Manchester United are on a terrible run of only 3 wins in 13 games and they are in danger of going winless for 6 games in a row for the first time since 1999 (when they went on to win the treble by the way) – but I don’t think that is an option this time around but it does show how quickly the fortunes of a team can change around.

Louis Van Gaal went through a few sticky patches last season but ultimately he secured Champions League qualification and he seemed to be stabilising the team. Moving forward six months and after some massive expenditures on the transfer market it is hard to see any improvement and in fact you could easily argue that the team has much less attacking depth, on paper has a better midfield but this is yet to show itself on the field and that the defensive unit has been a massive surprise especially with the numerous injuries but sadly that has lost form badly over the miserable 13 game run.

For the next 4 games United face Stoke City away (always a tough fixture); Chelsea away (given Guus Hiddink’s arrival) this game looks much tougher than if Jose Mourinho was still in charge; Swansea City home (a game where the Swans are playing for Premier League survival and to impress an incoming manager plus United have lost 3 of the past 4 games against the Welsh side) and finally a FA Cup 3rd round tie vs cross-penines rivals Sheffield United in a roses clash where the Blades will really fancy an upset.

So LVG will have his work cut out for him to get results and the 4 fixtures are as tough as they get given United’s form and their lack of fire-power. United are the 15th most creative team in the Premier League and despite their incredibly high possession rates in games (they had 70% vs Norwich City on the weekend but only got 2 shots on target one of which went in). United just do not create enough genuine goal-scoring chances and their possession statistic is toothless as it poses little to no danger.

LVG needs to start with a win over Stoke and Martial should be the centre forward and Rooney just behind. After that we will move our focus onto Chelsea and deliver a flawless performance and the same will be needed vs Swansea and they simply cannot afford to get knocked out of the FA Cup – I think sadly it would mean curtains for Louis. Sheffield Unitd always raise their game when they play Man United so it will be a tough physical affair where Man United will be facing a team with nothing to lose.

It seems such as shame as after watching Van Gaal’s Dutch side in in the World Cup I though he would bring a good brand of football to United and at stages he did particularly last season but increasingly this season the football has flattered to deceive and United fans are starting to lose patience.

United are not the kind of club to make sudden moves but if United lose the next 4 games would Ed Woodward fire LVG and replace him with Jose Mourinho or negotiate a deal to bring Pep Guardiola to Old Trafford in the summer? Two massive possible moves but somehow I think LVG’s record, experience and the fact that the season has not totally hit the skids will allow him to survive through Christmas and most likely through to the end of his contract at least because he is no quitter but a winless Christmas might be a different story.