Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace: Takeaways from Louis Van Gaal's Presser

Louis van Gaal claims Manchester United's dismal start to the 2014-15 season makes him feel "lousy" in the eyes of the fans. The Red Devils have won just three of 10 Premier League games and are currently languishing in 10th place.

That's left underperforming boss Van Gaal turning to mea culpas during the presser ahead of his team's game against Crystal Palace, per Manchester Evening News reporter Paul Pycroft: "It is not good enough. I feel lousy for the fans and the board."

Van Gaal can justify feeling down in the dumps when considering the way his new-look team has limped through the start of the new season. Despite spending vast sums on a host of marquee stars, such as playmaker Angel Di Maria and striker Radamel Falcao, the Reds have floundered.

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In the process, Van Gaal's star-studded squad has wasted a comfortable run of league fixtures. Even while rivals Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have been stumbling, United have been unable to capitalise.

The Red Devils have lost to Swansea City, Leicester City and their local rivals, while drawing against Burnley, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Chelsea.

A host of injuries hasn't helped but a typically defiant Van Gaal is claiming he won't play the blame game, per Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst:

Trying to get the fans on his side is probably a smart ploy from a manager who hasn't yet lived up to his considerable billing. After last season's seventh-placed finish under David Moyes, the arrival of a coach who has won with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich was supposed to change United's fortunes.

The Van Gaal reputation was enhanced still further by reaching the semi-final stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands. During the presser, Van Gaal claimed that despite poor results, United fans still believe in his work, particularly his team's attacking potential, per Manchester United's official Twitter feed:

But problems in defence, due to both injuries and lack of talent, have blighted most of Van Gaal's plans at Old Trafford.

The former concern isn't likely to be eased after centre-back Chris Smalling earned a suspension thanks to getting sent off in United's recent 1-0 derby loss to City. Fellow centre-back Marcos Rojo, a Van Gaal summer signing, left that game on a stretcher after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

In his presser, Van Gaal offered a bleak update on Rojo's status, per Pycroft:

"

Marcos dislocated his shoulder but did it in positive way. We don't need to operate on him, which is a relief, but maybe with this injury it is very difficult that it shall not happen again. That is the problem. Yesterday evening, he saw a specialist. For him, it was positive. Always with these injuries, I cannot change that. The human body has been made by God, not by me. Conservatively, it can be less than six weeks. If we have to operate, 12 weeks.

"

To make matters worse, Van Gaal confirmed to MUTV (via the club's Twitter feed) that right-back Rafael da Silva has joined the never-ending list of defensive injuries:

That could stretch United's already threadbare resources to the breaking point. It will certainly require some masterful reshuffling from Van Gaal. However, Manchester Evening News reporter Rob Dawson has detailed how the manager won't have much to choose from when he sets a back four to face Palace:

Dawson has added solid youngster Tyler Blackett to that collection of options, but that doesn't alter the fact that in terms of experience and quality, United are seriously lacking defensively.

Further forward, Van Gaal had an interesting note about Falcao's early struggles, per Pycroft:

"

The problem for Falcao is because of balance in the game. I had to change, he came in and assisted a goal. Then in training he was injured. I cannot judge now because he is injured and I changed him not because of his performance but because of the balance of the team, which is much more important than the individual.

"

Like Van Gaal, Falcao has so far failed to live up to his reputation at United. He has scored just once since joining the Reds, per WhoScored.com. Keeping the 28-year-old healthy has been a problem.

United need to get Falcao firing. At his best, the Colombian ace is among the deadliest finishers in Europe. With Falcao in that form, this is a different team.

Van Gaal's latest presser was all about asking for time and understanding; however, United fans may not have the patience Van Gaal says they'll need.

The Dutchman stressed how the road to recovery will be a long one, per BBC Sport: "The process shall take more than one year; it shall take three years."

Given his name and the money spent, many might have hoped, or even expected, a quicker turnaround.