Reviewing Louis Van Gaal's First Few Months as Manchester United Manager

Expectations are a funny thing. They can shoot up, or plummet, at a moment's notice based on little more than a good performance or a poor one.

Louis van Gaal was appointed as Manchester United manager at a time when expectations at Old Trafford were as low as they've been for a long time. It had been two decades since Sir Alex Ferguson had the luxury of heading into a season with the aim of finishing in the top four rather than challenging for the title.

David Moyes' disastrous year in charge meant when Van Gaal was named as the new manager, fourth place was enough. But then the Dutchman had an impressive World Cup with his national team and spent £155 million on Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and the rest.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Some United fans looked at their new squad, and their new manager, and set their sights a little higher. But that was until a disappointing start to the season that saw United win just one of their first six games.

Then came a run of six wins in a row, their best run of form since Ferguson was in charge. It included wins at Arsenal and Southampton and at home against Liverpool. It prompted cautious talk of a title challenge—until a disappointing draw against Aston Villa's 10 men at the weekend.

At times, it's been difficult to keep up.

Expectations are sure to go up and down a few more times during the second half of the season. United have shown themselves to be capable of beating anyone—and unfortunately for Van Gaal, losing to anyone as well.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

But that shouldn't affect the overriding belief that the Dutchman has done a good job so far. This time last year, United were on the verge of an awful run that left Champions League football out of reach. This year, United sit third with their destiny firmly in their own hands.

There are areas of Van Gaal's management that worry some United fans. They feel he should have signed a world-class centre-back to compensate for the loss of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. Some don't like his use of a three-man defence. Others are concerned at the number of tactical tweaks he makes during games.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

But his immediate aim after taking over from Moyes was to get United back into the Champions League. And in mid-December, that looks likely.

He's had a crippling injury list to deal with, one that has already forced him to use 21 different centre-back combinations in just 17 games in the Premier League. Yet his team are still on track to meet their minimum target.

United could yet win the Premier League title. Stranger things have happened. They might even win the FA Cup, a competition Van Gaal has promised to take seriously this season.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

It is, though, pointless to judge him on what might happen in the future. You can only assess his first few months in charge by what he's already done. 

And almost halfway through the season, he's given United a realistic chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League. They've even got an outside chance of winning the title.

Expectations at Old Trafford will almost always be higher than they are this season. But in his first year, a top-four finish is the target. He's on track to do it, and that's all you can ask.