Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay among 'a lot of discontented players' at Manchester United
Former defender Paul Parker questions the methods of Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal
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Your support makes all the difference.Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay are among those suffering under Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, according to Paul Parker.
The former Old Trafford defender has also suggested there are currently "a lot of discontented players" at the club.
Parker's comments come amid continued criticism of Manchester United's style of play under the Dutch manager, despite him leading the club back into the Champions League last term and the side currently sitting third in the table, one point behind leaders Manchester City.
The main cause of concern has been United's attack, which has often looked stilted and has produced fewer goals than any other side among the top five teams. It is two members of that attack, summer signings Martial and Depay, that Parker has identified in particular as suffering under Van Gaal.
"When Louis van Gaal arrived at United, I thought he ... would be flexible. But we now have a situation where there are a lot of discontented players and we have to question why they are playing badly," he wrote for Eurosport.
"I look at Martial and worry for him. He looks like a boy who doesn't smile anymore. He doesn't look like he's enjoying himself.
"The form Depay is showing hasn't just happened because he's playing in the Premier League. That boy probably feels like a scapegoat. He's in a country relatively close to where he's from, but feeling a million miles away."
Parker went on to elaborate on what he feels is wrong with Van Gaal's methods.
"Van Gaal puts the fear of God into players. It has to be his way. He selfishly manages the team. And no one enjoys it. He may be a successful manager, but he must learn – even at his age – to become a good man-manager.
"At the moment we have to say he's not man-managing that team. All those players he's got are not bad players, and they've not played negative football all their lives.
"He's being incredibly stubborn. Any player who doesn't conform to what he wants is chopped. He looks for a player who's made a mistake, then drops them for the next game."
Manchester United are next in action with a Premier League game against West Ham on Saturday.
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