Manchester United's Trophy Chances Depend on These 5 Players

After going through October unbeaten, Manchester United’s shaky start to the season looks to be levelling out. Talk of their title credentials is perhaps premature, but here we examine five players who are crucial to David Moyes’ chances of winning a trophy in his first season.

Interestingly, it’s the five players down the spine of the team. These five players are indispensable to Manchester United and will determine how far United challenge on all fronts.

So, without further ado, let’s run through United’s five most important players…

David De Gea, Goalkeeper

In the Premier League era, Manchester United have had some outstanding goalkeepers. Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar come to mind. They’ve also had some pretty poor ‘keepers too. Thankfully, David de Gea looks like he will fall into the former category.

He’s come a long way since making the move to Old Trafford and has made a number of vital contributions this season already. Check out his sprawling save to deny Sunderland’s Emanuele Giaccherini in the video clip above.

It’s as good a save as you will see all season.

This season he has improved markedly when compared to the nervy ‘keeper who flapped against Blackburn 18 months ago.

His all-around game is superb and he could become the world’s best ‘keeper in the not too distant future. With United fallible at the back, it’s reassuring that the team’s last line of defence is so strong. 

De Gea is capable of winning games for United, something he will no doubt demonstrate before the season’s end.

Nemanja Vidic, Central Defence

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Vidic is a natural leader

Coming towards the latter stages of his career, Nemanja Vidic needs another big season with Manchester United.

With the other three defensive positions seemingly up for grabs, Vidic remains a shoo-in. The Serbian must be a rock at the back if United are to challenge for trophies.

The club captain is still United’s best defender and is the most natural leader within the team.

Vidic won’t be able to play every game in the heart of United’s defence; his body isn’t up to it. But his presence within the squad alone is an asset to David Moyes.

With Manchester United’s defensive capabilities still questionable, Vidic will be the one the lead his side’s charge for silverware. 

Michael Carrick, Central Midfield

Manchester United’s midfield problems are well-known. David Moyes desperately needs a combative central midfielder to sit alongside Michael Carrick.

Carrick was one of the reasons why United won the title last season and in order to retain it this year, Carrick will once again be integral.

His greatest weapon is his ability to dictate the tempo of a game, which is reinforced by his seemingly unlimited range of passing.

But there is another side to Carrick.

Gary Neville’s explanation of Carrick’s role in the United side, shown in the video clip above, goes a long way to demonstrating why he is so important to the team. He has been one of the more criminally underrated players in recent memory, although his efforts last season went a long way to changing that. 

With Marouane Fellaini still settling in and Tom Cleverley still learning his game, Carrick is the fulcrum of United’s midfield. He is indispensable. 

Wayne Rooney, Forward

What a difference a few months can make.

Over the summer, Wayne Rooney seemed certain to leave Old Trafford. Moyes refused to sell him, however, and he is back to his very best.

He’s Manchester United’s most important player this season.

Athletic, creative and with an eye for goal this season, he is a completely different player to the one we saw in the last campaign. Rooney is relishing the change of management at United and is repaying the faith David Moyes has shown in him.

If United are to win anything this season, Rooney will be at the heart of it. He looks hungry again, and that side of Rooney is irresistible to watch.

His performance against Manchester City was telling. Rooney was the only player to come away with some credit for his performance, not least because of his fantastic free-kick which you can see above.

Robin Van Persie, Forward

This seems an obvious selection, right? Well, yes, it is. Manchester United cannot do without Robin van Persie’s goals.

But van Persie offers so much more than that. He is a talisman. He leads the line superbly well and is creative, too. His assist for Rooney’s goal against Fulham showed as much.

His niggling injuries are a concern, but he has the appetite to add to his Premier League title that he won under Sir Alex Ferguson last season.

Some fans have tinkered with the idea of Rooney playing up top with Shinji Kagawa behind, but it’s a flawed idea. Robin van Persie must start if United are to win a trophy this season.

If United are behind in a game and need someone to turn things around, van Persie is the man to do so.

It’s nonsense to suggest that he single-handedly won United the title last season, but he was in a class of his own at times.

If you had to package van Persie’s talents into a 60-second video clip, you would be hard-pressed to find a better one than the video above.

United need van Persie to replicate that form week in, week out if they are to stand any chance of winning a trophy this season.