Ranking Manchester United's Top 5 Players for October

October has not been a great month for Louis van Gaal and Manchester United. It was always going to be tough—the fixture calendar saw to that. There is, of course, one more game to go, and a win at Selhurst Park on Saturday would put a pleasing shine on what has been a tough old slog.

It started very badly indeed. For all the stodgy and uninspiring football on show against Middlesbrough in the League Cup, it was the first 19 minutes of football of the month that was the worst.

Arsenal were perceived as United's first true test of the season, and United arrived for that examination without a pen, paper or apparently even the basic notion of what they were going to be asked about.

From there, it could have been much worse, but a refreshed XI took to the field at Goodison Park in the next match and put on United's best display of the season.

It was not so much a corner turned as a glimmer of hope, though. What followed were two creditable, if not exactly pulse-quickening draws away to CSKA Moscow and at home to Manchester City. Following that came Boro and a League Cup performance that will soon be forgotten.

United's squad has had some decent performers throughout the month to date. Of the following ranking of the top five, the top three have been pretty consistent. No. 4 and No. 5 each put in at least one good display.

The top four were fairly easy to select, but fifth place was a battle. Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia were unlucky to miss out—they are this month's honourable mentions.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the list.

5: Marcos Rojo

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Marcos Rojo played four times for United in October—against Everton, CSKA Moscow, City and Middlesbrough.

It is for his performances against Everton and City that he sneaks ahead of Jones to earn fifth place. He looked defensively solid against Everton, something that had been absent from United's left-back berth since Luke Shaw's injury.

He also managed to contribute a fine assist for Ander Herrera's goal in that game—a perfectly weighted cross that Herrera headed home.

However, it was against City wherein he truly shone. Van Gaal said of his performance, per Sky Sports:

"

Rojo played a very good match, not only against [Kevin] De Bruyne but also against Jesus Navas. He had very good passes and very good crosses so I am very satisfied with him.

It is only his third game this season; he has hardly played for 90 minutes. I am very happy that at last he has the condition to play a full match.

"

Frequently called upon to take the ball off a City attacker, he made seven tackles, the most of anyone on the pitch.

He may not quite be a replacement for Shaw in terms of all-round left-back play, but his defensive contributions have been significant. But for a wobble against CSKA Moscow, he may have been higher up this list.

4: Ander Herrera

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

In truth, Ander Herrera makes the top five here by virtue of one particularly outstanding performance. He was decent against CSKA Moscow, particularly in the second half, and his through ball for Valencia in the build up to Anthony Martial's goal was a stunner.

He struggled to influence the game against Manchester City, though he did provide a vital defensive contribution, making four tackles and helping to break up City counter-attacks. 

In United's best performance of the month, if not the season, though, Herrera was a crucial figure. With a goal and assist against Everton, his return to the starting XI was the tonic many believed it could be.

He got both of his shots on target, completed 93 per cent of his 43 passes, and two of those were key. The run he made for his goal was classic attacking-midfield play, and Everton's defence were well beaten by it.

Brought into the side as the No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1, it might be that even better would be to come should Van Gaal adapt to an authentic 4-3-3. In that case, Herrera could make the best use of his box-to-box abilities.

However, whatever the formation, the Dutchman should ensure Herrera is a key part of his plans.

3: Anthony Martial

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/Getty Images

Anthony Martial has had a quieter month than he did in September. In September, he managed four goals and one assists, but October has seen just the one goal.

However, he has still, for the most part, been the best thing about United's attack. For reasons best known to himself, Van Gaal has moved Martial to the left to accommodate Wayne Rooney at centre-forward. Martial has adapted well, and his ability to beat defenders with the ball at his feet has been on spectacular show.

Against Everton, he completed seven successful dribbles. Against Moscow it was three. Against City, it was seven again.

His impact would surely be even greater if he was more central—after all, his goal on October came from a fine moment of centre-forward play in Moscow, albeit he was nominally playing on the left.

Not as electric as he was in September, then, but for looking like United's most potent attacking threat for much of the month, he deserves his spot here.

2: Chris Smalling

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Chris Smalling's excellent form has become the norm. October was the month wherein he was called a future captain of the club by his manager, per Sky Sports. It was the month his current captain, Wayne Rooney, called him one of the top three defenders in the world, per United Review (h/t United's website). 

United conceded three goals in their first 19 minutes of football in October but have only conceded one since, and Smalling is a big part of why that is. His leadership role is clear, as he takes charge and organises United's defence on set pieces, for example.

His concentration levels look as high as they have ever done—it is hard to think of him making a poor decision when the opposition has had the ball all month.

The man the fans call "Mike" is having a heck of a season. He beats out those beneath him in this list for his consistency throughout October.

1: Morgan Schneiderlin

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

Smalling's place in the top five is not surprising. Morgan Schneiderlin's emergence as man of the month, though, is perhaps less expected. It is, however, thoroughly deserved. Schneiderlin benefits from not having been involved in either the Arsenal or Boro debacles.

When he has played, he has looked like the heir apparent to Michael Carrick.

He started the scoring against Everton. It was a well-taken finish at a moment when he was in the right place at the right time. His overall contribution in that game far exceeded his goal, though. Four tackles, two interceptions and two clearances saw him help break up Everton's counter-attacks.

His passing was exceptional—he made more passes than anyone else on the pitch, 71, and he completed 97.2 per cent of them. It was a metronomic and influential performance.

Against CSKA Moscow, he once again made more passes than anyone else on the pitch, 128 this time, with a still-impressive 93.9 per cent completion rate. Again, he was crucial in breaking up counters, making three tackles and two interceptions.

It was a similar story against City, although here it was his defensive contribution that stood out. He stopped Yaya Toure from exerting an influence on the game, something United's midfield have struggled to do since the Ivorian arrived in Manchester in 2010.

October was the first month in which Schneiderlin looked truly comfortable at United. He appears to have negotiated the step up and looks set to be a very important player for the season ahead.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.