5 Things Learned from Manchester United's 2015/16 Season

Now that Manchester United's season is finally over, many fans will be keen to look to the future. However, as the old adage goes, those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.

So before we look to the future, let's make sure we've learned the lessons of the immediate past.

In a season which for the most part confirmed previously suspected information—Wayne Rooney is no longer able to lead the line, Louis van Gaal's football is a little on the slow side these days, that sort of thing—let's take a look at some of the things which emerged as brand new information.

Anthony Martial Is the Real Deal

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Martial scores an injury-time winner in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

From the infamous "What a Waste of Money" headline on the back of the Daily Mirror (h/t Peoples Person), plenty of attention has been given to the £36 million United paid for Anthony Martial.

At the end of the season, the verdict is unequivocal—he was worth every penny.

From his opening goal against Liverpool to his late winner against Everton, time and again this season Martial has been the best reason to buy a ticket for a United match.

He is clearly the real deal. He has endured little performance slumps and then come back stronger. He has played up front and on the left and managed to carve out chances in an attack which did not create too many. Seeing what he can do in a Jose Mourinho side will be fascinating.

United Really Do Need a Top-Class Central Defender

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United need an upgrade on their centre-back pairing.

Daley Blind has outperformed expectations at centre-back this season, but his bad games have been hugely costly to United. Similar could be said for Chris Smalling who started the campaign in great form but tailed off following a winter injury.

United really need a new centre-half.

Think how different the season could have been with a different outcome in games at Swansea City or Tottenham Hotspur when defensive vulnerabilities had a bright spotlight shone on them.

Think back to United's 1-0 home win over Watford and how remarkably fortunate the Red Devils were to emerge from that game with a point, let alone all three.

And think back to the crucial tie at West Ham United in the league, a virtual UEFA Champions League qualification decider, when Blind's performance meant United were lucky to go into half-time at 1-0 down. Then there's their terrible set-piece record. 

United definitely need a new centre-back or two to bolster their defensive ranks.

Luke Shaw Can Be United's Left-Back for Many Years to Come

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Luke Shaw began the season in excellent form.

After last season, it looked unclear whether Luke Shaw was going to settle in at United.

During the early part of this season, though—before he had his leg broken in a challenge with PSV Eindhoven's Hector Moreno—Shaw made it abundantly clear he was going to be United's left-back for a long time to come.

Per the Daily Mail, Van Gaal said in July 2015: "I think that this shall be the season of Luke Shaw."

He was well on his way to being proved correct. As long as the 20-year-old is not left with any permanent damage by his injury, he has shown he will be a star at United.

Marcus Rashford Is the Real Deal

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Rashford in mid-flight during the FA Cup final.

Anthony Martial is not the only attacking discovery made at United this season. The talented Marcus Rashford has emerged onto the first-team scene and made himself undroppable.

He began scoring immediately, made a crucial impact in big games like the derby at the Etihad Stadium and the FA Cup quarter-final replay and has now found himself in the England squad. Before he had to go off with an injury, he had probably been United's best player in the cup final on Saturday.

Such was the quality of his performance at Wembley that Roy Hodgson said, per BBC Sport: "[The cup final] shows my idea of selecting Rashford wasn't a stupid idea."

The 18-year-old looks to be a phenomenal talent.

The FA Cup Is Not Enough

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Louis van Gaal Manager / head coach of Manchester United lifts the FA Cup trophy during the presentation ceremony after The Emirates FA Cup final match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wem

Bringing an end to the post-Sir Alex Ferguson trophy drought was not enough to save Louis van Gaal's job.

And nor should it have been, given the failure to qualify for the Champions League and the interminably dull football often on show for much of the season.

For United, the FA Cup is not a barometer of success, rather it is a nice bonus.

It was lovely that Van Gaal got to end his United career on a high—in terms of his last match if not the furore around his departure—but we now know for sure that one piece of silverware is not enough for the powers that be at Old Trafford.