With all the money that has been splashed out at Old Trafford in recent transfer windows, the pressure is now well and truly on for Manchester United to deliver throughout the 2015/16 campaign. Louis van Gaal simply has to see the results come flooding in this term, as the time for excuses has certainly come and gone.
When any side spends as much as the Red Devils have done in the Premier League, the players ultimately have to hit the ground running when they get out on the pitch – for if they don’t – the entire organisation of the club’s transfer policy has to be called into question.
Although many big names from within the English footballing community are labelling this a clear transitional phase in the history of the club, the 2015/16 season nonetheless has the potential to successfully make, or devastatingly break, Louis van Gaal’s side in the upcoming future.
So then, in order to steer clear of any further disappointment the English top-flight has to offer, here are five clear objectives Manchester United must see through in order to potentially lift the Premier League title sooner rather than later…
Sign a centre-forward
Even though Manchester United have already spent a rather ridiculous amount in recent transfer windows, the club still haven’t properly addressed their severe lack of fire-power in the striking department as of yet.
Without replacing Robin van Persie up-top at Old Trafford this term, Louis van Gaal will be simply left short of options – and as the first two games of the Premier League season have so far proved – also short of goals.
As it currently stands, the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez remain the only recognised striking options currently available for their manager, so a player of Karim Benzema’s class certainly wouldn’t go amiss down at Old Trafford before the summer transfer window eventually slams shut.
Yes, the newly acquired Memphis Depay will likely start making an impact at Manchester United in the not too distant future, but without a clear centre-forward in place to do the business for the Red Devils this season, the club simply won’t return to their winning ways any time soon.
Bring in some defensive back-up
Even if Manchester United were to successfully land a popular centre-forward ahead of the upcoming campaign this season however, some serious defensive back-up will still be required at Old Trafford one way or another.
The likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger will certainly do their best to break up play in the middle of the park for their new manager across the 2015/16 campaign – yet in all honesty – even that won’t be enough to keep the goals out unless some proper defenders are swiftly drafted in at the club.
Sergio Ramos, Nicolas Otamendi and Mats Hummels have all been linked with the Red Devils this summer with varying degrees of probability, so now would definitely represent an opportune moment for van Gaal to make his move.
Matteo Darmian may prove an ideal candidate to slot straight into the Manchester United back-four this season, but let’s face it, no team is ever going to win the Premier League title sporting the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at the back – it’s just never going to happen.
Organise the midfield effectively
Although Manchester United clearly need some help in defence as well as up-top this season, most of the club’s frivolous spending has so far been focussed on bringing in several midfield options for use at Old Trafford.
Despite already paying host to the likes of Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Daley Blind within his current squad, Louis van Gaal has somehow seen fit to bring in both Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger to aid his midfield ranks this term.
If the club’s Dutch boss fails to adequately organise his options in the middle of the park effectively enough this season, then LVG could well have a problem in his hands. Not every midfield star currently on the books at Old Trafford can be played in the same side of course, so managing his players properly will be of the upmost importance at Manchester United throughout 2015/16.
One thing seemingly remains certain however, for Juan Mata simply must keep his place in the starting XI if the Red Devils are to prove successful this term.
No more slip-ups against the ‘lesser sides’
With all things considered at Old Trafford last term, Manchester United certainly didn’t do themselves a large disservice against any of the Premier League’s strongest outfits. On the contrary, Louis van Gaal’s side actually performed relatively well against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool throughout 2014/15.
However, against some of the Premier League’s ‘lesser sides’, the Red Devils were given a particularly rough ride, resulting in far too many points dropped from Louis van Gaal’s team.
Perhaps it’s an over-confidence thing. Maybe LVG simply needs to develop a ‘win at all costs mentality’ at Old Trafford similar to that of Sir Alex Ferguson. Whatever seems to be holding Manchester United back in the modern era, the team ultimately need to be more aggressive against the weaker sides if they are ever going to lift the Premier League title once again.
Keep faith in Louis van Gaal
Before Manchester United see fit to dip into the transfer market once again, decide which midfield options will be best suited at Old Trafford throughout the 2015/16 campaign, or try to become more systematic in their approach to beating the weaker sides the Premier League has to offer – the club as a whole simply must keep faith in their manager.
Whatever your opinion on Louis van Gaal as a character, he is certainly the right man to lead Manchester United to further success in the future. It may take a shed load of cash to start seeing some improved results at Old Trafford in 2015/16 – yet because LVG has seemingly been there and done it with Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the past – the United boardroom staff mustn’t get cold feet over their selection of van Gaal as manager.
With enough breathing room, transfer resources and confidence placed in him from the chairmen and fans alike, Louis van Gaal will prove a success for Manchester United – it really is only a matter of time before a manager of his calibre walks home with the Premier League title at the end of the season.
