Manchester United: Full Report Card for Every Position for October
Manchester United remained unbeaten in October, defeating Everton and drawing with West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea.
The 2-2 draw at West Brom halted United's momentum after back-to-back home wins over West Ham and Everton before the international break. However, United will head into Sunday's Manchester derby buoyed by Robin van Persie's late equaliser against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Here's a rundown of how the United players performed in October. Feel free to use the comments section below to agree, disagree and add your own.
Goalkeeper
1 of 5
David de Gea
David de Gea's performance against Everton was one of the standout individual displays in October. United won the game 2-1, but they may well have lost without De Gea's contribution. Against Chelsea, he made one of the saves of the season from Eden Hazard.
Grade: A
Full-Backs
2 of 5
Luke Shaw
After overcoming the hamstring injury he picked up during pre-season, Luke Shaw became United's first-choice left-back in October. It's important to remember he's still only 19 years old, but it's taking him time to settle in. He gave away a penalty against Everton and struggled against West Brom.
Grade: C
Rafael
Like Shaw, it's taking time for Rafael to understand his role in Louis van Gaal's system. In the Dutchman's diamond midfield, there's a lot of responsibility on the full-backs to provide the width. It has not helped Rafael show that he's improving defensively, but he has been a threat going forward. He will have been disappointed to have lost Didier Drogba for Chelsea's goal during the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Grade: B
Centre-Backs
3 of 5
Marcos Rojo
United's back four still looks vulnerable, and Marcos Rojo is a part of that. He's not been helped by having a string of different centre-half partners, but he always looks moments away from a mistake. It could just be teething problems as he adapts to a new league. He's got the pace and strength to make a good centre-back.
Grade: B
Phil Jones
Phil Jones didn't do much wrong against West Brom, but he was ruled out of the game against Chelsea, and his injury record is becoming a worry. If he can't stay fit, then United look even more threadbare at centre-half than they do already.
Grade: B
Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling probably wouldn't have played against Chelsea if Jones had been fit. He would have been relieved that Diego Costa wasn't playing given the Spanish striker's form so far this season, but he stood up well to the physical challenge of marking Costa's replacement, Didier Drogba.
Grade: B
Paddy McNair
Paddy McNair was only known to keen watchers of the under-21s before being thrown in at the deep end against West Ham. But the 19-year-old acquitted himself well in both games, especially when he kept Romelu Lukaku very quiet in the match against Everton. He would have probably kept his place against West Brom had it not been for a hamstring injury.
Grade: A
Midfielders
4 of 5
Daley Blind
Daley Blind has been asked to do an almost impossible job since arriving from Ajax—protect a shaky back four on his own. He couldn't do much when West Brom hit United on the break twice at the Hawthorns, but he did pop up at the other end with a late equaliser. He looked more comfortable against Chelsea with the physical presence of Marouane Fellaini next to him. But there's always a danger his lack of pace is going to be exposed.
Grade: B
Adnan Januzaj
Adnan Januzaj struggled to find his place in Van Gaal's new-look team early on in the season. He looked rusty on his first start of the season against West Brom, but he was better against Chelsea. He laid a chance on a plate for Van Persie with one delicious pass that carved Jose Mourinho's side open.
Grade: B
Wayne Rooney's suspension gave the Spaniard an unexpected chance to prove he deserves a regular place in Van Gaal's team. But he didn't take it. He showed glimpses of what he's capable of in the first half against Chelsea, but he was poor against Everton and West Brom and will struggle to keep his place now Rooney is back.
Grade: C
Angel Di Maria
The Argentinian has been United's best player this season. He scored one and made one against Everton and looked the most likely to break down West Brom's stubborn defence before he was substituted. Asked to play wider against Chelsea, he had his quietest game since signing from Real Madrid. He could well find himself moved back inside when United play City at the weekend.
Grade: A
Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini looked to be on his way out in the summer. But after a goal against West Brom and an impressive performance against Chelsea and Cesc Fabregas, it's likely the Belgian midfielder will keep his place for Sunday's Manchester derby. It's been quite a turnaround for a player many fans had written off as a flop.
Grade: B
Ander Herrera
Herrera only played once in October: the 2-2 draw with West Brom. Paying in a more advanced role, almost alongside Juan Mata, he struggled to have any influence and was substituted at half-time.
Grade: C
Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia played on the right side of Van Gaal's diamond midfield against Everton. And despite being asked to play in a slightly different position, he was impressive. It's likely he would have kept his place had he not picked up an injury.
Grade: B
Strikers
5 of 5
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie started the games against Everton and West Brom but didn't play well in either. It led to calls from some fans that he should be dropped for Chelsea's visit to Old Trafford. He scored in back-to-back games against Leicester and West Ham, but he's struggled for form all season. Van Gaal will hope his late equaliser against Chelsea will change that.
Grade: B
Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao scored his first United goal against Everton. It was a real striker's goal, scored from close range after he had reacted quickest to Di Maria's scuffed shot. It was the type of goal he's been brought to Old Trafford to score.
Grade: B
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