Power Rankings: Palace on the Rise, Liverpool Fall Again

1. Chelsea (1): Another easy win for Chelsea who dispatched of Aston Villa easily at home.  Diego Costa now has eight from six premier league matches, and Jose Mourinho celebrated his 250th match in charge of the club.  Chelsea will look to take advantage of Arsenal’s injury troubles next weekend and replicate the last meeting between the two London clubs.

2. Southampton (2): Since losing at Anfield on opening day, Southampton are undefeated in all competitions (seven matches), riding the high of Ronald Koeman’s brilliant philosophies.  Graziano Pelle’s strike could be the goal of the season already, and Ryan Bertrand looks keen to jump ship from Chelsea permanently.  

3. Manchester City (3): The top three remains unchanged here, given Southampton’s form in September.  City won 4-2 at Hull City, but made it harder on themselves than necessary; Eliaquim Mangala will want to forget this day which saw him conceded a penalty and put one in his own net.  

4. Arsenal (4): Arsenal only stay in the top four of the rankings by virtue of the four teams behind them losing.  Saturday’s North London Derby was a disappointing result for the Gunners, with fans scratching their heads wondering why Alexis started on the bench.  The Chilean has been Arsenal’s best player in the young season, and his introduction changed the game late on.  A full 90 from Arsenal’s big signing could have seen a different outcome.  

5. Crystal Palace (9): Crystal Palace’s rise in the last two weeks has been meteoric; two wins in six days an a recent home victory over talk-of-the-town Leicester will put to rest any doubts about Neil Warnock’s pedigree for now.  Mile Jedinak continues to log impressive shifts in the middle for Palace; there are probably a host of top teams wishing they had a player of his solidarity.  

6. Leicester City (5): Leicester couldn’t continue the blistering pace with which they dispatched of Manchester United last Sunday, and subsequently fell to Crystal Palace 2-0 on the road.  Nigel Pearson is a manager who, however, ‘gets it,’ and they should look to impress more moving forward. 

7. Aston Villa (6): That’s two losses from two for Aston Villa, but this one won’t sting like last weekend’s 3-0 home loss to Arsenal.  Chelsea are in a different class, and it’s important for Paul Lambert and Roy Keane to refocus their efforts toward more winnable fixtures ahead.  

8. Swansea (7): For the second week in a row, Swansea drop a spot in the rankings.  Lukasz Fabianski was a busy man on Saturday, and also for the second weekend in a row Swansea ended the game with 10 men.  This time it was Angel Rangel who received his marching orders, but credit Sunderland for making it very difficult for Swansea to find chances throughout.  

9. Everton (13): Everton stood firm in the season’s first edition of the North London Derby.  Phil Jagielka’s pile-driving effort assured a point for Roberto Martinez, but today’s here for Everton was American Tim Howard.  Howard had a disastrous outing last Sunday, making two unforgivable errors.  On Saturday, Howard was Everton’s best player, making several impressive saves even while falling victim to Steven Gerrard’s brilliant free kick.  

10. Stoke City (12): Another club on the rise for the second week in a row, Stoke City easily dispatched of sputtering Newcastle United.  This could be the last nail in the coffin for Alan Pardew.  

11. Hull City (8): Steve Bruce will applaud his side’s resilience after going down 2-0 so early, but won’t be happy with some of the lazy marking which allowed Sergio Aguero to open the scoring.  Had it not been for Eliaquim Mangala’s day to forget, it could have been much worse for the Tigers.  

12. Manchester United (15): 19 year old Paddy McNair was handed his debut by Louis Van Gaal, more papering over the cracks than a must-see first start.  However, credit the debutant for holding his ground and managing a near-physically impossible clearance down the stretch from a dangerous West Ham cross.  Wayne Rooney’s sending off only adds to the laundry list of questions directed toward the Red Devils’ captain.  

13. Liverpool (11): Liverpool missed an opportunity to springboard into a run of excellent form, as they did last year when they dismantled Everton 4-0 at Anfield.  Brendan Rodgers’ side took 37 or the next 39 available points after that, and a team struggling to find it’s post-Suarez identity won’t look to this one for any encouragement.  

14. Tottenham (14): Tottenham scored against Arsenal, something they didn’t manage once last season, so that has to be a huge positive coming away from this one.  

15. West Brom (17): West Brom dismantled Burnley, thanks to a brace from Saido Berahino.  Berahino’s impressive start to the season continues, and Fabian Delph’s call-up gives the youngster hope of seeing action in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.  

16. West Ham (10): Taking a closer look at this game, West Ham missed an opportunity to snatch a point from Old Trafford.  Enner Valencia blasted wide from a Daley Blind error, United capitalized on a terrible error for their second and game-winning goal, and Wayne Rooney's sending off should have boosted the Hammers coming off their win over Liverpool last weekend.  

17. Sunderland (18): Sunderland are also still searching for their first win of the season.  A draw to Swansea isn’t the worst thing that can happen, but Gus Poyet may see pressure from above if he continues to go winless.  

18. Newcastle (18): If cats have nine lives, Alan Pardew surely has hundreds and is by now running out.  Newcastle lack inventiveness, organization, and fighting spirit.  Only a matter of time now until SackPardew.com can finally be deemed irrelevant, but while it’s not, check it out; lot of interesting facts about the Pardew era on there.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (20): The only thing keeping Queens Park Rangers out of the DFL zone is Burnley’s unworldly poor form.  However, had it not been for Graziano Pelle’s unworldly strike, Harry Redknapp could have walked away with a point from the South.  

20. Burnley (16): Ironically enough, Burnley had three bids for Michael Dawson rejected over the summer.  Dawson scored from Chris Brunt’s corner to only worsen the 4-0 defeated handed to them by West Brom, while Burnely are currently riding a 526 minute streak in which they have not scored a league goal.  

Van Gaal Will Learn From Sunday

It comes as no surprise that Manchester United’s re-vamped squad have netted seven goals in their last two league games.  Ander Herrera has two in as many matches, Angel Di Maria is orchestrating almost all the offense, and Falcao came within inches of opening his Manchester United account when he rattled a majestic volley off the cross bar on Sunday.  

Yes, Van Gaal has accomplished one thing; he’s brought back flashes of the fluid football going forward that Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides were so adept at.  However, his team’s issues are still massive at the back, and his late-game management must improve as I’m sure it will.

It’s still unclear what system Van Gaal will prefer in the long haul.  Rafael and Marcos Rojo played as if United started with three in the back, their surging runs forward causing problems but their lazy defending punished as a consequence.  The penalty Rafael gave away to Jamie Vardy was harsh, but the Brazilian should know better than to react to a no-call by lunging in like that.  

Vardy caused problems for Rojo as well, beating him down the line to cross on Ulloa’s first goal.  Rojo was again exposed after he overlapped Juan Mata and left him as the last line of defense down the entire left flank.  When Argentina clamped down defensively in the World Cup, Rojo was more understanding of his role.  After two games, Rojo is already living up to his billing as undisciplined.  

He is no doubt a wonderful player, and Rafael is a proven player in the league.  However, Daley Blind cannot cover that much space, and leaving Tyler Blackett exposed is the last thing United can let happen on the field.  With the injury to Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling’s struggles, Van Gaal may want to instruct his fullbacks to tuck in and defend more.  

With that being said, the work put in by Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria is impressive.  Right now, one could almost argue that the two wide midfield players in Van Gaal’s scheme are defending the flanks better than the two fullbacks are.  

The biggest error though, was taking Angel Di Maria off the pitch at 3-3 and replacing him with another attacking player, Juan Mata.  Taking Di Maria off was understandable; the game was headed toward an intense finish, and perhaps he still lacks match fitness.  The decision to replace him with Mata was what really did Van Gaal in for the day.

At this point, United were getting pummeled at the back and Leicester had just tied the contest.  Instead of buckling down in the midfield where Leicester were winning most of the battles, Van Gaal opted to go for it and put his most expensive bench player on the field.  

Darren Fletcher was much more appropriate in this situation, and this is an instance where the Dutchman’s arrogance failed him.  It was a blatant error, and everyone could see it.  Di Maria’s presence was immense, by far United’s best player.  Whenever he received the ball in midfield, the Argentine would storm the barn looking for an opportunity to create or surge forward.  

His exclusion in favor of Juan Mata did United in.  With the irresponsible Rojo making runs up field, Mata was left to patrol more than he is used to, and as a result Leicester scored a fourth with ease.  

With all things considered, labeling Louis Van Gaal as a failure already is unjust.  Like every manager new to England, he has to face baptism by fire when it comes to accumulating experience.  The recently promoted Foxes were underestimated and they made United pay, a testament to the difficulty and depth of the league as a whole.  

Manchester United also fielded five of their new signings on Sunday, which usually doesn’t produce consistent harmony in a team.  Van Gaal will apply his lessons learned from round five, while the players on the field will improve their own form or face the bench. 

United Face Tougher Tests Ahead

The dust has settled, the rumors are over, and six new faces have joined the ranks at Old Trafford in the summer.  Louis Van Gaal’s re-vamped Manchester United side impressed in their last outing against Queens Park Rangers, but the coming weeks will be a better indication of how good this team really is.  

The win against QPR was albeit a spectacular match to watch from a red perspective, but as I have already stated beating arguably the worst premier league side at home is not a proper barometer for the caliber of this group.  

Angel Di Maria is drawing rave reviews after his first two performances for United, Ander Herrera marked his return from injury with a goal, while Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, and Falcao each made their debuts last weekend.  To cap things off for the new boys, Jonny Evans declared Luke Shaw talented enough to be the best left back in the world today.  

Spirits are high at Old Trafford right now, but it’s imperative that Van Gaal decipher what system works best for this group, and also the personnel that will get the best out of the system (and vice versa).  Playing four in the back looks like the front-runner as of now, with Daley Blind’s two-way play justifying this formation.  

Thus, after a midweek rest during European competition, Van Gaal has had sufficient time on the training ground to figure out what works best for his team.  Between now and the end of November, United will face their first true tests of the season in the premier league.  

It starts this Sunday, when the Red Devils travel to Leicester and take on a group fresh off an upset win on the road at Stoke City.  Then, Van Gaal will take the Red Devils into a slightly more manageable fixture when they host West Ham six days later.  

The following Saturday, Manchester United host Everton in what will be Van Gaal’s toughest test to date.  The defensive midfield duo of James McCarthy and Gareth Barry are never easy to break down, and Roberto Martinez is more than capable of setting up his team accordingly to thwart United.  

After another two weeks rest, United travel to the Hawthornes and take on a desperate West Brom side, followed by an evening with Chelsea at Old Trafford on the 26th of October.

November is when United will be tested the most.  By then, expect a fully integrated squad with familiarity and confidence.  November second sees the first United derby of Van Gaal’s tenure, followed by a trip to the Emirates two games later on the 22nd.  

What benefits Manchester United in this upcoming schedule is that they only have to focus on one competition.  Champions League football is obviously not coming to Old Trafford this year, but their chances of bringing it back are boosted by this in itself.  

The tough part for the players will be staying patient and knowing their place in the squad with so fewer games to play.  The players have buy into the long-term goals of the club if they are to be competitive in the league this season. 

After just four games, United have accrued just five points while playing a very manageable schedule.  Going forward though, the absence of European football will help see this group through a rough transitional period as it did for Liverpool last year.  

The Van-Gaalacticos

Now that the dust has settled on their record summer, Manchester United look ready to earn their first victory of the season when they play host to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.  At this point in the season, no game is a must-win, but surely that’s what it must feel like for the Red Devils.  

Unless he were truly the most unappreciative employee in history, Louis Van Gaal has to be pleased with transfer kitty Ed Woodward provided him for the summer.  It resulted in the Dutchman completely re-shaping the United first team.  Here is the result of the biggest shopping spree in league history:

Ander Herrera, 25, 28.85m pounds

Already an established star in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao, Herrera joined the Red Devils for just under thirty million pounds.  The Spaniard is a complete midfielder, equipped with size, skill, and a creative knack for precision passing.  He is a technician in the mold of Frank Lampard, always looking for the ball and taking very good care of it when in possession.  Herrera went off injured on opening day against Swansea, and his return to full fitness coincides with the capture of three more signings for United.  

Luke Shaw, 19, 30m pounds

The most expensive teenager in league history and the only Englishman purchased by Van Gaal, Luke Shaw brings a difficult-to-believe level of maturity with him to Old Trafford.  His reputation as the next electrifying young fullback in the league speaks for itself, as he is already a fantastic player.  Jose Mourinho questioned the judgement to give Shaw such a big contract, but that’s the way of things for United right now.  They may have overpaid for his services between transfer fee and wages, but Shaw’s talent is undeniable and has the potential to be the best two-way fullback in the world.  

Marcos Rojo, 24, 16m pounds

Rojo is the second of four left-sided players to join Manchester United this summer.  Easily the most controversial transfer of the summer, the Marcos Rojo deal is a testament to the problems posed by third-party ownership.  Nonetheless, he is also an excellent footballer, as he showed in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final.  One of the things I’ve always liked about Rojo, which he has in common with Shaw and Daley Blind, is his ability to defend.  His left foot is ferocious going forward, but his reliability across the back line was more of an asset to Argentina in Brazil.  

Angel Di Maria, 26, 59.7m pounds

The premier league’s record signing has been impressive since his move to Old Trafford.  He was by far the Red Devils’ best player on the pitch against Sunderland, but lacked match fitness and was the first to be subbed off.  A man of the match performance against Germany over the international break only reinforced how talented this player is, while the backlash in Madrid is a negative one following the sale of fan favorite Di Maria.  Even though he is the most expensive player ever to join the league, there is much less weight on his shoulders than one would assume given the sheer number of recruits joining over the summer.  

Daley Blind, 24, 13.8m pounds

I would argue that Daley Blind may be the signing of the summer from a value perspective.  He is versatile on the left wing and excellent in a deep-lying midfield role, so expect him to feature quite often this season.  A favorite of Louis Van Gaal, Blind’s coming-out party was in Brazil, but his body of work prior to this summer was under-the-radar to say the least.  The Dutchman is the reigning player of the season in the Eredivisie, and is the son of Danny Blind, who is set to take over the Oranje following the 2016 Euro in France.  I would compare his reliability to that of Ramires; you know exactly what you’re getting out of him each time he steps on the pitch.  

Radamel Falcao, 28, loan

Ironically enough, Falcao is the shortest of all Manchester United recruits at just 5’10.  Then again, this doesn’t matter when you’re one of the top strikers on the planet.  Falcao’s exclusion from the World Cup because of injury was quickly forgotten due to the exploits of James and Juan Cuadrado, but his class is unquestioned.  Since I need not talk about how ruthless of a striker Falcao can be, this deal gives me the chance to voice a concern over the parameters of financial fair play.  

A buy option was included in the loan deal, set at just over 43 million pounds.  The loan deal is nothing more than a gambit designed to thwart the influence of fair play regulations, since United will likely trigger the permanent deal unless something extraordinary happens (torn ACL?).  Do Manchester United need Falcao?  No.  Will he improve the overall quality of the squad?  Absolutely.  However, this deal is a head-scratcher, with the likes of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney already at the club.  

Power Rankings: Chelsea Overtake Stumbling City

Chelsea take the top spot in this weeks power rankings, while Stoke City and Aston Villa made the biggest leaps following their impressive wins at the weekend.  

1. Chelsea (2): Jose Mourinho’s men flexed their muscles at Goodison Park on Saturday, blowing away Everton at the tail end of a 6-3 thriller.  Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have taken this team to the next level, while players already at the club have improved as well.  They’ve been the best team going into the international break, and are 100% deserving of the top spot. 

2. Liverpool (5): Many thought Sunday’s contest with Tottenham would be an even contest, but Liverpool stormed the gates of White Hart Lane to a 3-0 win.  There are always room for improvements, and it will take time for Mario Balotelli to re-acclimate himself with the league.  But, as Brendan Rodgers said this morning, Liverpool is not the Balotelli show, and they showed it.  

3. Manchester City (1): As surprising as the result was for Manchester City, it’s not shocking to see this team go missing for almost an entire game.  This happened several times last season in their road to the championship.  However, Manuel Pellegrini will have to go back to the drawing board in order to get his high-octane offense going once again.  

4. Swansea (6): Gary Monk has enjoyed nine points from nine for Swansea City to start the season.  Going into the international break, Nathan Dyer has given Roy Hodgson something to think about next time around; the winger was a revelation on Saturday, linking up nicely with Wilfried Bony, whose form and power make Michu a forgotten man in Wales.  

5. Southampton (7): For all the work he’s put in in the first three fixtures, there wasn’t a man more deserving of a goal than Graziano Pelle.  The Italian finished off a 3-1 road win at Upton Park which saw Morgan Schneiderlin pick up a brace that will surely ease the pain of being left behind to face the music at Southampton.  James Ward-Prowse is making this team click with his precision long-balls and ability to control the tempo of the game.  

6. Arsenal (4): A flat performance from the gunners saw them drop two points to new boys Leicester City.  The loss of Olivier Giroud is still having an impact on the team, but Danny Welbeck’s arrival should ease pressure off of Alexis Sanchez and the flailing Yaya Sanogo to produce goals from the tip of the attack.  

7. Tottenham (3): Just when we all thought Tottenham were for real, Liverpool came to town and swept them away 3-0 at White Hart Lane.  After two wins to start the year, Mauricio Pochettino has some thinking to do over the international break.  The talent is there for Spurs, but they must figure it out as a unit. 

8. Aston Villa (14): In a matchup of damage control after two respective mid-week losses, Aston Villa were the more resilient side against Hull City.  Andy Weimann continues his excellent start to league play, and Paul Lambert can rest easy during the international break.  Tom Cleverly will improve the side as Carlos Sanchez settles into life in England.  

9. Manchester United (11): I had to move Manchester United up in the rankings despite the disappointing away draw to Burnley because of what they did in the dying days of the transfer window.  Angel Di Maria was the Red Devils’ best player on the pitch Saturday, while Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao should further improve the starting XI.  

10. Stoke City (19): Going into the matchup, finding Jim Morrison alive would be more likely than Stoke City snatching all three points from the Etihad.  Thanks to some excellent organization and defending, especially from Ryan Shawcross, Stoke were able to pull off the deserved shocker against the holders.  

11. Everton (10): Everton were brutally exposed by Chelsea, but it shouldn’t deter Roberto Martinez’ men one bit.  Chelsea put six goals past Tim Howard, but there are plenty of positives to take from a match in which Everton wouldn’t stop clawing back.  The Toffees will look to bounce back in a fortnight when they head to the Hawthornes to take on West Brom.  

12. Crystal Palace (17): Times are looking up once again for Crystal Palace.  New manager Neil Warnock was rewarded a point against Newcastle by new signing Wilfried Zaha, who looks to re-vamp his post-United career. 

13. Burnley (15): Similar to Leicester City, Burnley had a chance to inflict damage on an already hurting club in the confines of their own stadium.  The point against United is a good one, but like their fellow new boys will regret not snatching three shocking points from a doable fixture.  

14. Hull City (12): Hull City endured a poor week, losing mid-week in the Capital One Cup, then falling 2-1 to Aston Villa.  Things could have been much worse for Steve Bruce, who say his Tigers thoroughly outplayed in the first half.  

15. Sunderland (9): Gus Poyet will regret not seeing his team go ahead early on, as they dominated the first portion of the match with QPR.  Overall, a disappointing result against a team who has scored one goal in three matches thus far this season.  

16. Leicester City (18): There are two sides of the coin to take from Sunday’s match with Arsenal.  Leicester City should be somewhat satisfied with a point against the Gunners, but will rue the opportunity to snatch three points against a top four team at home.  

17. West Ham (8): Sam Allardyce will not be happy with the atrocious defending on Southampton’s second goal, which saw the Saints catch the Hammers off guard from a corner.  After a big week two, West Ham are among the biggest fallers in this week’s rankings.  

18. Newcastle United (16): On the bright side, Rolando Aarons has arrived and could be a pleasant surprise for the Magpies this season.  On the not so light side, a late goal conceded cost Alan Pardew two valuable points in an otherwise outstanding contest from a neutral perspective.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (20): The highlight of the game was probably new signing Leroy Fer’s cannon off the crossbar, but other wise a huge step in the right direction for QPR.  Three points will ease pressure on Harry Redknapp, but more work is to be done if they are to stay in the league next season.  

20. West Brom (13): West Brom were thoroughly outplayed by Swansea City on Saturday, and because of it have fallen to the bottom of the rankings.  Swansea are off to a miraculous start, but the usually tough and physical Baggies were overrun by Gary Monk’s men.  

Di Maria Shows Promise, Tactical Questions For United

Manchester United will have to wait a bit longer for their first premier league win in the new campaign.  The Red Devils drew 0-0 to an organized Burnley side at Turf Moor today, bringing their tally to just two points from three relatively easy games.  

The man of the moment was Angel Di Maria who made his Manchester United debut wearing the club's beloved #7 shirt.  Di Maria impressed for the most part in the first half.  Many speculated he would play in an advanced wide role, but the Argentine started deep and delivered some fantastic long balls over the top.  

He created three good scoring chances for Manchester United in a central role during the first half, then moved to a more advanced position after halftime.  Di Maria’s movement off the ball was excellent, offering an outlet for the under-pressure defensive line.  

His willingness to drop deep along with his exceptional vision make him a viable option in central midfield.  His work rate is impressive, but was certainly a little out of his depth in the overwhelming speed and physicality of the league.  He will adapt, as all great players do.  

In Louis Van Gaal’s new system, everyone is still acclimating to both the tactics and more importantly each other.  It remains to be seen if he will change his formation, but regardless United must get on a better wavelength.  

Burnley captain Jason Shackell was outstanding in defense, making several key interventions and all the while keeping the back unit tightly knit.  Danny Ings impressed too, harassing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans into a few early mistakes.  

Again, all three center backs for United were guilty of making errors which could have easily led to a concession.  The first two minutes alone saw Jones and Evans make two glaring errors, making a case for Van Gaal to go with four in the back.  The arrivals of Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind will aid either formation.  

Both players are extremely versatile, and fill needs at multiple positions.  Blind made the left wingback role his own in Brazil and was Erividise player of the season as a defensive midfielder last year.  Rojo, as I’ve mentioned before, can play both center back and left back with athleticism and stamina.

In terms of fitness, The Red Devils’ substitutions were indicative of where their star player are at physically.  Di Maria was running on fumes by the 60th minute, while Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata were also looked tired as they left the pitch.  

A point away to a hungry bottom-feeder team isn’t the worst thing to happen, but United still have a long way to go.  After four games, Van Gaal is still in search of his first win and is still answering tough questions every day.  I do believe, however, that a healthier and more cohesive Manchester United team will look much, much better.  

Weekend Preview: United Badly Need This One

Under-fire manager Louis Van Gaal is not finding life simple in England.  After the 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup this week, one would assert that things couldn’t get any worse for the Dutchman and Manchester United.

Well, cheer up Louis, because even though it’s away from home, you’ve got Burnley this weekend, a side who also suffered defeat to a lower-division side in the Capital One Cup this week.  However, anything less than three points would mean the support calling for your head and probably another awkward meeting with Ed Woodward. 

It could be worse for United in that they are lucky they don’t play a nightmare fixture following two already rather lenient games to start the season.  Manchester United have to take it one match at a time, and regardless of their recent form, should take care of business at Turf Moor on Saturday.  

As I mentioned earlier, Burnley were stunned by Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup in front of a lackluster crowd at Turf Moor.  Even thought it was just a cup game, you would think the supporters would turn up to support their side.  On Saturday, don’t expect a half-empty stadium, but know that the support for the recently-promoted club is not what it should be.  

A week one defeat to Chelsea was almost a formality, but last weeks fixture against Swansea was hotly contested.  Although Nathan Dyer scored the only goal of the game in the first half, the second period was dominated by the Clarets.

From a Burnley perspective, this fixture could mean a great deal to them.  If they were to grab a point or perhaps stun Manchester United as bottom-feeder clubs are so accustomed to, it could be a springboard for them.  

If they lose, it's far from the end of the World...they're Burnley, not Manchester United after all.  The Clarets will come out and attack, with Danny Ings leading the line against a United side seriously lacking confidence.  

On the other side of the ball, Van Gaal will likely have Argentinian signings Marcos Rojo and record signing Angel Di Maria available for selection, and if that’s not a boost to the club I don’t know what is.  

Di Maria led La Liga by a wide margin with 17 assists last year, and was man of the match in the Champions League final.  His impact for Argentina in the World Cup was immense, while his injury absence from the semifinal and final were noticeable.  

Di Maria’s offensive prowess is well-documented, and people have been comparing his new role to that of Arjen Robben under Van Gaal.  What makes Di Maria better than the Dutchman is his willingness to defend at times, something which earned him starts in the middle of the pitch last season after Gareth Bale was bought from Tottenham.  

As for Rojo, he immediately becomes arguably Manchester United’s best defender.  Rojo starred under Alejandro Sabella in Brazil, also showing he can play on both sides of the ball to devastating effect.  However, he is just one player, and his impact can only be felt at one position.  

Rojo’s versatility will make him an excellent tool in Van Gaal’s constantly changing tactical scheme, but with the recent run of injuries to almost every midfielder at the club, the focus of concern is slurring between defense and the midfield.  

Finally, it remains to be seen how United will line up with their new star player in the fold.  United have a wealth of attacking talent in Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, and now Di Maria.  The key will be integrating Di Maria while maintaining a defensive presence in the back.  

Against MK Dons, Manchester United were made up of either untested academy players or men Van Gaal is phasing out of the club; hardly a side with any motivation or confidence.  

Right now, Van Gaal doesn’t have the luxury of selecting his best players with all the injuries.  It is imperative that the Dutchman instill it in all eleven players on the pitch that laziness or complacency will not be tolerated.  I expect United to take three points from this game, but it will not be easy at all.  United will grab the early lead, Burnley will fight back, but come up just short.  2-1 Red Devils.  

Be Patient With Van Gaal

Upon his arrival at Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal brought an aura of confidence and optimism with him following the World Cup.  I asserted that Manchester United fans should be encouraged by the Netherlands’ success in Brazil, and that Van Gaal showed the qualities necessary to turn things around at Old Trafford.  

Weeks later, Manchester United are now out of the Capital One Cup courtesy of League One side Milton Keynes Dons, who ruthlessly bludgeoned the Red Devils 4-0 today.  After a poor start to the premier league, Van Gaal was the first to tell us that things would get worse before they would get better.  Well, the Dutchman was right, and things are now worse…or are they?

One of the things I love about Van Gaal is his willingness to put promising but unproven players on the pitch in competitive matches.  Marnick Vermijl and Saidy Janko were given their debuts for the club, a sign that Van Gaal is looking toward the future.  Besides, is this not what explicitly what Van Gaal promised in his first press conference at Manchester United?

Being eliminated from the competition altogether negates the likeliness of these players seeing more chances, but first-team players should nonetheless be wary of Van Gaal’s affinity for fresh blood.  Reece James, Tyler Blackett, and Michael Keane have featured heavily in preseason and in games against Swansea and Sunderland, and are likely to stay in contention for roles in the squad.

The presence of new faces from within will only push the likes of Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, and Jonny Evans.  Van Gaal will instill it in his players that no one is assured a spot in the team, and that a younger, hungrier player will always be waiting in the wings should someone become complacent or lazy.

In the long run, getting these players on the field will benefit the club, and don’t be surprised to see more unknowns make their debuts for the club this season.  Van Gaal said after the game that he is here to build a new team, a feat impossible in such a short amount of time.  He’s right, and United fans have to maintain their patience with the accomplished Dutchman.

Meanwhile, Anderson, Nick Powell, Shinji Kagawa, Chicharito, and Danny Welbeck all failed to impress.  One can only wonder if any of these men have played their final game in a Manchester United shirt.  In the end, seeing these players play such a horrible game collectively is a blessing in disguise since players more likely to feature in the years to come will see more opportunities.   

The worst thing that can happen at Manchester United right now is for the supporters not to be 100% behind Louis Van Gaal.  He is not David Moyes, and he has won handfuls of trophies over the years.  One of the conditions of his arrival was that he would be given time, and time is definitely still on his side.

Ed Woodward knew of the imminent departures of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and Patrice Evra, but did nothing to soften the loss of three quarters of United's best back line for years.  It isn't just that Woodward hasn't replaced them by now, it's that he didn't do it years ago.  Van Gaal implied his displeasure at the lack of work done already when he arrived, calling his new team a 'broken squad.' 

On a final note, I will reiterate how important Van Gaal has been to the shape of football since his first coaching role with Ajax in 1991.  Wherever he has managed, Van Gaal has injected previously unknown talent into the spotlight.  By no means are Reece James, Michael Keane, or Saidy Janko destined for super-stardom, but here are a few reasons to still be positive if you’re a Red Devil fan.  

At Ajax, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, and Patrick Kluivert all saw their first-team debuts.  The Dutch national team consequently enjoyed high degrees of success in the late 90’s.  

Over two stints in charge of Barcelona, Van Gaal integrated Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Victor Valdes into the Catalan squad, two of those men spearheading three major tournament wins for Spain.  

Most recently at Bayern Munich, Van Gaal installed first-team players Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, and Holger Badstuber.  All three are integral to both club and country, and have enjoyed the highest success at both levels.  

Five More Excellent Signings

Marcos Rojo, Manchester United (20m euros)

After a drawn-out transfer saga involving rumors, finger pointing, and apologizing, Manchester United finally have their man.  Marcos Rojo arrives as a much-needed reinforcement, and although he cannot feature this weekend against Sunderland, his impact will be very positive for the Red Devils as the season progresses.  

Mario Balotelli, Liverpool (undisclosed)

A terrific signing for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.  Balotelli will contribute to some of Luis Suarez’ missing goal output and the Anfield crowd will adopt him unconditionally as they did with the Uruguayan.  It is this reason that I believe Balotelli will flourish at Liverpool, because rarely has the misunderstood 24 year old striker felt the love from the crowd.  

Giorgios Samaras, West Brom (free)

West Brom snapped up the Greek on a free transfer this week, adding a player with a bevy of Champions League, Europa League, and international experience under his belt.  Samaras is accustomed to playing in sides who hunker down defensively, and is effective roaming the pitch for the odd scoring chance.  

Leroy Fer, Queens Park Rangers (undisclosed)

Queens Park Rangers made an excellent signing in Leroy Fer, who joins from relegated Norwich City.  Fer featured at the World Cup and scored a goal for the Netherlands, and impressed with the Canaries last season.  He will be an excellent midfield engine from box to box and has room to grow at the age of just 24.  

Victor Moses, Stoke City (loan)

Stoke City looked slow offensively at home last weekend against Aston Villa in a 1-0 defeat.  Surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Moses will join Stoke City on a season-long loan and will definitely upgrade the Potters’ attacking options.  The Nigerian pitched in with some impressive performances at Liverpool last season and should see his opportunities increased at Stoke.  

Black Cats Look Forward to United Clash

Gus Poyet has to be licking his chops at the prospect of hosting Manchester United on Sunday.  Sunderland’s win over Manchester United last Spring was a springboard off of which the Black Cats jumped out of the relegation zone and saved their season.  Poyet had a lot to do with the survival, but so did the morale-boosting win over the Red Devils.  

Sunderland were enduring an extremely rough season up until that day, and are surely fired up at the prospect of facing a wounded United side at the weekend.  Lee Cattermole’s tone-setting strike spearheaded a draw against hosts West Brom in week 1, earning a valuable point against a competitive side.  

On the coattails of an impressive draw, Sunderland will be looking to start a streak of their own against Manchester United, who lost 2-1 to Swansea at home on Saturday.  The squad is still thin even considering Marcos Rojo’s arrival earlier today.  However, Louis Van Gaal will likely change his lineup after the home loss to Swansea.

As of now there is no indication as to what formation Van Gaal will go with in week two.  His three-back formation struggled in the first half, while the four-back formation he averted to at halftime proved equally as ineffective.  Most of the problems with Van Gaal’s current squad lie in the middle and defensive thirds, but given our relative unfamiliarity with the Dutchman, there’s no telling how he will alter his squad after one game.

It can be assumed that Rojo will feature regardless of the formation, but what type of tactical approach will Van Gaal employ?  Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney are assured to start, as is Ander Herrera, but other than that it’s hard to predict how and with who Manchester United will line up with.  On the other side of the ball, Sunderland have a group of hungry individuals who are determined to prove their worth.  

Several players have joined Sunderland from much larger clubs such as Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Wes Brown (Manchester United), John O’Shea (Manchester United), Vito Mannone (Arsenal), and Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus).

With that being said, Sunderland are a quietly competitive squad who are guaranteed to put forth a high-octane shift against any opposition.  Given the recent history between the two clubs and the eagerness with which the Stadium of Light patrons will be indulging, United could be in for another long day.  

Louis Van Gaal made it clear that he plans on instilling the ‘one game at a time’ mentality within his squad, which is the right call without a doubt.  Earning a point at the Stadium of Light at this point in the season, especially given the state of the club, wouldn’t be so bad.  Earning three points would be outstanding for the Red Devils, but leaving Sunderland with nothing at all is something they must avoid.