How boring is Louis van Gaal's Manchester United, really? Sportsmail's snooze-o-meter rates all 22 of their matches this season
- Paul Scholes and Roy Keane have slammed Manchester United's tactics
- Criticism has been levelled at Louis van Gaal's side for being boring
- Goalless draw with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday did little to help that
- Sportsmail rates all of their performances this year from zero to 10 Zs
Louis van Gaal’s famous philosophy has come under criticism during the past few weeks with Manchester United fans and former players such as Paul Scholes and Roy Keane hitting out at the Dutchman for his boring tactics.
United’s goalless draw with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night has left Van Gaal’s side with an uphill task in the Champions League with the Red Devils facing Wolfsburg in their final Group B clash on December 8.
Scholes believes his former side are ‘a million miles away from matching Barcelona or Bayern Munich’, while one United fan said ‘Van Gaal is destroying our club and we played better football under David Moyes’ on a BBC phone-in following the dour draw at Old Trafford.
Here, Sportsmail rates all 22 of United's performances so far this season with a special snooze-o-meter rating.
A frustrated Wayne Rooney lifts himself from the turf during Manchester United's draw with PSV Eindhoven
Angus 'Statto' Loughran, famed from his work on 1990s TV show Fantasy Football League, doesn't exactly look entertained as he sits behind and to the left of Van Gaal in his prime seat for United home matches
Van Gaal (centre right) and his assistant Ryan Giggs leave the pitch with heads bowed on Wednesday
Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham (August 8)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZ
Van Gaal’s side got off to a winning start in the Premier League but the goal came courtesy of Tottenham defender Kyle Walker. Right back Matteo Darmian was United’s best performer on the day, while fellow debutant Memphis Depay looked sharp as he brought much-needed pace to his new side’s attack. The most entertaining moment came after the match when birthday boy Van Gaal sang ‘When I’m 64’ during the post-match press conference.
Rooney (right) watches as Tottenham defender Kyle Walker scores the own goal that decides the match
Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United (August 14)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZ
Another case of job done for Van Gaal’s side. United again set up with two deep-lying defensive midfielders - Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin - leaving Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj, Depay and Wayne Rooney to bring the game to Aston Villa. Januzaj was the best player on the pitch. So what did Van Gaal decide to do? Oh yes, loan him out to Borussia Dortmund.
Adnan Januzaj (right) was United's best player and goalscorer in the win over Aston Villa before going on loan
Manchester United 3-1 Club Bruges (August 18)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
A brace by Depay and a 90th-minute goal by Marouane Fellaini meant the Old Trafford faithful left the ground with a smile on their face. United’s £25million signing from PSV repaid the faith shown in him by Van Gaal by turning on the style as he scored two impressive goals.
United’s £25million signing from PSV, Memphis (centre), scored a brace in their win over Club Bruges
Manchester United 0-0 Newcastle (August 22)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZ
United’s 100 per cent record came to an end as they failed to find a way past Steve McClaren’s Newcastle. They came close on several occasions with Rooney having a goal ruled out for offside and Javier Hernandez squandering a golden chance late on.
Wayne Rooney had a goal disallowed for offside as United's 100 per cent record ended against Newcastle
Club Bruges 0-4 Manchester United (August 26)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
Nobody was sleeping at the Jan Breydel Stadium as fans were treated to four goals - including a hat-trick by Rooney. United’s attacking players finally looked like they were playing with freedom, so were the chains finally off?
Rooney was smiling as he bagged a hat-trick in Bruges as United appeared to be freed of their shackles
Swansea 2-1 Manchester United (August 30)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZ
The most entertaining player for United was Sergio Romero, who made two costly errors at the Liberty Stadium. Mata had put his side in the lead before Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis piled misery on the Red Devils. United needed reinforcements before the summer transfer window slammed shut.
United players trudge off the pitch after recording their first loss of the season against Swansea City
Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool (September 12)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
A performance reminiscent of the good times under Sir Alex Ferguson, United defeated arch-rivals Liverpool with relative ease. A well-worked set piece which resulted in a goal by Daley Blind and an Ander Herrera penalty put United in a two-goal lead. Christian Benteke then pulled one back with a spectacular bicycle kick before new signing Anthony Martial introduced himself to the Old Trafford crowd with a brilliant solo goal.
Anthony Martial signalled his arrival at Old Trafford with a brilliant solo goal in their win over Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven 2-1 Manchester United (September 15)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZ
A game remembered for Luke Shaw’s injury rather than United’s performance. Depay scored the opener on his return to Holland and United created more chances than their Champions League rivals but they lacked the killer instinct in front of goal.
United's 2-1 defeat by PSV in Holland was remembered more for this tackle that ended Luke Shaw's season
Southampton 2-3 Manchester United (September 20)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
United’s decision to fork out £36m on Martial appeared to be a good one after his brace lifted United up to second in the Premier League. His pace worried Southampton’s back-line, while Mata added a third for Van Gaal’s side.
Martial showed his £36million worth again with a brace at Southampton in United's 3-2 win in September
Manchester United 3-0 Ipswich (September 23)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
A comfortable victory in the Capital One Cup against Championship opposition. Strikers Rooney and Martial were among the goals, while Brazilian teenager Andreas Pereira scored his first goal in a United shirt with a delightful free-kick.
Andreas Pereira (left) is congratulated by Rooney after scoring his first goal for the club against Ipswich
Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland (September 26)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
Three-nil victories were like London buses for Van Gaal’s side at the end of September as they dispatched Sunderland with relative ease. Depay, Rooney and Mata scored, while Martial played a key role despite not scoring.
Mata celebrates the third goal in another comfortable 3-0 win for United over Sunderland in September
Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg (September 30)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZ
Yes they won but it was yet another topsy-turvy display by United. Wolfsburg took the lead before Mata converted a penalty to level the scoring. The Spaniard then played a key role in the second as his neat flick set up Chris Smalling for the winner.
Chris Smalling delivered the winner against Wolfsburg in the Champions League after a mixed team display
Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United (October 4)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZZZZ
Manchester United fans watching this at home would have been reaching for the remote control to turn off their television set after 19 minutes. Van Gaal’s side were well and truly beaten at the Emirates with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil running riot.
Van Gaal's side were battered within the opening 20 minutes and found no way back against Arsenal
Everton 0-3 Manchester United (October 17)
SNOOZE-O-METER: Z
United bounced back from their horror show in north London to put in one of their best performances of the campaign thus far. Rooney was urged by his manager to regain his goalscoring form and he did just that by following up goals from Schneiderlin and Herrera.
United bounced back from their battering at Arsenal in style as Wayne Rooney netted one of their three goals
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Manchester United (October 21)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZ
United rarely threatened CSKA Moscow’s goal during the vital Champions League clash in Russia. The hosts took the lead when Martial stupidly controlled the ball with his hand in the area, resulting in a penalty which was rebounded in past David de Gea by Seydou Doumbia. Martial then made amends to ensure his side claimed a point.
Relief rather than joy for Martial who equalised against CSKA Moscow after stupidly conceding a penalty
Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City (October 25)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZZ
Van Gaal said his side had control of the game for 90 minutes but they again flattered to deceive in front of goal. United came close to scoring a winning goal through substitute Jesse Lingard late on but his effort crashed against the bar.
Rooney needed staples to close up a gash in his head as United again struggled for goals against rivals City
Manchester United 0-0 Middlesbrough (October 28)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZZZ
United were dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Middlesbrough on penalties after failing to find a way of scoring against the Championship side. Van Gaal brought on Rooney, Martial and Ashley Young in hope of grabbing a winner in normal time but they eventually lost on penalties.
Lingard (right) jostles with Tomas Kalas before Middlesbrough dump United out of the Capital One Cup
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United (October 31)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZZZZ
A truly dreadful performance by United at Selhurst Park. No creativity, no imagination and lacking a player who could take the game by the scruff of the neck. Alan Pardew was left wondering how his side did not win the match.
Not even Juan Mata could inject some creativity into a truly awful 0-0 performance at Crystal Palace
Manchester United 1-0 CSKA Moscow (November 3)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZ
United scored their first after firing blanks in three games to lead Group B with two matches left to play. Van Gaal’s side finally broke down CSKA Moscow’s resolute defence in the 79th minute thanks to a header by Rooney.
CSKA Moscow’s committed defence was finally breached by a Rooney header in the 79th minute
Manchester United 2-0 West Brom (November 7)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZ
West Brom came to Old Trafford with a defensive game plan, with Tony Pulis hoping to claim a point. United fans had to be patient. After singing ‘attack, attack, attack’, they were finally given a goal. Lingard’s curling effort saw him score his first senior United goal before Mata added a second from the penalty spot.
Red Devils fans sang 'Attack, attack, attack' before Lingard delivered a curling effort against West Brom
Watford 1-2 Manchester United (November 21)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZ
Late drama, that’s what United fans have grown accustomed to. The Red Devils failed to kick on after Depay’s 11th-minute opener and were made to pay when Troy Deeney converted a penalty with three minutes left on the clock. However, Bastian Schweinsteiger ensured his side came away with the win thanks to a deflection by Deeney.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (centre) snatched three points at Watford with a deflection from Troy Deeney late on
Manchester United 0-0 PSV Eindhoven (November 25)
SNOOZE-O-METER: ZZZZZZZZZ
United are staring Champions League elimination in the face after failing to score against PSV. Lingard wasted their best chance of the match but again there was no real penetration throughout the 90 minutes.
Jesse Lingard (left) shows his frustration, echoed by Rooney (right) after missing a chance on Wednesday
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