Manchester United Facing Crucial Spell in Bid Show They Are Making Progress

If we're being honest, Manchester United are halfway through a very odd season. It's the middle of January, and we still don't know what they are.

Are Louis van Gaal's side title challengers? Or are they no better than David Moyes' United? The stats don't tell you anything. The defeat to Southampton was their first in 12 games. But if you choose to look at it a different way, they've won one of their last five in the Premier League.

At this stage last season, Moyes had a marginally superior record, and he was sacked three months later. But he left a team in seventh. United are fourth and, so far, on track to meet their target of qualifying for the Champions League.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

So is it a good season or a bad season? Or is it too early to tell? They've had some good results, beating Arsenal at the Emirates and Liverpool at Old Trafford. But there have been some poor ones as well. Losing at home to Swansea and away to Leicester are just two.

They have been consistently inconsistent, and when they arrive at Loftus Road to play QPR on Saturday, no one will quite know what to expect.

But the uncomfortable truth for Van Gaal is that they need to win in the capital this weekend as they head into a crucial two-month spell.

Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Before mid-March, United won't play anyone they shouldn't beat. After QPR, they play Leicester, West Ham, Burnley, Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle and Tottenham before a date with Liverpool at Anfield on March 21.

Three of those games—against QPR, Leicester and Burnley—are against three of the bottom four. United don't play a team in the top five until Manchester City visit Old Trafford for the second derby of the season on April 11.

It's a run of games that give Van Gaal's side the chance to dodge an awkward end to the season. The Dutchman won't want to be scratching around for points in the final month of the season to make sure they finish in the top four. Ideally, he'll want it sown up long before then. It's also an opportunity to show that progress has been made since the dark days of last season.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

With the squad returning to full strength, there's no reason why that shouldn't happen in the next two months. However, it's worth noting that they couldn't beat Swansea, Sunderland, Burnley or Leicester in their first five games.

United's season has reached a critical juncture after defeat to Southampton left them at something of a tipping point. A good run against teams they should be beating will help ease their passage back into Europe.

On the other hand, a few disappointing results, like the ones they suffered at the start of the season, and there will be awkward questions about the progress that has been made. It is time for United to deliver on all that promise.