David de Gea Can Lead Manchester United's Young Guns to the Champions League

The Alton Towers theme park is just a short journey south of Greater Manchester, but there is little doubt that the most enthralling roller-coaster ride in England is currently happening at Old Trafford.

Manchester United edged out Everton in a pulsating north-west derby match, winning 2-1 with goals by Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao.

As with the pattern of most of United's games this season, the final quarter of the match belonged to their opponents as the Merseyside team peppered the Red Devils penalty box.

The Evertonians had more shots on target than Louis van Gaal's side, per WhoScored.com, but it was the home team that prevailed with their Colombian superstar, Falcao, breaking his duck for the club.

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But it was David de Gea who took the plaudits on Sunday with a heroic performance to earn LvG the three points, with a penalty stop from Leighton Baines and two world-class saves in the second half to guarantee Roberto Martinez's men left empty-handed.

So far this season, DdG has seemed reserved between the sticks, conceding four goals at MK Dons and five against Leicester City. He has not recaptured his fabulous form of last year, when he at times single-handedly prevented United from losing more games than they eventually did, with David Moyes.

The new regime under Van Gaal has seen the 23-year-old adjust slowly to the Dutch coach's philosophy, and he has seemed nervous at times, with the experience of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra ripped out of his back line, leaving him vulnerable and unprotected. 

But against Everton, we saw the real de Gea. The Toffees tried their best to spoil United's day, but it was the Spaniard who guaranteed his team the win.

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De Gea has now entered the elite band of goalkeepers in world football, and he is arguably the best in his position in the Premier League.

Manuel Neuer may still be considered the greatest on the planet for the time being, with Gianluigi Buffon close behind. But de Gea has his best years ahead of him, and his importance to Van Gaal's revolution cannot be underestimated.

However, despite de Gea's classy show, United ended the match with three other starlets on the pitch: Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett and James Wilson.

Fears have surfaced since Van Gaal's arrival that the traditions of the club's youth policy would not be met as United rebuilt, but this theory has been quashed as the Reds' kids have stood shoulder to shoulder with the superstar signings. 

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Blackett in particular has shone. His cameo against Everton, on for the injured Luke Shaw, was important, as he threw himself in front of a Gareth Barry shot in stoppage time, preventing a certain equaliser. 

Blackett has been a sensation since breaking through during pre-season, and he could soon find himself positioned ahead of Chris Smalling in the pecking order for club and country. 

McNair has also displayed his abundance of qualities and repaid the faith Van Gaal has recently shown in him. The 19-year-old faced the daunting task of marking Romelu Lukaku, but he showed no fear as he marshaled the highly rated Belgium powerhouse. It was a battle that he certainly won. 

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United definitely need to continue the reconstruction of the squad over the next 12 months, but the new boss has shown that he will create a traditional Manchester United team in his own image.

The chemistry is growing by the game for United's new team, and the evidence is compelling—if de Gea and Company can organically find their form as a unit, then Champions League qualification will be within the Red Devils' reach.

United now sit fourth in the table ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool, per PremierLeague.com, and you can argue they have not even got close to hitting top gear.

What happens when Van Gaal's boys show the league what is really under the bonnet?

When the injuries have cleared up and this United incarnation is comfortable in its own skin, we will find that Chelsea and Manchester City have a dark horse stalking their hopes of glory and dominance.