Worst run of form for years- and no sign of improvement

I hate to say it but Louis van Gaal has to go.

He's been a man under pressure for many weeks now and has now seemingly lost the players, if the Boxing Day debacle at Stoke is anything to go by.

Van Gaal has not been helped by the fact that too many players are either out of form or not good enough but when the players stop even working hard and putting a shift in, then you have to think the players have lost belief in his methods.

I think we need a managerial change- for fresh impetus and ideas if nothing else.

Juan Mata is a superb footballer and a player I am a massive fan of but he has been anonymous in recent weeks and is too lightweight when we play teams such as Stoke.

His other creator in chief, fellow Spaniard Ander Herrera, is also a fantastic player whom I rate highly but his performance in the second half at Norwich and at Stoke today were his worst in a United shirt.

Phil Jones is too reckless, Marouane Fellaini offers little and remains unconvincing whilst Daley Blind's positioning and lack of mobility lets him down too often, and then there's Memphis.

You cannot account for individual errors and it's unfair to hold him responsible for the defeat, but his error proved fatal and capped the latest in a series of underwhelming showings.
He arrived at Old Trafford with a large price tag and high expectation, but has looked anything but the pacy, skillful and clinical finisher we saw for PSV last season. 

Anthony Martial has also suffered a dip in form but can be excused because of his young age, but the fact that so many players are off the pace at the same time are only adding to Van Gaal's problems.

What is inexcusable and unacceptable however, is the meek manner in which the team accepted defeat.
The very hallmark of the club is the refusal to give in, to always put in 100% effort and play with a swagger, a desire and a passion befitting of the swashbuckling sides of days gone by.

Wearing the United shirt should be an honour: instead it is looking like an irrefutable burden.

The Dutchman is not being helped by the attitude- or lack thereof- of his players- but his job as their manager is to ensure they are motivated and proud to play for the club.

They owe it to the fans but instead most of this team are simply not giving enough.