A Clockwork Oranje: Louis van Gaal's method of madness

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Krul-ty, at it’s absolute best.

Louis van Gaal once said, “ Louis van Gaal has nothing more to learn.” This self admission by the Dutch manager reminds us that the line between method and madness is always paper-thin within van Gaal's mind. Lauded and lynched in equal measure, the opinion on the Dutch manager will always baffle all who face his teams.

His uncompromising practicality and unfathomable genius have been a cornerstone for the Oranje since their embarassing Euro 2012 exit. If van Gaal is to truly enter the league of legends, a World Cup victory would more than cement his place in the upper echelons of World footballing history.

His meticulous forward planning, has influenced the two greatest managers of today- Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho. His faith in youth has uncovered someone of the game's brightest and best, yet his time in charge of the Netherlands national team has remained his biggest stumbling block.

After failing to guide them to the 2002 World Cup, van Gaal was unceremoniously sacked. Ten years down, he got his shot at redemption as he was entrusted with a broken squad, rife with more than a few big egos.

Two years down the line, he finds himself at the brink of a final at the Maracana and a two-year undefeated streak to further.

Ability to adapt

van Gaal however didn't rely on his past achievements to get this far in the tournament. He did what every organism does in the face of change- adapt. Without his anchor Kevin Strootman, van Gaal not only changed his approach, but completely changed the way the Dutch played. The total football brand that the Oranje had gained fame for, gave way to an unorthodox 5-3-2. The results however, were far from expected.

An inexperienced back five, a makeshift midfield and an aging attack all defied logic as the Dutch coasted through the group and battled their way to the final four.

Such a performance has come with roadblocks aplenty. Losing at least one vital player each game, van Gaal has had to make more than a few good calls to get his side this far. The decision to sub off his captain for someone who hadn’t seen a lot of playing time (Huntelaar), proved every bit the masterstroke that king Louis das been famed for. All those however pailed in comparison to what unfurled int he quarter finals.

The fearlessness to take risks

The decision to bring on a substitute keeper, solely for penalties is not one that is very common. Louis van Gaal however wasn't managing a faltering '86 Ghana, and his confidence exemplified that aspect. Despite having keeper Michel Vorm, a man titled the "Penalty Killer" , van Gaal fielded a man who had never played a single tournament game for the Dutch.

The genius however came from van Gaal's ruthless implementation of the brilliance. Having planned it out previously, van Gaal stuck to the first rule of a good secret- Tell as few people as possible. So much so that the most important figure, Jasper Cillissen, was left blissfuly uninformed.

Revealing his belief that Krul would do better at saving spot kicks, van Gaal took the most massive gamble this tournament has seen so far. Yet, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Krul worked every single angle and proved the hero his manager had gambled on him being, by diving right each way as he saved 2 out of 5 penalties.

Absolute trust between manager and players

van Gaal’s system relies on unending faith between both manager and player. Though this tactic has rubbed off the wrong way on some of the world's greatest talents, it's the same ruthlessness that has ensure that the Dutch remain as one solid unit, functioning like clockwork.

The reliance on Robin and Robben weened into a reliance on the latter, which has dissolved into simple faith in formation.The oranje engine is admittedly running out of steam at a crucial moment, but when all else fails, Van Gaal proves that he is most decisive member of this Clockwork Oranje.

The Argentine effort may well be Messi +10, but it is still churning out the every single result. Van Gaal will have his work cut out for him, but as long as their is an iota of extraordinary within his mind, the Maracana has every chance of being painted Oranje.