one of the oddest was his neglect of Ander Herrera last season.
The midfielder broke his rib a few weeks in to the season, and returned for United’s away trip to West Brom toward the end of October. Maybe this game was too premature though, as Herrera had an awful game, and was replaced by Marouane Fellaini at half-time.
Fellaini scored an equaliser and Herrera didn’t get a look in over the next four games, despite being on the bench. The Spaniard made his return as a sub against Hull, after Angel Di Maria went off with an injury just 15 minutes into the game. Herrera went on to be named Man of the Match, but this wasn’t enough to guarantee his starting place in the team over the coming weeks.
Some United fans have raved about Herrera for years, since his performances against their team in the Europa League for Athletic Club. He’s been incredibly popular since signing, with supporters hailing his ability to get the ball forward to United’s attacking players, while also capable of winning the ball back for his team. This apparently wasn’t a viewpoint shared by the manager though, with Wayne Rooney keeping Herrera out of the team last season, despite the captain struggling for form when playing in the centre of the park.
However, it was as if Van Gaal saw the light at the turn of the year, and Herrera became a starting player.
During United’s best period of the season, Herrera played a crucial role. With the wins over Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Herrera was brilliant, starting every game.
This season hasn’t begun as the last one finished though, with the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Adnan Januzaj all having a far more prominent role. Of the 360 minutes up for grabs for United players so far this season, Herrera has had just 52, coming on as a sub against Spurs and Villa.
During United’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle, the obvious decision was to bring Herrera on. His energy and ability to pick a pass would have been a huge boost to United, who just couldn’t break the opposition down. However, the manager opted to use Michael Carrick as the man to replace Schweinsteiger, who seemingly still doesn’t have the fitness to play 90 minutes. When Januzaj was taken off, it was Javier Hernandez who replaced him. With 15 minutes left to play, Van Gaal brought on Antonio Valencia. Valencia?!
After United had, consciously or otherwise, developed such a strong Spanish spirit among the squad, it appears as though the manager is doing everything he can to destroy it. His treatment of David de Gea, Victor Valdes and Herrera can’t be going down well behind the scenes.
Ahead of United’s second game against Club Brugge, Van Gaal was directly asked at his press conference whether Herrera would make his first start of the season. Unsurprisingly, the Dutchman evaded the question, instead reeling off the names of youth team players like Andreas Pereira and Paddy McNair, who have all yet to play, insisting that the whole squad would be needed over the course of the season. When pushed for an answer, he replied: “you shall see.”
Maybe this was a hint that Herrera would return, or, more likely, Van Gaal has no intention of revealing who will play against Club Brugge, whether that was Herrera or anyone else.
Fellaini, who was also present for the press conference, is one less player for Herrera to compete with for a starting role though. Van Gaal claimed that while Fellaini can play in midfield, as a No. 6 or No. 8, he will be used more often up front, as a No. 9 or 10, as there are fewer players available for this position. Fellaini, who claimed last week he didn’t care that his last-minute goal against Brugge would make him an unpopular man in Belgium, has said he will play wherever the manager wants him to play, and that all he wants is to score goals and for the team to do well.
This team has the potential to do well but it’s hard to see how they can win major honours if they continue to struggle for goals as much as they have done so far this season in the league. Van Gaal’s obsession with possession means it’s rare they concede, but at what cost? Surely it’s time to try out Herrera again, give him the freedom to be creative, and accept that more risky play can sometimes lead to losing the ball, but also unlocking a defence to score a vital goal.
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