Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal will be under-pressure to help the Red Devils to finish in the Champions League places this season
As we all know Manchester United strengthened their squad heavily in the last few weeks of the transfer window.
The new signings have given everybody connected with United hope that their team could make a quick recovery from last season’s poor campaign.
Needed
The Manchester United squad that finished last season was nowhere near good enough for a club with the stature of United.
The Red Devils had got by with mediocre players in the past few seasons simply because of Sir Alex Ferguson’s sheer force of personality and man-management.
Last season’s boss United David Moyes did not quite have the same effect on the team, as they uncharacteristically struggled to win games both home and away. Their performances at Old Trafford were a particular concern.
Major reinforcements were needed and Dutch boss Louis van Gaal was handed a major transfer kitty this summer. The veteran boss has not wasted any time in spending it. United have not made a habit of bringing in big names in recent years, but this summer that has changed.
The arrivals of Argentinian playmaker Angel Di Maria and Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is seen as a statement of intent from United. Both players are world-class performers, which United lacked last season.
Expectations
The new signings have raised expectations at Old Trafford for this season. United have started the season with a defeat and two draws away from home. United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has stated that United have budgeted to finish in the top three in the Premier League this season.
Winger turned wing-back Ashley Young has warned people not to write-off United this season telling Inside United: “In previous seasons when we haven’t started the season so well we’ve gone on to win the league,”
“People have written us off already but everyone here knows you don’t write off a club like United.
Time
United’s starting line-up has a number of new players in it and they will take time to gel as a team unit, despite the standard of player that has arrived at Old Trafford this summer. The likes of Di Maria, Falcao, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind will all have to become adjust to a new league.
The Premier League is likely to be a major step-up for Rojo and Blind, who have been playing in Portugal and Holland respectively. However both players have experience of playing European football and the pair both played for their countries at the World Cup.
Di Maria and Falcao should have enough quality to make the transition to life in the English top-flight with relative ease, despite the difference in tempo in the Premier League from La Liga and Ligue One.
Strength
United now have one of the most dangerous attacking units in the Premier League. Strikers Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao will have the supply of the likes of Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera.
The strongest area of the United team is no doubt their attack, if Van Gaal can fit all his best players into one team they should score a lot of goals.
Weakness
The loss of experienced centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand this summer left a big hole in the United defence. Van Gaal has brought in defenders Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, but United are still considered to be relatively weak at centre-back.
Blind and Rojo can both play in a number of positions, but at the moment it looks like Blind will be utilised as a defensive midfielder, while Rojo is likely to be the left-side centre-back in Van Gaal’s favoured formation of 3-5-2.
Whether United’s defence will be solid enough this season remains to be seen, but they will have to improve upon last season’s defensive displays that is for sure.
Competition
Competition for a place in the top four of the Premier League seems stiffer than ever. Seven teams are looking to finish in the top four and seven into four does not go. Three teams will miss out on those four Champions League places.
Chelsea and Manchester City are seen as title challengers and it seems almost inevitable that they will claim Champions League spots this season. Liverpool and Arsenal have to be considered outsiders for the title.
Then there are the likes of Everton and Tottenham, who perennially finished around the top six or seven positions in the top-flight. United have a major fight on their hands to claim a spot in Europe’s elite competition.
Achievement
After United finished seventh last season, a place in the top four in the Premier League would be an achievement this season, despite the big money spent. Louis van Gaal needs time to implement his ideas and the new players need time to settle.
I am sure most Manchester United fans are more optimistic about their team’s chances of success this season after their big money arrivals.
A top four finish this season would not be the end of the world for United and it would mean Champions League football next season, which is a must for a club the size of Manchester United.
Should Manchester United be happy with finishing in the top four this season?
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