The Curious Case of Manchester United

Karn Rateria

10th February 2015 | 4:52 PM

The year is 1970, two Englishmen, John and Ben, are at a dusty pub, watching Pele lift the third World Cup. Frustrated at England’s performance, John passes a prophecy, “One day, there will be a White Pele, withpotential to be the most lethal striker this country has seen. He will come close to breaking the goal scoring record at one of the biggest clubs in the world, but will then be asked by his manager to regularly play behind the right back when the team is attacking, ruining him as a striker for the country.”

“Go home, John.” Ben says, “You’re drunk.”

Drunken John was a better soothsayer than Paul the Octopus.

One has to think whether David “The Chosen One” Moyes’ short spell in charge of Man United would’ve been ever shorter, had he shoved Wayne Rooney out wide as often as Louis Van Gaal has done this term. Luckily for the Dutchman, in football, as in real life, reputation does precede you more often than not, and he does have an impressive resume. We can see that not only with the (comparatively) prolonged patience in the fans, but also with the players, most of who have come out to defend Van Gaal’s tactics and backed his vision.

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