Beyond the hyperbole of a summer transfer window – usually taken as gospel to act as a barometer extraordinaire of the season to come, Louis van Gaal looks to be creating a fearsome squad, capable of competing both domestically and in Europe.
It was a campaign that will be remembered for its improvement, but also of regrets after failing in both domestic cup competitions. Manchester United’s form hit a crescendo in April, but wained after securing fourth spot. Depending on who was asked, it was a season that promised very little, or the lofty heights of a league title, such was the optimism after a spending spree after the World Cup,
But despite the acquisitions of Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind, United still have a threadbare feel in defence. Jonny Evans may have played his final game for the club, as Chris Smalling and the unfashionable Phil Jones have moved ahead of the Northern Irishman in the pecking order. Considering his nine years with the club, a six-match ban for spitting is, in terms of impending departures, as acrimonious as can be when the defenders contributions are to be carefully considered in the years to come. Quite rough on a player that has three Premier League winners medals.
Evans has polarised opinion throughout his tenure at the club, as has David De Gea, at least he did, before maturing into one of the world’s best goalkeepers.
The Spaniard may indeed leave the club for the never-ending lure of what must be some sort of footballer’s Disneyland, Real Madrid. The stutters in form seen in the Spaniard’s early years, will be forgotten in favour of single-handedly keeping United in, and winning, many games if it is to be his penultimate season. Everton and Liverpool at home, as well as Arsenal away, stick in the memory bank.
Victor Valdes may prove to be a worthy replacement. The Spaniard is a born winner, and apart from being an excellent sweeper-keeper, his leadership qualities were a crucial facet of the trophy-laden era he experienced at Barcelona.
Although, a serious knee injury sustained against Celta Vigo in March 2014 saw the custodian go without first team football for the next 304 days – before the 33-year-old made his first-team debut in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on May 17th.
The issues for the club to deal with are more plentiful than a fourth placed Premier League finish may suggest. Angel Di Maria struggled in his quest to hold down a regular starting berth – something that the Dutchman’s tactics, particularly in the winter months , did not help. The club famed, at least in England, for enterprising, progressive football bordering on reckless abandon, consistently found itself stifled by deep-lying defences and the Old Trafford crowd grew increasingly reckless.
In van Gaal’s attempts to protect the back four, his instructions to play diagonal passes to United’s neither quick, nor overly tall forward line led to creative players like Angel Di Maria completely bypassed.
The club is in a position to correct its style in the summer transfer window. The shrewd early business of securing Memphis Depay, and heavily rumoured arrivals of Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Nicolas Ottamendi would all help to reinforce the squad’s most obvious needs ahead of the upcoming campaign.
[interaction id=”556c78af84caec334b169650″]
Chelsea know the challenge of retaining a Premier League crown and are certain to strengthen the squad, as will Arsenal, while Manchester City are set to revamp their ageing list.
Whatever is to be made of the 2014/15 campaign, it will be remembered as the one that kicked off the post-Ferguson era. If for only a small-scale purple match in the latter months of the campaign, United, regained its fearsome aura.
While attractive, successful football was merely hoped for in van Gaal’s maiden season, it will be expected in the years to come.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
