Van Gaal to Splash the Cash?

The feeling going into Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford was one of optimism and excitement.  Set to forget last seasons disappointments and led by a new manager fresh off an outstanding World Cup for the Netherlands, the attitude was positive.  That all changed after 90 minutes of inconsistent football against a well-organized Swansea squad.

First and foremost, Louis Van Gaal must re-think his tactical outlook, unless the players he has now make drastic improvements or he dips into the transfer market.  The 5-3-2 proved to be ineffective with struggling center backs, and the four-back formation he switched to at halftime was only so much better.  

Most importantly, Van Gaal needs to add depth to his team by bringing in at least two top players before the window closes.  There is a sense right now that United are on the cusp of making such deals.  Marcos Rojo unofficially declared he is heading to Old Trafford, a signing I thought was a must.  

Meanwhile in Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly said Angel Di Maria is free to leave, the caveat being he can leave for the right price.  United could be willing to part ways with a lot of cash this summer, and they may have to in order to reach the Champions League.  Di Maria would be a fantastic signing, but it remains to be seen if he can play in a more physical league, while United could ultimately be priced out of a deal for the Argentine.  

In the wake of ‘Vidal to United,’ a phrase we’ve heard too much this summer and one I believed to never be legitimate, Van Gaal has supposedly switched his focus to Alex Song.  Since joining Barcelona, Song has failed to impose himself as he did in the premier league, and is often played out of position.  Song would be a terrific signing for United, unless he does anymore of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTYGF2XAJNc 

Even with the signing of Rojo, Daley Blind should still be a target, the reason being he would complement Ander Herrera extremely well in the central midfield.  Both players are flexible position-wise; Blind can also play wing back while Rojo plays left center back primarily for his club.  Depth on the left side would allow Ashley Young to play a more familiar role and not endure days like Saturday anymore on the left.

Van Gaal should be considering other targets too, ones that the tabloids and media don’t know about.  Ron Vlaar could quietly be a target for the Dutchman, who saw his countryman flourish in Brazil at center back.  Hector Herrera, another standout in Brazil, would be a perfect addition, as Rio Ferdinand said on twitter during the group stage.  Christoph Kramer, whose World Cup was cut short by a concussion in the final, would be a fantastic signing too.

Whoever Van Gaal signs, United fans should rest easy that they will improve the squad, which is all they can ask for right now.  Another important thing to point out is that often times for athletes, starting such a long competition in poor fashion can ease expectations, although given the Moyes effect I’m not sure that’s the case here.  

Regardless, United must improve, and they must improve with haste.  It may not be as difficult as people are making it out to be, but Van Gaal certainly has his work cut out for him.  United enter a seven day stretch in which they play five matches starting on Sunday against Sunderland, thus the Dutch manager may need reinforcements sooner than he thinks.  

Messi's Relationship With England

It’s no secret that Lionel Messi is good, really, really good.  His stardom is what embodies Barcelona, and it’s no secret that his word bears some weight around the Nou Camp.  There is a notion that Barcelona is a place where attacking midfielders and forwards alike have a chance to succeed and play in a beautiful system which produces brilliant football.  

This, I would argue, is false.  In the summer transfer window, the premier league has seen Luis Suarez head to the Nou Camp, with Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez coming in the opposite direction.  For Suarez, a change of scenery and culture will probably help him, but when it comes to football he may be in for a bit of a surprise.  

Since joining Manchester City from Barcelona, Yaya Toure has kicked it into another gear, showing a more diverse and free all-around game at the Etihad.  At Barcelona, Toure was shackled by the constraints of the Barca way, but in the premier league is able to impose himself on the fast-moving and physical game that suits him the best.  

Players to join the Catalan club from the premier league don’t always find their way in Spain either.  Javier Mascherano has turned into a terrific center back, but his identity as a defensive midfielder shouldn’t be thrown under the table as he proved in Brazil for Argentina.  Alex Song is another example, for he has rarely started and is often played out of position at center back too.  

Cesc Fabregas was given the ultimate freedom at Arsenal to roam the pitch from box to box and create chances.  At Barcelona, due to the presence of Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Andres Iniesta, Fabregas was too often played as a winger or false nine in the absence of Messi.  

Fabregas was still a good player for the Catalans, but his return to the premier league should be an exciting one for the creative midfielder.  At Chelsea, Fabregas will surely feature more centrally alongside Nemanja Matic or Ramires.  His positional dilemmas he experienced at Barcelona should be a thing of the past, because Jose Mourinho will put him on the field where he is the most dangerous.  

After just one premier league game under his belt, the praises are already being laid upon Alexis, who looks freed from his sidekick role to Messi in Barcelona.  The Chilean showed in the World Cup he can be devastating when given positional freedom, and has made a good impression on the Arsenal fans so far with his tricks, marauding runs, and creative awareness.  

The balance of power in La Liga is very different from that of the premier league, and it’s a testament to Barcelona's commitment to their star player that so many top-class players are cast into his shadow.  Luis Suarez was in a perfect situation at Liverpool; he was a rockstar, and now at Barcelona he arrives highly coveted but with a black cloud of shame over his head.  

With Messi already the incumbent rockstar with his young sidekick Neymar at his side, Suarez is in danger of being shackled at Barcelona, just as Alexis, Fabregas, and Yaya Toure have been.  Ultimately, the premier league is probably a better (and probably safer) place without the Uruguayan, but from a football point of view it’s a shame to see players limited so much when they move to the Catalan giants.