Manchester United Are Slowly Getting Their Swagger Back

Well, I think it’s safe to say that no one saw this coming two short Premier League matches ago. Somehow Manchester United not only now find themselves top of the league but they also have a newfound swagger that has quashed the naysayers following the chaotic end to the transfer window.

How has it come to this though? Well, to properly contextualise Manchester United’s sudden ascent to the summit of the Premier League we have to go all the way back to the weekend of the 19th and 20th September, when Manchester United not only trailed Manchester City by five points, but also by a chasm of quality.

City’s play had been glistening with skill, discipline, and conviction from the first whistle they heard at the Hawthorns, and they looked hell-bent on righting the variety of wrongs from last season that saw them pitifully attempt to defend their Premier League title.

Then West Ham United visited the Etihad, and did want West Ham United apparently do this season at tricky away grounds by staunchly, but still impressively, carving out a victory.

Alongside a defeat for Arsenal against stuttering Chelsea and another Liverpool draw, United suddenly had the chance to tease that they could be City’s main title rivals.

But they had to travel to Southampton, an encounter that they’ve famously struggled with in the past. That was against far inferior Southampton teams too. What was first started by Nigel Adkins, and has since been improved upon by Mauretto Pochettino, before being solidified even more under Ronald Koeman, has resulted in a very impressive Southampton team.

And for the first 30 minutes against Manchester United Southampton ran them ragged, especially down the left-hand side where Luke Shaw’s absence had left Louis Van Gaal’s side looking very shaky. Southampton soon had a one goal advantage, and United couldn’t get into the game, and didn’t look as if they were going to.

But then United did something that they’ve not been too great at in recent months. They turned a bad performance into a good one.

First, they found a goal through their new boy-wonder Anthony Martial, who wonderfully added a second before the ever-reliable Juan Mata scored a third. United ran out 3-2 winners. Then Manchester City not only lost 4-1 away at Tottenham, but their team looked at sea without Kompany, Hart, Mangala, and Silva out.

Suddenly Manchester United found themselves with the perfect opportunity to go top. But, despite their woeful league form, there was a chance that Sunderland, like Newcastle United earlier this season, could frustrate United, who might run out of ideas and confidence if they failed to score early.

United did take a while to score, with Memphis Depay only claiming his first league goal for the Red Devils on the stroke of half-time. But there was an arrogance and swagger around Old Trafford that meant that goal was met with an expected cheer rather than a roar of relief.

Wayne Rooney then chimed in with his first Premier League goal in 11 games, before, once again, Juan Mata added yet another strike. For the first time since beating Swansea 4-1 on the opening day of the 2013/2014 season United were now back at the top of the table.

Obviously, at the moment, this means nothing. And United’s next four games, away at Arsenal, away at Everton, home against Manchester City, and away at Crystal Palace, will really prove if they are genuine title contenders. Even then though, it will still be too early to tell. But, for the time being at least, there’s an air of optimism at Old Trafford that has been missing since Sir Alex Ferguson left the hallowed walls.

It’s not been plain sailing, but there has actually been a steady progression under Van Gaal up to this.

After his inauspicious opening salvo of games, which saw United secure just two victories out of 10, Van Gaal has made his team incredibly difficult to beat since last October.

Now he’s built upon that and United are flourishing going forward too as well as being sturdier at the back, while their starting eleven also has a nice balance and their bench has genuine game changers on it.

Sure, the defence isn’t perfect and is likely to be exposed against better opposition and Van Gaal has taken some wrong turns in the transfer market. But with Martial and Depay already looking hungry, driven and supremely talented at such a young age, the strongest midfield United have had in a decade at their disposal, and David De Gea looking imperious and committed, for the time being, at least, United suddenly look as though they belong to be mentioned in the same breath as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City.

Admittedly, that’s because that trio of clubs are currently stumbling and struggling like a drunk hobo trying to pick up a 50 pence coin, but Louis Van Gaal will use this advantage to instil a steely confidence to United that could take them far.

How far? We’ll just have to see. Come the end of October United themselves could have lumbered into their own mini-crisis - the Premier League really is that topsy-turvy and hard to predict this year.

But if they can come through that period relatively unscathed then United will be even stronger for it. And with so many of their rivals currently floundering, consistency and mental fortitude could be the main ingredients for a genuine title push this season.