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Van Gaal’s luck continues as Anthony Martial gives United something to believe in

Manchester United managed a rare thing. They came from behind to win a match, and showed a resilience that they rarely now display to hold on when there was a single-goal deficit late in the match. Not only that, they had the chance to give a young player some experience from a winning position. They still play like they’re just any other team though, without the trademarks of the Alex Ferguson era, but the game against Southampton was finally a display which left fans with a sense of optimism which has been absent since the start of the season.

The transfer window performance of United briefly impressed, when five players were added quickly and without unnecessary hassle. Then United stalled and panicked, and in the confusion ended up with David de Gea still at the club, and Anthony Martial as one of most expensive young players in the world when few had heard of him. So far, it appears that every single move in the transfer market for United has been successful, a rarity at any club, let alone one previously hamstrung by the Glazers during the Alex Ferguson era.

Most supporters, and probably United players and coaching staff, had expected and rationalised the exit of De Gea. Nobody held an enormous grudge, given his behaviour during the summer was at best respectful, and at worst slightly cowardly, refusing to put in a transfer request and agitate for a move we were told was important to him for more than just footballing reasons. Keylor Navas almost joined on transfer deadline day, and YouTube compilations, and Louis van Gaal’s previous interest in him, not forgetting that he was first choice for Real Madrid, was enough to think, OK, if you have to sell one of the best ‘keepers in the world, a decent wedge of cash and one of the best of the rest, is tolerable.

Seeing his performance against Southampton, though, showed just why that thinking was more comforting than sensible. De Gea’s full-stretch, last-minute save to keep United ahead was a suitable reminder that he had won many matches for United with his own brilliance in a way that few other keepers can. The others, like Thibaut Courtois and Manuel Neuer, are clearly as talented as De Gea is, but given they play for Chelsea and Bayern Munich respectively, are not asked to be as brilliant as De Gea is, anywhere as often as De Gea is. With United’s defence improved, but not excellent, he will need to continue this form. With Euro 2016 to aim for, there is little reason to doubt he can do so.

The other deadline day success, Martial, has started in a way that barely anyone anticipated. The rush to write him off as a waste of money from some demonstrated their ignorance. Just because he cost a fortune meant that there was no reason for him not to have potential excellence and excellent potential. It appeared that he was an exciting not-quite-striker, but given he had played so little, and in a league that was shorn of its stars at Monaco, there’s room and time for him to decide what he actually is.

So far, it seems that he has decided to be ruddy superb. Though putting Martin Skrtel on his behind is no great achievement, to do so on your home debut against Liverpool, to score an impressive third goal and seal victory, is. It hinted that he didn’t lack for confidence, or that ephemeral quality of doing the right thing at vital times. He did it twice more on Sunday, equalising from a chance that required technical ability, quick thinking and improvisation, and also with an assured finish, seizing on Maya Yoshida’s error to finish smartly. They weren’t the only promising parts of his game, using strength and close control to hold the ball up and win free kicks in a way not seen since Robin van Persie’s first Old Trafford season.

It is far too early to say that he will justify his price-tag, largely because once a player arrives, a price-tag is immaterial to everything that happens for the rest of his career. The only important metric to worry about is if he is good enough to play. At 19, three goals, three more-than-necessary contributions at difficult times, the answer so far is as encouraging as possible within reason. Short of being Lionel Messi, he could have done little better. As an enjoyable break from ineffectiveness, even Memphis decided to ape Martial, and it was his trickery and shot which hit the post, and resulted in what would prove to be Juan Mata’s winner.

At the other end, Paddy McNair replaced Marcos Rojo, presumably not yet fit enough to complete 90 minutes, but finally having got back onto the right side of Van Gaal after passport hoo-ha. Though McNair gave away a free header to Graziano Pelle for Southampton’s second, so did Chris Smalling and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The wider, more encouraging point, is that this was a rare chance for United to give some playing time to a young player when there was a sufficient margin of error. When McNair came on it was 3-1, meaning that even one calamitous error would probably not have been a disaster, and so it proved.

Of course, this could just be a brief respite. Luke Shaw has broken his leg, and Memphis is largely underperforming for the moment. Michael Carrick appears to be having one of his fallow years again, and Wayne Rooney is quite the worst footballer on the planet at the moment, with no suggestion he will either be dropped or turn around his performances. Despite all that, United find themselves in second place, just two points off top place in the Premier League, and still in a Champions League group that they should qualify for. That is no guarantee of success, but for now, however briefly, Van Gaal has seen United improve just when it was becoming essential they gave fans something to believe in.