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Ahead of Monday night's game with Manchester United at
The Hawthorns, we caught up once more with United fan Paul.
He gives us his views on the game, Louis van Gaal, David Moyes,
Wayne Rooney and more. You can find Paul on
Twitter at @UtdRantcast
After a fairly shaky start
to the season, United appear to have turned the corner somewhat with three wins
from the last four games. How have performances been so far and what do you make
of Louis van Gaal's first few months in charge?
It has been extraordinary. We've already had more fun moments
so far this season than we had in the whole of last season. Pre-season was
incredible, we didn't lose a game and played like
Brazil 1970 a couple of times.
Of course, that didn't translate into the season proper, but there were huge
mitigating factors for that - we were decimated by injuries from the beginning.
Then came the end of the transfer window and some signings that barely anyone
would have countenanced as possible.
From kick-off in the QPR game where we won 4-0 to half time
against Leicester, we
played the best football anyone's seen United play for years. The collapse
against Leicester was hilarious, and showed how much there is to be done, but
people were too quick to read more into it than truly existed. Grinding out two
hard fought wins since was vital, a real test of character.
Van Gaal has been incredibly impressive in a couple of areas
- his press conferences and post-match interviews have been sublime, his team
selections have been spot on, his tactical flexibility promising. He's also
given first team or league debuts to seven academy players. Tyler Blackett was
nowhere near the top of the young defenders pecking order, but Van Gaal liked
him and went for it. When the injury crisis in defence reached its nadir he
selected Paddy McNair - almost no one who watches the academy would have said he
was the one next in line, but he's been superb. Fergie wouldn't have done that,
let alone David Moyes. They'd have stuck a midfielder in there.
The one genuine criticism I'd apply to him is that his in
game management hasn't been great - subs in particular. Some people don't like
the fact that he's not on the touchline, shouting, but I'm fully in favour of
his more observational approach. I just think he's still getting to know his
squad and so has made some odd subs. But I'm pretty head over heels for him!
United's Wayne Rooney has been
the subject of numerous debates and discussions over the last couple of weeks
due to his 'performances' for the England team. Is the criticism of him
justified or is he being singled out unfairly?
It's pretty much justified. He's lost so much of his game,
specifically his first touch. He's still a very, very good centre forward, but
he's not a "number 10". The
England debate is an extension
of the debate that happens amongst United fans, where he's in equal parts adored
and reviled. I'm somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, but seeing him start
ahead of Mata in attacking midfield is a heart breaker. He should never have
been given that new contract. Giving him the captaincy is a shame, but was sort
of politically the only option once he had that massive contract. I wish he'd go
somewhere else, but that's never gonna happen now.
United spent heavily during the
summer, what do you make of the club's transfer activity, how have the new
signings done and was there one signing that excited you more than the others?
Di Maria's arrival was sort of mind-boggling, he's
legitimately one of the best players anywhere. We'd already signed Herrera and
Shaw, which was good, both look like excellent long-term signings. Shaw's been
great in the two games he's played and Herrera's our best midfielder for years
and years. Then when Di Maria signed it felt like all bets were off and the sky
was the limit. Rojo has done ok so far, and is very flexible which is good.
Daley Blind will be fantastic against weaker sides. Falcao is just...he's
incredible. It turned into an absolutely amazing summer.
We really needed that kind of injection of quality, too. The
idea that Falcao and Di Maria are luxury signings when we have needs elsewhere
is really misguided. In truth, Di Maria in particular adds an absolutely vital
impetus to our attack, which we were massively lacking. And Falcao, assuming his
knee holds up will score so many goals. It's really exciting. Some folks were
worried about what it meant for United's identity but a. it's actually making us
look like a good, attacking side again and b. Van Gaal has done more for youth
players at the club in 3 months than Moyes did in a year, or Fergie did in his
last couple of seasons. I will miss Danny Welbeck though, because I love him.
Fans' expectations for the
season?
Champions League spot. Nothing more, nothing less.
A few words on last season -
was the decision to replace David Moyes the correct one and in time how will the
2013/14 season be looked back on?
Oh my goodness yes it was. The decision to give him the job
in the first place was, on the other hand, a terrible one! The extent to which
being the manager of a mid-table Premier League club with aspirations of making
Europe and a team who are expected to compete at the top end of Europe whilst
winning the league are different cannot be overstated. There was always a chance
he could grow into the role, but as someone pointed out to me, instead he tried
to shrink the role to his size, constantly undermining the players and the
expectations of success. In football terms I've rarely been more relieved than
when he went. It was so clear that it wouldn't work. When you look back at how
Fergie conducted himself when he was under pressure in his early days at United,
it was worlds apart from Moyes' demeanour.
The season will be, hopefully, looked on as an odd
aberration. It already feels faintly surreal that Moyes was ever in charge, when
Van Gaal is so clearly a manager befitting the stature of the job.
Player of last season?
It was De Gea by miles.
Villain of last season?
Moyes, sadly. Van Persie didn't exactly cover himself in
glory, but it was hard to blame him.
Prediction for United's season?
I'm gonna go with an optimistic third.
Player to watch this season?
It's Di Maria. If you fancy something a bit less obvious,
Herrera.
Prediction for
Albion's season?
As always, I hope you stay up. I'll go with 15th.
Premier League Champions?
Chelsea (which is bad, but sort
of least-worst for us).
Relegated?
Burnley, QPR, Palace
Prediction and thoughts on
Monday's game?
We are very hard to predict at the moment! It's actually a
really, really important game for us in terms of momentum. Having beaten Everton
we could do with continuing the little run ahead of playing
Chelsea at Old Trafford next
weekend. West Brom have obviously got plenty enough to worry United's eminently
worryable defence, but I think we'll have too much firepower for you. Our attack
is ridiculous when it gets going. Whilst it won't be 5-5, 4-3 or something like
that wouldn't shock me.
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