Welcome to your daily (sometimes twice daily) edition of Louis van Gaal Sack/Resignation Watch. According to the Guardian, Louis van Gaal is set to remain in charge for Manchester United’s FA Cup tie at Derby County on Friday, although the manager’s job is being reviewed on a match-by-match basis.
So we’ll start there- LVG will be in charge until the weekend. No matter how you feel about that, you must accept that. With that said, let’s take a look at how various influencers and opinion shapers are viewing the Louis van Gaal situation at United.
–Gab Marcotti, the ESPN FC transfer expert penned a must read op-ed that asks “who do you believe?” in this ambiguous situation. Gab looks at all the spin machines connected to the situation at Old Trafford and how/why they’ve combined to make this all so murky.
Be sure to read the whole thing, but here’s an excerpt:
It used to be pretty simple. Van Gaal’s boss — whether executive vice chairman Ed Woodward or the club owners, the Glazers — would face the cameras and either say: “We have total faith that this is just a blip and Van Gaal definitely won’t be fired” or, “We think he’s losing it and there might be a better option out there, so if things don’t improve in double-quick time, we’ll get somebody we think is better.”
After all, it’s safe to say Woodward and the Glazers are thinking one of those two things, right?
The problem is, because we’re not particularly grown up about it, neither path is viable.
–The Daily Mirror claims that United’s top brass are worried Ryan Giggs could end his 28-year association with the club, if he gets passed over for the job just like he was when Louis van Gaal assumed the reins.
-NBC Sports looked at potential replacements for Louis van Gaal. An excerpt:
Placing Ryan Giggs in temporary charge is papering over the cracks and the Welshman, who was a legendary player at Old Trafford, has no head-coaching experience despite sitting alongside David Moyes and Van Gaal as an assistant. He is not ready to take on this challenge but he may be the only option.
As Kyle Martino said in the video above, maybe Giggs gets a chance until the summer to see if he can have an impact and if not then a high profile name can come in. But which high profile manager would take the job at this point with Pep Guardiola almost certain to end up at Man City? United’s directors must have Jose Mourinho’s number on speed-dial at this point.
–Finally, from the Daily Mail:
Paul Clement believes Manchester United must allow Louis van Gaal time to develop the team having appointed him in the first place knowing his approach.
The Derby County manager is looking to inflict more misery on the beleaguered Dutchman in their FA Cup clash and plans to call mentor Carlo Ancelotti for advice.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram