Good Luck Van Gaal...

[Arginald Valleywater]

Salford Cockney FC have finally appointed LVG. I hope they give him time, and money or he will be Moyes part 2.

[Sam Slater]

No time or money would have saved Moyes. As time went by, Man Utd were getting worse and he spent ?27m+ on a human microphone that went round elbowing everybody.

Man Utd will give LVG money. Man Utd has been a cash cow for the Glazers and they need to protect the brand.

[3SS]

At least this time they have learned their lesson and put him on a shorter contract.

[cockneygeezer2009]

As for Van Gaal saying Man U are the biggest club in the world that is debatable. Everyone has a different criteria on what makes a club the biggest in the world.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Biggest club in Surrey and Berkshire yes. Not the planet.

[Sam Slater]

It is debatable but not absurd.

[RaymondT]

cockneygeezer2009 wrote:

> As for Van Gaal saying Man U are the biggest club in the world
> that is debatable. Everyone has a different criteria on what
> makes a club the biggest in the world.
>
>

As Utd have more than three times as many fans worldwide (700 million, and still increasing) than any other club then it's pretty clear they are the biggest club in the world. The global growth in recent years is staggering, they are huge in Asia which accounts for half the fanbase.

[RaymondT]

Arginald Valleywater wrote:

> Salford Cockney FC have finally appointed LVG. I hope they give
> him time, and money or he will be Moyes part 2.

He certainly doesn't need money. Too many people overplay the importance of money.

He is inheriting a decent squad that only needs a defender or two adding to it. But even if you think otherwise, all the multi-million pound superstars all cost absolutely zilch in the beginning for their first clubs.

[JamesW]

RaymondT wrote:

> As Utd have more than three times as many fans worldwide (700
> million, and still increasing) than any other club then it's
> pretty clear they are the biggest club in the world.


RaymondT's claim is untruthful. Even Man Utd themselves have admitted it isn't true.

The study that made that claim also stated that 32% of South Korea's total population of 49 million were fans of Man Utd, but live viewing figures for their matches in the country come in at less than 2% of the population. Even taking the time difference into account, what became of the other 30% of the Korean population that are supposed to be Man Utd fans?

A different study claims that Barcelona have the most fans worldwide.

[Bob Singleton]

RaymondT wrote:


He is inheriting a decent squad that only needs a defender or two adding to it. But even if you think otherwise, all the multi-million pound superstars all cost absolutely zilch in the beginning for their first clubs.





Really??? Just needs a defender or two, and no more? He needs at least three top quality defenders (2 centre backs and a left back, but probably also a right back too) as well as some midfielders. Of the current squad, I can see LVG only really being happy with the quality of de Gea, Mata, van Persie and Rooney. Add a couple of the younger players like Januzaj and James Wilson to that mix.

Obviously he can't bring in 10 or 11 new players, so some, such as Rafael, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick, Danny Wellbeck and Shinji Kagawa, will also be fairly regular starters, but I honestly don't believe he'll be overly enamoured with the likes of Smalling, Cleverley, Valencia, Buttner, Fellaini, Varela, Macheda and Anderson.

Given his inability not to fall out with senior players, if van Persie is given the captain's arm-band and is played ahead of Rooney in the main striker's role (and if Rooney plays as a 10, where does that leave Mata and Kagawa?) I can see Rooney becoming disaffected (again!)

Big spending followed by some fireworks is what I foresee.