'I feel with all the money that has been invested – it’s a worse squad than it was. We were looking at the players Van Gaal has let go in his reign during the 18 months and I’m sure they would beat tonight’s team.
'We had Rafael, [Nemanja] Vidic, [Jonny] Evans and [Patrice] Evra as a back four. Nani, [Shinji] Kagawa, [Tom] Cleverley, [Robin] van Persie and Chicharito [Javier Hernandez]. [Adnan] Januzaj is another one. [Danny] Welbeck is another one.
it is true?
Michael Owen'We had Rafael, [Nemanja] Vidic, [Jonny] Evans and [Patrice] Evra as a back four. Nani, [Shinji] Kagawa, [Tom] Cleverley, [Robin] van Persie and Chicharito [Javier Hernandez]. [Adnan] Januzaj is another one. [Danny] Welbeck is another one.
it is true?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3351882/Manchester-United-boss-Louis-van-Gaal-severe-pressure-says-Michael-Owen.html
BUT
Please look at 2011-12 Manchester united squad which they fail to qualify to the knockout stage.
8 players that he mention is in the 2011-12 squad when they are out of champions league.
In 11-12 squad "Rafael, Evans, Evra, Nani, Welbeck, Chicarito, Vidic,Cleverley"
not in 11-12 squad "Kagawa (mata upgraded version of kagawa), RVP ( is he in fenerbache starting line up now), Januzaj ( is he in dortmund starting line up now)
Michael Owen himself is in the 2011-12 squad as well !!
Rio Ferdinand is in the squad as well.
"Manchester United will be embarrassed after Champions League exit... the players won't want to leave their houses"
Rio Ferdiand
As EX Manchester United player he should have share his experience with the current squad before they exit. No point saying that to the young player after the knockout.
Paul Scholes
"United look like an average team and with an average team, you get average performances."
Manchester United always give chance to young player and is normal that some of them are average for the start before they grow and become world class like what he go through
in Man Utd. May be he enjoy Alan Hansen comments on class of 92 when they just started so much that he want the current young player (Martial, Depay, Lingard, Varela,Cameron Borthwick-Jackson) to have the same experience as well.As a pundits we know you need to say something & below is good example of a good opinions from ex Manchester player.
‘If you put two more players into Manchester United’s team, say a Gareth Bale or a Cristiano Ronaldo, that team could win the league.
‘Because the structure that is being built at this moment in time is strong.
‘But they need that match-winner, that Neymar, that Luis Suarez, the one that is going to light up a game and score one or two goals to take it away.
‘But that’s not the way in which this Manchester United team play, and the heart wants them to go forward, commit players and be reckless.
‘My heart thinks I’d like to see them die trying a little bit more and go for it.’
Gary Neville
May be that the reason he is Valencia Manager & England coach because he give constructive view rather than 3 ex player above.
Be Patient
They could have mention Manchester united squad from 2003-2006 which just sign young C.Ronaldo 2003 (Depay) and Wayne Rooney 2004 (Martial).
2003-2004 3rd Premier League (CL round of 16)
2004-2005 3rd Premier League (CL round of 16)
2005-2006 2nd Premier League (CL 4th place in the group)
2006–07 1st Premier League (Semi finals)
It take the Great Sir Alex Ferguson 4 years to win the league.
Why criticize Van Gaal team for less than 2 years.
Plastic Fans Manchester United plan for Van Gaal
1.5 years Spend 144m nett and instantly because of Van Gaal they can play like Barcelona
Van Gaal realistic Manchester United 3 year plans
Van Gaal 1st Year -
Give everybody a chance to prove themselves in his style of play.
Van Gaal 2nd Year -
Clear and sign up player that fit the system.
( miss star player signing -
Plan A
Sign Deadly front 3 like Barcelona.(match winner) No star player want to leave
Plan B
Sign Young Player with potential to be Star. Take longer time)
Van Gall now to 3rd year
- Get "match-winner, A Cantona to lead the young player" it will solve the scoring problem. Plus solid defense that lead by "mike smalling " united will be challenge for major trophy.
Manchester United Squad 11-12
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | Discipline | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |  |
 |
|||
| 1 | GK |  David de Gea |
29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF |  Patrice Evra |
37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 4 | DF |  Phil Jones |
25(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7(2) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 34(7) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Rio Ferdinand |
29(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37(1) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | DF |  Jonny Evans |
28(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5(3) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 35(5) | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | Michael Owen |
0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF |  Anderson |
8(2) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12(4) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW |  Dimitar Berbatov |
5(7) | 7 | 0(1) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 11(10) | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Wayne Rooney |
32(2) | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 41(2) | 34 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | MF |  Ryan Giggs |
14(11) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22(11) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | Chris Smalling |
14(5) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5(2) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23(7) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | MF |  Park Ji-Sung |
10(7) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19(9) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW |  Javier Hernández |
18(10) | 10 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22(14) | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF |  Nemanja Vidić |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | Michael Carrick |
27(3) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37(4) | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 17 | MF |  Nani |
24(5) | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(3) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 32(8) | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Ashley Young |
19(6) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27(6) | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Danny Welbeck |
23(7) | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(4) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27(12) | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | Fábio |
2(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12(3) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Rafael |
10(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 15(3) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Paul Scholes |
14(3) | 4 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15(6) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Tom Cleverley |
5(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 9(6) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF |  Darren Fletcher |
7(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9(1) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | MF |  Antonio Valencia |
22(5) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32(6) | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||
Manchester United Champion league Group table 2011-2012
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benfica |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 12 |
 Basel |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 11 |
| Manchester United |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 9 |
 Oțelul Galați |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 0 |
