Paul Scholes vs Louis Van Gaal

In May 2014, soon after the Moyes' months of madness and fans were in treatment from the shock of not being in the top 3, Paul Scholes poured salt into the wounds of fans by uttering some of the most devastating words about the club and star player:

"Wayne’s peak may have been a lot younger than what we’d expect of footballers traditionally," he said.

This was his first criticism of his former club, and it has turned that Scholes was right: Wayne Rooney had peaked and what we've seen for two seasons since has been a downward performance.

Scholes, 39 at the time had been brought back to United as a coach under the interim manager Ryan Giggs and in just four matches, he'd picked up on that.

Giving his final analysis of the club upon his departure, Scholes did not offer empty platitudes and fanatical or even diplomatic outlook of his beloved club: he spoke plain and simple and it was brutal.

He criticized the Wolf of Manchester, one Ed Woodward for Manchester United’s woes rather than going at David Moyes whom many to many was to blame for the club’s position.

“David Moyes took a lot of stick, but I believe he’s a top manager.

I’d question if 10 months was enough time [before he was sacked].

Edward Woodward has an awful lot to prove this time that he’s good enough at his job.

He has to bring the players in that the new manager wants.

It’s obvious that last year he didn’t manage to do that.

If he doesn’t we are not going to get anywhere near the top.”

This was one of the thinly veiled criticisms of SAF and United’s top brass and once again, it seemed that Scholes had got it right.

Along came the Philosophical Dutchman with years of experience and a process of playing beautiful football.

In August 2014, just after Van Gaal took over his first game for Man United and were still expecting miracles, iron ballsy-displays and the philosophy was like tactical magic bullet that happily tagged on the hearts of fans, Paul Scholes made his first critical and unpopular comments about Manchester United.

The ginger Prince, one of Manchester United's best midfielders and longest serving players of all time said he was genuinely scared for the club's long-term future.

At that time, he called the situation desperate and said he was ‘Sick of having to criticise the club which I gave my life to as a footballer.’

That was dismissed as the headline grabbing ramblings of a footballer turned pundit-blogger.

In December 2014, Paul Scholes was at it again: this time, he said something close-near blasphemous: that Manchester City have overtaken Manchester United when it comes to attracting and developing young players.

These comments came after City unveiled their £200m state-of-the-art academy.

This was taken with a grain of salt by fans and media alike, because (a) what City had done was truly a marvel but we were not ready to acknowledge that feat, and (b) LVG was still new at the club and we knew he'd sort the youth thing out within no time – there was hope.

However, Paul Scholes' first criticism of Louis Van Gaal did not come until November 2014, after the Dutchman had been at the helm for only 10 games.

As fans were recovering from the rude shock of so many defeats with just 13 points from 10 games Scholes pointed out something which turned out to be the norm rather than the exception under LVG' reign…

“This is Manchester United. It is simply not good enough to play well for 20 minutes and lose. Louis van Gaal talks about progress.

I expected United to have a better record by this stage of the season. My concern is that the mood among the [Man] United players feels a bit low-key.

It feels downbeat among the team. All this, and yet the third and fourth places – with respect to the likes of Southampton and West Ham – really are there for the taking.”

Since then, the obvious poor spirit in the team, lack of motivation among players and that stench that is distinctly 'not Manchester United' 'not championship material' has permeated all over Van Gaal’s helm at the club.

In response, LVG asked for time.

He asked for 3-4 months. He spoke about his process of developing the total player and he explained why Angel Di Maria's wings had to be clipped and why Ander Herrera needed to learn how to think before shooting... lots of stuff, all of it sounding logical at the time.

And the fans gave him time and the befit of doubt, because after all, he seemed like a man with a plan and goodness golly me, we all wanted to see this philosophy come to life, didn’t we? In truth, even van Gaal was shocked by the fans’ acceptance and forgiveness.

This was not the reception he’d received at other clubs. He must have nearly dropped down to walk into a thunderous reception at Old Trafford as fans cheered: giving him time and support.

His thanks in subsequent briefings and later, at the end of the season party, were testament to this.

But something was rotten was cooking at Old Trafford.

By February 2015, the situation had become 'acceptable misery' as fans watched in flailing hope for the famed process to take place.

By then, others had joined Scholes in their criticism of LVG, notably Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville (before he got the slowly painful stint with Valencia) and their opinions were of the unanimous opinion on how 'miserable' the football [at Manchester United] was under LVG.

Scholes, in his blog reported criticized the lack of attacking football and the type of shy-but-we-don’t-want-to-score-you-we-just-want-to-pass-the-ball-among-ourselves game that had become the Manchester United type of game.

It was a road to nowhere, purposeless and timid, made worse by the [obvious] lack of spirit from players.

It seemed, at first, that players did not seem to want to score (!) and fans began to take notice.

However it was not timid players – these experienced (and world-class) players were under new marching orders against their natural instincts and out of position – their wings were clipped.

Paul Scholes response was scathing: invoking everything we felt but could not openly vent as we were still filled with some much hope and nobody wanted to put their fears out.

“Part of being a Manchester United player under Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps the most important part of being one of United’s attacking players, was that when you were in possession you had to take risks in order to create goal-scoring chances. It was not an option; it was an obligation.

“In the periods of my career when I stopped passing the ball forward, or when I stopped looking for the risky pass that might open up a defence, the consequences were the same.

The manager stopped picking me. I got back into the team when I went back to doing it the way he wanted.

“United’s history was built on attacking football, which does not always mean that the team kept clean sheets or did not concede chances.

Why do you think United have had some of the best goalkeepers in the world over the years?

They needed them because the team committed so many players forward.

“It does not give me any pleasure to say that at the moment I am struggling to watch Louis van Gaal’s team with any great enjoyment.

At times, United’s football is miserable.

To beat opposing teams you have to attack, and to attack you have to take risks.

Too few of the players in the current team are prepared to take those risks.”

End of Part I

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