What a difference a year makes.
This time last season, Manchester United were on the verge of sacking David Moyes amid a slump to seventh in the Premier League table.
Now, however, the Red Devils find themselves just eight points off the Premier League’s summit, a point behind Arsenal in second and a point above reigning champions Manchester City in fourth.
It’s been a drastic change, part of which can be accredited to new manager Louis van Gaal and part of which can be accredited to the club breaking all kinds of records in the transfer market last summer.
But another integral factor has been the improved performances from a rabble of players once deemed not good enough for the Old Trafford outfit. Somehow surviving last summer’s cull, these FIVE have all gone on to silence their doubters this term – including us at Football Fancast.
So whilst eating some Easter Monday humble pie, here’s FIVE Man United stars that have proved us all wrong this season…
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CHRIS SMALLING
Still some way from the top-class defender many hoped for when Sir Alex Ferguson coughed up £12million for his services in 2010 after just a handful of Premier League outings for Fulham and many Manchester United fans will still be rightly miffed at Chris Smalling’s pathetic first half double-booking in November’s Manchester derby.
But the England international is finally beginning resembling a natural successor to former Red Devils stalwart Wes Brown; by no means a world-class talent, but certainly a useful, versatile and dependable member of the Old Trafford squad.
Stats enthusiasts Whoscored.com have awarded the 25 year-old an average rating of 7.34 for his 18 Premier League showings this term – the fourth-best rating in the entire squad – and recent reports suggest Louis van Gaal views him as a key part of United’s future.
Sky Sports, for example, claimed in March that the former Premier League champions would turn down any offers for Smalling this summer.
MICHAEL CARRICK
Although Michael Carrick was one of a rare few Manchester United stars not to get relentless mud flung at him during David Moyes’ nightmare season at Old Trafford, many feared the now-33 year-old was past his best at the beginning of the season.
The veteran midfielder’s win rate for the Red Devils, however, says it all; 70% with him anchoring the midfield, compared to just 43% without him.
He’s now claimed to be the forgotten talent of his England generation, the Three Lions’ answer to Andrea Pirlo, according to The Telegraph’s Mark Ogden following his impressive performance against Italy last week – but we at Football Fancast could have told you that years ago.
JUAN MATA
Nobody’s ever doubted Juan Mata’s ability, but after moving to Manchester United for a then-record £37.5million fee last January, the Spain international looked a poor fit for his new club, lacking the physicality to play out wide and never likely to replace Wayne Rooney as the Red Devils’ long-term No.10.
His return of seven goals and four assists in 26 Premier League outings this season, however, is amongst the best contributions in United’s squad, leaving him third in the scoring charts and joint-second in the assist rankings. He’s also their best protector of possession, with a 90% pass completion rate.
In total, that makes Mata the Premier League’s most productive midfielder in terms of goals and assists combined since he first moved to the English top flight with Chelsea in summer 2011 with a whopping 65 from 123 appearances.
Although the 26 year-old remains somewhat fatally flawed, lacking both physicality and natural defensive understanding, it would be an absolute travesty if neither David Moyes nor Louis van Gaal managed to forge him a permanent role in United’s starting Xi.
ASHLEY YOUNG
Ashley Young’s Manchester United career appeared to be dead and buried last summer, following two campaigns of persistent injury problems, poor form and constant accusations of penalty box simulation.
He’s come out fighting this term, however – a term I mean quite literally. The first half of the season saw the former England winger put in a series of shifts as United’s emergency left-wing-back and although others struggled with Louis van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system, he thoroughly excelled – averaging 1.5 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 1.5 successful dribbles and 1.1 chances created per match.
He’s moved back towards more offensive capacities of late and despite still struggling to rekindle the form that earned him a £20million move from Aston Villa to Old Trafford in summer 2011, he’s added vital penetration and width to United’s otherwise static frontline.
Now 31 years of age and edging onto the final twelve months of his contract, a departure this summer appears to be the likeliest scenario. Over the course of the 2014/15 campaign however, Young has at least proved his ability to still play at the higher end of the Premier League.
Maroaune Fellaini
Last season, Marouane Fellaini and his clunky style epitomised everything fans had grown to hate about Manchester United under David Moyes – their laboured style of play, their basic long-ball tactics, their inability to attract top players during summer 2013, their apparent ‘Evertonisation’ under the Scot.
Fast forward twelve months, however, and Louis van Gaal is describing the Belgium international as ‘undroppable’ with good reason – his four Premier League goals have attained the Red Devils invaluable points this season, particularly against West Brom, Stoke City and QPR.
His opener also set the tone for the Red Devils’ 3-0 win over fellow Champions League contenders Tottenham a few weeks ago, and even when Fellaini’s not scoring, his lanky 6 foot 4 frame, combined with United averaging the third-most long-balls of any Premier League side, is proving near-impossible for the rest of the top flight to handle.
Many feel the Red Devils still need another body in the middle of the park, preferably of world-class stature. But if the 27 year-old has proved anything this season, it’s his ability to win matches for the Red Devils and offer them a completely different, more direct dynamic going forward.