Season Review: Manchester United - Part I

THE PLUSES – a quick glimpse

The biggest positive that anyone could make out from the last season for United has to be Robin Van Persie. The Dutch frontman was bought as an instantaneous remedy to strengthen the scoring department and it was not surprising how fast he adjusted to the new surroundings. It was his prolific goalscoring as well as overall contribution to the goals being scored that saw United fast reaching the table top and develop a healthy lead by the turn of the new year.

Former United captain and present England assistant coach Gary Neville recently stated that the future of United depends on the English quartet of Welbeck, Cleverley, Jones and Smalling. While the former Fulham defender had a forgettable season, Jones improved in leaps and bounds, showing why exactly he is touted as a replacement for Rio Ferdinand at the club. His biggest assignment of the season was Cristiano Ronaldo and he did marvellously well over the course of two legs to stick close to the former United number seven. Danny Welbeck, well, the lad has a bright future ahead of him but sadly, despite impressing most of the time when he has been handed a start by Sir Alex, he would still find himself low down the pecking order. With the United wingers being nothing short of abysmal this season, Welbeck had to fill in rather than playing down the middle like he prefers to.

Sir Alex had in an interview back in March, stating that United would under no cost suffer a slump identical to the 2011-12 season and surrender the title to City. The players showed more professionalism as they avoided any major slip up during the course of the season, seeing off the mid-table sides with minimum fuss. They completed a league double over Liverpool and collected 10 out of a maximum 18 points against the top four sides.

With Sir Alex adopting the rotation policy between senior defenders Rio Ferdinand and club captain Nemanja Vidic, it ensured they stayed fit for the big games as well as guarantee the rest more playing time. And what it also ensured was the team doesn’t face with a defensive crisis like they did in the beginning of the season. Rio, perhaps, had the best season for United for a long time, being riddled with injuries over the last few and he rounded it off by scoring the winning goal in Sir Alex’s final match in charge at Old Trafford. Jonny Evans, who rose to prominence before putting up a fail show last season, rediscovered his form and became a mainstay in the United defence.

Rafael Da Silva, being rewarded with number two shirt, showed maturity this season unlike his rash and erratic self – remember his tug at Ribery, leading to his sending off back in 2010? The Brazilian has come a long way since then, being defensively far more responsible and solid.

The reason why United are the champions with a midfield as ordinary and inept as the one they have, is just Michael Carrick. Neither does he have the coolest hairdo in the team nor does he have the flashiest tricks up his sleeve. Did United win the league title because of him? No. Could we have won without him? Never. Carrick is almost like Mozart, both being classical composers.