The Highs and Lows for Manchester United in 2015
Manchester United have ended 2015 with a whimper. Without a win in eight games, there was some fightback against Chelsea in the year's final fixture, but not enough to indicate that 2016 comes with any guarantees of success.
However, there were some memorable and enjoyable moments in the year just gone, as well as some memorable but much less enjoyable scenes.
Let's take a chronological journey through the highs and lows of the year. And then let's hope 2016 brings the Red Devils a lot more of the former and considerably fewer of the latter.
Hard Work and Then Defeat in the FA Cup
1 of 13
The FA Cup offered United an important shot at some silverware in the 2014/15 season, but they made very heavy weather of it, and thus it stands as the year's first real low point. First of all came Yeovil Town—a game that United needed late goals to win.
Then the 0-0 draw at Cambridge United meant a home replay was needed. They even went behind to Preston North End in their fifth-round clash.
Finally came the real low, as United academy graduate Danny Welbeck, a man described by his England colleague Joe Hart as a "mad, mad, mad Manchester United fan," per Mark Bailey of the Evening Standard, scored the goal that sent United out of the cup.
It was a moment of real disappointment, as the trophy that has been elusive for United for so long remained so for another season.
Juanfield!
2 of 13
Happier times soon followed, though, and United's best performance at Anfield in recent memory played out on March 22.
It was the game that will forever be remembered as "Juanfield." When playing off the right of a 4-3-3, Juan Mata ran the show, scoring two goals, including a brilliant scissor-kick volley that might just have been the high point of the entire year.
Mata's recent form may not have been particularly impressive, and he has been less effective on the right of a 4-2-3-1 than he was when he was allowed the false-winger role in Louis van Gaal's 4-3-3, but he has given United fans plenty to celebrate throughout 2015, and this was his best game.
This game also featured a moment of peak schadenfreude, as United fans celebrated Steven Gerrard's almost-instant dismissal after he came on as a second-half substitute.
Manchester City Are Brushed Aside
3 of 13
The Manchester derby has been a tricky fixture for United in recent times, but April 2015 saw United completely dominate Manchester City at Old Trafford.
It was the end of a run of games that essentially secured fourth place and Champions League qualification and perhaps should have seen United make a more sustained push for the title, but they lost to Chelsea in their subsequent game, and that saw the wheels come off.
However, their superiority to City in almost every department in the 4-2 win at Old Trafford was a joy to watch for the red side of Manchester, and it meant bragging rights were temporarily re-secured. If only Van Gaal had taken the template he established in the Liverpool game and this game and continued to pursue it.
Signing the Schmidfield
4 of 13
After the season petered out, it was time to get excited about transfers, and one day in July provided plenty of that. United signed Bastian Schweinsteiger but managed to unexpectedly add Morgan Schneiderlin to the announcement.
After years of bemoaning the lack of investment in United's midfield, here were two very fine players brought in to strengthen the ranks.
Schweinsteiger's easy charm and reputation for quality made him an instant hit with fans, and Schneiderlin's solid presence has often been important this season. The full story of the impact of their signing is far from written, but on that heady day in July 2015, their arrival provided plenty of optimism and joy.
The Angel Di Maria Saga
5 of 13
Of course, the transfer window also brought some lows, and one of them was the departure of Angel Di Maria. It was not so much that he left the club—by the time he did, there were few United fans holding out much hope that he would stay.
Rather, it was the whole of his time at United, especially once 2015 hit, that was such a disappointment. All the initial hope and promise that he brought with him slowly evaporated. His performances dropped off a cliff, and in the end, few were sorry to see him leave. It was the end of a beautiful dream for United fans, and it marks a definite low point in the year.
The Goals Dry Up
6 of 13
United's start to the 2015/16 season was fairly stodgy. They nicked a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hostpur and another against Aston Villa. They brushed Club Brugge aside, but the Belgian team proved not to be a substantial opposition.
Then came Newcastle United's visit to Old Trafford and the first of a remarkable seven 0-0 draws this season. That particular game was frustrating in the extreme, and it seemed at the time to be a bit of an aberration. Surely if that fixture was played in the same manner 10 times, United would win nine of them?
The evidence of the rest of the season so far suggests not. The struggle for goals has continued and is the biggest challenge facing the manager as he heads into a new year. Each of the seven 0-0s has been frustrating and disappointing.
Barring perhaps the game against Manchester City at Old Trafford, they each represent an individual low, but taken collectively, they have drained much of the joy out of watching United. This has to change in 2016.
Dave Stays!
7 of 13
The transfer window then ended with another high.
David De Gea was gone. Everyone had pretty much accepted it, and the prospect of a De Gea-less future loomed on the insecure horizon. He was dropped from the side for the beginning of the season, and against Swansea City in particular, Sergio Romero did a fine job of making the Red Devils miss their Dave.
Then suddenly, De Gea was not gone. The transfer fell through right on the cusp of deadline day. He was back in the side, and shortly afterwards, he had signed a new four-year contract. Perhaps it will be a stay of execution and he will still leave, but he has proved vital time and again this season.
Dave staying was most certainly a highlight.
'Welcome to Manchester United, Anthony Martial!'
8 of 13
Along with Mata's goal at Anfield, Anthony Martial's debut goal at Old Trafford—also against Liverpool—is the standout individual moment of United's 2015.
It was brilliant. There was so much furore around his signing. A huge amount of money had been invested to secure a relatively low-profile youngster.
He instantly showed why that risk had been taken. It was a superb goal and one of those moments when a television commentator hugely enhances the experience.
Watching on Sky Sports, it was brilliant to hear Martin Tyler's reaction as he cried "Oh yes! Welcome to Manchester United, Anthony Martial!," per Burton Mail. His breathless enthusiasm was an apt addition to a magical moment.
Since then, Martial has hinted that this was far from a one-off and has been United's standout attacking player of the season so far. But the real high was the instant impact he made on his debut.
Luke Shaw's Injury
9 of 13
Sadly, that was to prove the last real highlight of 2015, and the year has petered out to an unpleasant end.
Luke Shaw's season had started very brightly indeed. His injury against PSV Eindhoven was probably a greater blow than losing the match. He was in fine form, both providing superb defensive cover and contributing to United's attacks down the left flank.
Indeed, it is hard not to wonder just how much better Van Gaal's side would be playing if Shaw had not suffered a broken leg from Hector Moreno's challenge.
On a human level, it was horrible to see someone in such pain and distress, and from a football perspective, it denied United one of their most important players.
Blitzed by Arsenal
10 of 13
The 19-minute spell at the start of United's trip to the Emirates was a particular low point. Arsenal blew United away with penetrative and devastating attacking football of a kind that has rarely been on show from the Red Devils this season.
It was immensely frustrating for fans who have seen United have Arsenal's number time and again by playing sensible counter-attacking football against them. Instead, Van Gaal set his team to press high up the pitch, and it was a total disaster.
Not Beating 'Boro
11 of 13
A different kind of disaster unfolded at Old Trafford with the visit of Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup. With United not winning any meaningful silverware since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, they could not afford to take this competition lightly.
However, a heavily rotated side was unable to break down 'Boro's stubborn defence, and United eventually lost with one of the limpest and most lacklustre attempts to win a penalty shootout you could ever have the misfortune to witness. It was a great evening for 'Boro fans but a miserable one for United.
No More Champions League...
12 of 13
Having fought hard to get back into the Champions League, it was immensely dispiriting to see United fail to qualify through the group stage.
Other than Shaw's injury, the most distinct lowlight was not the final defeat to Wolfsburg but the home draw with PSV. The second half of that game was as bad as United have played all season, as they almost never looked like getting what would have been a vital win.
It was a very disappointing return to Europe.
Boxing Day Blues at Stoke
13 of 13
The penultimate fixture of the year was among the worst.
Disorganised and toothless in attack, and calamitous in defence, it looked like there was no way back for Van Gaal.
United have stuck with their manager since, and there were some signs of hope against Chelsea, but the memory of the defeat at Stoke that followed on the heels of the defeat to Norwich City at home looms large.
It would be very nice if United could avoid playing this poorly at any point in the year ahead. Given how low that sets the bar, it should be an achievable goal.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
