It’s not been a vintage year for Manchester United under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal. Where last season had a relatively rousing conclusion and a return to the Champions League, it seems unlikely the Red Devils will make it to the Promised Land during this campaign.
Though last season certainly had its pitfalls – aside from a few decent performances – this season has been far worse. The Dutchman has seemingly been on the verge of losing his job a number of times and Jose Mourinho continues to be strong linked with the role.
There’s the small matter of an FA Cup quarter-final reply with West Ham United to navigate, which could go some way in deciding the fate of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach going forward.
So, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ll know things at the Theatre of Dreams have been borderline the stuff of nightmares.
Should we undertake the gruelling process of revisiting the five most outrageous? Of course we should.
[ffc-gallery]
Click the image below to take a trip up memory lane!
[/ffc-gallery]
VS Sheffield United (Home) FA Cup 3rd Round
An injury time winner following Wayne Rooney’s spot kick over Sheffield United in the FA Cup 3rd round did little to gloss over a painstakingly inept performance from the Red Devils.
One of the worst home outings in recent memory, they were made to pass sideways and backwards and look utterly out of ideas against opposition TWO tiers below them.
It was so bad, the United faithful even ironically cheered as Memphis Depay took their first shot on target around the HOUR mark!
VS FC Midtjylland (Away) Europa League Round of 32
Ok, so United had their revenge on home soil by dispatching of the hipster Danish team with relative ease, but few could ever the Red Devils would actually lose to them!
They’re Danish champions in their own right, so not an outfit to be taken lightly, but the mere notion of it was borderline laughable. That was before the game.
One of the darkest days of the van Gaal era came in February 2016 when his side went down 2-1 while away in Denmark, even AFTER Memphis Depay had put them ahead.
In all truth, the Danes were very good value for their three points. An utterly shambolic performance.
VS Norwich (Home) Premier League
Though Norwich City are toward the bottom of the Premier League, the Canaries have established themselves as a competitive top flight team.
The fact they are currently out of danger considering the relative lack of investment they have plowed into the club compared to others is obviously not to be sniffed at.
However, the manner in which the Red Devils capitulated on home soil to them was laughable. It was a game that marked Wayne Rooney’s 500th for the club, though surely one he’ll be in a hurry to forget.
The East Anglia outfit went 2-0 up until Anthony Martial, one of the few bright spots this term, fired one in consolation.
VS Stoke City (Away) Premier League
The Britannia Stadium is never an easy place to go and win. As the old fable goes, it’s even harder when the weather is against you.
Still, the meek performance the Red Devils churned out as they sunk to a 2-0 loss on Boxing Day seemed as if it would be THE result that pushed the 64-year old off the edge.
Clearly, he lived to fight another day, but we should not look too lightly on just how toxic the atmosphere engulfing the club was.
It was such an outrageously inept outing, that van Gaal reportedly offered his registration soon after.
VS Sunderland (Away) Premier League
A hapless United allowed hosts Sunderland to record a first ever Premier League win over them at the Stadium of Light in 14 previous attempts.
If the Stoke game was a side simply outplaying the Red Devils, this game up in the North East demonstrated the club’s utter lack of self belief.
Even the imperious David De Gea was at fault during the fixture, struggling to deal with the immense power of Lamine Kone from set-pieces.
