Manchester United Season Review 2014/ 2015

After 9 months and 38 premier league games, another season had come to an end. A short summary about this season is it met my expectation but could have been better.

Manchester United Squad 14/15

The Transfer

As mentioned in my previous blog post of the half season review (blog). The major signing in the summer must be having Louis Van Gaal as Manchester United new manager! Then there was the crazy players signing which in total 6 players ( include loaning Falcao) signed. However, when there was so many players signed, there was also quite a number of players being sold and loaned out like Welback (Arsenal), Kagawa (BVB), Nani (Sporting Lisbon), Chicharito (Real Madrid), Cleverly (Aston Villa) and a few young players. 

Since summer transfer market had been so crazy, I would expect to see a few new players in the winter transfer market too. However, it was rather quiet. Van Gaal signed former Barcelona goalkeeper - Victor Valdes on a free transfer.Fletcher left to West Brom after his long service for United and also Anderson. 

Valdes is signed with 1 and a half year contract

The Season
As written in my previous blog, the season started not very well, 13 points in 10 matches, being knocked out from League Cup at the first game against MK Dons. While United still struggling with injuries and poor defensive line, after the lose against Man City in October things start to get better. A 6 straight win from November where United had beaten Arsenal, Southampton as well as Liverpool. However, after Christmas Van Gaal's team start to struggle again. Poor defensive line, lack of penetration, lack of chances, slow pace attack, I have to admit some a the games have been quite boring and lucky win.

A lucky win against Newscastle

However after the defeat at FA Cup semi final against Arsenal, Van Gaal seems like finally found his formula for the team! Goalkeeper : De Gea, Back 4 : Valencia, Smalling, Jones/ Rojo,  Blind/Shaw, Central defensive midfield : Carrick, Central midfield: Fellaini, Herrera, Left Wing: Young, Right Attack Midfield: Mata, Striker: Rooney.With this formation, Manchester United continuously beaten Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Man City! The team now hold more possession, faster pace attack, and sharp penetration. It seems United is unstoppable now and might even has a chance to end the season at second place! While all United fans with high hope that United could beat the Premier League, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho had found a way to counter Van Gaal's strategy and United lost 0-1 to Chelsea. After that United continue to lose 2 more games without scoring any goal. This give a big hit to Van Gaal to show him that the current team is still not perfect, there are still a lot of areas need to be improve. Now United end the season 14/15 at 4th place which is my least expectation from the start. The most important  for United this season is to get back the Champion League qualification and they have met the goal but it could have been better like what Van Gaal say  in the Manchester United Player of the year award. 

Player Review
Player of the season - David De Gea:
Another splendid season he is having! Without him, Manchester United could have lost even more games. We saw a lot of remarkable saving from his instinct reflexes, and he had improved a lot on the corner kick, high ball situation and now even one-on-one situation he is able to save United! Online there are a lot memes of De Gea because of his remarkable savings.

This is just a few of the popular memes

De Gea vs Hazard

This is even more remarkable, when everyone thought Sterling gonna score

Also, for the second season in a row, he had won Manchester United double player of year awards and had been chosen into PFA team of the year.

18. Young and 31. Fellaini

These 2 players were at the edge of being sold at the start of the season because of their poor performance last season. Fortunately Van Gaal decided to keep them and give them a chance and successfully transformed them!! 

Fellaini - Last season he was no where close to be part of Manchester United team but this season he finally found back his form where he used to play at Everton. He had become a major threat inside opponent's penalty box and is one of the major piece of Van Gaal's formula inside the second half of the season. 

Young - I must really say that he is the player that come back from the dead. He had played for United for so many season, but his performance doesn't convinced the fans and was getting worse every season. Under Van Gaal, suddenly his performance is getting better and getting smoother when see him dribble the ball on the left flank. I can now see him play with more confident especially in the second half of the season. His performance even knock out Di Maria to bench and hold on to his position. 

One of the Young and Fellaini combo at the
match against Man City at Old Trafford

The overrated players:
When there are players with great performance or show great improvement, there will also be players with poor performance or overrated. When Manchester United announced the new signing of Angel Di Maria and Ramadel Falcao, everyone was very excited about them and keep thinking these 2 players will provide some massive attacking strength for United. However, their performance is not what everyone expected.
7. Di Maria - He started his career in Manchester Untied quite splendid. Scored a few goals and provided some assists in his first few matches. Everyone thought finally the new no.7 owner has arrived! However after he recovered from his injury during the mid season, somehow he lost his form and lost his confident. Eventually Louis Van Gaal had to replace him with Young or Mata where the later provide a better performance.

A piece of genius from Di Maria before his injury

9. Falcao -  He is a well known striker and made some impressive  stats in his career at Porto, Alectico Madrid, and Monaco. He might be the attacking power United need, everyone was thinking. But in reality he is just another failure Southern American. For the whole season, he only scored 4 goals. There is nothing much to say with such stats as a striker. Since he is just a loaned player in United, as soon as the season end he went back to Monaco. He is a great striker, but probably he just don't fit in United.

The Rumors
From last season, there already some rumor saying Real Madrid want De Gea as their new no.1, but this season the rumor is getting stronger. Because after this season, De Gea will left only 1 year contract with Manchester United, which if he don't sign a new contract with United, after next season Real Madrid can sign him on free transfer which United won't let that happen. De Gea is United best player for the past 2 seasons and now had become one of the top keeper in the world. All the United fans hope he could stay while United is still in reforming stage. However until right now he haven't sign a new contract with United. Even Van Gaal said this will be a tough decision for him to make.  

I really hope De Gea could stay at Manchester United for another 4 or 5 years. Ferguson signed him to replace United Legend Keeper - Edwin Van der Sar when he is still a teenage skinny kid. Throughout all these years in United, he had become stronger, more experienced, more confident to handle some situation and become one of the top keeper in the world. Please don't leave United when they still need you. 

A great video to show his growth in Manchester United

A last word for this season : With the correct players signed, we could aim for the title next season!!

Glory Glory Man United!!!