 'Top 4.' Van Gaal will likely play on the counter, particularly with an under-par defence coupled with injuries. I do think that United will alleviate their performances against the other challenging sides  and that they will have a better record under Van Gaal than they did under Moyes a year previous.

A major score for LVG is that he was able to sign quality players in an attempt to address problematic areas for the Old Trafford club. The signatures of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao in particular have pleased United fans. For David Moyes, he was only able to muster a panic buy from his former club for Marouane Fellaini in the summer. To say that Fellaini's performances were substandard would be an understatement. In the winter window, he acquired the services of Chelsea playmaker, Juan Mata. The midfielder was signed when United were apparently going through a midfield crisis due to supposedly not having a creative midfielder. This signing rejuvenated hope in the Old Trafford faithful, particularly with the thought that a major overhaul was going to take place. With Mata having scored 8 goals in 19 United appearances, this signing is a success.

Louis Van Gaal has got away with a lot of abuse that David Moyes would have received if he was in the Dutchman's shoes. Two points better off than LVG, Moyes would have been crucified in the media after the Leicester City game. It's a cruel world, with the media paid to separate the wheat from the chaff in the papers, especially after a disheartening performance. If this article has proved one thing, it's that life is not fair.