5 Things Learned from Manchester United's 2014/15 Premier League Season

Manchester United's mixed-bag of a 2014/15 season has drawn to a close. But what has been learned from the campaign? What can be unpicked from the very-high highs and the many bumpy lows? 

Let's take a look at five things that have either emerged or become clearer over the course of Louis van Gaal's first crack at managing United.

Manchester United Fans Are Prepared to Be Patient: But Not Forever

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United fans have been generally fulsome in their support for the manager, even when he endured a difficult start. Van Gaal summed up the crowd's response during his infamous end-of-season awards speech. He said, per Sky Sports:

"I came in the stadium of Old Trafford, 10 matches, 13 points, and I came in. I saw by myself how I have to behave myself [here he mimed a deflated shuffle] and then the public are applauding, standing up and I thought: 'How is it possible that the fans are supporting me?'."

In truth, there is quite a simple answer to that question, and it is that the same fans had endured a season under David Moyes. While Moyes received a good deal of vocal support, the truth is that fans were thoroughly demoralised by his reign. After Moyes' negativity, Van Gaal's bluster, authority and optimism were a tonic. 

Key results have helped foster support for Van Gaal and the sense that United are progressing. Doing the double over Liverpool and beating Manchester City at Old Trafford were huge results for fans after last season's limp defeats. 

However, as Van Gaal himself knows, becoming a club which celebrates a fourth-place finish like a trophy is not going to be a natural fit for United. Expect many more grumblings if next season features as much mediocrity as the one just gone.

Ander Herrera Is from the Top Drawer and a Perfect Match for the Premier League

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A player who has almost never been mediocre this season is Ander Herrera. Of all of United's summer signings, Herrera is the only unqualified success. 

He has racked up goals and assists, contributed enormously when United have been without the ball and was my pick for outfield player of the season. If he had played more in the first half of the season then he may have run his friend David De Gea closer for the overall award. 

Indeed, United may have been much better off if Herrera had featured earlier. Van Gaal's reluctance to incorporate him into the first team seemed odd while it was happening but genuinely baffling in retrospect. Herrera has made a huge difference to United's fluency in possession while also being a very important source of goals. 

He is already a huge fan favourite, and if he stays at the club for an extended period, that position should only be solidified.

They Urgently Need a Striker

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At the end of last summer's transfer window, one of the few positions that seemed to be taken care of was centre-forward. A couple of years ago, a strike force of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao would have been absolutely world beating. 

This season it looked like a damp squib. Twelve, 10 and four league goals, respectively, was a dismal return from such storied strikers. Rooney gets a slight pass for playing much of the season out of position, but not entirely, because he was hardly prolific once he was restored to centre-forward. 

Nine months ago, no one would have suggested United would need to strengthen up-front this summer, but United have certainly learned that they need to. Falcao has already gone, and unless Rooney and Van Persie can rediscover some consistent form, a new striker is a must.

There Is a Lot of Work Still to Be Done and Money Won't Automatically Do It

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Angel Di Maria's signing should have made a huge difference to United's season. In his first few games for the club it looked like he could single-handedly lift the Red Devils to new heights. 

Of course, as everyone knows, it has not worked out that way. 

A quick glance at the squad would suggest that a new right-back, a commanding and experienced centre-back, a box-to-box midfielder and a centre-forward would be close to the minimum additions needed to help United close the 17-point gap between themselves and Chelsea. 

And almost all of those signings would have to be able to hit the ground running, something which is certainly not guaranteed, as we have seen over the course of the past season. Throwing money at the problem is no guarantee of success, and Ed Woodward and Van Gaal have a big task on their hands.

Louis Van Gaal Is a Lot of Fun

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To end on a happier note, this season we have learned that Louis van Gaal is a lot of fun. Of course—while fans in England were perhaps not aware of the more jovial side of his character—we should already have known this.

After all, this is the man who was prepared to send himself off by walking off the set of a TV show as part of a comedy sketch, and who did such a good job of it that it was reported as real. He is the man who danced to funky-house music on a barge in Amsterdam. 

And, of course, he is the man who gave this speech when Bayern Munich won the league in 2009/10.

From comments about his "twitchy ass," to his magnificent end-of-season speech, Van Gaal has been entertaining throughout the season. He has his own take on the English language—United fans will always know what a trainer-coach is from now—and was prepared to chant his own chant with fans.

Van Gaal is a good deal of fun, and next season, United fans will be hoping the football is too.