2. Funds
Last summer saw United make Marouane Fellaini their only significant new addition, and his form alone meant that Moyes was suddenly not trusted to operate in the transfer window. This assumption was unfair, but his January acquisition of Juan Mata only furthered this fear as he struggled to find a place for the Spaniard within his side.
These two stars may not have come cheap, but they represent a drop in the ocean compared to what Van Gaal has been allowed to spend this time around. Whether they activity was caused by panic, or whether the club really didn’t trust Moyes is debatable, but the Dutchman has been backed far more than his predecessor ever was.