A fools hope
It looks like we may have just made it, with the win over Palace and Liverpool drawing with Chelsea we have pretty much confirmed a top four finish. It was by no means a good performance that won us the game at Selhurst Park but being fortunate enough to own De Gea and an inform Ashley Young. So prior to the game I had predicted our starting XI and I was one player out, I thought van Gaal may drop Rooney back again with RvP up top considering he did an ok job last week despite failing to find the net. I was very surprised when firstly RvP wasn't in the first eleven but then also not on the bench. I know that prior to the match a couple of players were ruled out due to illness but I don't remember RvP on that list, anyway, the absence of him was, for me, quite surprising. By no means did we play well, at all. Attacking wise we looked pretty slow and there was a lack of support for Rooney in the centre which saw a lot of balls end up going straight to the defence or through to the goalkeeper. I know we have to let go of the old United but I don't think we should have to let it go completely. The use of wing play has always been strong for us but the last couple of seasons it has seemed non existent. Players take the ball to the touch line, turn around and pass back and it repeats over and over until someone loses the ball or someone tries to go central. However, had we been crossing the ball there has barely been anyone in the box to attack it so overall the whole concept of wing play seems to have deserted us. Defensively we looked pretty shaky again, especially so having Valencia being taking on by Bolasie who will tear him apart most days. Valencia's defending has been getting worse recently and the sooner we get a new right back, the better. Like I said before, the game was won mostly because we are fortunate enough to have De Gea (for the time being at least). After what I'd say was his worse game of the season against Everton a couple of weeks ago he was back to making ridiculous saves that kept us in the match and overall on course to finish top four. Quite honestly if we hadn't had him this season we could have finished seventh again, or worse. Now it's hope, but nothing more than fools hope that we could snatch third spot from Arsenal right at the end of the season. Overall they have deserved that spot this year but places don't always go to who deserves them. The loss to Swansea has kept the door very slightly open for us to rob them of automatic qualification to Europe. We have two games to their three, one of which is against each other. If, we can beat Arsenal this week and at the moment it's a big if, then we will move above them temporarily but it could cast doubt and panic into their minds. They will have Sunderland midweek next week and although it should be an easy game, we don't know what a defeat to us could do to them and their preparation. If they can just not win one of the other two games and we can manage to win our game then we could get third. Like I said though, only a fools hope. Onto very happy news, we have Memphis Depay!!!! Subject to medical obviously. I've been looking at the kid the last couple of years as he has been making some noise over in Holland as well as on the International scene. The thing I like about him is he's direct, he doesn't sod about with the ball, he chooses what to do and does it, like Hazard or Sanchez or Aguero. Note, I am not comparing him ability wise, it yet anyway. I've watched a few PSV games this season and I have seen him in a couple of games for Holland. He knows who he is and what he needs to do in the PSV side and he has been their main player this year alongside Wijnaldum scoring frequently from left wing. For the Dutch side he still has a bit to do, the change of head coach probably doesn't help when trying to hold down a position and build as a team but he has still shown potential. I'm not sure where he will play next year after Ashley Young's good season this year but I do know he can play across the front line so he might be rotated around a bit to start with. I expect less from him than I did Di Maria so I will probably have more patience, he will take time to settle but I personally think he has the talent to become a world class player for us. I look forward to seeing him play in the red of Manchester United. Hopefully more good transfers to come. Arsenal travel to the Theatre of Dreams this week knowing a win will secure them top three. They will want to play better than against Swansea and obviously just because they are against us. We are in for a very tough game and if we don't shake off this current form and come out as the team of five weeks ago we could be in for a bad day. Without Carrick to control the midfield we may find ourselves with little possession but what we do have we will have to make count. Put a doubt in their mind and they could crumble. Forever United.