I've got a book on football management and another one on dutch football and van Gaal is seen as a man who is a stickler for keeping the Rinus Michels philosophy going, is a huge believer in player development, not just at youth level but that a seasoned professional can always improve. And is a stern taskmaster who, like Mazrim says, does not suffer fools lightly.
He is also a man who believes in the ethos, image and feel of a club, from top to bottom.
I would be extremely chuffed if we got him, but I think we would have a player mutiny on our hands. If they felt that Houllier was strict, then boy would they be in for a shock with this fella!