5 Main Reasons Why Manchester United Will Improve in 2015/16 Season

With just over a month to go until the season kicks off again, Manchester United will be hopeful their 2015/16 campaign is a considerable improvement on 2014/15. 

Inherently, the following involves speculation, and it may be that none of it actually come to pass, but here are five reasons why United could be better next time around.

A Year Under Louis van Gaal

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This is probably the most important reason. United's relationship with the Dutchman's philosophy has been mixed thus far. 

However, with a full year working under Louis van Gaal behind them, the playing staff should be better placed to execute on his wishes. Combine that with the assumption he will pick a settled formation and his squad will be less afflicted by injuries, and we should see what something closer to what Van Gaal's United is actually designed to look like.

Van Gaal will also be coming into the season refreshed from a break rather than on the back of a long World Cup campaign.

Mostly, though, it is the 12 months spent under his tutelage that should see his players ready to play Van Gaal football.

Football-Minded Pre-Season

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United have long seemed to prioritise commercial interests over footballing preparation during pre-season. 

Sir Alex Ferguson was content to roll with the punches, apparently confident he could get the team to perform under any circumstance. David Moyes was not necessarily in a position of enough authority to get the club to change its plans for his first and only pre-season in charge. 

Van Gaal, though, has insisted on a more manageable pre-season tour, per Mark Ogden of the Telegraph. He has also done away with the pre-season friendly at Old Trafford after the tour finishes, per Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star.

If commercial interests were not a factor at all, there would be no elaborate pre-season tour at all. But Van Gaal has at least got the club to compromise between the needs of commerce and the demands of footballing success. 

With a more performance-oriented pre-season under their belts, the team should start the season better than they did last time out.

Better-Balanced Squad

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It may not contain either of the men pictured above, but United's squad will be better next season.

A cursory glance at social media platforms reveals fans are getting jumpy about the fact United have not yet signed anyone besides Memphis Depay. However, there is a long way to go until the window shuts. 

By the time it does, United will have added players to their squad, and assuming they do not make any egregious errors, the squad will be better balanced.

Ander Herrera Will Be in the Side from the Get-Go

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It has previously been argued on B/R that Ander Herrera was United's best outfield player last season. That was in spite of having to endure lengthy spells on the sidelines. 

Next time around, there should be fewer of those. Van Gaal appears to have come to trust Herrera. And as well he might, as the man from the Basque Country should be the central to United's midfield plans next season.

Having him in the side from the start will be a big asset to the Red Devils.

Angel Di Maria Might Be Better

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Okay, remember earlier when the word "speculation" was used? This is where it really comes into its own. The previous four seem like relatively sure bets for improving United's fortunes.

This one, though, is a riskier shout. First off, there is the possibility he will not even be at United next season, with Jamie Sanderson of Metro citing "reports in France" for his suggestion that the club are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the player. 

Secondly, there is the fact that on Saturday night, Di Maria suffered the dual agonies of seeing his team lose a second major international tournament final in 12 months and picking up a hamstring injury, per Richard Jolly of ESPN FC. 

Thirdly, of course, there is the chance that last season was not a blip and that Angel Di Maria is not well suited for one or more of United, Van Gaal or the Premier League.

However, there is also the chance he will stay and that the man who has proved his doubters wrong time and again will do so once more. If he does, and he plays at anything like the level he has showed at the Copa America, United will be much better off than they were last time out.