Football News: Manchester United Premier League season so far

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A v Bournemouth 3-1
H v Southampton 2-0
A v Hull City 1-0
H v Manchester City 1-2
A v Watford 1-3
H v Leicester City 4-1
H v Stoke City 1-1

This is probably best described as a mixed season so far, a promising start has become a lot less promising since the defeat by bitter Mancunian rivals Manchester City. With the departure of Louis van Gaal and the arrival of Jose Mourinho, Manchester United fans were expecting big things of this season, especially after the club spent a world record fee to add France midfielder Paul Pogba. With exciting young talents like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial already at the club, there was a lot of reason to be hopeful for the forthcoming season.

Three wins in the first three matches suggested the optimism was well placed, with the van Gaal era seemingly well behind the team, though performances were not the free flowing all out attack of former teams. It may not be the fast paced attacking football Man Utd fans had grown used to under Alex Ferguson, but it has been a major step forward from the dour, dull, slow brand of lacklustre football van Gaal enforced on the club. Despite the arrival of veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, there was more pace in the attack to the side, and it was showing.

Huge sums were spent to improve the team, but the main threat remains promising youngster Rashford, and it is the youngsters at the club that are its main hope of challenging once more for honours. Questions do remain over Mourinho's ability to get the best out of young players as well as his management over the long term. Further questions marks have been added due to his failure last season at Chelsea. Was that just a blip or has Jose lost his sparkle?

Have United got the angry, frustrated and argumentative Mourinho of last season? Or have they got the assured, cool and calm Mourinho that won so many trophies prior to his fall from grace? There are signs of both aspects of Jose so far this season, only time will tell which will win out. The short term future of the Red Devils depends on this one key issue. One thing is for sure, Jose has never been under so much pressure to succeed as he is right now, with so many top class rival teams with excellent managers, with his own club at a low ebb. This is the biggest test of his career.

Written by Tris Burke October 11 2016 08:49:05