How Manchester United Could Actually Win The Premier League

It might not feel like it but Manchester United are genuine title contenders.

That seems like quite an obvious point to make since United are only two points off the top of the table. But the recent barren spell in front of goal and the vocal discontent from fans over Louis Van Gaal’s languid style of play means that a cloud has been hanging over Old Trafford for the last month or so.

But they have continued to put points on the board, and despite being far from their best Manchester United are still just two points behind Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

Not only that but over the last year their defence has become so compact and well-organised that it’s now often touted as the best in the league, and as a result United have become preposterously hard to beat.

With this as a foundation, Chelsea embarrassingly, but still gloriously, floundering and both Manchester City and Arsenal dropping silly points that means they have been unable to build a gap at the top, United should feel that a title push is well within their grasp.

There’s just one problem that needs to be resolved before United fans can genuinely start to dream: Louis Van Gaal needs to figure out his best eleven. Especially when it comes to one area.

Defensively, with the stoic David De Gea back on top form, ‘Mike’ Smalling have moulded himself into one of the league’s best defenders, and Daley Blind conducting the unit with the precision and discipline of a sheep herder, United look impressively resolute.

Meanwhile, between Michael Carrick, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Morgan Schneiderlin United’s central midfield now has a wonderful balance and it’s both a platform to start attacks while still stifling the opposition.

It’s just going forward where Louis Van Gaal has struggled to find a consistent rhythm or fluidity. The justified cries from the United faithful to “attack, attack, attack” have only added to the nerves surrounding the front-line, while at the same time underlining that something needs to be done.

It didn’t help that when Anthony Martial was making a mockery out of his huge transfer fee as a centre-forward Louis Van Gaal decided to stick him out on the wing. While Memphis Depay has woefully stagnated, Ander Herrera only shows his class in drips and drabs, Juan Mata can go AWOL in games, and Wayne Rooney still looks out of sorts as United’s main striker.

That’s obviously a very negative way to look at things. A more positive purview is that, with the above, Manchester United have five sensational attacking players at their disposal, with the improving Jesse Lingard, dependable Ashley Young, and plan-B personified Maroaune Fellaini also on-hand too.

The league is crying out for a team to take charge. And with a string of winnable games up until Christmas on the horizon now is the time for Louis Van Gaal to figure out his best attack, solidify them in their positions, and build up a potentially title winning momentum to propel Manchester United into 2016.

We’ve just got to get above Leicester first.

[Images via Getty/Alex Livesey]