article_snippet.sent: This is why we now see Radamel Falcao on the bench, Daley Blind playing ahead of the expensive Luke Shaw – regardless of Shaw’s recent injury – and Juan Mata ahead of Angel di Maria.
article_snippet.sent: Angel di Maria (third right) and Radamel Falcao (right) were left out of the starting XI by Van Gaal on Sunday .
article_snippet.sent: Over time, however, Van Gaal’s belief in the value of repetition has worked and players like Ashley Young, Fellaini and indeed central defender
article_snippet.sent: That is one of the reasons why, for example, a back four without a single stellar player has conceded fewer goals than everybody bar Chelsea and Southampton this season.
article_snippet.sent: Van Gaal’s belief in the value of repetition has worked and players like Ashley Young and Fellaini have benefited .
article_snippet.sent: Didn't Louis van Gaal consider selling Fellaini last summer?
article_snippet.sent: Oddly, it was only an injury that prevented the Belgian joining Napoli in loan last August but again Louis van Gaaltreatment of Fellaini has illustrated the value of flexibility and objectivity when Van Gaal’s treatment of Fellaini comes to managing players and teams.
article_snippet.sent: Louis van Gaal began the season convinced that 3-4-1-2 was the way forward for this United team and certainly there would have been no room for Fellaini in that system.
article_snippet.sent: But time – not to mention performances – persuaded Louis van Gaal that there was greater value in other methods.
article_snippet.sent: indeed the fact that Louis van Gaal favoured 4-4-2 system can lead to Louis van Gaal side being overrun in the middle of the field against really good teams.
article_snippet.sent: Fellaini has illustrated the value of flexibility and objectivity when it comes to managing players and teams .
article_snippet.sent: It was only an injury that prevented Fellaini from joining the Belgian joining Napoli in loan last August from United .
article_snippet.sent: Falcao came on as a second-half substitute for Fellaini at Old Trafford against Manchester United .