It’s been another summer of change for Manchester United, with Louis van Gaal continuing his exodus of those he deems inadequate - in just over a year in charge, the Dutchman has overseen the sale of nearly 20 players - as well as five new additions to the first team squad.
What's changed?
After Danny Welbeck was sold to Arsenal last September, another fans favourite in Rafael left the club earlier this week, in a transfer window that has also seen the departures of star names such as Robin van Persie and Angel Di Maria; a clear indication that van Gaal has no place for sentiment when it comes to trimming down his squad.
In terms of new arrivals, over £80m has been spent but United will still go into the opening day of the season with no new centre back, Wayne Rooney as the only senior striker in the squad, and no resolution to the David De Gea transfer saga. The transfer window thus far has been one in which progress has been made, but the point of completion is still some way into the distance.
Nevertheless, there are five new faces in the Manchester United squad in the shape of Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sergio Romero, Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay. It could easily be argued and is probably very true that all five additions have added something new to the squad, qualities that United had been lacking - a goalscoring winger, for example, a deep-lying midfielder to supplement Michael Carrick - but there is definitely a sense of unfinished business.
No centre back has been signed, Rooney still has no real competition for his place up front and the creativity and speed that Di Maria provided still hasn’t been replaced. The Red Devils have been linked with Pedro, a player that would kill two birds with one stone due to his versatility allowing him to play effectively both on the wing and up front, and his capture would be a coup that would vastly improve United’s squad.
Strengths
Schneiderlin, one of the stand-out midfielders of the Premier League last season, and Schweinsteiger, who captained his country to the World Cup in 2014, have added some much needed depth to United in the centre of the park. With Marouane Fellaini also offering a different option with his strength and aggression, and Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick both having fines seasons last time around, Old Trafford may be witnessing United’s most complete group of central midfielders in years.
The pair of full backs also look solid, with Matteo Darmian coming in from Torino, an Italian international and a monumental upgrade on Antonio Valencia, and Luke Shaw with another year of experience under his belt on the other side. Having been plagued with injuries last season, Shaw will be eager to display the qualities that he showed at Southampton which earned him a move to the Red Devils on a regular basis. They both provide an attacking threat whilst remaining competent defensively, and Shaw’s blossoming friendship with Memphis Depay off the pitch will no doubt aid their partnership down the left flank.
In Depay, Manchester United have found a winger who can score consistently throughout the season, a trait the club have been lacking ever since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid in 2009. The Dutchman has a deadly shot up his sleeve as well as composure in front of goal, and can also be a threat from free kicks, much like his Portuguese idol. At the age of 21, Depay’s decision making naturally still needs work, but there are signs of promise that the ex-PSV man can make a huge impact at Old Trafford this season.
Having had a year to get used to van Gaal’s philosophy, United’s players will now be expected to carry out his wishes on a more regular basis. When using an incredibly organised and structured system such as van Gaal’s, it is understandable that players take time to adapt to their new methodical style of play, where each player must always know their next move before they receive the ball. Patience is starting to run thin, however, and it is expected that United will deliver what van Gaal wants and play more attractive passing football than what was on display last season. The players are certainly capable; it's now up to them to do the business on the pitch.
Weaknesses
Manchester United may have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but for how much longer? There’s very little doubt that David De Gea is irreplaceable, but his performances may not quite live up to those of last season if his head is not in the right place. Amidst speculation of an imminent move to Real Madrid, van Gaal has already said De Gea will not play in the opener against Tottenham Hotspur. Dragging this saga on won’t be beneficial to either the club or player, and a quick solution must be found if Manchester United do not want it to affect their season.
The defence in front of De Gea still seems shaky, with no new centre back brought in as of yet to strengthen the back line. The fact that Daley Blind is likely to start against Spurs says it all. A strong defence is often what a championship is built on - Chelsea’s back five remains by far the best in the league - and United’s lack of one may just be their downfall again this season.
With the departures of Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie this summer, Wayne Rooney is due some new competition for his spot up front. James Wilson is expected to play more of a role in the senior side this season, but van Gaal will probably still want a more experienced option to call upon if Rooney becomes unavailable.
From a more tactical outlook, Manchester United still lack the creative players to break down opposition teams who sit back; a problem which troubled the Red Devils last season. Whilst United can often exploit sides who offer space, their ability to find a solution against deep, compact teams is still questionable. Van Gaal’s system has often become predictable, with passes often being made for the sake of making passes, rather than to penetrate or disrupt the opposition’s positioning. United will need to add a bit more spark to their attack if they aren’t going to fire blanks against teams that ‘park the bus’.
The plan of lumping the ball towards Fellaini was probably used a bit too often for van Gaal’s likening last season, and the Dutch manager will try his best to steer away from that tactic as much as possible, instead playing a more aesthetically pleasing brand of football.
Summary
Louis van Gaal has now had a year to embed his philosophy into the players, and the fruits of his labour will hopefully show this season. The squad is now used to his style of play, a much more patient and possession-based approach than that of Sir Alex Ferguson, and will now be expected to deliver results on the pitch.
Much of United’s success this season will be decided in the upcoming final weeks of the transfer window. Keeping De Gea will be vital, whilst a replacement for Di Maria must also be found. If van Gaal addresses the areas he needs to in these next few weeks, Manchester United’s squad will be one of depth and quality; exactly what they need to be challenging on both a domestic and European front this season.
With so many new faces at Old Trafford - less than ten remain from the Ferguson era - it may take a while for the players to gel together, especially foreign arrivals who perhaps are not used to the unique pace of the Premier League.
At the end of the day, winning a league title is about points accumulation and consistency; not dropping points against ‘weaker’ teams too often. The squad is not quite complete and United may not have the grit or flash of magic to grind out results when performing badly. This season may be a little too early for winning the title, but there should definitely be more of a challenge for it than last season.
