Here’s what we found out from the Red Devils disappointing defeat in Wales…
Manchester United’s luck finally ran out as they sank to a 2-1 defeat against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium after weeks of poor performances.
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United had been on a hot run of form, having only lost one of their previous 19 games before heading into this match.
However, Louis van Gaal’s have been incredibly lucky during that streak with insipid performance after insipid performance.
And after the buck finally stopped in their defeat to the Swans, here’s five harsh realities United fans will now have to accept:
Robin van Persie may need replacing
You can hardly undervalue the worth of van Persie in his debut season for Manchester United, his goals the driving force behind a spectacular final title for Sir Alex Ferguson.
But this season, something seems to have changed in the striker.
The addition of his good friend and truster mentor Louis van Gaal at the helm of United should surely have galvanised the forward but if anything it seems to have worsened him.
His lack of pace both physically and mentally is a worry as is his inability to get his head around United’s system or be on the same wavelength of his teammates.
The Radamel Falcao experiment has failed
Speaking of misfiring United strikers, van Persie runs him close but perhaps no-one have fallen further in people’s estimations than Radamel Falcao.
After arriving with such anticipation and hope for the Colombian, the United faithful have seen the dream almost collapse in-front of their eyes with Falcao surely returning to parent club AS Monaco in the summer in disgrace.
His hooking against Preston North End after just an hour perhaps his nadir as a Red Devil.
Man United haven’t progressed this season
Like the opening game of the season, United were beaten by seriously lesser opposition in Swansea and now for the first time in both team’s histories, the Swans did the double over the Red Devils.
It was 2-1 in August and it was 2-1 again in February and this despite a ridiculous amount of money spent by Louis van Gaal in the interim.
Just how has the Dutch coach improved Manchester United, where is the attacking flair, the passion?
Are things better than they were under David Moyes? Really?
Marouane Fellaini is not a forward
The Belgian is not a forward who should no be leading the Manchester United line. Granted the Red Devils have striking troubles, clearly as mentioned above, but the solution is surely not Fellaini.
Against Swansea his personal highlights were foul after foul, a yellow card and at one point he attempted to beat Ashley Williams for pace and failed.
Sure he might get them goals against the likes of Preston when he is afforded the space – and the ability to foul – but he is not a Manchester United standard striker and his continual use upfront just says more about Louis van Gaal’s incredulous tactics.
But…United look like they could improve
After a particular poor first seven months in charge for van Gaal, the move for Ander Herrera’s opener proves they can play good football when it clicks.
United attacking players all combined to create the goal showing that if van Gaal can somehow get them all on the same wavelength on a more continuous basis, the Red Devils could be the attacking side we all know.
But don’t hold your breath…