Manchester United lost for the second time to the Saints at OT in a display interspaced with boos from the OT crowd and SAF's supposed curt words about LVG and here are 10 things we learned.
1. Reverting to 3-5-2 formation at OT against Southampton is courting disaster, LVG might as well said - come and score us, we'll not bother your goal.
2. Whatever Fellaini gave LVG to ensure he's always starting should be thrown out with the two of them, soonest. This is favouritism is ...becoming singularly embarrassing for football and Man United.
3. LVG still has not mastered or known his best 11 players - maybe it's because he has to pause and make a place for Fellaini, but after two seasons and over 250 Million pounds, it's beyond criminal.
4. LVG was one who put the case for resting tired players - and looking at Anthony Martial, the lad is tired - coming into a new league, playing every match, no rest and all the hopes of the world on him - he needs a rest!
5. It's known and clear that for all his enthusiasm, Jesse Lingard misfires like crazy - that's why he makes a great second half sub because he brings pace in speed play world soccer 3 and can open defence - even I know this and I am NOT even remotely athletic. My eyes went sour watching him stuck there for 90 minutes.... WTH Van Gaal, WTH?!
6. Lady luck, who stuck at Anfield and rewarded one of our worst displays this season decided to let football do the talking this week - we are not a club that relies on luck and flukes, LVG has brought our bar down.
7. With 23 games played; top four competition is heating up and with all the confusion with the team, style of play, tactics (or lack thereof) and slavish reliance on Fellaini - I shudder to think what would happen if something is not done to correct LVG. I shudder.
8. While some speak of conspiracy to bring down Man United - it's not so - LVG has lost his ideas and he's nothing more to offer. He was unable to turn central players into Wingers (Martial & Mata); Unable to turn wingers into the pitch (aha) and unable to instil enough confidence to last season's best players - Memphis, Morgan Schneiderlin, Darmian, Young, (yes), Mata, Herrera and taking great talent and wasting it is the biggest crime that the Dutchman has committed of late. This is what happens when your ideas are stuck in stone and other people's opinion does not count...
9. I admit, I did not see that goal, I left 'to avoid traffic' *kidding - to avoid the disappointment of another draw and not because I don't believe in my team, I believe in it and of late, the magic is gone...
10. There is not enough anger, frustration or disbelief at our current reality to make it 10 points - however, I will bow to the greater wisdom and ask, is it true that SAF said (lip read) that LVG is finished? Can it be true, please, please! pretty please with cherry on top, let it be true.