Manchester United mid-season player ratings

With Manchester United’s season nicely poised at just about mid-way through the season, here we look at the performance of every United player to turn out for David Moyes – from standout performers like Wayne Rooney, Adnan Januzaj and David De Gea to the others who have frustrated like Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa.

David De Gea – 7/10

This rating could have been a point or two higher had the Spaniard not committed that school-boy mistake in the dying stages of the League Cup semifinal second leg against Sunderland at Old Trafford which, ultimately, knocked United out of the cup.

Apart from this error, he has been the only positive in an otherwise leaky United defense that has shipped goals for fun this season. Continuing his impressive performances and improvement in the last season, the young Spaniard is no longer the error-prone keeper he was when he first arrived from Athletico Madrid.

Patrice Evra – 6/10

Despite the future of the Frenchman still in doubt at United, who tried to replace him by signing Leighton Baines over the summer, he has been decent in his performances going forward in support of the left winger. His bombing forward, however, has left him out of position on more than one occasion while defending where United have suffered heavily.

This is why the club is looking for another left back who can strike a better balance between defense and attack. With Evra’s current contract due to end in the summer, his future at Old Trafford still remains in doubt.

Phil Jones – 7/10

With United being lightweight in the midfield, Mr versatile has been largely used in a holding role this season where his best performance came in the 1-0 win against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Although his injury problems have not allowed him a consistent run in the first team.

With his preferred position still as a center back, it remains to be seen how his future pans out at United in the long term.

Nemanja Vidic – 6/10

While still showcasing his supreme aerial ability and not committing any glaring errors, chinks have started to appear in armor of the United captain. He has lost that yard of pace and his strength, too, has suffered after his return from injury this season. Also, a question remains on his long-term fitness as well.

Chris Smalling – 6/10

Have been rotating between the right back and the center back role without being given enough consistency in either of the roles to flourish. His height, though, have come to the rescue on more than one occasion for United during the set pieces.

Jonny Evans – 6/10

Another inconsistent United defender who has been in and out of the team after failing to impress the boss and the fans on a consistent basis. Have put in decent performances on a whole but still prone to the odd mistake.

Rio Ferdinand – 4/10

After making a decent start to the season in the opening matches against Swansea, Liverpool and Chelsea, he committed some glaring errors in the consecutive losses against Manchester City and West Brom which has largely kept him out of the side since then. Injuries seem to have taken a toll on the 35-year old who looks a shadow of the self from last season.

The England international also publicly criticized Moyes’ habit of announcing starting line-ups on Saturday, as opposed to Ferguson’s way of telling the squad on Friday night, which could be another season why have we not seen a lot of him in the recent matches.

Rafael – 5/10

An ankle injury has restricted the Brazilian to only ten league appearances this season. He has been decent enough going forward but has been found wanting sometimes in the defense, most recently in the match against Chelsea where he lost Eto’o in the penalty box who scored an easy tap in.

Alexander Buttner – 5/10

Hardly gets a starting berth in the team because of Evra. And with the club still in the hunt of another left back, one wonders if he will ever be able to get a permanent place in the United line up.

Antonio Valencia – 6/10

The Ecuadorian has shown tremendous improvement from his dismal performances last year going forward. However, his final delivery still lacks the consistency required at the highest level. He has done everything right from collecting the ball from midfield to running past his marker but has failed to provide those telling balls into the box on which a center forward thrives.

Tom Cleverley – 5/10

Have been given enough opportunities by David Moyes to showcase his talent but has failed to make an impact. Has been industrious in his performances but a question remains if he has the required talent to play at the highest level.

Michael Carrick – 6/10

One of the major reasons of United’s decline this season has been the inconsistent form and fitness of Michael Carrick this season. After making a slow start to the season, the England international was out injured for the entire busy Christmas period where United desperately missed his accurate passes.

Have recently come back into the side but still lacks that match fitness and sharpness. If United are to secure that fourth spot this season, they need Carrick to replicate his performances of the last season.

Nani – 5/10

The Portuguese international, who signed a new four-year deal this season, has made only eight appearances in the league this season owing to his inconsistent form and fitness. Has been out injured for over a month now.

Adnan Januzaj – 8/10

The shining light in an otherwise dark tunnel of United’s season. The Belgian born forward has been the find of the season for Manchester United after being given the starting role by David Moyes. Full of confidence and ability, the 18-year old has already played in a number of positions coming in from wide left, right and also playing off the main striker. In the absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie recently, he has been the United talisman.

After securing his long-term services in September, the future seems bright for Januzaj at Old Trafford.

Ashley Young – 3/10

Easily the worst United player this season whose poor performances and diving antiques have given him the headlines for all the wrong reasons. With United now securing the services of Mata from Chelsea, the England winger’s future at United have been put into serious doubt.

Anderson – 4/10

When your managers prefers to start a 40-year-old, Ryan Giggs, and a defender, Phil Jones ,ahead of you in the midfield, it is about time for you to look for other options abroad. Rightly loaned out to Fiorentina for the rest of the season.

Marouane Fellaini – 5/10

After coming in to United on the last day of the summer transfer window, it has been a dismal start to United career for the Belgian, who has lacked the confidence to boss the midfield as he used to do in the Everton colors. Has been out injured for over a month now after a wrist surgery.

However, no one better than Moyes knows how to get the best out of Fellaini and fans are hoping for the same once he returns from the injury.

Ryan Giggs – 6/10

While its astonishing to see a 40-year-old still playing at the highest level, Ryan Giggs’ impact on United’s performances is going down. After starting a few matches towards the start of the season, Moyes has been reluctant to use the veteran winger off late.

It remains to be seen if the club offers another year to his current deal which runs until the summer.

Shinji Kagawa – 6/10

It’s his second season at Old Trafford and fans has still seen only the glimpses of his talent. Although he has always been played out of position on wide left because of the form of Wayne Rooney, the Japanese international has been highly inconsistent in form which has kept the manager always in doubt about his selection.

The fans are desperate to see the best of Kagawa on a consistent basis. His future, though, has been put into real doubt after the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea who plays in the similar role behind the main striker.

Danny Welbeck – 6/10

After making an impressive start to the league campaign by scoring two goals on the opening day victory against Swansea, the England striker struggled for form and fitness until December. An injury to Van persie gave him a chance again during the busy winter period which he grabbed with hands by scoring six goals in his last seven appearances.

However, with Rooney and Van Persie back in training now, Welbeck’s place in the starting line up will again be in doubt.

Javier Hernandez – 5/10

The Mexican has found himself lowest in the pecking order of United’s strikers until injuries to Van Persie and Rooney gave him a chance in the recent matches. However, his goal scoring return hasn’t been upto his usual high standards.

His loyalty, though, remains at United with him still being at Old Trafford despite this being a World Cup year.

Robin van Persie – 6/10

Apart from Carrick’s inconsistent form and fitness, another major reason for United’s downfall this season has been the injury to their talismanic striker Robin van Persie, which has restricted him to only eleven league appearances this season.

His goal scoring ability coupled with his build up play in the final third is what has been lacking from United’s performances in the recent matches. Mata’s arrival from Chelsea is best suited for Van Persie to further enhance his goal scoring exploits and this what United supporters all over the world are waiting for.

Wayne Rooney – 9/10

World Class – a word best suited to define the England striker’s performances in the red shirt this season. After a summer of turmoil over his proposed transfer saga to Chelsea, David Moyes stayed put in securing the services of Rooney and helped him re-discover his best form.

With nine goals and as many assists, he has been by far the best United player this season. After being labeled as second fiddle to van Persie in the summer, Rooney took on the mantle at the start of the season and re-asserted his authority as the United’s talisman.

United’s recent slump in 2014 has been largely due to the absence of Wayne Rooney due to injury. His partnership with Van Persie and Mata is something that the world is awaiting to witness once he is back.