Rooney Spares United's Blushes.

Manchester United 1 Sheffield United 0

Wayne Rooney's 93rd minute spot kick sent Manchester United into the draw for the FA Cup 4th round after another dismal display that had the fans voicing their dismay at the final whistle.

United put their Premier League pursuit on the back burner to concentrate on the FA Cup as they welcomed Sheffield United to Old Trafford for the 3rd round.

It has been too long since United lifted the oldest club cup competition when they defeated Millwall in 2004. Since then Arsenal has gone on to take over the record of most wins so a run to the final is long overdue for the Red Devils.

Van Gaal and his players had spoken of their desire to win the cup in the build up to the clash so it was interesting to see how they approached it starting with a tie which on paper they should have, like the weather, stormed through.

The side that van Gaal decided to put out had a strong look to it: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Schweinsteiger, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Rooney and Martial.

With Young in the 'red zone', there was another chance for youngster Borthwick-Jackson to join a recalled Darmian in the back four and Fellaini received the nod in midfield with the duo of Carrick and Schneiderlin being given a rest.

Recalled loanee Will 'Mike' Keane joined the squad on the bench with other youngsters Lingard and Pereira. Memphis was once again made to bide his time as he was named as a substitute.

It was a rain lashed Old Trafford that welcomed the two sides who last met at this stage of the cup on the same day in 1995 when United prevailed 2-0 at Bramall Lane.

United got the match underway with hopes of seeing off the League One side without any nerves or jitters that have blighted their season.

The travelling fans of around 8,000 made themselves heard around the Theatre of Dreams which had plenty of empty seats.

United passed the ball well in the opening minutes without creating a clear chance on goal. Fellaini was too slow with his distribution from midfield when he had plenty of chances to spread the ball wide to increase the tempo of the move, but his lack of intensity gave the away side time to readjust.

After a quarter of an hour, it seemed that United's tactics were to bore the opposition to death, maybe the weather dampened the proceedings but even so this was awful from the home side.

De Gea was called into action when he tipped over a drive from Sammon but the Sheffield striker was penalised for a hand ball in the build-up.

Rooney then ballooned an effort high over the bar, then in the next attack, he failed to evade two defenders as Mata desperately waited for a cross.

The visitors came to life with a great move that ended with a delightful ball played across De Gea's area that had to be headed behind for a corner by Darmian.

Fellaini really looked to lack any purpose in his play as he gave a simple ball away in the middle of the park which provided Sheffield Utd with an opportunity to attack. Terrible and lazy play by the Belgian which cannot be accepted.

Darmian was trying his best to deliver the goods from the right wing, but the visitors were well organised at the back and dealt with everything United threw at them, which wasn't a lot to be honest.

Ten minutes before half-time Rooney was almost in on goal after a threaded ball from Herrera, but keeper Long reacted quickly by racing off his line to collect the ball at the captain's feet.

There was a shout for a penalty as Schweinsteiger seemed to be pulled back as he ran into the box chasing a through ball by Blind. It was all in vain as the referee waved play on.

The lack of ideas shown by United was evident when they won a couple of free-kicks. One was wasted by a short pass, when the area was packed. The other was hit straight against the defensive wall by Rooney.

Blind blasted over from the edge of the area with literally the last kick of the half and in that poor effort summed up the bad day United were having.

Half-time and those who had braved the rain witnessed a damp squid of a half in which United hadn't managed one effort on goal. Their play had reverted back to the desperate December displays and all this against a side from League One.

The visitors had come with a game plan to defend against United which had worked to frustrate the home team and the home fans who voiced their displeasure with boos once again ringing in the player's ears as they made their way down the tunnel.

Man United kicked off the second-half attacking the Stretford End with the hope of putting the dire first 45 minutes behind them with no changes made by van Gaal.

However, it was the same old story with misplaced passes together with a lack of conviction in their play that made for a very sorry sight indeed. In fact, it has to be said this was shaping up to be one of the worst United team displays ever seen on the famous Old Trafford pitch.

Hoofing the ball into the area aiming for the head of Fellaini, who made no serious effort to win the ball, was the best United had to offer.

The visitors began to sense the uncertainty in the home side and started to play some decent football without putting any serious pressure on De Gea's goal.

Van Gaal made a double change on the hour mark when he took off Herrera and Mata and introduced Lingard and Memphis, which didn't please the home faithful at all as they chanted Herrera's name to show the manager their displeasure at the change when it should have been Fellaini who had made way.

His changes had no immediate effect on the Red Devils' performance until Memphis tried his luck from distance. After his shot whistled wide it was met by a sarcastic round of applause by the crowd as it was by far the closest they had come.

Sheffield United managed to do what United couldn't after 70 minutes and had a shot on target from Basham which De Gea collected easily. At the other end Darmian did dig a shot out from close range but he was tumbling as he did and the chance was gone.

Even the experienced international Schweinsteiger couldn't direct his shot on target as he received the ball unmarked on the edge of the area.

As the match entered the last ten minutes van Gaal made his last throw of the dice as he, at last, took off Fellaini and gave Pereira a chance to become the hero.

United did create a chance when Lingard placed a great ball in the area for Martial who was immediately closed down by the defence and as the ball was cleared Schweinsteiger was involved in a 50-50 collision and caught his knee, which at first looked likely to require the stretcher, but true to form he got up and ran it off so United wouldn't be reduced to ten men for the last five minutes.

Things went from bad to worse as a free kick was played into the danger area and was met by Martial, whose snap shot was saved but the loose rebound was not mopped up at the far post by Smalling.

There were six minutes of added time to give United the chance they needed to score and it worked as Memphis won a dubious penalty as he ran into the opposition's area to give Rooney the chance from the spot which he took with aplomb to guarantee a 4th round tie.

On closer inspection, it was a close call for the penalty, but even though Memphis went to ground with more theatrics than a Shakespearean play he was definitely caught by the defenders studs. At the moment, United will accept anything they are given.

Full-time and thanks to Rooney's 93rd-minute penalty United will go into the bag for the 4th round draw and his spot kick certainly saved the home side's blushes, however, it will not detract from the fact that they were just plain awful.

Credit has to be paid to the visitors who came so close to forcing a replay and, therefore, applying more pressure on van Gaal.

The longer van Gaal sticks to his methods the quicker he will be on his way as it is clearly not working and the fact that his team can't overcome a League One side until added time doesn't exactly fill anybody with confidence for the challenges ahead.

Here was a chance for the Man United players to show they had turned the corner and put on a display of attacking football, but all they managed to do was to prove that even though they won they are not 'United' in any way, shape or form.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Has the FA Cup Runneth Dry?

The FA Cup 3rd round begins this weekend and it's a competition that evokes good memories for Manchester United fans even though they haven't won it since 2004 it has always held a special place in the club's illustrious history.

On a personal note, the cup brings up a feeling of warmth from my younger days in a time when if United wasn't involved in the final then you rooted for the underdog and sometimes they prevailed against all odds.

In 1973, as a youngster I watched Sunderland defeat the mighty Leeds United, and yes, they were a big side then. There I was eating a meat pie stood outside Granada Rentals in Manchester watching the match through the shop window after I had been dragged out shopping by my mum and elated that the cup holders Leeds had lost in what was then a huge shock.

The romance of the cup has never left me since that day and even though it doesn't hold the same appeal as days gone by, it is still the FA Cup, the oldest club competition in the world of football and should be taken seriously by all clubs and fans as it is a chance for the 'David's' to take on and defeat the 'Goliath's' of football and become giant killers.

It is true that the coverage of the final by the TV networks doesn't exactly mirror the past and it did kind of lose its appeal when the finals were moved to Cardiff when Wembley was undergoing its transformation, but none of that can detract from the sense of anticipation when the draw for the rounds is being made. I still remember the excitement that it brought when myself and my school friends huddled around a smuggled in radio at school waiting for United's number to be drawn with hopefully a home tie.

I distinctly recall on FA Cup final day in 1983 United played Brighton at Wembley and the coverage started on TV early in the morning and ran right through to the kickoff, which was the cup final tradition in those days.

The BBC and ITV had cameras in the team's hotels, not to show staged interviews, but to follow the players around and get a sense of what they were feeling in the build-up to the final. I can still see the United captain Bryan Robson being interviewed as he was shaving in his hotel room.

This all day coverage brought the fans unique access to their heroes and gave us a glimpse into the world of a footballer and you know what it made us realise that apart from the money and fame the players were also fans like us.

We travelled with them on the team bus and could feel their anxiety as they approached the famous twin towers of Wembley Stadium as their loyal fans waved them on from outside the bus windows along the famous Wembley Way.

Nowadays, with the players protected from media intrusion you will be lucky to see inside the bus through the blackened out windows. When they say that the spirit of the cup has disappeared, then the clubs, the FA and the TV companies only have themselves to blame because they are the ones who have sullied its reputation by not taking it seriously. For exmaple, playing both semi-finals at Wembley was a bad move by the FA and one that was made for money and nothing else.

For a player to play at Wembley in a final used to be their dream now it's possible for them to realise their dream twice! It also has a knock-on effect for the fans who find it too expensive to travel to the capital. The sooner they revert to playing the semis at a neutral ground the better. Don't hold your breath as just maybe they will start to play the quarter-finals at Wembley as well.

For some teams to win the famous trophy is their only chance of glory in an otherwise barren season. As a United fan growing up at a time when our bitter rivals from Liverpool dominated the 1st division on a regular basis, it was the FA Cup that was our only solace. A good run in the cup ending in a final was something that lifted our spirits, especially if we beat Liverpool along the way or even better defeated them in the final itself.

There are many personal memories from the cup that make me smile Robins' winner that, and I don't care what anybody says, literally saved Fergie's job. Lee Martin smashing in the winner against Palace. The deflected goal in the final by Greenhoff against Liverpool that stopped them doing the treble. The last five minutes of the final of 1979. Whiteside's curler that won ten men United the cup. Scholes and Sheringham completing the second leg of the treble and the countless semi-finals, especially the ones at Villa Park, that United won on their way to glory and of course that Giggs goal.

One can only hope that the magic of the cup will return, but I very much doubt it as football has moved on to more lucrative competitions. Having said that, I for one will be eating a meat pie watching the final and cheering on the underdog, unless of course they are up against United, this time in the comfort of my own living room.

Enjoy the cup run and thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Man United Win At Last

Manchester United 2 Swansea City 1

Manchester United began the year in a positive mood with a hard fought victory over Swansea City at Old Trafford.

Goals from Martial and Rooney, the first time they have scored in the same match, ensured that United kick started 2016 with a much-needed win and a valuable 3 points.

United's first match of the year and it couldn't have been against a trickier opponent than the team from South Wales, who have held a certain jinx over the Red Devils and van Gaal.

Swansea had won four out of the last five meetings between the two sides in all competitions and were the team that welcomed van Gaal to the English game when they beat his side at Old Trafford in his first match in charge.

So, in United's current predicament of not having won in the last eight games of 2015, the Swans would certainly provide a stern test for United.

Van Gaal decided to make one change from the side that performed to a level that deserved more than the point they obtained in the goalless draw against Chelsea and that was to recall Jones into the defence in place of Darmian.

United's starting XI consisted of: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Jones, Blind, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Mata, Herrera, Rooney And Martial.

Swansea got the game underway at a rain-soaked Old Trafford but the weather didn't dampen the home fans voices as they got behind their players from the start. It was Herrera, who almost worked his way into a shooting position within the first minute only to be denied as he readied to pull the trigger.

The home side started the match as they had left off against Chelsea on the attack with Blind and especially Young providing openings down the wings.

The visitors sat back looking to attack on the counter, which they did when Ayew found some space but failed to make good use of the ball. Something that United would have to be wary of.

Swansea set up to put pressure on United whenever the home defenders had the ball which seemed to unsettle Smalling and his defenders who tended to rush the play out of their own half.

At the other end, United lacked ideas as to how to break through the back four as they tried to play their way through the middle when the width provided by Blind and Young would have been the better option to get behind the defence.

A cross delivered from Young fell to the unmarked Rooney at the far post, but his weak effort hit the side netting. Having only scored a handful of goals in 2015 that was a perfect chance for the captain to start the new year with a bang.

With thirty minutes on the clock, it was the same old familiar story of United being unable to break their opponents down and produce the goals that would not only lift the players but also the atmosphere within the Theatre of Dreams.

De Gea was made to work as he caught an effort from Routledge at full stretch. Martial was bundled off the ball on the edge of the box and it was the quick thinking Herrera, who took the kick quickly and played in Mata. His first effort was blocked then the keeper Fabianski saved the poor follow up shot far too easily.

Another cross from Young looped into the area and was met by the head of Rooney. Unfortunately, he was surrounded by three defenders and even though he did well to rise above the rest he failed to find the power needed.

Schneiderlin was having an off day as he was guilty of under-hitting his passes and on a couple of occasions was lucky to get away with handball decisions that could have easily gone against him.

Mata came close to grabbing the opener as he let fly with a shot inside the area, however, Fabianski collected the ball low on his line.

The only outlet for United was on the right wing as Young continued to play some great balls into the danger area. Just before half time, Smalling was cautioned for a foul on Ayew. There was one more chance for Rooney to head towards goal from yet another Young cross, but Fabianski was well placed to save on the line.

Half time and it was back to the mundane play that has dogged United for the last two months as they lacked inventiveness in front of goal and seemed bereft of confidence and ideas to put the dire situation right.

As the players trudged off the pitch they did so to a chorus of boos from the restless faithful that would surely spur them on to perform better in the second half.

United got the second half underway as they attacked the Stretford End with the one change being made by van Gaal and that was Darmian replacing Jones in defence.

Rooney forced a corner within seconds of the start with a deflected shot. Blind, the main corner taker, delivered a ball that the Swansea players put behind for another corner. Young picked up the clearance and sent over a cross that eluded Rooney, but there was Martial to power home a header to give the stadium a huge lift. Just the start that was needed from the Red Devils.

Young was proving to be the main tormentor of the visitors as he created chance after chance for United.

The goal within two minutes of the restart was exactly the tonic United needed and it also had the desired effect around the ground as the young French striker once again proved what a great goalscorer he is.

The home side seemed to have an air of confidence about their play winning tackles and being first to the loose balls. Rooney almost made it two when he managed to get a shot on target despite being marked by three players.

If anybody deserved something for his hard work it was definitely Young, who was running his socks off down the right wing and playing some delightful football, maybe he was the only one not to indulge too much over the New Year.

On the hour mark, Herrera side footed a shot over the bar and at the other end there was a warning as De Gea could only watch as Ayew headed against his near post.

Mata and Martial played a brilliant one-two inside the area, but the Frenchman's touch was a little heavy in the end. That style of play is exactly what has been missing over the last few months and was a welcome sight.

Martial obviously buoyed by his goal was proving to be a handful for the visitors as they struggled to contain his runs.

Then in the 70th minute, all the hard work was undone as Swansea grabbed an equaliser when Sigurdsson headed home unchallenged in the box.

Now it was all about how the home side would react to the setback after they had played so well prior to the equaliser.

React they did and in the 77th minute after some brilliant approach play by Martial United grabbed the lead through Rooney, who skillfully flicked the ball home after Martial showed great footwork to get past the defenders on the byline and played the ball into the path of his captain.

That goal puts Rooney in the outright position of second in the United all-time scoring record with 238. Only Sir Bobby Charlton is ahead of him.

Once the second had been scored van Gaal made his next change of the match by taking off the exceptional Young and replacing him with McNair.

Five minutes before the end, Blind clumsily brought down Barrow in a dangerous area and was booked for his troubles.

With the minutes ticking away the nerves were palpable around the great stadium as Carrick replaced Herrera for the four minutes of added time. It was great to hear the cheers from the crowd in recognition of the work that the Spaniard had put into the match.

Carrick was making his 400th United appearance and immediately joined his teammates as they watched his keeper make his usual breathtaking stop from an effort at the death by Williams. The last action of the match saw the Swansea keeper push up for a corner which he headed just wide of De Gea's post.

Full time and, at last, a win for Man United that ended their dismal run and it was certainly nice to hear the cheers from the crowd as they made their way down the tunnel. Overall, it wasn't a performance that will be remembered, but the way they grounded out the result surely bodes well for the future. At times, they looked unstoppable, but as usual, they made hearts flutter with some nervy defending.

There were a handful of players who stood out including Mata and Herrera. Rooney, who spearheaded the attack where he should always be, Young never stopped digging out crosses from the right, but it has to be that man Martial who deserved the man of the match plaudits after not only scoring the opener and providing the assist for Rooney's winner, but he was a continual thorn in the Swan's defence for the whole 90 minutes.

All credit to the team who didn't buckle under the stress of conceding the equaliser and let's hope this victory can provide a platform for a decent run over the next few weeks.

The transfer window is now open and the opportunity to reinforce the forward line and defence with players who can add quality and ability to the current squad is of paramount importance if United are to mount a challenge on three fronts.

This week saw striker Will Keane recalled from his loan spell at Preston to help shore up United's attack. This was all well and good, however, it does beg the question why van Gaal allowed James Wilson to go out on loan? Keane has managed 2 goals in 20 matches compared to Wilson's 2 from 8.

Next weekend sees the return of the FA Cup to Old Trafford with the visit of Sheffield United. It would be great for the manager and players to take the competition seriously as it has been far too long that the club have held up the old trophy.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Man United's January Transfers

It's that time of year again as the January transfer window opens. So much speculation will surround Manchester United as they will be linked to every Tom, Dick and Harry Kane, but who will Louis van Gaal and Ed Woodward buy to strengthen a squad that has struggled over the past few months?

While we await the answer to that question here is a look back at players United have signed in January down the years.

Lou Macari: 1973-1984 app: 400 goals: 97

The diminutive Scot arrived at Old Trafford in 1973 from Celtic for a fee of £200,000. Bought by manager and fellow Scot Tommy Docherty he became an instant hit, which continued throughout the seventies and into the eighties. He scored in his first game for United against West Ham United in a 2–2 draw.

Nearly signed for Bill Shankly's Liverpool but, fortunately, his head was turned United's way with a little help from Paddy Crerand.

Originally bought as a striker, Macari eventually found his niche in midfield. In a team that included Coppell, Pearson, Hill and Buchan, they soon brought United back into prominence after suffering relegation in 1974.

Doc's Army was a team famous for it's attacking play and kept the tradition of playing attractive football that the fans had been fed on from the Busby days.

He continued in an attacking midfield position under Dave Sexton and reached the FA Cup final in 1979 only to lose in the last minute to Arsenal. When Ron Atkinson took over from Sexton, Macari spent so long on the bench he gained the nickname of 'The Judge'. In 1984, Macari left United to enter the world of management.

Probably most famous for the shot that rebounded off Jimmy Greenhoff's chest before entering the Liverpool net to win the FA Cup for United in 1977. Still a fan's favourite with his honest no-nonsense views on everything United.

Joe Jordan 1978-1981 app: 126  goals: 41

Nicknamed 'Jaws' due to his toothless grin, this hard man center forward terrorised defences up and down the country with his fearless style of play, never afraid to fight for the cause by sticking his head into places it had no right to be. This never-say-die attitude cemented him as a terrace favourite.

With his big teammate from Leeds, defender Gordon McQueen, they gave United a fearsome look in both attack and defence.

Bought by then manager Dave Sexton from Leeds United for a fee of £350,000 which at the time was a new record for a deal between two British clubs.

Although trophyless during his time at United it wasn't for the lack of trying. He was in the side that lost to Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup final. Not really at the club long enough to warrant a legend tag, but those who remember him playing will do so fondly.


Les Sealey 1990-1991/1993-1994 app: 56

Cheeky Cockney Les Sealey was given his big chance at United when Ferguson dropped No.1 keeper Jim Leighton from the 1990 FA Cup final replay against Crystal Palace.

His heroics in goal that evening against an overly aggressive Palace team turned him into a cult hero with all United fans. After the final, ever the true gentleman, Sealey offered his winners medal to Leighton but thankfully the FA intervened and awarded both players medals.

His cult status was to get even higher a year later when he kept goal in the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup final against Barcelona. United ran out 2-1 winners and it was his save from Koeman's free-kick that kept United ahead in the match.

Signed on loan from Luton Town he left United then returned in 1993 as the backup for Peter Schmeichel but only managed a couple of appearances.

Les sadly passed away in 2001 of a heart attack at the young age of 43. A great character and underrated for his talent as a keeper.

Andy Cole 1995-2001 app: 275 goals: 121

Signed by Ferguson from Newcastle United, where he had a goal conversion rate of 81%, in a deal of £7 million which included Keith Gillespie, valued £1 million, going the other way.

This proved to be excellent business for United as 'Cole the Goal' went on to head the fearsome attack alongside Dwight Yorke which culminated in the Treble of 1999.

Cole played up front in three partnerships of note Cantona, Sheringham and Yorke. Rumoured to not get on quite so well with Cantona and definitely not on speaking terms with Sheringham, it is his partnership with Yorke that produced Cole's best results. In the treble season, they amassed a total of 53 goals between them in all competitions.

The partnership with Yorke proved particularly potent in the UEFA Champions League. Who can forget how their goals dismantled Juventus in the semi-final 2nd leg in '99 on the way to the glorious final.

Cole is now working as an ambassador for United.

Diego Forlan 2002-2004 app: 98 (61 sub) goals: 17

Bought to United at a cost of £6.9 million on 22 January 2002, he is probably the unluckiest striker to have worn the red of United as he took an absolute age to get off the mark. He made a total of 13 Premier League and five UEFA Champions League appearances in the 2001–02 season, however, he did not manage to score a goal. His first United goal, a penalty, came against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on the 18th of Sept 2002.

In every match, the fans were willing him on to score or for him to take every penalty. The Stretford End would have sucked his shots into the net if they could have.

Forlan earned immediate legendary status with a double in a victory at Anfield in December 2002. This was the match that the adoring Old Trafford faithful gave him his own terrace chant to do with the fact he comes from Uruguay and the emotions of Scousers. In the same season, he finished third in the goalscorers charts behind van Nistelrooy and Solskjaer.

Ironically when he left United to join Villarreal he smashed all records with his goals.

Louis Saha 2004-2008 app: 124 goals: 42

Unfortunately, Saha's United career was blighted by injuries, but when he was fit he certainly knew how to score goals.

Saha was transferred to United for a fee of £12.4 million in 2004 having scored 15 goals so far that season for Fulham.

The French striker got off to a great career at Old Trafford scoring seven goals in ten starts. The next season was the start of his injury woes especially to his knee then hamstring. He began partnering Ruud van Nistelrooy and then the teenage Wayne Rooney.

In 2006, a fully fit Saha was among the goals again and was on a roll. However, the injury jinx returned. When he returned the last time United had a forward line including Rooney, Tevez and a certain Ronaldo. He played mainly from the bench and when called upon did his job. His United career ended when he was sold to Everton in 2008.

A quality striker and his love for United was plain to see, it was only the injuries that held him back.

Patrice Evra 2006-2014 app: 329 goals: 10

Brought to Man United from AS Monaco for a fee of £5.5 million. Evra took his time to settle at the club making his debut in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. So poor was his performance in that match Ferguson took him off at half-time.

Fast forward eight years and the Frenchman left United having won almost everything in the game. The only trophy to elude him was the FA Cup.

Probably his greatest achievement was winning the double of Premier League and Champions League in 2008. He was also embroiled in a scandal in which then Liverpool forward Suarez was banned for racial slurs aimed towards Evra during a game.

At left back Evra became an important cog in United's defence forming a great understanding at the back with Ferdinand and Vidic. This was the rock that Fergie built his last great teams on. Evra had the honour of captaining United on many occasions and did so with a great gusto.

It was a sad day when he was sold to Juventus as he still had plenty of playing time in his legs and his leadership and defensive awareness were greatly missed upon his departure. Like so many players who have left Old Trafford, Evra has often been quoted as saying that United is his favourite club.

Nemanja Vidic 2006-2014 app: 300 goals: 21

Captured by United from Spartak Moscow for a bargain fee of £7 million at  the same time as Patrice Evra.

Vidic would go on to form a solid partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the middle of a defence that was comparable to the double act of Bruce and Pallister over a decade before.

Vidic was famous for his no-nonsense tough man approach to defending and was the perfect foil to Ferdinand's more stylish play. Along with Evra at full-back United enjoyed having a defense that another great side could be built upon. Fergie did just that by winning the double in 2008.

In his later years at the club, he was awarded the captaincy, which was a popular choice with the fans. Again, like Evra, he was released far too early and could surely have helped the club through the transition period that followed his departure and kept some much-needed stability.

Henrik Larsson 2007 Jan-March (loan) app: 13 goals: 3

Ferguson managed to bring the world class striker from Helsingborg on loan during a break in their league and what an impact he had not so much for his goals but his persona.

He gave Old Trafford a buzz and would have been a perfect fit at United as a permanent signing, but he had already given his word that he would return to Sweden after the loan spell.

A couple of months after he left United the team went on to win the league and even though he hadn't played enough games he was awarded a winners medal. His time as a Red Devil was short but sweet.

Chris Smalling 2010-Present app: 180 goals: 10

The jury was out on Smalling for a long time after he joined United from Fulham in 2010 for an undisclosed fee. Alex Ferguson obviously saw something in a player who was playing non-league football for Maidstone United in 2008.

The foresight of Ferguson has certainly paid off as Smalling has proved to be an integral part of van Gaal's defensive line with performances that have earned him glowing endorsements from all quarters. He is arguable one of the best central defenders playing in England and has grown in confidence and stature with his leadership qualities.

Although he has built up a strong partnership with Daley Blind that has helped the side plug the holes at the back the hope is that the club will acquire a more experienced partner for him to help shoulder the responsibilities.

Juan Mata 2014-Present app: 77 goals: 21

Mata arrived at Carrington in a helicopter in January 2014 from Chelsea for a fee which was then a club record of £37.1 million.

With the huge expectation of being the saviour of Man United and David Moyes that season firmly rested on his shoulders. Sadly, it wasn't to be as United continued to struggle until the end of the campaign.

Under his latest manager Louis van Gaal, Mata has had ample opportunity to show why he was the fan's player of the season two years running at Chelsea. He has produced the man of the match performances, assists and goals over the last two seasons that have not only meant that the Spaniard has become a valuable player for the team but also a favourite of the fans. Who can forget the two goals he scored at Anfield against Liverpool in 2015.

Victor Valdes 2015-Present app: 2

Valdes had been given permission to train with the United squad by van Gaal in the latter part of 2014 as he began his rehabilitation from injury. This gave van Gaal a good chance to see the keeper up close and in January 2015 the former Barcelona keeper was signed on an 18-month contract.

The only thing that stood in his way of becoming United's number 1 was his compatriot David De Gea who was in scintillating form for the Red Devils and it wasn't until May of last season that he got his chance when he replaced De Gea against Arsenal at Old Trafford. He made only one more appearance that season in the final game against Hull.

It was over the summer that rumours started to spread about a rift between himself and the manager which was further fuelled when United signed the Argentinian Sergio Romero as back-up for De Gea.

Valdes has since been sent out on loan to Standard Liege until the end of the current season.

There you have the January buys from Manchester United's past. I hope you enjoyed looking back and let's see if the next purchases in this transfer window go towards improving the team and become legends in their own right.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Miles Dunton.

United's Year Draws To A Close.

Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0

How the mighty have fallen.

If someone had said at the start of the season that by the time United host Chelsea in the last match of 2015 one would be stuck near the bottom and the other would have failed to win in their last seven games that person would have been locked in the madhouse and the key thrown away, yet here we were.

Down the years, this fixture has had an important bearing on the outcome of the Premier League with each side battling it out in some classic encounters. However, it was more about honour this time round than points. The bottom line was that for both teams this was a match that neither could afford to lose.

Louis van Gaal's United had the lost the previous four matches, three in the league, and in doing so raised question marks over the Dutchman's tenure as manager of the Red Devils. Chelsea's free fall from last year's glory saw them dispense with the services of their 'special one' as they sat in the precarious position just above the bottom three.

For such an important match van Gaal made a handful of changes from the depressing defeat away at Stoke on Boxing Day and his starting XI consisted of: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Young, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Herrera, Rooney and Martial.

Out went the dismal duo of Jones and Fellaini along with Carrick and Memphis and in came Darmian, Schneiderlin, Rooney and Schweinsteiger, whose steel had been sorely missed during his three-match ban.

United's intent to silence their detractors was there for all to see as early as the second minute when Mata let fire with a blistering strike from the edge of the area that rattled the visitors crossbar.

It was Chelsea's turn to come close when Terry tested De Gea with a header from a corner that the Spaniard acrobatically turned away. Five minutes in and already it was turning out to be a post- Christmas cracker.

Schneiderlin was the next to come close after Rooney had played the ball delightfully into his path, but his effort bent agonisingly wide.

After fifteen minutes it was all about the home side as they controlled all parts of the pitch in a way that hadn't been seen for many weeks, they just needed a goal to cement their commanding possession rate, but that's easier said than done based on their shyness in front of goal this season.

Next to come within a whisker of breaking the deadlock was Martial who, after some nifty footwork inside the area unleashed a low shot that beat keeper Courtois, but struck the bottom of the post when most in the stadium thought it was in. Including an excited Sir Alex Ferguson who was seen leaping out of his seat.

This was really exciting stuff from United and you wondered why they hadn't been in this form apart from when their backs are against the wall. They were not allowing Chelsea to spend time on the ball and showed a spirit that has been lacking recently.

There was a legitimate shout for a penalty to United as Martial seemed to have been clipped as he weaved his way towards goal but referee Atkinson waved play on. A close call to say the least.

Rooney was a different player in attack and was exerting the type of enthusiasm the faithful hadn't seen for ages and it was the captain who tested the keeper just before the half hour mark with a rasping drive that must have stung the keeper's palms.

The only downside was a yellow card picked up by Schneiderlin for a foul on Willian after a 50-50 challenge apart from that all was looking good for United. They just needed that all-important opener.

During the last ten minutes of the first half, the visitors saw more of the ball, but Smalling and Blind dealt comfortably with the threat of Hazard who continually dived to con the referee into winning free kicks and Smalling fell for his tricks by conceding a foul on the touchline and received a booking for his trouble.

Just before halftime Schweinsteiger obeyed the shouts of the crowd to shoot, unfortunately his strike from distance was always rising over.

Half-time and even though it had been United's best team performance for a long time it was still locked at 0-0. It was the same old problem of not being able to finish off the moves, having said that they did hit the woodwork twice and showed that they could play with width provided by Darmian on the left and Young down the right.

Chelsea were definitely there for the taking in the second half if only United could keep up the pressure.

United kicked off the second half attacking their favoured Stretford End with van Gaal wisely making no changes to the side that had performed so well in the first forty-five minutes.

It was Chelsea who laid down the marker at the start and it was that man between the posts who came once again to his side's rescue with De Gea making an outstanding double save first from Pedro then the follow up from Azpilicueta. Brilliant from undoubtedly the best keeper in the world.

United quickly regained control of the game with Rooney trying to pull the strings up front aided by the hard working trio of Martial, Mata and Herrera.

Hazard was by this time spending more time on his backside than on his feet.

There was almost the opener the home side craved after ten minutes as Martial delivered a superb cross from the byline that Herrera met in the six-yard box, but luckily for Chelsea the ball struck the keeper and it squirmed wide for a corner. The keepers were certainly being kept busy in this period.

Matic had the best chance of the half as he was played clean through only to let the rush of blood go to his head as he blasted his effort high, wide and handsome. It was a similar moment to the effort from Torres when the sides met before.

The home crowd rose to their feet in unison when it looked like Mata had been brought down inside the penalty area, however, not for the first time the official waved away the appeals of the players. So, with Hazard's antics and no decisions going United's way the referee was not making many friends in the stadium, apart from Chelsea's followers of course.

The first change made by van Gaal was in the 69th minute when he replaced Darmian with youngster Borthwick-Jackson. Hopefully, the young defender wouldn't be too overawed by the importance of the match.

At last, justice was forthcoming as Hazard was cautioned for a high tackle on Young.

The second change for United came in the 76th minute when Mata made way for Memphis. At this point, either side could have sneaked the win with United looking the most likely as Memphis almost connected with a cross by Young.

Schweinsteiger showed his commitment to the cause by receiving a yellow card for a professional foul to stop a certain break by Chelsea.

The last throw of the dice by van Gaal was to bring on Jones in place of Blind in defence for the final ten minutes of the match.

A brilliant interchange between Herrera and Borthwick-Jackson down the left wing ended when Rooney hit the young full back's deep cross over at the far post. Great play from the youngster which must have filled him with so much confidence.

In the end, a draw has to be a huge disappointment for United as they had played so well from the start and clearly had the appetite for the fight, but the same old problem rose its head and that is the end result. It's fantastic to watch breathtaking attacking football, but if you can't put the chances away then it amounts to nothing. At least the United players put in the effort and had to count themselves unlucky.

There were many players in red that worked hard for their manager. None more so than Ashley Young, who went about his job as a wing back with great gusto by mounting attacks combined with a couple of defensive interceptions that saved his team at vital moments.

Following the match there will be more calls for a change in management and that will be debated over social media for days to come. At least, the players attempted to right the many wrongs of late and pulled together as a team, which is more than can be said for the so-called fans who wore 'Mourinho United' scarves inside the Theatre of Dreams.

Thanks for reading and a Happy New Year to all.

Miles Dunton.