EPL: Has time Come For Louis Van Gaal To Leave Manchester United?

If rumours are to be believed Louis Van Gaal offered his resignation to Manchester United’s Ed Woodward after their latest defeat to Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

If further rumours are to be believed this is at least the second time that Louis Van Gaal has suggested he should bring his tenure at Old Trafford to a conclusion.

By all accounts even he knows that he’s taken the club as far as he can, and that a change is needed for Manchester United to progress. Now someone just has to convince Ed Woodward. 

over the last 10 months Louis Van Gaal has repeatedly done just about enough to stay in control at Manchester United.

Having missed out on the Champions League for one season while David Moyes was in charge, the Dutch coach managed to plateau the club by returning them to the competition at the first time of asking.

But the progress that Manchester United fans have been pining for, whether it’s the style of play or in league position, hasn’t arrived, even though Van Gaal has been given the perfect platform and finances to do just that.

After Manchester United’s victory at Watford on Saturday November 21st they moved up to second in the league. In the ensuing weeks were a string of winnable games, and most Red Devils fans were talking about being top at Christmas, and then pushing on from there. 

The sluggish style was lamentable, but with a title there to be won it was also briefly forgivable.

But in the 13 games in all competitions since Manchester United have won three, drawn five, and lost five. They’re now 10 points off the top, five points from the Champions League, as well as relegated to the Europa League, and have somehow even conspired to play a brand of football that is derided across the footballing community. To put it another way, United have managed just two shots on target in their last two matches.

After the 0-0 home draw with Chelsea on December 28 Louis Van Gaal found himself with a little rest-bite, which was then extended by the subsequent victories over Swansea and Sheffield United, even though the latter was the equivalent of a tennis player winning a point after deflecting off the net.

Even the pain of the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United, which saw Manchester United concede a last-minute equaliser, was diluted down by the fact the game was actually entertaining. While there is never not a reason to celebrate a 1-0 victory at Anfield. Even when you’ve clearly been the worst side for long portions of the game.

Once again, unbeaten in five, Louis Van Gaal had a platform to build a top four push, even a cheeky title bid, upon. But the 1-0 defeat by Southampton is proof that it’s just never going to happen. Instead, Louis Van Gaal just left himself in an indefensible position because of how he lined up, with the central midfield pairing of Fellaini and Schneiderlin providing no penetration, and Martial, Lingard, Herrera, and Rooney looking like complete strangers in attack.

After the game Louis Van Gaal insisted that fans had every right to boo, while the smell of resignation surrounding him, the players, and the fans was the ultimate proof that a change was now firmly needed.

And with Manchester United still in the FA Cup and Europa League, and a top four place eminently achievable, under the right leadership the season is far from a write-off. But only if Louis Van Gaal is no longer there to oversee it. 

Surely both the manager and club finally know that.