Louis Van Gaal, the man who came to Bayern in one year and almost made himself a legend. A Bundesliga title and DFB Cup all won on his first year, as well as reaching the Champions league final for the first time in 9 years. One game from achieving something thought impossible back then in November. Last year the 2nd half of the year Bayern looked threatening, fast & and unpredictable as well. He changed Schweinstieger into arguably one of the best CMs in the world when before he was an inconsistent average Bundesliga wide player. Muller and Badstuber were brought from Bayern II's team and turned into undisputed starters. Youth (something that hasn't happened in far too long), very attacking football, dominant possession team, 2 world class wingers at once at Bayern, many players scoring at will and looking at times unbeatable.. you would think Van Gaal could do no wrong if you look at the 2nd half of the season yet some Bayern fans could already predict what's currently happening on the new season..
In the summer Bayern signed no one. After making record revenue and doing so well that realistically they would have a good lure to bring in stars, they or rather Van Gaal decided no one was needed. The only players that joined Bayern were Braafheid, a player who all Bayern fans wanted out before even January when he signed and who failed at Celtic during his loan, Ottl who was never good, Breno who while a good prospect came back injured confirmed to miss one third and finally Kroos, who had an outstanding season for Leverkusen. Bayern last season showed far too many cracks in defense and some signs in midfield as well as a striker duo not confirmed until 2nd half of the season. Bayern were ripped apart defensively vs Bordeaux, Fiorentina, United and finally Inter in the Champions League final, yet Van Gaal says he needs no one.
The arrogance of course that he could turn any player into a world beater, that he wouldn't need any stars that are already good enough. Contento who even after impressing last year in some matches, he benched for the last matches and the big CL final. Putting Badstuber at left-back even though he was ripped apart by Valencia vs United, even though his original position is LCB since he has no pace to play out wide and offers nothing offensively he plays over Contento. This would suggest Van Gaal has no faith in Contento and is using his favorite defensive player off his position to support this idea. Yet when the summer comes and management offer him money to buy a player for this position, all of the sudden he states Contento can make it. Perhaps Bayern tried (Coentrao), failed and he simply told them not to rush transfers. He has stated Alaba, who just turned 18 years old will be Van Bommel's replacement, the current Bayern Munich captain. Having started 3 matches and been substituted in 3 other matches all season last year, it seems a bit miraculous that he can turn him this quickly into a class player. He has also hinted at Breno replacing Van Buyten at central defense, though I assume this move is also a push from management and the only reason why a class CB hasn't been bought last summer. Kraft is also seen as Butt's potential replacement since he stated "I've always liked players from youth so it is possible" during the beginning of the season, when the entire management is all for the Neuer move on getting a keeper ready to take over and play at top level for potentially a whole decade. Personally, I love what he's done with the youth team and his influence will be here even when he leaves. However you cannot have literally have half the team between the ages of 18 to 21, the inexperience especially in Champions League will show and by the time they are ready for top football, Schweini, Lahm, Robben and Ribery won't be.
Van Gaal likes his players to do what he says or leave, or if they don't fit in system that he has built, he has no use for them. That is what has happened to Luca Toni when he came, he sent him away directly, Lucio (oh dear and karma alike) was kicked out of the club and now Demichellis is on his way in January most likely. Gomez and Tymoschuk were already told that he didn't have plans for them (according rumors), yet they unlike the other three decided to stay and prove their worth to the coach. One must say that great coaches build a system in which best suits the players, not build a system that the players must fit into. The next problem is this obsession over possession without purpose, as the Kaiser has just recently stated in an interview which I agree with. You cannot keep possession for the sake of not giving it to the other team or "to tire opponents so we can win at the end of the match" as Van Gaal says. Sorry but mid-table and relegation Bundesliga teams in our own stadium aren't teams we should try to tire out so we can score a goal or two the last 20 minutes, we should be going for the kill for the 1st minute. He's using his tactic the same way vs every opposition, no matter what occasion. One could argue Barcelona is the same way, and they've dominated European football the past 5 years.
It seems Robben helped his coach win his two titles in a big way, I assume Bayern will be back when he comes back as well. However it makes one wonder how according to Van Gaal he is the player that follows his instructions the least of the starting XI, yet he finished the season up as the best player of the season. Also the obvious favoritism has been shown to be a bit of a problem, for example Muller starting every Champions League game last year and being one of the worst players in the pitch most of those matches, Van Buyten starting over and over and yet being incredibly average, Klose starting this year and not impressing yet he got chance after chance when Gomez was benched after two matches last year when he had poor form. While I do think Van Gaal fixes these mistakes, it takes a lot longer for him to see his mistakes than it really should. His management abilities have left a lot to be desired from what has been shown so far. If you aren't seen good enough to play his system, it seems just a matter of time before you leave, the over reliance on youth, favoritism over certain players and not being able to adapt to certain situations.
This isn't an article to slam Van Gaal as someone who doesn't have a clue, just adding some perspective that even though he came 1 match away from achieving all there is to win at club level all in one year, he still has flaws. Though to be fair, what coach doesn't? Lets make something clear, we would have not won what we won if he wasn't there. Muller and Badstuber helped go as far as we did, some other youth players helped the team as well, Schweini turned into a phenomenon, possession football and the best pressuring system Bayern has had this past decade. Tactically at times he is a genius, up there with the likes of Mourinho & Ferguson. I truly am grateful for what he has done for us and he deserves the recognition and respect for it. Yet his flaws are the main reasons why he has been out of the limelight for a decade. He should continue as Bayern boss, I only wish he would adapt and improve some areas so he can take Bayern hopefully to glory.. to what we've wanted since 2001.. the Champions League trophy.
