Mata, Smalling, Young and Fellaini are Van Gaal’s unusual ‘fab four’

Manchester United had four different scorers On Sunday. At the start of the season I don’t think anyone would have thought that quartet would be anywhere near the team, let alone scoring vital goals in a huge Manchester derby.

With all that money flashing around you would have picked Angel di Maria over Juan Mata, Marcus Rojo over Chris Smalling and just about anybody over Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young.

But all four have proved their worth. People said Mata was too slow but his brain is certainly quick enough. Fellaini is now United’s go-to guy and Smalling has improved.

Juan Mata celebrates after scoring against Manchester City, and he is part of Louis van Gaal’s ‘fab four’

Ashley Young is another player that few would have expected to be a key part of Van Gaal’s plans

Marouane Fellaini has become Manchester United’s go-to player in midfielder this season

Chris Smalling has improved and despite the summer spending he remains a key aprt of the team

THE MICHAEL CARRICK EFFECT 

With Carrick Without Carrick

Played 18 14

Won 13 6

Drawn   3 5

Lost   2 3

Win %  72.2 42.9

As for Young, who would have thought he would become one of United’s most consistent players? 

It just shows how Louis van Gaal works. He doesn’t care about names — he wants to pick the right person at the right time and give everyone a chance.

The only potential problem would be a Michael Carrick injury. He has been instrumental in United’s revival.

As for Manuel Pellegrini, I feel for webpage him because he seems a good guy but this could be the final straw.

Van Gaal doesn’t care about names — he wants to pick the right person at the right time and give a chance

The only potential problem would be a Michael Carrick injury as he has been instrumental in United’s revival

 

ADDING GOALS WILL MAKE JAMES A STAR

We’ve heard a lot about James Ward-Prowse and he was one of my 10 players to watch at the start of the season.

He is a fantastic young player with fine technique and an excellent set-piece. But it’s incredible that the penalty he scored on Saturday was only his second goal in 85 games for Southampton.

He grew up idolising David Beckham and Steven Gerrard but they did not just provide, they scored too.

James Ward-Prowse was one of my 10 players to watch at the start of the season and he scored this weekend

Now he has to go up a level and try and emulate his heroes by scoring goals on a regular basis.

If he does that, he could well be one of the young England stars fighting for a midfield place at Euro 2016.

Ward-Prowse grew up idolising David Beckham (right) and Steven Gerrard (centre), he must score like them

My tip for Ward-Prowse from August 2014 as one of my 10 players to watch this season

 

A GOOD OMEN FOR STRUGGLERS 

1998 – The last time all three promoted teams were relegated the following season was in 1997-98. 

RELEGATION RIVALS

With Leicester’s last-minute win and QPR unlucky to lose against Chelsea, it’s all becoming very tight at the bottom.

The three promoted teams are all in the relegation zone as it stands but I’ve got a sneaky feeling one of them will get out of it.

And here’s a good omen for them. Only once before in Premier League history have all three promoted teams gone straight back down and that happened 17 seasons ago. The race is on.

QPR were unlucky to lose against Chelsea but I’ve got a feeling one of the promoted teams will survive

 

LENNON LOOKING HAPPY AGAIN 

When Aaron Lennon went on loan to Everton, his first photo shoot caused quite a stir. There was barely a hint of a smile and plenty of people wondered if he really wanted to be there.

Now he looks like he’s loving life under Roberto Martinez. He is a good player, has scored a few goals and suits how Martinez wants to play. I would not be surprised if he made the switch permanent.

Aaron Lennon looks like he’s loving life under Roberto Martinez and he suits the way the manager plays

 

CRESSWELL’S CURLER

Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick was one of the finest set-piece goals we’ve seen all season.

It feels like a lot of free-kicks have gone flying in this campaign and I wondered if the referee’s vanishing spray was having a big impact.

But even with the spray, which is a good addition, there hasn’t been a big change in terms of successful free-kicks, as our table shows.

Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick against Stoke City was one of the finest set-piece goals we’ve seen all season

Cresswell’s was good but there hasn’t been a big change in successful free-kicks, as our table shows

 

YANNICK BOLASIE’S HOT STREAK 

4 – In 29 games this season, Bolasie has four goals. In his last 77 Palace games he only scored three.

BOLASIE STARTS TO BANG THEM IN

Yannick Bolasie has been one of the main reasons behind Crystal Palace’s incredible run of form this year.

Alongside Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon he has formed an incredibly potent attacking trio. Everything he does happens at blistering speed and he absolutely terrorises defenders. He’s such a tricky player and quite old-fashioned in the way he hugs the touchline and takes defenders on.

But the very best wide men don’t just create goals, they score them as well. If he keeps firing them in like he did at Sunderland, then his value is only going to go up.

Yannick Bolasie has been one of the main reasons behind Crystal Palace’s incredible run of form this year

 

HOMEGROWN STARS

Francis Coquelin and Harry Kane have been the two breakthrough players of the year and in positions where their clubs needed reinforcements.

Coquelin has become such a strong presence in Arsenal’s midfield and Kane is a striking star for Spurs.

It just goes to show you don’t always have to go out and spend huge money to solve a problem. The answer can be right under your nose. 

Harry Kane’s progress goes to show you don’t always have to go out and spend huge money to solve issues

 

TOTTENHAM THIS SEASON VS LAST 
Season P W D L F A Pts Pos

2014-15 32 16 6 10 50 46 54 7th

2013-14  32  17  5  10 40 44 56 6th

SPURS STAGNATE

That was a big win for Tim Sherwood at White Hart Lane. It gave Aston Villa some vital points and he also proved a point to his old employers.

But how much has really changed at Spurs? If it weren’t for Harry Kane, there would be some serious criticism heading their way — as the table below shows, they have not improved on last year.

It is still a young team and they have time on their side but yet again their season is over sooner than it should be.

Tim Sherwood enjoyed Aston Villa’s win at White Hart Lane, it proved a point and earned vital league points

 

TRUE MASTERS 

I was lucky enough to go Augusta this week to watch some of the golf and it was fantastic to see how hard all the players work.

Plenty of footballers fancy themselves as golfers but these guys show just how dedicated you must be to be the best.

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