FOUR weeks back, a stuttering Manchester United languished in tenth on the log, having only managed three wins and suffering four defeats out of their ten games as Louis Van Gaals side took their time to adjust to his system and each other.
In those first ten games, United were a side blighted by injury, which showed brief signs of brilliance, but struggled to make it a consistent occurrence.
Since November 8, however, Van Gaals’ charges have embarked on a fine run of form, winning four out of four to jump from tenth to fourth in a matter of weeks.
Victories over Crytsal Palace, Arsenal, Hull City and Stoke have seen the Red Devils make a meteoric rise up the leader board into the Champions League places, a place where every Man Utd fan believes their side belongs.
While arguably the victories have been far from pretty, bar perhaps the Hull City result in which the Red Devils dominated the game winning three nil, a win is a win, and the fact that this side are now started to grind out difficult results, in difficult situations, such as an away trip to the Emirates Stadium, can only be an encouraging sign for Van Gaal and all involved with the club.
Their current winning streak is in no small part due to the heroics of their Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea.
The 24-year-old has been nigh on unbeatable between the sticks making some fantastic saves and cutting a dominant figure in and around his box.
A confident goalkeeper breeds confidence throughout, a fact that is especially vital to United’s uncertain group of defenders, who have conceded the most goals out of any team currently in the top four.
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The importance of David De Gea’s consistently stout performances as United’s last line of defence is further emphasised when you look at the fact that three of the four victories in that winning streak have been by only one goal.
So while United sit pretty on 25 points, without De Gea, they could quite easily be way back on 17 points or less, a points tally that would see them lying in the bottom half in twelfth.
Juan Mata, the super sub, has also had a big role to play in this strong run of form from the Old Trafford side.
The diminutive Spaniard came off the bench in games against Crystal Palace and Stoke to score the winner on both occasions.
The most encouraging of the performances for me, would have to be the result at Arsenal, a game in which United were severely under the pump, and struggled for creativity and verve, but still somehow managed get the win.
Only a good team is able to grind out results on a day when they are not at their best.
So while I believe that they do not quite have enough to challenge Chelsea and Manchester City for the title, I do believe they will be up near the top vying for one of the two Champions League places that realistic are left after Chelsea and City take the first two.
This season will definitely be a better time to be a Manchester United fan.
Twitter: @Thesonofapitch
