For the RoM 2015-16 season preview, some of the country’s top journalists discussed who they thought this season’s best player would be.
Sam Wallace, The Independent
Schweinsteiger, Depay and Darmian are interesting propositions, and there might be a few more signings yet. That said, I wouldn’t put it past Rooney or Mata to be voted player of the year this time. They have both had a decent rest this summer, and they both have that enduring quality. Season after season, they do it.
Mike Keegan, The Daily Mail
He might not be here yet! They are keen on Sergio Ramos and if they did manage to get him here I think, barring injury, he would be huge. I don’t need to tell anyone that United have missed that commanding presence at the back since someone allowed Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic to all depart at once. Great idea that was. A lot was expected of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones and rightly so, but you need a wise old head or two at the side of them and they did not have that.
Morgan Schneiderlin is a great addition. He’s like Michael Carrick – the ball always seems to find him and he is constantly keeping it ticking over. He can pick out a pass, is always probing and is probably a bit better than Carrick at winning the ball back. They missed Carrick immensely when he was injured last year and after seeing Southampton a few times Schneiderlin really struck me as a United type of player.
It will also be interesting to see how Memphis Depay gets on. Loads of potential but he’s only done it in the Dutch League. It is a big step up but Van Gaal would not have moved so quickly if he did not think he was up to it. Having said that, it might be the season after when we see the best of him.
Dominic Fifield, The Guardian
It would be welcome to witness one of last summer’s arrivals making a more consistent and positive impact in the campaign ahead. Luke Shaw clearly has plenty to offer at left-back, fitness permitting, and United have only seen flashes of his ability. Daley Blind seemed a stop-gap, a utility man filling in adequately but not outstandingly in various positions. Ander Herrera would appear to have the abilities to thrive but, after injury, the bit-part role to which he was reduced at times suggested a player who had yet to convince the management entirely. Mind you, the same might be applied to Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, both signed by the previous regime or even Adnan Januzaj, whose second full campaign at senior level was one of prolonged anti-climax.
There are hopes, too, that the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling – who did impress more consistently last term – will continue their development with regular first-team football, though that might change should bigger-name defensive reinforcements be recruited. Given the amount of flux all around, the reality is the onus will be on the team’s principal leader and inspiration, Wayne Rooney, to excel and haul others up to his level. Hopefully he will be employed more often as an out-and-out striker, rather than in that midfield role which rather blunted his attacking intent, and can contribute the goals that should ease the pressure on the new man, Memphis Depay. The sense still is that United will really only flourish if their captain is fit and on form, with his influence propelling them forward.
Adam Crafton, The Daily Mail
I think Ander Herrera and Juan Mata can be fantastic footballers for Manchester United but only if Van Gaal places more trust in them and doesn’t drop them for three months of the season this time around! Other than that, I’d like to see Adnan Januzaj play far more this season and it is a thrill to see a world-class midfielder in Schweinsteiger in English football.
