After a long and tiring summer, when the first drops of rain hit the land, the general feeling is not one of joy, rather, one of relief. And that is precisely what most Manchester United fans would have felt when the news that the club had signed Ander Herrera finally came through. Had the Spanish central midfielder been signed this time last year, a disaster might have been averted and David Moyes wouldn’t be out of work.
Unfortunately for United, although a lot of fuss was made about the move, nothing official ever came out of it. But, all of that is in the past now that they finally have their man. Although the signing of Luke Shaw is arguably the more fruitful decision in the long run, there is no denying how huge the Herrera deal is. Not only is it the first time United have signed a central midfielder since 2007, it also shows that the club have finally come to their senses.
As vulnerable as the defence was last season, the bigger problem was in the centre of the park. But it was nothing new, it was a problem that had persisted for a long time now. One that would’ve easily gone away if Sir Alex Ferguson had addressed it in his final few years. But the Scot’s reluctance to do so meant that United struggled last season. The warning signs were there even during Ferguson’s last season in charge, but the fact that they won the League by such a comfortable margin clouded that fact.
Marouane Fellaini’s arrival was supposed to be the solution for United’s midfield woes, but the more he was on the pitch, the more he looked like a complete and utter misfit. Arguably Moyes’ biggest mistake was signing Fellaini instead of Herrera last summer. Now that United have that sorted out, what does it mean for the rest of the midfielders? Where do they fit into Van Gaal’s plans? Will any of them leave the club?
Whether any of United’s current midfielders leave or stay depends on what formation Van Gaal is likely to deploy. If it is his preferred 4-3-3, which he has used in every club he has managed so far, Van Gaal would no doubt, like to keep hold of all his current central midfielders. However, if Van Gaal decides to go for a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 to suit the club’s needs, then it is very likely that at least one of either Carrick, Cleverley, Fletcher and Fellaini leaves.
Irrespective of what formation Van Gaal deploys one player who is unlikely to leave is Michael Carrick. The 32-year-old Englishman might not have gone to Brazil, but at Old Trafford, he is kept in high regard. Although he comes into the 2014/15 campaign following one of his worst seasons for United last time around, he was still one of United’s key players in a season that saw United drop from the relative safety of the Champions League to the unknown waters that is a season without European football.
Along with Carrick, another midfielder who is unlikely to go anywhere is Darren Fletcher. Having only just returned from a career-threatening injury, the Scot showed glimpses of his former self last season and will surely be around this time around to make a much greater impact. Fletcher’s energy and industry means that he is likely to be a key player under Van Gaal, if he can go back to being the player he was, before his injury.
That leaves two players whose place is under severe scrutiny. The first one is the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini, who didn’t quite deliver on his promise last time around. The Belgian midfielder who has had a good World Cup so far, failed to showcase the potential that earned him a move to Old Trafford. Some of the blame for his poor performances must certainly fall on David Moyes.
While the Scot didn’t commit a mistake in signing him, the fact that he played Fellaini in a position that is completely alien to him and expected him to excel right from the outset, in a new and unfamiliar environment made Fellaini’s job more difficult than it already was. Van Gaal is likely to give Fellaini another chance this time around, but should the Belgian fail to take it, the Dutchman wouldn’t think twice about letting him go.
Which leaves us with one player whose performances will be under the scanner right from the start. To say that Tom Cleverley didn’t have a good time last time around would be an understatement. Although the 24-year-old was unfairly criticised on plenty of occasions, he didn’t really deliver when it mattered most last time around. Although he is still young and has plenty of room for improvement, should his performance deteriorate, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was the first central midfielder to be axed.
While the addition of Ander Herrera is certainly a welcome sign, it doesn’t signal the end for any of the current crop of central midfielders. But if the club were to sign another, with Juventus’ Vidal being the front-runner, one of them is sure to head out of the club. And that just might be Tom Cleverley, who still interests Everton’s Roberto Martinez.