Not all of Manchester United’s summer signings have hit the ground running this year…
Manchester United spent in excess of £150m this summer on six signings aimed at rebuilding their squad following the unsuccessful David Moyes era and returning them to Champions League football.
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As can be expected, there have been some hits, and some misses so far. CaughtOffside evaluates those players progress so far:
6) Luke Shaw
Shaw needed a fast start to his Old Trafford career, in order to justify the near £30m fee Manchester United forked out to land him from Southampton. Unfortunately, the most expensive teenager of all-time is still yet to play a competitive game in United colours. A pre-season injury left him on the sidelines, while rumours of a lack of fitness and late night partying have not helped his cause. After being an unused substitute in United’s last two league games, he must be close to match ready. United’s defensive horror show against Leicester will surely mean he gets his chance in the near future.
Rating: D
5) Marcos Rojo
The Argentine defender was given an easy ride on his United debut against the hapless Queens Park Rangers, but he was exposed against Leicester City along with the rest of the Manchester defence. Admittedly, he was one of the better performing United defenders in the game, but no member of the back four came out of the game in credit as Jamie Vardy, a player who was playing non-league football three years ago, terrorised them throughout the second-half. The issue also remains that Rojo is, by trade, a left-back, and United face the possibility of only being able to play one of him and Shaw.
Rating: C
4) Daley Blind
Another player who was shown up by Premier League new-boys Leicester on Sunday. His steady influence over the first game and a half of his Manchester United career evaporated as Esteban Cambiasso rolled back the years and dominated midfield for the Foxes. Blind is a useful utility player for United, who should more than justify his £13.8m transfer fee over the course of a full season, but whether he is the deep lying playmaker / holding player United have been searching for is a very different question.
Rating: C+
3) Radamel Falcao
The Colombian forward showed flashes of his ability against Leicester. By the time he came on against QPR the game was already won, and he was able to enjoy an extremely comfortable debut. He got his chance from the start against the Foxes, and struck the bar early on with a fearsome shot. Falcao will undoubtedly score goals as the season progresses, but the major dilemma for United manager Louis van Gaal surround fitting into a team that also includes Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Rooney’s performances against Leicester suggester that he is not a long-term option in the number ten role, meaning that there are three players in two positions for United.
Rating: B-
2) Ander Herrera
A player that looks exceptionally good when things are going right, but struggles when the going gets tough. Against QPR, and for the first hour against Leicester, the Spaniard had everything his own way, and was deservedly rewarded with two goals. United fans were treated to similar performances in pre-season, when he turned in several dominant displays. But against Swansea on the opening day of the season, and again against Leicester, he was overwhelmed by the opposition taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
Rating: B
1) Angel di Maria
A sensational player who is already showing why Manchester United paid a British record transfer fee for him during the summer transfer window. The near £60m signing has already found the net twice, scoring against QPR before a goal of the season contender against Leicester. If he is going to play as part of midfield three, with another three player in front of him, he needs to work on his defending. It’s a difficult balance for United who will not want to restrict their star man’s attacking prowess, but cannot afford to have four out-and-out attacking players, with Rooney, Van Persie and Falcao also featuring.
Rating: A
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