Reds Can Be Optimistic

Has there ever been a more exciting time to support United?
That might appear a strange question following the club’s most disappointing season in recent history, with the Reds finishing seventh in the Barclays Premier League and suffering demoralising exits in both domestic cups and the UEFA Champions League, but the answer is arguably "no" for most fans.

As the results continually went sour throughout 2013/14, confirming the prospect of a trophy-less campaign, supporters were often reminded that we had been spoiled for over two decades under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson, the most decorated manager British football has ever seen. While that is definitely true, particularly for this 24-year-old writer, it doesn’t extinguish the fire in the belly and that yearning for success. If anything, it only fans the flames. What are we supposed to do, accept defeat? Winning silverware is ingrained into our club and it remains the main objective.

The appointments of Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs as his assistant have galvanised everyone that is emotionally attached to the club, particularly after watching Holland annihilate Spain in their World Cup opener before gleaning maximum points from tricky Group B encounters with Australia and Chile. Though nine points from nine is clearly impressive enough, the manner in which each victory was earned with wholly different tactics has captivated most. Pace and power destroyed the Spanish, guts and determination overcame the Aussies while the Chileans were stylishly picked apart, like a boxer keeping his opponent at bay with a series of jabs before executing knockout blows in the latter rounds. All of this has only whetted the appetite for August and United’s curtain-raising fixture with Swansea.

The questions that followed van Gaal’s hiring have also intrigued the mind. Who will be his United captain, which formation will he favour and just how long can he hold that 'death-stare'? But more importantly, as is always the case in football, which new players will arrive at the club? Thankfully, given that Twitter was about to implode with impatient fans, answers were provided on Thursday and Friday as Ander Herrera and then Luke Shaw signed on the dotted line, kick-starting what is widely viewed as a make-or-break summer.

While it is all too easy to get wrapped up in the furore surrounding big-money transfer fees, fans are quite right to be enthused by our new arrivals and what the 14/15 season has in store. Yes, observers will question both price tags - but honestly, which deal is not scrutinised in the modern game? The truth is that, in Herrera and Shaw, who have a combined age of only 42, United have invested in the future and two players who could represent the club for over 10 years apiece. Now I don’t know about you, but that represents outstanding value to me.

Herrera remains a relatively low-key name to the English public, but listen to any of the reputable Spanish journalists and his success at Old Trafford appears inevitable. “I feel sure that within a year, everyone at the club will be saying what a great signing he has been,” explained Guillem Balague, prior to the deal being concluded. “I am also convinced that - while he still needs to score a few more goals - his quick feet and brain will make him a key member of the Spanish national side. And a Manchester United star.”

As for Shaw, Premier League fans are well-aware of his considerable abilities and another positive future awaits. Just ask his former Southampton team-mate Rickie Lambert, who spent years climbing the football pyramid before earning his first England cap at 32. His achievement is heartwarming but contrasts with Shaw, who took his own bow at 18. “Luke must think this is easy for everyone,” says Lambert, now a Liverpool player. “But it shows just how well he has done and he deserves everything he is getting. To be where he is in such short time is unbelievable. He has everything.”

So why not dream big? Admittedly, there is still work to do at Old Trafford and it's far too early to make predictions, but I see no reason why van Gaal's men cannot compete for trophies. This is United, after all. Anything can happen.

Credit: Manutd.com