FanPost

Louis van Gaal Reignites His Players

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has done some things that David Moyes could never do. He makes players better by believing in them. A few prime examples of this statement: Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, and Ashley Young.

All three of the aforementioned footballers were outcasts at United to start the season. van Gaal himself even said it about Fellaini, naming him in a group of players who were under the microscope and could be sold by the start of the season. The rest of the players on that list included Nani (on loan), Javier Hernandez (on loan), Wilfried Zaha (on loan), and Shinji Kagawa (sold). The only player on that list other than Fellaini that is still in the United squad is Anderson, but he does not play at all regularly.

After sustaining an injury at the start of the season, Fellaini did not feature in a match until he was subbed on for 12 minutes against Everton. The next match, he was subbed on at half-time and scored the equalizing goal, his first in a United shirt, against West Bromwich Albion. The Belgium international has started every match since, and has scored once more (against Stoke City). Fellaini has found his place at Manchester United under van Gaal.

Valencia is another player who has had his career sparked by van Gaal. The last three years, Valencia has seemed a bit slower, and less active than he was before. LvG has been playing the Ecuador international at right-wing back in his current 5-3-2 (or 3-5-2) system, and Valencia has taken to the change very well, blowing past defenders on the right wing, and even sending an assist on the Wayne Rooney goal against Liverpool. Whether van Gaal sticks with this system and the fitness of Rafael da Silva will determine whether Valencia continues his run of appearances at right-wing back.

At the beginning of the season, Ashley Young was supposed to be on his way out of Old Trafford eventually, but his performance in the summer friendlies impressed van Gaal enough to keep him at the club. He fell out of favor once again during the season as he had runs of 4 and 3 missed appearances, respectively. He has now settled into the left-wing back position masterfully and has held that position strong for 5 out of the 6 straight wins that United has accumulated. Whether Young has played his way into the team for the long run is yet to be seen, but he is certainly making a case for himself under van Gaal's philosophy.

Another player that I hadn't mentioned before because it is still unknown whether he will continue playing well, is Michael Carrick. Normally a midfielder, LvG has moved Carrick back into a centre-half position to make up for United's injury woes. In the middle of the three-man defense, Carrick controlled the play from the back, forward with his masterful passing. It has been said that he prefers a midfield role, but if he continues this run of form in the back, van Gaal may have reignited yet another career in this Manchester United side.

When David Moyes was sacked from the club last season, some supporters contested that he didn't get enough of an opportunity, and the team that was left to him was one of United's worst sides in years. Last season, Liverpool came into Old Trafford and thrashed Moyes' side 3-0. This season, Liverpool came into Old Trafford and left as humiliated as United was last season. The thing about that win that shows how great of a manager Louis van Gaal is, is the fact that the starting line-up consisted of Moyes' team from last season. None of his summer signings started (although Ander Herrera and Radamel Falcao were subbed on late in the match), and United still won. This shows van Gaal's ability and belief in his players which does a huge part in continuing the great legacy of Manchester United.

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