Manchester United had an almost faultless pre-season campaign. Not only did they beat some of Europe's strongest sides, but they also bought in two exciting players in Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera for a combined fee of around £60 million. Things were looking good, and the talk around the red side of Manchester was that Louis Van Gaal was going to patch over the cracks left by David Moyes' poor performance in charge of United the season before.
With the buzz being generated by fans and media alike, one would be forgiven for thinking that United's opener to Swansea City at Old Trafford would end in an emphatic victory for Van Gaal's side. So when the game finished 2-1 to the visitors, courtesy of a Gylfi Sigurdsson winner in the second half, many fans were left shocked. The talk of a new chapter at Manchester United was immediately questioned.
The next challenge for Van Gaal was a trip to the Stadium of Light, to face Gus Poyet's Sunderland. This fixture last season will be remembered by many for Adnan Januzaj's fantastic display, scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory. This time around, however, there was nothing for either set of fans to savour. A dire 1-1 draw, which left United on just 1 point after two games, and a large portion of United fans began to talk down their chances of even qualifying for Europe this season.
At this point, the best thing for United should have been a nice and simple cup match against weaker opposition, and quite conveniently, they had exactly that. A trip to Milton Keynes to face the MK Dons, two divisions below them, and an opportunity for Van Gaal to get his first competitive win on the board, and restore some confidence among the United fans.
Now, for one reason or another, Van Gaal fielded a very weak side against the Dons, handing starts to some of their inexperienced youth, while leaving out game changers such as Rooney and Van Persie. This proved to be a costly decision, as at the final whistle, it was the MK Dons faithful who were celebrating victory over the 2008 Champions League winners. But it wasn't a lucky 'snatch-and-grab' victory for the Dons. It was an emphatic 4-0 victory, which sent shockwaves over the footballing world, and after just 3 games, Van Gaal's side looked battered, bruised, and completely demotivated.
So, after a draw and two losses, things are currently looking uncertain for Manchester United. What they really need is an injection of talent into the side, talent which are able to win points and restore confidence into the side. Luckily, the war chest which United possess is seemingly endless, and in the past few weeks, World Cup finalists Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo have both joined the side.
In most cases, a side containing Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria, Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata shouldn't struggle for goals, and shouldn't be losing too many games, either. However, in one way, these big players are taking the attention away from the faults in the team. For one, the defence which United have lacks both depth and genuine quality. Luke Shaw has fitness issues, as do Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Rafael, whereas Jonny Evans is inconsistent, and Marcos Rojo could take a while to adapt to the new environment. What's worse is that the replacements for these players are scarce; Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard have both been used in defensive positions in the Premier League already, and they're simply not Premier League standard.
The midfield also has it's weak points, too. Going forward, there isn't a problem. It's when they're required to track back that they may struggle. Ander Herrera isn't the type of midfielder to win the ball back, and Tom Cleverley... Well, he's just Tom Cleverley. Michael Carrick is another option, but he's not what he was a few seasons ago, and injuries look to be getting to him now.
The current Manchester United side certainly lacks balance. As they commonly say, forwards win you games, whereas defenders win you titles, and I'm not convinced that United's defensive options are competent enough. Compare them to their Europa League rivals, Tottenham and Everton, and you'll find that both of these teams have well balanced squads, while also having depth, and it's safe to say that United lack both of these qualities.
It's only early days so far. Nobody can rule out anything at this stage. However, unless United work hard before the transfer window closes to bring in defensive quality, to bring balance and depth to the side, it looks as though Van Gaal's side may be set for another season without European football at the end of it.
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