COMMENT: No matter your opinion of Louis van Gaal, he doesn't deserve this. And Manchester United shouldn't allow it.

MUTV are now treading a very fine line. It broke on the morning of the derby that United's official TV channel had ripped up their policy of not criticising their managers. Now, ex-players would be encouraged to openly question Van Gaal's methods.

David May, the former defender, kicked it off, declaring he was "fed up" with the "boring" 0-0 first-half scorelines of Van Gaal's team and urged the manager to attack Manchester City. It was all pretty reasonable. There was nothing personal in May's criticism. But where does the line begin and end for MUTV?

The Mail on Sunday report suggested those at the pointy end of MUTV were "unafraid" to be "scathing" in their appraisal of Van Gaal and his squad.

Now, we can talk about free speech and the freedom of the media. But with that freedom comes responsibility. And in MUTV's case their responsibility should be protecting the dignity of Manchester United - and also their fellow employees. Any great media company has as part of their ethos that 'you don't shoot inside your own tent'. And when it comes to media and a sporting club, such a principle should be paramount.

MUTV, if a line isn't set, will effectively be allowing employees to turn on eachother - and for the whole world to witness.

Given the way United's campaign has panned out. And the emotional rollercoaster United's support has endured, it is easy to envision a MUTV with daily criticism of LVG from ex-players. It could become incessant. Unrelenting. But would it be fair?

Those inside the studio would argue 'yes'. Their position is understandable. As much as they have a loyalty to the club, they also have an obligation to their viewers and paying subscribers. If United fans are upset and angry with the manager, then of course this should be reflected on MUTV, right?

But, why does it have to begin and end with Van Gaal? Why is he the lone scapegoat for United's slide since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement?

What about the state of the academy? Can we talk about that? Can we have underpaid youth coaches on air talking about trying to scrape money together for bibs and balls? What about those mooted (or should that be muted?) 15 per cent pay-cuts across every department - apart from the first team? Can we get someone on to discuss that?

How about Ed Woodward, the vice-chairman exec, and his work in the transfer market? Or whether the club captain really deserves to be the highest paid? Or whether some players aren't performing as they should because of their behaviour away from the club? Can we chat about that? They're all issues that effect the first team. All issues worthy of debate and of interest to MUTV's subscribers. It would make great TV. A commercial success. So why must the line stop at Van Gaal?

Well, you get the drift.

There's good people at MUTV. Passionate United fans. And this shift in policy regarding the manager is understandable. But he's already a dead man walking. We know, come the end of the season, he'll either jump or be pushed. The justified anger and frustration from United's grassroots support isn't going away. And the media will continue to scrutinise every move he makes in the final months of his United career.

MUTV don't need to pile on. May was good in his pre-match analysis, talking up the club's playing traditions and his own frustrations. It was good TV.

But MUTV shouldn't push the line any further. Louis van Gaal should be allowed to fulfil his final months at Manchester United without the humiliation of being criticised from within.

It would reflect poorly on the club if the last memories of Van Gaal's management career were him arguing with fellow United employees.

INJURY TIME

Will David de Gea be lost to Real Madrid in the summer. Today, at this time, don't bet on it.

For the moment, the buzz amongst some European-based intermediaries is that a new goalkeeper isn't on Manchester United's agenda. Genoa's Mattia Perin has been mentioned. As has Inter Milan No1 Samir Handanovic. But Tribalfootball.com has been informed if De Gea was planning to return to Madrid, we'd be hearing more about United's pursuit of a replacement.

Jose Mourinho, a former keeper himself, insists upon having his goalkeeping stocks settled before anything else. If De Gea had a foot outside Old Trafford, the Portuguese would be across it. After all, they share the same agent - Jorge Mendes.

And rather than focus on a goalscoring centre-forward - talks continue with the brother of Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, as Tribalfootball.com's Emanuele Giulianelli has been reporting - United's manager-elect would be pursuing a new, experienced goalkeeper signing. A pursuit that would make its way, in one form or another, to the public arena.