Manchester United’s weekend fixture at home to Sunderland cannot come soon enough for supporters, who saw their side fall to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Swansea last time out.
Louis van Gaal’s side have gone from being outside challengers for the Premier League title in December, to clinging onto their top four place in February.
It has been a disappointing campaign in many ways for United supporters, and the neutrals who had predicted a title challenge having witnessed van Gaal spend close to £150million on new signings in the summer.
A top four finish and success in the FA Cup would represent a decent first season in charge for the Dutchman, but there is no question United will have to vastly improve on current form if they are to make that happen.
And as things stand currently, a Premier League title challenge seems a long way off.
Here we have identified five reasons why United will struggle to lift title number 21 under the current regime.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Louis van Gaal to reveal 5 reasons why Man United will not win the Premier League title
[/ffc-gallery]
Van Gaal doesn’t know his best team – or formation
It has been a case of square pegs in round holes for Louis van Gaal so far this season. The Dutchman is still unable to decide on his best team, or best formation.
Having spent big money on so many stars in the summer, van Gaal has had a tough time in fitting everyone into a system that works, with Wayne Rooney moved into midfield, and the likes of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia sometimes deployed as wing backs.
The consistent tinkering hasn’t helped United this season, and a settled side and formation going forward is crucial to their hopes of success.
Money doesn’t always buy you success
No side has spent more money than Manchester United in the past 18 months, with van Gaal and predecessor David Moyes spending more than £200 million between them on new players.
The two marquee signings of the summer have simply not delivered, with Radamel Falcao looking lost and Angel Di Maria often unsettled and inconsistent.
United must demand more from these two especially, if they are to challenge for the Premier League title once again.
RVP looks past his best
Many strikers would be happy with a tally of 11 goals at this point in a season, but Robin van Persie is used to hitting bigger heights.
More worrying than the lower number of goals however, has been the performance levels of the Dutchman this season.
He looked unfit in the early part of the season before a decent spell in the run up to Christmas. But again, van Persie’s performance level has dropped, and with his poor fitness record down the years, you wonder if the 31-year-old’s best days are behind him. Is he the man to score the goals to take United to a Premier League title as he did in 2012-13? At the moment, you would have to say no.
They are still vulnerable defensively
United still have one of the most unbalanced squads in all of Europe, with it still one of football’s biggest mysteries as to why van Gaal did not add some defensive reinforcements in the summer.
The likes of Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones have all failed to step forward in the absences of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, whilst Marcos Rojo is more of a natural full back.
United have managed just seven clean sheets this season, and a few defensive shockers – the defeats to Leicester and MK Dons early on in the season especially.
They have been over-reliant on David De Gea
The Spanish goalkeeper was United’s best player last season, and it has been the same story this time around – a fact which tells it’s own story.
De Gea has bailed United out of trouble on several occasions, and you dread to think where they would be without his brilliance on so many occasions.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Real Madrid on several occasions.
United need to hold onto him and ensure the rest of the team steps up to his level if they are to become Premier League title challengers again in the future.
