It may not always feel like it, after early season results that have made even David Moyes look good, but Manchester United are beginning to bring their next great team together.
There are still obvious deficiencies in midfield and defence. But it will be much easier and fairer to assess the seriousness of the problem when Louis van Gaal has a full squad to pick from. The 10 injuries that his squad is currently suffering dwarfs any other injury list in the league. And most of the absentees are defenders and midfielders.
What we can say with some confidence is that, for this season at least, there are now 6 players who will play every week barring injury or suspension. Louis van Gaal recently stated that only his goalkeeper and captain are invulnerable to being dropped. But we think that United’s strongest XI is coming into sharp focus and 6 players will form the backbone of LvG’s assault on domestic and European success over the next three years.
David De Gea
Has been a little shaky at times this season, in terms of dominating his area when under serious bombardment. But serious doubts about this guy were extinguished a long time ago. He’s going to be the Spanish number one for a long time when he finally gets the gloves and he’s been largely immaculate for Manchester United over the last 18 months. Like a cat with glue on his paws, De Gea has the agility, handling and reflexes to succeed at the top. Like a top class wicket keeper, he holds onto everything and his distribution is superb. At 23 he’s already one of the top 5 keepers in the world.
Luke Shaw
After just one game for Manchester United, and with Rafa da Silva taking most of the man of the match plaudits against West Ham, you might imagine it foolish to suggest that this guy is undroppable. Indeed, some have implied that LvG doesn’t rate the 19 year old.
But we always felt that once he got his debut he’d be hard to shift. Rafa has many qualities – tenacity, dynamism and technique – and should keep his place on the right. He’s an excellent player but may never completely rid his game of the moments of madness that let Leicester back into the game at The King Power Stadium.
But Shaw was always going to be a more dependable out and out defender. He had an understated game against West Ham but he was still United’s most solid defender. In times of defensive uncertainty Shaw will soon become the first name on Louis’s team sheet.
Angel di Maria
What a start to his United career. If used correctly he can offer the sort of penetration that United have lacked since Ronny left in 2009.
Wayne Rooney
Has definitely lost some of that explosive pace which allowed him to get away from defenders in his earlier career. But Rooney still has the best technique of any English player and expect him to excel at the tip of the midfield diamond from now on – the perfect successor to Scholes and still Manchester United’s talisman.
Robin van Persie
He still seems a little off the pace physically but he’s back in the goalscoring groove and should remain a certain starter in this campaign at least. Guarantees 20 goals a season when fit.
Radamel Falcao
Hasn’t yet scored for United but has two assists and you can see his quality and hunger to succeed. Like RvP he clearly lives for the game and it won’t be long before he’s banging the goals in for Manchester United. A true force of nature.
Manchester United fans: are any of these players droppable?
