16 not so bad things that happened in a bad season for Manchester United

8.Giggs takes charge

The best thing about Ryan Giggs taking charge at Manchester United was the understanding that it was temporary. With four games remaining and little to play for, it was all joy and nothing else: we didn’t have to worry about the job being too big for the Welshman. Not immediately, anyway. Coupled with the sight of Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes as coaches (and Phil Neville), we all realised that, clichéd as it almost certainly sounds, things could genuinely be so much worse. In any case, we could savour it now – and worry later.

9.David de Gea

Was good at not making it worse for Manchester United and won some awards for it. That’s alright.

10. James Wilson

A lot of those who absolutely resent everything about the most successful club in England would baulk at the idea of ‘The United Way’, and fair enough. That’s expected. But any fan who wants to attach something magical to his/her club is entitled to, and encouraged to. A bit of culture is always good, after all, especially in the increasingly stale football world. So when James Wilson and Tom Lawrence were selected for the season’s penultimate game against Hull City, fans were understandably excited. As they might be. 20-year-old Lawrence looked confident throughout, playing on the left-hand side in what, sort-of-fittingly, might have been Ryan Giggs’ last at Old Trafford. It was, of course, all about Wilson. Though another teenager of 18 had already scored two goals in a debut (of sorts), it’s doubtful whether Wilson would change anything about how his day went. A couple of assured finishes and a win – who could hate on that?

11. Community Shield

It was David Moyes’ highlight. It was therefore everyone’s highlight.

12. Pointless – and selected – Player Ratings:

David de Gea 9; Rafael N/A (he is, quite frankly, above something so trivial (especially if any rating would reflect badly upon him)), Smalling 5 (he’s a centre-back), Jones 5, Evans 6, Ferdinand 3, Vidic 5, Evra 4, Buttner 5 (ffs); Carrick 4, Cleverley 2, Fellaini 4, Januzaj 9, Valencia 4, Young 3, Kagawa 5, Mata 7; Rooney 7, Van Persie 7, Welbeck 7, Hernandez 5. That was fairly pointless – and wrong (almost certainly wrong).

13. Words to hold close:

“Hug” – Juan Mata, various.

14. Questions worth asking:

Why? Why?

15. Reasons to be cheerful:

Louis van Gaal. In almost any situation, Louis van Gaal.

16. A final thought:

Let’s forget about it all. Listen. Come closer. It never happened. It will shock you how much David Moyes’ one season in charge at Manchester United never happened.