For the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson walked off the sidelines at Old Trafford, Manchester United
went top of the table in the Premier League last weekend. Being top of
the league after seven rounds seemed stunning considering the turmoil
and mud flung the way of Louis van Gaal and the Red Devils over the past
couple seasons, but the manager is proving to be the right man for the
job.
So, is 2015-16 the season that Manchester United reclaims the Premier League trophy?
First of all, Van Gaal's
Manchester United is getting results despite not consistently playing
the most exciting, crisp or convincing brand of football. That is a
skill and one that should be commended. Champions tend to pick up points
when they shouldn't.
Over the first seven rounds, United won five and only lost one, and no team had more wins or fewer defeats. A defeat at Swansea City
is hardly an unforgivable result, though a draw with Newcastle did
cause a bit of head scratching. The Premier League regularly pulls out
odd results, though, and even Jose Mourinho and Chelsea recently drew against Newcastle.
In truth, United's title mettle has not yet been tested. Beating Tottenham and Liverpool at Old Trafford may sound like notable victories, but Spurs had struggled to get Harry Kane
scoring early in the season. Also, the Reds have been so dismal that
Liverpool likely has the paperwork on Brendan Rodgers' dismissal sitting
in the top drawer at the ready.
So far, Van Gaal has not exactly proven United's championship
credentials, as Ferguson's Manchester United sides would have expected
to win those two home games even in years when the title did not end up
at Old Trafford.
Still, Manchester United does
appear to have improved from the side that finished fourth a season ago.
The Red Devils appear to have found a young star in 19-year-old Anthony Martial,
who drew comparisons to Thierry Henry before arriving in England and
has four goals in his first three Premier League games. The young French
forward's smooth movements and clean finishing only prompt more
comparisons to Henry. Right now, Martial looks like he may have been
worth the absurd price United paid to get him.
United has earned a great deal
of criticism for its summer spending spree, but the additions appear to
all be paying off on the pitch. Beyond Martial, Memphis Depay
appears to be the real deal and one of the first names on United's team
sheet in any meaningful match. Matteo Darmain has helped bolster the
backline, and the fullback should be even more vital with the severe
injury recently sustained by Luke Shaw. Bastian Schweinsteiger came at a discount, and Morgan Schneiderlin was probably the most stable signing of the offseason.
United spent trucks full of
cash, and over the first seven rounds of the Premier League, that
massive investment best explains United's ascension to the top of the
table.
United's biggest deal was the one it didn't make in sending David De Gea to Real Madrid. (AFP Photo)
Ironically, Man United's best
bit of business may have actually been the transfer deadline day mess
with Real Madrid. Keeping David De Gea for the remainder of the season
quickly turned into extending the goalkeeper's contract. Sergio Romero,
who joined the team over the summer, proved to be a worthy deputy while
the Red Devils dealt with the De Gea drama, and the Argentine should
make for a decent backup.
De Gea, however, is a cut above. His performance late against
Southampton saved United two points, and the Spaniard provides the
necessary class and stability potential champions need behind the
backline.
Despite the strong start and the
success of the summer signings, crowning United champion after seven
rounds would have been severely sloppy. The next three rounds of the
Premier League, though, should provide greater insight into whether
United is for real or just lucky to be on top of a not so tall pile – at
Arsenal, at Everton and then home against Manchester City.
If Manchester United stays top
of the table after the aforementioned fixtures, it will go from a
surprise team off to a strong start to a legitimate title contender with
a view to the Premier League trophy.
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