Manchester United: Summer signings' half yearly report

Two of Manchester United’s Summer SigningsManchester United spent a staggering 153million pounds on six new signings in the 2014 summer transfer window to resurrect a team that had their worst season for over a couple of decades.Half of the current season has gone and United have certainly climbed up the table to the third place and are currently on an eleven match unbeaten run. All of these new signings have had their part to play in red devils' resurgence this season and, in the process, have shown their own sets of strengths and weaknesses.So here we try and analyze how Manchester United's summer signings have performed up until the mid-way through the season.

#1 Marcos Rojo

Marcos Rojo in action for Manchester United

After completing a successful World Cup campaign playing as left back with Argentina, Marcos Rojo was called on by Louis van Gaal to fill in for the defensive stalwarts that left United in the summer.

The Argentine has been employed as one of the three centre-backs in the 3-4-1-2 system being mostly used by van Gaal. Having seen United’s defensive frailities this season, it is needless to say that the former Sporting defender has found life difficult dealing with the raw pace and strenght of the English game. However, playing in an unfamiliar centre-back position without any consistency in the defensive partners that he has had, hasn’t helped his integration into the United’s defense at all.

Injuries to himself, too, hasn’t allowed him to have a consistent run of games under his belt to actually showcase what he displayed in Brazil with Argentina.

**Defensive Stats: courtesy whoscored.com**

**Passing Stats : courtesy whoscored.com**

Strenghts: The things that have gone well

Looking at the the stats above, we can see that the Argentine has a good sense of positioning with atleast three key interceptions per game on an average.He possesses good composure on the ball by finding his own players more often than not with a high Pass success percentage of 87. Rojo has decent pace as well which has helped him quite often when he has been caught off guard.

Weaknesses: Things that can improve

Although the United centre back possess a good sense of positioning, but he has still lost quite often on one-on-ones and aerial duels. When employed on the left hand side of a four man defense (although quite rare), he hasn’t offered much support to the left winger going forward. The crosses, too, have been really few and far in between.

Overall mid-term rating: 5.5/10

#2 Luke Shaw

The England international came into prominence last term with his eye-catching performnces with Southampton playing at left-back position. Adept at both – defending his line and bombarding forward – the former Saints defender was on the radar of many high profile clubs until Manchester United sealed the deal to bring him to Old Trafford in place of Patrice Evra who left for pastures new.

Having initially being criticized by Louis van Gaal for building up his fitness necessary for playing the wing back role, the 19-year-old faired well on United pre-season tour until his progress was hampered by injury at the start of the season. Since then he has been in and out of the team with injuries playing the spoil sport again. The youngster has shown his flashes of brilliance in patches but the United faithful would want to see more from him once he returns fully fit.

**Offensive Stats: courtesy whoscored.com**

Strenghts: Things that have gone well

The 19-year-old defender has shown good energy while playing the left wing back role by maintaining the right balance between defense and attack. He has been found hard by the opposition to dispossess the ball and has shown great composure on the ball for a 19-year old lad. Although the United fans are still awaiting to see his real qualities once he gets fully fit and gets a consistent run of games.

Weaknesses: Things that can improve

The defender would certainly want to improve on his interceptions and tackles won per game. Moreover, going forward, with his ability, he is expected to put in more quality into the box for poachers like Falcao to pounce upon – something that has been found lacking in England international’s performances this season. However, the good thing for him is that he has time on his side.

Overall mid-term rating: 5/10

#3 Daley Blind

If there was anything that United needed to resurrect from their disastrous 2013/14 Premier League campaign, it was their midfield. And therefore Louis van Gaal decided to bring in the Dutch international, Daley Blind, who he knew would provide the much needed steel in the midfield after knowing him first hand while coaching Holland before he took up the role at Mancheser United.

The 24-year-old midfielder duly re-paid the faith put in him by his manager by putting in some real good performances for United during the start of the season until he was held back by a knee injury in late October on international duty. He has been a perfect shield in front of an inexperienced United defense who pulled the strings for United in the opening set of fixtures.

Strengths: Things that have gone well

The Dutchman took no time in adapting to the English game and has shown great composure on the ball with a pass success percentage of over 90. Before he got injured, everything came through him as he played the role of a classic box-to-box midfielder by acting as a foil for the back four and distributing the ball forward at the same time. Possess a good sense of positioning which helps him make crucial interceptions and tackles.

Scored an important late equaliser away at West Bromwich Albion showcasing his attacking prowess as well.

Weaknesses: Things that can improve

The former Ajax midfielder, although, has a very good pass success percentage, but most of his passes are either sideways or backwards. If he can add those defense splitting forward passes, too, to his repertoire, just like Michael Carrick, he can be a real quality player for United for the years to come.

Overall mid-term rating – 7/10

#4 Ander Herrera

If Daley Blind was brought in to provide some steel into the Manchester United midfield, then Ander Herrera was brought in from Spain to provide the much needed creative spark.

Although he took some time to adapt to the physical nature of the English game, but he used his technical ability to good effect and has recently shown that he is beginning to find his feet at United. If not for exquisite form of Juan Mata off late, the former Athletic Bilbao player could have found more playing time recently. However, he has shown good professionalism whenever called upon and has chipped in with goals and assists.

Strenghts: Things that have gone well

Being a Spanish player, good technical ability comes natural to him and it has helped him a lot to compensate his slight frame for a physical league. The midfielder is very good for creating spaces for himself - and others- as he is always on the move and plays quick intricate passes in and around the area. He also has the legs and the right attitude to track back and helps his teammates while defending.

Weaknesses: Things that can improve

The 25-year-old, with his ability, can certainly chip in with more goals and assists. In order to achieve that, he needs to take a leaf out of Juan Mata’s book and take positions in the box which will help him score more goals.

Overall mid-term rating – 6/10

#5 Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria – most creative United player

When Manchester United finished a lowly seventh last season, many pundits predicted that it would be really hard for United to bring in world class players without Champions League football. But everyone of those had to to eat their own words when the reds broke their own and British transfer record by bringing in the World Cup runner up and Champions league winner, Angel Di Maria. It was the first sign that things were already on the up for United under Louis van Gaal.

The Argentine started at United from where he left at the World Cup in Brazil by seemingly looking at home in his first match away at Burnley. And he confirmed that with his first goal at Old Trafford followed by a sublime chipped finish away at Leicester. Di Maria’s breathtaking start to the United career was however halted a bit when the reds played the big boys and up until he suffered a hamstring injury just before the busy festive period.

He has nevertheless been the pick of the signings in the Premier League this season and has recently returned back from injury with his first goal in the FA cup.

Strenghts: Things that have gone well

With six assists and atleast three key passes on an average per game, it is quite clear that Di Maria has been the most creative player for United this season. His ability to go past defenders and provide early crosses into the box has wreaked havoc in the opposition defense on many occasions. Moreover, the former Real Madrid star possesses a very high degree of work rate and helps his teammates quite often by regularly tracking back and then initiating blistering counter-attacks.

Weaknesses: Things that can improve

If he can keep himself fit and perform in big matches like he often did while playing for Real Madrid, then he will certainly do justice to the legendary number 7 jersey that he currently dons and stamp his authority in the United folklore.

Overall mid-term rating: 8/10

#6 Radamel Falcao

If the pundits had to eat their words when Di Maria signed for United, then they had to hide their faces when United announced the deadline day blockbuster signing of Radamel Falcao from Monaco on a season long loan with a clause to sign him permanently next season.

The Colombian had returned from a long injury lay off that forced him out of the World Cup in Brazil, but that took nothing away from the quality that El Tigre offered and United just couldn’t let this opportunity go by.

The Monaco striker justifiably took some time to get back to match sharpness until he scored his opening goal and a crucial winner for United at Old Trafford against Everton. It seemed it would be the start of many but the Colombian was unlucky to get injured again that kept him out for several matches.

However, he came back fully fit during the busy festive period and scored two important equalizers away at Stoke and Aston Villa. Although he is yet to prove his real worth at United, but if he keeps himself fit then it is only a matter of time that the normal service resumes from Falcao.

Strenghts: Things that have gone well

After a difficult start to the campaign, the Colombian is now trying hard to get to his normal self as he is getting some game time under his belt. The signs are certainly there as we have seen in the previous 3-4 outings and if luck allows him then there’s a lot more to come from forward in the second half of the season.

Weaknesses: Things that can improve

The 28-year-old star has uncharacteristically shown poor finishing in front of goal a few times up until now. A lot of that, however, is due to his long injury lay off, but with him being Radamel Falcao, a lot more is expected of him. El Tigre certainly needs to score more if he wants to prolong his Manchester United career.

Overall mid-term rating: 6/10