Who has benefited and who has lost out most from the Old Trafford circus this season?
When Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford, it was clear that such a massive departure would cause some serious upheaval around the club. What nobody could have predicted was that the club would still be in chaos 18 months later. David Moyes has come and gone, Louis Van Gaal has arrived and several frenzied transfer windows have passed.
Some have taken the opportunities afforded to them by the endless injury crises at Old Trafford, while some have not. Here are the biggest winners and losers from the last few months of madness:
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LOSERS
Sir Alex Ferguson
He may be the greatest manager of all time, but his legacy is being tainted somewhat by the disaster that has followed. Ferguson was initially blamed for his choice of David Moyes as his successor, an appointment that went as disastrously as predicted; but as time has gone by, the state he left the squad in has also been questioned. Some questionable investment over the closing years of his reign, as well a failure to prepare for the future, has given the impression that the great man simply milked the last drop of quality from an ageing squad, and then left the resulting mess for his successors to clean up.
Chris Smalling
Smalling has had plenty of playing time this year, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic leaving, and Phil Jones and Jonny Evans suffering repeated injuries. This increased game-time he has had has done nothing to prove that he is up to Manchester United’s standards however, and his idiotic red card in the Manchester derby on Sunday was the crowning error of a dreadful season.
Marcos Rojo
Another defender who hasn’t been helped by the ongoing injury crisis, the Argentine international has played more than any other defender for United this year, and suffered badly from being forced to play with a different backline every week. He has performed poorly on a individual level too however, and has only kept his place in the team through a lack of other options for Van Gaal.
Juan Mata
The panic buying of Mata in January looked like a disaster from day one, and so it has proved to be. Desperate for a bit of spark, Moyes bought the playmaker instead of the defender or midfielder he needed, and Van Gaal compounded that error by buying yet more attacking players in the summer. Against all odds Mata got a run in the team following Rooney’s three game suspension, but failed to take his chance.
WINNERS
Angel Di Maria
Di Maria has been exceptional in almost every game he’s played since arriving at Old Trafford. Despite being forced to play in a new system seemingly every week, with an ever changing cast of team-mates, the winger’s fine performances even under these conditions are evidence of his star quality.
Paddy McNair
The 19-year-old Nothern Irishman has grabbed the opportunities given to him by the crisis with both hands. McNair was brought in to the side for the game against West Ham, in the wake of the catastrophic defeat to Leicester, with every other defensive option suspended or injured. He earned plaudits for his performance in that game, and has played twice since. He’s now received a call-up to the international side.
David Moyes
The former Everton manager was blamed for everything that went wrong during his spell at Old Trafford, but Louis Van Gaal’s results have proved to be even worse. Moyes had four more points than the current manager at this time last year, and hadn’t spend £150m in the transfer market. With every passing day, Moyes’ disastrous reign looks less like his fault.
David De Gea
The Spanish goalkeeper has had his critics during his time in England, but the defensive disasters created by Manchester United’s unbalanced squad and formations have given him ample opportunity to prove his worth this year. He has saved United on several occasions this season, and while he will be keen to be playing behind a solid defence again soon, will be happy to have had the chance to shine.