Manchester United have already showed encouraging signs during pre-season…
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5) Ashley Young has a future with the club
When a new manager comes in, there will almost always be at least one player – left out in the wilderness by the previous regime – who is given a fresh lease of life by the new setup. That man appears to be Ashley Young, who has had an excellent pre-season campaign.
With his apparent willingness to be used as a wing-back, as well as in his traditional attacking role, he has become a useful utility option for Louis van Gaal – a factor which has seemingly convinced him to give the England man a second chance for a successful Old Trafford career. While he may not prove to be a regular starter next season, he has certainly shown that he has the ability to deliver when called upon.
4) Louis van Gaal favours the use of wing-backs
It seems that Louis van Gaal will stick with his policy of using wing-backs, in either a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation. This philosophy served him well at the World Cup, helping the Netherlands to a third place finish – with their solitary defeat at the hands of Argentina coming in a penalty shoot-out.
He already has the players at his disposal to implement such a strategy. Rafael and Luke Shaw will be the obvious choices, but the United boss now knows that he will also be able to deploy Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young in the same roles.
3) United are in far better hands than under David Moyes
It’s hard not to feel sorry for David Moyes, because following Sir Alex Ferguson was always going to be the impossible job. In hindsight, there was always likely to be a transitional, interim manager that came in and made things easier for the man that followed on after him.
United did their best to back Moyes, spending in excess of £60m on Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, but for all his success at Everton, the Scotsman just did not have the ability to succeed at the very top level this time around.
The majority now believe that United have appointed the right man – an experienced, seasoned campaigner who can help mould his assistant Ryan Giggs into a potential successor. He commands the respect of the fans, the players, and the opposition, and with that he will help attempt to make Old Trafford a fortress once again.
2) Ander Herrera is an excellent signing
There were understandable concerns, if only muted ones, when United splashed out almost £30m on a 24-year-old midfielder who is yet to win a cap at international level for Spain, and has limited experience playing in European competitions, with only 17 Europa League appearances to his name thus far.
However, from day one he helped calm those fears with his thoroughly impressive performances. He had a hand in all seven of United’s goals in their rout of LA Galaxy, and has showed plenty more potential during the club’s US Tour. He really could be the playmaker United have been waiting on for the last few years.
1) United are probably still in need of two further additions
Everyone will have their own thoughts as to how many new signings United need to mount a title challenge this coming season, or even to regain their place in the top four. But they certainly look at least two players light at this stage.
The club has been pursuing a midfield partner for Ander Herrera throughout the summer, with their seemingly never ending pursuit of Arturo Vidal still no closer to completion. Following the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, they also look in need of a new centre-half.
While Louis van Gaal has commented that he is happy with his current squad, following the additions of Herrera and Luke Shaw, he will almost certainly have to expand on his defensive ranks which currently include just Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans.