Louis van Gaal Blasted by Jamie Redknapp for 'Laughable' Manchester United Moan

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp says he "almost laughed" upon hearing Louis van Gaal's assertion that Manchester United fail to possess a striker who can score 20 goals in a Premier League season.

Van Gaal's comments were reported by BBC Sport, prior to Wayne Rooney netting twice during the Red Devils' 2-0 win over Sunderland: "It is true. Robin van Persie cannot deny it, (Radamel) Falcao cannot deny it and Rooney is not playing there much anymore. At this moment, we don't have a striker who scores 20 goals."

While it seems Van Gaal was speaking with current form in mind—none of the aforementioned three have inspired this season—Redknapp turned to statistics to highlight the Dutchman's comments as ridiculous, as written in his Daily Mail column:

"

Rooney issued the perfect response on Saturday. I still don’t know why Van Gaal insists on playing him in midfield. In his career Rooney averages 18.8 goals a season. At United that figure is 20.6 goals. Still not good enough, Louis?

[...] His Premier League average is 14.1 a season but Alan Shearer, the league’s leading goalscorer, averaged 18.6. Using Van Gaal’s maths, even Shearer couldn’t get into this United team…

"

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Of course, Van Gaal knows his players are capable of netting 20 in a campaign. Van Persie scored 26 en route to the title in 2012-13, with Rooney tallying 27 in 2011-12 and one fewer during the 2009-10 campaign, per WhoScored.com. Falcao posted 28 and 24 during two separate La Liga seasons with Atletico Madrid, suggesting that when in form, he can reach the mark.

Yet "at this moment," as Van Gaal says, United don't flaunt a 20-goal striker. Nor do they possess someone who threatens to reach this total.

Rooney's two-goal haul against the Black Cats put him joint-closest alongside Van Persie at 10, but it's unlikely either will double their total in the final 11 games, particularly when United face Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the coming weeks.

Both Van Persie and Falcao have appeared weak this season, playing with their backs to goal and failing to break beyond the opposition's defence. This has led to a lack of chances being created—poor hold-up play halts the ball being spread wide and fired into the box—which causes a dangerous lack of creativity.

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Rooney has been a proven goalscorer his whole career, but the former Everton youngster's positioning in midfield forced him to ditch his aggressive attacking style. He appeared more occupied with helping United's defence before moving back up front, scoring his first goals in eight matches during the Sunderland win.

Van Gaal deployed two strikers and wingers against Gus Poyet's men—a traditional United formation—and saw a far better creative turn from his players, per Squawka:

So yes, United currently have three players within their squad who are capable of scoring 20 goals per season. None are likely to do so during Van Gaal's opening campaign, in which the manager continues to figure everything out. His best starting lineup remains debatable, as discussed by B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Sam Tighe:

Redknapp's comments are a call for Rooney to be given a consistent run up top. He has a point—the England captain is faster and more assertive than the club's others strikers—but Van Gaal's comments can't be taken literally. He knows better than most what these players are capable of, and indeed, is searching for ways to get the best out of each one.

United could use attacking investment during the summer—outright pace is certainly a must—an addition that may help one of the other strikers hit top form.