Most of the world’s leagues (but MLS, it seems) are on an international break, a time when players return home to represent their countries in international competitions or friendlies. Lotsof juicy gossip emerges at this time, because players are reunited with friends, family, international teammates, agents, local press and anyone else willing to lend an ear to frustrated players outof the range of their current employer.
Few will be surprised to hear this morning that Manchester United duo Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria are making headlines today. WhileFalcao barely makes the substitute bench under coach Louis van Gaal these days, Di Maria over the last few months has looked a shadow of the player who contributed three goals and six assistsin his first 10 games following his 60 million pound ($89 million) move from Real Madrid.
Of the two, Falcao, currently on loan from French club Monaco, looks the likeliest to depart thissummer, with stories emerging in the British press that the Colombian hasdecided to leave regardless of whether United wants to keep him. Falcao has scored just four goals in 22 appearances for the Red Devils this season and was recently demoted to United’s U-21squad to try to regain some confidence and form.
The player has spoken with his friend and former agent as well as his national team coach about his current plight. “I am not going totell you that he feels happy because he isn’t,” Silvano Espindola, the player’s former agent, says in aninterview with AS. For Colombia coach Jose Pekerman, Falcao’s shattered confidence is a problem for the national team. “This problem is as large as the sadnessthat Falcao is going through right now,” he said. “I feel I need to support him because I understand how hard it is for him and the difficult moment he is experiencing.”
Off The Post can’t help but notice that van Gaal, a notoriousdisciplinarian with a strong personality, is the common denominator in both these tales of woe. Indeed, while Falcao’s friend, Espindola, refers to van Gaal as “a coach that kills yourconfidence,” Di Maria’s sources describe his methods as “destructive” to the winger’s game (apparently the Dutchman doesn’t like dribbling).
So: is van Gaal just a mean guy or abad coach, or could it be that both players, who less than two years ago were considered among the worlds’ best in their respective positions, have simply become worse under him?
None ofthe above.
It’s true that Falcao and Di Maria aren’t exactly thriving under van Gaal, but then again, the rule-by-fear, my-way-or-the-highway approach to coaching doesn’twork for every player. Creative players can sometimes feel stifled by coaches who operate this way because they second-guess rather than express themselves.
That may or may not be what’shappening with United’s expensive South American duo, but something is not clicking between them and their coach. Sometimes players and coaches just don’t see eye-to-eye, which is fine,but the best thing for the club to do is to either move the players — or the manager — along as quickly as possible. Keeping the locker room happy is always one of the most important aspects of anyclub, which means Mr. Woodward has some big decisions to make this summer.
Hah! Are you leaving it up to your readers to point you in the right direction? Falcao has a fitness problem … still recovering from knee surgery – how long it takes him to recover is up to him – obviously the coach has a benchmark fitness test – but it is the player who must give the effort to find their form. Di Maria gives little to no effort on defense … not likely to win many friends who are giving chase and hard tackles – just to be undone by his tendency to be a spectator. Re-watch the Arsenal game and notice the side they choose to attack and score from … and then note the player who is spectating. I guess Di Maria can do this with the Argentinian national team … where tough defense and creative midfield play are delegated to different players. I am not so certain LVG has that positive LuV’G vibe when he sees Arsenal expose his defensive weak link. Yup … LVG is taking the heat for something that is being seen by all of their teammates … another one of his clever coaching strategies to keep the players from going after each other.
any other kind of coaches here?
This is not Real Madrid Di Maria, figure it out. English football very different from Spain. Both are very good players but this is not a good fit for them. Reminds me a little of Chicharito time with United. Go back to Spain and France. You and the United fans will all be happier. LVG is also arrogant and not what I would call a players coach. United have looked a lot better recently and for the sake of their careers I hope they move on as they are both good footballers but this is not a good fit for them or for United. I like the direction United are going in but I cant wait till Ryan Giggs is the manager.
A coach should be able to manage his team according to his style by deciding what he thinks is best for his team. Even though LVG has proven with titles to be a winning coach he is also a very stubborn one.If you get players known to be outstanding at certain positions it makes no sense to make them play differently specially if the result proves you wrong. If ManU wanted Falcao it was to see him play in the box, facing goal. If Di maria was the player chosen to strengthen the team it should not be to see him in defensive roles. If they where looking for different characteristics why go after those players?Both Di Maria and Falcao could do very well in ManU, they could reach their potential and meet the expectations but only if they could have at least the chance to demonstrate what they can do by having enough playing time and in the positions and roles where they were successful.