LVG vs. Big Sam: Shades of Benitez

Following on from Big Sam Allardyce's claim that United scored our late equaliser against the Hammers through deploying the dreaded long-ball tactic , van Gaal proceeded to respond in rather bizarre fashion - by producing a four-page dossier. As he delighted in showing his pretty document to all his friends in the media, proving that it was indeed West Ham that played a more direct, long-ball style during Sunday's 1-1 draw, I couldn't help but hide my face in embarrassment and remember this...

For someone as established and respected as van Gaal to allow the likes of of Big Sam - who's honours include (and end with) losing the 2004 League Cup final - get under his skin is extremely worrying. And yesterday's display just made him look a little worried and distracted; as Benitez did in 2009. There is no denying that the man is a bit of a narcissist and someone supremely concerned with his own style and 'philosophy' as a manager, but really would it not have been the better - and bigger - thing to just brush these sorts of comments aside and just accept (not necessarily to the media) that in those dying moments in the game, having run out of all other options, smashing the ball up to Fellaini was our best chance of a goal? I would much rather the man keep quiet, save some ink and paper, and instead concentrate on sorting out the awful run of performances so that he can let the football do the talking; rather than focusing on getting one over Sam fucking Allardyce!